Chapter 372 - 130: Just How Many Good Mothers Do You Have!?

Chapter 372: Chapter 130: Just How Many Good Mothers Do You Have!?

"Let’s do it!"

"Take Lakefront Town!"

"Let’s show that Lynch kid that there’s no substitute for experience."

"I heard Lakefront Town is filthy rich. Not only does it have mines, but they also found Elf relics!"

"And I heard Lakefront Town has a few mermaids, too? Hehehe..."

"HAHAHAHA—"

Amidst the clamor, the tent filled with raucous laughter and crude jokes, as if they had already conquered Lakefront Town.

Bloody Hand Johnny watched his men’s excitement, the smile on his lips growing wider.

But even so, his gaze remained as steady as ever.

He looked at the map on the table, his eyes unconsciously drifting back to the small dot labeled "Lakefront Town."

Lynch Blackwood.

He repeated the name in his mind.

’A young Necromancer who could build such an enterprise in less than two years is certainly someone to be reckoned with.’

’Too bad... A young man is still just a young man. He doesn’t understand the meaning of holding something in reserve.’

’He doesn’t understand that leaving your rear undefended is a cardinal sin in warfare.’

’He doesn’t understand...’

’A true Hunter never focuses only on the prey in front of him.’

Finally, Bloody Hand Johnny looked away, waved his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Relay my orders..."

"The entire army moves out!"

Bloody Hand Johnny’s voice echoed through the tent.

"In five days..." he said, each word deliberate and forceful, "I will be living in Lakefront Town’s garrison!"

"YES!!!"

The men roared their assent in unison, the sound shaking the canvas of the tent.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

「Half a day later.」

「Gray Claw Gorge.」

This was the only pass connecting Sardinia Province and the Red Ridge Mountain area. The mountains on both sides were steep and craggy, with a long, narrow, winding road snaking between them. At its narrowest point, only three or four horses could pass abreast.

Half a year ago, Lynch had built a new defensive pass at the gorge’s entrance on the Sardinia side.

He had chosen the location for the pass after repeated on-site surveys. Not only was the terrain naturally perilous and easy to defend, but the construction was also relatively minor, allowing it to be completed in such a short time.

At this moment, on the pass’s ramparts, a battle flag embroidered with the insignia of the Ninth Battle Battalion was fluttering fiercely in the mountain wind.

An officer in his early thirties, lean and sharp, was patrolling the wall with two of his personal guards.

His name was Marcus Verius, a former officer of the Radiant Battle Group. When Catherine had come to stir up trouble in Lakefront Town, he was one of the first officers Lynch had detained.

In the past two years, he had followed the Ninth Battle Battalion to fight Gnolls, wipe out routed soldiers and bandits, and battle the Blue Scarves. He had long since come to see Lakefront Town as his home.

"Look sharp, everyone!"

Marcus walked to a crenellation and shouted down to the Soldiers on duty, "This is the eastern gate of our Lakefront Town! If anything goes wrong, we won’t be able to face Lord Lynch!"

The Soldiers below roared in affirmation.

Marcus nodded in satisfaction and was about to continue his patrol.

Suddenly, his gaze froze.

At the farthest edge of his vision, on the narrow, winding mountain road stretching toward Sardinia, a black mass of figures was surging toward the gorge!

Marcus’s pupils contracted sharply.

He immediately rushed to the crenellation and looked through a goblin spyglass.

In the approaching army, two huge banners were particularly eye-catching. One was a blood-red battle flag embroidered with a cross, and the other was a yellow battle flag embroidered with a large, winged frost bird.

’The Scarlet Cross!?’

’The Blue Crow Battle Group!?’

Marcus immediately roared, "Enemy attack!!!"

"Ring the bells!! Everyone to the walls!! Move!!!"

"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"

The urgent peal of the alarm bells instantly echoed throughout the entire pass.

The hundred-man company of Soldiers stationed here poured out of their barracks. They were clearly caught off guard—some were still fastening their armor straps, others nocking arrows to their bows as they ran—but they were all fast, swarming onto the ramparts in a matter of moments.

However, when they saw the dark tide of people in the distance, the color drained from everyone’s faces.

This wasn’t some small band of roaming bandits; it was clearly a massive army!

The endless column of troops stretched from the end of the mountain road far beyond the horizon. A rough estimate put their numbers at two or three thousand.

Marcus’s expression was grim as he drew the Longsword at his waist. "Send a messenger raven! Warn Lakefront Town immediately!"

A Soldier in charge of training the ravens immediately opened a cage and took one out.

Another Soldier next to him had already pulled out a finger-width scroll of parchment, scribbled a warning message with a few swift strokes, then quickly rolled it up and deftly stuffed it into a small copper tube.

The Soldier holding the raven took the copper tube, attached it to the raven’s leg in a few deft movements, and with a lift of his hand, the bird flapped its wings and took flight.

However, the raven had only just flown two or three hundred meters.

When suddenly...

"CAW~!!"

A piercing cry suddenly rang out.

Immediately after, an ice-blue shadow shot in from the distance like a bolt of lightning, diving straight for the airborne raven.

"SPLAT!"

Blood sprayed through the air.

The messenger raven was torn to pieces by the talons of the Tier Three Frost Blue Crow, its feathers and flesh raining down from the sky.

The Frost Blue Crow circled once in the air, let out a series of triumphant "caw caw caws," then flapped its wings and flew back towards the distant army.

Marcus’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach.

"Magic communication!"

He roared at his adjutant, "Use the Magic communication—quick!"