Considering the pill's effects, Roland didn't immediately order the First Army to pursue. Instead, he dispatched Lightning and Maxie to monitor the enemy's movements.
The wounded soldiers on the defensive line received immediate medical attention. Throughout the entire battle, only five individuals were injured, all struck by javelins, four of whom were from the artillery unit. To his relief, the enemy's javelin attack at approximately 150 meters did not cause the artillerymen to scatter. Instead, they crouched low, using the gun barrels to evade the short spears and quickly resumed combat operations.
Navana remained stationed behind the defensive line on standby, especially when the enemy turned and fled. Ignoring the thunderous artillery fire, she rushed to the artillery position with Count Togo to treat the wounded who had been pierced by short spears. It is hard to imagine that just half a year ago, she was still a young girl who would feel dizzy and disoriented at the sight of blood.
In the end, all five of them survived. Amidst cheers, many soldiers saluted her and watched her leave the battlefield.
In reality, this battle was far less challenging than confronting the Duke's allied forces. Without the medication, the addicted militia members performed extremely poorly, with some even lying down after running two or three kilometers, refusing to move again.
The pursuing forces swiftly gathered all the captives and marched them to the Changge Fortress. During this period, the First Army also captured two Knights. Though they had not taken the pill, they had lost the will to resist. Facing the relentless advance of the pursuers, they surrendered and requested to write to their families for ransom.
Four days later, we arrived at Changge Fortress.
Based on intelligence obtained from Knight's surrender during interrogation, Nightingale effortlessly crushed the remaining fortress troops. The captain was killed instantly, and over a hundred militiamen scattered like birds and beasts in panic before falling into the ambush set by the First Army at the main gate.
Roland's men discovered Perro, the imprisoned man, in the castle dungeon. Though visibly haggard from worry and anxiety, he was treated with dignity given the Count of Gold and Silver Flower's noble status.
After nearly three months, Prince met with the agent again.
"Your Highness, it's been a relief to finally meet you," Perro's anxious heart finally settled as he recounted the events of recent days. "As for those envoys from Tefiko..." "They're all dead," Roland said nonchalantly, leaning back in his chair. "And the 1,500 men they brought? More than half perished at the town's border. The rest are now imprisoned in the fortress jail." Perro was taken aback by the news of the envoy group's total annihilation. "Your Highness, if you proceed like this, the new king... no, your brother will see you as a thorn in his side." "So I should surrender and return to the capital, at his mercy?" Roland's eyes locked into his.
The latter involuntarily lowered his head. "No, Your Highness..." "From the moment he sent troops into the Westerlands, he has been my enemy," the Prince said calmly. "Tifeco Wamberton will only grow more desperate for power. He desperately needs land and titles to distribute among his loyal Nobles. If it were merely for pleasure, why would you manage this fortress for me? You should know that your position in the Westerlands will only be secure once I become the King of Graycastle." He paused, then added, "To prevent such a scenario from recurring, I must build an army to defend the fortress." "An army?" Perro was stunned.
"Exactly, not Knights, but a civilian army specifically trained for combat," Roland slowly revealed his plan. "Select a 300-strong unit from the fortress and have my men train them. The recruits must be: civilians, crime-free, non-Church members, aged 16-30, and physically unimpaired. During training, they'll reside in Border Town with weapons provided by me. Your Knights and patrol squad will focus solely on urban security. More details are written here," he handed the parchment. "You may use this to issue recruitment notices and conduct screening." Clearly, stationing his own army was the optimal strategy to control the city. But with the First Army's limited numbers, even defending Border Town was insufficient, let alone garrisoning the Long Song Fortress. Thus, accepting manpower from the opposing side while conducting training himself became the compromise.
The Nightingale's lie-detecting capability ensures the unit's integrity, while the modern army's training methods and ideological education enable rapid combat readiness. Equipped with obsolete muzzle-loading flintlock muskets, they remain vulnerable to enemy capture. Additionally, this unit serves as a vital intelligence relay, allowing Roland to receive immediate alerts of any fortress attack attempts.
"I understand," Pei Luo nodded.
"The personnel you've screened will be re-examined. Don't try to plant spies in the ranks – that's pointless," Roland warned. "The scouts you sent earlier have already infiltrated the mines. If anything like this happens again..." "No, Your Highness," the man wiped sweat from his forehead. "I promise it won't happen." "Next is the Church," Prince leaned back in his chair satisfied. "You probably don't know yet – the Fortress Cathedral was set on fire by Tefiko's men, and High Priest Taro was killed by them. Now it's just ruins." "They actually burned down the church?" Perro was stunned. "This... I need to report this to Hermes." According to Church law, the King and Lord are obligated to protect local Church facilities from harm. If unable to prevent it, they must immediately report to the Holy City. For the former ambassador who knew the law well, this was a normal reaction. Moreover, such matters couldn't be concealed – the devout believers in the fortress likely sent secret messages to the Holy City on the day of the incident."
"Reporting is necessary, but the letter's content requires some adjustments," Roland said with a wry smile. "Just state in the letter that the attackers were Tefiko's forces from Wimbledon. They left the Long Song Fortress shortly after looting and burning the church, and their whereabouts remain unknown. Also, attach this item to the letter," he said, pulling a pill from his pocket and handing it to Perro. "Just say it was found near the church. They'll understand." "What is this?" "The Church's secret potion, also Tefiko's target. It grants ordinary people extraordinary strength for a short time, but the effects wear off, and the user gradually weakens until death," Roland explained briefly. "Tefiko wants to use this drug to strengthen his army and stabilize his precarious throne. The Church will naturally understand his intentions upon seeing this pill." Whether they'll take action is another matter entirely.
"Your Highness." Perro replied, cradling the marbles in his arms.