“So you’re saying that the elite troops of the Demon Clan have been annihilated?”
In a compartment connected to the tunnel in White Frost Fortress, Pierre was repeatedly confirming with the scout.
“Two demon soldiers were lucky enough to escape, but they seem to have suffered some sort of shock and are experiencing mental issues.”
The scout recalled the scene he witnessed on the road with the demon clan; the two demon cavalry were covered in blood, but it wasn’t theirs nor that of the enemy. The scout judged that it must have been their companion’s blood from being killed, splattering onto them.
It was obvious that the demon troops had suffered some kind of blow. Just as the scout wanted to catch up to ask more questions, the two demon cavalry were already in a somewhat abnormal state of mind, frantically waving their whips while fleeing.
The scout expended a lot of effort to catch up with the two demons, but these two mentally deranged demons could only mutter, “Everyone’s dead, they’re all dead.”
In a rare moment of clarity, they only asked the scout for two horses and continued to flee.
After listening to the detailed report, Pierre paced back and forth in the compartment. He had previously thought that the main attacking force was merely a vanguard, which already made him a bit sensitive; now he was being informed that there was another force capable of wiping out the demon elite on the way.
Thinking about it made Pierre feel like he was losing more hair.
Pierre sighed deeply and stepped out of the dark door of the compartment, just to bump into his young daughter Emily. With his mind elsewhere, Pierre immediately put on a warm expression, “My Emily, what are you doing here? There’s nothing here that you like, not even the weapons and armor.”
“But there is the latest intelligence.”
Wearing armor, Emily looked worriedly at her father. Although it was just for a moment, Pierre’s slightly panicked gaze was still caught by Emily.
“Indeed, the current situation is not optimistic, but as long as Governor Doug counters, everything will turn around.”
Seeing her father restore his usual smile, Emily chose not to believe as she had in the past but instead directly asked the scout behind Pierre, “You come here and tell me exactly what has happened outside?”
The scout glanced at his lord, as if silently asking for permission, while Pierre kept raising his eyebrows.
“Miss, reinforcements from the demon elite troop are on their way. I believe our crisis will soon be relieved.”
Pierre breathed a sigh of relief, but Emily rebutted, “The elite troops from the demon clan that are coming to reinforce have encountered problems, haven’t they?”
Then Emily looked at Pierre with disappointment: “Father, I’m not a three-year-old child anymore.”
Emily tapped her chest armor and said, “I have inherited the noble bloodline of the Laurent Family. I can share your burdens.”
Pierre wanted to say something but swallowed the words back. When he finally opened his mouth again, he said, “Alright, my dear Emily, follow me.”
Pierre led Emily and the scout back into the compartment, and the scout reported the real situation again.
Pierre also added, “My dear Emily, in fact, the third wall is already close to collapsing. The enemy’s commander is even more steady than we imagined. They have directly used cannons to destroy all the walls, giving us not a single chance. Many tunnels we left behind have had to be self-destructed.”
“And judging by the current situation, the enemy may not actively attack the city but will continue bombarding our castle with cannons. This castle won’t fall so quickly, but once the castle is bombarded…”
Pierre did not continue speaking, and Emily immediately added: “Those older brothers and uncles will panic immediately, and in the end, the family will be in internal strife. At that time, if the enemy cooperates slightly, someone on our side will have ill intentions.”
“That’s right. The Beitang Defensive Line seems to have collapsed in this manner, except that the Beitang Defensive Line fell because supplies were cut off, while at least we are not at the enemy’s doorstep and supplies are still somewhat sufficient.”
The bombardment had lasted for two weeks, with the enemy’s shells destroying the city walls that could be considered historical sites as if they were worthless. This made Pierre’s heart feel like it was bleeding; although the Laurent Family was one of the more intact families in the Northern Border, the techniques for building these walls and castles had already been largely lost.
Even if they really held out this time, it would be very difficult to repair them in the future.
Although the support from allies was probably not far away, Pierre, who had already engaged with the forces outside the city, also understood that those allies might not even be able to surpass the enemy’s vanguard, let alone the main attacking force that had already set up camp.
Especially with the elite of the demon clan, whom Pierre had high hopes for, being completely annihilated, only two madmen returned to the demon territory.
“Dear, are there any usable tunnels left in the castle?”
“There are, of course. I’ve kept one that can not only transport soldiers and horses but also deliver weapons and gear.”
After Pierre finished speaking, he realized what his daughter intended to do and hurriedly said, “No, that’s too risky!”
“Father, you should know that it’s only a matter of time before the White Frost Fortress is breached. We don’t have the corresponding cannons to counterattack, and the mages can’t bombard like the enemy’s cannons in turns. The only way to break the deadlock now is to take the initiative.”
Pierre knew all too well that no matter how hard the shell is, it will eventually be pried open; however, this matter absolutely could not make the hopes of the family disappear.
Emily was already Pierre’s most outstanding daughter; she must not die in such a manner.
Even if it meant sending away her two incompetent brothers, Pierre would never allow Emily to die.
“Father, there’s no time. I’ve asked the scholars in the castle, and tomorrow night there will be an excellent opportunity for a night raid. As long as I lead the remaining elite soldiers to launch a surprise attack, the rest will be no problem.”
Indeed, if Emily could heavily injure the enemy, considering the reinforcements coming afterward, the enemy might really choose to withdraw temporarily.
The premise is that Emily can succeed, and with Pierre having gone a few rounds with the enemy’s commander, he knew just how tough they were— they would not fall for such a night raid.
After hearing his daughter say this, Pierre began to seriously think about the future of the Laurent Family. Normally, great nobles would prepare for two scenarios, but the Graywhite Territory’s attack had come so swiftly that many nobles within the Laurent Family had yet to react before the enemy had pushed to their doorstep, leaving no opportunity to hedge.
Pierre currently had only one idea in his mind: he must ensure Emily’s safety first, and ideally, no matter what happens afterward, it would not affect her.
“Dear, please leave it to me. I will definitely bring back victory. I’ve studied in the Royal Capital for so long, is it not just for this moment?”
Emily kept urging, while Pierre shook his head; the actual combat was completely different from what the old-fashioned nobles in the Royal Capital taught, and Emily would definitely lose if she went out.
Wait? Definitely lose? Suddenly, a bold idea popped into Pierre’s mind.
“I understand. I will think about it carefully.”
“Really? Thank you so much, Father! I will not disappoint you, and I will restore the glory of the Laurent Family!”
Looking at his radiant daughter, Pierre revealed a faint bitter smile.
