"Exactly. With petals stuck to his shoes, he must have lingered outside the main hall. That’s why I suspected he would go out to report tonight. I didn’t expect to be right." Gius said, glaring fiercely at Turner.

"Commander, you’re truly wise. It’s no wonder His Highness chose you from among all the servants. Unlike this guy, who can only do sneaky, underhanded things." One of the men flattered.

Gius’s face showed a hint of pride, and he gave the man an appreciative look. "If we’re talking about wisdom and valour, that would be our His Highness. Now I finally understand. His Highness endured humiliation in Brambleford all these years just so he could wipe out these powerful families in one fell swoop today."

"Exactly. He endured for five years, only revealing his brilliance now. His Highness’s patience is truly remarkable." Another man said.

Then someone else added. "With a prince like this, who knows? Maybe His Highness has a chance in the struggle for the throne..."

The man didn’t finish his sentence, as everyone, including Gius, turned to look at him.

Gius said sternly. "Don’t speak carelessly. His Highness is currently biding his time and doesn’t want to get involved in such matters. You’re my men, so it’s fine to say such things in front of me. But if I hear you gossiping outside, don’t blame me for cutting out your tongues."

The four men immediately fell silent and nodded.

After glancing around, Gius ordered. "You two, take him away first. The other two follow me out of the city under the cover of night. His Highness has his plans, and these powerful families must have their own schemes. Tonight, we’ll scout out their arrangements."

"Yes." The four men replied. Two of them took Turner away, while the other two followed Gius out of the city.

At the city gate, they showed their tokens and exited, heading toward the pond outside the city.

This pond was one of Brambleford’s scenic spots. A tributary of the Ford River flowed here, forming a clear lake several hundred meters long and wide, surrounded by trees and lush grass.

Gius and his men were heading to this location.

Under the moonlight, the faint light allowed them to see. The three of them didn’t take the main road but instead moved through the trees on either side.

After travelling for a while, they saw the pond shimmering silver in the moonlight. They also noticed many shadowy figures moving about.

The three of them continued to advance stealthily, eventually crouching on the ground to observe.

At the Oxford Academy, Simon had taught Gius many reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance techniques.

On the way to the pond, Gius didn’t take a direct route. In areas without tree cover, he moved in an S-shaped pattern. If they were being followed, this would make it harder for the pursuers to determine their destination.

Moreover, the three of them didn’t move together. Instead, they spread out, with significant distances between them, often stopping to listen for any unusual sounds.

"Commander, there are at least a thousand people here." One of the men whispered.

Gius frowned deeply. "This is trouble. Can His Highness’s five hundred men handle so many?"

"Should we go back and inform His Highness?" Another man asked.

"Not yet. Let’s wait a little longer. We need the most accurate information." Gius said.

The three of them continued to lie low. By midnight, all the people around the pond had gathered in the grove to the south. There were about thirteen hundred of them.

At this point, Gius led the two men back to the city.

Tomorrow was the day of the spring outing. The thought of this trap kept Simon awake all night.

Not long ago, he had been just a lab assistant, a homebody. Now, he had to face a brutal test like a true prince.

This was the first time he would confront such a dangerous situation.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t scared, but he knew he had no choice. This was a trial that a prince had to endure.

His status now didn’t allow him to be cowardly or retreat. Throughout history, those who survived the rise and fall of dynasties were men of great talent, broad vision, and immense courage.

He could easily create an industrial empire, but the art of ruling a domain was what he truly needed to learn. Otherwise, everything he created would only become someone else’s prize.

By voluntarily attending this banquet, he aimed to lure out the snakes while also establishing his image in Brambleford as a prince who dared to take risks and feared nothing.

Only then would officials and commoners truly admire him from the bottom of their hearts. They would see a prince worth pledging their loyalty to.

After all, who would pledge loyalty to a cowardly, despicable person? But a man who fought to eliminate powerful families for the greater good was a different story.

Moreover, in his view, the founding prince of the Eldorian Empire, Leopold Ashbourne, had established the feudal system precisely to select the most capable successor. He didn’t care if his descendants fought each other, as the victor would be king, and the loser would be a bandit. A prince who couldn’t even win the struggle for the throne had no right to rule a vast empire.

Thus, among his siblings, there were many cunning and talented individuals. To compete with them, he needed to temper himself and experience major events.

Otherwise, if he wet himself at the sight of swords, he would become a laughingstock.

As he pondered this, footsteps sounded outside, followed by Gius’s voice.

"My Lord, Bertram has ambushed over a thousand private soldiers in the grove by the pond," Gius reported.

Simon, who had been waiting for Gius’s news, opened the door and let him in.

"Over a thousand?" Simon asked again.

"Exactly. It shouldn’t be more than fifteen hundred." Gius said.

"Hmm, it seems Bertram has gone all out this time. He must have mobilised all his private soldiers." Simon said with a cold laugh.

Gius looked worried. "My Lord, please reconsider. This is no trivial matter."

"The arrow is already on the bowstring; it must be fired," Simon said, though he was also concerned. But at this point, he had no choice but to press on. "Go quickly and summon Captain Lancelot and Minister Baldwin to discuss our strategy."

Gius acknowledged the order and left. Soon, Lancelot and Baldwin arrived at the castle.

After hearing Gius’s report, Lancelot said. "My Lord, if that’s the case, during the banquet, we can ambush the Brambleford army to the north. Gius said no one entered the grove on the north side."

"But the grassland in front of the southern grove is where the banquet will likely be held. The northern grove is separated from the pond by several hundred meters. I’m afraid reinforcements might not arrive in time." Baldwin said.

Lancelot said casually. "This time, I’ll bring thirty elite soldiers to protect Your Highness. We can hold out for a while."

Baldwin fell silent and looked at Lancelot.

Simon sighed. "Captain Lancelot, my life is in your hands."