Davis Territory.
The two ships didn't dare dock at the harbor, so they found a spot along the shore and moored there.
"Tie up all the prisoners!"
Aaron gave the order, then stood with Roan and a few prisoners, gazing up at the sky.
After a long, tumultuous night, dawn was approaching. This was the darkest hour of the night.
At this time, people felt most exhausted, and their guard was at its lowest.
"My lord, this is a good opportunity."
Eight-Fingers licked his lips as he gazed at the buildings, still dark and quiet.
Roan, however, could only smile bitterly.
His desire to stay alive had won out, so he had surrendered. But seeing his hometown so utterly unguarded still left him secretly alarmed.
"Yes, it's such a good opportunity. It'd be a real waste to just plunder a few homes..."
Aaron shook his head, then looked at Roan and smiled slightly. "Sir Roan, I'll have to trouble you to get the castle gates opened in a little while... I'll follow right behind you myself."
"I'm at your service!"
The bitterness on Roan's face deepened. He went on, "Aren't you worried about the castle's defenses? Or that someone might have sent word ahead, making this a trap?"
"I'll make sure of that beforehand, naturally."
Aaron Sothoth smiled as he replied.
In an ordinary world without supernatural powers, having even the slightest bit of the mysterious was practically like cheating.
Once he got close to the castle, he could naturally use dream-entry to confirm whether this operation was dangerous.
If [Danger Perception] gave a strong warning, he would retreat. He wasn't foolish enough to walk to his death.
The first light of dawn appeared.
On the castle walls, the guard Abel yawned out of boredom.
In Davis Territory, most of the capable fighters had gone to the front lines, and Roan had taken away most of those who could put up a decent fight.
Those left behind were old, weak, sick, and injured.
He had stood watch all night, and nothing had happened, leaving him utterly exhausted.
He was eagerly waiting for his replacement so he could head to the kitchen and enjoy some oat porridge and salted meat—the special privilege given to the night watch.
Suddenly, he saw a group of people approaching the castle.
At their head was none other than Roan Davis.
"Sir Roan?"
Abel called out in surprise.
"It's me. Open the gate, quickly! Damn it, our plan has gone wrong. I need to report to the lady immediately!" Roan Davis shouted.
Up close, one could see sweat dripping from the man's forehead. Behind him, Aaron was smiling as he pressed a dagger against Roan's waist.
"Y-yes, of course."
Abel didn't suspect a thing. He went down, ordered the gates opened, and welcomed Roan and the others inside.
Creak, clack...
With a teeth-grinding grind of gears and ropes, the drawbridge slowly lowered, and the old wooden gates creaked open.
After they entered the castle, Abel hurried over to greet them. "My lord, is there anything I can do for you... Ah!"
In the next moment, a longsword plunged straight into his chest.
As soon as Aaron struck, Eight-Fingers and the other men he had chosen drew their weapons and cut down the people at the castle entrance.
Even Aaron felt that taking the gates had been far too easy.
Though his dream-divination had indeed shown that there was no danger.
"My lord, let's charge!"
Eight-Fingers howled as he used a scimitar to cut off a guard's head. His eyes were bloodshot.
The wealth a lord had amassed in the castle over many years had clearly driven the man completely out of his mind.
"Pass the word. Attack."
Aaron nodded and sent Eight-Fingers to the front.
Clang, clang!
Another group of guards poured out of the castle hall. They looked old and young, but there were surprisingly many of them.
"Are these... knight squires?"
Aaron recognized them at a glance. Theodore liked to keep the sons of his stewards and knights close to him as squires, and the Davis Family had the same tradition.
At the same time, these children, raised from a young age, also served as a sort of hostages.
Their fathers and brothers might still be fighting for the Davis Family on the front lines, so those left behind should have been kept safe.
The fact that they had come out to fight now meant they had been driven into a desperate corner.
"Damn bastards! I'll cut off your heads!"
Baker let out a scream up ahead. He had carelessly been stabbed by a half-grown boy. The wound wasn't serious, but blood was streaming down his body.
"The enemy is putting up a fierce fight... We could still lose."
Aaron watched everything, his face dark as water. "Light the beacon!"
This was his second plan. Once they seized the gate, they would immediately light the beacon. Meanwhile, a few silver-tongued men outside would do their best to incite the commoners! They would also release the prisoners and let them join in the looting!
Never underestimate the worst in human nature!
They had been neighbors for so many years, and Aaron knew what the Davis Family was like. They were only content if they weren't squeezing the commoners to death.
Now that the family was in danger and the castle had fallen, those who lived on their land would never come to help them of their own accord.
On the contrary, they would be eager to turn into a mob and grab whatever they could.
Once we take the castle, the best strategic choice would be to hold it, coordinate with the army on the front lines, and wipe out the Davis Family for good... But that would be dangerous. A few dozen people defending a castle could hold out against an army of a thousand for a while, but one mistake could wipe us all out!
Aaron certainly didn't have the noble virtue of sacrificing himself for the good of his family. Even the possibility was too much.
Therefore, using the enemy's own people to leave the castle in ruins and make it easier to capture later was the best choice.
And he would make sure to withdraw before the Davis army returned!
"Are you still going to resist? You've already lost... The Davis Family is doomed. Your loyalty won't be rewarded!"
Aaron held his longsword and looked at the oncoming old knight, whose head was covered in white hair. He said coldly, "Even if you don't surrender outright, you could take the wealth in the castle and live comfortably somewhere else."
"You don't understand..."
The old knight roared and swung his sword.
He was clearly experienced, but his strength had failed him.
In the end, Aaron ran him through the chest with a single thrust.
The old knight still struggled, blood frothing from his mouth. "You don't understand... A knight's code... is loyalty!"
Pfft!
Aaron pulled back his sword, his expression indifferent. "That's right... I'm no knight. I don't understand loyalty. I'm a beast ruled by desire!"
"But I won. I survived, and you died... That's reality!"
"No matter how noble the slogan, it can't compare to real benefits!"
Before you continue