Chapter 36

Since a big shot requested two updates together, I'll take a hit and release them together. Future updates will generally be before 9 PM! It's nearly 6,000 words, so I'm boldly asking for favorites and such!

As Cook was taking action for the thing that made his heart race, a significant change occurred on the main battlefield.

"Sir, what should we do now? Should we follow the General's orders or the Third Prince's orders? You know, today the Roland Empire launched a major offensive to reclaim the bodies of the Mammoth Legion's members, and we lost over a hundred thousand people just this time." At a military conference in a certain front-line area of the Ceylon Empire, a division commander of the Imperial Guard Corps was frowning as he listened to his subordinate's complaints.

Actually, although the Ceylon Empire had over two million people, only one Imperial Guard Corps, consisting of 250,000 veterans, was among them. These 250,000 people were dispersed into various squads, platoons, companies, and battalions, with the ultimate decision-making power in the hands of the Imperial Guard Corps Commander, Honiman.

Honiman looked at the map and the detailed military reports, then said, "I don't know either. The Third Prince and the General are currently holding a secret meeting. I think we'll have news soon."

"Commander, we can't delay any longer. Everyone has seen the power of the Roland Empire's Magic Corps. Every 200 yards, there's a mage, and each mage is closely protected by hundreds of people. Commander, you didn't see it; a single fireball can turn everything within ten meters into a charred mess. We tried to split them up, forming a special battalion of all veterans from the Imperial Guard Corps, but we faced the encirclement of several mages. A thousand-man battalion died on the way to the attack." A battalion commander said anxiously.

"Mages are inherently too powerful." Honiman sighed, saying helplessly.

"Also, according to reports from scouts, the neighboring countries of Tulip, Zara, and Medu are urgently mobilizing their troops, clearly with ill intentions towards us." Another intelligence officer reported the latest intelligence.

"The three duchies must have 300,000 people. Add to that the Magic Corps of Melif and about 200,000 guards." Honiman's finger moved continuously on the map as he spoke.

"Sir, this is impossible, we have over 1.5 million people." A burly battalion commander asked in a low voice.

"Hmph, 1.5 million people. Don't forget, the Mammoth Knights alone cost us nearly a million lives. In that river of blood and flesh, a thousand meters wide and ten kilometers long, a million lives were lost. Look, these three empires are on our flanks. If the three duchies have 300,000 people, they don't need to do anything, just destroy roads, pollute rivers, and fill in all the wells. With the supply lines under attack by griffin riders, the Magic Corps, and the gathered guards pressing from behind, what will be the outcome for our 1.5 million people? Think about it." Honiman pointed to the map and explained.

"Sir, this is impossible, to cut off water and food, and have people chasing us from behind. Even the Imperial Guard Corps can't last three days." An advisor exclaimed.

"But aren't the forests on both sides empty?" The burly man asked again.

"Tom, can't you use your brain? How much food is there in the forest, and with no roads, can a million people escape?" Honiman said irritably.

Tom laughed and replied, "Why should I think so much? I just follow the Commander's orders."

"Ha, ha, good! Issue the order, everyone prepare, we'll wait until midnight. If there's no news, we'll follow the General's predetermined plan." Honiman laughed heartily, actually hoping his subordinates wouldn't think too much. Honiman then turned and left.

"Tom, you scoundrel, always showing off in front of the Commander. I can't stand it." Another battalion commander, seeing Honiman leave, stood up and hit Tom.

"Hehe! Lyle, who asked you to look so smart?" Tom laughed.

"Invitations, invitations, if we follow the General's plan, we won't have a decent meal for at least half a month." Another battalion commander chimed in.

"Of course, I'll invite you, but Tom, are you really taking the second princess of Muny back?" Lyle asked mischievously.

"Hehe, you don't know, ever since I saw the second princess again, I can't think of anyone else. Lyle, this is the future Mrs. Tom. Don't have any bad ideas." Tom laughed, but then warned.

"Tom, are you serious? The second princess is a princess, but just a princess of a small duchy in the Roland Empire, and not the eldest. Your status is no lower than hers. Are you really serious?" Lyle asked seriously.

"I swear on my life, I will protect her." Tom said solemnly.

"If that's the case, you have to invite us. I thought you had a problem, but it turns out you had a target all along. I support you, Lyle." Lyle said seriously, but then laughed.

