CH 15

The reserve and ordinary soldiers each took a map and went separately to the designated positions in the forest.

Fernandi and Walker, with a team of knights, stayed at Lake Pal to protect Xia Zuoyi.

After arriving at the designated location.

Mike Andrew put the small flag he was carrying on the ground. First, he sent someone to get familiar with the road conditions from here to the valley and then called the leaders of each team over to discuss how to snatch the small flag from the opponent.

However, the strategy was not finished yet, the two soldiers who went to the small valley to survey the terrain suddenly returned with solemn expressions.

“Squad leader, the situation is a bit wrong.”

Mike Andrew frowned, “What?” 

The soldier said, “We found that there were no obvious traces of activity around the small valley, but we found these branches on the ground… We suspect that there might be another group of people in the valley, but we didn’t dare to get too close for fear of stunning the snake1.”

There was just a heavy snowfall in the forest.

Whether it’s the frost on the treetops or the snow on the ground, it hasn’t completely melted yet.

During this period, the withered grass and branches are not easy to ignite. Therefore, it is very unwise to go into the mountain without some coal and kerosene.

The ends of the branches that the soldiers took out were scorched and dry, and when they were close, they would smell a slightly pungent smell.

As a slave, he often chopped wood and burned firewood when he worked for the manor owner, and he could tell the dry or wet state of the wood at a glance.

The end of this branch is obviously the result of being doused with kerosene and burned.

The soldiers can preliminarily determine that there are people in the small valley.

Although they don’t know if it’s an enemy or a friend, but choosing to enter the Pal Mountain at this moment, they always feel ill intentioned…

“What should we do? Squad leader, do you want to go back and inform Sir Edwards first…”

Mike Andrew pondered for a moment, “Send one person back to notify.”

“The original drill plan has changed… No matter what the purpose of their coming to Mount Pal at this time, they are not well intentioned.”

“The earl is waiting by the lake. Protecting the safety of Lord Earl is the most important thing, so whether they’re enemies or friends, we should catch them first.”

The other squad leaders around looked at each other.

One of them said, “That is to say… We are likely to have a real fight with people… Do you want to kill?!”

Mike Andrew, “Don’t forget the admonition of Sir Edwards. When you take up a weapon, you will brandish it one day. Kindness to the enemy is cruelty to yourself.”

“If you can’t let your hand fall, you will die.”

The expressions of the other squad leaders gradually became firmer.

Mike Andrew, “First, let the two teams follow me and carefully go over, then after the inspection is confirmed, I will blow the bird whistle to signal you to move, and pass the message to the ordinary soldiers across the valley.”

“Yes, we understand.” 

The bird whistle is a short whistle made of wood.

When the whistle blows, you can adjust the middle lever by hand, and the tone will change from high to low, or loud to clear, or sharp and loud… It is very similar to the sound of a real bird.

It’s only half the size of a palm, so it’s very portable.

Xia Zuoyi fiddled with the bird whistle and used it as a secret signal in the army that conveys information through different changes in pitch.

In addition to the strengthening of physical fitness, the training camp also includes various technical learning such as reconnaissance and rapid rescue.

Bird whistle is one of them, and at present, it is only in the hands of each squad leader.

A reserve soldier quickly returned to Lake Pal and reported to Fernandi Edwards the anomalies found around the small valley.

At the same time.

The mountain forest suddenly sounded sharp birdsong at regular intervals, short and high-pitched.

Walker William said next to Xia Zuoyi, “This means no longer hiding and starting a full-scale attack.”

“It seems that they have determined that the enemy is hiding in the valley.”

“They don’t have enough experience yet. Taylor, you and Barnard, go ahead and take the lead.” 

Taylor Kennedy and Banard Larry were ordered to leave.

Xia Zuoyi, “Aren’t you going with Fernandi?”

Walker William smiled, “Lord Earl, protecting you in Lake Pal is the most important.”

“Moreover, for the past three months, Fernandi and I have been training them hard every day, and now it’s time to check the results. After all, the soldier training camp should not support some useless people.”

Although he adheres to the spirit of chivalry in his heart but because he is a noble and has a brother who is not close to him, and he will be eliminated if he fails in anything. Success is the only way out.

Most of the time, the smile on his face is a disguise, but in fact there is an unknown indifference in his heart.

Compared to him, Fernandi Edwards is a person who is the same inside and out.

He didn’t know how long it had passed, until a long clear bird whistle sounded.

Fernandi Edwards said solemnly, “The battle is over.”

Xia Zuoyi, “Let’s go and take a look.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The narrow valley in the forest is a little steeper than the big valley where Lake Pal is located. It is full of messy boulders and rocks, and the ground is desolate, with only a few wattle grass struggling to grow tenaciously in the cracks of the rocks.

The snow in the small valley was trampled in a mess, mixed with scarlet blood, and the air was filled with a pungent and bloody smell that had not yet completely dissipated. Many corpses were lying down, with large swords or scimitars scattered around.

