Chapter 400: Chapter 1: War

Northwest of Feiyan City, White Wolf River.

The White Wolf River is a river northwest of Feiyan City, about two hundred miles from the city, marking the northwesternmost edge of the city’s territory.

The border in the northwest is defined by this river.

The area north of the White Wolf River belongs to Count Pola, while the south side is under the jurisdiction of Baron Swaring.

The former is loyal to King Henry of Orendale, a bloodline of the Greenst family. The latter serves Queen Karina, also a bloodline of the Greenst family.

This is the current state of affairs in the Jade Land.

Since the disintegration of Orendale, which once ruled this land, the various nobles of different sizes have established their own kings and queens.

Each claims to be the rightful successor of Orendale and rules their own territory as their domain.

The legal contention has created inherent conflicts between these forces, but due to the complex relationships among them, no one can easily overcome the other, creating a delicate balance.

However, as time passes, with the gradual development of each territory, factors like internal population growth and resource competition make this balance increasingly fragile…

At the moment, a small skirmish is breaking out on a plain south of the White Wolf River.

The battle is between two groups.

On one side, a few young people clad in various ornate armor, wielding strange and flashy weapons, bear emblems on their chests indicating they are adventurers from Feiyan City.

On the other side is a group uniformly dressed in green leather armor, armed with standardized Cross Swords. They also wear emblems, featuring a stag’s antlers, the emblem of the Pola family north of the White Wolf River.

The surrounded adventurers are an adventure group numbering only four, with strength ranging from Bronze Level to Silver Level.

In contrast, the Pola family knights attacking them number over a hundred, equipped with crossbows, led by someone with Mid-level Knight strength.

The sheer disparity in strength meant this battle had almost no suspense from the start.

Even though these adventurers had reached at least Bronze Level, equivalent to Knight Level, they were barely holding on.

“Clang!” A sound of metal clashing echoed.

Silver adventurer Claude repelled one knight with a sword and angrily shouted, “Pola family dogs, this is Queen Karina’s land, under the jurisdiction of Feiyan City. How dare you invade us? Are you declaring war?”

Claude is one among many adventurers from Feiyan City, and today, as usual, he came with his team to explore a nearby Underground City.

To them, it was just another ordinary day, yet to their surprise, they were surrounded and attacked by a group on their way.

Claude wasn’t new to the area and recognized them immediately as knights of the Pola family from the north bank of the White Wolf River.

In response to Claude’s roar, the leading knight of the Pola family appeared indifferent, laughing, “Declare war? You rebellious peasants think you’re worthy of waging war with us?”

“War, this glorious and sacred thing, is an exclusive honor of the nobles. Thinking that learning some Fighting Spirit qualifies you for the battlefield? Ridiculous peasants!”

Claude retorted angrily, “This is Baron Swaring’s territory, his forces will be here soon!”

“Swaring?”

Claude scoffed with disdain, “The coward who couldn’t even keep his date at a banquet, you pinning your hopes on him is both naive and laughable.”

“Not that he has the guts, even if he does come…”

Claude spoke meaningfully, “Which side he’ll stand on is still unknown.”

Lynch spread the Knight Breathing Method and swordsmanship, enabling even commoners to learn Fighting Spirit and obtain powers only knights previously held, undoubtedly undermining the very foundation of their rule.

In this new set of Order Rules, these nobles are by far the greatest losers.

Although forced by Lynch’s formidable Extraordinary Power to grudgingly acknowledge it, that doesn’t mean they truly accept Lynch’s rules in their hearts. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have collectively left Feiyan City, abandoning its vast advantages.

After returning to their territories, they only nominally express loyalty to Feiyan City and Queen Karina, while their real intentions are known only to themselves.

From the factional perspective, they belong to opposing camps with the north, but in terms of stance, these nobles are indeed in league.

“You…you!”

Claude was so furious that his face turned red, unable to speak.

The knight facing him, however, was disinterested in continuing the dialogue. Placing his right hand on the Cross Sword at his waist, he said coldly, “Now, I’ll give you ten counts. If you don’t surrender, then don’t blame me for being merciless.”

The Dark Moon Church doesn’t capture adventurers solely for mining; some are used in strange magical experiments.

For those resources, a little damage is acceptable.

“10…”

“5…”

“3…”

By now, the knight had already started to draw the Cross Sword.

Claude and his companions turned pale.

The number surrounding them exceeded a hundred, with nearly ten having reached the level of knights. They had tried various methods to break through but failed, even when the opponents were holding back to capture them alive.

If this knight joined the battle now and rallied others, the outcome would be clear.

Claude felt a wave of despair.

“1!”

At the same time, the knight’s countdown came to an end. He finally asked, “Surrender or not?”

Claude coldly retorted, “Screw your surrender, go to hell!”

Claude was well aware of the fate awaiting them if captured; the enslavement of adventurers in the northern noble’s pitch-black mines was infamous, a fate a hundred times more wretched than slavery.

Even in death, Claude couldn’t accept that!

“What a pity!”

The knight shook his head in disappointment, then waved his hand to signal a full attack.

The archers on the outside immediately pulled their bowstrings to a full moon state.

It seemed as though Claude and his companions in the center would be riddled with arrows.

Yet, at that moment, suddenly—

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!” Sharp arrows whistled, unexpectedly shooting from behind.

Simultaneously.

“Clatter, clatter, clatter!” Thunderous hoofbeats echoed.

On the plain, it was clear that a rider was swiftly galloping towards them…

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