The Lord Of Blood Hill

Henwell looks at Wizet, the unconscious squadron captain of the Lord Iron Guards, and at the many wounded around him.

He takes a deep breath. "Where is the Marquess of Nothing?"

Henwell does not even need to ask to know this was the Marquess of Nothing's work.

White Butterfly Michelle, who also retreated here, says, "He has been repelled, and he seems to have suffered serious wounds."

Henwell frowns. "Who managed it? The Marquess of Nothing is an Iron Knight. He would not give up that easily."

Michelle says, "I am also a Grand Knight, and your personal guards are very skilled in battle."

"Wizet and I joined hands to restrain the Marquess of Nothing, while your other guards formed a battle formation and quickly slaughtered his subordinates."

"If you had one more Grand Knight among your men, the battle might not have been so brutal."

"Wizet used himself as bait and created an opening for me, allowing me to seriously wound the Marquess of Nothing with that weapon of yours."

"The Marquess of Nothing, as an Iron Knight, seems abnormal. His attack power is above standard, but his defensive power is far below that of an Iron Knight."

"He only blocked one strike from your weapon. The remaining strike directly inflicted heavy damage on him."

"Also, I recovered that secret weapon of yours. I thought this thing should not be exposed."

As she speaks, Michelle takes two twisted metal remnants from beneath the bed.

Judging from their shape, they had looked like some kind of war spear before.

Only the head has now opened into the shape of a flower.

Michelle hands the objects to Henwell. "The material of this thing is excellent. It uses extraordinary metal, doesn't it?"

"What principle does it use? Is it a magical creation? Why is there no magical fluctuation, yet it can erupt with such a scorching metal jet?"

Henwell takes the remains of the two Heart-Piercing Lotuses.

This weapon is called the Heart-Piercing Lotus. It is a derivative created during the development of the Thunderclap Ballista Bolt.

Originally, the researchers treated it as a failed product and sealed it away. But when Henwell was reading the materials, he noticed its use.

Unlike the Thunderclap Ballista Bolt, after the explosives inside this war spear detonate, they produce a strange reaction with that extraordinary metal.

In the end, it creates an effect similar to an armor-piercing projectile. When it hits the enemy, the explosion releases a metal jet with terrifying speed and temperature.

After realizing the importance of this thing, Henwell immediately assigned Leibach to establish a project team dedicated to developing this weapon.

Before coming this time, Henwell brought three prototypes.

This thing has not yet been finalized. It is only called the Heart-Piercing Lotus for now.

It earned the name from the way the spearhead blooms into the shape of a lotus after it triggers.

Henwell originally wanted to use this chance to test the prototype weapon's effect.

But he had not expected the very first use to be against an Iron Knight.

Henwell has seen the destructive power of this weapon on the testing ground. Although the weapon has already been strengthened and improved, it is still difficult for it to pierce the defenses of an Iron Knight. After all, this is not a supersonic metal jet, and an Iron Knight has extraordinary protection over his body. Piercing through is indeed very hard.

This time, Wizet and Michelle succeeded partly because the Marquess of Nothing was careless.

Another reason is that there is a defect in the Marquess of Nothing's body. He has not fully recovered to Iron Rank.

Only because of that did Wizet and the others survive.

After Henwell asks further questions, he confirms the losses among his subordinates.

Including Wizet, there were fifty Lord Iron Guards. Seventeen have died in battle, and all the rest are wounded.

A few of them may still be disabled even after treatment and may have to leave the front-line combat sequence.

Losing nearly half of them makes Henwell tremble with heartache.

These are elites he keeps by his side, teaching them every day.

He can call every Lord Iron Guard by name. He knows their family situations, even their personalities and hobbies.

They are not only his final line of defense, but also his most loyal warriors and his most talented warriors.

The Lord Iron Guards usually stay by Henwell's side for five years before being assigned down to the various legions.

In Henwell's plan, these elites study battle, command, and governance at his side.

After they are assigned away in the future, their starting position would be battalion commander, and they could easily become warband commanders.

In a single day, he has lost more than twenty mid- to high-level officers.

How could Henwell not be furious?

Damn it.

I'll peel off your skin.

Furious, Henwell punches several deep dents into the wall and cannot help cursing.

Only after Henwell calms down slightly does Michelle speak. "Before the Marquess of Nothing acted, we received a warning."

"I think it should have come from Flying Ant. Later, when we escaped Yinxin City, we did not run into the city guards either."

"I think the most urgent matter now is for you to check on Flying Ant."

"After all, Yinxin City is the Marquess of Nothing's territory. What Flying Ant did cannot be hidden from him. You should bring him out first."

Henwell nods. "Michelle, then I will trouble you with this place for now. I will be back shortly."

"Bloodhorn seems to want to leave himself a way out. Right now, he will definitely do everything he can to protect you."

"We will discuss everything after I return. I have already notified Peace Haven. My follow-up support is already on the road and will arrive soon."

"As for the Western Federation, you do not need to worry. I will handle it. They will not bypass me to arrest anyone."

"Besides, the Veil can barely take care of itself right now. This operation of theirs did not succeed either, so they do not have time to trouble you."

"After you return to Peace Haven with me, no one will be able to harm you again. None of them will dare go to my territory to cause trouble."

With that, Henwell turns and leaves.

White Butterfly Michelle looks at Henwell's back and reveals a smile. Then she looks around and murmurs softly.

"Did you not notice? This is the place where we once lived."

Michelle sits on Henwell's former bed and gazes at the night outside, lost in thought.

Henwell, meanwhile, carries the royal warrant and enters Yinxin City directly.

On the streets that remain bustling even at night, he relies on extraordinary-level riding skill and gallops toward Flying Ant Ruper's home.

Yinxin City is a city of sin. There are far more villains here than good people, but no one dares say anything to Henwell as he rides through the streets.

They are villains, not fools.

Someone with such superb riding skill, covered in blood and entering the city at night, is clearly not someone they can casually provoke.

Soon, Henwell reaches Ruper's home.

Seeing that Ruper and his family are all safe, Henwell cannot help letting out a breath of relief.

Ruper anxiously gives Henwell a look, then secretly gestures for Henwell to run.

Henwell says calmly, "Flying Ant, relax. Someone definitely needs to run, but it absolutely will not be me."

Ruper can only bring Henwell into the house and order that no one is allowed to enter.

After clearing everyone out, Ruper says, "Henwell, leave quickly! The Marquess of Nothing wants to kill you!"

"What a coincidence. I want to kill him too."