Chapter 57: The Stunned Baron Pape Lawrence
Chapter 57: The Stunned Baron Pape Lawrence
At the mine, figures were quickly preparing, while Baron Pape Lawrence led his forces closer and closer to the mine.
“Father, should we send a vanguard to scout ahead?” Lawrence asked cautiously, noting the quiet surroundings.
“Sure!” Baron Pape Lawrence nodded, then turned to a nearby knight. “Rosen!”
“Yes, sir!” the knight responded promptly.
“Take your men and scout ahead.”
“Yes, sir!” Rosen quickly obeyed, leading over twenty riders ahead at a swift pace. However, to their surprise, they encountered no enemies, even though they were clearly noticed. It was as if all the knights of Eagle’s Ridge had vanished.
“Sir, we found no enemies! But there are clear signs of extensive mining!” Rosen reported excitedly upon his return.
“Hahaha! The Goddess of Life blesses us!” Baron Pape Lawrence laughed, his face lighting up with excitement. Any remaining doubts vanished.
“If there was only a guess before, now we can be certain. The signs of mining and everything else confirm a large iron mine is here,” Lawrence said with a smile.
“Our neighbor, Thor Dresrosa, is no fool. He probably retreated upon hearing of your arrival, Father,” Lawrence added.
“Hahaha, it seems our neighbor, a descendant of the Dresrosa family, is quite sensible. We should thank him. I didn’t expect a large iron mine here. Taking this will elevate our Lawrence family to the rank of viscount,” Baron Pape Lawrence laughed, feeling more at ease. He knew the strength of a knight from such a prestigious family and was relieved to avoid direct conflict and potential losses.
“Advance at full speed!” Baron Pape Lawrence drew his knight’s sword and gave the order.
As they advanced closer, up on the hill, Steve’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He had withdrawn all surrounding guards to lure the enemy in. Now, as the forces approached within range, he raised his hand.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Three magical crystal cannons roared, blue magical formations lighting up. In an instant, three terrifying beams of light shot out.
Not far away, Baron Pape Lawrence instinctively sensed danger and looked up. His face changed instantly.
“What… what is this?”
His initial confusion turned to unprecedented fear. “No!” he shouted, leaping to push Lawrence off his horse. But while he reacted in time, most did not.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The terrifying blue light enveloped everything, thunder rumbling all around. The 3,000-strong force was decimated in an instant, dirt, trees, and body parts flying everywhere.
The power of the magical crystal cannons, strategic resources of the Tulip Kingdom, was immense, even capable of threatening behemoths. Against ordinary slaves and knights, they were devastating.
The 3,000-strong force was torn apart in seconds, thunderous explosions destroying everything.
On the hill, Steve drew his knight’s sword. “The lord said, three points for killing, five for capturing. Leave no one alive!”
With a shout, Steve led thousands charging down the hill. The remaining forces, still reeling from the attack, were quickly surrounded. Slaves dropped their weapons, and knights attempting to resist were swiftly subdued.
Baron Pape Lawrence and his son Lawrence lay on the ground, badly scorched. Despite their quick reactions and defensive measures, the magical crystal cannon’s blast left them gravely injured.
The remaining forces surrendered quickly, overwhelmed by the unexpected and overwhelming assault. In less than fifteen minutes, the battle was over. Baron Pape Lawrence, who had believed he was blessed by the Goddess of Life, found himself a captive.
At the mine, Thor received the news. This time, he had stayed back, aware that the enemy was not just goblins but a real knight regiment. Despite the magical crystal cannons, he had taken no chances, ensuring his own safety. When Steve returned with the report, Thor’s face lit up with joy.