When Duanmu Huai followed Qierti to the square, he could see dozens of ox carts parked in the square, and there were many guys dressed like adventurers next to them.

"This is what we captured while patrolling today."

Qierdi also reported to Duanmu Huai very seriously.

"Today we followed the patrol route and found that there was a suspicious caravan deliberately taking the mountain path, so we went forward to investigate, while the other party attacked us, and after defeating them, we found out that they were slave traders, and they were taking slaves from Herman and transporting them to other places."

"Well, good job."

Duanmu Huai nodded, the prohibition of the slave trade is one of the doctrines of the Inquisition, not to mention the various harms that the slave trade is likely to bring, even the slaves themselves may pose a potential threat——— after all, you are not sure whether these slaves will be taken to do hard labor, prostitutes or sacrifices to some evil god.

Of course, in the experience of the Inquisition, the latter is the majority of the demand, but if you travel between the stars and find the transportation of slaves, you will be able to meet one or several orders that believe in evil gods.........

By the way, under the leadership of Duanmu Huai, Seth and Lisas have also listed the slave trade as an illegal trade and have begun to arrest them on a large scale. In fact, this is also normal, Seth needs to recover his strength at present, of course, he can't allow his people to be trafficked, and Lisas is ——— well, even if Duanmu Huai asks Leah to give him the country, I'm afraid the latter will not hesitate.

"Take a few leaders down and interrogate them, check on the buyers."

"Understood."

Duanmu Huai casually commanded, and then came to the ox cart, at this moment the slaves had also dismounted, among them there were men and women, trembling together, looking at the soldiers and night guards around them uneasily.

This is also normal, after all, it is not surprising that someone has only been captured and then brought here, and there are terrifying soldiers all around.

"Ah, Mr. Knight!"

Lorena, who was registering those refugees, saw Duanmu Huai appear, and also hurriedly walked over.

"How?"

"Yes, they were all slaves who were captured by slave traders in Herman, and some of the children were even sold........."

Speaking of this, Lorena's expression was not very good-looking, after all, there was no such thing in the Holy City.

"Ask them about their plans, and if you want to go home, you can leave, and if you need a little money for the journey, you can get a little from the slave traders——— they won't need it anyway."

"Yes."

Lorena nodded, then turned back to the group of slaves and said a few words to them, and then saw the slaves cheer excitedly, and many of them even hugged each other and wept. Then they respectfully saluted Duanmu Huai and Lorena, and then turned to leave.

But it seems that not everyone yearns for freedom.

"Huh?"

Duanmu Huai saw that not far away, a young girl was standing there with a few little girls. He frowned, and walked over.

"Knock......... Boom......... Knock ........."

Hearing the footsteps, the girl turned her head and saw Duanmu Huai, she was also frightened and pale, her legs were weak, and she sat down directly on the ground. And several little girls beside her also hurriedly hid behind the girl, looking at the giant walking towards them uneasily.

Duanmu Huai was used to this reaction, and he walked up to the girl and stared at her.

"Why, aren't you going to leave?"

"This ......... I ..............."

Looking at Duanmu Huai, the girl's expression was quite nervous, she lowered her head, and her voice was as small as a mosquito.

"Speak."

Seeing the other party cowering, Duanmu Huai frowned and scolded. Hearing Duanmu Huai's scolding, the girl was also frightened.

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry......... I......... I don't know where I'm going........."

Don't know where to go?

"Don't you have a place to go back?"

“………………………”

The girl was silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"What about your relatives?"

“………………………”

The girl still did not speak.

"It's a bit of a problem."

Looking at the girl in front of him, Duanmu Huai sighed helplessly, and at this time, Qierdi gave advice.

"In that case, why don't you integrate her into the logistics force for the time being?"

"Then it's decided."

Duanmu Huai didn't care too much, the main task of the logistics unit was to be responsible for laundry and cooking and other chores, which basically could be done by everyone. Since this girl has nowhere to go, it would be nice to simply send her to the logistics unit.

After making a decision, Duanmu Huai turned to leave, and the girl looked at Duanmu Huai's figure, and a trace of uneasiness flashed in her eyes.

At the same time, the stronghold of the 1st Corps.

Standing on the city walls, looking at the scenery in the distance, the general of the 1st Army Corps Kriolev had a serious face.

As a pure Herman soldier, Kriolev enjoyed a high reputation in the Herman army, he was burly and strong, and although he was past his prime, he still had an indescribable domineering.

