Mutation and Quick Wit

They left the Dark River.

Because apart from the ogre controlled by Yveta, all the ogres in the underground cave had been wiped out.

Yveta decided to act that night.

Otherwise, the Children of the Forest would soon notice something was wrong with the ogres, and then discover that they were carrying Ambrose's Forbidden Book, and that they had found out the Children of the Forest had secretly taken control of the Moro Baron Territory.

Yveta and the others unhitched the two horses from the carriage to use as mounts. They also wrapped the two famous swords in cloth to prevent the Children of the Forest from recognizing them.

Then they put the pile of currency, from an unknown country and era, onto the carriage.

As for that pile of rusty iron, it wasn't of much use, but Yveta still took it along, just in case they encountered a merchant who recycled iron!

Iron was not cheap in this era; even refined iron ore could be sold again.

Not to mention these swords, which were merely rusted.

Then, he had the ogre he controlled pull the carriage, serving as labor for Alicia and Leili.

The Hearthstone Witch had enhanced the Charm Technique with magic, preventing the ogre from breaking free from its controlled state.

Thus, their group, riding the two horses, left the woods and returned to the small plain area around Baron Moro's castle.

As soon as they returned to the castle late at night, they sensed something was wrong.

First, candlelight was lit everywhere in the castle, the flames illuminating the windows.

The castle was brightly lit.

Second, unlike during the day, there were more patrolling guards, and many infantry and cavalry soldiers wearing cotton armor and Zha armor were entering Baron Moro's castle from outside.

Yveta and his companions' hearts sank.

Had Baron Moro already issued a conscription order to various parts of the barony?

The Old Witch's face changed drastically. "Your Majesty, let's flee quickly. They've already discovered us. We don't have an army to fight them!"

"I've never fought a war; that's not something a witch of my level should do!"

Branton's eyes flickered, his gaze filled with fear. "Why would the Children of the Forest suddenly summon the forces of the various vassals? Why is the castle suddenly under martial law? Have the Children of the Forest discovered my disappearance? Your Highness, the soldiers over there saw us; they're walking over."

"We're finished."

Not far away, five soldiers guarding the gate approached, weapons in hand, their expressions unfriendly.

Yveta's mind raced. "No."

"If the Baron were to issue a feudal conscription order to the territory, even if the vassals from all regions set off immediately, it would take at least half a day for them to arrive."

"But you secretly left the castle in the evening. This timing doesn't match."

"Besides, the vassals wouldn't set off immediately; they need to prepare. For them to arrive at the castle at this time simultaneously, they must have agreed on a time in advance."

Yveta realized and said to everyone, "Everyone, these troops entering the castle have nothing to do with us."

"This order must have been given long ago, at least a week ago."

"We just happened to run into it."

Seeing their dejected expressions, Yveta tried to encourage them. "Have you all heard the saying, 'When paths cross, the brave one wins'!"

"Since we're already here, don't back down easily."

"Let's push through!"

"We need strategic resolve; let's stick to the plan."

Branton said fearfully, "Your Highness, but I'm afraid I'll falter."

"Leave it to me to handle," Yveta said.

At this moment, the guards stood before them.

Branton's heart skipped a beat when he saw the person leading them. "Uncle Anger, you're here too?"

Anger, with a scar on his face, kept looking at Yveta and the others, his eyes flashing coldly. "How dare you speak! Lord Baron was furious when he learned you snuck out of the castle."

"What did you go out to do?"

"Speak!"

Startled by Anger's shout, Branton blurted out, "I went to find my sister, I..."

"Looking for your sister? Sneaking out in the middle of the night again to find someone who doesn't exist, and troubling so many people. These adventurers are actually indulging your madness." Anger's eyes swirled strangely, and he put on a peculiar expression. "You don't have a sister, don't you know that?"

"Guests, you must find this amusing. This child actually has a problem here."

He pointed to his head.

Black Wolf immediately cooperated with a knowing look. "I think so too."

The Old Witch nodded in agreement. "Then you should keep a better eye on this brat and stop him from running around. Since this kid has a problem with his head, he should be locked up."

"To prevent him from causing trouble for you."

