The thunderous sounds of battle cries startled a certain hero from his sweet dreams on the back mountain. He poked his head out of his sleeping bag and listened for a while, muttering, “It’s a full-scale attack! Looks like Henry Clark has already discovered it… Seriously, they’re shouting so loudly, how is anyone supposed to get a good night’s sleep?” He pulled his head back in, trying to continue the dream that had just been interrupted…

According to the official historical records of the Zichuan family: “In Imperial Year 778, during the Fifth Battle of Hengchuan, David Thompson, the flag-bearer, personally went to the front lines, leading by example and fighting bravely, greatly boosting the morale of all the troops! His three vice flag-bearers, Roger Smith, Henry Clark, and Ethan Foster, were unafraid of powerful enemies, united in their efforts, and commanded with composure. In this battle, they led thirty thousand cavalry to defeat seventy thousand demon troops, killing and wounding over forty thousand, and capturing more than ten thousand. Additionally, the demon clan’s so-called number one warrior, Gesha, was personally slain by flag-bearer David in this battle, dealing a heavy blow to the demon clan and marking the first turning point in the Holy Guard War.”

“Did we really win?” Gazing at the devastated battlefield, David Thompson murmured with a hint of doubt.

“Without a doubt, sir, we won a great victory!” The captain of the personal guard, Owen Grant, was so excited his face turned red. “It’s all thanks to your achievements. Please allow me to congratulate you. Sir, you’ll definitely be promoted to Red-cloaked Flag-bearer for this military merit. Just think, not even twenty years old and you’ll be on equal footing with the governors of all the provinces. That’s truly remarkable—there’s never been such a precedent in the family’s history!”

“Heh, congratulations to us both.” There wasn’t a trace of joy in David Thompson’s smile. “If I remember correctly, you’re still a junior flag warrior, right? Looks like you have a shot at becoming a vice flag-bearer.”

Owen Grant was overjoyed: “Thank you for your support, sir! I will devote myself wholeheartedly to serving you, to repay your kindness in promoting me. I’ll go through fire and water without hesitation…”

“Mmm, mmm, mmm.” David Thompson interrupted Owen Grant’s pledge of loyalty, muttering to himself, “It seems living a simple life really is a kind of happiness…”

“Sir, what did you say?”

“Oh, I said you should do your best.”

A squad of cavalry appeared ahead. Upon seeing David Thompson’s banner, they immediately saluted on horseback.

David Thompson halted his horse and called out, “Which unit are you from? What are you doing?”

The cavalry captain replied, “Reporting, sir! We are the Seventh Company of the Third Battalion under Roger Smith’s command, currently carrying out a prisoner transport mission.”

“Oh?” David Thompson was suddenly curious. “Are there many prisoners? Let me have a look.”

“At your command, sir!” The captain turned and shouted. The cavalrymen drove the prisoners forward with their whips, herding them in front of David Thompson. The guards surrounded him nervously, wary of the demon prisoners suddenly lashing out.

But that was really unnecessary, because this batch of prisoners were all goblins—a kind of green-skinned dwarf. They were extremely skillful in craftsmanship, but had very poor combat ability, gentle in temperament, and easily submitted to force. The demon army mostly used them for labor, and they could also be sold as servants on the human market. In the imperial capital (Imperial Capital: the Zichuan family’s headquarters), it was said that one could fetch thirty thousand currency units each.

The cavalry captain noticed David Thompson seemed a bit disappointed and felt embarrassed, determined to please him: “Sir, you know, we also found something strange among the prisoners.”

“Oh?”

The captain turned and shouted, “Bring it up for the sir to see!”

A few cavalrymen came forward carrying a bulging burlap sack. The captain grinned obsequiously as he untied it: “Sir, this is a rare find indeed.”

Inside the sack was actually a young girl! Her clothes were a bit disheveled, but it was clear they were made of very expensive materials. Having just been released from the sack, she looked a bit flustered, but it didn’t detract from her striking beauty. Her large eyes were a deep blue—the hallmark of demon women. Even though she was now a prisoner, she remained composed, or at least pretended to be, glaring angrily at the humans who dared imprison her. Without saying a word, she exuded an air of noble dignity.

David Thompson frowned. “Since when did the Far East Army turn into bandits?”

The captain felt wronged. “Sir, this is definitely not an ordinary girl! We found her in a very fancy carriage, surrounded by more than a dozen guards. It took us dozens of casualties to capture her! This girl’s identity is definitely unusual—she might even be a high-ranking member of the demon clan.”

“Did you interrogate her?”

“She refuses to say anything, and we didn’t have time to question her in detail. Now we’re handing her over to you, sir, for safekeeping. Don’t miss this opportunity!” The captain said in a rather suggestive tone.

David Thompson also smiled suggestively. “Hehehe, don’t worry, I’ll be sure to interrogate her—very—thoroughly.” This was the kind of tacit understanding between men that needed no explanation.

Once the cavalrymen had disappeared from sight, David Thompson let out a sly laugh. “Good thing that woman Henry Clark isn’t here, or this would be trouble!”

He turned to Owen Grant and the other guards. “If Henry Clark asks about this, you all know what to do, right?”

Owen Grant replied with a straight face, “Don’t worry, sir. We saw nothing, we heard nothing!”