Exiled from the Start and Dominating the Wasteland with an Intelligence System Chapter 127 : Chapter 127

Chapter 127. Before the Journey Ho

The four of them stepped out of the solemn and majestic Thorne Cathedral, the afternoon sunlight sowhat glaring.

Ruf and Luca each gave Eli and Camilla a brief greeting before hurrying off.

Clearly, they needed to digest the earth-shattering news from today as quickly as possible and think about how to relay it to the lords of their own regions.

Eli was just about to return to the inn himself when he saw that Camilla had not left. Instead, she walked straight up to him and blocked his path.

Her gray eyes stared coldly at him, their depths roiling with emotions too complex to read.

Eli found her gaze a little uncomfortable and frowned slightly. “Baron Camilla, is there sothing else you need?”

Camilla stared at him, and suddenly the corners of her mouth curled into a cold, eerie arc.

“I changed my mind.”

Eli: ???

He was completely unable to keep up with this woman’s train of thought.

Camilla leaned forward slightly.

“I suddenly feel that killing you outright would be letting you off too easily.

I’ll let you live. One day, I’ll make you my slave.

I’ll trample you underfoot and make you kneel there, licking my boots... Hmph... hahaha!”

As she said this, an unnatural flush even appeared on her pale cheeks.

It was as though the thought itself brought her imnse pleasure.

Without waiting for Eli to react, she straightened up, gave a cold snort, and turned away with an extrely arrogant bearing.

Her red ponytail traced an arc through the air.

Eli stood where he was, watching her retreating figure, his brows drawing even tighter together.

This woman... Was there sothing wrong with her head? What kind of bizarre fixation was that?

“Idiot.”

Shaking his head, Eli tossed the unpleasant little episode aside and returned to the Golden Cup and Antlers Inn.

In the inn’s common hall, most of the Royal Domain lords were still gathered together, excitedly discussing the coming war and the rewards that might await them.

The mont they saw Eli return, they imdiately crowded around him.

Eli wasted no ti and directly inford them of Sir Lucius’s preliminary arrangent regarding the division of the three fronts.

When they heard that the Royal Domain lords would most likely be assigned to the southern front, and that Eli would still be responsible for coordinating them—

those lords whose territories were already in the south imdiately grew delighted.

“That’s wonderful! We actually get to fight alongside the Alliance Lord!”

“Exactly! Following Baron Eli, we’re definitely going to earn great rit!”

“The southern front it is, then! We know that area well!”

After informing them of the news and answering a few more questions, Eli bade the group farewell.

He did not imrse himself in this false fervor. His heart remained fixed on the distant Obsidian Territory.

With Wolfgang at his side, Eli once more arrived before the grand gates of La Roche Fortress.

The guards at the gate had long since recognized this young baron, who seed to receive no small amount of care from Sir Lucius, and they imdiately saluted respectfully.

“Baron Pendragon! Good day! It has been so ti since we last saw you. Please, go right in!”

Eli answered with a smile and a nod, then led Wolfgang through the fortress’s familiar maze of corridors.

Once again, he arrived before that familiar study door.

His task had been completed. Matters in Thorne City had co to a temporary end.

At last, he too would be leaving this place—

and returning to the land that occupied his thoughts day and night: the Obsidian Territory.

Eli raised a hand and lightly knocked on the door.

“Enter.” Lucius’s signature voice ca from within.

Eli gestured to Wolfgang, signaling for him to wait outside, then pushed open the door and went in alone.

Sir Lucius was still seated behind that broad desk, as though he had an endless stream of docunts to handle.

Hearing the footsteps, he did not even lift his head, as if he had already guessed it was Eli.

“My lord Lucius,” Eli said with a respectful bow.

“I have already conveyed your preliminary arrangent for the battlefront divisions to my fellow lords of the Royal Domain.

Now that all matters have been settled, I have co specifically to take my leave of you and prepare to return to the Obsidian Territory at once.”

When Lucius heard this, the pen in his hand paused. He lifted his head, his gaze falling on Eli.

He was silent for several seconds before finally speaking.

“Mm. I understand.”

“This ti... you did very well. You judged the situation well... and cooperated well.”

That already counted as extrely high praise, though his tone remained as calm as ever.

“However,” he continued, changing the subject, “there is no need to leave in such a hurry.

Tonight... dine with , and with Lynn. Just a simple al.”

Eli’s heart stirred slightly, and he imdiately nodded in acceptance.

“Yes, my lord. I shall obey your arrangent.”

There was naturally no way he would refuse the chance to have dinner with Lucius and Lynn.

He was already thinking about how he might slip into Lynn’s room later that evening.

Lucius seed to rember sothing else and leaned back slightly in his chair as he said,

“Mm... as for the war to recover the lost lands, the main battlefield and the greatest pressure will inevitably fall upon the central front.

Storm City and several important surrounding cities are all located in the central region.

Therefore, Marquess Marcus and most of the Western Frontier’s main elite legions will be deployed there.”

He looked at Eli.

“As for the fighting on the southern front... the cities that will need the most attention are mainly Kael City and, farther south, Erald City.

