- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 66
**Chapter 66: A Repeated Strategy (Part 1)**
The two barons had sent out scouting knight units, and they quickly arrived at the mine. As Thor observed the scattered forces, he frowned slightly, his expression filled with puzzlement.
“My lord, Baron Valmy’s and Baron Graton’s forces have stopped about twenty miles away and haven’t advanced further,” Steve reported respectfully, relaying the information he had gathered.
“I see,” Thor replied. “Steve, here’s what I want you to do. Take three full-fledged knights, twenty apprentice knights, and the slaves we captured earlier to confront them. Your goal is just to hold them off, and if you can’t, retreat immediately. Don’t bother with the slaves. You need to make them believe that our mine is weak, very weak, and they can easily take it.”
Thor’s eyes gleamed with understanding as he quickly grasped what was happening. He glanced at Steve, pondering for a moment before giving his orders.
Clearly, Barons Valmy and Graton were being cautious, likely worried due to Thor’s victory over Baron Pape Lawrence.
Since they wanted to probe his strength, Thor decided to let them do just that.
Those captured slaves were hardly worth managing since he had no slave contracts over them. Using them in this probing skirmish was the perfect solution.
“Understood!” Steve, though puzzled by the plan, promptly acknowledged Thor’s orders without hesitation.
Soon, the forces were assembled.
Over a thousand slaves were gathered, a chaotic and disorganized mass.
It was only under the pressure of the knights that they were barely kept in line.
Steve then unsheathed his knight’s sword.
“May the Goddess of Life bless you!”
“May victory favor you!”
With these words, the troops—mainly composed of slaves—began to charge down from the mine toward the enemy.
When the two knight units spotted the approaching crowd, they were initially taken aback.
But upon recognizing the disorganized mass of slaves, laughter spread across their faces.
“Hahaha! It seems Eagle Territory truly is out of strength if they’re sending slaves to fight!”
The commander of Baron Graton’s knights laughed heartily.
The commander of Baron Valmy’s knights also grinned.
“Charge!”
With a smile, both commanders drew their swords, their voices booming.
The next moment, all the knights unsheathed their swords, and their horses surged forward, charging at the chaotic mass of slaves.
The two knight units, though numbering less than a hundred, were like wolves among sheep as they crashed into the disorganized slaves.
The slaves were quickly routed.
Many began to flee immediately, while others were thrown into the air by the impact of charging horses.
The battlefield plunged into chaos.
Steve, wielding a knight’s lance, cut through the enemy forces like a whirlwind. His skills as a great knight allowed him to face no equal, and even the full-fledged knights were forced to retreat under his might.
But soon, Steve was targeted.
From both the Graton and Valmy knight units, three full-fledged knights emerged, surrounding Steve and attempting to take him down.
“Boom!”
Life energy erupted from Steve as he tried to break free.
But the six knights coordinated tightly, pinning him down.
Though they were no match for a great knight, their combined efforts were enough to hold him in place.
Similarly, many of Steve’s knights were also being held in check.
Meanwhile, a large number of slaves had already begun fleeing the battlefield from the very start of the skirmish.
The field was a chaotic mess, filled with the sounds of clashing weapons, cries of pain, and the hurried footsteps of escaping slaves.
Steve’s face darkened.
With no more hesitation, he unleashed another burst of life energy, sending the six knights stumbling back.
“Retreat!”
Steve shouted, pulling his reins and swiftly withdrawing.
The other full-fledged and apprentice knights followed suit.
Given the chaotic state of the battlefield, their retreat was swift. Only a few knight trainees were unable to escape and were left behind, but the rest successfully pulled back.
After the retreat, Steve led his forces back to the mine.
As for the slaves, he left them behind as Thor had instructed.
“My lord!” Steve, bloodied from the battle, bowed respectfully to Thor upon returning.
“You’ve done well!” Thor said, nodding in approval. “That was enough.”
Thor stood, a smile spreading across his face.
On the other side, Baron Valmy and Baron Graton’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Are you sure?”
Baron Graton looked at his commander, his breath coming in short bursts.
“Yes, my lord!” the knight commander confirmed respectfully. “But there is still a great knight defending the mine.”
“A great knight, is there?” Baron Graton muttered, nodding. “As expected of the Dressrosa family, they even have a great knight in a place like this.”
“But one great knight won’t be enough to stop us,” Baron Valmy added with a light chuckle, his expression equally excited.
They couldn’t help but feel pleased by the results of their initial probing.
Though Eagle Territory still had some strength left, it was primarily slaves. Only a handful of full-fledged knights remained, and while there was a great knight, the overall power of Eagle Territory had been significantly diminished. Had either of the baronies attacked alone, they might have struggled, but together, they were confident of victory.
Barons Valmy and Graton exchanged furtive glances, their thoughts racing.
Ambitions began to form in their minds.
However, for now, these thoughts were just ideas.
They were still cautious. After all, their opponent was a descendant of the Dressrosa family, and they couldn’t afford to be careless.
Even though they believed they could win, they suppressed their ambitions until the battle was won.
Having risen from being wandering knights, they knew all too well when to act and when to hold back.
Quickly, orders were given.
Soon, a large force began moving toward the mine.
Even without sending scouts, the massive movements of troops were visible from a great distance.
On the hilltop, watching the approaching army, Thor couldn’t help but smile.
“Prepare yourselves!”
“Steve, take your men to the right!”
“Mark, take the rest of the forces to the left. Remember, just like last time, don’t let anyone escape.”
“Those who surrender may live, but anyone who tries to flee is to be executed.”
Thor’s voice rang out as he issued his commands.