Chapter 15

The reserve soldiers and regular soldiers each took a map and split up, heading for their assigned positions in the mountains and forests.

Fernandi and Walker stayed behind at Par Lake with a squad of knights to protect Xia Zuoyi.

After arriving at the designated location.

Mike Andrew planted the small flag he carried into the ground. He first sent people to familiarize themselves with the route from here to the valley, then called over the squad leaders to discuss a plan for seizing the other side's flag.

However, before the plan was even finished, the two soldiers who had gone to scout the little valley suddenly returned with grave expressions.

"Squad leader, something seems wrong."

Mike Andrew frowned. "What is it?"

The soldier said, "We found faint traces of activity around the little valley. We found this branch on the ground... We suspect there may be another group in the valley, but we were afraid of alerting them if we got too close, so we didn't dare approach."

A heavy snowfall had just fallen in the mountains and forests.

The frost hanging from the treetops and the snow on the ground had not yet completely melted.

Dry grass and branches from this time of year were the hardest to ignite. Entering the mountains without bringing coal and lamp oil was therefore a very unwise choice.

The end of the branch the soldier produced was charred black and dry. If one leaned closer and smelled it carefully, there was a faintly pungent odor.

Back when he had been a slave working for a manor owner, he had often chopped firewood and lit fires. He could tell at a glance whether wood was dry or damp.

The end of this branch clearly showed signs of having been doused in lamp oil and burned.

The soldiers could preliminarily confirm that there were people inside the little valley.

Though they did not know whether they were friend or foe, choosing to enter Par Mountain at a time like this made their intentions seem far from good...

"What should we do, Squad Leader? Should we go back and notify Lord Edward first before..."

Mike Andrew pondered for a moment. "Send one person back to notify them."

"The original drill plan has changed... Coming to Par Mountain at a time like this, whatever their purpose, they probably mean no good."

"The Count is waiting beside Par Lake. Protecting the Count's safety is the highest priority. Friend or foe, capture them first and ask questions later."

The other squad leaders gathered nearby exchanged glances.

One of them said, "So that means... we might really have to fight with real swords and blades... Do we... do we have to kill people?!"

Mike Andrew said, "Don't forget Lord Edward's warning. Once you pick up a weapon, there will come a day when you have to swing it. Mercy toward the enemy is cruelty toward yourself."

"If you cannot bring yourself to strike, the one who dies will be you."

The expressions of the other squad leaders gradually became resolute.

Mike Andrew said, "First, have two squads follow me and carefully sneak over. Once we scout and confirm the situation, I'll blow the bird whistle to signal you to act and send word to the regular soldiers on the other side of the little valley."

"Yes, we understand."

A bird whistle was a short whistle made of wood.

While blowing it, one adjusted and pushed or pulled the rod in the middle, causing the pitch to vary in height and length. It could sound clear and soaring or sharp and piercing... remarkably similar to real bird calls.

It was only half a palm long, making it very easy to carry.

Xia Zuoyi had devised the bird whistle for transmitting messages through different tonal variations within the army and for use as secret signals.

Besides strengthening physical fitness, the soldier training camp also taught technical skills such as scouting and rapid rescue.

The bird whistle was one of them, and currently only each squad leader had mastered it.

A reserve soldier quickly returned to Par Lake along the original route and reported the anomaly found around the little valley to Fernandi Edward.

At the same time.

A sharp birdcall suddenly rang through the mountains and forests at regular intervals, short and high-pitched.

Walker William, standing beside Xia Zuoyi, said, "It means they are no longer hiding and have begun a full assault."

"It seems they have already confirmed that the people hiding in the valley are enemies."

"They still lack sufficient experience. Taylor, Bana, go over and keep an eye on things while taking command."

Taylor Kennedy and Bana Larry accepted the order and left.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Aren't you and Fernandi going?"

Walker William smiled. "Count, protecting you at Par Lake is what matters most."

"Besides, Fernandi and I have been training them hard every day for the past three months. This is a good opportunity to assess the results. After all, the soldier training camp shouldn't be raising useless people."

Though he upheld the spirit of chivalry deep down, he had been born into the nobility and had an older brother with whom he was not particularly close. Whatever he did, failure meant elimination; success was his only way forward.

Most of the smiles he wore were disguises. In truth, he hid a coldness unknown to others in his heart.

Compared to him, Fernandi Edward was the one whose outward appearance matched what he was inside.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, another long, clear bird-whistle sounded.

Fernandi Edward said gravely, "The battle is over."

Xia Zuoyi said, "Let's go take a look."

"Yes, Count."

The narrow little valley in the mountains and forests was somewhat steeper than the large valley where Par Lake was located. It was filled with chaotic boulders and rocks, while the ground was relatively barren, with only sparse thorny grass stubbornly growing from the cracks.

