The First Magic World War

Charles had a habit of sending out reconnaissance cavalry, with more than ten combat squads patrolling near the city of Dubrovnik each day, and some even venturing as far as three to four hundred kilometers away. That is how they discovered this human knight order.

The scouting mission was originally under the charge of Dobin from the Westwind Knights, but now he had been left in the rear, near the Red Dragon Strait under beastmen control. Thus, Charles switched to beastmen squads, each squad also included several warriors from the Westwind Knights. Whenever they encountered beastmen, they would claim to be part of the beastmen army, and when encountering human forces, they could disguise themselves as the Westwind Knights.

In truth, this incident was rather embarrassing for Charles.

The scouting squad that encountered the Fars Knights lost all their beastmen warriors in a single clash.

This knight order from the Empire, upon discovering the human presence within the scouting squad – believing them to be captives meant for beastmen food – "rescued" them without a second thought.

The few rescued warriors from the Westwind Knights franticly rushed back to report this crucial piece of news.

Upon inquiring briefly with the returned scouts, Charles felt something was amiss.

There were extremely few in this knight order, merely a small number of riders, each on horseback—an extremely rare sight of cavalry in the Old Continent, with exceptionally formidable combat prowess. According to unanimous accounts from the survivors, they saw the enemy strike, and then their own beastmen warriors all perished. The actual movements were unclear; none had seen clearly how the enemy had done it.

When Charles asked about the appearance and attire of these knights, the returning warriors couldn't give clear answers as everyone seemed shrouded in a layer of mist, creating an unreal and hazy impression.

Charles couldn't make heads or tails of it but felt there was certainly something strange going on.

He left Sabastine and Mama Karen in charge of the city of Dubrovnik, taking Golden Ram Herolf and Tumishen to investigate.

Following the accounts from the returned scouts, Charles pursued them and soon caught up to this mysterious cavalry despite having some deadweight with him.

Lying on the back of the Old Leopard Man, Charles looked down and saw the entire knight squad in armor with Spirit Horses between their legs, and their equipment was of exceptional quality. Nearly half of the men's weapons were Extraordinary Objects, and leading them was a knight in his thirties, his face stern, with a countenance somewhat...

Like Earl Brittany!

Charles suddenly realized, recalling how Sophia Garanord had run into danger outside the city the previous time, and, due to the abruptness of the situation and Count Garanord being at the front lines at Ferlanden, support hadn't been dispatched in time. Now that Anne had fled to his city, how could the Brittany Family possibly remain silent?

When Charles spotted this knight order squad, their leading knight also saw him. The knight's first sight was the Old Leopard Man, and his heart chilled slightly. A man of similar age beside him said, "Antonio, we were told not to let those humans go; they must have sided with the beastmen, betraying our whereabouts."

"They actually dispatched two from the Sacred Order? They really think highly of us!"

"This time, let no one live."

Faced with two from the Sacred Order, the knight squad showed no fear, even taking the time to jest.

The knight called Antonio nodded, took up a Knight's Spear, and the Fighting Spirit surged through his body, preparing to strike.

From high above, Charles shouted, "May I inquire if you are the eldest son of the Brittany Family, the brother of Anne, Mister Antonio?"

The preparing knight concentrated for a moment, then halted the flow of Fighting Spirit, and called out indifferently, "Yes, I am Antonio."

Charles hadn't expected that the one chasing after Anne would be Earl Brittany's eldest son, her brother, Antonio Brittany!

While he was with Anne, although he never inquired specifically, she did mention her brother somewhat, always proud of him. But every time Anne talked about Antonio, she seemed troubled, so Charles did not press further.

Charles instructed Tumishen to land, and he approached Antonio, declaring, "Mister Brittany, I am Charles."

Upon revealing his name, Charles immediately felt numerous murderous intents lock onto him.

Charles was well aware that he deserved it!

He stood upright and proclaimed, "Anne is now in the city of Dubrovnik, safe and sound, along with Mama Karen."

Antonio swept his Knight's Spear, bringing forth a wave of sound preceding the spear's thrust that pierced the air!

Charles pushed the Quickness Technique to its limit at ×10, executing a backward roll to escape Antonio's spear assault. The Knight's Spear left a deep mark on the ground. Charles's face showed a slight change; he decisively lacked the ability to block this thrust.

Golden Ram Herolf and Tumishen moved to act but were both a step too slow!

As two from the Sacred Order took their place in front of him, even Antonio couldn't refrain from expressing mild surprise. He looked at Charles and asked, "Them?"

Without hesitation, Charles replied, "My subordinates." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

Antonio's fellow knights gasped in unison behind him.

Charles was merely a junior in the High Order, and while strong, the knights knew he would have escaped from Antonio's thrust; they were aware that Antonio had no intention of harming Charles—it was just to intimidate the youngster, delivered with great control.

But for Charles to command two from the Sacred Order, that was indeed shocking.