As the sun sank to the west, Hestein's fleet drifted up and down in the waves along the coast.
Every once in a while, someone would raise a flag on the shore to send a signal to the fleet. This time the flag spun three small circles in the air and then fell down in the direction of the sea. This meant that Hestein's ambush scouts on the shore did not find the enemy's reinforcements, and the construction site was still empty.
"Strange." Hestein muttered, "It's been so long. Even if we can't come to support, then the Sun King should send someone over to investigate the situation, right?"
"If I had known, the last blow of the ax would have been lighter." One of the pirates cursed. "If I hadn't cut the throat of that eagle-like thing, I might have been able to ask more questions."
In this raid, the pirates captured a group of prisoners, but unfortunately they were all the lowest soldiers. All they knew was that they wanted to build canoes and a fort across the river here, and that the Sun King was nearby. But when it came to the specific location of the Sun King, they covered their eyes and faces like fearful gods, saying that they knew nothing about it.
That's why the pirates now regret not catching one or two eagle warriors.
Hestein sat on the bow of the ship, holding his spear, closing his eyes and thinking about the two questions that puzzled him the most - why was the Sun King stationed in this position far away from the front line? And why build forts on rivers?
His initial guess was that Aztlan wanted to use these fortresses to exert de facto control over the territory south of the river. But when you think about it carefully, this is ridiculous: the war has already started, and instead of investing troops in the front, you are carrying out construction in the rear. This is an action that no general in his right mind would take.
What's more, in addition to the fort, many canoes that have not been pushed into the water were also found on the construction site. This is different from the long ships that pirates can sail into the ocean. They can only be used in nearby rivers. In addition, those unfinished fortresses are also built on the bridge holes. Thinking about it this way, it seems that they want to rely on this river to fight a defensive war.
Thinking of this, Hestein suddenly opened his eyes as sharp as a falcon.
"A traitor has appeared," he said. "Our plans have been exposed."
The flag on the shore rose again, made three small circles in the air as before, and then fell down in the direction of the sea.
Another pirate couldn't help but cursed: "Damn it, why haven't you come yet! Boss, you know that the Great Sun King is nearby anyway, why don't we take the initiative to go there and kill him?"
"Looking for it actively? How to find it?"
Hestein glanced at the pirate.
"The enemy's number is more than twenty times that of ours. Spreading out your search is a recipe for death, and you'll easily be ambushed when you enter the forest and mountains. The enemy is in darkness and we are clear, and the enemy is at ease while we work hard. How are you going to fight?"
Another pirate couldn't help but said: "But we already know that the Sun King is nearby, so we can't just let it go, right?"
Hestein was visibly moved. But he still insisted: "Wait a moment. Maybe the other side wants to take advantage of the night."
"Then what if you still don't come at night?"
"It will come. Even if there are traitors, it is impossible to reveal the plan I decided on at noon to the Aztlan people. Unless the other side has the power to see everything."
Lily added casually: "Or maybe the other person is a complete madman. Not even Hermes, let alone Hestein, can deduce the madman's next move."
This sentence was so funny that even the serious Hestein couldn't help but smile. But then, his expression became serious again.
Night has come. There are still contacts from the shore every once in a while. But the communication signal changed from flags to oil lamps. Every time the light flickered, the expression on Hestein's face became heavier. When the light went out after flashing three times for the ninety-ninth time, Hestein finally stood up from the bow of the ship.
"Light the ship's lantern and leave here immediately."
One after another, the pirates raised their heads and looked at Hestein. Disappointment was written on everyone's face, as if they were asking: "Is this really the end?"
Hestein's helpless sigh sounded in the night:
"After so many years of fighting, this is the first time that we are completely unable to understand the enemy's intentions. If we don't retreat, I'm afraid we will be in danger."
The head of the Eagle Warrior leader was hung on a mast, but as a trophy, it seemed a bit meager. The sails were raised, and the longships turned their bows. In the sound of water splashing like a sigh, these twenty or so longships drew several helpless ripples on the sea.
It wasn't until the early morning of the next day that the Sun King's reinforcements rushed to the scene. This is not because the Sun King saw through Hestein’s plan, nor is it because the Sun King has any other longer-term plans——
It's because it's too far away.
Yes, it's just because it's too far away.
Following the advice given by Ella, the Sun King stationed his army far away from the river. It took half a day for him to return to camp from the construction site along the river, during which Hestein was raiding the site. It was already late at night by the time the defeated army rushed back and conveyed the information to the Sun King. Even though the Sun King mobilized his army as quickly as possible, he could only barely make it back to the river after dawn.
The fire had long been extinguished, and Hestein's fleet had long since evacuated, leaving only charred wood and smoke rising from the ashes on the river bank.
The Sun King's body was trembling as he walked across the battlefield. He strode across the many corpses on the ground and finally came to the leader of the Eagle Warriors. The numerous injuries caused by Hestein's magic are shocking.
"I didn't expect that my bravest warrior would fall here."
The Sun King knelt down, took off a green bird feather from his head, and placed it on the chest of the Eagle Warrior.
Tesosomok also took a breath of cold air.
"I remember that in the last battle, this warrior defeated my Chimalpopoka and Izcoatl. The King of Sweden was right, these invaders from the north are extraordinary."
"No...wait a minute, you're not sure who did this yet? Could it be someone else?"
Ella couldn't believe that Hestein would actually attack from here. She grabbed an eagle warrior who ran back from the battlefield and shouted loudly: "Who killed your leader? What does he look like?"
"A blindfolded woman uses a sword as a weapon..."
Lily's appearance immediately flashed through Ella's mind. She quickly shook her head to drive away the fantasy.
"There are too many women who use swords as weapons. The woman who planned the rebellion on the island also had a bronze sword in her hand..."
"There is also a bearded man with a body as strong as a bear. There is a flag flying on the spear in his hand... with a blood-red crow painted on it!"
Ella covered her forehead and squatted down in pain.
"Hestein, I managed to drag the Sun King's elite here with great difficulty. If you don't take the opportunity to attack from the front... what are you trying to do by running here...???"
(End of chapter)
