The Chud's counterattack was desperate and resolute, but what greeted them first were not the swords in front of them, but crossbow bolts arriving with huge kinetic energy.
In the blood mist that exploded in an instant, five people were pierced by crossbow bolts, and the momentum directly pinned them to the wall, along with the blood splattered on the wall.
Those five people were not dead, but they were in a state worse than death, only able to let out hoarse screams there, but unfortunately, this did not alleviate the pain.
The Chud in the hall couldn't help but look over, and this scene immediately dispersed the blood courage that the Chud had accumulated.
Just moments ago, those who had intended to fight to the death with the Rus' were now filled with fear, and their former fearlessness of death seemed as if it had never existed.
"Ah!"
The arm of the stunned Chud warrior was directly chopped off by Rostislav.
The man covered his wound in vain, and the Prince kicked the dying man over, then sent him to meet his gods with another sword strike.
Looking at the fear in the enemy's eyes, Rostislav couldn't help but marvel at his Grandfather's little trick.
Firing a crossbow bolt at the breached gate had completely destroyed the blood courage of those who were determined to fight to the death.
With one push, they were weakened, then exhausted.
It would be difficult for them to muster that fighting spirit again.
The Rus' Bodyguard Unit rushed past the Prince, pouncing on the terrified Chud, and the Chud no longer had the guts to resist the Bodyguard Unit who were like tigers and wolves.
Accompanied by screams and collisions, the Grim Reaper's scythe swept mercilessly, and the defenders fell one after another, blood covering the ground.
Facing the Rus' swords, the Chud either scurried away with their heads in their arms or resisted weakly.
It could be said that victory was only a matter of time, only depending on when the Rus' would kill all the enemies.
——————
"So this is Alar?"
Looking at the corpse the Bodyguard Unit dragged up, Rostislav subconsciously scratched his helmet.
He hadn't expected this person to die directly.
"Yes, Your Highness, this is Alar, that Chud warlord.
He took a javelin to the chest, and his heart was directly shattered."
The large ruby on Alar's helmet was very conspicuous, immediately attracting Rostislav's attention.
As for the armor, it was perfectly intact.
If you ignored the large hole in the chest, it could even be considered something freshly made.
Rostislav was slightly displeased.
In his plan, he should have captured this guy alive first before beheading him, so that he could ask about the attack on him and his father.
But he hadn't expected this Chud warlord to lose his life directly.
But it was only a slight displeasure.
The most important task had always been to take Alar's head.
As for that little idea, it was ultimately just a bonus and could be completely disregarded.
"Regardless, first chop off his head and send it outside.
Granval, you do this."
The silent Captain of the Guard raised his double-headed axe and neatly chopped off the corpse's head.
He picked up the head and carried it out, and as Granval held up the bloody trophy, earth-shattering cheers also rang out.
"Your Highness, I think you should look at this."
Just as the Nuo City Prince was about to walk out of the fortress to enjoy the cheers that belonged to him, the standard-bearer Yang came down the stairs of the fortress.
Yang had just led people to clear the upper part of the fortress.
It seemed he hadn't encountered any enemies, as there had been no sound of fighting from above, and there were no bloodstains on him.
"I found this in Alar's room.
I can't read this thing, but it was placed right in the center of his desk, as if it was meant specifically for us to see, so I brought it."
As Yang said, he was holding a rolled-up parchment in his hand, and upon seeing the parchment, Rostislav's heart stirred.
He thought of something and quickly walked up to Yang to take the parchment.
He untied the silk thread and spread out the parchment.
On it was the Rus' language, something he could understand.
The content of the letter was not much, but it was all very important:
My friend, I am very glad that Vladimir is dead.
I will pay you the final payment very soon, but it will take some time.
The situation in Kiev is very tense, and it will take time for me to distribute the supplies.
In addition, Yaroslav has decided to go North.
It seems he intends to use this opportunity to thoroughly clear the North.
You will surely be his target.
When he truly sets off, I will bring you news.
May you seize the opportunity.
Finally, may Saint Simeon bless your soul.
"So it is indeed…"
After reading it, Rostislav said softly, feeling as if a stone had fallen in his heart.
He finally confirmed the existence of the conspiracy.
Before seeing this letter, he had doubted several times whether he was being too sensitive, leading to all these suspicions.
However, although this was something he had been looking forward to, a sense of disappointment still surged in his heart, because he had already guessed most of the information on it.
There was almost no new information he wanted.
The greatest use of this thing was to prove the existence of the conspiracy, but other than that, it was useless.
The information on it was all that he had guessed — or rather, could analyze from the discoveries.
The person who wrote the letter was truly meticulous.
Apart from the information that was bound to be exposed, no other news was revealed at all.
The Nuo City Prince rolled up the parchment.
He planned to give this to his Grandfather.
Although his Grandfather must have also thought of these things, he still had to give it to him, because this was evidence, evidence of the conspiracy.
"Yang, this cannot be leaked."
"I understand, Your Highness."
Yang was well versed in his father's philosophy of life.
He didn't ask anything and just carried out the task.
What he shouldn't know, he shouldn't know.
"As for now."
Rostislav looked at the damaged gate and the countless sounds of revelry coming from outside the gate.
"Let me go and enjoy the glory I deserve."
——————
Among the cheering crowd outside the main fortress, Alar's head had just been impaled on a spear, and the cheers became even louder as a result.
Most people had gained more or less from the war and wanted to go home, and Alar's death could be said to announce the imminent end of the war, so everyone naturally cheered from the bottom of their hearts.
When Rostislav, who had accomplished this feat, walked out, the soldiers began to shout his name.
Everyone liked heroes, especially such young heroes.
And beside a burnt-down hut, a soldier who was cleaning up corpses stood up and walked to the side of the lookout soldier.
Both were dressed as fully armed citizens, wearing tattered armed clothing and carrying spears and shields.
Their bags were filled with collected spoils.
"I really didn't expect Alar to die like this.
And that Rostislav, it seems it was really a mistake to underestimate him back then."
"Rostislav was the unexpected one.
Who knew this kid was so capable.
As for Alar, we shouldn't have put so many bets on him.
Barbarians are unreliable."
"That's not for us to judge.
Watch your mouth.
Now we should return to Chernigov early and bring the news back.
By the way, do you think Alar will expose the lord?"
"Even if he exposes him, there are conditions.
Even if those letters are confiscated, it's useless.
The letters the lord sent to this barbarian never contained any actual information.
Nothing can be found."
"Then are you sure the body is cleaned up?
This guy deserves to be Alar's spy master, he almost got away."
"It's all cleaned up.
Let's go."
The two walked towards the outside of the Mountain Stronghold while talking.
No one stopped them.
There were people dressed like this everywhere in this Mountain Stronghold.
Everyone just thought they were two soldiers returning to camp after looting.
No one knew what these two had just done, but no one cared what they had done, after all, death and looting were commonplace in this Mountain Stronghold.