Chapter 20

Nobles can be greedy, can be bastards, can be weak, can be rascals, and can have all sorts of flaws and peculiar hobbies, but they absolutely cannot be stupid, especially the head of the family.

Everyone knows that a group of swordsmen led by a stupid pig can't even defeat a group of unarmed farmers.

Everyone in the Snow Pine Town knew the state of their military equipment.

The town guard, lacking professional training and equipped with old and shabby gear, couldn't even stand up to the bodyguards of passing merchants, and were only fit to bully the honest people in the Bart family's territory.

Some of the direct-line members of the Bart family turned their eyes to Lin Mo, as if they had found a lifeline.

"There's nothing to fear, we still have the Dragon Knight! We can definitely defeat the Portlanders."

"You're crazy, if he summons the golden dragon, it would be better to face the Portland Republic's army. That ferocious dragon will kill us along with the enemies!"

"..."

The brief enthusiasm quickly cooled down. Some people lamented in their hearts that it would be better if the Dragon Knight's dragon wasn't a golden one!

It's easy to imagine how terrifying the image of a ferocious golden dragon is in their minds.

"Like a bunch of headless flies, this is just great. Hmph, what can a Dragon Knight do here? Without a dragon, what can you use to fight a real army? Soon I will become a noble of the Portland Republic. Uncle Kras, if you're smart, you should marry Samir to me and swear that the entire Bart family will submit to me as a vassal. I can spare the Bart family a way out."

Roger, sitting at the dining table, had a look of schadenfreude in his eyes. The more silent he was, the more he laughed inwardly.

"Shut up, all of you! I'm not dead yet!"

Lord Kras Bart pushed away the messenger and slammed his hand on the table, sweeping his eyes over the family members who were already in disarray before the enemy even arrived.

The sudden outburst of the head of the family made everyone fall silent, and the dining room became quiet, with only the sound of heavy breathing.

"Notify all the clan members to pack their valuables and food, prepare the wagons, and evacuate Snow Pine Town to Lian City. Roger, you and my steward set out immediately. Deliver a letter to Baron Hong Yu, the lord of Lian City, telling him that the Portland Republic has launched an invasion and Snow Pine Town has fallen. Request that he send troops to assist us, the Bart family."

Lord Kras Bart withdrew his gaze from his nephew, his eyes suddenly lost in thought, and he lowered his head, as if he had lost all his strength. "Have the town guard notify the civilians inside and outside the town to find a way to hide or flee to Lian City. The Bart family can only do so much now."

While epics sing of heroes who turn the tide, those are just beautified legends by poets and authors. Who could imagine the countless innocent lives lost behind them? Beautiful fantasies can never overcome the harsh reality.

Upon hearing that the neighboring country's army had successfully crossed the natural barrier at the border, the Bart family abandoned the civilians in their territory and Snow Pine Town without hesitation.

Snow Pine Town, which had long been a small, defenseless town in the eastern border of the empire, was never thought to be defended by Lord Kras Bart, the local lord.

What could they use to resist, even if they wanted to?

Facing the fully armed enemy soldiers, any hostile actions or movements would likely result in a bloody and cruel massacre.

Although he had never experienced war, Kras had some mental preparation from the rumors of the wars between the Sylan Empire and the Tesi Empire.

"Rest assured, Uncle Kras! I will personally deliver the letter to Baron Hong Yu."

Roger lightly bowed, seemingly very willing to accept this task. At least he wouldn't have to stay in this soon-to-be chaotic place, and the earlier he left, the safer he would be.

"Be careful on the way, Roger, and give my regards to your mother."

Lady Kari, the baroness, instructed the servants to fetch paper and pen for her husband while reminding Roger.

With the mainstay of the family still present, she was not panicked.

Kras and she had no son. No matter how hard they tried, after giving birth to Samir, Lady Kari's belly never showed any signs of another child.

Therefore, having a smart and clever nephew was naturally very easy to win the affection of the baron and baroness, who longed for a son.

If he were outstanding enough, Kari and Kras would not mind having him marry their beloved daughter Samir.

Kras said apologetically to Lin Mo, "I'm truly sorry, Lord Morin. I hope you and your friends leave here as soon as possible. It's no longer safe here. Of course, you can go with us to Lian City."

He was very clear that a Dragon Knight without a dragon was at best a bit stronger than an ordinary knight. Facing a hostile and aggressive enemy army, the role he could play was quite limited.

The battlefield for a Dragon Knight is in the sky, not on the ground.

It was said that even in the fierce battle in the central mountains of Hailar, once a Dragon Knight was surrounded by ground troops, they could hardly escape.

