Outwitting the Viscount's Castle

The next morning, Nalant led his subordinates straight to the Will Viscount Territory.

A viscount's family was indeed worthy of its rank. There were two towns in the territory, each with a population of over ten thousand.

The town where the castle stood was even faintly developing toward the scale of a small city. Though it lacked city walls, its population had already surpassed thirty thousand.

Upon arriving outside the town, Nalant followed the same routine as yesterday, hiding the captives and barbarians in the woods beyond town while he himself entered the town in high profile with his guards and convoy.

He had originally expected that this viscount territory would fall into his hands as easily as yesterday's.

Unfortunately, ideals were full and rich, while reality was skinny and brutal.

He had no idea whether the viscount's family simply educated its heirs differently, or whether their vast household did not rely on receiving merchant caravans as a pillar industry.

Nalant led his group around town for half the day and even spent money buying plenty of food and fine wine, yet not a single person from the castle came to greet him.

Instead, they ran into a small patrol of guards wandering through town. The patrol came over to ingratiate themselves, hoping to squeeze out some benefits.

Nalant was speechless at the sight. Unless it became necessary, he truly did not want to storm the castle by force.

Attacking a castle was far too laborious. How could it compare to the ease of driving straight into the dragon's lair?

After pondering for a moment, Nalant remained unwilling to give up. He instructed Quick to call over the small patrol that was wandering nearby.

"Honored sir, is there anything we can do for you?"

This squad of guards was rather