Chapter 237: Chapter 201: That Year at 18, Standing Like a Minion
As the fighting gradually subsided, the Wilderness Alliance Army eyed the large reinforcement force that had arrived for the enemy. They had no choice but to leave their dead behind and retreat like a receding tide.
The reinforcing Thorn Soldiers swept the battlefield while the Auxiliary Soldiers constructed a temporary camp.
As expected, Fujero had been ambushed on the road by a male Zor Commander leading several thousand Wilderness People.
If the Legion Commander hadn’t been so cautious, and if not for his outstanding military talent, those punks might have actually pulled off their ambush.
Even so, the ambush had still delayed their march. They’d tried to make up for lost time but still arrived half a day late.
"Fujero, what were your casualties?"
A bonfire blazed in a clearing with a large cauldron bubbling over it. Levi was fishing a piece of tender mutton from the thick stew, his mouth already slick with grease as he ate.
He’d only had a few bites of rye bread that morning before spending the rest of the day running around and cutting people down. He was starving. The moment the enemy retreated, he had anxiously tracked down some cooks to get a fire going and make food.
You can’t fight on an empty stomach, after all.
As commander of the Vanguard Army, he had only brought along the Warriors from High Cliff Castle; the rest of his Auxiliary Soldiers and cooks were with the main force.
"Their ambush was unexpected, but we didn’t suffer any major losses. It just delayed us."
Fujero squatted to the side, bowl in hand, wolfing down his food with no regard for his image.
"I have to sincerely thank you for this, Lord. If you hadn’t arrived with reinforcements, it’s hard to say if Si Kai could have held out until I got here."
"Losing a Panda Warrior Squad, a Senior Priest, and a Knight Commander here would have been an unbearable loss for us." He looked up at Levi, his expression serious. "I will report all of this to the Duke truthfully."
"This is a brilliant achievement that not even the eternal night could overshadow."
"Hah, it was mutually beneficial." Levi waved his hand dismissively. "I’m a practical man. As long as Fulina can provide High Cliff Castle with some tangible support, I’ll be satisfied."
He might look like he was thriving in his own little corner of the world with his band of Barbarians. High Cliff Castle had grown into a force of several thousand, and it had even carved out a foothold in the Wilderness.
But none of that could hide the truth: his was a fledgling power. His people were so poor they couldn’t rub two copper coins together, and they were still struggling just to get by.
His entire territory was basically running on his personal funds.
’I had imagined being a Pioneer Lord meant living in a magnificent palace, surrounded by Beast-eared Maidens and indulging in a life of debauchery.’
’But imagination is just that—imagination. In reality, there isn’t a single Beast-eared Maiden to be found. Instead, I have a pile of rough Beastman brutes I have to squeeze in and sleep with every night.’
"Duke Fulina will certainly grant you a satisfactory reward, Lord. The motto of the Martel Family is—we avenge every wrong and repay every kindness a hundredfold!"
Fujero smiled faintly. After he finished speaking, he glanced down and saw the stew pot was empty.
The burly Panda People was holding a heaping washbasin and eating with gusto, his furry face covered in grease. When he met Fujero’s gaze, he blinked his eyes innocently.
He turned to see the Lord beside him was no different. The two of them were, without a doubt, absolute bottomless pits.
’One of them alone ate as much as ten Thorn Corps soldiers.’
Licking his lips, Fujero reluctantly set down his bowl.
’Those two are powerhouses; they’ve killed countless enemies in this war. It’s only natural they eat a lot, and the Thorn Corps never shortchanges its heroes. But...’
He still felt a pang of loss. His sister had specially sent him all this mutton to supplement his rations.
After all, military life mostly consisted of mess-hall food. It was enough to fill your stomach, but you could hardly call it delicious.
So, most officers brought their own preferred rations to cook on the side. It was a tradition in the Thorn Corps, and he was no exception.
He had only intended to share it with everyone as an apology for his late arrival, but he never expected these two to eat like animals...
"Fujero, this mutton is incredible!" Levi exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up. "What breed of sheep is it? I’ll have to buy a couple to raise when I get back."
The last time he’d eaten something this good was at the Duke’s Mansion. This mutton from Fujero was so tender, with almost no gamy taste. Just boiling it with a little salt was enough to make one eat nonstop.
It wasn’t often he got to freeload off a simple, middle-aged man like Fujero, so the Lord was taking full advantage.
"Lord, it’s Highland Black Sheep. When we get back, I’ll have Lorina send you a few."
"Deal." The Lord nodded.
"Lord, there’s a situation!"
Just then, Si Kai came running from the distance, gasping for breath.
This was the middle-aged Knight’s first time leading men in a difficult defensive battle, and he had suffered heavy losses. Overcome with guilt, he had personally gone to help carry the wounded after the fighting ended.
The men exchanged glances, their expressions grim. Could the Wilderness People already be trying something new, right after suffering such a crushing defeat?
"Hmph. These punks really don’t know when to quit," the Lord sneered.
The Panda Warrior’s relaxed expression vanished. He snatched up the weapon he had just set down and readied himself for battle. A tense silence fell over him.
So much for dinner. Levi hastily shoveled in a few more mouthfuls and wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
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