"Of course, but I won't go. You know, we might not come back for a while. She wants to see her homeland one more time." Tom replied cheerfully.

"Ha, that's fine. When we return to the empire, we'll be your best men." Lyle waved and laughed.

"No problem!" Tom laughed, and the group of battalion commanders left, chatting and laughing.

In the Roland Empire's camp, the atmosphere was particularly solemn. Each soldier had a black armband, and in the center of the camp, on a large open space, the bodies of 300 mammoth beasts stood, each with no intact skin, revealing white bones and torn flesh, creating an oppressive atmosphere for everyone present.

In front of the 300 mammoth beasts were scattered items: some parts of armor, some strong soldiers, some accessories, and broken weapons. These were the remnants left by 300 knights, whose bodies could not be found, but each item had the same metal plaque. Only in front of the first mammoth beast was a blank space, with only a broken knight's lance.

"Sir, the 300 knights' remains have been organized. Only Deputy Commander Cassi is said to have been captured." Melif, with a grim face, stood there as his adjutant reported.

"Hmm, send the remains to the families of the 300 knights as quickly as possible. As for compensation, the capital will issue orders soon." Melif's voice was hoarse, a result of chanting magic spells earlier in the day.

"Yes, sir!" The adjutant immediately replied.

"Also, everyone, work hard to recover. We will avenge the Mammoth Knights. Keep the 90,000 iron chains; I'll take them back to the capital." Melif gave instructions and then turned to leave. After Melif left, a low, mournful tune began to play.

"Sir, sir, bad news, the young lady is missing." Just as Melif was about to meditate to recover his magic power, the adjutant rushed in. Melif was about to scold him, but the adjutant immediately delivered a message that almost made Melif faint.

"How long has she been missing? Any clues? Who else knows?" Melif quickly regained his composure and asked coldly.

"Probably since yesterday morning. You know, the young lady has a bad temper, and we were guarding her from a distance. She didn't appear yesterday afternoon. Sir, you know, mages sometimes meditate for a long time, so we didn't suspect anything. It wasn't until this afternoon that we noticed her attendant was also missing, and we dared to check the tent, only to find it empty." The adjutant reported, sweating profusely.

"Any news?" Melif's vision went dark, and he asked again.

"No, even the dense patrols on the road haven't seen the young lady. She disappeared with four others: a viscount's hired guard, dressed as a thief, her attendant, and her student." The adjutant quickly replied.

"Bring me the Roland Empire's griffin knight captain, Richard, I have important news for him to go to the Mage Guild. Hurry!" Melif almost shouted. It wasn't the adjutant's fault; these people didn't know how rare it was for two high-level mages to have a child, and Melif couldn't imagine the wrath of Loli's grandfather, a Fire Archmage.

"Yes, sir!" The adjutant ran out in a panic.

"Loli, may the gods protect you." Melif, an atheist, prayed for the first time.

"Who?" As Melif was praying, Cook cautiously approached the kitchen, and a voice immediately shouted.

"Hehe, it's me. I brought you some juice, Master. I know you work hard. Master, you don't know how much the nobles love your roasted whole lamb. They all want to eat it but pretend to be gentlemen. I couldn't help but laugh. Master, this is for you, with pure wild honey, it tastes great." Cook quickly took out two cups of juice, which were silver.

"Haha, inexperienced boy, let me tell you, my roasted whole lamb is also brushed with wild honey. But you have a good eye. Come to my room tonight, and you'll follow me from now on." Cook didn't expect Muhammad to start flirting after just a few words.

"Sure, Master, following you will be a blessing. Here, Master, I brought this specially for you." Cook, suppressing his urge to vomit, quickly placed the two silver cups in front of Muhammad.

"Good, good, I like you, a fresh one." Muhammad's eyes glowed with evil, not even looking at the two cups of juice, he drank them and reached out to touch Cook's thigh.

"Master, Master, I'll come to you later. You must guide me. I need to go back to work now." Cook, suppressing his nausea, smiled at Muhammad and gave him a knowing look.

"Haha, I'll wait for you, go!" Muhammad laughed and waved.

After Cook left, he didn't go far but quietly returned and closely monitored the room. A few minutes later, Cook heard a "thud!" and exclaimed, "It worked!"

