Buriek Guard Command Center, 3 km south of Lagra Castle

0730, 1 Sept 2025

General Griek was carrying out a final check on the assault plan on Lagra Castle when a staff officer approached him.

"General, Grand Commander Keraz sent urgent orders, the attack on Lagra Castle must be postponed until further notification."

General Griek frowned as he asked, “What do you mean by Grand Commander Keraz issuing an attack delay order?”

"Viscount Issel just sent a statement of surrender along with a request that the prisoner of war not be executed, and Grand Commander Keraz accepted it."

"Why did he accept it? Aren't we waging a genocide war on Sandhur Region?"

Silence enveloped the command center, neither the staff officer nor the field officer dared to answer General Griek's cynical question.

General Griek then turned to his XO. "Rhoe, how many prisoners do we have?"

Brigadier Rhoe immediately opened a notebook before answering, "A total of 127, 19 are Sandhur Guard's personnel while the rest are children who are defending the outer wall. They were retreating from the east, west, and north walls when the elements that penetrate the south wall cut off their retreat route.

The Captain who caught them refused to carry out executions on the spot and he is currently serving an administrative sentence. The prisoner's execution will be carried out in an hour."

General Griek grinned. "Continue the execution and do it in front of Lagra Castle's defenders. If they respond then launch a full-scale attack."

"General, what about the orders from Grand Commander Keraz?"

Some people in the command center thought Brigadier Rhoe's question would provoke General Griek's outburst, but the General just smiled casually.

"Report that the execution was carried out just before the orders arrived."

""""Sir!""""

Under General Griek's intense gaze, all the staff and field officers at the command center answered in unison, and the execution order was immediately carried out.

---

Robber Brigade Campground, Hills 30 km west of FOC South 1750

1220, 1 Sept 2025

While enjoying roasted wild chicken, Brigadier Flek studied the latest report sent by his colleague in the Crystal Communication Unit. The report gave him the idea regarding ​​the situation in Lagra City.

More than a hundred prisoners, most of whom were children were executed in front of Lagra Castle. Their heads were then plugged into spearheads and were lined up neatly not far from the castle wall.

When Lagra Castle's defenders weren't provoked, taunts were thrown out. Not long after that, a salvo of arrows was fired from the castle and battle broke out.

Since it was determined that scorched earth attacks should not be launched on Lagra Castle, while the defenders' morale was at its highest peak after the provocation, victory could not be achieved in the first wave of attacks. Even so, the collapse of Lagra Castle's defense was only a matter of time.

'Bastard, they're having fun storming the dying castle while I nearly died of boredom.'

From the first day of the landings, Brigadier Flek could only sit while his comrades achieved victory after victory, and piled up loot for them to enjoy once Sandhur Region was conquered.

Brigadier Flek and 2700 cavalrymen from Robber Brigade were tasked to anticipate the foreigner's reaction who set up a compound at the Desolate Land's entrance. But to this day, the scouts still reported the same thing. There was no slightest movement from the foreigner compound.

Therefore when a staff officer entered his tent, Brigadier Flek only glanced at him before returning to reading the report on the communication crystal.

"Sir, our scouts reported a small convoy of refugees moving toward Desolate Land, via Nouel Farmland 18 km to the north of the foreigner compound."

Brigadier Flek put down the communication crystal before turning to the staff officer. "What do you mean by a small convoy of refugees?"

"They were dressed like commoners, but the way they rode showed they were trained cavalrymen, and there were some women and children in the convoy."

'Finally, a prey to hunt.' Brigadier Flek's eyes flashed for a moment. "Order the reconnaissance platoon to herd the convoy to the foreigner compound, and prepare 2nd and 3rd Squadrons to move."

"Sir!"

The staff officer immediately gave a salute before exiting the tent. Not long after that, 1600 Robber Brigade personnel came out of the campground and headed east at full speed.

---

At first, Captain Rasser breathed a sigh of relief, because as soon as the convoy he was escorting reached an area 20 km from the Desolate Land entrance, Buriek Riders who had been hunting them for the past few days suddenly stopped their pursuit. The trip could be continued during the day then.

However, the convoy had just come out of hiding when 80 Buriek cavalrymen spotted them, then herded the convoy to a small compound in the south.

Captain Rasser turned to his subordinate riding beside him before saying, "Looks like Buriek Guard wants to use us as a pretext to attack the compound."

The subordinates looked at the compound 3 km in front of him before answering, "Captain, we have no other options."

"Yeah, I know."

Of the 200 elite cavalrymen he brought, Captain Rasser had lost 146 of them. Meanwhile, of the 70 noble family members he escorted, he had lost half of them. So, Captain Rasser didn't have much choice if he wanted to prevent a bigger loss.

---

As soon as Captain Rasser arrived in front of the small compound's main gate, he immediately concluded that the compound was very fragile.

It was located in an open plain that was easily attacked from any direction. While the outer walls were only made of sand bags with a height of 3 m, wrapped with iron frames, topped with barbed wire, and behind it some people were pointing strangely shaped sticks.

The enemy could indeed be seen from a distance, but if they came in massive numbers, then in an instant they would sweep the compound like a giant flood.

The wall would be easy to climb or even knock down. But that's not necessary because the compound's main gate was wide open and there was only a bar in front of it.

The personnel in the main gate also didn't wear body armor. They only wore plain green clothes. Apart from oddly shaped sticks and knives on the left waist, they also did not carry standard weapons such as swords, spears, or bows and arrows.

Their bodies did appear to be stronger than civilians, but still too weak compared to regular Sandhur Guard personnel. Their posture also did not show signs of a combatant who routinely conducts close combat training.

However, one thing bothered Captain Rasser. He could feel that the green-clothed people were veterans full of life and death experiences. Besides, with a massive Nouel's Farmland behind the compound, how could they survive Black Eagle's disturbance?

But in the end, Captain Rasser put aside various questions in his mind.

'Hope they can distract Buriek cavalrymen that are following us.'

Captain Rasser then dismounted from his horse, and introduced his convoy to the three men in green clothes who came out from the main gate.

"Greetings, I am Captain Rasser, commander of Viscount Issel's bodyguard from Sandhur Region."

One of the men in green clothes in front of Captain Rasser answered, "I am Captain Nathan, commanding officer of Outpost South 1750. Captain Rasser, may I know your purpose of visit?

Captain Rasser nodded slightly. "We were on our way north when bandits attacked us. We lost more than half of our convoy and supplies.

So, we look forward to staying at the outpost and refilling supplies. Of course, we will pay a fair price."

Captain Nathan did not answer immediately, and turned to the convoy behind Captain Rasser.

'At a glance, I can smell they were bringing disaster. But XO has given instructions, so I can't kick them out.'

Captain Nathan then said, "This outpost was established to protect the surrounding Nouel Farmland and has no political or territorial purpose. So if there is a political conflict or territorial struggle, we will take a neutral stance as long as we are not attacked.

As for any guests with peaceful intentions, we can provide supplies, accommodation, and medical treatment for free. Of course, all weapons must be handed over to us when the guests stay in the outpost."

For Captain Rasser, handing over the weapons was not a big problem. Because he believed that the weapons could be retrieved easily. Given that in close combat, he and his men are far superior to the personnel in the outpost.

Especially, if later he succeeds in conditioning the personnel in the outpost and his pursuers to be involved in a conflict.

Captain Rasser answered immediately, "We understand."

After Captain Rasser and his men handed over their weapons, the convoy then entered FOC South1750.

*****