Luis looked at every soldier who had a hesitant expression in their faces.
"Do you ---?" Just as he was about to talk to them, Theodore interjected.
"Luis Hartmann, the son of Baron Felipe. Do you think you can go against the War Council? The nobles in it will not tolerate this. You are the same as your father." Theodore laughed
"Your family is just a baron promoted from Pioneer Knight. You barbarian! The Hartmann's have never known the elegance of true nobility. You're a stain on the council, just like your father."
"Anyone here who dares to follow Hartmann will make an enemy of War Council."
Luis paused when he heard this and looked back at Theodore with a smile.
"You speak a lot for a beaten guy! I would shut up when I was in this state," Luis laughed out loud.
But his laughter quickly faded, replaced by a cold, commanding tone. "This is not enough, Liam! Break both of his hands. Dare to speak back."
Without hesitation, Liam grabbed Theodore's arms and, with a swift, brutal motion, broke them. Theodore screamed in agony, the sound echoing through the camp as he writhed on the ground, his face twisted in pain.
"Now, everyone, listen, I am going to hunt the orcs. If anyone wants to kill the Orcs Follow me," Luis informed every soldier. He will only take those who want to genuinely kill the orcs. If they are afraid, it will only hold him back.
"War Council... War Count---" Theodore was shouting when he was again punched by Liam, silencing him once more as blood dripped from his mouth.
The squads, after listening to Luis, hesitated. No one stepped forward to kill those orcs. They are afraid. Very afraid of those Orcs that slaughtered tens of thousands of people.
Just thinking of fighting the Orcs made the soldiers hearts tremble and a threat from Theodore about the War Council. They don't dare follow Luis.
Their eyes darted between Luis and broken Theodore. No single soldier stepped forward.
Luis watching this understood that fear had taken root. He will not take these with him.
Without saying anything, he turned around. All of his personal knights followed him too. Liam whispered something into the ears of Theodore before leaving.
Theodore's face turned pale, his eyes wide with fear as he watched Liam walk away, his figure fading into the distance.
-----
"A bunch of cowards."
The whole night passed, and daylight began to break through the sky.
Luis stared ahead expressionlessly with frustration hidden in his eyes. The orcs had escaped. Now, they were untraceable. Ahead of them was the mountain range with rocky surfaces.
"Liam, any suggestions now?" Luis finally questioned with a tired voice. Nothing is going in his favor these days.
"This mountain range is very big, and it will take days before finding something. There is no chance now, young master, those Orcs escaped long ago," Liam informed, checking the surface.
Luis clenched his fists, a mix of frustration and determination flickering in his eyes. "I didn't come all this way to leave empty-handed." He turned to face the squad, his voice suddenly sharp with renewed purpose. "Everyone, spread out and search for four hours!"
His command echoed across the camp. "Anything suspicious—report to me immediately!"
-----
Meanwhile, in the Pioneer City that was destroyed by Orcs.
Theodore was treating his injuries. His face was expressionless, and nothing could be distinguished from his body expression.
The followers beside him had faces full of fear.
"Commander, what do we do now?" One follower asked cautiously.
Theodore looked at the clear sky above and sighed. He was really beaten badly today. His angry, clouded mind cleared a little.
"Just station here till the Wizard arrives to purify this place." He said, "Do you know who the Hartmann really are?"
The followers looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
"Isn't the Hartmann family a noble promoted from Pioneer Knight?" one follower said skeptically.
"You can go wait outside; if the wizard arrives, inform me." Theodore waved them off.
Theodore was now left alone, thinking about the words of Liam: "Previous Baroness is from the Duke Family; current Baroness is from the Earl Family. How lucky are these Hartmann?"
"That's why they are so strong. I will go to the War Council to search about them later," Theodore murmured with a wry smile, looking at his hand.
It seems that he will face great punishment after returning to the frontline camp. He regretted his decision to mess with Luis Hartmann.