Concini felt nauseous in the back garden but didn't vomit much. She tidied her clothes and prepared to leave, but when she reached the kitchen door, she heard a strange voice: "Your roasted whole lamb is the favorite of the nobles. They all want to eat it but pretend to be gentlemen. I couldn't help but laugh..." Concini was puzzled; who would have the mood to eat tonight? Even a cup of wine was just held in their hands. The nobles were all shrewd; they had no mood to eat. Knowing that this campaign had almost emptied the Muny Duchy, and the profits from the spoils of war were significant, Concini's military sensitivity made her realize something was wrong.

So Concini hid behind the flowers in the garden and patiently listened to the disgusting transaction. Soon, a servant-dressed person came out. Concini was about to shout, but the person quietly returned. Concini, seeing the person's behavior at the door, quietly approached. Just as she got close, she heard a shout, "It worked!"

"What worked?" Concini asked instinctively.

"Ah! General, you...!" Cook, startled by the voice behind him, immediately turned around and saw Concini, a five-star general, standing behind him. Cook almost ran away, but he quickly realized only Concini was there and pointed behind her.

"Uh! Bang!" Concini instinctively turned her head but immediately knew it was bad. The next thing she saw was darkness.

"Damn, a five-star general? Good thing I prepared a large tray." Cook, surprised to see Concini unconscious on the ground, looked at the large silver tray in his hand, which had a clear indentation. This was Cook's loot for his escape.

"Five-star general, this time I'll definitely get a title." Cook quickly entered the kitchen, where Muhammad was already on the ground, his face black. Cook easily retrieved the magic cleaver and a money bag, which contained some gold coins and shiny objects. Seeing these, and the silver tray in his hand, Cook wisely discarded the tray.

"Diamond coins! Diamond coins! Purple gold! Purple gold! And gems! Damn, this is much lighter than the tray. What's this? Such a small metal box, I'll open it later." Cook, excited, quickly tied up Concini.

"Although I don't know how deep you are poisoned, you are a person of status, so this time I'll use a clean cloth to gag you." Cook, while quickly searching her, found a clean cloth and muttered, forgetting that even a clean cloth was still a cloth.

"Everyone is poisoned, should I go to the hall to check? No, with so many people, there might be some who escape. I should run quickly." Cook thought about the Third Prince's pocket but wisely dismissed the greedy thought.

"What? A strictly guarded person, could it be the ranch owner? So many people are poisoned, those guys might kill to vent their anger. I should save him. Besides, this woman is heavy, and with my small build, walking 7-8 miles of mountain road will be a challenge. With the ranch owner, at least I have free labor." Cook, just as he reached the main gate, was attracted by the news from Big Mouth. The place where the ranch owner was held was not far from the main gate, in a wooden house that looked like a woodpile.

"Someone is poisoned here, it seems the Third Prince's orders were well executed. God bless you, don't blame me, blame our different camps and the Third Prince. If not for him, you wouldn't be like this." Cook easily entered the wooden house, where he was surprised to find three fully armed soldiers, clearly elite, with five large cups of juice in front of them.

"Moses, Moses, are you dead?" Cook saw a large man, covered in wounds and chained, on a wooden bed and called out softly.

"You won't succeed, I won't talk. If you have the courage, kill me. The Mammoth Knights never lack brave men." The man immediately opened his eyes and shouted.

"Mammoth Knights?" Cook was puzzled. Why would the Mammoth Knights be here?

"Who are you?" Cassi, instead, asked Cook.

"Hmph, if you don't tell me the truth, I'll leave." Cook pretended to leave.

"Deputy Commander Cassi of the Mammoth Knights." Cassi had no choice but to answer.

"Cassi, the Commander, not Loli the Mage's uncle?" Cook almost dropped his jaw. Loli spoke of her uncle with great admiration.

"Loli, Commander, who are you?" Cassi was confused.

"Commander, don't mind, let's go quickly. We can talk while we walk. If we don't leave soon, it will be too late." Cook, upon hearing this, knew he had to save him. He quickly found the key and unlocked the chains. Cook didn't know that the value of the chain was hundreds of times more than his money bag, or he might have reacted differently.

"I am Loli's attendant, Cook, a hunter, sent on a reconnaissance mission." Cook, seeing Cassi's suspicious look, quickly explained.

"Reconnaissance?" Cassi almost wanted to bang his head. A mage's attendant can capture the enemy's commander on a reconnaissance mission, what are we here for?

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