When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

Bernardo was born into a civilian family and learned law and mathematics from his father.

Perhaps he inherited the noble lineage of his true Knight father, as he has always been interested in military affairs since childhood.

He spent all his salary on buying any military strategy book available in the market and even followed a band of mercenaries as an accountant for three years.

It was only after his adoptive father's death, when the old grandmother of the Alco Family came to him, that he realized he was a noble's illegitimate child.

Since then, Bernardo has stayed by the old lady's side, helping her handle family affairs, managing everything in an orderly manner.

Although the old lady sent him to Count Enrico to ostensibly help manage provisions, she also had hopes of Enrico providing military suggestions.

However, Count Enrico was far more stubborn than Bernardo imagined, making errors in every decision at each juncture.

But if he were to personally enter the battlefield, even if he made every right decision, he could not guarantee defeating these terrifying black-clad armies.

No matter how much is said, they simply couldn't win.

He had never seen such a terrifying army that could withstand the charge of the knights without breaking, endure the arrow rain of the longbowmen without slowing, and raise lances for a counter-charge against the Extraordinary Knights.

Had he been the commander, perhaps he would have only turned a major defeat into a minor one.

In the small area between the hills and lakes, over thirty corpses of Extraordinary Knights lay scattered on the blood-stained grass.

Almost all of them were single-round killing champions on the southern battlefield, clad in ancestral armor undefeated for centuries.

But now, they lay with eyes filled with terror, excreting waste, faces pale yet hideous, emitting corpse stench, dying more unceremoniously than commoners.

When Bernardo and the other knights regrouped, he counted the numbers and found that only 55 of the original 100 Extraordinary Knights were left; 45 had died or "disappeared."

Among the 200 squire knights who launched a charge, only over 100 returned, yet only 90 regrouped.

As for the remnants of the infantry, only more than 300 were able to return to the lord's side.

The other infantry and squire knights had either fallen in battle or fled out of fear, perhaps more were captured.

Riding on horseback atop the hill, the setting sun was like blood, flowing in the icy stream.

The blood reflected by the stream glimmered on the armor of these defeated troops, their faces dirty and gray, devoid of the morning's vigor.

Bernardo couldn't help but compare them to the mercilessly cold army, sighing deeply.

Would such an army produce just those results even when faced with the Imperial Knights?

Shaking his head, Bernardo quickly dispelled this rebellious thought.

"Bernardo, Count Enrico requests that you take the roster back for a report."

Walking into this filthy and chaotic tent, perhaps out of forgetfulness or for show, Count Enrico had yet to remove his dingy armor.

With disheveled hair, he sat on a small stool, blankly staring at the flames in the brazier before him.

He still couldn't comprehend how these peasant rebel forces, without even forming the heavy Deng Jia'er Array, could defeat them with mere hundred-meter-wide horizontal formation?

What nonsense!

What exactly are those swift flying things? The Devil's Wind?

Every time a strong gust passed, a few knights fell.

During the recent retreat, they were first ambushed by the Second Imperial Guard Corps hidden in the woods, leaving five or six knights' corpses.

Later, they were ambushed by the Cuirassier Saint Gun Cavalry that appeared out of nowhere, leaving three to five knights' corpses.

Count Enrico was fleeing in panic, and it was Bernardo who grabbed his reins and forcibly led the army into this safe area.

Inside the tent, several respected knights sat numbly, awkwardly watching Bernardo enter.

"How is it?" Enrico's tired voice sounded within the tent, "Let's discuss."

Responding to Enrico were bowed heads of the knights.

"The battle just now, Ariankco, what do you think?" Count Enrico directly called out.

"Count sir, I believe it must be the work of devils," Ariankco claimed wholeheartedly, "For us, the elite knights, to involuntarily flee the battlefield is impossible; the only explanation is devilry."

"I know it's devils, but what exactly is this Devil's Wind?" As if recalling something, Count Enrico asked Ariankco, "Didn't Nikol say anything about the Devil's Wind when he encountered them?"

"Maybe he saw incorrectly, it's not necessarily his fault."

"It's possible he was misled by vampire spies; these Thousand River Valley People are the descendants of vampires."