Xia Zuoyi wrinkled his nose and waved his hand uncomfortably.

“How about our casualties?”

Taylor Kennedy replied, beaming with joy, “Lord Earl, only a handful of soldiers in the training camp suffered minor injuries, no one died.” 

It can only be said that the balance of victory is heavy on their side.

First, two soldiers went to the small valley to investigate the terrain and found something strange.

After that, Mike Andrew made a decisive decision. After confirming the enemy’s situation, he immediately blew the bird whistle. Ordinary soldiers responded quickly and cooperated with him tacitly, which caught the other side off guard and almost retreated in defeat.

A smile appeared on Xia Zuoyi’s small face, “Yes, I will reward the soldiers who have rendered meritorious service when we go back.”

“Who sent them? Have they confessed honestly?”

Taylor Kennedy, “More than a dozen people have been captured and have not been interrogated yet.”

Xia Zuoyi, “Fernandi, Walker, these dozen people will be handed over to you two.”

“Interrogate them one by one, be sure to ask who is behind the scenes wanting my life.”

“Yes, my lord.” They replied in unison.

After Fernandi and Walker took their orders to leave.

Xia Zuoyi lowered his head and rubbed his feet against the ground, kicking away the remaining snow, exposing a layer of soil darker than the outside of the valley, accompanied by small particles.

He seemed to be interested, kicked all the snow around him, and walked to the edge of the valley.

“Udit, let’s take a look over there.”

Udit naturally followed behind without any comment.

What’s the detail of the natural asphalt mine map presented by the system? Specially draw a three-dimensional topographic map of the valley, and mark where the weakest vein can be found and where it can be easily excavated.

The place where Xia Zuoyi wants to go is a broken rock that is half-shielded and slightly extending inward on the mountain wall.

Going inside is like a cave, but a narrow one and can only pass through one person.

As soon as he came to the periphery of the broken rock, he saw a few black solid materials scattered on the ground, which were half the size of a fist and irregular in shape. A casual glance would only seem like a stone.

Xia Zuoyi’s heart was a little hot and excited.

This is natural asphalt. If it is subdivided, it should be the rock asphalt in the natural asphalt.

He said in his heart, “Alright, 098.”

【Host, 098 will serve you wholeheartedly.】

Xia Zuoyi, “What is the scope of the gift that can be put out?”

“According to my position at the moment, can you put the gift in the innermost part of the cave?”

【Yes, host, are you sure to let 098 deliver the gift now?】

“OK.”

【Host, please wait a moment, it’s in operation… It’s been launched successfully. Please confirm and check in time.】

Xia Zuoyi seemed to hear a few milky grunts coming from the cave.

He said, “Udit, there seems to be a small animal in there!”

After that.

Xia Zuoyi ran inside in a hurry, and Udit hadn’t had time to stop him.

“My lord!” 

After Udit quickly followed, he saw the little earl with his back to him, the figure standing stiffly in place, dumbfounded and wondering what to do.

Xia Zuoyi was indeed a little dazed.

There are two small fluffy things moving slowly around his feet, one black and the other white, covered with beautiful markings, with thick little claws and thick little tails.

These are two little tigers that should not be weaned yet.

A white tiger.

The other seems to be the legendary black and blue tiger, which has long been extinct in modern times.

Xia Zuoyi can think of small animals that are fluffy, but he never thought of two black and white tigers…

He couldn’t help asking in his heart, “098, where did you go to travel?”

【Host, 098 went to visit the planet where the sand sculpture2 system is located.】

【It’s a place full of plush. These two little tigers are brothers. They lost their parents soon after they were born. If they were not taken away, they would be killed by another big tiger.】

【098 thinks they’re cute so I want to give them to the host as a gift, you’re welcome~】

“…”

Xia Zuoyi squatted down when Udit approached, stroked his hands on the heads of two little tigers who were constantly humming. He’s immediately hugged by their paws, licking and rubbing.

They’re really cute.

“Udit, look! Little tigers.” Xia Zuoyi whispered.

Udit slightly frowned, “The color of these two little tigers’ fur…very strange.”

He had never seen a white or black tiger.

Xia Zuoyi, “Maybe that’s why they were abandoned… Can I keep them?”

“After all, tigers are fierce beasts, my lord…..”

“Udit~”

“…”

Udit can’t bear the coquettish little earl, especially when his big caramel eyes are staring at him, and even his small hands are clasped in front of his chest.

“Ah, if you really want to… Of course you can.”

The author has something to say:

After checking, there seems to be no tiger in Europe, but this story is a fantasy world after all, and there will be a lot of fictional settings for the plot. Don’t search for information, there are many beasts on this fictional Western Continent, such as tigers and lions.

Translator’s Notes:

Were you surprised because there’s an update today?? Hahaha, me too!! I didn’t know I could manage my time so well (although I still have 3 subjects left to do) so I updated when I felt this site silent XD.