CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: A BRILLIANT VICTORY_1

CLANG!

A helmeted head was thrown onto the ground, and from inside the iron helmet rolled out a bloody, mangled human head.

The blood-soaked werewolf saluted Yan Xing, who was mounted on his warhorse, and said loudly, "Honorable Lord Yan Xing, I am Li Zhua, Clan Leader of the Werewolf Tribe in Stenchwater Forest. I recognize this human Knight; he’s a mercenary who protected the merchant Eden and traded with us on the borders of the Swamp.

It must have been his greed for the riches of Eternal Domain that attracted the Orc werewolf raid on your territory.

I have now beheaded him as an offering from the Stenchwater Forest werewolf pack on our visit to Eternal Domain."

Following Li Zhua’s offering, the other werewolves also dropped the heads they were holding and paid tribute to Yan Xing.

Yan Xing was somewhat stunned by this scene. A head for a bag of grain, a prisoner for two—can’t you werewolves do the math? What... Lord, what do I need with so many heads?

Fortunately, the werewolves still showed restraint, as not all the Orcs and mercenaries were killed; half of the prisoners were herded together and guarded by the Werewolf Warriors.

Yan Xing looked again at the heads strewn about the ground, feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

"Gao Sipa, take some men and collect these heads. Keep a record of whose achievements they are, then box them up and preserve them. After the meeting is over, we’ll settle up and distribute the grain to my friends." While Gao Sipa took men to clean up the heads on the ground, Yan Xing addressed Li Zhua from atop his warhorse, "Welcome, Clan Leader Li Zhua, to Eternal Domain, and welcome all werewolf Clan Leaders who love peace and wish to prosper together with Eternal Domain.

I have prepared the most delicious food and the finest drinks, ensuring that all Clan Leaders will feel the warmth of home in Eternal Domain.

After I deal with the final invader, let us together kick off this celebration."

The werewolf pack cheered!

Gustav, surrounded in the middle of the pack, looked extremely pitiful.

Yarlin had died.

Not a single one of the Malevolent Wolf Cavalry and human mercenaries escaped when the werewolves launched a lightning attack from behind. They were either killed or captured.

Three hundred wolf riders had charged from Stakes Castle in full force, only to meet such an end. It was as if they had purposely come to deliver their heads—a bitter irony indeed.

But why would the werewolves of the Swamp Tribe be so tame as to obey a human Lord? Watching the werewolves around him, their fur stained red with blood, Gustav was utterly puzzled. He also worried for his own fate.

Yan Xing observed the still ferocious Big-eared Monster warrior, considering how to deal with him.

Orcs are very different from werewolves. From this battle, it’s evident that Orcs have a complete societal structure; mere profit is unlikely to sway them. The approaches used for werewolves definitely won’t work on Orcs. Once captured, they demand constant supervision. A waste of manpower.

Thus, after much deliberation, Yan Xing sighed and said to Gustav, "I will send your head back to Stakes Castle. I hope Chief Li Ya learns a lesson and doesn’t make the same mistakes."

After finishing his statement, Yan Xing ordered the werewolves, "To whoever takes the head of the enemy commander, reward a set of Steel Studded Armor..."

In his despair, Gustav was quickly swallowed by the enraged pack of werewolves.

Yan Xing turned his horse around towards his domain as music began to play...

The melody of "Good Day" echoed across the entire plain.

Children joyfully waved flowers, and farmers waved colorful flags in celebration of victory.

Heavily armored pikemen lined both sides of the red carpet, using their pikes to form an archway of honor.

Light Armored Werewolf Warriors puffed their cheeks and blew their horns.

Archers swapped the sharp arrows on their bowstrings for ones that trailed colorful smoke and shot them into the sky.

Thousands of balloons flew away.

The grand reception ceremony swiftly quieted the werewolves, who were excited from battle. It was a scene they had never witnessed before. The solemnity struck them with awe.

Crushed by the charm of a higher civilization, the barbarian werewolves all tucked in their tails and entered the steel-encircled domain with a pilgrim-like reverence, passing through the corridor of spears and stepping on the soft carpets.

Then, the captured prisoners were also tied up and brought into the domain in a line.

Afterward, the seized supplies, wolf mounts, and horses were all moved into the domain, waiting to be allocated.

[After a fierce battle, you have achieved a glorious victory.]

[You gain Experience: 40,000]

[Level up failed. Please seek guidance from a professional mentor to advance your hero level as soon as possible.]

[You gain Reputation: 3,000]

[Based on your exceptional performance of zero casualties in battle, you are awarded Experience: 40,000]

[You gain a Construction Blueprint: Library]

[You gain God-given gold coins: 5,000]

Back in his domain, Yan Xing reviewed the spoils of this battle.

Although many Werewolf Warriors were lost in the attack on the Orcs and human mercenaries, those were friendly casualties. Therefore, Yan Xing’s performance in this war was still without loss. An excellent performance in war not only earned Yan Xing more Experience rewards but also a construction blueprint and God-given gold coins.

Construction Blueprint: Library (The power of knowledge is endless; a Library can attract scholars and increase the probability of cultivating knowledge-oriented heroes in the academic institution.)

The academic institution is a building unlocked after upgrading the domain to a town-level administration hall. Subjects of the domain who study in the academic institution have a chance of becoming knowledge-oriented heroes. These heroes, although they may be mediocre in force, are indispensable civil officers for a domain. The younger the subjects who enter the academic institution, the easier it is for them to become knowledge-oriented heroes. Elite units also have a better chance of becoming knowledge-oriented heroes.

Naturally, Yan Xing was aware of the importance of knowledge. He knew that such heroes were the backbone of a domain. Furthermore, a well-organized and efficient logistics system is the foundation for victory on the battlefield.

The academic institution had already started construction after the completion of the town-level administration hall. However, certifying the academic institution required not only teaching materials but also lecturers.

If one is willing to spend God-given gold coins, these things will naturally be provided. But I am reluctant to spend. I just received 5,000 God-given gold coins, which eased the domain’s financial strain. However, having seen the recruitment cost of a Third Order Archer, I am not willing to waste even one Gold Coin.

It was time to head to Nuta City right after the werewolf assembly ended. First, I need to see if it’s possible to hire teachers in Nuta City. There’s also the issue of hero level advancement... Just like in some games, if you don’t find a professional mentor to complete certain tasks, your level gets capped and can’t be raised. I earned 80,000 Experience from this war, but my level is still stuck at 10. This is quite frustrating.

I need to wrap up talks with these Werewolf Clan Leaders quickly to secure safety in the north. Once Gustav’s head is delivered to Stakes Castle, the Orcs will realize the Werewolf Tribe has allied with Eternal Domain. Then, they naturally will not dare to send their Orc armies to their deaths so easily. The west should be safe for a short period as well. I should use this time to resolve various pressing matters in one go in Nuta City.