Few hours in the manor of Manheim town Damien was sitting and Infront of him Carl and Bruce who were sitted to his right and left respectively the scars of the battle from the operation were visible on them it seem that attacking the main residence of a clan consists of a considerable danger after all they all long lived clans so they must have some hidden cards in their hands and a bunch of backup plans so in the futur he must prepare carefully before starting any battles with ancient clans and organisations.
After finishing his inner monologue Damien asked:' how was the operation you seem to have faced quite the resistance from the Stuart clan?'
Carl and Bruce looked at eachother and Carl said:' yes my lord we faced some unexpected events but in the end we crushed them I will let Bruce tell you what happened as he is better at this things than me'.
Then Bruce started speaking.
Few hours earlier while Damien and Jack where heading toward his family headquarters on the other end Carl and Bruce were leading three company's of legionnaires plus a and artillery detachment made of two twelve pounder cannons towards the Stuart family main branch residence on the way the garnered many looks from the people some shut their doors other followed Stealthy way to watch the show.
So a while later they where in front a huge mansion surrounded with medium sized wall 🧱 as for the gate it was made reinforced iron just as they few metre away from it the guards were already present and they took a a defensive posture from the looks of it the Stuart already got news of their raid but it's not like they were trying to hide it on the contrary they moved this to show everyone what's happen when they challenge the baron dignity.
Seeing the other party prepared Carl ordered his man to secure the peripheral area around the residence then brought the two cannons forward for intimidation and if that doesn't work to be used in blasting the reinforced door wide open for the legionnaires and the musketeers to show their full potential after everyone was in position he advanced him and Bruce under the white flag to try negotiating with the head of the Stuart family.
Few minutes later he found himself face to face with him he looked like an old man the wrinkles on his face deeper than the ruts in a countryside road 🛣️ who had a half foot 🦶 in the grave 🪦 with wrinkles All over his face and a hunched back he was wearing all black attire like he was in a funeral but he radiated with energy a fling of shrewdness and malice could be seen in his eyes so any negotiation with this kind of people is full of mines si anyone who taught of him as just your typical old man from the neighborhood would suffer a loss.
First to speak was Carl:'good to meet you lord Stuart '.
The old man said:'its good to finally meet the man who has beaten lord Dylan may ask as to why I see the pleasure of your viste you and your msn'.
Carl sneered said:' I am under orders from the baron himself to investigate the Stuart family for falsifying contracts,usury and using loan traps with coercive methods to acquire assets could please order your man to put down and allow me to search the residence '.
Carl amplified his voice using his knight power in order for everyone to hear thus giving the baron the high ground on morality
Rick is the name of this old man he looked at dog of the baron with a mocking smile 😁 and amplifying his voice too said:'if you can open the door and pay the price for intruding in the Stuart ancestral home you are welcome if you have the courage to do it ' .
But just right after that he spoke with a low voice filled with fear :'lord it's not that my family want to fight is just we have no other choice is their away for my family out of this predicament '.
Then he looked to the inside of the residence and signalling like their is something or someone making it difficult for them to comply .
Carl started thinking prior to this Damien told him if the Stuart family want to surrender he should accept it as he would like to use their experience to start a new industry but the way that it's presented by this clan head they still have to fight whatever that's making it for them impossible to surrender.
Carl said:'i will see what I can do clan head I hope you will remember the baron mercy later on' then he returned to his man.
After that Rick spoke to the captain of the guard and retreated inside few seconds later you could see movement and a section of the wall was entirely abandoned.
After returning he odrderd the legionnaires to be ready and try to capture instead of killing then he ordered the artillery crew to fire as a section of the wall 🧱 were their was no enemy presence while it could be a trap 🪤 Carl was confidente in the legion even if they are attacked at a choked point they can hold until reinforcement arrive.
