Chapter 186 The Domineering Deputy General Establishes Her Authority in Public!

Chapter 186 The Domineering Deputy General Establishes Her Authority in Public!

A group of black cavalry came thundering in, six riders per row, ten rows in total.

The front row carried shields, the middle carried bows, and the riders on the flanks held long spears.

This was the hexagonal formation Cressida had invented — shield riders leading the charge, flanking riders cutting down enemies with their spears, and the middle riders picking off enemies at elevated positions from a distance.

This formation had never failed in countless battles at the military fortress, and Eldoria had come to call them a force of tigers and wolves.

Cressida spotted him right away — the cold, stern general riding tall on horseback behind the cavalry. It was Casey, another one of her most trusted men.

Back then, Chris had taken care of keeping all her belongings, while Casey had helped fake her death.

Casey had been the one most against the plan. He had once said, "If the king refuses to accept the general's true identity, then we'll turn against him. With six hundred thousand troops beyond the borders, we won't let Cressida be treated like this."

Cressida had stopped him before he could say another word.

After settling everything, she had returned to Emerald City, where she was later humiliated and locked up by her parents. She heard that Casey had come to see her several times, but was turned away by Clio each time.

In the end, Clio had even lied to him, saying Cressida had married into Silverpeak City. Casey actually went all the way there to find her, and word was that he died somewhere in the vast, snow-covered mountains.

Years had passed since they last parted. Seeing him again felt like a lifetime away.

Cressida's eyes grew slightly red.

Just then, she noticed the Blade of Victory soldiers at the rear dragging a wooden cart, with an iron cage sitting on top of it.

Inside was a man with tangled hair and ragged clothes.

He threw himself against the bars, snarling at the crowd, then broke into wild, unhinged laughter.

"How long do you think you can celebrate? Cameron is dead, yet millions of Eldoria's people still live!"

"As long as a single one of us still breathes, we will be the end of Novaria!"

"One day, we will crush Novaria and wash your kingdom in blood! Ha ha ha ha!"

"Does he still think he's the duke's eldest son? He's nothing but a prisoner now!" Hank sneered.

Cressida actually recognized this man — the duke's eldest son. He had once led troops against her in a siege, and they had faced each other twice.

The first time, Cressida had shot out his left eye. The second time, he had brought a hundred thousand soldiers against her three thousand cavalry, and his entire army was wiped out. He had only escaped by disguising himself as a guard.

Hank suddenly cried out, "Wait — why is there a child over there?"

Cressida looked toward the middle of the street. A child of about seven or eight, gripping a small wooden sword, had broken through the line of officers keeping order and ran straight toward the horses' hooves.

He raised his little wooden sword and said in a soft, eager voice, "I want to join the Blade of Victory too!"

The lead horse suddenly pulled to a stop, its hooves rearing high into the air. The crowd around them gasped.

Cressida moved in an instant — she darted forward, scooped the child up, then leapt back and landed steadily on her feet.

The child's mother came running over, took her child back, and tearfully thanked Cressida.

The dark mass of soldiers and horses loomed before her, towering over Cressida.

But at that moment, the riders on horseback — eyes visible beneath their iron visors — all stared in shock.

Wasn't that their general?

Cressida was about to turn and leave when a shout rang out behind her.

"Ms. Cressida Hamilton!"

Casey had seen her. He swung down from his horse and came running over.

When the commanding officer dismounted, every one of the hundred-plus Blade of Victory soldiers on the scene followed, clattering after Casey in their armor, the sound of metal ringing through the air.

Casey walked up to Cressida. Those sharp, intense eyes landed on her, and a joy he hadn't felt in years burst across his face.

Ignoring her silent warning look, he suddenly bellowed —

"Sheathe your blades!"

Sheathing blades in the presence of a great commander — that was the rule of the military camp.

Every single Blade of Victory soldier lowered their weapons in unison and bowed alongside Casey.

