"The leader of the Rogue Bandits has no known name, but according to Kindrick Family intelligence, he goes by the codename 'Lone Wolf,'" Kael said with a slight frown.
The Kindrick Family's intelligence had indeed been invaluable. The bandit leader was the most pivotal and enigmatic figure within the organization—rarely seen, never revealing his true identity, leaving little trace of his existence.
After discussing further operational details, the four finalized their plans.
Still, Jett harbored doubts. Lefay Territory's forces paled in comparison to the bandits' strength. Without support from the Kindricks or other noble houses, Kael's chances of success seemed slim. But then again, this young Count had a habit of defying expectations.
The proof lay just beyond the city walls—three newly formed forests.
The Forest of Sinful Blossoms had fully matured, its towering trees forming a dense woodland no less expansive than the Woma Forest or Mistveil Forest. All three forests had sprung to life within a single month.
Their sudden appearance had sparked endless speculation among Lefay's citizens. Barren lands now hosted three lush forests, strategically positioned like fortress walls shielding the territory on three sides. Such a marvel couldn't help but astonish.
Gradually, rumors spread—whispers that the Lord had acquired Elven saplings, explaining the forests' miraculous growth. These tales, subtly encouraged by Jett and tacitly permitted by Kael, served their purpose. After all, rumors that bolstered his reputation were hardly worth suppressing.
With preparations complete, everything was in place. Only the final catalyst remained.
Three days later, the merchant caravan would arrive.
Kael and his allies waited in the shadows, mobilizing garrison troops as bait. But the true trump card wasn't Lefay's soldiers—it was the Unicorn Rhino herd lying in wait within Kael's Contract Space.
The city's garrison was nothing more than a ragtag bunch, hardly enough to fill the teeth of the wandering bandits.
"The merchant caravan seems to belong to the Alpha family..." After the caravan entered the territory, Kael had already reached the mountaintop, watching the procession from afar. The caravan was massive, numbering at least several hundred people, and appeared to have formidable guards. Combined with the Alpha family's reputation, it was no wonder they dared to venture through.
The Alpha family was a renowned merchant house in the ancient Empire of Yidi, though not quite on par with the Jindike family, the gap wasn't too wide.
"Whatever the Alpha family is transporting must be of immense value, and this stretch of the trade route is the only passage through this region. Given the Alpha family's strength, even the wandering bandits would need to mobilize their main force to seize the goods... That's when we can strike..." Jett said.
Everyone nodded. Though most of them had no idea what hidden trump card Kael held, at this point, they had no choice but to trust him.
"They're here." Finn's eyes flashed as he fixed his gaze on the Alpha family's caravan, which was now entering the valley. The long procession wound through like a dark serpent.
Kael's brows twitched slightly. His eyes gleamed—after advancing to the eighth rank, his spiritual power had surged, allowing him to sense movements within a radius of several kilometers.
Within this range, nothing could escape Kael's perception unless the opponent's cultivation surpassed his own.
Almost immediately, he detected the vibrations of a cavalry unit—a force of over a thousand riders.
Kael narrowed his eyes. The wandering bandits had finally appeared, and this was no small catch—it was a massive one!
From what Kael knew, the wandering bandits had always adhered to an elite strategy. Though formidable, their numbers never exceeded two thousand. Yet now, with over a thousand mobilized, it was practically their entire force!
"Incredible, incredible!" As the wandering bandits drew closer, Finn caught glimpses of the distant scene. His eyes flickered with astonishment.
Because what he saw was a large cavalry unit, with the vanguard mounted on uniformly bred Frosthorn Steeds—fifth-tier magical beasts!
Of course, such cavalry were not numerous—likely fewer than two hundred—but it was enough to leave Finn utterly stunned.
"Damn, these wandering bandits are practically swimming in gold! At least two hundred Frosthorn Steeds—that's a minimum of two million gold coins!" Finn stared at the steeds as if they were a mountain of moving treasure...
Kael smirked inwardly at Finn's reaction. He had felt the same way the first time he encountered the wandering bandits—their armaments were absurdly extravagant.
Aside from the Frosthorn Steeds, the rest of the cavalry rode atop high-quality Blazestriders, majestic and fierce. These riders were clad in heavy armor, charging forward like fiends from the abyss, their iron-clad momentum shaking the earth and chilling the air with their overwhelming presence.
"Alert! Enemy attack!" The Alpha family naturally had their own experts, and with such a massive force approaching—enough to make the ground tremble and the air thick with tension—they immediately went on high alert. Every member of the caravan tensed, their gazes sharp and wary as they scanned the approaching threat.
Kael held his breath, his mind calculating swiftly. He raised a hand in a silent signal, commanding everyone to stay still and quiet. Amelia and Ella nodded in understanding, their focus locked onto the unfolding chaos in the valley.
"Charge, brothers! Capture the caravan and seize their goods!" The thunder of hooves roared as the bandit leader—a woman of striking allure—led the assault. Her eyes seemed to pierce the soul, yet her voice dripped with icy lethality, casting a frigid shadow over the valley.
"That's Amanda, another deputy leader of the wandering bandits," Kael murmured, recognizing her from intelligence reports.
Amanda's strength appeared to be at the peak of the seventh rank, just a hair's breadth from the eighth—far surpassing the previous deputy leader, Amir.
"Damn, what a beauty! Especially those legs—smooth as jade, not an ounce of fat, tall and seductive… an absolute masterpiece!" Finn's eyes lit up the moment he spotted Amanda, his gaze locking onto her without hesitation.
Kael rolled his eyes. Some things never changed—Finn was as hopeless as ever when it came to women, instantly spellbound by a pretty face.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Kael's mind. Was the wandering bandits' mysterious leader still unwilling to show himself? Had they only sent another deputy this time?
Kael's plan, of course, was to annihilate the wandering bandits in one fell swoop. If their leader escaped, the spoils would be far less substantial.
"Kael, look!" Amelia pointed ahead and whispered.
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly, following her gesture, and immediately spotted a masked man amidst the chaos. Clad entirely in black, he exuded an air of mystery.
"This man is powerful," Kael murmured. His strength was extraordinary, and his presence was unnervingly elusive. Could it be...?
Just then, Kael noticed Amanda's gaze flickering subtly toward the masked man—further confirming his suspicion. This had to be the wandering bandits' leader—the infamous Lone Wolf!
Kael's eyes gleamed with resolve. "That's our big catch. Everyone, stay sharp."
Now that they had located the Lone Wolf, everything was in place.
The battle raged on—bandits clashing, charging, and overwhelming the caravan. Screams echoed from the Alpha family's defenders, who, though competent, were no match for the disciplined and heavily armed wandering bandits.
The bandits moved like a well-oiled war machine, their coordination and equipment rivaling even the elite legions of the ancient Empire of Yidi. In contrast, the Alpha caravan's few seventh-rank fighters stood little chance.
"This... the wandering bandits are no ordinary force. Their formation—it resembles the Eightfold Ancient Array..." Jett's pupils contracted in shock, his voice trailing off.