The camps of Red Stone Gate and the Fang Family were located outside the city on the avenue, which was originally an inn providing temporary residence for merchant caravans and mercenaries, but now it had been specially vacated for the use of the mission.

Because it was backed by the Silent Pond Bay, it was almost impossible to encounter any danger. Therefore, there was only a low wooden fence around the inn, and even the gate was not set up. In addition, the only force that could pose a threat to the mission was the other mission, so neither side had any intention of guarding the gate for the other. Instead, they used spears and shields to erect a dividing line in the center of the inn to indicate the ownership of their respective camps.

Of course, most people knew that this dividing line was only symbolic. As long as the lord of Silent Pond Bay had not made a decision, the two missions would not completely tear their faces apart. Therefore, the sentries arranged at ordinary times were only perfunctory, let alone now that it was raining heavily outside.

Therefore, when the hundred-man team of the First Army approached within two hundred meters of the inn, the two families were still completely unaware.

It was not until the sound of persuasion to surrender penetrated the rain and resounded throughout the camp that the knights realized that the situation had changed.

"This is the First Army of Graycastle, and it has now officially taken over Silent Pond Bay. According to the laws of Neverwinter City, your current actions constitute the crime of illegal occupation and the crime of armed interference. You are ordered to disarm and surrender within a quarter of an hour, otherwise we will take coercive measures, and you will be responsible for all the consequences!"

If you had to use one word to describe it, it would be inexplicable.

The leader of the Fang Family mission lifted the curtain and saw a man standing outside the fence, holding a strange cylinder and shouting loudly. In the distance, there was indeed a drooping flag, and the two-colored emblem was vaguely visible, which was definitely not the common family crest of Wolfheart. However, he still could not connect these hundred or so people who suddenly appeared with Graycastle. To him, it was a distant and unfamiliar country that only appeared in various rumors.

In addition, those people were covered in cloaks, and the rain was mercilessly patting on their bodies, making them look embarrassed and miserable. The sparse team clamored to forcibly disarm seven hundred people, which further deepened this unrealistic feeling.

The leader went downstairs and found that the mercenaries on the first floor were crowding by the window, cursing the other party's maternal relatives in extremely vulgar language, and making various lewd gestures. If it weren't for the rain outside, no one would want to get wet easily. Perhaps they would have spat on the speaker's face.

It's worthy of their despicable origins, the leader thought with a bit of schadenfreude, but as a noble, he must consider more carefully.

For example, what if the other party was really from Graycastle?

Perhaps he should first see the reaction of the old rival, Red Stone Gate.

After all, this group of people's request was to disarm and surrender. He couldn't really issue this order, let alone if he was the only one sending his men to negotiate, it would feel inferior.

The two sides were so far apart that the leader didn't have to worry about the other side launching a sudden attack. The mercenaries had already taken up their weapons, and there was not a single horse in the "cloak man" team, which was enough for his subordinates to prepare.

In this casual arrangement, time passed by minute by minute. He completely ignored the warning of the First Army, or rather, he didn't realize the meaning of the warning at all.

For the nobles of Wolfheart, combat was a time-consuming and lengthy affair with a clear process. From observing the enemy and making decisions to issuing instructions and forming formations to meet the enemy, it was all completed step by step within the range of sight, even the Hermes Church, as strong as it was, had not broken away from this category.

It could be said that the First Army, which had been baptized by demons, was already on a different level from these nobles, even from the perspective of consciousness.

The battle broke out so suddenly that almost no one could react.

When a quarter of an hour had passed, the first to fire were four mortars—they completely replaced the heavy and inconvenient old-fashioned muzzle-loading field guns. Although their power was not as great as fortress guns, they were more than enough to deal with simple fortifications and wooden watchtowers. Because they could be disassembled and carried on their backs, the soldiers were full of trust in this weapon, and they often used it as the horn of attack in the war of unification.

The inn two hundred meters away instantly turned into dust, and the screams of the mission were also drowned in the roar of artillery fire—the wooden structure of the houses could not withstand the attack of mortars at all. The air currents generated by the explosion tore apart the walls, pillars, doors, and windows. After several rounds of bombardment, the houses in the camp collapsed directly.

The First Army squad commander issued a charge order.

Everyone raised their guns and quickly surrounded the inn.

More enemies were behind the barracks, but the two families did not organize any effective counterattacks. Small groups of fearless mercenaries had just rushed out from behind the smoke when they were shot down to the ground by successive gunshots. In order to avoid ambushes, the First Army waited outside the inn until the smoke was suppressed by the heavy rain before climbing over the fence and continuing to advance inside.

Every soldier fired his gun very cautiously, not because of mercy, but because they all knew that His Majesty's mines needed more workers.

At the same time, the sound of persuasion to surrender sounded again.

This time, most people chose to comply.

The exchange of fire came and went quickly. In less than thirty minutes, the threat that had troubled the baron was gone.

…

Back at the governor's mansion, Lete.Beter still couldn't recover from the previous fierce battle.

Although he had a psychological expectation of the strength of Graycastle, he never expected that they would be so strong that it didn't seem like a conventional battle at all.

The baron finally understood Iron Axe's saying, "It's better to see for yourself than to hear about it"—as a witness, it was indeed difficult for him to describe everything he saw in words. If he had to say it, it would be a kind of alternative aesthetic pleasure. The people of Graycastle silently carried out every action in the rain, without any extra words or communication. This silent silence and the deafening roar of the explosion formed a sharp contrast. Almost the weapons they used were even more impressive.

What did these people go through to get to where they are today?

"Now do you believe that we can defend Silent Pond Bay?" Iron Axe's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lete.Beter found that he couldn't say anything except nod.

"Relax," the other party smiled for once, "You don't have to be frightened by the power of the First Army, especially after you decide to serve His Majesty Roland—any enemy who attacks Silent Pond Bay is equivalent to infringing on His Majesty's majesty. This is no longer just your problem. Don't forget that you are now also a member of Graycastle."

A member of Graycastle? What a strange saying… the baron thought. He had been in Wolfheart for so many years, and he had never felt that the kingdom had anything to do with him, but in the tone of the commander of the First Army, the two seemed to be naturally connected.

He didn't quite understand the reason, but he found that he didn't dislike this statement.

After a moment of silence, Lete.Beter took a long breath, "Leave the task of gathering the people to me."