"The ninety-seventh day of the Sivanian War, overcast. It looks like the vampires have finally figured out a way to fight the Hamma. Although the only way to connect West Vania to the outside world is this valley road, and beyond the road is impassable terrain, this 'impassable' refers to a larger army. For the scattered skirmishers, it is still possible to find a way through the gaps in the peaks. This is especially true for hovering units like ghosts, banshees, or bats. Vampire attacks became frequent and insane, especially since he didn't care at all about the lives or deaths of these raiding troops. The night before, all the sentries in our camp were dead, their gray faces full of terror, their hair turned white, their skin saggy, as if they had aged a hundred years overnight. Last night was even worse, I was woken up by the sound of a ghoul chewing bones. God forbid, if it weren't for that monster's gluttony, it should have touched my tent. ”

"General Berel suggested that Kedasa strengthen the guards, but this seems to me to be a bit redundant. Because this kind of thing has been going on for more than ten days, no matter how dull people are, they know that the Dao has strengthened their vigilance. But in fact, the attack is still impossible to prevent. In order to increase the strength of the defense and prevent the penetration of the enemy, the garrisons of each camp were strengthened. The Bins had distributed all their forces evenly among a series of barracks built along the road. But if the vampire was expecting this method to be effective in deterring enemies, he was mistaken. Because the Binzu actually have plenty of reserves, as long as they are willing, they can strengthen the defense of each camp on the one hand, and speed up the advance on the front line on the other. Today, they even adopted a decision at a military conference on the construction of two barracks at once. If there is no large-scale defeat, then within a month we will be able to reach Sivania. ”

"Besides, Grand Elder Kaidasa has left here and headed for the front line. I think it's a sign of courage, and Mistress Bayrell scoffs at it. He said that Kedassa was only there to snatch the fruits of victory. Because the Undead Legion was acting quite weak, he wanted to earn more honor and fame. I asked General Baylor what his chances were. He just shook his head, but didn't speak. But he told me to be ready with my luggage and horses, ready to run away at any time. This is the first time I've felt a little whimsical about his thoughts. Although we don't have many troops left in our camp, we are far from the front line. Even if the Hama are wiped out on the front line, there are still a dozen or so strong barracks between us and the front line, and the vampires gnaw all the way down God knows how long it will take. Is it necessary for us to be so nervous? But at the end of the day, I think it would be better to be honest with General Baylor. ”

"However, there is one thing I agree with Lord Bayor, and that is that this war is coming to an end......"

......

"This war is coming to an end. Ashrufat looked at Eric in front of him. At this time they were in a tent, and there was no one else but the two of them.

Eric was noncommittal to his words, and it took him a long time before he spoke: "Duke Scarlet, what are your chances of winning." ”

"Honestly, it's only sixty percent. Ashrufat replied. "But with your help, then I'm eighty percent. ”

"I haven't promised to help you yet. ”

"You didn't say no. Ashrufat replied. "Eric, why are you doing this? You know you have nowhere to go but Sivania. Now, if you get out of here, once you are recognized, it will be a dead end. Everyone knows that you are my subordinate!"

"As I like, that's my thing. As long as I am honest, death is nothing to me. ”

Ashrufat almost wanted to jump, but he finally held himself back.

"May I ask a question, then?" he said, staring at the other man, word for word. "What the hell am I not up to your honor, or what have I done to make you feel dissatisfied?"

"Do you have to say it?"

"Say it. Ashrufat asked.

"Because you're a vampire. Eric replied.

"I know that this is not your real reason!" said Ashrufat, snapped.

"You keep so many girls in castles for your own food. I know that this is a normal thing for vampires, and it is inevitable. But I'm a human being after all, and I can't accept the fact that my kind is being eaten. Although humans will kill each other, perhaps even more than you. But I still can't accept this kind of thing. I can't work for you, though I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. Eric replied.

"I didn't hurt them!" Ashrufat stared at him for a long time, and then suddenly said. "I'm not going to do that!"

"Don't you like the blood of maidens, and if not, why should you lock them up in the castle?"

"I've only drunk the blood of two people in my life!one is my enemy who doesn't wear the sky, and the other is a roadside bandit who robbed me!" Ashrufat's voice was calm, but Eric could clearly see the anger burning in the vampire's eyes. "Do you think I want to drink blood? I know I'm a vampire, but I can't forget that I was once a human being, and I remember those days when I didn't have bloodthirsty impulses!"

