Chapter 409 - 232: The Gap

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"Honorable Lord, I am the messenger of Black Pine Ridge, sent by Baron Luo De Tulip."

The messenger bowed in salute and presented the wax-sealed wooden tube with both hands.

"This is the letter from our lord to you, saying that as long as you have the courage, Black Pine Ridge will assist you in facing this crisis!"

Camille took the letter, swiftly twisted off the wooden stopper, and quickly scanned the text.

After reading, Camille nodded without hesitation,

"Good, thank Baron Rod for his generous aid."

A hint of a smile appeared on Camille’s cold face,

"We will hold out till the end, please wait a moment, I will immediately reply to Baron Rod."

Camille turned to her knight, "Let Ku Lun arrange a room for the messenger to rest well."

The messenger quickly waved his hand, bowed again,

"Thank you for your hospitality, but I must quickly return to report to the lord!"

"The lord said time is urgent, no need for a letter, I will return to deliver the message now."

Camille nodded, "Very well, Dost, help me see off this messenger."

"Yes, my lord."

The knight nodded in salute, politely gesturing to lead the messenger out.

Soon enough, Dost returned after seeing off the messenger, eyes filled with doubt,

"Lord, with Baron Rod coming from so far to help us, did he ask for anything?"

"He asked us to hold the defense."

Camille paused, "No other requests."

"Baron Rod only requests that the lizardmen forever remain in the Desert!"

Dost furrowed his brow slightly and cautiously asked:

"If he wants nothing at all... Do you think the baron’s words are trustworthy?"

Camille cast a cold glance at Dost, her leather armor tightened as she turned, making her stance more powerful.

"Do you think someone would send a letter only to deceive us?"

"Or do you think I’m foolish?"

Camille withdrew her gaze, looking into the distance, "What is there to deceive here? The land?"

"If Baron Rod intended us harm, he wouldn’t have sent any message before."

"Once the lizardmen flatten our town, wouldn’t this land become his?"

Dost lowered his head, quickly said, "You’re right!"

"Baron Rod’s letter had a saying that deeply moved me."

Camille thoughtfully spoke slowly, "If the lips are gone, the teeth will feel the biting cold wind of the Northern Wilderness."

Dost shuddered, immediately straightening his chest,

"I will make arrangements and intensify preparations for battle!"

Just as Dost finished speaking, urgent hoofbeats sounded from outside.

Camille sensed something amiss and quickly walked to the training ground entrance, just in time to see a scout dismount and rush in, breathless.

"Lord! It’s bad!"

His voice was urgent, his eyes panicked.

"The lizardman army has mobilized, advancing toward us!"

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Cold spring rain pierced down like needles, knocking against the corpses, with a constant wailing.

The earth was stained red with blood, the spikes of the fortifications hung with lizardmen’s remains.

The flickering flames in Ice Breath Town illuminated the ground full of blood and corpses, along with broken arrows and long spears stuck in the ground.

Camille slumped in the sentry post, her silver hair disheveled, breathing heavily.

Compared to others, Camille’s face was relatively clean, thanks to the guards’ protection, showing only sweat not blood.

"Dost!"

Camille’s voice was deafening, and her knight quickly ran up.

In contrast, Dost was covered in blood, his armor riddled with claw marks, scales lodged in its seams.

"Lord, I’m here!"

"How many men do we have left?"

Dost unhesitatingly reported: "Twenty-nine militia, one hundred nineteen farmers and slaves, your guards are unscathed!"

Camille breathed a sigh of relief, "What about the lizardmen?"

"Twenty-five enemies killed, how many died in the outside traps is unknown!"

Camille couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

The lizardmen were stronger than she anticipated.

By relying on fortifications to resist their attack, only twenty-five were slain.

"Don’t be complacent, this is just the lizardmen’s first probing attack, they’ll come again!"

"Understood, my lord!"

Dost nodded heavily, hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t help speaking,

"Lord, we might not withstand the next wave, if things look bad, please make sure to withdraw..."

"We’ll talk if we can’t hold!"

Camille waved forcefully, "Quickly check the defenses!"

Dost nodded in salute, clutching his longsword at the waist, quickly left.

Camille looked down through the gaps,

Several militia dragged wounded legs, slowly moving corpses, their bodies full of fatigue.

In the distance, a farmer sat powerlessly beside a companion’s corpse, placing a lit pipe next to the companion.

"These damn beasts must be slaughtered completely!"

Camille gritted her teeth, her heart filled with rage.

She stood up, looking at the dispirited crowd,

"You..."

Camille’s words were interrupted by the urgent horn sounds from a distant shadow,

"The lizardmen are coming again!"

"Boom隆隆——"

Dark clouds rolled in the sky, thunder boomed like an overture to the battle ahead.

The earth trembled slightly, the dense dark figures made Camille’s heart sink.

Indeed, this time is the lizardmen’s fierce assault!

"Prepare to fight!"

Camille did not retreat, shouting loudly,

"Ice Breath Town will never let these monsters lay a finger!"

Staring at the approaching lizardmen, Camille immediately raised her bow and arrow, aiming at the lizardman in the front!

Shoot!

The arrow soared through the air, leaving a cold streak, instantly hitting the lizardman in the head!