Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 271 The Barbarian's Swan Song
Robin squinted at the receding plume of dust.

Just as Andy Sue was about to give chase, he raised his hand to stop her.

“No need.” His fingertips lightly traced the still-damp blood on the sword hilt. “Let them go back and report the death of their stray dogs.”

The sun had completely sunk below the horizon, and the last few dying groans on the battlefield gradually faded away.

This encirclement and annihilation battle, which should have been a perfect success, ultimately left a regrettable crack.

In the distance, Solomon led his remaining forces into the darkness, like a spark that quietly disappeared into the vast night.

The Central Plains allied forces suffered another major defeat, this time losing another Order Knight.

The battlefield was filled with an atmosphere of death and despair. The soldiers of the Central Plains Allied Forces retreated like a tide, leaving behind a field of corpses and defeated soldiers.

The fall of Nash, the Knight of Order, was like a heavy punch to the hearts of the nobles near Wilke's territory on the border of Middle-earth, leaving them trembling with fear.

They began to worry that Wilke would press his advantage and attack Central Earth.

In their imagination, the army of Wilke Territory was like a pack of hungry wolves, ready to cross the border and pounce on their territory at any moment.

As a result, the nobles on the border strengthened the defenses of their territories, recruited more soldiers, and stockpiled food and supplies, shrouding the entire border region in a tense atmosphere.

In fact, Robin could not possibly attack Middle-earth. The reason is simple: without the strength, even if he conquered it, he would not be able to hold it. It would be better to consolidate the current gains first.

Robin stood on the city wall of Wilkland, gazing towards Middle-earth in the distance, fully aware of the current situation.

Although Wilkeland achieved victories in these battles against Middle-earth, it also suffered considerable losses.

Moreover, the Central Plains are a vast territory with complex and intertwined power structures. If an attack is launched rashly, it will inevitably lead to a protracted war, which would be extremely disadvantageous for Wilke's territory.

Viscount Wilke walked over and stood beside Robin, saying, "Robin, I know you won't be easily blinded by victory. Although we have repelled the Middle-earth coalition, we must be wary of their retaliation."

Robin nodded: "Father, you are right. What we need to do now is to strengthen our border defenses, appease our people, and at the same time enhance our strength."

We can use the prestige gained from this victory to attract more talented individuals to our territory, whether they are warriors, mages, or artisans.

Viscount Wilke agreed: "Yes, we can also strengthen cooperation with other lords in the West and develop trade together. This will not only increase our wealth but also enhance the strength of the entire West."

In the days that followed, Wilke began to actively carry out post-war reconstruction and development.

The soldiers received a generous reward, which included not only gold and silver treasures, but also fertile land and comfortable housing.

Their morale soared like a burning flame, and they intensified their patrols along the border with even greater enthusiasm. Their vigilant eyes, like those of eagles in the night, did not miss any suspicious movement.

The construction of the fortifications was also proceeding in an orderly manner. The tall and thick city walls grew higher and thicker day by day thanks to the efforts of the craftsmen. The watchtowers on the city walls stood like giants, and they would become the first line of defense for Wilke Territory.

The artisans within the territory worked as busily as a swarm of busy bees. In the blacksmith shops, the furnaces roared, and the sound of hammers echoed as they meticulously crafted better weapons and equipment. Every sword was honed to an unparalleled sharpness, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight, as if proclaiming its lethality; every suit of armor was forged to be sturdy yet lightweight, sufficient to provide reliable protection for soldiers on the battlefield.

The wizards were also busy in the mysterious magic tower, flipping through ancient magic books and conducting various mysterious experiments in an attempt to develop new magic.

The magical runes, shimmering with an eerie light, flickered on the walls of the magic tower, and new magical power was being born, which would greatly enhance the territory's defenses.

At the same time, Wilke territory sent friendly signals to other lords in the west, engaging in trade and exchanging goods.

Caravans traveled between Wilke territory and other territories, their wagons laden with various goods.

Wilke Territory's specialties, such as exquisite handicrafts and standard weapons and equipment, were transported to other territories, while resources such as food and minerals from other territories flowed into Wilke Territory in a steady stream.

This trade fostered economic prosperity and strengthened ties between Wilkeland and other territories, resulting in a flourishing and prosperous Wilkeland.

The stronger Wilke Territory becomes, the more worried the nobles of Middle-earth become, especially since their main forces are tied up by the Knights Guild and the Bauhinia Organization.

Now they can only passively defend.

Robin, who was the instigator of all this, led five thousand elite warriors to the western border.

These five thousand elite soldiers were all seasoned veterans, and the worst among them were all late-stage knight apprentices.

They were dressed in sturdy armor, wielding sharp spears, their steps were neat and powerful, and their eyes revealed determination and courage.

Their flags fluttered in the wind, their emblem resembling an eagle spreading its wings, symbolizing the majesty of Wilkeshire.

This was something he had agreed upon with Marquis Sonata: once the Central Plains coalition was dealt with, he would assist them in driving the barbarians out of the western border.

Robin knew all too well the disasters the barbarians' rampage on the western border had brought to the region. The barbarians were like locusts swarming across the border, plundering property, destroying villages, and plunging the border people into misery.

Although Robin understood that this was a challenging battle, the barbarians, while lacking the tight organization and superior equipment of the Middle-earth coalition, were savage, fierce, and warlike by nature, and were very familiar with the terrain of the western border.

As for attacking the far west, that wasn't even considered; it was simply too barren.

Robin stood on the road leading to the western border, gazing into the distance, with a clear understanding of the far west.

The land there was barren and resource-scarce, with almost nothing worth fighting for. Moreover, to attack the far west, one would need to traverse treacherous mountains and vast ice fields, a long and arduous journey, and even if conquered, it would be difficult to maintain control. Therefore, that land was not in Wilke Territory's strategic plans.

When Robin led his army to the western border, Marquis Sonata had been waiting there for a long time.

Marquis Sonata smiled with satisfaction upon seeing Robin's arrival, saying, "Baron Allen, you are truly punctual. Your arrival greatly strengthens our Western Allied Forces, and I am confident that we will be able to drive the barbarians back to their lair."

(End of this chapter)