The Herb King

Meanwhile, in the periphery of the valley near Vale City.

Lexter Ford commanded his soldiers to build a temporary camp and let them take a rest. They were already close to Vale City so it was necessary to let the soldiers have an ample amount of sleep so that they can fight in their best shape.

"Send some men to scout the area and tell our men to sleep in shifts." Lexter Ford felt unsettled for some reason. Their journey was too smooth that it felt so wrong. They didn't even encounter a scouting team from the Leone Empire.

"Yes, Grand General!"

After his men left, Lexter didn't enter his tent. He surveyed their surroundings with narrowed eyes and he only looked away after not sensing anything abnormal. "Why do I feel restless?" He muttered to himself as he frowned.

He stared at the dark sky and then outside their temporary camp. It was so dark and he could only hear the eerie blowing of the wind.

He then went back to his tent and grabbed his adjutant who was guarding outside. "Something is wrong. Increase the number of guards and tell them to keep their eyes peeled!" He said.

His adjutant saluted as soon as he got the command. "Yes, Grand General!" The man then left.

Suddenly, Lexter sensed a large number of auras moving in the eastern direction of their camp. "Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!" He shouted loudly, instantly waking up the soldiers who had just fallen asleep.

He then headed straight into the eastern part of their camp and told his soldiers to be on high alert.

The soldiers of the Ford Empire stared warily at the darkness, but they failed to discover anything.

Lexter also noticed that the auras he sensed earlier vanished. "They left?" He muttered as he furrowed his eyebrows.

He then commanded the soldiers. "I want a hundred of you to follow me. The rest will stay here and stand guard."

Lexter led a hundred men to carefully check the area. He brought them to the place where he last sensed the auras, but when they arrived, they saw the bodies of their scouting team. All of them had gaping wounds on their necks, a clear indication that they died in just one blow. Whoever killed these scouts were either stronger than them or they were skilled assassins!

"Take their bodies back to the camp and send five thousand men to search the area!" Lexter commanded in a cold voice.

"Yes, Grand General!" The soldiers answered.

Lexter stared in a certain direction with narrowed eyes. The enemies moved quickly and quietly. They weren't even able to catch their tail. From the strength of their aura, Lexter believed that those guys were Level 3 Espers who are experts in assassination.

He never would have thought that the Leone Empire would actually initiate an attack on them.

"This looks like a premeditated attack. I have underestimated the Leone Empire..." Lexter muttered with a dark look on his face.

***

"Commander Ramiel, we have already dispatched the enemy's scouting unit. We are now retreating into the camp." A voice sounded from the Communication Rune.

"Good job! Leave the place immediately and take a rest in the camp. Let the second the team prepare to take action!" Ramiel commanded over the Communication Rune.

"Yes, Commander Ramiel!"

Ramiel kept the Communication Rune inside his trousers pocket. He then stared at the man in front of him and said while laughing coldly. "The first team has eliminated the scouting team of the Ford Empire. They must be furious now."

Aethelwolf nodded his head as he tapped his fingers on the table. "The death of their scouting unit would make the soldiers of the Ford Empire furious. They would be on high alert because they would think that there are enemies around the corner. This would make them unable to sleep and even if they could, the second team will disrupt their rest. Their soldiers wouldn't be able to bring out their full fighting prowess if they are exhausted." His plan was to make the enemies tired and weary, while most of their soldiers were resting. They would then engage in frontal combat the next day against their fatigued enemies.

Since they were outnumbered by the Ford Empire by more than twice, they needed to fight against them with a clear strategy. This would increase their chances of winning despite the overwhelming disadvantage in numbers.

Ramiel nodded his head in agreement. "Sir Aethelwolf, I'll take care of the matters here. You should take a rest."

Aethelwolf shook his head and smiled. "I wouldn't sleep on such an eventful night. Leave and stay with your men. You have to be there for them to feel at ease." He patted Ramiel's shoulder.

"Alright." Ramiel bowed to him before he left.

After Ramiel went out of the tent, Aethelwolf headed outside and sneakily left the camp. However, noticed that someone was following him. When he turned his head, he saw Aenwyn looking at him with a relaxed expression.

"Where are you going?" Aethelwolf furrowed his eyebrows while looking at her.

The elven princess glanced at him calmly and replied. "I should be the one asking that."

Hearing her words, Aethelwolf shut his mouth and just allowed her to follow him.

Aenwyn stared at Aethelwolf's back in surprise. This guy was so adept at concealment that she couldn't even sense his presence. If he didn't deliberately slow down for her, she would have already lost sight of him. 'Just how strong is he? I thought that he only has an item that conceals his strength.' This this time, she was certain that Aethelwolf wasn't just a normal Level 4 Esper.

Aethelwolf stood on a branch of a tall tree and looked down at what was happening beneath him. It was dark, but everything was as clear as day to him.

Aenwyn stood beside him and she used her perception skills to watch the scene below.