Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 181 - 175: Ambushing the Hawk Knight Order
"Taking down Eagle’s Sorrow Castle is equivalent to cutting off the Hawk Knight Order’s retreat and supply lines. Their morale is sure to collapse. Also, and most importantly..."
Raylo placed the model back in its original position and pressed down on it firmly.
"When the Count of the Falcon learns his territory is under attack, he will definitely lead the Hawk Knights to urgently reinforce Eagle’s Sorrow Castle!"
"I’ll ambush them on the way. Even if I can’t annihilate them, I can still inflict heavy damage on the Hawk Knight Order, preventing them from participating in our decisive battle against the Prince of Karachi in the short term."
"Bait the relief force?"
Luke uttered four words.
He paced around the sand table, his rough fingers stroking the stubble on his chin. For a moment, the only sound in the tent was his heavy footsteps.
After a long while, he stopped pacing and looked at Raylo again.
"I can’t give you any reinforcements; you’ll have to rely on yourself. Moreover, I need you to make a military pledge."
Luke held up one finger.
"Ten days."
"I’m only giving you ten days. Within that time, win or lose, you and your troops must return to Panshi Castle to participate in the final battle."
His tone was solemn. As the lord with the most powerful aerial force in the Northern Lords’ Alliance Army, if Raylo couldn’t make it to the final battle, the Allied Army would surely be at a great disadvantage in their confrontation with the Prince of Karachi.
"If you’re one day late, you will face military justice."
"That’s more than enough."
Raylo’s reply was crisp and decisive.
Stepping out of the command tent, a hint of chill in the wind dispelled the stuffiness from within.
Raylo walked straight to Lillian’s tent.
"Lillian."
Raylo called out from outside the tent.
The tent flap opened and Lillian poked her head out. Seeing it was Raylo, her bright eyes curved into crescents.
"Brother, you’re looking for me so late. Is there good news?"
Raylo entered the tent and got straight to the point.
"I need your Pegasus Mage Squad."
"What happened? Or... have you come up with another one of your bold ideas?"
She knew her brother all too well.
"I’ve decided to make a trip to Eagle’s Sorrow Castle after all."
Raylo was concise, briefly explaining the intelligence Luke had provided and his own plan.
Lillian listened quietly, a light flickering in her amber eyes.
When she heard that Raylo planned to launch a surprise attack with only the main force from Black Stone Territory, her beautiful brows furrowed slightly.
"Brother, Eagle’s Sorrow Castle is easy to defend and hard to attack. The Count of the Falcon has fortified it for years. Even if he’s taken his main force, the remaining defenses are not to be underestimated. Relying only on the men from Black Stone Territory is too risky."
Lillian’s tone was laced with worry.
Just as Raylo was about to explain, Lillian broke into a radiant smile, a cunning glint in her eyes.
"So, how could Amber Territory miss out on such a good thing?"
"You mean?"
Raylo was a little surprised.
"’Lend’?"
Lillian lifted her chin.
"My Pegasus Mage Squad is at your command at any time. And not just that,"
She took a step forward, her voice clear and bright.
"The entire army of Amber Territory will fight alongside you! With us siblings joining forces, what’s a mere Eagle’s Sorrow Castle to be afraid of?"
Raylo looked at his sister’s determined gaze, and his heart warmed.
He knew Lillian’s decision wasn’t just born from sibling affection, but also from confidence in her own strength.
With the addition of Amber Territory’s Magic Power, especially the aerial support from the Pegasus Mages, the chances of successfully taking Eagle’s Sorrow Castle would undoubtedly be much higher.
"Alright!"
Raylo said no more, just gave a firm nod.
"Then we’ll muster the troops immediately and set out before dawn!"
The order was quickly passed down.
As night fell, Raylo led his army quietly out of the Panshi Castle camp. Under the cover of darkness, they bypassed the main battlefield and marched swiftly towards Eagle’s Sorrow Castle.
