“There were three people, all dead in the shacks under the stage.” The presiding judge nodded. "The watchmen of the beacon tower rotate every week, so the bodies were already stinking when I checked the scene."

"Very well, so they didn't light the beacon, but someone else did," Soli slammed his fist on the table, chuckling in anger. "Are they deliberately teasing us? Or are they finding a reason to start a war with the Holy City?"

"The specific reasons are still unclear, but Your Excellency, a rat's confession is very interesting," he pointed to the report. "I specifically recorded it on the last page."

The presiding judge turned to the end and quickly scanned it. "Two weeks ago, someone was setting up checkpoints along the road below Coldwind Ridge, prohibiting anyone from going to the Endless Mountains, but not stopping people from leaving the mountains?"

"That's right. He originally planned to try his luck in Silent Valley Town, but he saw a caravan that was supposed to go to Hermes being stopped."

"It seems it really wasn't the lord who did it?" Soli mused. "Wait... two weeks ago? When was the last time those grain merchants appeared?"

"Three days ago."

The Archbishop's face instantly darkened. "That is to say, the checkpoint that claimed to prohibit anyone from going to the Endless Mountains let those merchants through?"

The answer was obvious.

"They are a group," the presiding judge replied. "At least they look like a group."

"How many people are at the checkpoint?"

"The rat only took a look from a distance, estimating there were several hundred people."

"As long as they show their tails," Soli. Dahr stood up. "Send my order to summon all the Judgment Army!"

"Bishop, do you want to go down the mountain?" The presiding judge was taken aback, then quickly dissuaded him. "His Holiness the Pope's order is for us to capture Coldwind Ridge and station ourselves there, ensuring the mountain road is clear and waiting for the army to move out... If you want to catch a few people to ask about the situation, sending a small team is enough."

"I not only want to catch a few tongues, but also crush their checkpoint into dust. This is the price of teasing the Holy City!" Soli waved his hand impatiently. "If we leave now, I will be able to see their heads hanging at the city gate the day after tomorrow - this will not affect the Holy City's combat plan in any way, and His Holiness will not blame us."

"But, what if the enemy sets up an ambush..."

"Ambush?" Soli glanced at him. "I once led an army to attack the Wolfheart Kingdom's Broken Tooth Fortress. It was an extremely difficult battle, but even relying on the majestic mountains, the ambush of ordinary people can only bring a little trouble to the God's Punishment Army, let alone the open flat area at the foot of the mountain? Any act of ambushing the God's Punishment Army is tantamount to suicide. I hope they really have that courage, rather than running away at the sight of the wind." Speaking of this, the Archbishop paused. "If you understand, go and execute my order."

"...Yes, Your Excellency."

Watching the presiding judge leave, Soli. Dahr revealed a sneer. He would never let go of those blasphemers.

*******************

"A large force is moving out from Coldwind Ridge?" Tie Axe looked at the plump pigeon flying into the tent.

"About a thousand people, coo!" Maggie flapped her wings. "There are no grain carts, and no militia are seen. They are all wearing armor, and some of them are carrying giant shields and short spears, coo!"

"Giant shields?" Tie Axe said in surprise. "How big are they?"

"Um..." Maggie tilted her head and glanced at him. "About as big as you, coo."

"I understand, well done," the Sandman routinely took out a piece of jerky and handed it to the pigeon, then summoned the guard standing outside the door. "Notify the musketeer battalion commander Brian and the artillery battalion commander Vanna to come to my tent for a meeting. The enemy is moving."

……

After listening to the information provided by the witch, Brian couldn't help but frown. "Why are they coming so fast? His Majesty needs two or three more days to reach Silent Valley Town, and the fortress guns are not in place..."

"The church's reaction is indeed faster than we expected, but regardless of whether His Majesty is here or not, we must complete our duties and never retreat a step." Tie Axe said calmly. "In any case, the enemy must not cross the foot of the mountain defense line."

"Yes!" the two said in unison.

"Very well, next is the specific battle arrangement." Tie Axe licked his lips. "The enemy needs at least a day to reach the foot of the mountain, so we have plenty of time to prepare. There are only two thousand God's Stone of Retribution in total, try to give them to the soldiers arranged on the front line. The machine gunners are the key protection targets and must wear God's Stone." He roughly described the plan he had in mind. "In addition, I will arrange ten sharpshooters and a machine gun squad to stay by Ms. Sylvie's side, and focus on the enemies with great threats according to her on-site reconnaissance instructions. The rest will follow the regulations during the exercise."

"I have a question," Vanna hesitated. "Could the guys with giant shields in the enemy team be..."

"Most likely they are the God's Punishment Army," Tie Axe nodded. "According to Ms. Maggie, ordinary people would never be able to march with shields of that size."

"Can bullets penetrate them?" Brian asked.

"Before trying, no one knows," Tie Axe replied without hesitation. "If the muskets cannot cause effective damage, your men will switch to obstructing the God's Punishment Army from advancing as much as possible, and let the artillery solve them."

"Yes."

"The final solution still depends on artillery," Vanna smiled. "Leave it to me, sir."

*******************

The next morning, Danny hugged his beloved rifle and crawled into the trench.

According to yesterday's arrangement, he soon arrived at his designated position - the right wing of a trench in the center of the position. The bushes and shrubs in this area had been completely removed, the field of vision was wide, and he could have a panoramic view of the entire battlefield, which was very suitable for accurate shooting.

He picked up a few stones from under his feet and piled them on the edge of the ditch to make a small support, then rested the gun on the stones and aimed forward.

Through the scope, Danny could see the dew hanging on the grass leaves on the ground, the spiders clinging to the barbed wire, the red soil road covered with horseshoe prints, and the distant Endless Mountains.

An excellent sniping position.

He pulled back the bolt and pushed the first bullet into the chamber. Next was to wait for the enemy to appear.

As a hunter, Danny had always been very patient.

Since being conscripted into the militia by His Majesty, he had participated in a series of battles such as the Devil's Month Defense War, the Longsong Duke Interception War, and the attack on the Royal Capital. The weapon in his hand had also been changed from a flintlock gun to the latest bolt-action rifle. In terms of combat experience, he was definitely one of the best candidates in the First Army. If he hadn't insisted on staying on the front line, he would probably have become a musketeer battalion officer second only to Sir Brian.

But compared to commanding others, he preferred the feeling of shooting prey.

From the day he touched the musket, he fell deeply in love with this weapon.

Convenient to use, powerful, requiring only a good pair of eyes and a little talent.

Holding the gun in his hand, he could feel the surging power in his heart.