Arthur suddenly spoke up, "May I ask, Mr. Glenn, is this road the main route to Shield River City?"
Glenn shook his head slightly, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. "No, this is merely a side road passing through Baron Landen's territory. Usually, very few merchant caravans or travelers take this route."
"But it is indeed strange, as quiet as it is now, not even a single bark of a dog can be heard."
As soon as his words fell, Arthur suddenly halted his steps. His soulfire flickered, and his empty eye sockets seemed to pierce through material obstacles, firmly locking onto a dense thicket of bushes ahead, as he slowly drew the gleaming knight's sword from his waist.
"It seems, then, that these fellows appearing here is no accident."
"Many... many living human life auras are hiding ahead."
"What?!" Galvin's heart jolted in alarm.
Although his own perception hadn't detected anything amiss, relying on his understanding and trust in Arthur, he didn't hesitate for a moment. He quickly drew his own knight's sword, his gaze warily scanning forward.
"Huh?"
Clearly, the ambushers hadn't expected their whereabouts to be discovered so quickly.
"Truly worthy of being Gray Eagle Galvin, that knight once hailed as a genius."
A steady voice sounded from behind the thicket, followed by a male figure cloaked in a gray hood slowly stepping out from the bushes.
And following behind him were more silent figures.
They emerged one after another as if burrowing out from the ground, quickly blocking off both the front and rear sides of the road completely, forming an encirclement.
Most of these figures wore light leather armor or chainmail, holding crossbows or longswords, clearly all experienced warriors.
Glenn was greatly alarmed. He had completely not expected that Galvin and Arthur's perception would be so accurate, that there really were people lying in ambush here ahead of time.
For a moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Had Baron Landen betrayed them? Had the Border Garrison learned of his movements in advance? Or was this merely a coincidence?
Whatever the reason, Glenn could now only force himself to calm down. Then he stepped forward, struggling to maintain a noble-like arrogance and authority on his face, and coldly shouted, "What do you country bandits think you're doing? Causing trouble on Baron Landen's land?"
The knight leading the opposite side clearly wasn't buying this face-saving tactic. He directly pushed back his hood, revealing a middle-aged face with hard lines, and the set of finely polished, gleaming knight's plate armor he wore, engraved with the Border Garrison's emblem.
"Glenn Bailey, that's your name, right."
"That fairly competent hanger-on around Princess Louisa."
"Princess Louisa?" Both Arthur and Galvin simultaneously turned their gazes towards Glenn.
Glenn's face instantly darkened. He said in a low voice, "I'll explain that to you two later."
His eyes fixed on the knight before him, "Since you know I am Princess Louisa's retainer, and still dare to move against me, where are you knights from?"
The knight captain's expression remained indifferent. "I won't waste time on pleasantries, Glenn. You know our background, and we know your purpose."
He raised a hand, signaling the surrounding soldiers to remain vigilant, then said, "We should have arrested you directly, but Captain Lide instructed that he wishes to meet you first."
"So, please come with us, all three of you. Do not offer pointless resistance."
"Lide?!" Hearing this name, Galvin's expression became grave.
A Lide addressed as "Captain" by these elite knights. Besides that "Flickering Sword" Lide Valentián, who had already achieved the Extraordinary thirty years ago and whose reputation resounded throughout the border, he couldn't think of a second person.
It was said this Extraordinary knight's sword was faster than flowing light, capable of easily dispersing scattered water droplets in an instant, able to even block a curtain of rain with ease.
His agility was so high it left people dumbfounded.
Often, enemies facing him directly could only see a flash of cold light before death, and in the next second, they would lose all sensation, their consciousness sinking completely into darkness.
His earlier worry had truly become reality.
There really was an Extraordinary, with nothing better to do, coming to this backwater place to block them.
"Damn it!"
Fine beads of cold sweat instantly seeped from Galvin's forehead. The arm holding his sword hilt even trembled slightly due to the pressure.
Facing a true Extraordinary, he deeply understood any resistance might be futile.
And in front of him, Glenn's performance was equally poor. The moment he heard the name "Lide," the blood drained from his face instantly, as if he had heard some terrifying name.