"Truly regrettable, but I still want to rest in the town for one more night."

Lin Mo sighed inwardly. What was to come, had come, but he was not in a hurry to leave.

Since he had killed the Portland Republic's flying dragon knight, he knew that the enemy army would eventually cross the Green Fog Forest and invade the eastern region of the empire.

Without the natural barriers of the Ice Rock Mountains and the Green Fog Forest, the enemy army would spread like wildfire, occupying one town after another. By the time the Sylan Empire reacted, it would be too late.

"Please take care of yourself."

Lord Kras did not try to persuade further. He returned to the dining table, pushed away the utensils in front of him, and took the paper and pen from the servant to write a letter to the lord of Lian City.

He was very clear that with the strength of a Dragon Knight, as long as no foolish actions were taken, self-preservation was more than sufficient, especially with two helpers by his side.

Although he did not know the skills of the two foreign female rangers, if they could be companions of a Dragon Knight, they must be quite capable.

"Oh, those damned Portlanders, the gods should punish them severely."

Lady Kari's daughter, Samir, could only reluctantly get up and leave the dining room to pack her things under her mother's urging.

A sumptuous banquet had to be interrupted due to this sudden bad news. Neither Lord Kras nor the other members of the Bart family had the heart to continue entertaining the Dragon Knight. They were in a hurry to pack what they could take and prepare to leave Snow Pine Town.

---

"Lord Morin, I'll go ahead!"

The young merchant's son, Roger, holding a torch, mounted his horse and saluted Lin Mo with a chest press. Without waiting for a response, he spurred his horse and, accompanied by the Bart family's steward and two estate knights, rushed into the night outside the estate.

The dense hoofbeats quickly faded away like the beats of a war drum.

"Lin Mo, do you believe Roger will deliver the letter to Baron Hong Yu?"

Twin sister Li Mubing tossed a bag of gold coins in her hand. It was a small token of goodwill from the local lord, Lord Kras Bart, to Lin Mo, now in her possession.

Sometimes, women and dragons are not much different, such as their fondness for knights, gold coins, and gems.

She had opened the bag and peeked inside. The golden light was dazzling, and the weight suggested at least a hundred gold coins, a considerable sum.

Of course, it also included a severance fee, as Snow Pine Town was no longer a place to stay. The Portland army could appear at any moment, and war was threatening the town.

In addition, there was a black stallion and a beautifully decorated two-handed knight's greatsword.

The two-handed knight's greatsword was originally a collection item of the Bart family, now given as a gift to the Dragon Knight, with a hint of "giving a sword to a hero."

Of course, it could not compare to a master craftsman's specially made dragon-slaying sword for a Dragon Knight, but its blade was like a mirror, cold and sharp, making it an excellent weapon.

Befriending a Dragon Knight was an absolutely beneficial deal for the Bart family.

Lin Mo smiled without comment at the twin sister's words, waved to the Bart family's servant standing at the estate gate, and said, "Please tell Lord Kras that if possible, he should send a second messenger to ensure the message is delivered."

He answered Li Mubing's cold sarcasm with action.

"Yes, my lord!"

The servant nodded, indicating he had noted the instruction.

Lin Mo had never intended to give a solemn warning to the Bart family. Compared to his relationship and trust with them, Lord Kras Bart would trust his nephew more.

Even if warned, the Bart family had no power to change the fate that Snow Pine Town was about to face.

Moreover, as the head of the family and the holder of the title, Kras had already decided to abandon the territory and flee to Lian City for refuge.

"What are you talking about? Hmm, Morin, you must not have eaten enough. Look! I hid some earlier, ha-ha, enough for us to have a meal."

Charlie pulled out a large chicken leg from his chest with his greasy claws and happily offered it to the Dragon Knight.

No wonder his chest and abdomen were bulging when he came out of the estate. He had taken advantage of the Bart family's shock at the news to hide quite a bit of food, and from the tone, it seemed he had a good haul.

"Thank you, Charlie!" Lin Mo took the chicken leg without hesitation and took a big bite.

He and Charlie looked at each other and burst into laughter, not at all worried about the impending war.

The twin sisters withdrew their gaze from the carefree eaters, exchanged a look, and their thoughts were almost identical.

A town about to be abandoned by its lord, a group of civilians with no fighting power, and a group of fully armed invaders. The fate of Snow Pine Town seemed already decided.

---

Classic recommendations: [bookid=3050593, bookname=《苍穹龙骑》] [bookid=2227974, bookname=《龙骑战机》] [bookid=38395, bookname=《国破山河在》]

I have to see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor this afternoon. Ah, a thousand yuan for the herbal medicine...

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