The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 116: Under a Smooth Situation

Vol 2 Chapter 116 Under a Smooth Situation

With generous benefits, the patrol team in Valley City was quickly assembled. It not only recruited excellent hunters from nearby areas but also included some capable adventurers. At the same time, to ensure better control and supervision, the garrison also transferred some personnel from the army to join the patrol team, finally forming a patrol force of roughly over 230 people.

After the patrol team was formed, Prince Jabers selected four outstanding 'Second Tier' individuals as captains, each commanding a squad, and sent them out of the city on patrol to capture those scouts.

In the first few days, these patrol teams had no leads and lacked experience. However, during a chance operation, they managed to capture a careless scout. After severe torture, they managed to figure out some patterns in the enemy's movements and gained some insights.

Soon, these patrol teams began to cause trouble and resistance for the scouts of the Ante Kingdom.

On the streets of Valley City, another patrol team returned with a bountiful haul. On the cart they were dragging lay three bound Ante scouts. The three men, gagged, were laid out on the cart boards like shrimp sticks, displayed for the public to see.

"Are these the Ante scouts?" residents by the roadside discussed.

"They don't look much different from us."

"Don't say that. Their accents and habits are completely different from ours. You know, Ante people only bathe once a month, they're especially smelly," someone whispered, because there were still some Ante garrison troops in the city now.

"Same with food. They really like adding red garlic and green tomatoes, they love that weird sour taste."The residents discussed the differences of the Ante people, and some, seeing the scouts pass by, picked up stones and threw them at them.

Faced with such actions, the patrol team members driving the cart in front did not stop them. Instead, they waved their hands proudly, showing off their glory to the residents, occasionally waving to some pretty girls on the roadside.

"Hey, see that? It's these guys."

"Causing trouble day and night outside, forcing us to seal the city and stay trapped at home."

"Prince Jabers ordered us to get rid of these bad guys."

"This kind of thing is particularly easy for me, but I'm even more grateful to His Highness the Prince, this glory is partly his too," the patrolman sitting at the front addressed the roadside residents.

While boasting about his own heroic actions and praising the Prince's wisdom, he also showed off himself, earning the admiration of many inexperienced young people.

"Hahaha, you want to join the patrol team too?"

"No problem, train your Breathing Technique well, and let me see your progress in a while."

After returning to the city, this patrol team received commendation from Prince Jabers and was even invited to dine and celebrate within the castle.

The recent victories against the Ante scouts greatly boosted the confidence of the soldiers garrisoning Valley City, dispelling much of their previous doubt about Prince Jabers.

Some even began to think that if this Prince really became king in the future, they must perform well early on to leave a good impression on him.

The dawn of victory boosted the morale of Valley City's army, but it didn't have much impact on the Ante Kingdom's forces outside the city.

Every day, many people and horses still came and went, bringing news from various places within Regas, and several messengers from the distant north, from the Ante Kingdom homeland itself, also came and went.

Inside the main military tent, 'Baron Prison Hound' Carkis and 'Viscount Mighty Bear' Nokton were discussing.

"The situation around Valley City has been pretty much scouted out now. Not only that, garrisons in other districts within Regas have also sent us reports and dispatched personnel to request instructions."

"With us here, those wavering garrisons have begun to settle down. I believe they won't side with the already powerless Regas nobles over such minor concerns."

"If it weren't for Winter's sudden attack, this land should have been under our free control. We wouldn't have such a fragile situation now." Nokton picked up the large goblet on the table and took a hard swig, a spicy kick surging up from his stomach.

"Haha, even so, it's not the turn of those sewer rats to come back," a man with a narrow face on the other side of the table sneered sinisterly.

"I reckon that Prince in Valley City is still having Sweet Dreams, thinking about becoming king in the future."

"Fabre is really a fool to the core, actually siding with that Prince who has nothing."

"Originally, if he had been ruthless back then and directly reported to his superiors, mobilizing the garrisons and forces from several surrounding cities, he could have easily captured that penniless Prince."

"Now look, not only does he have to hand over the things he plundered in Valley City, but he can't even protect his property back in his Ante hometown." He shook his head, truly unable to understand how someone could be so stupid.

"Probably thinks the Ante ship is sinking and is desperately looking for another boat," Nokton beside him continued pouring wine.