And the First Army of Herman, which he led, was not the largest among Herman's troops, but it was the army with the most knights. And Herman's First Army is an existence with the honor of invincibility.

But now...............

"Your Excellency."

The adjutant Karl appeared behind Kryorev, and at the sound of his voice, Kryoreev sighed.

"The commander-in-chief ordered me to lead the First Army, along with the Second Army, and the Fifth Army to suppress the rebellion."

"The goal is ..............."

"The Inquisition and the Fourth Legion."

In fact, this is also expected, Kriolev has unparalleled prestige in the Herman army, if it weren't for his unwillingness to collude with Prime Minister Stirser, the original post of commander-in-chief should have been Kriolev's. But it was precisely because of Keriolev's upright personality that he had a very poor relationship with the council headed by Sticer.

"I guessed it would be like that."

Hearing the commander's answer, Adjutant Carl sneered.

"You know?"

"Well, I've heard that just recently, a couple more of the convoys defected."

“…………………”

Kriolev was silent and did not speak, and in fact there was no shortage of loyalists all along, within Herman. They couldn't tolerate Steather covering the sky with one hand, and even tried to assassinate him several times in a row. However, due to the incomparably powerful steel monster by Stether's side, these assassinations were ultimately in vain.

But this did not mean that those soldiers gave up, so when the Fourth Army rebelled, and even played the banner of "Qing Jun's side", many soldiers and troops who were originally loyal to the royal family, but were suppressed by Stieser, fled directly from the royal city and defected to the Fourth Army.

In fact, within the First Army, the generals had discussed similar issues several times. Previously, they were reluctant to rebel because they were loyal to the royal family. But now, the slogan of the Fourth Army, "Qingjun's side", has also opened a window for them.

There is still such an operation!

That's right, we are not betraying the country, we are trying to clear the monarch's side and punish the ministers!

The following generals also wrote more than once, asking Kriolev to also learn from the Fourth Army, directly enter the royal city, kill the ministers, and assist the emperor, but Kriolev refused.

And now...............

"It's clear that the Council wants us to die."

The strength of the Fourth Army is not to be feared, but the strength of the Inquisition, after these years of investigation, everyone has become very clear. Not to mention, just the mechanical giant that was taller than a mountain, they didn't have the slightest way or means. Although the first, second, and fifth armies combined were quite numerous, Kriolev still had no idea how to deal with that mechanical giant.

Now for the Council, the First Army is the least trustworthy, and even they are afraid that the First Army will rebel like the Fourth Army, so they simply send the First Army out to attack the Inquisition to avoid a threat to the royal city.

"Are we really going to go out?"

"Of course."

Faced with the adjutant's inquiry, Kriolev nodded.

"By order of the commander-in-chief, the First Army will move forty thousand men, the Second Army will move fifty thousand men, and the Fifth Army will move the whole army, a total of 100,000 men. To form a joint operation, it is important to keep the Inquisition and the Fourth Legion out of the royal city. ”

Stretching out his hand to point ahead, Kriolev said lightly, and he could understand why the Council was so mad. At present, the Inquisition and the Fourth Legion have occupied Guzak, and from here they are advancing northwest to Sebonn and the royal capital Guland, that is to say, once they break through the Bonn fortress and occupy the city of Guland, then the Inquisition and the Fourth Army will be directly under the royal city.

Although it stands to reason that, according to intelligence, there are currently only 20,000 men in the Fourth Legion, and the combined forces on the Inquisition's side seem to be less than 1,000. But the problem is that the mechanical giants of the Inquisition are too terrifying, if they can't stop them, maybe they will really be killed directly into the royal city in one go.

"Does the council think the other side will make a quick decision?"

"Most likely, after all, the total number of opponents is now less than 30,000 people, and they have the strong fire support of the Inquisition, in this case, a direct assault on the royal city is the most effective means than a steady attack. On this point I also agree with the conjecture of the commander-in-chief. So, we have to do it all at once. Fight the Fourth Legion and the Inquisition! ”

Saying this, Kriolev clenched his fists.

Then he looked beyond the horizon again, then turned and walked into the fortress without looking back.

“…………………”

Looking at the back of his commander, Adjutant Carl sighed silently.

As an adjutant, he was only able to make recommendations, and it was Kriolev himself who made the decision.

And he made a decision......... Then, the operation of the First Army is about to begin.

(End of chapter)