Lord: I Grind EXP with Warband Panel

Chapter 324: Chapter 80: An Awe-Inspiring Legion

As the two continued their conversation, the grand army slowly emerged from Wisley Path. The surrounding mountain peaks grew sparse, and in the distance, a wide, low hill came into view.

Everyone knew that was the destination of their journey.

Just as Viscount Keanan and Baron Clewis were talking, the ground suddenly began to tremble.

Viscount Keanan felt the vibrations from the earth, a look of shock in his eyes.

"Weren’t the Beastmen already driven away? Where did this army come from?" As a battlefield veteran, Viscount Keanan could naturally tell that the tremors were caused by a cavalry unit.

Viscount Keanan’s first thought wasn’t that Robson had come out with his army to greet them. After all, who would do something so malicious?

But Viscount Keanan soon spotted the troops.

First, the rumbling from the ground was quite rhythmic, indicating it was an army with a strict array.

Second, there was the reaction of Bo Yang and the others.

It was obvious that Bo Yang and the others at the front had noticed something. They were now talking amongst themselves, looking quite joyful.

From the voices drifting back from Bo Yang’s group, Viscount Keanan vaguely made out the name "Robson."

It couldn’t be helped; the two groups were too far apart.

The entire army was split into two groups, front and back. One was the nobles led by Viscount Keanan and Baron Clewis.

The other was the northern nobles of Ehrlichland, led by Bo Yang and Viscount Jeffrey. These men were essentially the officers and soldiers Robson had brought back from the Western Front.

"It seems Viscount Robson has come... He came out on his own initiative?" Viscount Keanan looked at Clewis in confusion.

Viscount Keanan couldn’t quite understand the purpose behind this move by Robson.

Shouldn’t Robson be waiting on the hill for them to pay a visit?

"Could it be that our strategy is working?" Baron Clewis speculated.

It wasn’t that Baron Clewis was foolish. It was just that in this era, coming out to greet someone was a sign of respect.

Viscount Keanan looked ahead doubtfully. It was the only explanation he could think of, too.

Of course, their confusion didn’t last long. With both sides heading toward each other, it took less than an hour for the two armies to meet on a plain.

At this moment, Knight Boyang, Viscount Jeffrey, and the others at the front immediately spurred their horses forward, leading their personal guards toward Robson.

It was then that Viscount Keanan understood Robson’s intention in coming out to greet them.

This was a show of force!

The human soldiers ahead, fully equipped with bows and crossbows, were in neat ranks. Radiating a sky-high killing intent, they didn’t look like a welcoming party at all.

Especially on the flanks of the formation, two companies of several hundred soldiers were arranged. In front of the array, a cavalry unit emanated combat aura. Any discerning person could see that this was the recently renowned Fengman Knight Order.

Even though the force before him was clearly a human army, clearly an allied force, it still gave Viscount Keanan the feeling that they could charge over at any moment and annihilate his own grand army.

As Viscount Keanan thought this, he glanced back at his own troops.

Only then did Viscount Keanan realize the absurdity of his previous thoughts.

’An army’s strength isn’t just about numbers.’

The Noble Alliance Army was already a defeated force. Now, after rushing through the entire Wisley Path, whatever morale and fighting spirit they had was all but gone, and their formations were in disarray.

It would have been better if Viscount Keanan hadn’t brought his army. The moment he did, a simple comparison between the two sides made the difference in quality starkly clear.

"Viscount... what is the meaning of this? Is that the Fengman Knight Order up ahead?"

"So this is the army that sent the Beastmen running for their lives? Truly magnificent..."

"What do they mean by this? Aren’t we going to go over...?"

Viscount Keanan had originally thought the other side was coming to welcome him. But after seeing their army, he had simply halted in place.

This created an awkward situation. Ever since Bo Yang and his group started riding toward them, the opposing army hadn’t moved a single step.

Now, on this small plain, the two sides looked less like allied forces joining up and more like enemies in a standoff.

Moreover, the sheer presence of Robson’s side had completely overwhelmed his own.

Viscount Keanan swallowed hard.

’I was too arrogant.’ He had originally planned to use his superior numbers to intimidate them, but now he was the one being suppressed.

"My lord Viscount, what do we do now?" Clewis asked, looking at Viscount Keanan in confusion.

"Let’s... head over first."

Viscount Keanan had nothing else to say. They had come to ask for a favor, so they couldn’t just let the atmosphere remain this awkward.

Of course, this time, Viscount Keanan didn’t bring the soldiers behind him. Instead, he led the group of northern and southern nobles forward.

The closer they got to the army ahead, the heavier Viscount Keanan’s heart grew.

Since this was for show, Robson had naturally placed his most elite troops at the very front.

A company of soldiers, clad in iron armor, their eyes sharp.

The nobles of the Frank Kingdom were all forged in battle; they could all see the killing intent radiating from these soldiers.

’No wonder they were able to win...’

As Viscount Keanan was thinking this, they were about to reach the front of the formation when several Silver-rank Knights charged out from the army. The Extraordinary rank of one of them was even higher than his own.

Over their armor, every one of them wore a tabard emblazoned with a sword and shield—the mark of the Fengman Clan.

"Gentlemen, Viscount Robson has been waiting inside for some time. Please, enter."

The meaning was clear: dismount, then enter.

Viscount Keanan didn’t object, nor could he. This was the Fengman Clan. Even if he wouldn’t give face to Robson, he had to give face to the Fengman Clan.

Besides, at this point, he had to give face to Robson, too.

...

Led by several Knights, the group of nobles passed through the army’s formation, getting an even more intimate sense of what a truly elite force looked like.

Without even realizing it themselves, their confident aura from when they first arrived had diminished to almost nothing.

Finally, under the Knights’ guidance, Viscount Keanan and the other nobles arrived at the army’s center.

The area was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation. Viscount Robson, Count Uman, Count Sriphine, Baron Boyang, Viscount Jeffrey, Viscount Edwin...

A host of figures were talking and laughing together.

’How did Uman get on such good terms with Robson?!’ Seeing Uman and Robson chatting and laughing, Viscount Keanan’s heart trembled. He had a premonition that something was very wrong.

"Everyone! Look who’s here! The heroes of the north have arrived!"

As everyone was talking and laughing, Robson suddenly shouted, pointing at the approaching Viscount Keanan.

’Heroes? What heroes?’ Viscount Keanan was baffled. ’Weren’t we coming here to apologize? How did we suddenly become heroes?’

"Old Keanan! You’ve finally come!

I have failed you!"

While Keanan was still confused, Count Uman walked up to him, his face a mask of grief.

’What is this now? How has he failed me? What happened?’

Count Uman’s performance completely stumped Viscount Keanan. He had considered many possibilities before coming, but none of his contingency plans covered a situation like this!

It wasn’t just Viscount Keanan; Baron Clewis and the other nobles behind him were all looking at each other, as if wanting to ask their friends if they knew some inside information.

"Allow me to explain.

The nobles of Ador Province have performed a great service this time." Robson stepped forward, speaking with a smile.

"Actually, before this battle, Count Uman and I had already discussed the situation beyond the pass.

We both agreed that this Beastman force was holed up north of the river, intending to occupy the northern part of Ehrlich Province.

Count Uman took the initiative to declare that the nobles of Ador Province, most of whom hail from the north, hold deep feelings for the Kingdom and would not stand by and watch its lands be seized by an enemy.