Eagle’s Sorrow Castle was about a two-day journey from Panshi Castle.
To save time and avoid being spotted by enemy scouts, the army chose a relatively remote but rugged and difficult mountain path.
The Knights advanced in silence, the only sounds being the clatter of hooves on gravel and the soft scraping of armor.
「Two days later, at dusk.」
The army crested a long mountain ridge, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, a castle appeared atop a solitary peak in the distance.
The peak was like a sharp sword piercing the heavens, surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs. Only a single winding path, like a great serpent, coiled its way up to the fortress at the summit.
The fortress was constructed entirely of massive, grey-black rocks. Its walls were thick and lined with arrow towers. In the light of the dying sun, it resembled a slumbering, ancient beast, looking down upon all living things below.
"That’s Eagle’s Sorrow Castle."
Raylo reined in Baofeng, gazing at the distant target.
Even from such a distance, he could feel the fortress’s formidable and solid nature.
’The Count of the Falcon truly has a sharp eye for choosing to build his castle here.’
Lillian came to Raylo’s side. She looked at the distant Eagle’s Sorrow Castle, her expression grave.
"It truly lives up to its reputation. The terrain is too treacherous."
"Even the most treacherous fortress can one day be breached."
A confident arc formed on Raylo’s lips.
"Pass down the order: Sky Knights will take to the air first and conduct a probing attack on Eagle’s Sorrow Castle."
Soon, the Storm Griffin Knights, Pegasus Knights, and the Mage Squad took to the air, launching an indiscriminate long-range assault on Eagle’s Sorrow Castle from above.
Magic Flames exploded into sparks within Eagle’s Sorrow Castle, setting several flammable buildings alight. The Pegasus Knights fired their bows and arrows haphazardly from above. They didn’t kill many enemies, but for a time, they managed to stir panic among those below.
The attack lasted only a few minutes before the Aerial Cavalry returned.
Soon, Raylo saw two Hawk Knights take off from within Eagle’s Sorrow Castle. Under the cover of night, they flew around the peak and departed from the east.
They were obviously messengers sent to inform the Count of the Falcon.
Raylo watched the two Hawk Knights become black specks in the night sky, disappearing over the eastern horizon.
He did not give the order to intercept them.
"Let them go."
The Count of the Falcon’s entire fortune was in Eagle’s Sorrow Castle, especially those eight precious Flying Dragon Eggs he’d bankrupted himself to acquire. When he gets the news, he’ll be in a bigger hurry to get back than if his own father had died.
This was a textbook case of "attacking what the enemy is certain to rescue."
"Kaine!"
Raylo called out.
Knight Kaine stepped forward.
"Lord Baron!"
"I’m temporarily placing the main forces of Black Stone Territory and Amber Territory under your command."
Raylo issued his orders. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
"Your mission is simple. Continue to besiege Eagle’s Sorrow Castle. Make it look like you’re prepared to take the city at any cost. The bigger the show, the better. But remember, don’t make any needless sacrifices. The real battle isn’t here."
"Understood!"
Kaine accepted without hesitation. He knew Raylo must have another move planned.
"Lillian, Ed, Alex, all Storm Knights and Pegasus forces, with me."
Raylo turned his mount, Baofeng.
"We’re going to prepare a grand gift for the Count of the Falcon, who is no doubt rushing home as we speak."
The night was the perfect curtain.
Raylo led his entire aerial force, stealthily disengaging from the Eagle’s Sorrow Castle battlefield and flying east towards a treacherous canyon region.
That was the only path from Morning Star City to Eagle’s Sorrow Castle. The mountains on both sides were sheer cliffs, and the narrow passage between them was a natural ambush point.
After reaching the designated location, Raylo ordered everyone to land in a concealed spot behind the mountain peak.
The Knights soothed their mounts. The Storm Griffins and Pegasi suppressed their presence, lying quietly behind the rocks.
