Chapter 183: The Return Trip · Ambush Part 1

In the early morning, as Vauban City was about to fall into a day of bustle, Dean drove his carriage out of Vauban City—

“Here is the horse you asked for… really, don’t you need me to send a squad of soldiers?”

Grand Knight Anluo stood outside Vauban City. After handing over the extra horse Dean requested, he asked again.

“Thank the Lord Marquis for his kindness again. If there really was an attack on me, I think ordinary soldiers would be useless… I do not want more people to lose their lives for me. Besides, the Lord Marquis helping me hold back that Bishop has already made me extremely grateful!”

Dean smiled and refused again, his face showing an indescribable sincerity.

In fact, just as Dean said, if he encountered an attack on the road, based on the Strength he showed on the day of the Baptism, the attacker’s Strength definitely wouldn’t be poor. A small number of ordinary soldiers could not play any role at all. As for a large number?

Dean did not think he had such an identity.

Of course, a more important point was that some things really were not suitable for others to see.

For example: The Corpse of Churde Defendi.

“Then, see you next time!”

Seeing the sincerity on Dean’s face, Grand Knight Anluo took a deep breath and solemnly said goodbye to Dean with a Knight’s Salute.

“See you next time!”

Dean waved his hand, then lightly flicked his Whip. The carriage pulled by two horses slowly started moving. Very quickly, the whole carriage disappeared from the view of Grand Knight Anluo.

Only after the carriage Dean rode could no longer be seen did Grand Knight Anluo return to Vauban City.

And just a moment after Grand Knight Anluo left, when there was no one else around, Dean appeared nearby again. He skillfully entered the woods near the moat. A moment later, Dean appeared again. This time, a wooden barrel filled with snow was on his back.

With a speed not inferior to before, Dean disappeared from the Path again.

The barrel naturally contained the Corpse of Churde Defendi.

In that situation, Dean obviously could not hide the Corpse better. Leaving it in Vauban City was clearly not a good idea, as it would be easily discovered.

So he chose the area outside the city. However, if it was too far, there would not be enough time.

Therefore, the woods far from the moat became Dean’s first choice.

It was not only hidden but also had snow to help preserve the Corpse better.

After placing the wooden barrel containing the Corpse of Churde Defendi on the carriage, Dean lightly flicked his Whip again—

“Giddy up!”

Instantly, the carriage started moving again.

…

Just the moment Dean left Vauban City, in the churches of the Upper District and the Lower District, that Bishop Deholl received the news immediately—

“He has finally left, hasn’t he?”

This bishop with white hair and beard was leaning in a lounge chair, holding a scripture of the Divine Church. He said it while flipping through the pages.

“Yes, My Lord!”

A clear voice answered from the empty room.

“Are the watchmen sent by Vauban still there?”

Deholl continued to ask.

“Since the end of the Knight’s Baptism, two Grand Knights have been staying near the church without leaving… My Lord, do you need me to go warn them?”

That voice asked.

“Warn? No, no, let him watch me. Only by watching me closely will he feel more at ease, and our Priests of the Sanctuary can have a higher success rate…” Deholl waved his hand and said with a smile. Then, as if remembering something, he added again: “By the way, inform Defendi of Dean Ken’s departure. We need more man power to complete this attack!”

“Yes, My Lord!”

That voice bowed and answered. Then, a barely audible sound of footsteps gradually faded away.

Throughout the whole process, Deholl did not raise his head once.

…

Just as Deholl was leisurely reading, the Marquis Vauban, who had learned that Dean had left, stood up from behind his desk and began pacing anxiously in the Study—

“I hope everything is safe!”

The Old Marquis muttered softly.

“My Lord, Dean is not a weak person who cannot lift a feather. With his Talent, ordinary Knights are no match for him. Even those who are close to becoming Grand Knights are still far behind. Only those at the Grand Knight level can cause Dean trouble. And with Dean’s vigilance, escaping from a Grand Knight is not difficult. In fact, if conditions allow, Dean could counter-kill the opponent!”

The Silver Knight comforted the Old Marquis with the facts he saw.

