Suya, of course, did not go to the royal banner.
In front of the royal banner were not only the Macedonian phalanx legions but also a cavalry commander whose strength was unknown.
If he dared to go, he'd surely be dead.
However, before that, he had observed—
The location of the royal banner was the command center of this army. All Macedonian scout cavalry, after completing their current reconnaissance missions, would converge in this direction to report, then receive new orders to either rejoin the main army and participate in the assault or embark on their next reconnaissance mission.
Furthermore,
The cavalry units and infantry phalanxes of this army seemed to be two distinct entities. Their coordination was infrequent; they almost acted independently.
Aside from the Companion Cavalry that initially charged with Seleucus, the cavalry regiment around the royal banner had not communicated with the infantry units at all.
Not even by sending messengers to convey orders.
The two seemed to belong to completely different command systems, only勉强 integrated by the prestige of their commander, Seleucus.
Suya guessed,
Perhaps it was because historically, Macedonian Companion Cavalry members were mostly nobles?
He didn't know, nor did he need to understand, but he immediately realized that this was a exploitable flaw.
He observed—
The scout cavalry squads, upon returning to the central army, could change their reconnaissance direction under the command of the cavalry system.
This meant they could use this to approach first and then deviate, thus avoiding the risk of exposure due to abnormal reconnaissance routes—
If they were to charge directly parallel to the army, as Merlin suggested, they would likely attract the attention of nearly 50 scout cavalry squads, and before breaking through, they would certainly be intercepted and investigated by any scout cavalry squads that detected anomalies on their path.
Suya had almost been skinned alive just taking out two scout cavalry grunts. Facing so many complete scout cavalry squads...
It would be certain death!
Therefore,
Now, at this very spot,
This location was still some distance from the cavalry regiment surrounding the royal banner, yet it was out of sight of the guardian knights in front of the central army. Even better, it was surrounded by infantry phalanxes, and the infantry phalanx naturally formed a blind spot in the winding roads of the hilly region.
Suya decided to change course here, attempting to re-disguise himself as a scout cavalryman who had completed his mission and was heading out for the next reconnaissance assignment!
Although the light and heavy infantry might notice something amiss, due to the communication barriers between the two command systems,
The time of his exposure would most likely be greatly delayed!
Suya had no other choice; this was the most feasible method he could devise.
He could only gamble!
And,
Doing so was not without risk.
"Cancel the illusion? No, what exactly do you want to do!?"
Merlin lowered her voice, her rose-red eyes trembling. She looked at Suya with a tingling scalp.
"Are you insane? Canceling the illusion now will completely expose your identity."
"It's already exposed."
"W-what?"
"Stop rambling, how do I cancel it?"
"Throw off the leather armor, but... but are you sure you want to do that?"
Merlin shrank back in terror, her hands gripping the saddle tightly, like a helpless white-furred marmot.
Suya forced a shaky smile, reminding her:
"From now on,"
"We are free!"
Suya unbuckled the waist of the leather armor and flung it backwards.
His golden cowlick danced in the wind, his emerald eyes, transparent as gems, intently fixed on the road ahead.
He squeezed the horse's belly, and with the blooming flower he had constructed in his mind, he decisively chose the shortest and fastest route.
"Giddy up!"
And so,
Shedding his disguise,
The handsome golden-haired knight, his face covered in blood, clothes tattered, holding a bouquet of white roses, trembling and roaring softly,
Began to charge towards freedom!
The golden-haired figure swiftly broke away from the royal banner, galloping towards the rear of the army formation's west flank.
He had thus thoroughly played this army of tens of thousands, then ruthlessly left them behind!
Meanwhile,
At the midpoint of the forty-second scout cavalry squad's reconnaissance route.
"He's not hiding here?"
Shugus frowned slightly, looking at the confused captain of the forty-second squad before him. This lean, short-haired knight shook his head.
"I told you, there's no place to hide here. What exactly are you looking for?"
"Also, Shugus, why are you leaving your area and coming here?"
"Where are those two boys you brought?"
"Dead." Shugus took a deep breath.
"?"
Shugus ignored the bewildered brown-haired knight and squinted his eyes, thinking for a moment.
He couldn't guess what route Suya had taken to evade his pursuit, but if this ruthless killer wasn't from the Kingdom of Macedon and wanted to escape, the only direction he could choose was—
Shugus looked towards the western hilly pass at the edge of his vision.
