"Good. Very good."

It felt as though a blazing fire were burning inside Busby’s chest. His teeth itched with hatred as he turned toward the patrol captain.

"Release them."

"But..."

The patrol captain thought about the woman’s beautiful figure and felt unwilling in every possible way. Yet under the pressure of noble authority, he could only lower his head miserably and go release them.

Moments later, Taz reunited with his companions once again.

"We’re leaving. Head back to Maple Leaf Territory."

Phield glanced at Busby before turning around and leading his army away.

"That damned viper-fanged bastard. He’s not slapping my face, he’s humiliating you directly, my lord!"

The wealthy merchant nearly sounded on the verge of tears. His thugs and mercenaries had been brutally beaten, the medical costs would come out of his own pocket, and there was nobody he could even demand compensation from. There was no way he could stop a noble’s army and ask for damages.

"Exactly, exactly. My own humiliation means nothing, but insulting you like this is unbearable."

Busby slowly drew his sword. The gleaming blade reflected coldly in his eyes.

"If the provincial governor learns about this, or if an investigation is triggered, it’ll become troublesome."

"But hasn’t the governor already accepted plenty of our gold coins? I doubt someone like him would willingly smash his own money bag."

"True. But he’ll use this as an excuse to demand even more."

Busby understood nobles and Imperial officials perfectly.

The governor would never excessively punish nobles for crimes, but extortion was unavoidable. Worse still, Busby would leave behind the impression of incompetence in the eyes of greater nobles.

"Fuck, why am I even explaining myself to a bunch of lackeys like you?"

Busby suddenly snapped, anger flashing across his refined face.

"Get lost and return to your duties."

"Oh, right. Those idiots who let the slaves escape? Hang them and feed them to the hawks."

Then he turned toward the wealthy merchant Kretch and said coldly:

"Gather your thugs and mercenaries. I’m requisitioning them."

Kretch was so terrified by his lord’s sharp gaze that his legs trembled violently and cold sweat soaked his back.

"Y-Yes, yes, of course. I’ll arrange it immediately."

Busby licked his lips silently.

Now that he’s outside my city, tomorrow’s biggest headline will be: Baron Phield died to bandit ambushes, and I avenged him by slaying the bandits.

If you dare act wildly in my territory, then die, you idiot. That fool is probably still clueless right now.

The thought of personally killing a descendant from a great noble family strangely filled Busby with excitement.

Meanwhile, Phield had already traveled some distance away from Wind Tour Territory. Looking toward the distant sky where dark storm clouds gradually rolled together, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Summer weather is always like this. Storms come without any warning."

"My lord doesn’t like rain?"

Tisiana tilted her head curiously beneath the white robe concealing her identity.

"I used to dislike it. But recently, I’ve started liking it more and more. Rain washes away the scent of blood."

Rubbing the ornate hilt of the sword at his waist, Phield rode his horse toward the three trembling young people.

"This is where I’ll part ways with you. You’re free to leave now. My advice is to get as far away from High Castle Province as possible, especially territories like Maple Leaf."

The three youths appeared timid and uneducated. They only bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

"My lord... Wind Tour Territory might be trafficking humans, or even... eating people. Please help those victims."

After carefully considering his wording, Taz finally forced himself to say it. Julia clasped her fingers together as if praying.

"I’m not some saint. I can’t save everyone."

Phield’s expression remained completely indifferent as impatience crept into his voice.

"Now get moving. If I change my mind, I’ll chop you up and feed you to the dogs."

The three youths jumped in fright and quickly ran off.

Phield had no intention of keeping strangers he could not trust around him. That would only add instability to his plans.

"Heh. Time to welcome our new friends."

Phield smiled faintly.

"What do you mean?" Tisiana asked in confusion. "New friends?"

"Baron Busby needs those three people. Since I took them away, there’s a ninety-nine percent chance he won’t endure it. He’ll either send troops to silence them permanently or kill me directly. Once that happens, it becomes an ambush battle."

In street warfare or siege warfare, Phield possessed two Divine Chosen, making his chances of victory nearly absolute. But cities with thousands of people always risked survivors escaping, and launching a direct assault would result in heavy casualties on his side as well.

An ambush battle, however, was completely different.

Tisiana stared at him in shock.

"So the reason you protected them was for this? You actually planned that far ahead. My lord... you’re terrifying."

"That’s the main reason, yes."

Phield nodded honestly.

"Of course, if I can save decent people without harming our own interests, I don’t mind doing it."

"Haha, I knew you were a good person. How should I put it... there’s light inside your heart."

Tisiana blinked playfully at him and revealed a lovely smile.

"Though maybe there’s also Holy Light inside your stomach."

"Don’t hand me a good person card."

Phield reacted almost instinctively to the words "good person" and pushed the air away with both hands.

"I’m not a good person. I just want to stay alive."

"No more chatting. We’re setting up an ambush along the road to Maple Leaf Territory."

Phield understood the nature of Imperial nobles all too well.

By midnight, a makeshift army consisting of a hundred lightly armored infantry, thirty light and heavy cavalry, and another hundred poorly equipped armed men struggled through the darkness.

From time to time, people tripped over rocks or thorn bushes, while quiet curses filled the ranks.

"Damn it all. Is Phield secretly a rabbitkin or something? How the hell does he move so fast?"

Busby cursed nonstop while continuously releasing eagle beasts to search for Phield’s trail.

"Did we take the wrong road?"

"My lord, we discovered deep wagon tracks and hoofprints left by a marching army. They extend all the way toward the Screaming Great Forest."

The knight squire sent ahead for scouting returned with his report.

"I believe the ’bandits’ have probably camped inside the forest to shelter from the rain."

"Excellent."

Busby released an eagle beast toward the Screaming Great Forest, and before long, he heard the cry of an eagle echoing back.

"Found them. They’ve camped where the eagle is circling."

Busby licked his lips. He could already picture Phield kneeling before him and begging for mercy.

"Pass down the order. Anyone who makes noise inside the forest will be hanged."

Yet Busby, who believed himself hidden perfectly, had no idea that every single movement of his had already been discovered by Phield.

Hidden within the dense forest, Phield shaded his eyes with one hand and observed for a long while before snorting coldly.

"Baron Busby looks like a scholar, but it turns out he’s an idiot."

Tisiana pondered for a moment.

"I think most people wouldn’t assume you rescued someone just to design an ambush."

Rosalia covered her mouth and laughed wickedly.

"Hehehe. Back then, Phield only defeated me through underhanded methods too. Treachery is the noblest medal a noble can wear. That’s exactly what I like about him."

"What do you mean underhanded methods? I clearly beat you head-on back then, alright?"

Phield looked utterly speechless.

Careful, or I’ll sue you for slander.