The artillery crew moved like a well oiled machine all of them in sync then they took aim after that ' boom boom 💥 💥 'it was a bullseye after all they were juste a dozen of meters away few shots were fired after that in order to widen the breach and to reminde the others what happens when they challenge the baron all of this happened under the watchful eyes of the Stuart clan guards most were just your simple apprentice warrior at best used just to patrolling or escorting the members of the clan around the town and bullying the weak but facing a well equipped army that was just a pipe dream only the core guards could do that as for those they only numbered ten and they usually hang around the clan head thus many of them were starting to look for an opportunity to run or surrender.
Seeing that breach is wide enough and the guards are wavering he ordered the artillery to stop firing and the legionnaires to start the offence few minutes later Carl and Bruce found themselves inside the residence with minimal resistance it seems that the clan head was sincere with his wish to comply with the baron orders all that left is to found why he can't do it the easy way .
as they advanced Carl and Bruce reached the main quarters of the clan head and their they saw what was making difficult for the Stuart to surrender or more precisely who.
It was man or women they couldn't tell as his was wearing an attire that hide his face and figure so Carl was first to speak :' I am Carl Knight under the baron and I am here to carry his orders may ask are you trying to obstruct us?'.
A laugh was heard 'hhhhhhhh' then it said:'that cowardly clan head must have surrendered as will I obstruct your way or not it's who are on my way you shouldn't have come here it will be your burial ground'.
Then they heard ' poison arrow' then a green arrow with a stench was heading right at them they dodged each to a side but at that moment an attack Come for the shadow towards Bruce who was nearly killed he barely used his sword 🗡️ to deflect the attack and he could feel his shoulder aching from the recoil as for the shadow it seem to be a lizard folks collectively known as professional assassins it's seems their enemy isn't some run of the mill bunch they must have at least behind them a middle level organisation after all both the robbed man and the lizardman are low grade one life form so for them to acte guard at least their leade must be a peak grade one.
The lizard man said:' good reflexes usually everyone die from the first strike you must have good talent dear knight'.
Bruce answered:' thank you but my talent is barely average he re I come'.
As Bruce and mysterious assassin were a changing blows Carl on the other hand was dodging poison and corrosive arrows from the robe magi not leaving him any chance to retaliate few minutes later his clothes were in fool of holes he started thinking he can't continue like this so he braved himself used "light shield "skill his was englofed with a light halo 😇 protecting from any attacks and he charged at his enemy who seeing this fired three poison arrows consecutive while it had cause home some backlash due to the repeated use and his mana is depling his was hoping it will knock down this knight but to his horror the knight survive and he was closing en him .
The dark magi said:' you pushed me to this he got black crystal from and chanted a spell then a ghost 👻 was summoned from the crystal 🔮 then he said:' wailing ghost turn him to meat pasta for me' a drop of blood from his nose fell it's seems that he had to pay a cost for this summoning but alas he would have to be disappointed 😞 as Carl has another element which can be considered the bane of any dark creature and specialy ghosts.
Carl seeing this couldn't believe his luck that the tramp card of his opponent is a ghost he shouted" sword of lightning" a sword made entirely of lighting was condensed in front of him and sent towards so fast for the naked eye to see leaving no way for the ghost who could only cry under it and be destroyed then Carl used lighting particles to move fast to ward the robbed man who die to the injury 🤕 🩸 from summoning the ghost and his depleted mana couldn't evade in time thus Carl sword coated in lighting pierced his heart and died right there.
When he turned he saw that Bruce has also finished his adversary since he couldn't finish him in the first strike all of the advantage of the assassin were gone it took a while but Bruce decapitated him .
Then Bruce said:' a good day of work isn't '.
Then Carl said:' yeah we should take the clan head to the baron to get to the bottom of this matter I fell that it may be some big secret is hidden here'.
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Returning to the present time Carl said:' this is all that happened lord as for the clan head he is waiting outside waiting for your summon'.
Damien frowned a little and said:' thank you for your hard work with this I think we will have TOTAL CONTROL of the town I want to chose a detachment from the army to leave here to acte both as guard and deterrent for anyone with bad intentions you may retire now to rest and Bruce please summon this Rick so we can get this over with as they more concerning matter in Stonehenge '.
Then Bruce said: 'yes lord'.