Chapter 425 - 237: Exposed (Part 2)

Luo De didn’t hide anything, he slowly said:

"The captured Lizardmen have backbone, and we just stepped into the Icefield Mountain Range and encountered a coward? Isn’t it too much of a coincidence?"

Durant and Vivian nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, it’s a bit too coincidental." Durant echoed.

"But this is just a suspicion, I can’t conclusively judge."

Luo De continued, "Until his gaze first looked to the upper right corner and then quickly jumped to the upper left corner."

"This situation likely means he doesn’t know where the so-called Ice Rock Rift Valley is, but is relying on a familiar reference point."

"This reference point is probably the place he is most familiar with, which is their new camp."

Luo De hugged Vivian’s slender waist and said with a smile, "The last point is what Vivian mentioned, the Lizardman’s mood is too good."

"This Lizardman has been forced to betray his tribe under threats and inducements, shouldn’t he be troubled?"

"Hmm, hmm, hmm!" Vivian nodded repeatedly.

"So, does this mean the so-called Ice Rock Rift Valley is actually a trap?"

Durant understood Luo De’s insinuation and asked, "What do we do next?"

"First, let’s make sure the information is accurate."

Luo De ordered without hesitation, "Let Gala go recon the Ice Rock Rift Valley to find out what’s really going on."

"Let the patrol team investigate the circle in the upper right corner, call on Seronie, she’s familiar with the environment."

Luo De smiled,

"As for what to do, it depends on which is true in the end."

"Yes, Baron!"

Durant replied solemnly and turned to deliver the order.

...

...

In the evening, under the curtain of night.

In the Ice Rock Rift Valley, the cold wind howled, sweeping up snow dust from the ground, blurring the outline of the rock walls.

Behind the rock wall, a decrepit mountain stronghold enclosed by a spiked fence could be seen vaguely.

Not far from the stronghold on the mountain top, an eagle was perched beside a rock, motionless as it watched ahead.

Not far behind the eagle, Gala crouched behind a protruding rock, silently observing.

Gala draped in a gray cloak, which hid him well in the dark.

"The camp is empty."

As Gala was observing everything, Vika’s voice suddenly sounded in his ear, startling him with a shiver.

"Are you a ghost?"

Gala helplessly swallowed and turned to look at Vika who had unknowingly appeared beside him.

"No campfires, no footprints, not even the slightest odor of living creatures."

Vika ignored him and continued, "I vaguely saw tripwires hidden in the rock crevices, probably connected to something."

"The ground inside looks like it has been renovated, and is very smooth."

Vika solemnly said, "My intuition tells me there must be quite a few spike traps inside."

Gala nodded silently, with a hint of understanding in his eyes,

"When my eagle flew over, it didn’t see any silhouettes."

Eagles are rather conspicuous in the ice fields, hence Gala didn’t dare let his eagle linger too long, merely flew across the sky.

"It seems the trap is just like we speculated."

Vika crouched down against the rock, scanning around the stronghold,

"Did your eagle find where the Lizardmen are hiding?"

"There’s a cave northwest, it should be a good hiding place."

Gala brushed off the snowflakes on his cloak, "Nothing else to report?"

Vika’s tail slowly swayed, gazing at the spot Gala indicated, eyes deep.

Gala hurriedly pulled Vika, "Hey, I know you want to hurry and prove your worth, but Saint Master’s orders are only to recon."

"Confirming that this is a trap is enough."

Gala advised, "Doing more risks making mistakes."

Vika said nothing, lightly jumping off the rock, his actions showing his attitude.

Gala exhaled in relief, grinned,

"Everything is as Saint Master predicted, Saint Master will certainly be very pleased."

...

...

When hearing the report from Gala and Vika, Luo De was indeed very pleased.

Because although Seronie had not yet sent a response, the troops were already heading northeast.

If it’s not a trap, the troops would have to change course, wasting half a day unnecessarily.

In this case, there’s no longer a worry.

Luo De immediately ordered a guard, "Inform Durant, the troops stop resting and continue progressing east."

"Yes, Lord!"

The guard ran off to convey the order.

Vivian curiously looked up at Luo De, "You’re not going to deal with the Lizardmen ambushing us over there?"

"No."

Luo De laughed without hesitation, "East to west, the journey requires at least half a day, let those ambushing Lizardmen stay put."

"After we settle Bloodscale Tribe’s camp, we’ll handle them."

Luo De’s current target is Bloodscale Tribe’s Great Shaman.

Killing him will turn the tribe into scattered factions, easy to hunt down one by one.

Meanwhile, another guess brewed in Luo De’s mind

— did they set up such a distant trap to delay time?

Of course, this was just a hunch by Luo De, hence he didn’t verbalize it.

"Baron!"

Just as Luo De was pondering, Durant came running over quickly,

"News came from the front, Seronie and they found the Lizardmen camp!"

"Great!"

Luo De’s eyes shone brightly,

"Order the troops, advance at full speed, reach the target point before dawn!"

...

...

In the mountain ravine, the gate to the Lizardmen camp was shut tight.

In the darkness, a few burning torches flickered with solitary light, illuminating the surroundings.

In two wooden lookout towers, Lizardman spear throwers kept their vigilant gazes fixated on the blackness outside the camp.