561: Chapter 267: Each with a Unique Skill_2 561: Chapter 267: Each with a Unique Skill_2 Squatting down, Leon approached the ruins of the large bell buried among the rubble.
Looking at the clear footprints and cracks on the metallic bell, he knew these were likely caused personally—or should he say, by the feet—of Commander Irem.
Olivia had once exchanged friendly sparring with her opponent back in Avalon.
It’s said that the Grand Master’s martial prowess was extraordinary.
Though his skills hadn’t yet reached her level, his physical strength far surpassed hers.
In terms of pure physical strength, he was indeed the strongest warrior the young girl had ever encountered in her life.
Unfortunately, Olivia hadn’t sparred with Valensis or Sir Kellan, so Leon still couldn’t determine whose strength among these Great Knights was superior.
Extracting fragments of the bell one by one, Leon, with his current level of expertise, naturally couldn’t analyze anything from the profound and complex Demon Runes etched within.
But fortunately, all he had to do was act as Lola’s human camera.
Who knows if Lola, after observing for half a day, could discern anything?
Leon asked her a few questions but didn’t get any answers, so he decided not to interrupt Miss Pope’s thoughts anymore.
The next day, Hageshtan Castle hadn’t yet received Runav’s grain convoy, but what did arrive was Kovis, flying in on his Stormhawk.
The hurried Young Knight dismounted in one swift leap, quickly pulled aside an Avalon Cavalry soldier to inquire about the Lord’s whereabouts, and soon met with him.
Leon noticed his companion’s armor was not just dusty; it was also riddled with sword and blade marks.
That handsome face now carried a freshly healed sword scar across his cheek.
Perhaps he was a perfectionist, as he’d grown accustomed to Kovis’s flawless, charming boyish looks.
With this new scar, Leon found himself strangely unaccustomed to it.
Nevertheless, the sharp, masculine energy added by the battle scar did bring some warrior-like charisma.
Maybe someday, no one would mistake his gender anymore.
Have the Rangers figured out Fenlidun’s situation?” Despite his concern for Acro’s perilous journey with the Rangers, Leon patted Kovis’s shoulder guard, prioritizing military intelligence first.
Kovis placed a hand on his chest and reported, “Fenlidun is occupied by no fewer than thirty thousand Corpse Ghosts.
The city has numerous altars, making it far too dangerous.
I was the only one who could protect everyone, so we were unable to split forces to infiltrate the grain warehouse district.
However, elite undead within the city are relatively few.
Glenn Soren led the Rangers in a successful plan to lure a Corpse Ghost Lord into chasing us.
We ambushed its Undead Guards outside the city, defeated them, and captured the Corpse Ghost Lord!
It’s already been taken back to the North Shore and is now imprisoned in Count Lunaf’s dungeon.”
Wait, why does nobody play by the rules?
Leon’s heart was brimming with delight but also tinged with disbelief.
The stalwart heroes gathered under his banner from across the land truly were skilled beyond measure.
One mission to scout enemy positions, and the Holy Lake Knights outright took over the target’s fortress.
The Ranger Knights went ahead and brought home a captured Undead commander.
Their tactics varied widely, yet both achieved great success.
It seemed only Leon’s forces hadn’t accomplished anything remarkable yet.
Leon shook his head, relaxing his face that struggled to find an appropriate expression.
Though the Rangers hadn’t discerned the status of Fenlidun’s grain supply, capturing a High-level Undead was undoubtedly an unprecedented achievement since the start of the war.
“Leon, go examine that Corpse Ghost.” Lola’s telepathic voice resonated.
Knowing his mentor likely wished to investigate something, Leon hurriedly replied in acknowledgment.
He asked Kovis to rest briefly, then instructed Olivia and Lokhak to command the Avalon Cavalry to temporarily assist in fortifying Hageshtan Castle before having Kovis ride his Stormhawk, taking him back to Runav’s fortress in haste.
Returning to the North Shore outpost, the Stormhawk landed on the Baldim family’s fortress tower platform.
Leon and Kovis quickly hurried into the castle.
The gods bless and praise your victorious return!”
Having already been informed by the tower Sentinels of Leon’s return, Count Runav enthusiastically—perhaps overly so—came forward to greet him.
In that moment, his gaze toward the young Orland noble seemed even more earnest than when he looked for his long-lost father.
Leon responded politely and noticed that it wasn’t only Count Runav who had come to welcome him.
Behind him stood the younger Eastern Lords, who had previously shown significant bias against Orland reinforcements during the military council.
Their expressions now bore subtle changes.
Some of these young nobles slightly furrowed their brows as though contemplating something.
Others stared at Leon intently, a hint of curiosity gleaming in their eyes, while some whispered and murmured amongst themselves.
Unlike before, their faces no longer showed blatant skepticism.
Instead, cautious respect had taken its place.
After all, the jubilant news of a victory was impossible to ignore.
Leon had pledged to reclaim a lost stronghold within five days, yet his mere advance team of several hundred had crossed the river and seized Hageshtan Castle in just one day!
The Orland Army’s triumphant recapture of Hageshtan Castle had already spread throughout the Kantadar Alliance’s every camp, thanks to Count Runav’s deliberate publicity efforts.
Whether it was the High-level Corpse Ghost prisoner sent back to the fortress dungeon…
Or the convoy gathered outside the fortress, preparing to transport the captured supplies, none of it could be denied.
Runav’s men had intentionally staged the grain convoy operation with great fanfare, leveraging this rare victory to rekindle the Alliance’s morale, which had sunk to its lowest.
Now, while the Eastern Lords hadn’t been wholly persuaded, they were indeed reconsidering Count Runav’s proposal to have Leon appointed as the Alliance Commander.