“I am not worried about Dean’s Strength. After I hold Deholl, I am not worried about a direct confrontation. But battles are not always honorable. Schemes and tricks emerge endlessly. Although Dean is vigilant, he is inevitably still a young man and must lack experience. More importantly, he believes in the Way of the Knight—some setups, even if he knows they might be traps, he will definitely walk into them!”

The words of Vauban Marquis were filled with deep worry.

Obviously, Dean’s performance was successful. At least, in the eyes of this Vauban Marquis, Dean was like a delicate white flower.

“Otherwise, shall I follow him?”

The Silver Knight frowned and said.

“Your task is to hold back Deholl. If you leave, Dean will be in even greater danger… It’s a pity that although the Grand Duke’s men have already set out, even a Silver Level expert needs considerable time to travel from the Three Southern Counties to Vauban County. Otherwise, I wouldn’t need to worry!”

The Old Marquis couldn’t help but sigh again.

This time, the Silver Knight did not speak. He just stood there quietly, waiting for the next order from Vauban Marquis.

“Send letters to Baron Jandu and Baron Janel’s territories. Let them escort Dean safely within their Territory ranges!”

The Old Marquis said again.

As for Defendi Territory and Tier Territory?

For the former, Dean would not take that route anyway.

As for the latter, it had already reached a safe position. That Baron Tier would definitely come to support him; therefore, there was no need to give orders.

“Yes, My Lord!”

The Silver Knight answered.

“Although the defense forces are practically non-existent, at least this will make the ambushes of those guys more predictable…”

After saying this in a low voice, the Old Marquis turned and came to the desk. He picked up a quill and wrote rapidly. After finishing, he stamped the Vauban Family’s Family Crest on the document and handed it to the Silver Knight beside him. The latter picked up the letter and quickly left the Study.

…

“Giddy up!”

Dean lightly whipped the horses, his whole body half-leaning against the carriage box—this was a carriage with a double passenger compartment. However, there were no chairs or other furniture inside as expected. It was filled with various tightly wrapped containers, medicinal herbs, and the wooden barrel that had been moved up later. In fact, if there were not too many things to bring, Dean would never have chosen this somewhat heavy double passenger compartment carriage. That kind of half-open single-person carriage was his first choice.

Not only because it was lightweight, but also because it was faster.

On the way here, because of various matters and stops, they delayed their schedule by a day, taking nearly four days.

If traveling alone, with one horse, one and a half days would be enough. Even with a single-person carriage, it would take less than two days.

Now, switching to this somewhat heavy double passenger compartment carriage, obviously the return trip would take three days.

For Dean, who was short on time, this was naturally not a good thing.

Moreover, Dean was very clear about what he would encounter on his return journey.

Baron Defendi’s ambush. The assassination attempt sent by that Bishop Deholl.

These were all within his expectations.

However, if he could cause an error in the enemy’s timing and catch them off guard, Dean would be very willing.

Therefore, at the city gate, Dean asked Anluo to bring another horse.

He needed to make his travel speed unexpected to his opponents to gain the upper hand.

“Defendi… Deholl…”

Muttering the names of these two enemies silently, a cold look began to appear in Dean’s eyes.

Around ten o’clock in the morning, Dean entered Jandu Territory. Seeing Baron Jandu fully armed and bringing two squads of thirty guards, Dean greeted him with some surprise—

“Good morning, Your Excellency Jandu!”

“Good morning, Dean. The Marquis sent an order, instructing me to escort you out of my Territory. Baron Janel has a similar order!”

After greeting, Baron Jandu said immediately, without any negligence.

“Thank the Marquis again!”

After a moment of surprise, Dean immediately understood what this Vauban Marquis meant—

“To help me calculate the ambush points of those guys more accurately?”

Dean thought to himself, yet he smiled lightly.

In fact, regarding the choice of targets for Baron Defendi and Bishop Deholl, Dean had already made a rough calculation before: When they were close to Tier Territory!

This was the best time, when he was about to let his guard down and the fatigue from several days of traveling began to set in.

However, Dean did not refuse Baron Jandu’s escort because of this.

After all, with the escort, he could get more rest.

If forced to choose between dealing with enemies when exhausted and facing them when fresh, Dean naturally knew which one to choose.