Dozens of miles away, “Blood Wolf” Karl, who had just finished plundering a village and was about to enjoy the spoils, received news that his camp had been attacked and all the remaining personnel annihilated.
He suddenly crushed the wine glass in his hand, and the crimson wine dripped through his fingers like blood.
Karl’s face was terrifyingly grim, his eyes flickering with a snake-like cold light.
He hadn't expected that seemingly young noble lord to be so decisive and ruthless!
Not only did he dare to execute his messenger, but he also dared to launch a night raid on his camp!
This was no longer a provocation, but an open declaration of war!
He had underestimated this opponent.
Beneath Blackstone Town’s seemingly weak exterior, a fierce tiger lay hidden, ready to devour its prey.
Directly attacking a town with relatively strict defenses, without infantry support, would inevitably result in heavy losses. Moreover, his precious Knights could not be easily sacrificed against sturdy town defenses.
Now that their rear camp had been taken, and a considerable amount of provisions and supplies lost, continuing the siege and plunder had lost its meaning. On the contrary, they might be caught off guard by another counterattack.
Karl took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart.
He had started from scratch, formed the Blood Wolf Band, and became a dominant force in the Black Stone Mountain Range, so he was not a fool who only relied on brute force.
“Give the order.”
Karl’s voice was cold.
“Temporarily retreat and leave the Blackstone Territory.”
A trusted subordinate beside him was stunned: “Boss, that’s it?”
“That’s it?”
Karl sneered, a hint of cruelty and calculation flashing in his eyes.
“Someone asked me to deal with this young lord, but now it seems the price they offered is too low!”
“Once I go back and negotiate the price with that pale-skinned noble, I’ll come back and meet this new lord of Blackstone Territory.”
The bandit cavalry quietly retreated into their lair in the Black Stone Mountain Range under the cover of night.
Even with his Earth Knight cultivation and keen senses, Karl didn't notice a ghostly white figure silently trailing behind them.
The next morning.
The sunlight shone on Blackstone Town, allowing the town, which had just escaped danger, to feel warmth again.
Lei Luo ate breakfast, browsing the newly updated intelligence for the day.
【Daily Intelligence Update】
【1: A small group of scattered Magic Horned Horses has arrived in Blackstone Territory. They will stay here for several days.】
【2: The “Poison Fang” mercenary group, active around the Black Stone Mountain Range, has been frequently active recently, suspected of accepting a high-value commission, and their target may be related to Blackstone Territory.】
【3: The water level of the previously calm Blackwater River has risen abnormally, flooding farmland. Fishermen report the appearance of giant aquatic magical beasts in the river, which are extremely aggressive.】
【4: Suspected wreckage of an attacked merchant ship has been found upstream of the Black Stone River. Send troops to search, and some supplies may be found in the wreckage.】
【5: In a sparse forest fifty kilometers northwest of Blackstone Town, south of the Black Stone Mountain Range, an injured giant dragon briefly stayed. Due to the contamination of the dragon’s aura, a large patch of Earth Dragon Grass has grown here.】
【6: ……】
【7: ……】
【8: A small team of Magic Snake Claws has left the Emerald Marshes and entered the Blackstone Territory. The leader of the Claw is Slark, the Magic Snake Priest who escaped last time. For revenge, this time he brought a tamed third-tier magical beast, the Swamp Giant Crocodile.】
【9: Tomorrow, a large-scale slave-catching team will return from the Northwestern Barrens with their spoils. They will pass through Blackstone Territory for a brief resupply. Among the barbarian slaves captured by this slave-catching team, there is a barbarian youth named Thor, who possesses the strong Earth Bear bloodline of the Barbarian Thirteen Tribes. Those with this bloodline are destined to become a fourth-tier Sky Knight, with a small probability of breaking through to become a fifth-tier Domain Knight.】
【10: Continuous threats have exhausted your Knights, but due to your recent actions, the young lord has gained the support of his people. Recruit a group of Knight Squires from your people, grant these young men the opportunity to become Knights and ascend in status, and you will receive heartfelt gratitude and support from your people.】
The Magic Snake Claws invaded again.