And just then,
"Bang!"
A reddish-brown magic projectile soared from the direction of the royal banner on the flank.
Shugus turned his head, slightly startled, and saw—
A troop of heavily armored cavalry galloping towards them. At the forefront were the two fully armored knights who had allowed Suya to approach the central army.
"All knights, listen up!"
"Commander Hector's order—"
"All scout cavalry, all un-deployed Companion Cavalry, starting from the royal banner, conduct a carpet search for a knight named Edoardo."
"His features include leather armor heavily stained with blood on the front, a large sword wound on his face, and a confused consciousness, capable of only mechanically repeating a few phrases."
"Find him, alive or dead!"
"This person possesses information about Uther's son, the future King of all Britannia, Arthur Pendragon."
"Furthermore,"
"He is a true knight; his body must be found and presented to the King for a proper knight's burial!"
The more Shugus listened, the more something felt wrong.
The brown-haired knight, however, was stunned. He looked at Shugus, asking with surprise:
"Edoardo?"
"Shugus, isn't that your subordinate?"
Upon hearing the brown-haired knight's words,
The two fully armored knights beside them, who looked like brothers with blue hair due to their similar appearance, took off their helmets. One of them, a young noble knight named Lars, looked at Shugus with shock.
"You're Shugus? You're still alive?"
Shugus's already sinister face grew even darker.
"Of course I'm alive. Am I a ghost standing here now?"
"But..." Lars scratched his head in confusion.
He quickly composed himself, his expression turning stern, and he sharply questioned without distinguishing right from wrong:
"Edoardo is your subordinate? Why did he return alone?"
"Where were you when he was fighting Arthur Pendragon?"
Shugus frowned tightly, responding coldly with slight dissatisfaction:
"How would I know? And besides, if you're looking for Arthur Pendragon, a golden-haired, green-eyed swordsman, that guy's already dead!"
"As for Edoardo... Heh."
"I say—" Lars looked coldly at Shugus,
"If you don't want to die here right now, you'd best speak to me with the same respectful attitude you'd show a dignitary in the Kingdom."
"Look into my eyes, thief!"
"Answer me!"
Shugus let out a deep breath, clenching his fists involuntarily.
He had completely lost his patience.
With the calm reasoning inherent to his chosen profession,
He finally understood everything at this moment.
The person who killed Edoardo, deceived him, and disguised himself as Edoardo had once again deceived these armored idiots,
Making these armored idiots consider him a 'true knight'?
And because of this useless knightly spirit, he was now being held back here, playing along with these fools, delaying the time to find and execute this true murderer, imposter, and fraudster!
What an absolute mockery!
However, he clearly understood that he was no match for these two peak-professional armored idiots who wielded 'Qi.' Not to mention, behind them stood the hero known as the 'Glory of the Companion Knights,' the commander of the Companion Cavalry—Hector.
Even if he was the same professional rank as these two armored idiots, the difference between people was sometimes greater than between humans and dogs.
So,
Shugus could only take a deep breath, compose himself,
And revealed a dry laugh that was no better than crying:
"Sir, I know the location of Edoardo's body. When he was fighting, I was reconnoitering the other side of the Y-junction. By the time I arrived, it was already too late."
"If you're looking for Edoardo's body, then I'll take you there."
Upon hearing this, Lars's anger dissipated, and his face immediately lit up with pleasant surprise.
"Is that truly so?"
"You know where that true knight is!?"
Compared to that Arthur Pendragon, who was on the verge of bringing ruin to his kingdom and race, Lars respected heroes with true knightly spirit far more.
No matter how weak he might be, as long as he was a knight who upheld knightly spirit, whoever he was, he deserved the highest respect in death!
He only regretted not having met this true knight sooner!
"Of course."
Shugus turned his back, stepping into the stirrup and mounting his horse.
He almost laughed in anger, and his face immediately twisted into a cold, utterly furious and mocking sneer.
Of course!
Of course!
Not only do I know where that damned murderer is, I also know—
That little thief who fooled tens of thousands isn't even a proper professional!
"Don't rush... don't rush..."
"I've memorized your scent. I'll come for you soon!"
"Once I'm done dealing with these idiotic metal cans, I'll personally flay your filthy, stinking hide!"
Shugus gritted his teeth, staring grimly at the curved dagger tucked into his waist.
"And make you pay—"
"Blood for blood!"