"Currently, some lords stationed in Regas are thinking the same way."

"Although they haven't sided with Regas, they are actively preparing. If Ante fails one day, they'll declare independence and form a loose alliance."

"That won't do," Carkis leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced, elbows resting on the armrests.

"His Majesty sent me here precisely to make these fellows behave, to remind them who their master is."

"It's actually good that Fabre rebelled. He can serve as an example to them, to show them the fate of a traitor."

Hearing this, Nokton put down his cup.

"Decided yet? When do we move? I'm getting a bit bored waiting."

"Since General Nokton finds it a bit tedious, how about tomorrow?" Carkis picked up the wine bottle and refilled the other's cup.

"Tomorrow it is," Nokton directly finalized the attack time.

"Heheh, there'll be a good show to watch tomorrow," Carkis let out a sinister and strange chuckle.

...

At the moment of the standoff inside and outside Valley City, in the eastern part of Regas, a girl dressed in a gray flax robe was riding through the mountains and fields, approaching a city not far away.

Sylutia first left the Granite Mountains, then passed through a border town in the east, gradually moving closer to the Hinterland of Regas.

Standing under the tall city wall, Sylutia pushed back her hood and looked up.

Finally reached a larger city, the girl thought to herself.

But judging by the flags on the city walls and the soldiers' uniforms, this should be a place garrisoned by the Ante Kingdom, right?

The girl dismounted, then led the white horse beside her toward the city gate.

Soldiers at the gate were interrogating people entering and leaving, asking where they came from, what they were doing in the city, the inspection was strict.

"You, take off your hood," when Sylutia reached the city gate, an Ante soldier stopped her.

"Hello," the girl took off her hood, revealing her pristine silver hair and dreamlike beauty.

"You..." The soldier intended to ask, but his voice caught in his throat upon seeing the girl's face.

"I am a gardener from afar. This is my identification." Sylutia took out a gardener badge credential. This was what she obtained in the Glittergold Plains after condensing the 'Third Tier·Gardener' progression path.

"This... I understand. You may pass." Although he didn't understand where this girl came from, the oppressive feeling of her Aspect aura she emitted was unmistakably real, making the soldiers at the gate exceptionally respectful.

After entering the city, Sylutia restrained her aura, continued leading her horse, and walked, touring the city streets.

This was Dulin City in eastern Regas, formerly the fief of a Regas Count, but now ruled by Ante Kingdom nobles.

On the streets, Sylutia frequently saw soldiers in dark red surcoats and armor patrolling, and there weren't many people talking on the road.

Fortunately, apart from that, no other disturbances occurred. The market here was still bustling, with residents and merchants trading and discussing events happening elsewhere.

"Have you heard? The elite forces dispatched from the Ante Kingdom homeland are currently stationed outside Valley City."

"It's said that the descendant of 'Knight King' Raygard's bloodline, the sole remaining royal heir, Prince Jabers, is now in Valley City."

"Many former Regas nobles are preparing to go there and pledge allegiance."

"Prince Jabers? Why did I rarely hear his name before? Feels like among the princes, he's the youngest, with little experience and ability."

"Shh, you can't say such things. What if he really becomes king in the future?"

"Ahaha, don't even think about that. I think that Prince definitely can't defeat the Ante people."

"Alright then, I'm off to work. The Ante nobles in the castle ordered a lot of meat again today, need to go buy it."

"Really envy those noble lords, they can eat meat and drink wine every day."

"If you're envious, you could also try to earn military merit," someone nearby laughed.

"Me? Forget it. I can't even learn the Breathing Technique. Going to the battlefield would just make me cannon fodder."

"Better to be content being an errand boy. Anyway, whether it's Regas nobles or lords from Ante, it doesn't affect my job."

After saying that, another burst of laughter erupted in the market, then slowly subsided, returning to the usual hustle and bustle of hawking.

Although the country had changed hands, for the ordinary residents here, Ante rule was merely a change of the tax-collecting nobles, with no substantial difference.

Some descendants of former Regas knights might beat their chests in anguish, grieving the demise of the country their ancestors built. But for the common folk, the deeds of 'Knight King' Raygard were already a story too distant and largely forgotten.