Chapter 673: Encircled from All Sides

To avoid the army's blockade, Arius can only hide during the day. He avoids official roads and populated areas, going to the homes of minor nobles to rest.

On one hand, the minor nobles still don't know the details of the situation, so they naturally have no reason to refuse lodging to the young prince.

On the other hand, they are small enough. Facing the nearly two thousand men and horses beside Arius, they don't have the capital to refuse.

Now, Arius has gained an intelligence officer from Peace Haven at his side.

When they passed through a lord's territory, the personnel stationed there for the demonstration-zone project noticed the abnormal situation and immediately reported it to the nearest intelligence station.

After learning that Arius is actually moving with a large group by hiding during the day and marching at night, the intelligence officer immediately realizes there is a problem.

So he brings a few subordinates and tracks them through the night.

At the same time, the intelligence officer brings a military-grade map.

Its level of detail makes even the Royal Secret Guards click their tongues in amazement.

After everyone eats something, they lean over the table and study which route they should take.

The Peace Haven intelligence officer is a young man named Windson. He is only twenty-six and is a student from the eleventh class of the Intelligence Division.

His grades are rather average, but he is clever, so he was assigned to this region to gather and summarize intelligence from different sides in the demonstration zone.

While everyone else discusses fiercely, Windson doesn't speak at all.

Arius asks, "Windson, what is your view?"

Windson organizes his thoughts. "Your Highness, this matter is very serious."

"I am only an intelligence officer. If I get involved rashly, I fear it would be inappropriate."

Arius glares at him. "For someone so young, you certainly think a lot. Do you think your lord won't come to save me?"

"Do you think your lord is only that sort of cold and ruthless person?"

"Whether because of personal friendship or Peace Haven's long-term development and layout, he will come save me."

"Besides, everyone hid this matter from your lord. Otherwise, I would have already resigned myself to fate."

The reason Windson has not spoken is naturally that after learning the whole story, he doesn't understand what Peace Haven's attitude should be.

In his view, Arius dying would bring Henwell more benefits than harm.

If Henwell wants to compete with Jonathan for supremacy in the future, Peace Haven would be very happy, whether in terms of emotional righteousness or personal ability.

So after understanding everything, Windson has already gone numb. He doesn't know what he should do next.

Should he help Arius?

Or stand aside and don'thing?

Now that Arius points out his thoughts on the spot, Windson gives an awkward laugh. "Heh... Your Highness is overthinking it. I was thinking about one question."

"The most important thing now is to know how many pursuers there are and who is participating."

"How many people are blocking us ahead, and which side of the kingdom will truly fight hard?"

"Finally, and most importantly, we must notify Peace Haven as quickly as possible. My lord needs to know this news as soon as possible."

Arius frowns. "Did you not say that all the large strongholds with extraordinary communication have already been surrounded? How do we notify Henwell?"

Windson says, "Your Highness, our intelligence system has a special warning protocol."

"Every month, there must be one safety check-in code sent to Peace Haven."

"It is very simple and concise, and it doesn't consume too many energy rune stones."

"According to my investigation, that intelligence station has already been surrounded for at least half a month. The intelligence station in Silver Peak City should have been surrounded even longer."

"So I think Peace Haven has already received the warning by now. They may already have begun investigating."

"Very soon, we will activate another deeply hidden line and rebuild intelligence contact."

Arius is puzzled. "What does that have to do with our current situation?"

"If we find a good route, at most ten days will be enough for us to enter Peace Haven's sphere of influence."

Windson shakes his head. "No. We won't get that far."

"Next, we have to pass through the territories of many standing armies and garrison forces."

"We also have to pass through the Eastern Regions and the Southern Regions, the spheres of influence of two dukes. There is also Duke Reyes, the neutral faction, in between."

"The most dangerous is Marquess Descartes's sphere of influence. His subordinates are uneven in quality. There may be fools among them."

"The main reason we have not been surrounded and attacked yet is that no one wants to be the first to jump out."

"To hunt down a prince, hunt down the lord of Yosui City, hunt down the foster son of the Phoenix family, and hunt down the brother of the lord of Blood Hill..."

"Those decisions require considerable courage, and the person also has to be foolish, shortsighted, and arrogant enough."

"Once such a fool makes a move, the others will have far fewer scruples."

"And the farther south we go, the greater the chance that we encounter such a fool."

"It is foreseeable that before Peace Haven's reinforcements, or my lord himself, can intervene in this matter, we will definitely be surrounded and attacked."

"With our current strength, we simply can't hold out until my lord comes to rescue us."

Arius asks, "So what do you mean?"

Windson says seriously, "Your Highness, I must take people and leave to scout the situation ahead and behind."

"We need to determine the speed and numbers of the pursuers, and we also need to know the strength and participants of the interception ahead."

"Then we must find a suitable place to defend and wait for reinforcements."

The others immediately object, and the reason is simple.

The reason they have not yet encountered many enemies is also that their route is uncertain.

Once Windson leaves the group, if he defects to Jonathan, then everything will be finished.

They believe Jonathan must have offered a huge reward to obtain Arius's whereabouts.

To put it plainly, they don't trust this young intelligence officer from Peace Haven to resist such a great temptation.

Arius raises his hand and stops everyone's arguing. He nods to Windson. "Go. I will wait for your news at the next stopping point. Our route won't change."

Windson is also impressed by Arius's courage. He raises a hand and salutes. "Your Highness, wait for my news."

Two days later, Windson returns with his people in a sorry state.

As soon as they meet, he speaks anxiously. "Your Highness, we don't have much time."

"Behind us are two cavalry warbands. Uh, in the kingdom's military sequence, they are legions."

"Fourth Cavalry Legion and Seventh Cavalry Legion."

"In addition, there are the First Guard Legion and the Steel Lion Legion, those two ace legions."

"Ahead, south of Yundu River, the Seventeenth Legion and Twentieth Legion have already established a blockade."

"Another of the kingdom's ace legions, the Fearless Sword Legion, will finish crossing the river tomorrow and block the road ahead of us."

Everyone draws in a sharp breath. Arius asks calmly, "You have not finished, have you? What other pursuers are there?"

Windson pauses. "There is also Duke Marcus's East Mist Legion, along with the Sixteenth and Nineteenth Legions under his control."

"Duke Obiken of the Western Regions has the Silent Battle Axe Legion, along with the Sixth and Eighth Legions under him."

"Duke Reyes has the Iris Legion, along with the Tenth Legion under him."

"Marquess Descartes has the Oracle Bone Bird Legion, along with the Eleventh Legion under him."

Ignoring everyone's pale faces, Arius asks with a smile, "And?"

"...And the kingdom's Blood Lion Knights."