"Although Nikol falsely reported military affairs, he is dead after all; disparaging the honor of the deceased, that's not good, right?"

"...Alright." Listening to the knights' incessant chatter, Count Enrico blurted out, "Then let's say there are vampire spies..."

"Count!" Bernardo could no longer hold back, "I must remind you that their power should not be underestimated. Nicol's concealment previously led to our defeat. If we continue to hide the truth and Joan of Arc Castle is defeated because of it, what then?"

"Imperial Knights defeated by farmers, are you joking?" Ariankco immediately stood up to refute, and the other knights echoed in agreement.

"Mind your status, Mr. Lawyer!"

"We wear armor and carry a knight's sword, while you dress in linen. I don't see how you qualify to attend this meeting!"

"A fatherless bastard, is this your place to speak?"

"Guards, throw him out!"

"Count." At this critical moment, Bernardo could no longer suppress his anger.

These black-clad troops reaching here meant that Mayo Town had completely fallen. Now that they have suffered a great defeat, with the enemy's marching speed, who knows when they might launch a surprise attack on Joan of Arc Castle.

Continuing to conceal the truth will only exacerbate the brewing disaster.

Even a clay figurine has a spark of anger; being continuously treated disrespectfully by the knights, Bernardo really couldn't contain it:

"If you're going to hide the truth, allow me to leave first and report back to the family estate and the old lady."

Once he spoke, Bernardo regretted it. Although it was a valid point, it shouldn't have been said at this moment or in front of everyone.

Indeed, the moment the words left his mouth, the entire tent fell into silence, amazed that a commoner dared to threaten them, yet acknowledging the threat was quite potent.

Bernardo, casually mentioning this to the old lady, could ruin their hard-earned reputation over the years.

Though currently a servant, he represented the old lady's will and dignity.

Should they yield to this servant?

No, a knight would rather die than yield!

As for Bernardo, he understood that by now, he had earned the resentment of the knights.

If a good ending was impossible, he might as well use the momentum to finalize the decision.

In the cold atmosphere, both sides were deadlocked, with only the sound of Count Enrico's sweat dropping from his forehead.

Thank heavens, a burst of gunfire broke the awkward and strange calm. Ariankco was the first to speak: "Enemy attack!"

Count Enrico immediately stood up: "This matter will be discussed later."

The knights and the counts quickly rushed out of the tent, preparing to flee. Yes, they had been strongly controlled by the devil, compelled to flee.

When they return, they must go to the church to exorcise and undergo a baptism.

Standing alone in the tent, Bernardo turned with a bitter smile and ran towards the stables.

On the hillside outside the camp, fifty cuirassier cavalry stood still on their horses, repeatedly shooting towards the tents.

When Extraordinary Knights pursued them, they would swiftly ride away.

They even shed their cuirasses and other baggage, their speed much faster than the Extraordinary Knights.

If too many Extraordinary Knights pursued them, they would scatter and escape, using their speed advantage to shake off their pursuers.

If too few pursued, they would lure them towards Jeanne, for the Saintess to personally deal with them.

If the Extraordinary Knights stayed put, the Saint Gun Cavalry would play drums, blow horns, sing songs, and occasionally fire lead and stone bullets into the camp.

The only solution was to relocate the camp while the Extraordinary Knights were entangled in pursuit.

Bernardo considered himself careful enough; he had nearly erased all traces, yet he kept getting found.

How did they manage to locate the camp?

Reaching the stables, Bernardo placed his luggage and supplies, inserted the map, stroked the back of his war horse, and closed his eyes in pain.

After standing still for a second, he cleared all chaotic thoughts, exhaled, and prepared to mount his horse.

Placing his hand on the saddle, Bernardo blinked, catching a glimpse of a shadow out of the corner of his eye. He turned slightly, trying to see who it was.

A large wooden club loomed larger in his sight.

Bernardo saw the sky flip to the other side, as Ariankco's valet's voice reached his ears.

"My master asked me to tell you, a knight's dignity is unwavering unto death. The master doesn't want to dirty his own hands, so he sent me."

"Also, let me give you some advice, a servant should have the demeanor of a servant. You act too much like a person, it's not suitable here."

With a swing of the club, Bernardo lost consciousness.