Only Arthur remained standing calmly, as if all this had nothing to do with him.
And in reality, he simply couldn't remember who Lide was.
The knight blocking their path looked somewhat surprised at Arthur but didn't say anything more.
He just gestured again for the surrounding knights to clear the way, extending a hand in an inviting gesture.
"Let's go. Captain Lide is awaiting your arrival in the castle."
"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" Galvin lowered his voice, inquiring of the Slime within his breastplate.
Chen Yu also hadn't expected there to really be an Extraordinary blocking the road.
Such an existence wasn't much weaker than a Foundation Establishment cultivator. All the means they currently possessed wouldn't be enough to resist.
This is bad, we've really fallen into a pit this time.
That fellow Count Bran sure slipped away quickly.
At this point, there's no choice but to have Arthur and the others go meet that Extraordinary.
"Go with them first. Let's see what this Captain Lide actually wants. I'll think of a way to save you."
And so, under the "polite" invitation of the numerous knights, Arthur, Galvin, and the pale-faced Glenn could only follow them into the quiet noble territory.
They passed through empty farmhouses, silent mills, and soon arrived at the small castle built on a gentle slope along the clean stone-paved road.
Chen Yu cautiously poked his gel head out to observe inside.
The castle courtyard was well-maintained and tidy, with lush green grass dotted with several clusters of roses.
At that moment, under the flourishing oak tree in the center of the courtyard, a set of white wrought-iron table and chairs was placed.
A man who looked to be in his early thirties, with black hair streaked with silver, was sitting there leisurely. A cup of steaming hot black tea sat beside his hand. He looked like nothing more than an ordinary noble gentleman enjoying a peaceful afternoon here.
And sitting opposite this man was the master of this territory, Baron Landen, who at that moment was sitting stiffly, forcing a smile on his face.
"This is an Extraordinary?" Chen Yu, nestled in Galvin's breastplate, stared at him curiously.
Two eyes, one nose, one mouth. He didn't look any different.
And he looked way too young.
When Galvin personally laid eyes on the man's true appearance, the last bit of hope in his heart completely sank.
He had once seen this legendary captain from afar at a military parade. He would never mistake this face.
Lide Valentián. He was really here!
The knight who led them in quickly walked behind Lide, bent down, and whispered a few words.
Lide nodded slightly, put down the white porcelain teacup in his hand, slowly pushed back his chair, stood up, turned, and looked at the three of them calmly.
Even though this gaze carried no particular emotion, it still made them feel a heavy pressure, as if it had made the surrounding air turn viscous, making even breathing quite difficult.
Glenn forced a strained smile, stepped forward, and respectfully performed a noble bow.
"Glenn Bailey of the Snow Jackal Family, greets Captain Lide. What brings you here with free time?"
Lide's gaze lingered on Glenn for a moment, then he spoke indifferently.
"A young one from the Snow Jackal Family. Your bearing and appearance are quite proper enough."
This ambiguous evaluation, neither clearly praise nor criticism, made Glenn's heart sink further.
Then, Lide's gaze passed over him and fell on Galvin behind.
"And you..."
His tone seemed to carry a touch of emotion as he said softly, "Welcome back, my knight."
Galvin took a deep breath, straightened his spine, and performed a standard knight's salute.
"I greet Captain Lide."
Lide nodded slightly, his gaze finally settling on Arthur.
"And you, Arthur. Don't you plan to acknowledge your old captain?" Lide's tone suddenly underwent a subtle change. Ripples stirred in his calm eyes, containing a trace of regret and nostalgia.
The soulfire in Arthur's eye sockets flickered. He seemed to be struggling to recall something, hesitating and not speaking immediately.
Galvin stepped forward first and said, "Captain Lide, Arthur is already dead. What stands before you now is merely an empty shell, nothing more."
"Is that so."
Lide didn't press further. He just casually pointed to the empty seats beside him, gesturing for them to sit.
After exchanging glances, the three finally moved their stiff legs and carefully sat down on the chairs.
Glenn took advantage of this gap to exchange a look with Baron Landen opposite him.
From the other's eyes, he only saw bitterness and helplessness.