Slark, and a third-tier magical beast, the Swamp Giant Crocodile.
Lei Luo was not unfamiliar with this name.
“Third-tier magical beast…”
Blackstone Town's current defensive strength, centered around Aide, an Earth Knight, plus more than ten well-trained Knights, was sufficient to deal with ordinary bandits or low-tier magical beasts, but to directly confront a thick-skinned, powerful third-tier Swamp Giant Crocodile, plus the cunning Magic Snake Priest and his Claws, even relying on the town's wooden walls for defense, would result in heavy casualties.
A direct confrontation was the worst option.
Lei Luo stood up and walked to the window, looking at the two half-grown Ironclad Rhinoceros cubs chasing and playing carefree on the distant hillside.
Since being captured last time, these two little fellows had completely adapted to life in Blackstone Town, and had even become familiar with some of the bolder townsfolk.
A daring idea gradually formed in Lei Luo’s mind.
“Aide.” Lei Luo called out loudly.
“My Lord!”
Aide’s burly figure quickly appeared at the doorway. He had just finished training, sweat still beaded on his forehead, and his breathing was steady and strong.
“The Magic Snake Claws from the marsh have appeared again. This time, the team includes a third-tier magical beast, a Swamp Giant Crocodile,” Lei Luo said.
“Swamp Giant Crocodile?” Aide frowned and said, “That’s not easy to deal with. Although I am already an Earth Knight, confronting such a giant magical beast head-on, I would struggle to match its strength.”
“Moreover, with this Swamp Giant Crocodile, our wooden walls will be easily destroyed.”
Lei Luo nodded and said, “Therefore, we cannot let this Swamp Giant Crocodile approach Blackstone Town.”
“My Lord, what do you mean?” Aide asked.
“Take the initiative to attack and eliminate the enemy outside the town,” Lei Luo said firmly.
Aide knew that the lord must have a plan, “My Lord surely has a good strategy!”
“It’s not exactly a good strategy; Captain Aide will have to take some risks…”
“My Lord, just give the order!” Aide said.
“Aide, do you still remember the Ironclad Rhinoceros mother we encountered last time?” Lei Luo suddenly asked.
Aide was stunned, then nodded: “I remember, that fellow is not to be trifled with. When it goes berserk, even I have to temporarily avoid its edge.”
“What if… we could make that Ironclad Rhinoceros mother deal with the Swamp Giant Crocodile?” A smile played on Lei Luo’s lips.
Aide’s eyes widened suddenly, as if he understood something, but also found it hard to believe: “My Lord, you mean… to lure the mother beast? But that’s too dangerous! Although the mother beast’s activity range is not far from us, to lure it to where we want it, and then to make it fight the Swamp Giant Crocodile…”
“I know there are risks, but this is currently the method with the fewest casualties.”
Lei Luo interrupted Aide’s doubts.
“The Ironclad Rhinoceros is a third-tier magical beast; its strength is definitely not weaker than the Swamp Giant Crocodile. Moreover, it also has thick skin and flesh, and once enraged, especially when its young are involved, its ferocity should not be underestimated. The Swamp Giant Crocodile is amphibious, while the Ironclad Rhinoceros is purely a terrestrial overlord. On land, the Ironclad Rhinoceros still has a certain advantage.”
Lei Luo’s plan was simple, yet extremely perilous.
Utilize the Ironclad Rhinoceros mother’s protective instincts towards her young to lure her to a pre-set battlefield, then find a way to enrage her, so that her fury would be unleashed upon the equally massive Swamp Giant Crocodile.
In the afternoon, the dispatched Knights sent an urgent report.
“My Lord! Traces of Magic Snake Claws have been found! Approximately thirty people, led by a priest, and a giant crocodile magical beast! They are moving upstream along the west bank of the Blackwater River, expected to enter our designated ambush area in two hours!”
“They’re here!”
Lei Luo said to Aide beside him in a deep voice, “Proceed as planned!”
“Yes, My Lord!”
Aide took the order and departed.