The enemy’s forces there are relatively both more concentrated and weaker, though the terrain is sowhat more complicated.

So, as matters now stand, I intend for the southern front to be placed mainly in the hands of you and Ron.

Do you... have any thoughts on that? Would you require to send another experienced commander to assist you?”

Hearing those words, Eli could not help feeling moved.

Not only was Lucius entrusting the important task of retaking the southern front to him, he was also informing him of such crucial intelligence in advance.

He was even asking for Eli’s opinion on the matter of command. That was already treating him like one of his own trusted confidants.

Lord Lucius, if you keep trusting like this,

I really am going to feel tempted to take care of you in your old age...

Eli grumbled inwardly, while his outward manner grew even more respectful.

Still, Eli had the awareness expected of a subordinate, so his tone softened.

“I shall leave everything to your arrangents, Lord Lucius.

I am still young and lacking in experience. To receive your trust is already an imnse honor.

As for command... Baron Ron and I once worked together during the battle for Runestone City. We are already familiar with one another, and our coordination was fairly smooth.

If Your Lordship has no more suitable candidate in mind, then I believe Baron Ron and I, together with the Western Frontier’s forces, should be sufficient to handle the situation on the southern front...”

After listening, a faint smile appeared on Lucius’s face, as though he was quite pleased with Eli’s answer.

“Mm. Ron will pass the later strategy on to you. The specific arrangents that follow will be left to the two of you.”

He nodded, said nothing more, and waved a hand, indicating that Eli could take his leave.

Eli bowed and turned toward the door.

However, just as his hand was about to touch the handle, his steps paused ever so slightly, as if he were waiting for sothing.

Sure enough—

from behind him ca Lucius’s voice, casual and slightly offhand, as though he had only just rembered.

“Oh, right...”

Eli thought to himself: Here it cos!

He turned back calmly, a puzzled look on his face.

Lucius’s gaze shifted toward the redwood cabinet at one side of the study, and his tone remained even.

“You seem... to enjoy tea quite a bit.

That tin of Greenleaf Morning Dew in the cabinet tastes passable enough. Take it with you.”

Hm? That was not right.

Eli froze instantly, his body stiffening almost imperceptibly.

His expression complicated, he looked toward Lucius, only to see that the man had already lowered his head again, as though he were rely handling so trivial little matter.

Eli stood in silence for a few seconds, then walked to the cabinet as instructed.

He opened it and saw the ceramic tea canister inside.

He did not imdiately take the canister. Instead, he first picked up a clean white porcelain cup from beside it and carefully pinched a small amount of tea leaves into the cup.

Then he lifted the silver kettle and slowly poured in hot water at precisely the right temperature.

Only after the tea had been brewed did he solemnly place the still-full tea canister into the pocket of his coat.

Then he picked up the steaming cup of tea, walked to Lucius’s desk, and gently set it at the corner.

Once that was done, he bowed deeply once more toward Lucius, who seed wholly focused on his docunts.

Without saying anything further, he quietly withdrew from the study.

The door closed softly behind him.

Inside the study, Lucius stopped his pen and let his gaze rest on the clear, bright cup of tea at the corner of the desk.

He watched it silently for a mont, and in the depths of his eyes there appeared a trace of warmth.

He reached out, lifted the cup, brought it to his lips, and took a light sip.

The tea entered his mouth, fragrant and full-bodied, with a long, lingering sweetness.

Lucius set the cup down, and the corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

“Mm... this ti... it’s improved a little...”

(Eli: Actually... both tis were brewed exactly the sa.)

...

Eli stepped out of the study, and Wolfgang silently followed at once.

Eli glanced at the sky outside. The sun was already beginning to sink westward, and there was still so ti before dinner.

He rembered that the Young Duke Constantine ought to still be going through his evening training at this hour.

So he took Wolfgang with him and strolled toward the training ground inside the fortress.

Sure enough, before he had even gotten close, he could already hear the twang of bowstrings and the steward’s words of praise.

There stood Constantine, soaked in sweat, practicing archery with ticulous seriousness.

Every arrow he loosed gathered the strength of his entire body, so much so that his little face was drawn taut with effort.

The old steward standing by his side was, as always, offering praise.

“Oh! A perfect arrow!

Your Grace, Young Duke, you are truly gifted beyond asure!

Given ti, you will surely surpass every master archer in the kingdom, including your uncle and... Baron Eli!”

After watching for a mont from the corridor beside the training ground, Eli suddenly raised his voice with a laugh and called out,

“Hey! Didn’t I tell you that when you shoot, your shoulders and arms need to stay relaxed?”

The sudden sound of Eli’s voice startled Constantine, and he turned around at once in surprise.

The mont he saw Eli, delight imdiately spread across his face. He lowered his bow and waved at him with all his strength.

“Baron Eli! Long ti no see! Co over here and let beat you!”

The old steward at one side smiled as well and nodded to Eli in greeting.

Eli laughed and shook his head, then stepped onto the training ground with Wolfgang.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long.