When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 844 - 795: Catching a Prisoner for Interrogation

Kaler hurriedly ate some cold bread and sausage, then followed Captain Bai to the bridge at the southern end of the moat.

He chatted with Captain Bai along the way, only then did he learn what had happened.

The reinforcements sent by His Majesty Saint Sun to Xia Lvcheng had finally arrived and would reach Shuimi Town in the next day or two.

The Rangers led by the Deputy Commander of the Holy Grail Cavalry Corps, Kolebo, arrived in Xia Lvcheng in the afternoon. They planned to survey the terrain tonight and capture a few people for interrogation.

Taking the thumb clamp from Captain Bai's hand and pocketing it, Kaler was curious, "Isn't Shuimi Town occupied by the Leia people? I thought they would enter the city directly."

"Your task is to follow orders, these matters are not for you to consider." Captain Bai glared at him, then dragged him to the stables and chose a gentle riding horse for him.

Leading this gelding horse, Kaler climbed onto Triangle Fort, walked across the drawbridge from the top of the fort, and then continued along the outer wall to the clearing by the river.

There, seven or eight teams aiming to capture scouts were waiting, and Kaler, luckily, was assigned under Kolebo.

"I've seen you before, you're someone's brother-in-law, which party was it again?"

Kolebo even recognized the young man, just couldn't recall his name.

"Salute to you, Lord Kolebo, I'm Kaler Hans, Grosien Rasso is my brother-in-law."

"Oh yes, yes, your brother-in-law is fighting for us in the logistics front, and you are fighting for us on the frontline, both good citizens of Thousand River Valley."

Kolebo's grip was powerful, making Kaler's shoulder painful.

Once everyone was ready, Kolebo called a few of his squad members together.

They gathered around the campfire, everyone engaging in lively discussion, talking over each other.

The so-called scout capture involved a team of 6 to 12 capturing enemy officers, messengers, or sentries at night to obtain the latest intelligence.

After a few sergeants briefly explained the situation, everyone's attention turned to Kaler, the local.

They scouted to find reliable, local soldiers who could ride horses and didn't have night blindness, just for the intelligence advantage.

"I do know a place," pointing at the makeshift map, Kaler volunteered, "Their camp is too forward, and their water source is too far from the camp.

Many Knight officers or hastily passing messengers find it bothersome, so they lead their horses to this nearby creek for water.

It's less than 500 meters from the moat. If we're lucky, we might run into one or two unfortunate ones."

Kolebo asked around again but eventually chose Kaler's suggestion.

Kaler was the son of a Knight; though his lineage wasn't entirely clean, he held a second-class Iron River medal.

He had only his sister as family, and his life was wholly tied to the Holy Alliance, with a minimal chance of betrayal.

"Alright, then go near this creek, split into three teams, and remember to use bird whistles to notify each other."

"Understood!"

...

The dappled horse lowered its head, using its tongue to drink the icy river water.

Occasionally, it would snort, spraying saliva splatter on DeBrook's trousers.

Patting the mane on the horse's back, he looked up, gazing at the moon hanging in the deep blue sky.

As the moonlight shone on DeBrook's face, he suddenly felt a bit homesick.

Since being drafted as an Armed Farmer three years ago, he hadn't returned home once.

Thanks to his father's connections, he had become a messenger.

He didn't have to go to the battlefield to fight with magic but had to brave the cold winds running around everywhere.

It had been a full three years, his tracks stretched from River Island to Dawn Island, then to Thorn Garden and finally Thousand River Valley.

Yesterday, he had just received a letter from home; last year, his child was born, and he hadn't even seen it.

"What should I name this child?" DeBrook murmured as he stared at the river, "Pierre? Hank? Tomar?"

Just as he was trying to recall the names of the Saints to come up with a good name for the child, he heard a sound.

Frowning, he glanced at the distant bushes and placed his right hand on the saddle.

"Who's there?"

"Whoosh!" Like something broke the air, DeBrook immediately drew his sword in defense.

But when he saw the three round, leathery objects fall at his feet, he couldn't help but shout, "Oh no!"

In an instant, he only heard a "click," followed by sharp pain in his head, and then he lost consciousness.

It seemed like a moment passed, or maybe a long time, but when he regained awareness from the ringing in his ears, a bucket of snow water was splashed on him.

"You rebels, you will go to Fire Prison." The awakened DeBrook immediately shouted.

Just as he spoke, a solid slap hit his face.

"Behave." Gripping DeBrook's jaw, Kolebo forcibly turned his face toward him, "I ask, you answer, have you seen the Royal Guard Captain Raffel lately?"

"No way, I won't say anything."

"Bring the thumb clamp."

"Haven't seen him, he used to give orders himself, lately it's been a few Counts from Dawn Island."

"How many order chains are there?"

"Still two."

"Where did the rest go, do you know?"

"I don't know."

Kaler, being observant, handed over the thumb clamp, and Kolebo placed DeBrook's thumb into the clamp.

"Ah... I don't know... I really don't know... I swear I'm telling the truth... Ah... They went north!"

"Evidence? How do you know?"

"No evidence, because I really don't know, I'm guessing... Ah—"

Standing up in front of the fainted DeBrook, Kolebo nodded to his men.

The cavalryman grabbed DeBrook's collar, tied his arms and ankles with leather straps, and tossed him onto the saddle.

"Let's go."

The moonlight dyed the snowy terrain silver, the pine needles frosted with crystalline ice, even the cracking sounds of melting could be heard.

The horse behind whinnied, gently nudging its muzzle under Kaler's armpit for warmth.

Scratching the horse's upper jaw (the area between its eyes and lips), Kaler stared at Kolebo's contemplative figure ahead.

After pondering for a while, he quickened his pace, catching up with the frontline officer, "Lord Kolebo, how did you know the order chain had left?"

"Why do you ask?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Because when you interrogated that messenger, you asked, 'how many order chains are left,' rather than 'how many are there.'"

Kolebo's steps paused slightly, "You're different from your brother-in-law, you're smart; after the battle, I'll recommend you to Saint Danji Military Academy."

Kaler wanted to ask more, but the other soldiers pulled him back with a smile.

Continuing to ask would only irritate Kolebo, earning a couple of lashes.

Kolebo glanced back at Kaler surrounded by other soldiers and lowered his eyelids.

This Kaler, smart yet young, with a bit of reckless energy.

Of the 12 order chains, 2 were left near Xia Lvcheng, the main army led by Raffel had gone elsewhere.

The messenger was right, a high probability they went north.

As for why they dared to split the troops, Kolebo guessed it was because the Oslar Clan's army was about to arrive.

Currently, there were two to three thousand feudal troops in front of Xia Lvcheng, along with over ten thousand soldiers from the Oslar Clan, soon replenishing the numbers back to nearly fifty thousand.

As per the intelligence from Falan and the Defender embedded in Hotam County, the Oslar Clan's army was expected to arrive in five or six days.

Five days, this was the last window of opportunity.

The moon was obscured by drifting gray clouds, concealing the horse-led soldiers advancing on the snowy ground.

When the gray clouds drifted away in the cold wind, under the moonlight, only a trail of hoof and boot prints remained on the loose snow.

(Thumb clamp as shown.)