The snow in the little valley had been trampled into a mess, mixed with vivid scarlet blood. The pungent smell of blood that had not yet fully dispersed permeated the air. Quite a few corpses lay scattered about, with greatswords and scimitars strewn beside them.

Xia Zuoyi wrinkled his little nose and waved his tiny hands in discomfort.

"How are our casualties?"

Taylor Kennedy could not help showing delight as he answered, "Count, only a very small number of the training camp soldiers suffered minor injuries. Not a single one died."

It could only be said that the scales of victory had been heavily tipped in their favor from the start.

First, the two soldiers who had gone to scout the little valley had accidentally discovered something suspicious.

Then Mike Andrew had made a prompt decision. Once the enemy presence was confirmed, he immediately blew the bird whistle. The regular soldiers reacted swiftly and coordinated seamlessly, catching the other side off guard and driving them back almost step by step.

A smile appeared on Xia Zuoyi's little face. "Not bad. Once we return, the soldiers who distinguished themselves will definitely be rewarded."

"Who sent them? Have they confessed honestly?"

Taylor Kennedy said, "We captured more than a dozen people. We have not interrogated them yet."

Xia Zuoyi said, "Fernandi, Walker, I'll leave these dozen or so people to the two of you."

"Interrogate them one by one. Make sure you find out exactly who is behind this and wants my life."

"Yes, Count," the two said in unison.

After Fernandi and Walker accepted the order and left.

Xia Zuoyi lowered his head and rubbed his little feet together. He kicked away the remaining snow on the ground, revealing soil darker than that outside the valley, along with tiny particles.

Seemingly interested, he kicked away all the snow around him and walked toward the edge of the valley.

"Judith, let's take a look over there."

Judith naturally followed behind without objection.

The Natural Asphalt mine map gifted by the system was incredibly detailed—it had even specifically drawn a three-dimensional terrain map of the valley, marking the places where the mineral vein was weakest and easiest to excavate.

The place Xia Zuoyi wanted to go was a section of fractured rock along the mountain wall, half-covered and extending slightly inward.

Further inside, it resembled a cave, though the passage was so narrow that only one person could pass through.

Just as he reached the outer edge of the broken rock, he saw several chunks of black solid material scattered messily on the ground. Each was about half the size of a fist, irregularly shaped, and could easily be mistaken for stones at a casual glance.

Xia Zuoyi's heart grew hot with excitement.

This was Natural Asphalt. More specifically, it should be Rock Asphalt.

He thought, "System, 098."

[Host, 098 is wholeheartedly at your service.]

Xia Zuoyi asked, "What is the range within which the gift can be placed?"

"Based on where I am standing right now, can you place the gift at the very back of the cave?"

[Yes, Host. Would you like 098 to deploy the gift now?]

"Confirmed."

[Please wait a moment, Host. Operation in progress... Deployment successful. Please confirm receipt promptly.]

Xia Zuoyi seemed to hear several milk-soft grunts coming from inside the cave.

He said, "Judith, there seem to be baby animals inside!"

After saying that.

Xia Zuoyi dashed inside in a flash, and Judith could not stop him even when he tried to grab him.

"Count!"

When Judith hurriedly followed him inside, he saw the little Count with his back to him. Judging by his silhouette, he seemed frozen in place, staring blankly as if he did not know how to react.

Xia Zuoyi truly was stunned.

At his feet, two fluffy little things were slowly wriggling about. One was black and one was white, their bodies covered in beautiful markings, with thick little paws and sturdy little tails.

They were actually two baby tigers that had probably not yet been weaned.

One was a White Tiger.

The other appeared to be the legendary Black-Blue Tiger, long extinct in the modern age.

Xia Zuoyi had expected fluffy little animals, but he had absolutely not expected two tiny black-and-white tiger cubs...

He could not help asking in his heart, "098, where did you go traveling?"

[Host, 098 traveled to the planet where the Idiot System is located.]

[It is a place full of fluffy creatures. These two tiger cubs are brothers. Their parents died not long after they were born, and if they were not taken away, they would be bitten to death by another adult tiger.]

[098 thought they were cute and wanted to give them to Host as a gift. You're welcome~]

"..."

As Judith approached, Xia Zuoyi crouched down and placed both hands on the heads of the two constantly grunting tiger cubs. Their furry paws immediately hugged his hands as they licked and rubbed against him.

They really were quite cute.

"Judith, look! Baby tigers," Xia Zuoyi whispered.

Judith frowned slightly. "The colors of these two tiger cubs' fur... are very strange."

He had never seen a white tiger or a black tiger.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Maybe that is why they were abandoned... Can I raise them?"

"Count, tigers are wild beasts. They can be ferocious..."

"Judith~"

"..."

Judith was a little unable to withstand the Count's coquettish pleading, especially when those large caramel-colored eyes stared at him eagerly while his little hands were clasped before his chest.

"Ahem, if you truly want to... of course you can."