Chapter 257 257-The Challenge

Chapter 257 257-The Challenge

"I must confess," began a local of Yami Village, "not long ago, a down-and-out nobleman named Resarite arrived here. His lands had been confiscated by a lord, a blow that left him deeply affected. However, he lent his aid to our lord and, in doing so, earned his trust. Guess what became of him?"

Knight Kaido, gripping the railing from above, inquired, "What happened to him?"

Bosiden replied with a hint of pride, "He is now the lord of Rui Village, having regained his noble status. Now, when people see him, they have no choice but to respectfully address him as 'Lord Knight'."

At this, Knight Kaido's eyes sparkled.

He glanced towards a man standing beside him.

This man, his Knight Squire, had accompanied him to Castle Fernsouth.

Acknowledging Knight Kaido's inquisitive look, the squire nodded subtly in response.

Changing his tone, Knight Kaido addressed Bosiden, "It seems Lord Howard indeed has an extraordinary knack for leadership. I am willing to pledge my allegiance to Lord Howard."

With that, Knight Kaido led Bosiden to the lord's hall and began drafting a document.

Once completed, Bosiden took the paper and, upon reading it, a smile crept onto his face.

"Your decisive action is commendable. Lord Howard will surely reward you handsomely in time."

After Bosiden departed with the document, not long passed before the Chancellor of Knight Blima arrived at Knight Kaido's domain, seeking an audience.

However, the guards at the gate barred his entry, declaring that Knight Kaido had sworn fealty to Baron Howard and was no longer a vassal of Knight Blima.

The chancellor, driven by frustration, began to berate Knight Kaido's disloyalty and heartlessness at the village outskirts, only to be eventually persuaded to leave by the guards.

In the evening, within his domain, Lord Howard was busy training peasant soldiers when Alonso approached with news: "My lord, Zoron has sent his family to deliver five gold coins."

Handing over a small bag of money to Howard, Alonso watched as he opened it and counted.

Indeed, there were five gold coins.

Sharing a knowing smile, Howard said, "Good, release Zoron then."

Alonso inquired, "Zoron's family resides in Pitz Village. Shall we expel them from there?"

Howard shook his head.

"It hasn't come to that yet. In the world of noble warfare, there are codes of conduct to be upheld. Since the opposing side has abided by the rules of nobility and has lost the war along with their title, we must respect their personal property. Let them continue to live in Pitz Village."

"In the future, once my affairs have expanded, if he can change his gluttonous habits, I might even consider him for my heavy cavalry."

Alonso praised Howard's foresight, "My lord, your thoughts are beyond the ordinary. This way, we neither break the noble codes, nor do we lose the opportunity to make use of Zoron in the future. After all, as a knight with systematic military training, he possesses considerable combat abilities."

Suddenly, a guard arrived with news: "Knight Blima's Chancellor is here."

"My lord, this is Castle Fernsouth. The castle is easy to defend but hard to attack. The once-vibrant Baron Layton met his demise here and succumbed to depression upon his return. In this battle, we cannot rely solely on brute force; we must employ strategy."

Howard, reminded of his own past experiences, reflected aloud, "Yes, let's not even mention Layton. Just consider my own experiences. I was once summoned as a knight to defend Castle Fernsouth."

"We were facing Baron Hof, and their forces were twice the size of ours, a formidable sight. Many were afraid, but I was not."

"Because I understood how sturdy this castle beneath our feet was. I knew that with a solid defense, we wouldn't lose to Hof."

"And indeed, my thoughts proved correct; we eventually repelled Baron Hof."

Anna added, "My family has a saying: 'Fear not the strong fortress, but the resolute hearts within.' It means the strength of a fortress is just an external condition, but united hearts can achieve greater victories."

"My point is, maybe we can find a way to appeal to the people within Castle Fernsouth."

Howard, turning to Anna, asked gently, "Oh? So, Anna, do you already have a plan in mind?"

Anna smiled and said, "Knight Blima lacks leadership, his men have little faith in him. I've already established contact with the captain of Knight Blima's guards. When necessary, we can have him open the gates for us."

Margaret looked at Anna, surprised and impressed, "Wow, Anna, you're incredible! Does this not mean we can take Castle Fernsouth effortlessly?"

Anna held her head high with pride, "It's all thanks to my family's teachings and guidance."

Resarite found the plan feasible, and Margaret had no objections.

The final decision rested with Howard, and if he agreed, the operation would likely proceed smoothly.

Howard, cautious as ever, asked Resarite about the estimated number of enemy troops.

Resarite replied, "Around 300, but these are all castle soldiers, well-equipped and trained. A direct confrontation would lead to heavy losses on our side."

Taking a deep breath, Howard looked into Resarite's eyes, "If I put all my forces under your command to fight Knight Blima's 300 men on open ground, what are our chances of victory?"

Resarite shook his head, "On open ground, since they are castle troops, they will likely have heavy cavalry patrolling the surroundings, making a surprise attack difficult. And with their heavy cavalry on the battlefield, they become an almost insurmountable obstacle."

"Even on open ground, it would be tough to defeat them."

"Knight Blima is relying on the quality of his single soldiers, anticipating to overpower us with their superior training, considering our lands consist mostly of villages."

Howard inquired, "How many heavy cavalrymen might the enemy have?"

Resarite responded, "Maintaining a heavy cavalryman is costly; only the most powerful lords can afford a sizable heavy cavalry force. Given Knight Blima's apparent lack of capability, I would estimate at most three to five heavy cavalrymen."

"But even a small number of heavy cavalry should not be underestimated. Their charge on open ground can be terrifying."

Howard understood that heavy cavalry were essentially a type of knight, distinct from the nobility-born knights with titles.

These heavy cavalrymen, lacking noble titles, were nonetheless equipped with superior gear and robust horses, receiving the best resources available.