Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 617 - 389: Fool

Outside Semanud City.

At this moment, the sky was getting dark.

It was a time when the moon hung in the west, and the sun had set in the west.

The chaotic sound of hooves suddenly arose.

The villagers, who were originally tidying up the farm work, hurriedly went to check in astonishment.

"What is this commotion?"

"It's the defeated army! Mahri's troops have lost!"

"Run!"

The villagers, terrified, found that the fields and the main road were full of a defeated army. They had discarded their helmets and armor, riding all sorts of mounts, fleeing desperately like a herd of migrating animals on the prairie.

Only these cavalry or those who had seized horses could run ahead of Losa's cavalry.

The defeated army frightened the nearby villages into closing their doors, fearing these normally lawless, now disorganized troops might turn into marauders.

However, they were overthinking.

These defeated troops had no intention of lingering, as if pursued by devils from the Fire Prison, rushing straight through the main road in the middle of the village without pause.

In fact, that was precisely the case.

A cavalry unit, holding up a Double-headed Eagle Banner, charged over the hill first. Behind them, a row of Crusader Knights marched at a steady trot, neither chasing the defeated army at arm's length nor dispersing to pillage the villages.

From afar, these defeated troops seemed like the vanguard of the Franks, evidently in league with them!

...

Kemel was the first to return to Semanud City. This port city now had its gates tightly shut, the drawbridge lifted high, and the originally half-dry moat was filled with water under the power of dozens of laborers turning the waterwheel.

It seemed the news of the Governor's army being defeated by the Franks had been relayed back by a falcon.

Fortunately!

Kemel breathed a sigh of relief and shouted, "I am Kemel Rashid Ilede Gulsum Abdul..."

He quickly declared his full name, indicating he was the son of Ilede Gulsum. Just saying Kemel Rashid would have found a hundred namesakes in the whole Semanud City.

"Let the Nizar Ulama (a title for clergy) come to see me; I have important matters to discuss with them."

"Shut up, traitor. You were the Lord's attendant. Why have you returned alone?"

A furious roar suddenly echoed from the city top, followed by the twang of a bowstring and an arrow flying toward him.

In his haste, Kemel only managed to tilt his head, but the arrow struck him in the shoulder. Poor him, he had discarded his armor for a quicker return; otherwise, even if the arrow hit, it would likely have bounced off.

"Jabri Faris, I am not a traitor. The Governor died in battle. I came by the Governor's last order to defend Semanud City from Cross Demon invasions, with the Governor's seal as proof!"

Kemel endured the excruciating pain and shouted.

This arrowhead might not be poisoned, but it was likely soaked in golden liquid, causing constant burning pain at the wound.

After some whispers atop the city, a basket was lowered, and a Faris named Jabri shouted, "Send up the Lord's seal; otherwise, it's not credible!"

Kemel, by no means a fool, cursed in rage, "The Franks' iron hooves are about to be at the gates. The tens of thousands of citizens blessed by the Holy Fire in Semanud City are already in dire straits, and you still think of seizing power?"

"You misunderstood, Lord Kemel; please first take the basket into the city. I will immediately send for the Ulama to meet you."

Kemel grabbed the basket, hesitated for less than a second, then decisively took off the saddlebag and climbed in—his allegiance, even to the greedy, foolish, and short-sighted Governor Mahri, remained unchanged.

He must preserve the legacy left by the Lord and the heritage of the Mahri family.

However, as soon as he stepped onto the city top, he saw Jabri draw a sword and press it to his throat.

"Hand over the Lord's seal!"

"The Lord entrusted this to me before dying, and I will only present it to the Young Lord."

Kemel was immovable on this matter.

"Then you shall see the Young Lord."

A playful smile appeared on Jabri's face.

A sudden ominous premonition rose in Kemel's heart, and the next moment, a Saracen Straight Sword had pierced his throat.

He opened his mouth, emitting a "huff" sound, blood-tinged froth continuously bubbling from his throat, seemingly unable to believe why Jabri would engage in internal strife when the enemy's troops were approaching.

Jabri leaned close to Kemel's ear and whispered mockingly, "The Young Lord, and your master, are now waiting for you underground. As soon as I got the news, the entire Governor's Mansion was slaughtered."

Seeing Kemel's wide-open eyes, he couldn't help but sneer, "Fool, those Crusaders are all cavalry. How can they siege? Lord Adil will arrive soon, and those Crusaders cannot touch me."

A realization flashed in Kemel's eyes.

No wonder, no wonder he would do such a thing.

His expression quickly turned to mockery, fool, utterly foolish fool, you really think that's an ordinary Crusader army? Could an ordinary Crusader army crush the Governor's elite so effortlessly?

He grinned, pain seemingly far from him in that moment.

I await you... in Hell!

Jabri was not intimidated by Kemel's expression in his final moments; he merely sneered and said, "Men, hang this traitor's body upon the city wall. Such treason against enemies cannot allow being cremated by the Holy Fire after death."

He stepped on Kemel's chest, pulled out the Straight Sword piercing his throat, wiped it clean on the corpse, then sheathed it back and took Mahri Governor's seal in his hand—a gem-embedded, gold-plated stamp with sophisticated ornaments.

"By Governor Mahri's last command, I am to take over all military affairs in Semanud City. From now on, no one may leave at will. We will firmly hold this city and when Lord Adil arrives, we will attack in unison, both inside and out, to avenge Governor Mahri!"

He shouted orders down the hierarchy, and commands bearing the Governor's stamped seal spread rapidly throughout the city.

"My Lord, look quickly!"

A nearby Guard suddenly shouted.

Below the city, a large group of defeated troops had appeared. They had abandoned their helmets and armor, moving swiftly, rushing toward the city.

"Open the gate quickly, let us in!"

"The Crusaders are about to arrive, let us in quickly."

"Valashma, is that you? It's Senmut from across the street. I beg you, open the gate quickly; those Crusader demons are almost here."

The guards on the wall instinctively looked at Jabri.

Unexpectedly, he raised his bow and shot one of the cavalrymen who had abandoned their helmets and armor: "Get lost. Anyone who dares loiter under the city shall be shot dead. Anyone who suggests opening the city gate from now on will face this man's fate as a traitor colluding with the Crusaders!"

Meanwhile, Kemel's body had already been hoisted into the air.

One nearby Guard softly advised, "My Lord, Governor Mahri took away most of the elites. Now there are only a little over a thousand soldiers left in the city. Even if you issued a Summoning Decree, those militia..."

In the dark, Jabri's emerald eyes flashed, startling him. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

This new City Lord sneered, "I have my ways to make these militia match the power of the Regular Army. I'm not an idiot like Mahri, still surrounded by staff like Kemel."

Most Saracen Militia could barely muster a sword.

Their standard equipment included only two Long Spears, one for throwing, one for attacking, a Shield; armor was out of the question. In actual combat, they barely added up, like their European counterparts.

He took off his Iron Gloves, supported the city wall, lifted his head, and gazed at the bright moon gradually replacing the sun, his emerald eyes filled with a wild and furious hue unlike any human.

"That fool Mahri should have stepped down a long time ago."

He extended his finger towards the city: "From today onward, Semanud belongs to me alone!"