CHAPTER 295: CHAPTER 176: BATTLE OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS (10,000 WORDS)

Just as Lynn was warming by the fire, observing the soldiers’ living conditions.

A soldier took large strides, running to the door of the dormitory.

He knocked on the wooden door of the dormitory and said, "Master... Master Lynn, there are riders approaching!"

Hearing the voice outside the door, Lynn stood up, picked up the tongs, and closed the fireplace’s vent.

With this, the anthracite in the fireplace, lacking oxygen, would burn more slowly.

Immediately, Lynn walked out of the red brick house and headed towards the nearby city walls.

The guard responsible for delivering the message hurriedly followed behind Lynn.

Climbing the steps of the tower, Lynn reached the top of the city wall.

His eyes peered through the black night, searching slightly.

Soon, in the distance outside the city walls, one could see faint yellow lights flickering in the black night.

Those were the lights of torches.

Perhaps due to the night wind blowing, or the galloping of warhorses, some torches flickered intermittently.

Yet, those torches almost lined up in a row, clearly visible.

Lynn stood on the city wall, waiting quietly.

The soldiers patrolling nearby cast a furtive glance at Master Lynn.

Seeing the night wind flutter Master Lynn’s robe, he immediately signaled to the messenger soldier, then looked at the small anthracite fire beside him.

The messenger soldier instantly understood, gave an approving look to the guard soldier.

He placed the warming fire beside Lynn.

Lynn naturally noticed this scene.

As the marching team in the night became closer,

The glow of the torches became increasingly evident.

When the team came within visible distance,

Lynn finally saw that it was indeed soldiers clad in plate armor, wearing full face helmets, riding warhorses!

They were none other than the people of Rose who had left at noon away from the city walls and had just returned.

The cavalry unit was split into two parts, a hundred riders at the front guiding the way, another hundred at the rear for defense and oversight...

Ensuring that in the event of an attack, a defensive line could be promptly formed, and preventing the refugees from fleeing mid-way!

Lynn roughly scanned the refugees, numbering at least over three hundred.

Until Rose’s troop was near the city walls, Lynn told the messenger soldier, "Open the gate!"

The messenger soldier promptly acknowledged and ran quickly towards the city walls.

With the heavy opening sound of the gate, the cavalry, leading the refugees, flowed in one after another.

Eventually, all refugees were arranged to stand on the open red brick ground.

After the previous incident of informers infiltrating, Rose was terrified.

Even before Lynn gave any orders, Rose had already arranged for soldiers to start searching the refugees!

Perhaps due to the exhaustion of a journey spanning dozens of miles, they were weary and directly sat on the ground.

Coming down from the city wall, Lynn stood at the forefront, scanning these refugees.

Even though the iron gate of the wall was closed, their faces still bore a trace of fright.

Obviously, they had not yet recovered from the terror of the bandit attack on the town.

Compared to the various slaves brought by Grayson before, these Free People, who only lost their land and homes, seemed much healthier.

The refugees gathered in groups of four or five, or in pairs, each group, or pair, forming a small family.

As Lynn surveyed the crowd, these refugees’ eyes were also scanning this unfamiliar environment.

Tall city walls, red brick houses, and beneath their feet a lime road stretching through the forest with no end in sight...

Moreover, the fully armed plate armor cavalry they had never seen before...

This filled them with intense unease.

Half an hour later, ensuring no refugees secretly carried weapons,

Rose stepped towards Lynn.

Rose bowed slightly, speaking respectfully, "Master!"

Lynn responded, asking, "Didn’t encounter any bandits?"

Rose replied, "We had some luck, no bandit encounters."

"Some refugees were worried and afraid, but I still brought them over by force."

"We brought back a total of three hundred and twenty refugees, two hundred males, a hundred females, and twenty children..."

Lynn nodded in satisfaction.

Rose continued speaking,

"However, I heard from the refugees that bandits chased after another batch of fleeing refugees."

"The bandits seem overly ambitious, forcing those townsmen into their ranks."

"Compelling them to become bandits, or face death..."

Lynn was not surprised, "That bandit group, they are the Iron Blood Brotherhood, aren’t they?"

Rose nodded, "Yes, Master, it’s the Iron Blood Brotherhood!"

"Also, a group called the Storm Mercenary Corps has joined the Iron Blood Brotherhood."

Lynn said, "I understand, well done, you brought back all my soldiers!"

Rose bowed, acknowledging his words.

Retrieving his gaze from Rose, Lynn looked at the refugees ahead.

Perhaps due to his silk wool robe, or Rose’s deferential manner of reporting,

Lynn noticed many refugees were staring wide-eyed at him.

So be it.

Lynn took a few steps, standing on the steps not far away.

Rose and several plate-armored soldiers holding torches stood beside, illuminating for Lynn.

"Friends! I am the master of this land—Lynn!"