Mike's body lay on the ground, blood flowing.

Boer knelt, fists clenched, head bowed, perhaps due to the intense pain in his knees.

Or perhaps it was because of Mike's death that Boer's body trembled slightly.

Lynn said solemnly, "Mr. Boer, you may rise."

"You have already paid the price!"

Upon hearing this, Boer slowly stood up.

Looking at Lynn before him, Boer gratefully said, "Yes, Master Lynn."

"Then let's leave first..."

Lynn nodded.

Boer bent down and used both hands to slowly lift Mike's body from the ground.

With heavy steps, he walked toward the waiting carriage caravan.

Until the caravans headed off into the distance.

Lynn withdrew his gaze, contemplating in his mind.

The siege battle was becoming known to more and more people, making his territory increasingly dangerous.

However.

He also understood that as more merchants arrived for trade, carrying large quantities of grain and batches of slaves here.

This piece of land would eventually be known to more people.

He couldn't ensure that everyone who visited this territory would choose to keep silent.

The only thing he could do now was to continually strengthen the armed forces of the territory.

Relying on the walls and the defenses currently under construction to fend off threats.

...

As the ice layer on the ground gradually lessened.

Boer gave the order for everyone to mount the carriages and horses.

The sky gradually darkened.

They had to quickly head to the next camp where they could stay.

Otherwise, once the temperature fully dropped, neither people nor horses could endure it.

Passing through the forest lined with limestone roads, it wasn't long before the caravan arrived beneath the city wall.

Rose glanced at Boer's caravan and then commanded the soldiers to open the heavy iron gate.

Buzz~

The wooden gate, measuring several centimeters thick and covered with a layer of iron, emitted a heavy sound each time it opened and closed.

Under Boer's appreciative gaze towards Rose, the iron gate swung open.

Boer led the caravan out of the city wall, galloping towards the distant wilderness.

Buzz~

The heavy closing sound echoed once more.

Clang~

As the iron gate clattered shut, beneath the city wall, apart from the sounds of soldier training, no other noises remained.

On a low hillside.

Figures of four or five cavalrymen stood atop.

At the front, the middle-aged man draped in a wool cloak kept his gaze fixed on Boer's caravan as it receded.

Nearby, a young man in leather armor drove his horse over to the middle-aged man's side and asked, "Godfrey, would you like me to lead some men to intercept them?"

Godfrey replied blandly, "No need, just an ordinary businessman."

Shifting his gaze, Godfrey looked toward the distant city wall.

Despite being three thousand meters away, he could still make out the towering wall!

He couldn't judge its exact height, but he could distinctly perceive that its height was no less than that of Bordeaux City's outer wall!

Godfrey clearly saw figures busy digging and working on the open ground outside the city wall.

As an experienced knight, Godfrey naturally understood that those people were constructing defenses!

Moreover.

On the desolate land several kilometers away from the city wall, a team of a dozen members was surveying the surrounding environment.

Godfrey speculated they were site selection...

Desolate land, observing the surroundings, and outside the city walls—it's likely they were selecting sites for watchtowers.

Godfrey looked unwavering; he spoke, saying, "Give me the map of Kaldi!"

The young man who previously spoke promptly retrieved a roll of parchment from the leather pack bound to the horse.

Godfrey reached out to take it, unrolling it slowly, and his gaze quickly searched the map.

As he continued searching, Godfrey's brow furrowed more prominently.

Murmuring to himself, he said, "Strange... no markings on this map... no houses, no city walls..."

Which implies that the territory developed only recently?

The version of the map he had was a mere three years old.

The vast domain of the Karedi Empire meant map-makers didn't visit this southern boundary region.

Resulting in that territory not being marked on the map.

It was indeed a possibility.

But, from the outline and color of the city wall to the ongoing excavation and construction of defenses.

It didn't resemble a territory passed down for centuries!

If it had truly been inherited for such a long time, how could he have never known?

Did Marquis Ducas recently ennoble someone as a lord?

No one could answer him.

Godfrey found himself deeply curious about that territory and its lord behind it.

What kind of presence could construct a wall as tall as Bordeaux City's in such a short time?

In the next moment.

A bold thought crossed Godfrey's mind.

Could the collaboration between the Iron Blood Brotherhood and the Storm Mercenary Corps be due to their coveting that territory?

Coveting the territory, assaulting the walls, then annihilating all the lords behind the walls?

This could explain why all the manor lords in Morgan Town were unaware of the Bandit Corps' whereabouts?

If all these speculations prove accurate...

Godfrey still has one last doubt in his mind.

What kind of existence lurks behind the walls that entices the bandits to covet?

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