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In essence, the reward I would receive wasn't abundant in tangible benefits; it was merely the title of Blade Knight and the privilege to establish a guard unit. Nonetheless, these were the best gifts for me. Although the Blade Knight was the lowest knighthood in the War God Temple, it signified a noble status and allowed me to gain the identity and rights of an adult orc ahead of schedule. As for the guard unit, it would enable me to claim the glory of conquering territory solely for myself instead of sharing it equally among all participants, as we would be in a hierarchical relationship rather than a cooperative one. This way, my status would be recognized after seizing the Fallen City.

Initially, my plan was to negotiate with the War God Temple after occupying the Fallen City, using my actual authority to force them to acknowledge my right to ownership. However, now I could bypass all that trouble.

Additionally, Shaman Romeo brought several sets of armor and weapons as support for founding my guard unit. While this would prove somewhat beneficial for my upcoming endeavors, it was Romeo himself who lingered around after the handover, occasionally dropping by for casual chats.

"Dear Knight Xuanfeng, why is the atmosphere here so lively? Did you already know about the War God Temple's reward and start preparing your guard unit in advance?"

"Enough with the act, Shaman. When you first told me about it, you had already planned to lure me into seizing the Marsh Pass, didn't you? The Heavenly Wolf Tribe is currently preoccupied with battles and unable to extend their influence. You also didn't want the populous Red Wolf, Gray Wolf, and Black Wolf Tribes to take advantage of the situation. So, you intentionally leaked the information to let this Snow Wolf Tribe youngster make the first move. If I succeed, the thinly populated Snow Wolf Tribe will naturally rely on the Heavenly Wolf Tribe to deal with the other three seeking a share of the spoils. And if I fail, you can use revenge as an excuse to rally the entire Wolf Clan for a joint attack, eventually resulting in a co-governance by the five tribes. Clever plan, indeed!"

"Hehe, Knight Xuanfeng, even if I did have such intentions, aren't you being a bit too hasty? Your charisma and decisiveness are truly beyond imagination. I was actually planning to lend you some troops, but from the looks of it, you never intended on relying on the power of the Heavenly Wolf Tribe, did you?"

"Of course, my fate shall not be in anyone else's hands." Yes, no one can control his destiny, neither his former master in his past life nor anyone in this one. Chen Xuanfeng would bow to no one.

Chapter 12: The Approaching Storm, Asking Your Heart

Located by the Red River, the "City of Depravity" was once the renowned city of "Fontainebleau" in the ancient Beastman Empire. Back then, the Half-beast Plain was a lush and fertile grassland, while the Red River was not an inland river but the Green Scaled River that flowed directly into the sea. Four hundred years ago, during the "Glorious Battle," to halt the sixty thousand reinforcement Beastmen troops from reaching the main battlefield on the Golden Great Plain, the twelve human sages joined forces, using twelve forbidden spells to create the super-forbidden spell "Twilight of the Gods." In one fell swoop, they eradicated the Beastman army along with the one million five hundred thousand human allied soldiers tasked with blocking them. Fontainebleau was utterly destroyed in that cataclysm.

Not until three hundred years later, when adventurers discovered a secret smuggling route in the Devouring Marsh, did the remains of this famous city reemerge in people's sight. Although the city had turned to ashes, the foundation built on the riverbank rocks and the underground water supply and drainage system crafted by dwarven artisans remained intact. With minor repairs, they could be restored to function. Thus, numerous smugglers and opportunists flocked here, establishing makeshift camps, transforming the place into the chaotic "City of Depravity," where dragons and snakes mingled.

Yet, these historical intricacies were not of concern to the Sword Master, Lanster.

In truth, ever since he arrived at the "City of Fallen Grace" ten days prior, his entire focus had been on one matter: marching to the Snow Wolf Grasslands and reclaiming his beloved Priestess.

If it had been up to his own wishes, he would have set out with his troops on the first day itself. However, the representative of the Duchy of Langton in this region, the leader of the "Sapphire" mercenary group, Davidian, had done his utmost to deter Lanster's near-mad decision. Furthermore, still recovering from his internal injuries, Lanster, after a month of relentless travel, was exhausted and finally chose to compromise. He entrusted the task of preparing the army to the seasoned Davidian.

Davidian was once a high-ranking officer in the Duchy of Langton's regular military. His family's fall from grace had led him to the City of Fallen Grace. The value of the Golden Trading Route was something that both Old Hake and I could perceive, and so could he. Unlike the homeless Old Hake, Davidian saw this opportunity as a chance to re-enter the upper echelons of Langton.

Thus, over the following days, while he organized his own forces, he also contacted the Langton garrison stationed near the Red River. Concurrently, he negotiated with the "Red River" mercenary group, present in the City of Fallen Grace, explaining the benefits and offering substantial incentives. His efforts were successful, securing their cooperation. Ultimately, under his command, an army of two thousand five hundred was assembled, consisting of four hundred main members of the "Sapphire" mercenary group, six hundred soldiers from the Langton garrison, eight hundred from the "Red River" mercenaries, two hundred from the "Cobra" mercenary group, and five hundred additional mercenaries recruited on the spot.

Though the ten days of waiting left Lanster restless and anxious, he also understood that Davidian's strategy was sound. After all, launching a stealth attack was vastly different from a direct assault. Even though the Werewolves' main forces were currently absent, the people of Werewolf territory, known for their fierce nature, even their women and elders, often possessed strength comparable to human Ironblack Warriors. They were by no means foes to be underestimated.

"Lord Lanster, currently our forces number two thousand five hundred and twenty-three. Among them, we have two Apprentice Priests, two Mage Apprentices, three Sword Masters, twenty-one Golden Warriors, one hundred fifty-eight Silver Warriors, one thousand four hundred eighty-five Bronze Warriors, and the rest are Iron Warriors. With our present strength, I firmly believe we can cleanse the southern Snow Wolf Grasslands of the Werewolves and rescue Saintess Bai Lanling and her companions."

"Excellent, Captain Davidian, your deeds shall be remembered. Now, set off at once."

"Your command, milord."

Mounted on Icewind's back, I watched from a distance as the vast army marched out of the Fallen City and into the Devouring Swamps. The news brought by Shaman Romeo echoed in my mind. The Red Wolf, Gray Wolf, and Black Wolf tribes had all received word, and despite their main forces being elsewhere, they had still managed to muster nearly three thousand troops, aiming to lay claim to the Golden Trading Route. Thankfully, the orcish tribal hierarchy was not strictly enforced; otherwise, at least a hundred of my disciples, belonging to those three tribes, would have been summoned back, causing me no small amount of trouble.