"However, we only found fifteen people. Aren't there twenty-five Calradian soldiers in the reconnaissance team?" Derrick said strangely.
The soldier delivering the letter turned ugly, and slapped himself on the head, saying, "I'm sorry, Commander Derrick. I still have one piece of news that I haven't told you."
"What?" Derrick's heart became faintly uneasy.
"There are twenty-five soldiers in the reconnaissance team. Fifteen were found on the outskirts of Durandal, three were lost during missions on the island, and eight were salvaged ashore yesterday evening." The soldier said unbearably: "That is to say, except Except for the soldiers you worked so hard to find, everyone else has died."
Derrick raised his head in disbelief, after confirming what the soldier said. Immediately turned his back, frowning tightly to prevent the tears from falling from his eyes.
"I see." After a long time, the soldier heard Derrick's response.
"Please Derrick lead the mourning." The soldier lowered his head and said.
"So, where are their remains now?" Derrick asked with a choked voice: "It's always good to find the remains."
"On the way back to Dherim." The soldier replied, "The funeral will be held in the barracks."
"Well, good. I'll go back to Dherim to attend their funeral after I finish taking care of things here." Derrick said, "Then you set off now?"
"Yes." The soldier replied: "His Majesty Kant and the others are still staying in Cumberland because of the missing soldiers. I have to report back quickly."
"Okay then, I wish you a safe journey." Derrick said to the soldier delivering the letter as he saw that he was about to jump on his horse.
"Thank you, Commander Derrick." The soldier rode on the horse, clasped his fists and said.
After that, he swung his whip and rode his horse, and under Derrick's gaze, he went further and further away.
After Derrick entered the barracks, he immediately rushed to the area where DeWitt and his party were resting.
Although the clinics in the barracks were prepared to bring in the wounded, they were still far from sufficient. Only one person can take on the work of several people. Moving in and out of the clinic.
Derrick grabbed a medical soldier passing in front of him, and asked him, "What happened to the fainted soldier?"
"Report to Commander Derrick!" The medical soldier immediately stood up straight and replied, "The soldiers suffered from severe frostbite and are currently undergoing a full-body examination."
"What do you mean by serious?" Derrick asked puzzled.
"Some patients may require amputation," the medic replied, watching him seriously.
"Are you kidding me!" Derrick pushed the medical soldier away and shouted, "They are soldiers! You told me they need amputation?"
"Water has seeped into the knee joint, and all the cartilage tissue inside has been necrotic." The medical soldier followed him and carefully explained: "When the soldiers wake up, they probably won't be able to feel their legs."
Derrick listened to his words and stopped in front of DeWitt's bed.
DeWitt's lips, which had been purple from the cold, had gradually softened the color. The muscles on the face also became relaxed.
Derrick's tears dripped on the white quilt. He felt sorry for his helplessness at this moment.
Kant had been in Cumberland for three days, and the salvage work was long over. In the past few days, Bandak led his soldiers to search near Cumberland. About a kilometer away from the city gate, a pyre left over from a fire for warmth was found.
The means of survival in the wild is a compulsory course for every Calradian soldier in his training before enlisting in the army. Even the way of camping in the wild is fixed and unified.
After confirming that this was the trace left by Calradia soldiers, Bandak immediately reported this clue to Kant.
"Judging from where they are staying, they are walking along the official road of the Elven Kingdom." Bandak analyzed: "It is indeed going to Durandal."
"Tomorrow, continue to lead the soldiers to the direction you speculated, and search for it. Now we just wait for the news from Durandal." Kant nodded.
"Yes." Bundak replied.
Every night is hard without knowing the movements of every vanished soldier.
Kant sat with his eyes open all night in his room. I can't hold back the restless emotions in my heart.
Until dawn, the messenger knocked on the door of Kant's room. Handed the list of rescued people to Kant.
Only then did Kant let out a long breath, and told the soldiers to report the news to Bundak before going back to bed to rest.
This sleep went straight into the evening.
While Bundak was hesitating whether to wake him up, Kant opened the door and walked to the dining room to have dinner.
"Your Majesty, you are finally awake." Bandak found a chair beside Kant and sat down, and said to him.
Kant cut off a small piece of steak and chewed it in his mouth. It wasn't until after swallowing that he replied, "What do you want from me?"
"The Elven King got in touch with the ship company that operates the ship on the island." Banda Kehui reported: "The people over there said: After taking the hush money, the crew squandered wantonly in the dwarf town on the island. Movement. It’s a bit big, and now it’s been locked down by the people from the ship company.”
"We're leaving for the island tomorrow, and let the people from the boat company monitor these people for a while. Don't take any action before we arrive." Kant said calmly, "Those people dare to go back to the island. I really don’t know what they think. Even if we don’t go to them, the forces from the dark side of the island should come to them. It is estimated that in the end, the money is not spent, and the life is gone.”
"Your Highness, do you think the forces on the island will clean them up?" Bandak asked doubtfully.
"What I'm talking about is just a possibility. Whether it will be black or not depends on what the people behind the scene want to do." Kant wiped his mouth with a napkin and replied.
"I see. Since I'm leaving tomorrow, I'm going to inform the soldiers to get ready." Bundak nodded and replied.
"Yeah." Kant nodded and said, "By the way, where is Raphael? Remember to take him with you."
"After he was beaten up by me that day, he fell on the bed and didn't get up." Bandak frowned and replied, "I'll find someone to see him again tonight."
"Don't be too hard on him, we need him to do a lot in the future." Kant instructed.
"Oh," Bandak sighed, and said, "In any case, Raphael is already an enemy in my eyes. Your Majesty Kant, you have your plans, but I can't cross the line in my heart."
Kant turned around and stared at Bundak for a long time.
(end of this chapter)