Donovan's eyes widened, and Eshy, who was tied behind his back, had his back turned away from him from beginning to end, so Donovan witnessed the whole process of his prisoner's escape from the trap - everything happened only between the lightning and flint, and Eshu only separated the wrists that were tied together, but such a simple action caused the long whip to break from the stress point point by thread. This whip was a non-commissioned officer's whip that Donovan brought from Barkley, made of three cowhides twisted, which could not only be used to admonish and physically punish soldiers, but also to tie up several prisoners of war if necessary, but when Aethius exerted his strength, the strong cowhide whip broke like a spider's web. It was only then that Donovan realized why Esher had been able to remain calm and calm in front of him, because the young lord was not a captured negotiator, but an assassin who had come to behead him!

The soldier's crisis instinct forced Donovan to let go of the whip handle, and pressed his hand to his waist to draw the sword, but Eshu had already turned around and grabbed Donovan's shoulders before he could make a move, the movements seemed gentle and intimate, as if the two had not seen each other for many years, but only Donovan knew what kind of majestic force was exerted on his body, and directly suppressed all his attempts to resist, Donovan could even feel that the tight snow under him was slowly cracking and sinking, if Eshun further increased his strength, Half of his body might be pinned into the snow.

It was only a split second between the time Eshu broke free and captured Donovan, and the surrounding villagers only had time to let out a brief exclamation, and before they could react, Eshu raised a hand and motioned for them not to act rashly. This act of pacification was remarkable due to the astonishing strength he displayed, and the villagers, who had been somewhat agitated, fell silent.

"Your Excellency Donovan, can we talk to each other as equals now?" There was still no emotional ebb and flow in Estheu's tone, but there was a hint of condescending threat.

Donovan glared at him without showing weakness: "Your Excellency is the so-called first-class martial artist in the Pande Continent?" Or super-class? How would Gregory IV send such a figure as you to Ismolola? ”

"Am I or not, does it matter?" Essho asked rhetorically, "If it wasn't me who came to take over Ismolola, but Setanda or Douglas, would your Excellency change your attitude and open the village to greet you with a smile?" ”

“…… Actually, it doesn't make a difference, I'm still going to resist to the end. Donovan stiffened his neck, "But I'm definitely not going to give them a chance to negotiate." ”

"As I have already said, Your Excellency Donovan, I have come here to fulfill my obligations as a lord," said Estheu, "and I am still willing to offer you the opportunity to negotiate. ”

"You let go first, and then you'll talk."

"Let's talk first, then let go." Escho added further strength to his hand, and his fingers sank deep into Donovan's shoulder armor, who immediately felt his shoulder being clamped up by the deformed armor, but Donovan just didn't say a word, he didn't want to give in, not to mention that any demonstration by Escho would not pose a substantial threat to himself - the villagers of Ismolola were still watching, and the two of them were still in a cycle of who tore their faces first and who suffered.

"Sir! Master! A villager came running from the other side of the village, "Yes...... There's a brute coming! ”

"Where?" Eshua and Donovan spoke in unison, and the villagers were stunned for a moment, and looked at the two of them hesitantly, "There are both north and west, and there are a lot of them!" ”

At the same time, one of the troops standing by outside the village broke away and rushed towards Ismolola, it was Salaman, and his tone was as eager as that of the villager: "Chief, there is a gray tide in the direction of the ice flow, there are about two hundred people, and in ten minutes or so it will approach Ismolola. ”

"What a coincidence, did you deliberately collude with them?" Donovan glared at Estheau.

"......," Esher barely bothered to answer the extremely ignorant question, "how can a lord of the northern realm communicate with the tribes of the Misty Mountains?" With that, he let go of Donovan, "Salaman, inform the team, quickly enter the village, and prepare for the battle!" ”

"Did I give permission?"

"Ismolola needs me and my troops now," said Estheu, "and this is no longer the time for your Excellency to act rashly, and I ask you to lead these militiamen to their respective posts." My soldiers will defend with you. He touched his waist and remembered that he had left the wolf axe in the snow north of the village.

Donovan gave Eshu a hateful look, but there was nothing he could do about it. The scale of this attack was extraordinary, there were enemies coming from three directions, and the militia he brought out temporarily was very difficult to deal with, and even if he could survive this gray tide attack, the losses would be extremely heavy, and he might become a bare-bones commander - maybe even die in battle. And Eshyus and the elite troops he brought with him could greatly relieve the pressure on the village, but in doing so, it would be equivalent to taking over Ismolola from Donovan. The balance of the original stalemate was abruptly broken by the foreign enemy, and Eshua won a complete victory, Donovan was somewhat unwilling, but he couldn't care about it now. "The first team will follow me to the west, and the second team will move closer to the north." He quickly gave the order and led the villagers to the designated battle position.

The battle ended very quickly, and the barbarians of the Misty Mountains were already loose in terms of combat discipline, even if they were numerous, if the villagers of Donovan and Ismolola used the village houses as covers, the victory or defeat was still unknown, just like in previous years when Ravenston fought against the tide of looting around Boimbro, but the scale was reduced by several times. And with the addition of a new group of new troops, the gray tide that surrounded the village did not even break through the wooden fence. The battle lasted less than thirty minutes, and everything was settled, and the scattered gray tide fled in all directions again, and finally disappeared in the snowfield, a scene that many people were tired of seeing. Escho, the undisputed strongest of the men, impressed Ismolola with his devastating performance, and as soon as he secured the defensive line on the south side of the village, he rushed to the aid of several iron guards and dragon knights, and also rescued several villagers who were in danger. He had not been able to retrieve the wolf axe, but his bare hands did not damage his combat power in the slightest, and any Misty Mountain warrior who dared to rush in front of him was shattered in the chest with a single punch. He retrieved the wolf axe only when he was cleaning up the battlefield.

"You're so lucky, I'll admit it." While the villagers were searching for the bodies, Donovan walked up to Estheu, "Ismolola is yours." ”

"What are your plans for next?"

"It's none of your business, but can I get out of the village? I won't bother the lord to send troops to arrest me, so I'll stay here and kill or listen to me. ”

"Doesn't consider my previous proposal? Stayed as a militia instructor in Ismorola. Eshyu ignored Donovan's provocative tone, "And I do need an instructor in my ranks." And I hereby assure you that all the unpleasantness between you and me today will remain for this day and will not be pursued in the future. He thought for a moment and added, "Preferential treatment." ”

“…… I want to be in charge of the training of my recruits, and I can't dictate the way I train, and I need 5,000 dinars for my employment, and my salary for the future should not be less than 1,000 dinars per week. Finally, I need a new non-commissioned officer whip. ”

"Yes." Eshu lightly agreed, "Salaman, go and fetch fifty gold dragon coins for him." ”

"Understood!" Salaman trotted over, "By the way, Chief, Hephasto said I wanted to talk to you. ”