Glenn's heart sank even lower. He realized that for the Border Garrison to tear off the pretense so blatantly, something major must have happened.
Sure enough, as he expected.
As soon as Lide picked up his teacup, gently blew on the steam, and uttered his first sentence, it sent shockwaves through Glenn's heart.
"According to the joint investigation by the Kingdom's Supreme Council and the Inquisition, along with numerous conclusive pieces of evidence, Princess Louisa is suspected of selling out the kingdom's military intelligence, secretly colluding with demonic forces, and stealing an important sacred relic of the Sun Church."
"Yesterday, by order personally signed by His Majesty the King, she was convicted of treason. Princess Louisa is currently still at large."
"My coming here is under orders to thoroughly investigate all traces possibly related to demons within the Storm Territory."
His gaze focused on Glenn's face.
"Glenn Bailey, as the princess's confidant and important advisor, I imagine you should know Her Highness's current whereabouts?"
"That's impossible?!" Glenn instinctively stood up, his face filled with disbelief and anger.
But facing Lide's terrifyingly calm eyes, he quickly realized this was a long-planned, targeted frame-up against Princess Louisa.
And the person who orchestrated this frame-up was right before him, hidden deep within the kingdom's shadows.
They wanted to completely eliminate all discordant voices, to brand all who stood in their way with the label of "traitor"!
"Damn it..." Glenn clenched his fists tightly. Even though he clenched so hard his knuckles turned white and his palms lost all color, he still couldn't conceal the helplessness in his heart.
He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, slowly loosened his clenched fists, and once again forced a strained smile onto his face.
"Captain Lide, you should know that Princess Louisa has always been upright and kind-hearted, deeply loved by the people in her fiefdom. She would absolutely never commit treason."
Lide merely gave an indifferent "Hmm," neither acknowledging nor denying.
He set down his teacup and looked calmly at Glenn. "Young man, we need to give an explanation to all the people."
"Regardless of what the truth actually is, we first need to find Her Highness the Princess, as well as that stolen sacred relic."
As he spoke, his gaze turned once again to Arthur, who sat stiffly like a statue, and Galvin, whose face was ashen.
"As former knights of the Border Garrison, assisting in the theft of a church relic is itself an unforgivable grave crime."
"But as long as you are willing to repent and assist the Sun Church in recovering that relic..."
"This captain might be able to lobby on your behalf, to have your crimes pardoned."
"Arthur, Galvin, welcome back to the Border Garrison."
Galvin lowered his head, shadows concealing the expression on his face. He didn't speak, just gave a self-mocking smile.
Hah... How ironic...
The true traitors, the worms colluding with demons, now wear the cloak of "justice" and sit on the judgment seat.
While that princess has been branded with the crime of "treason," forced to flee.
Perhaps if they just yielded now, pretended to believe his nonsense, they could gain this captain's approval, have their crimes cleared, and return to that Border Garrison that once symbolized glory.
But...
Galvin slowly raised his head. The last trace of hesitation and struggle in his eyes vanished, replaced by indifference.
He hadn't forgotten why he returned here.
For some bullshit fairness and justice?
No, he wasn't a naive fool like Arthur.
Nor was he some indignant patriot.
His reason for doing this was all for himself. To seek peace of mind. To pay back all the grievances, injustices, and betrayals he had suffered over the years, to return them all in one satisfying sweep!
Galvin abruptly stood up, took a step back to distance himself from Lide, and simultaneously drew his knight's sword once more. His gaze directly met that of the being who seemed able to dictate his life and death.
"Captain Lide, if you want to know where the relic is, it's simple."
"Kill me, and you'll naturally know."
Glenn's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Galvin. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, yet was cowed by the tense atmosphere before him, unable to utter a single word.
Baron Landen was so frightened his whole body shook, almost sliding off his chair.
Even the knights surrounding them tightened their grips on their weapons, ready to act at any moment.
Yet Lide, who was being pointed at with a knight's sword, didn't become angry.
He even let out a light chuckle.
"Hah, quite an interesting junior."
He didn't immediately take action, nor did he order an arrest. He merely leaned back slightly in his chair, crossed his hands on his knees. His posture was like that of an audience member enjoying a play.