The Lord Of Blood Hill

Chapter 645: The Ambush Plan

"Viscount Lawrence, remember this. Do not kill the Baron of Waterhill, or we will have no way to answer to Henwell."Facing the instruction from the captain of Duke Marcus's guards, Viscount Lawrence nods. "Understood."

"I will not harm Baron Pacino. I will only capture him."

"During that time, he must not be injured. He must be treated well and kept until the grand duke sends someone to take him away."

The next day, Viscount Lawrence summons his knights.

"There is a mission. We are going to ambush a caravan. The target is the Baron of Waterhill."

The knights look at one another. One old knight steps forward. "My lord viscount, the Baron of Waterhill was enfeoffed by the kingdom."

"His title is hereditary in perpetuity. Among barons, he holds an upper-rank title, and he is also one of the royal wine suppliers."

"If I remember correctly, this Baron Pacino is friends with Peace Haven's lord of Blood Hill."

"Also, he has a good relationship with the eldest son of the MacLeod family. If we do this, would it not be a little..."

Viscount Lawrence waves a hand. "You do not need to worry about that. Just do as ordered. This is authorized by the grand duke."

"There is one point you must remember. Do not harm the Baron of Waterhill."

"Other than him, anyone in the party who tries to escape is to be killed without exception. Not one of them leaves alive."

Seeing that no one argues further, Viscount Lawrence continues assigning tasks. "We will divide into two groups."

"One group will disguise themselves as bandits and kill all the caravan guards and the other miscellaneous people."

"The other group will follow me, carry our family banner, drive away the first group, then bring the Baron of Waterhill back under house arrest."

After saying this, Lawrence looks at a silent, burly man. "Knight Lynd, you will play the bandit. I will tell you the details later."

Knight Lynd nods and accepts the order. Lawrence begins arranging the others.

A total of eight knight-lords participate in this matter. Only Knight Lynd will pretend to be a bandit. The others will all act with Viscount Lawrence.

Lawrence's side sends seventeen knights, while Lynd has only one knight on his side.

After all, how could bandits have that many professionals? Having one knight holding the line is already very rare.

After dinner, Viscount Lawrence calls Knight Lynd to the study.

"The operation cannot take place inside the grand duke's territory. We must wait until they leave the Eastern Territory, preferably one more day after that."

"According to his route, he should be at the border between several parties by then."

"To the west is the neutral faction's Iris City. To the east is the royal faction's Tyran City. To the south is Cloud Tree City, directly under the king. Only to the north are we."

"If something happens in that place, none of the parties will have time to react, and suspicion against us will be smaller."

Knight Lynd nods. "My lord viscount, I understand. We cannot let the lord of Blood Hill directly lock onto us."

"Do not worry. I know what to do. I absolutely will not harm the Baron of Waterhill."

Viscount Lawrence shakes his head. "No. You have a new mission. You must kill the Baron of Waterhill."

"Although Henwell and I had some unpleasantness back then, I have no hatred for him, and I do not want to offend him."

"But this is the grand duke's private order, a message passed to me by one of the grand duke's trusted people."

"The Baron of Waterhill must die, or he will become a serious problem for all of us."

"Afterward, leave my territory directly and secretly head to Eastern Mist City."

"The grand duke will arrange for you to go to Ruan Territory and give you a new identity. At that time, you will be a baron."

Here, Viscount Lawrence rises and walks to Knight Lynd's side. "Your abilities are excellent, but your foundation is too weak."

"You cannot fully display your value here with me. Ruan Territory is newly acquired land, and no firm alliance of interests has formed there yet."

"After you go there, with the grand duke's silent approval, you will certainly develop better."

"Once the matter settles, I will give you some family wealth as well. Consider it my final help to you."

Knight Lynd thanks Viscount Lawrence in surprise and delight. The two discuss a few more details before Lynd leaves.

When Lynd goes out, Viscount Lawrence sighs again. "Ah, in truth, I really am reluctant to let you go."

"You are one of the few capable people under me who can fight wars and govern territory."

"But as your lord, I cannot block you from advancing further."

"I hope you seize this opportunity and win yourself a better future."

As he speaks, Viscount Lawrence's eyes even grow wet, and Knight Lynd thanks him in a choked voice.

After Lynd leaves the castle, Lawrence watches his back. The warm expression on Lawrence's face slowly disappears, and a sinister light appears in his eyes.

"Go. Summon Knight Gil and the others."

What Lawrence does not know is that once Knight Lynd is far from the castle, the excited smile on Lynd's face also disappears, and a gloomy expression settles over him.

After returning to his own territory, Lynd immediately summons his warriors overnight.

In the study late that night, several people are present besides Knight Lynd.

Aside from one other middle-aged man, the rest all look young.

After explaining what happened, Lynd looks at his old friend. "Potter, what do you think?"

Potter thinks for a moment. "Viscount Lawrence is probably about to move against us."

"If Lady Melissa had not mediated these past years, we would have been purged long ago."

"Viscount Lawrence and the nobles under him have always rejected us, believing we are nothing but mud-legged commoners who climbed up from below."

"Otherwise, with your war achievements, you would at least be a baron by now."

"In several wars, if it had not been for us, Lawrence and the others would have already squandered their entire foundation."

"They have delayed moving against us for two reasons. On one hand, they fear Lady Melissa's influence."

"On the other hand, they fear our strength."

A young man beside him shakes his head. "The most important thing is that they have never had a suitable excuse."

"I think Lawrence wants to use this opportunity to formally move against us."

"The crime of disguising ourselves as bandits to ambush a kingdom baron is enough for them to launch a war against us."

"Also, because the target of the ambush is the Baron of Waterhill, who is my lord's good friend, we will lose Peace Haven's support and Lady Melissa's protection."

"They could even borrow the duke's army and attack our territory under the banner of suppressing rebels and bandits."

Lynd nods gently. "By now, Lawrence is probably already planning how to surround and kill me during the operation, leaving no witnesses."

Potter frowns. "Could killing the Baron of Waterhill really be the grand duke's intention?"

Another silent young man speaks. "None of that is important. The most important question is why they are doing this."

"What are the grand duke and the others planning? What does the Baron of Waterhill know?"

"He is insisting on going to Peace Haven. There must be a reason."

"I think he must have something important to report to my lord."

"The question is whether we should gamble on this."

"If we gamble correctly, everything will be fine. If we gamble wrong, this will put Peace Haven in a very passive position."