This Holy Knight is So Despicable!
Chapter 338 - 293: The Cannibal Forest_2

Chapter 338: Chapter 293: The Cannibal Forest_2

When people are eager to prove themselves, it’s the easiest time to make mistakes.

"Don’t worry, Father! I will definitely teach these Elves a harsh lesson! Let them know the might of the First Empire!"

Bander was extremely excited, having long desired to achieve merit, and now the opportunity had finally come.

He grabbed his sword, summoned his personal guards, and walked out of the combat chamber. Meanwhile, the Prince dispatched the remaining soldiers to deliver intelligence for him.

With the first ray of sunlight in the morning, the counterattack from the First Empire finally began.

The six border cities deployed troops almost simultaneously, heading toward the nearest watchtower passes.

All these years, the Six Great Border Cities on the Empire’s southwest defense line have always had abundant military forces.

No choice, these border cities are simply too wealthy.

To pocket this wealth, the Border City Lords expanded the Border Defense Army by various excuses.

Only with sufficient numbers can a greater quantity of military supplies and equipment be needed, which provides more room for these Empire pests to operate.

This phenomenon has now, however, given the Prince considerable confidence.

At the very least, he won’t be troubled by a lack of troops to use.

What they didn’t know was that after a night of modifications, the mountains and forests here were no longer the familiar terrain they knew.

His Highness, Bander, was full of ambition, riding a magnificent horse, leading the soldiers from the Border City grandly toward the nearest pass.

The journey was quite smooth, without any attacks or obstructions, making Bander feel that he was not leading soldiers to battle, but rather leading people to hunt in the dense forest.

But, what’s the difference?

Those pointed-eared wretches are not much different from animals.

If one must speak of a difference, it’s that living Elves can fetch a good price in the Empire’s commerce. They also make a fine choice for gifts.

"Remember, if you encounter Elves, capture them alive if possible. There will be a heavy reward for capturing Elves!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Not only this Prince’s son, but even the accompanying soldiers did not take the Elves seriously.

After all, in their impression, Elves were synonymous with weakness. Some veteran soldiers stationed in the Border City even witnessed the Elves signing three or four territorial cession agreements with the Empire.

For such an opponent, it’s indeed difficult to muster much respect.

However, once they entered the forest, everything changed.

Bang bang bang bang bang!

A series of intensive explosions directly blew the vanguard troops off their feet.

The light-armored soldiers were blasted away, and even the Heavy Armor Guards were knocked down haphazardly, throwing the entire team into chaos.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Brace yourselves quickly!"

"Protect His Highness Bander!"

The Imperial soldiers, who hadn’t fought in a long time, descended into chaos like a pot of porridge. If not for Bander bringing some private soldiers, some might have been trampled by these soldiers.

"Stay calm! Everyone stay calm!"

Bander pushed aside the personal guards protecting him, drew his long sword, and an overwhelming aura of a fifth-level warrior surged forth.

Under his intimidation, the soldiers finally stopped panicking.

"What are you all doing? What do you intend to do?!"

Bander hadn’t expected these border city soldiers to lack military discipline and be all talk.

"This is a trap! Open your eyes and look! Where are the enemy forces?"

Wielding his long sword, Bander shouted angrily: "Reform ranks! Anyone who deserts again will not only be executed on the spot but also have their family and kin charged with treason."

"Form ranks!"

Under Bander’s strong and decisive orders, these ragtag troops barely managed to reform.

"You, in that squad, form a group of three to rescue the wounded. You few, check what kind of magic trap it was."

Bander, trained personally as a successor by Prince Michael, the so-called Imperial Military God, managed to organize the work orderly and stayed composed under pressure.

"Your Highness, look!"

One personal guard brought a piece of explosive residue to Bander: "This is what caused the explosion."

"What is it?"

"A po... potato."

"What? Potatoes, explode?"

Though Bander was a noble, he always spent time training in the military camp with his father annually, living and eating with ordinary soldiers, and naturally recognized this most common agricultural product in the Human World.

But truth be told, an explosive potato... What kind of new variety is this?

"Fortunately, its power is not great... This must be a trap set by the Elves. Damn it, I didn’t think they had such means.

But, hmph..."

Bander clenched his fist tightly: "This is just a small trick. You two, bring me a massive stone."

Though unclear of their master’s intentions, the two personal soldiers went aside, activated their combat energy, cut down a large stone, and carried it to Bander.

Bander took a deep breath and slashed several times with his sword, shaping the massive stone into a cylindrical form.

Then he kicked it powerfully, rolling it over the path.

The road had been a proper commercial route, was blasted into a disrepair.

However, despite that, his move did break the explosive potato trap array.

"Your Highness! You’re incredibly wise!"

"Yes! Why didn’t we think of that?"

"Exactly, I was just thinking about having the troops in Heavy Armor scout the path. Your method is better, Your Highness!"

The surrounding personal guards flattered him, and the nearby soldiers admired him. All this made Bander feel elated.

"Alright! The entire army, advance at full speed! Quickly retake the pass! This time, let’s fight all the way to the Elves’ homeland and teach these wretched pointy-eared Elves a lesson!

By then, everyone will receive medals and rewards!"

"Yes, yes! Advance!!!"

Hearing of military merits and rewards, these savvy soldiers were overjoyed and rushed toward the direction of the pass.

Bander watched the rapidly advancing army and thought that among the six advancing forces, he should be the fastest and deepest.

This way, he would surely break through the Elves’ defenses first and take the Elf Empire directly!

By then, he could make everyone see him in a new light!

The Gun Knight Princess Vanessa of the First Empire was no more, and the remaining three children of His Majesty were all useless.

The throne, even if not his, when the old generations retired, with himself holding significant power, could allow him to become a Prince with real control over the Empire!

The horse trotted lightly, and Bander felt as if a beautiful future was beckoning to him.

He pulled the reins and rode his steed into the depths of the dense forest, heading towards a bright future.

This departure, however, had no further news.

By late morning, intelligence was sent back to Prince Michael’s war room.

"What! Lost contact? Say it again!"

"P... Prince, please don’t get agitated."

The messenger soldier was sweating profusely: "Our six routes of troops lost contact one after another after advancing deep into the forest.

The messenger soldiers we sent haven’t returned.

So far, we haven’t received any further front-line reports.

All six routes of troops... disappeared."

"Damn it! Follow the advance routes and search for them!"

"The strangest thing is here... All the army’s traces of movement have vanished without a trace."

The soldier’s face turned pale and spoke tremblingly: "We haven’t even found any signs of battle. But the six routes of troops just vanished into thin air.

It’s as if... as if..."

The veins on the Prince’s forehead bulged: "Speak up, damn it!"

"As if swallowed by this vast forest."

"Bander... Bander! My son, the route he led..."

"The army under His Highness Bander progressed the fastest and was the first to lose contact..."

Michael’s vision went black, almost falling to the ground. His personal soldiers barely managed to hold him up, as he, gritting his teeth, growled softly.

"Send an order! The Empire is entering a state of war readiness! Gather all nearby troops!

Even if we have to flatten the entire forest! I will rescue my son!

If those Elves dare harm him, I will have the entire Elf Empire buried with him!!!"