"All soldiers, join me in paying respects to Ms. Cressida Hamilton," Casey said.

Then came a thunderous, unified shout: "Our respects to Ms. Cressida Hamilton!"

Cressida's brow furrowed slightly. The crowd around them stood frozen in surprise. Hank and the others were caught off guard too.

The Blade of Victory were this devoted to Ms. Hamilton?

But thinking about it, it made sense. Cressida was General Hamilton's only sister, and she had spent years at the military fortress. Of course the Blade of Victory would hold her in high regard.

Behind Casey, Deputy Commander Foster quickly dismounted as well, walking over with his daughter Cassie Foster.

Deputy Commander Foster was nearly fifty. Years of military life had worn on him — his temples had gone white, and his face was broad and stern.

His daughter Cassie Foster was also dressed in light cavalry gear. When she saw Cressida, she looked her over from head to toe.

Deputy Commander Foster spoke respectfully, "You must be General Hamilton's sister, Ms. Hamilton. I've long heard of you. It's an honor."

Cassie Foster pressed her fist to her chest and said quietly, "Ms. Hamilton."

Cressida responded with a nod.

Cassie Foster then said, "I'm sure Ms. Hamilton and the Blade of Victory have a lot to catch up on. But please, let us through — we need to report to the king. After that, Ms. Hamilton is welcome to reminisce all she likes."

Cressida looked at her. "I stepped in because a child ran into the street and I didn't want him to get hurt. I wasn't blocking your way."

Cassie Foster smiled. "Of course not. General Hamilton's sister wouldn't be so thoughtless. I've spent time at the military fortress too — I understand."

The way she said it made Verity and Emma exchange a glance behind Cressida.

Why did Cassie Foster seem to have something against their Ms. Cressida Hamilton?

Casey fixed his gaze on Deputy Commander Foster and Cassie. "Deputy Commander Foster, you'd agree that this victory at Sovereign City came down to the power of the firearms, wouldn't you?"

"Absolutely," Deputy Commander Foster said, stroking his beard. "The weapons the prince provided made us unstoppable."

Casey continued, "The formula for those firearms came from Ms. Cressida Hamilton."

Both Deputy Commander Foster and Cassie Foster went still.

Cassie Foster blurted out, "She knows about that?"

Casey gave a short laugh. "Of course. Ms. Cressida Hamilton lived alongside our general at the military fortress and served as his strategist. She's no ordinary person. Miss Foster, with all due respect — in front of Ms. Cressida Hamilton, you should consider yourself her junior."

Cassie Foster's expression stiffened. She looked at Cressida again, then pressed her lips together.

She changed the subject directly. "We can talk about all this later. Let's not hold up our report to the king."

Cressida looked at Casey. "Go ahead."

Casey asked directly, "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, I'd like to come by the Hamilton family home later for a cup of tea."

"Of course."

Standing in front of everyone, Cressida knew there was no point trying to keep her distance. Better to agree openly.

Casey finally broke into a wide, bright smile.

All the Blade of Victory soldiers gripped their weapons again and remounted. Only after Cressida gave a nod did the cavalry move forward.

As the iron cage carrying the duke's eldest son passed in front of Cressida, the man inside had gone completely silent.

He was pressed flat against the bars, his dirty hair hanging over his face, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at her.

Cameron, the battlefield god of death, was already in the ground. So how could someone who looked exactly like him be standing right here?

Cressida's eyes were cold and dark as she stared back at him. Her face was sharp and composed, without a trace of expression.

The only thing in her gaze was the silent, predatory stillness of a beast watching from the shadows.

Just then, the sun broke fully through the sky. Cressida raised her hand to block the glare.

But that single gesture sent the duke's eldest son into a sudden frenzy. He slammed both hands against the iron bars.

"You can't kill me! I want to see the king of Novaria! You can't kill me!"

He lost control of himself right there in front of everyone, without a shred of dignity left. The people nearby all covered their noses and mouths.