This legendary knight commander simply didn't believe their claims that they were too badly injured to fight.

In other words, after they initially provided information about the Frostwhisper Rift, Theodore had already suspected them when he asked them to stay with the Eighth Knights.

"He's fishing." Late at night, under the cover of the hay cart, Monica's voice was almost swallowed by the wind and snow. "He's using us as bait, hoping to catch Sister Irene, or... the Oracle."

Mark nodded silently, the old wound on his chest aching slightly in the cold night. This time, in order to withdraw from the scout team, he really did deliberately take the attack from the dark wizard.

He knew that with the holy power of the priest and Xiao Mu's true ability, it was impossible for him to be injured to the point of being unable to stay on the front line in the previous battle.

Although Theodore did not point it out, this is definitely the biggest doubt.

But even if it made Theodore more suspicious, he had to do it.

This show of weakness is just to buy time and an opportunity for observation.

"What about the intelligence? Any progress?" He was more concerned about this.

"Yes." Monica's eyes were as sharp as a knife in the dim light.

She took the opportunity to help organize military supply files and talk to the wounded in the medical battalion, collecting fragmentary information like the most patient hunter.

"The Knights' internal advance route is extremely clear, with almost no deviation in direction. Piecing together the scattered information brought back by the scouts...

"They've likely already located the Oracle's approximate hiding place, deep within a crack in the ancient ice cap of the 'Eternal Ice Abyss.' The Eighth Sacred Knights are pressing in that direction with all their might."

Mark took a deep breath of air filled with grass and ice.

Chance!

If Theodore and the Oracle, two terrifying legendary beings, collide, it will be a situation of heaven and earth collapsing.

The order and surveillance that the Eighth Knights were proud of would inevitably have unsustainable gaps, or even huge breaks, in the face of that level of chaos.

This was the eye of the chaotic storm they had been waiting for.

He possesses the [■■Saint's Cross Necklace] and the [Forbidden Scripture? ([Dream Chapter], [Star Chapter])].

As long as they are not monsters like Alfonso or the Puppet Master, the knights with holy light attributes in other holy knights may not be able to keep them!

"Theodore's attention will be completely drawn to the Oracle." Mark's voice was filled with determination. "This is our only chance. We must make everything appear 'normal' before he takes action. We must prepare supplies, routes, and disguises."

In the days that followed, Team Mark's performance in the logistics camp was exemplary.

Mark used the passive power of the cross necklace to diligently perform low-intensity "purification" for the soldiers injured while transporting supplies, and beads of "tired" sweat often seeped out of his forehead.

Monica's arm "injury" made her movements a little clumsy, but she did the cleaning and bandaging work extremely carefully.

Anna helps look after the pack animals, and the elf's affinity with nature makes her appear to be just a weak helper.

Enzo's terrible frostbite looked even more hideous in the cold. He silently did the heaviest physical work, and every time he moved things, he was accompanied by heavy breathing, as if he would collapse at any time.

The only ones who knew they were acting were Theodore and his lieutenant.

The knights who were in charge of monitoring the four people had only received orders from their superiors to keep an eye on them, but they had no idea that these seemingly hardworking young men were just acting.

Mark's team took advantage of the logistical convenience and quietly collected the necessary supplies.

High-energy jerky that is enough to support the journey across the ice field, cold-resistant oilcloth, a simple ice field survival kit, and even some low-level and inconspicuous healing potion scrolls.

With her keen understanding of maps and geography, Monica combined the recent travel routes of the Knights and the locations of logistical supply points.

A preliminary outline was drawn up of a covert route that could avoid the main patrol area and evacuate to the southwest of the ice field (the direction leading to the western battlefield of the continent).

At the same time, intelligence from scouts in the front was transmitted back to the camp more and more frequently, and the atmosphere became more tense day by day.

Even the trainee soldiers in the logistics battalion felt the oppressive feeling of impending storm.

Rumors began to spread in the camp.

Phrases like "Eternal Silence of Ice," "Terrifying Energy Reactions," "The Captain is personally leading the team," and "Decisive Battle" appeared more and more frequently...

The four members of Mark's team exchanged glances, and they could see the solemnity and a hint of long-awaited sharpness in each other's eyes.

The storm is coming.

Theodore Pellegrini, the legendary leader of the Eighth Sacred Order, has pointed his sword at the Oracle.

And at the moment when these two destructive forces collided and completely tore the attention of the behemoth Eighth Knights, it was the moment when they broke free from the cage and fled to the Lor Swamp where their life and death were unknown.

On another day, the speed of the Eighth Knights' ice and iron torrent advancing on the ice field suddenly increased.

The several Dark Church strongholds that were originally expected to be entrenched on the path leading to the Eternal Ice Abyss became deserted before the main force of the Knights arrived.

Whether it was a small fortress built against a natural ice cave or a camp established on the leeward side of the glacier, all that remained were traces of hasty abandonment.

In some camps, the embers of the campfires were still warm, but the stored supplies had been emptied or burned, and the fortifications had been deliberately destroyed.

"Empty again?"

Lieutenant Gerard kicked open the broken door of a crooked igloo, and found nothing inside except scattered broken ice and a few worn leather mattresses.

He frowned as he reported to the deputy leader who was riding up on horseback, "Sir, it's the same as the previous three strongholds. The Dark Church's people retreated very cleanly, with almost no resistance."

The deputy head of the group looked at the dead ruins in front of him with a gloomy face.

This abnormal smoothness was strange.

The Dark Church seemed to be actively making way for them and shrinking its forces with a clear goal.

It felt like... a group of hyenas were actively avoiding a pride of lions pouncing on the wolf king.

"It seems they understand." The deputy captain turned on his horse, his voice low and echoing in the wind and snow, "The captain's real target is not these small fry like us, but the big fish hiding behind them - the 'Oracle'.

"They chose to protect themselves, abandoning their outlying strongholds and withdrawing all their forces to the core area, or simply gave up the road.

"Send the message! The target remains unchanged, full speed towards the Eternal Silence Abyss! Scouts advance a hundred miles, be alert for ambushes!"

The news was quickly passed back to the central army.

Theodore Peregrine sat on his mighty black ice-maned warhorse, his wrinkled face showing no surprise or joy, only an unbreakable coldness.

The Dark Church's retreat without a fight confirmed his judgment.

The other party has seen through his intentions and made the choice that best suits their own interests, sacrificing the rook to save the king.