Warhammer Divine Throne

"No, this is exactly what we need." Duke Bodric had a plan in mind, pointing to the plains: "Everyone, do you know why the Rogue Knights would agree with the Estalia Mercenary Corps to set the delivery location here?"

"Because it’s convenient and open." Fidmund picked up the conversation, carefully observing the terrain, his eyes lighting up: "Because it is convenient for large-scale cavalry operations here. If anything unexpected happens, the Rogue Knights can retreat smoothly."

"That’s right." Laine nodded, surveying the terrain: "If the Rogue Knights were to escape at all costs, we wouldn’t be able to annihilate them completely and retake the Sea God Trident. Therefore, we must create an illusion for the Rogue Knights to mistakenly believe they are facing only a small detachment of Knights Corps searching for the Sea God Trident’s whereabouts and should take the initiative to attack."

"Exactly, under such conditions, with the internal coordination of the Margaret Vanguard Team, we will have a chance to wipe out these Rogue Knights entirely and recover my family’s heirloom." Duke Bodric nodded: "Fidmund, Houlf, you two, lead thirty Sea God Knights to lure the enemy. When the enemy starts their charge, Laine and I will lead all the troops to follow up immediately."

"Yes!" Thus ended the military meeting.

The next day, morning, Moros Plains.

A fully armed force composed of over a hundred Rogue Knights and more than three hundred Knight’s Attendants rode warhorses, moving slowly into the plains amidst the morning mist. The terrain here is flat, with a very shallow brook and sparse surrounding forests. Despite the poor visibility due to the morning mist, the leader of the Rogue Knights, Jillam du Chastelron, felt triumphant.

After several months of hard work, the efforts were finally coming to fruition.

Jillam was a Brittania native and once a Kingdom Knight of Brittania, with a past that was worthy of pride. Unfortunately, due to his criminal activities like robbing convoys and molesting women, he was convicted and, by the order of the Lake God Witch Mogiana, stripped of his knight title and exiled.

Every year, some knights in Brittania face punishment from Mogiana due to major misconduct and improper behavior. As the religious leader of the Knight Kingdom, the Lake God Witch regularly supervises the knights’ conduct, with the most severe punishment being transformation into a frog, doomed to eat bugs for life unless a kiss from a maiden could potentially break Mogiana’s magic spell.

Mogiana initially hoped Jillam could atone for his sins and regain his lost honor during exile, but after secretly being hired by the Estalia Merchant Alliance, Jillam chose betrayal. He spent his wealth gathering a group of Rogue Knights and took over two months to break into the tomb of the Duke of Boldro’s Clan, retrieving the Sea God Trident.

The Estalia Merchant Alliance offered a price of ten thousand Exelant (equivalent to four thousand Gold Crowns) for it.

Once the money was secured, Jillam planned to establish a new Knight Corps in Margaret, operating as mercenaries willing to sell their swords to anyone until enough wealth and noble titles were amassed.

The future remained bright, just not in Brittania anymore, Jillam scoffed, thinking. How could the guidance of the Lake Fairy compare to personal indulgence? In Estalia, he could do whatever he wanted without anyone’s interference.

Ah, he somewhat missed the company of women again, recalling the farmer’s household he broke into last night, the farmer’s death-glaring eyes and his daughter being impaled with a Cavalry Lance after Jillam had finished his business and put up his pants.

Today was the handover day, Jillam du Chastelron confirmed inwardly. Not far away, the leader of the Margaret Vanguard Team was already waiting with a mercenary group of over a thousand, heavily equipped with firearms.

The leader of the Mercenary Corps, named Rodrigo, had a bald head and stubble, signaling his mercenaries to prepare for battle upon seeing the Rogue Knights arrive, arrogantly saying: "Where’s the item?"

Jillam frowned, signaling to his knights.

Two Rogue Knights carried a rectangular wooden box, pulling off the burlap and opening it.

The Duke of Boldro’s family heirloom—the Sea God Trident—lay quietly inside the box.

"Yes, indeed, it’s the Sea God Trident." The Margaret Vanguard Team leader Rodrigo nodded: "Then we’ll take it."

"Wait! What about the promised commission?!" Jillam instinctively alerted, sensing something amiss.

"The commission is right here." Rodrigo gestured for his men to open three large crates, filled with gold coins.

"Alright, let’s start..."

"Enemies spotted!" Just as the words fell, a Rogue Knight immediately noticed something out of the ordinary, shouting: "Leader! Enemies! Sea God Knights are here!"

"How many foes?"

"About thirty!"

"Great! Let’s crush these Sea God Knights first!"