Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

On the vast Gobi Desert.

The bandits scattered among the pilgrims suddenly realized when the Winged Cavalry were about to charge in.

"It's those winged knights!"

"These persistent beasts, retreat quickly, we're no match for them!"

But retreating now, would it be too late?

Hans, gripping the "Riding Spear of the Armored Cavalry," led the charge into the bandits, wielding the heavy weapon as if it were made of dry wood, deftly swinging it.

None of the bandits could withstand a single bout against Hans.

The bandits, terrified and heartbroken: "Run, this guy is far more formidable than that Patrol Officer!"

The Winged Cavalry remained silent, efficiently hunting down the bandits like killing machines.

They were often shorter than the bandits riding single-humped camels, but the bandits' advantage of height was forcibly neutralized by the Cavalry's individual martial arts and equipment.

The Winged Cavalry could crush the elite Mamluk cavalry head-on.

Moreover, their mounts, specially trained warhorses, were unfazed by the scent of camels.

The explosive power of the warhorses greatly surpassed single-humped camels, making the bandits unable to fight or escape; they were soon eradicated.

Hans approached Losa and respectfully said: "Sir, all the bandits have been exterminated."

Losa asked in return: "Are there any survivors?"

"Yes."

"Ulm, come over here."

Ulm approached from behind, looking ashamed: "Sorry, sir, this is our dereliction of duty."

It's difficult to completely eliminate bandits, for in the vast Gobi Desert, as long as there's hidden water sources and supplies, no one can confidently capture a group of bandits who come and go like the wind.

Losa snorted lightly:

"It's good that you know. Now go and interrogate to find out their hideout, and if there are remaining accomplices, take your Patrol Team and wipe them out thoroughly."

"I understand."

Losa frowned, probing: "What was the main point I emphasized?"

Ulm thought briefly and solemnly said: "The main point is to find their hideout?"

Hans softly reminded: "The main point is the treasure at the hideout."

Ulm suddenly understood: "I understand, sir!"

Losa coughed lightly: "Go quickly and come back, tonight meet at New Habsburg."

After clearing the battlefield, Losa met the leader of the pilgrims, a Persian cleric said to be from the largest Fire Temple in Tarsus.

"I'm sorry, esteemed elder, for the misfortune you encountered in my territory, which is my negligence. But I assure you, your journey ahead will be smooth."

The cleric, a humble ascetic monk in a white robe, said: "Thank you for your help, merciful lord, this is not your negligence, perhaps the Holy Fire grants us trials in this world."

"Precisely because of facing trials, the pilgrimage journey can better prove our devotion."

Losa noncommittally replied: "Esteemed elder, I'd like to hear about the situation in the East, such as the Qidan, Tatars, or further afield, the Song."

He had already learned from past caravans that the Qidan people had been driven to the Western Regions, establishing the Western Liao Kingdom and had fought several battles with Sassanid Persia, with mixed results.

The cleric paused and then spoke: "Sorry, merciful lord, I grew up in the temple and have limited understanding of worldly affairs, I fear I can't enlighten you."

Losa shook his head: "It's alright, I was just curious."

In truth, it was not just curiosity.

This era saw the rise of the Tatars much earlier than Losa's previous life; their reputation had already spread to Jerusalem with the caravans.

This couldn't help but make Losa vigilant.

If historically, the second Whip of God was to descend so quickly, the current situation in West Asia would undergo a major reshuffle.

Bidding farewell to the pilgrims.

Losa looked back from a hillside, watching the pilgrims gather the bodies of their fallen comrades, stacking them by a pile of wood, pouring flammable oil, and lighting a bonfire.

Black smoke rose to the skies.

...

It was nearing evening.

Losa's army finally reached New Habsburg.

Not yet close, the knights and farmer soldiers gawked in awe as if country folk barged into Constantinople, emitting bursts of exclamations.

"What kind of tree is this, so tall?"

"Is it an oak tree?"

In the desert, it's hard to see oak trees, towering twenty meters high.

And this was far from the Tree of Life's limit.

For the Tree of Life, twenty meters was still in its juvenile stage, at least thirty meters was needed to enter the young adult phase, after which the growth would gradually slow.

Leonard, with a flattering smile, hurriedly approached Losa's troops.

"Sir, your army's camp is ready, with clean water and food, you've traveled all day, please enter and rest."

Losa nodded: "How's the progress of the castle construction?"

Leonard was troubled: "Sir, there are no suitable rocks nearby, they have to be quarried from thirty miles away and transported over, causing delays."

Losa replied irritably: "I'm not here to listen to excuses."

Leonard quickly said: "In two more months, I promise it will be completed in two months."

Losa raised his whip, patting Leonard's shoulder: "Show me, Leonard, if the progress is slower than I expect, beware of receiving a whipping."

...

As night fell.

Clouds obscured the bright moon, plunging all of Hebron into darkness.

At this moment, outside the castle in the heart of the city.

A group of shadows was using grappling hooks to scale the three-meter high outer walls, agilely climbing over the walls, infiltrating the Inner Castle.

The posts of the City Guard Army were easily bypassed by them.

Bang—

The slight sound of footsteps startled Baron Fulk residing in the guest room awake.

He cautiously picked up the weapon hanging on the wall, slowly approaching the window.

In a fleeting glance.

He saw not far from the corner of the wall, a sneaky figure holding a weapon, peering around.

He was about to grab his weapon and shout.

A deep, magnetic male voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Rest assured, guest, we know the position of the insurgents, next, please stay in your room to avoid unnecessary harm."

Fulk broke out in a cold sweat.

"Ah, it's Mr. Kurs, why are you?"

"My appearance, indeed, can be startling, but the situation is urgent, please do not fault me."

Kurs showed a polite, formulaic smile, repeating: "Please stay safe, do not go out."

Then, he pushed the door open and walked out.

Wait, the door was pushed open?

Then how did he get in?

Fulk's heart, which had just relaxed a bit, immediately tightened again.

Little did he know that Kurs's face was not good either, pale as if covered with powder in the dark.

If suddenly seen by someone, they would certainly think he was a ghost from Hell.

Though the fact wasn't much different.

Kurs reappeared in the room where Andreas was resting.

Andreas was startled awake by Kurs's abrupt presence, seeing Kurs standing by the bed like a ghost, cold sweat broke out all over his back.

"Oh, it's you, Mr. Kurs."

He relaxed his reflexively gripped weapon, got up from the bed nervously: "They've arrived?"

Kurs slightly nodded.

"They are more impatient than the master anticipated."

Originally, Losa anticipated that someone would attempt to seize his castle the day after or the third day after they left - they would have to discuss with Zain Aladdin for a coordinated attack.

Otherwise, burning the castle alone, what good would it do?