Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1243 - 41 Wolf Cub (1)_2

Chapter 1243: Chapter 41 Wolf Cub (1)_2

The mission of Felter’s unit was to firmly cut off the retreat route of the rebels, leaving them no escape.

...

As night fell, the third "deserter" appeared outside Green Valley Town—accurately speaking, it was not a deserter but a military officer.

"I am Lieutenant Bato of the Fifth Corps. Nineteen cycles, Cavalry Division."

The officer brought before Major Felter only said two sentences before he fell silent, staring fixedly at the major.

Felter, with a stern face, gestured for the recorder and guards to leave.

As soon as the gap between the door panel and door frame disappeared, Felter rushed to the officer claiming to be Lieutenant Bato, tightly gripping the latter’s shoulder, and asked urgently and anxiously: "What’s going on?"

Lieutenant Bato’s expression turned pale, with his shoulders and back slumping: "Defeated."

"I know we’re defeated." Major Felter gritted his teeth, squeezing out a roar between them: "I’m asking how big the loss is!"

The lieutenant’s Adam’s apple moved up and down with difficulty: "Total annihilation."

"Total annihilation?" Felter felt as if a heavy cannon exploded atop his head, making everything around him appear hazy and unreal, a sense of powerlessness spreading from his toes to his head. He didn’t even know what else to ask: "Total annihilation? How could it be total annihilation?"

This time, Bato steadied the nearly collapsing major, and said in a low voice: "The rebels fought fiercely... but we had the upper hand... However, at the crucial moment, Iron Peak County Rebels appeared on our flank, simultaneously raiding our camp."

In fact, Felter could no longer hear what the other was saying; his mind was entirely occupied by the catastrophic consequences of the Council Army’s main force being lost, with the lieutenant’s voice seeming to come from another world.

But vaguely, Felter caught a word from the ethereal syllables:

"Iron Peak County Rebels."

"Iron Peak County Rebels? How could it be Iron Peak County Rebels?!" Major Felter abruptly pushed the lieutenant away, stumbled back a few steps, and drew his sword fiercely questioning: "Iron Peak County Rebels were in Green Valley just yesterday! You’re lying! Who sent you?!"

"Iron Peak County Military in Green Valley yesterday?" Lieutenant Bato was even more shocked than the major: "But how it could... appearing on our flank and raiding the camp, it was indeed Iron Peak Rebels unintentionally. The Phantom of The Styx appeared on the battlefield and personally joined the fight..."

Halfway through his speech, Lieutenant Bato involuntarily shivered, let out a low growl, and punched his leg, then looked up sharply at the major: "How Iron Peak County Military reached the battlefield is no longer important, Major Felter!"

"Then what is important?" Felter still tightly gripped his sword, his eyes filled with regret, self-reproach, and grievance: "Iron Peak County Rebels were in Green Valley just yesterday! I swear! I just fought a battle with them!"

"I believe you, Major." Lieutenant Bato slowly approached and cautiously took the sword from Felter’s hand: "I believe you."

Felter fell down on a chair in frustration.

"But the main battle has ended, and the rebels are heading towards Green Valley." Lieutenant Bato said solemnly: "If your troops are also wiped out, Maplestone City and Maple Fort will be unarmed, and Newly Reclaimed Lands Province will fall entirely into rebel hands."

Lieutenant Bato stared into the major’s eyes, word by word saying: "Your troops are now the last loyal forces of the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province!"

...

...

[Green Valley]

[Felter’s unit stationed in Green Valley Town on the third day]

As the sun just began to rise, the north gate of Green Valley Town also opened a small gap.

Through the gap that only allowed one person to slide through sideways, a small squad squeezed through one after another.

Once the last person’s ankle pulled out from between the door panels, the heavy gate immediately closed tightly, as if fearing something breaking in.

This small squad quickly formed ranks just outside the north gate, led by an officer, and stealthily headed to downstream villages.

The soldiers had simple orders—to gather grain.

But gathering grain was also tricky: They couldn’t go during the day, as that would be discovered by villagers; nor could there be too many people at once, as that would alarm the villagers.

Half a Hundred-Men Squad was just right, neither too many nor too few. It wouldn’t attract attention yet was enough to deter any farmer from resisting.

Moreover, with an officer leading this time, the soldiers were full of confidence, vowing to have a big meal.

However, although the brown-clad soldiers thought their actions were stealthy enough, they had been under tight surveillance since the moment they left Green Valley Town.

A double observation post placed outside Green Valley Town first discovered their movement. One sentry stayed to continue monitoring, while the other quietly retreated.

Retreating all the way to a mile away, the sentry retrieved his saddled horse from the shrubs, and galloped upstream.

The sentry rode through woods and over ridges, finally dismounting outside a valley northwest of Green Valley Town, running into the valley with the horse.

Inside the valley, about a hundred horses were grazing freely, while another hundred saddled warhorses were eating in a temporary corral built from felled logs.