After all the exhausted team members had drifted off into deep slumber, Avi took on the task of keeping watch alone, patrolling the campsite and pondering their next move.

The plan was straightforward: if the knight commander arrived as agreed, they could leverage the battlefield scene to prove they had fulfilled their mission and depart from the area with legitimacy. If the other party failed to appear, they would proceed directly to Middenheim for a period of rest.

Departure was inevitable. Despite developing a slight attachment to the camp they had managed for over a month, it was ultimately too perilous a location for human habitation.

Avi's anguish and anxiety didn't linger for long. Roughly half an hour later, the knight commander arrived as scheduled, accompanied by dozens of imperial knights. Witnessing the silent campsite and bodies strewn about, they assumed the mercenary group had been entirely vanquished.

When Avi presented himself before them, most of these soldiers, clad in full plate armor and mounted on tall steeds, displayed expressions of astonishment, save for the knight commander, who dismounted and approached Avi calmly.

"It's surprising to see you're still among the living," the knight commander nodded slightly in lieu of a salute. "Fighting those vile beasts mustn't have been a walk in the park."

"As you can see, we are now utterly incapacitated," Avi, utterly spent, refrained from laying blame for their tardiness. "We have fulfilled the mercenary contract with the Elector Count and are prepared to depart."

"Hmm..." The knight commander furrowed his brow for a moment. "Can you hold out for another three days?"

"We've already decimated hundreds of orcs!" Avi's temper flared at the other's demeanor, gesticulating vigorously and exclaiming, "Over an hour of battle was borne entirely by my team and the villagers nearby. We demand to leave this place!"

"Alright, alright, calm down," the knight commander, with a hint of disdain for the blood-soaked mercenary captain, interjected, "Listen to me. You have indeed fulfilled Lord Boris's requirements, but what I'm about to ask you to do is purely at my own behest, understand?"

"Why should I assist you? You still owe me a favor from before," Avi deliberately raised his voice for the surrounding knights to hear. "Yes, we're mercenaries, but that doesn't mean we're at your beck and call."

"Stay calm, as I've said," the knight commander's displeasure was evident as he approached Avi and spoke in a low tone, "You've already received your desired compensation for the previous matter. Now you want to extort me? Even if you do, you won't gain anything. No one will believe a common mercenary like you!"

"Perhaps the Elector Count and the generals won't believe, but your soldiers, the civilians, and soldiers from other regions may not turn a blind eye," Avi threatened quietly. "If you don't want your reputation tarnished by treating us as mere cannon fodder, do you understand?"

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The knight commander fell back, reassessing Avi with a keen eye before suddenly breaking into a smile. "Don't be so tense, my friend. Since I've requested your continued presence here, I must have my reasons. Would you care to hear them? Of course, I'll prioritize your freedom and autonomy regardless."

"Please, keep it brief; the herd could return at any moment," Avi conceded helplessly.

"Very well, I'll be succinct."

Knight Commander swallowed his discontent and spoke with measured composure, "It's commendable that the surrounding villages are lending assistance, but the recent surge in activity of those vile creatures with hooves around Middenheim suggests the impending 'Witching Night.'"

"Witching Night?"

"You're unaware?"

"I, uh... I do, it's the night of the full moon in Morrslieb. This occasion heightens the activity of anything associated with chaos." Avi glanced at the panel before him and recited, "This day will see evil things associated with chaos become more active."

"Indeed," the knight commander affirmed, "Those beasts have left numerous nefarious and foul marks near Middenheim, indicating an imminent attack—whatever the beasts' intentions, Lord Boris will not allow them to succeed."

"So, you propose we remain here to defend against the beasts' assault?" Avi's discontent persisted. "As I've mentioned, my team is depleted of any remaining fighting strength and cannot endure any longer."

"I will lend my aid," the knight commander assured. "The villages behind you are my hometown."

"Assist us in what manner?" Avi inquired.

The knight commander visibly exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow, preparing to elucidate his 'plan' to Avi.

Thirty minutes later, Avi returned to the camp to find Airen standing by the extinguished campfire, awaiting his return.

"Your Excellency," Airen rose promptly upon spotting Avi, "Shouldn't you be awaiting reinforcements at this hour?"

"Yes, but it may not necessarily bode well for us." Avi settled wearily onto a nearby stone by the campfire. "The knight commander has proposed that we continue guarding here until the Witching Night arrives in three days."

"Witching Night!" Airen exclaimed, "Is he out of his mind? Witching Night is when the orcs are most active. By then, we—"

"I understand the peril, but circumstances have shifted." Avi interjected, "Numerous chaos marks have surfaced around Middenheim, suggesting an imminent attack by the herd during the next Witching Night."

"Yet remaining here does not ensure safety, especially with our depleted fighting strength."

"The knight commander pledged to dispatch additional manpower and supplies. These fall under his purview. It appears... he's recently accommodated some fortuitous individuals."

"Deserters?"

"Some escorts waylaid by orc raiders, all fellow mercenaries like us. They were unfortunate enough to be captured while escorting a caravan and subsequently rescued by the provincial army patrolling the area."

"But can they provide the supplies we require?"

"The knight commander pledged to dispatch a few carts upon his return to transport the promised supplies." Avi paused briefly before adding, "Given his proximity to his hometown, it seems he's been stationed here for some time."

"In that case, I can empathize with some of his predicament," Airen mused, "As a soldier, he's bound to await orders, but as a person, he can't bear to witness his hometown's destruction."

"However, we're still uncertain if this is merely an excuse. Therefore, let's ready our belongings. I've arranged with him that if we don't receive the supplies by four o'clock this afternoon, we'll depart."

"I'll abide by your decision, Your Excellency." Airen nodded. "And may Sigmar grant us smooth passage."

"It's not Sigmar blessing us, Airen, it's our own efforts that will see us through." Avi corrected gently.