"Do you think I like the blood of girls? I tell you, to me there is no difference between men, women, old people, children, even healthy and sick. I couldn't tell the difference, because drinking blood wasn't to satisfy my body, but to satisfy my soul. I like pretty girls' blood, and I'm just using those rumors, because they can deter people who are unhappy with me!"

He finished in one breath. There was a hint of shock in Eric's eyes, but it faded immediately.

"I told you, in my heart, I always identified with me as a knight. Ashrufat continued. "There is a basic moral rule for knights, unless the other person is a sinner, a knight must not harm those who are powerless to resist. ”

If Eric is convinced, then at least his performance is not so obvious. The gray-haired old knight hesitated for a long time, then nodded slightly.

"What do you want to do, Duke Scarlet?" he asked.

"Between Sivania and Mill, there's actually a second way. Ashrufat quickly regained his inner peace. "You may have heard of it. ”

"I know the road, a road that is entrenched by dragons. Eric replied. "Actually, it's not a road, but I've heard that it's barely passable...... Are you trying to ...... from here? Raid Mill City, right? Dragons aren't easy to mess with! Its wings will become a huge nuisance for you. And even if the dragon happens to be absent and allows you to safely lead your army through, there is absolutely no way that your undead army will ever hide the eyes and ears of the scouts. The gates of Mir City will be closed before you arrive, and while you are preparing to take the city, the army of the Hamburgh will attack you from the rear, and then ...... I don't think we can win in this situation. ”

"Yes, if it's the Undead Legion, it is. Ashrufat agreed. "So, I'm not going to let the Undead Legion go, at least not to play the striker!"

"Oh?" said Eric, vaguely guessing what the vampire's tactics were.

"Many of the subordinates of the original three lords of Sivania were mercenaries. Mercenaries fight for money, they serve their employers, but that doesn't mean they're loyal to their employers. Their contract ...... It is automatically suspended once the employer dies. Previously, I had captured a lot of mercenaries, and during this time, I was able to convince a large part of them to be hired by me. Combined with some of the original rebels, I think I can barely get together about 2,000 people. ”

"The Bin, on the other hand, is made up of various tribes. Now, it is believed that the various tribes are intricately mixed with each other, and there is no discipline to speak of, and they did not know each other before. They may be quick to detect the approach of an undead army, but it is difficult to tell if a human army is their friend. From this point of view, I think it should be possible to sneak into the city of Mill and occupy it in a short period of time. It takes very little time...... Then my main forces will be able to arrive. ”

"It's a good plan, but why do you have to find me?"

"Because I can only trust you at the moment. Ashrufat replied unabashedly. "Whether it's ability or character. If you were to be in charge of this raid, I'm sure you'd be 90% sure. If I were to find someone to be responsible, I would only be 60% sure. ”

"What about the dragon?"

"Don't worry about that dragon, it's not a problem anymore. Ashrufat replied.

"You killed that dragon?" asked Eric. But the vampire just smiled a little, but didn't answer.

"However, you seem to have overlooked some of the details. Eric continued. "Perhaps a human army can make its way through the mixed Hama region without causing an alarm, and come to the city of Mir. But in most cases, if the defenders of the city saw an unfamiliar army, whoever they were, their first instinct was to close the gates. If it was daytime, then it would be impossible for me to hide the whereabouts of the army, and if it was night, the gates themselves would be closed. In this case, either someone with a certain status must be called to open the city gate for me, or a group of capable spies must be lurked and open the city gate at a critical moment. ”

"That's right. Ashruphat nodded. "That's true. "In many cases, there is such a thing as "opening the city gate by fraud", the premise of which is that there is a prisoner with sufficient status and willing to cooperate, or a small group of capable spies are ambushed at the city gate in advance, and the defenders are killed at the critical moment to open the city gate. But to be honest, he doesn't have either.

"You just want me to take a trip to Mill City so that the Binds mistakenly think that the Ryan have betrayed and they have to retreat from the front?" I admit it's a good idea, but it's just a delaying tactic......"

"No," Ashrufat interrupted. "I want you to take the city of Mill. According to my intelligence, there are not many troops in that city, and in the event of a surprise attack, with a force of 2,000 men, it should be possible to temporarily control the whole city. You only need to hold out for a day, and I can get the undead legion to follow. ”

"It's beyond my ability. ”

"It's hard, but it's not impossible. Ashrufat pulled something out of his pocket and placed it in Eric's hand, a metal seal.

"This is the seal of Berel, the governor of the city of Mill. Ashrufat said. "Mill City has only been temporarily loaned to the Bin, and its internal management is still old-fashioned. I think this thing should be used as a 'token' to convince the soldiers guarding the gates that you are not enemies. ”