"You won't even know how you died."

Like a certain Demon God.

Uncle Anger didn't notice the Old Witch's mockery and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "What this lady says is true."

Poor Branton, in just a few lines of dialogue, had become mentally unsound.

This was the terrifying part of using a relative's guise to deal with you.

These Children of the Forest could easily stigmatize you.

If one didn't know about the existence of the Treant People, many would immediately believe the assessments of you made by your own relatives.

Anger said, "Guests, please return. I need to take this useless fellow back."

"Tonight is also the Gathering Day for the vassals of our Moro Baron Territory."

"You had best leave."

Yveta suddenly understood. Tonight was likely the day the Treant People planned to completely control the human army.

That was why they were eerily summoning the army at night.

But why did they need to rush to forcibly control the army? They could have spent years slowly replacing the leaders of the Baron's Territory's army one by one.

In other words, why were they controlling the Moro Baron Territory, and what made them so eager to strengthen their control over the human army?

Yveta said to Anger, who was preparing to leave with Branton, "Please wait a moment."

"Through the efforts of us explorers, we did indeed discover that Your Excellency Branton has no younger sister."

"But we have a new discovery. We found an Ogre."

As soon as he said this, Black Wolf and the others looked at Yveta in shock.

How could you say that yourself?

Didn't we agree not to expose it?

Anger suddenly turned his head, his expression twisting to an extreme for a moment. "You said you discovered... what?"

"Your Excellency, I discovered an Ogre," Yveta said calmly. "Over in the woods. We fought it, and that's how we got injured."

"Your Excellency Branton and I wish to report to the Moro Baron Territory that an Ogre has appeared near the territory."

A killing intent flashed in Anger's eyes.

But at this moment, the four human soldiers behind Anger spoke in surprise.

"An Ogre? Those things haven't appeared in a long time. Is this news true? Explorer, don't just talk nonsense."

"If that's the case, then we can understand why the Baron summoned the army. It was to hunt the Ogre."

Anger realized there were four human soldiers behind him and immediately restrained his expression, trying to appear like a normal officer. "Tell me the situation in detail."

"I'll go tell the Baron."

"You don't need to go."

Yveta shook his head. "The situation is too complicated. I want to tell the Baron personally."

"Besides, Your Excellency Branton is an eyewitness to this matter."

"I want to see the Baron with Your Excellency Branton."

Yveta saw that Anger's hand was always on his sword hilt. He pretended not to notice and instead curled his lips. "If we discovered an Ogre, we can report it to the Adventurer's Association and receive a reward, right? Moreover, Baron Moro should also give us some reward."

"Your Excellency Branton hasn't given us the money he promised earlier. It seems Your Excellency Branton really isn't very bright, actually promising us a reward he himself can't afford."

"So you want to claim a reward, how greedy," Anger revealed a hint of understanding, disdain and mockery flashing in his eyes. "Fine, I can take you to see the Baron and let you explain in detail how you encountered the Ogre. But those who lie will be hanged. I hope you don't regret your decision."

"Don't worry, we won't regret it," Yveta smiled. "Your Excellency, please lead the way."

Anger sneered.

Damn greedy explorers, you'll get what's coming to you later. Go to Hell and regret it.

The moment he heard Yveta wanted to report to the association for a reward, he had already decided not to let Yveta and the others leave.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Anger allowed them to see the Baron.

The plan had taken another big step towards success!

Black Wolf and Leili looked at Yveta with admiration. His Highness's reaction was truly quick, to be able to weave a lie that was nine parts truth and one part falsehood amidst such a mutation.

Yveta followed.

He knew he had miscalculated before.

Originally, he had planned to return to the Castle with Branton and then seize the opportunity when Branton invited the Baron to meet to hunt the Baron.

But who knew that tonight was the night the Baron summoned the army.

In that case, the other party would definitely refuse to meet with them.

They were busy.

So, Yveta, in a moment of urgency, suddenly spoke a lie that was nine parts truth and one part falsehood about the Ogre.

This would definitely attract the attention of the Children of the Forest, and the Children of the Forest would definitely be curious about how much they understood about Ogres.