The next day, as expected, the barbarians pretended to attack Ironwall City in the morning, which caused some people eager to act to retreat. But then, they quickly abandoned much of their baggage and retreated at lightning speed.

Derek, however, led an elite force and followed them at a distance, seemingly monitoring their departure. It wasn’t that there weren’t barbarians trying to take revenge, but if there were too many, Derek would turn and leave. If there were too few, they wouldn't even be a challenge for one of his charges. His strategy was more about nuisance than direct confrontation. The barbarian commander, who had been watching this troublesome enemy, realized that this loss wasn’t by chance. On the battlefield, luck and accidents could always play a role, but Derek's on-the-spot decisions were another matter altogether. Not every general could keep such a level of control.

The barbarians' discomfort grew with Derek's movements. If they engaged, it would cost them precious time. If they ignored him, it was like a fishbone stuck in their throat. The retreat couldn’t proceed unhindered. "He’s a troublesome one. We need to find out who he is. I have a feeling... he could be a huge problem for our advance," the barbarian commander sighed.

Meanwhile, Derek was also growing concerned. Along the way, he noticed that the barbarians had spared civilians and valuables, showing a strategic approach rather than just focusing on looting. This made him suspect that their lightning raid wasn’t random. If their attack had truly been aimed at disrupting Locke’s northern expedition, there must have been more to it than just this. "I hope the lords above can see through their plan. Otherwise, there might be trouble ahead," Derek thought.

Back in the Second Legion, Count Pereira was still trying to figure out how to counter the barbarians’ tactics. He wasn’t sure if Derek could hold his ground and distract part of the barbarian forces. "If we can keep them occupied, whether we encircle them or the barbarians send reinforcements, the crisis at Ironwall City will be over," he mused. This plan, while not foolproof, had its merits.

He didn’t know about the ancient Chinese strategy of "relieving the state of Zhao by besieging the state of Wei." However, his years of military experience guided his thinking. The First Legion trusted him because his reputation had been built bit by bit over the years. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside his tent. Count Pereira, who was usually calm, immediately stood up, concerned. Was something wrong with Derek? Before he could ask, Cesar stumbled into the tent with an expression of disbelief.

"Count!" Cesar said, clearly flustered. He knew his appearance would annoy the count, but he couldn’t hold back his excitement. He had received news from two different sources that Derek had won a great victory. Not only had Derek captured more than ten thousand trophies, but he had also forced the barbarians into retreat.

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"What?" Count Pereira thought he misheard, but Cesar repeated the news. It was true. The crisis at Ironwall City, and perhaps even the entire northern province, had ended with such little effort. The count was in shock. "Good kid. Really good kid," he muttered, pacing back and forth.

"We need to move quickly," Cesar reminded him. While Derek deserved the primary credit, Count Pereira also had to take some of the leadership credit. They needed to be among the first to arrive in Ironwall City to avoid gossip.

The plan was to advance swiftly with light cavalry, aiming to reach Ironwall first. But Count Pereira was thinking ahead. "Don’t rush," he said. "This isn’t a time to hurry. Cesar, I remember you have a good relationship with Derek, don’t you?"

"Yes, we get along well. We’re both from the knight order. Are you asking me to act as an envoy to comfort him?"

"Comfort him? Use your head! Why are you so confused at critical moments? Go immediately to the Ferreira family. Tell them I have a granddaughter of the right age. I think highly of Derek and want him to marry her. As a dowry, I'll offer him a knight’s fief. How about it?"

At first, Cesar didn’t understand, but then it clicked. "Brilliant! As expected, you’re the more experienced one." This was a masterstroke. Derek was about to become very influential, and at the very least, he would be made a hereditary baron. No one knew how high his future would rise.

Before anyone else could rush to form a connection, Count Pereira decided to secure Derek through marriage first. What stronger bond is there than family? As others scrambled to flatter him, the count had already made his move. "Hurry up! Why are you still standing there? Once the marriage is arranged, you’ll be the matchmaker, which is much better than others rushing to flatter him," the count urged, kicking Cesar out of the tent.

Cesar had no complaints. This was a golden opportunity. He wasted no time and rushed out of the camp, galloping away.

Count Pereira, meanwhile, wasn’t idle. He quickly ordered the cavalry to advance, leaving the main army behind. In just one day, they reached Ironwall City. Upon seeing the ruined southern camp and the pile of barbarian heads, he was sure the victory wasn’t fabricated. After learning that Derek had been monitoring the barbarians’ retreat, he couldn’t help but admire his bravery. "Truly the nature of a hero!" the count exclaimed.

Before the governor, Count Pereira went overboard in praising Derek. "Governor Jeffery, we should jointly recommend the heroes of this battle for merit, especially Knight Derek. I believe it's only fitting to grant him a viscount title and two baron fiefs."

The governor agreed, but he found the count’s enthusiasm unusual. He had heard that Derek came from the count’s knight order, but that wasn’t enough to explain such fervent support. However, the count was right about one thing: Derek had earned his merit, and that couldn’t be denied.

While the governor agreed to recommend Derek for a reward, the count was eager to act quickly. "Let’s not wait. The overall situation is resolved, and we should give him a surprise. It will show how much we appreciate our heroes!"

The count knew that acting quickly was crucial. If the marriage was settled first, his contributions would appear selfless. Once it was complete, it would be seen as self-serving. The governor, unable to resist, agreed to write a brief letter of recommendation while further discussions could wait.