At Victoria’s Stronghold in the York Territory, the gamers were informing each other of the new Knights that appeared at the boundary of the Duke’s Castle and an impending attack. They had to prepare their defenses.

The gamers were used to being attacked, having been attacked several times since the start of Victoria City. After every attack, the gamers would have a bounty, so they welcomed the attacks.

The Knights were going to attack them, so they were extremely happy.

Lancelot was nervous as he directed the gamers to build up the defenses, such as chevaux de frise and obstacles at the only way into the Stronghold.

Lancelot was still worried, but there were no other choices.

The troops of the Counts and Barons got close to Victoria’s Stronghold.

When thousands of Knights surrounded the Stronghold, many gamers were wandering outside, and they were captured by the Knights. They were easily captured. After all, the gamers had no intention to flee.

The gamers thought that the Knights were ordered to capture them by the Duke, so they offered to be captured. If they joined the slave warrior army, they could be like Hoodlum and be at their life’s pinnacle. Why would they want to flee?

The gamers didn’t know that the Knights were the reinforcements of the Counts and Barons, who didn’t have the intention to form a slave army to conquer the world.

To rescue the Duke, they tried their best to diminish the combat power of the gamers.

After capturing and interrogating the surrendered gamers, they killed all of the prisoners.

The Counts didn’t have any prisons to keep the gamers, especially when there were thousands of them. Even if there were only hundreds of them, the Counts wouldn’t hesitate to kill them.

The gamers got to know on the discussion forum and from the other gamers that defecting to these Knights would only invite instant death instead of Strange Encounter Missions.

Since there was no mission, the gamers started attacking the Counts’ army.

The ambitious Steamed Dumpling felt the same hopelessness that George had.

When the battle began, Steamed Dumpling’s soldiers held the upper hand and almost overran the Stronghold. The chevaux de frise and obstacles were cleared.

Then he used fire and burned all of the obstacles.

The gamers outside were captured and killed before they launched an attack at the Stronghold.

“Count Steamed Dumpling.” As the troops were about to attack, a Knight walked to Steamed Dumpling and said, “The location of the Victoria camp is strategic. I thought the Victorians were only brave and brutish. I didn’t expect them to have such a tactical genius.”

“I’m surprised too. However, this defensive Stronghold isn’t a problem for us.” Steamed Dumpling smiled confidently and said to the troops behind him, “Bring forth our Cannons!”

A few squires pushed three large Cannons forward.

The gamers in the Stronghold noticed the large Cannons. They never expected such a weapon to exist in the medieval ages.

However, it was nothing strange for such a thing to occur in a game.

The Cannons used by Count Steamed Dumpling weren’t simple Cannons using gunpowder. They were similar to the Underworld Magic Cannons.

The energy used wasn’t Mana but the power of knowledge. In other words, it was the Power of Sacred Light.

The energy for the Cannon Shell wasn’t derived from a gunpowder explosion. Instead, there was a propulsion device attached at the back of the Cannon. Before firing, the device had to be filled with water, and a shell that was filled with the Power of Sacred Light was loaded into the Cannon. Only members of the Church knew the details of the Cannons.

Steamed Dumpling wasn’t a member of the Church, and he wasn’t interested in the mechanisms of the Sacred Light Cannon Shell. He was only interested in using it.

Steam energy didn’t provide much power, so a member of the Church blessed the Cannons with Sacred Light. He chanted and engulfed the three Cannons in the Sacred Light.

The gamers were shocked. They didn’t expect that the Power of Sacred Light could be used this way. With the order of Steamed Dumpling, the three Cannons fired simultaneously. The brilliant Shells flew towards Victoria’s Stronghold and exploded in midair.

The explosion was blinding and destroyed everything in the Stronghold.

The wooden defenses were completely destroyed by the second volley of the Cannons. The first volley destroyed most of the Stronghold.

Only the Rune Mana Formation that was protected by Mana was intact.

The Rune Mana Formation was more than enough for the gamers to turn the tide.

…

At Victoria City.

Lancelot had just come out from the Castle when he felt something strange in the atmosphere. A lot of naked gamers came out of the Revival Point, cursing and swearing.

“What’s the deal? The Cannons killed all of us. Isn’t this an online game? Why is it a Plot-driven massacre?”

“It was horrifying. I didn’t have a chance to react before I died!”

“Make haste. Let’s go back and check our equipment. It should still be around since we were killed during a Plot!”

“If I lose my equipment, I’ll kill the game producer’s mom!”

The gamers were making a fuss. They then ran towards the Teleport Portal. Lancelot didn’t have to ask to know that something happened at the Stronghold in the York Territory.

As he was about to enter the Teleport Portal, Big Boss Hamster stopped him and said, “Count Glamorgan, please don’t leave. The Queen ordered us not to enter the York Territory.”

“But our Stronghold is being attacked. I have to direct their defenses. If the enemy enters the Teleport Portal, even the Queen will be in danger.”

Big Boss smiled and said, “That’s impossible. Even if they arrive here, they are of no threat to the Queen. Just heed the order of the Queen and stay in Victoria City. This is for your safety.”

Big Boss Hamster didn’t explain much. Lancelot speculated that the Queen believed in the revival ability of the gamers. They didn’t have to fear the enemy.

As a Knight, he was always hiding when there was danger. It was difficult for him to accept. He wanted to rebuke and obtain a chance to fight at the frontline.

Big Boss didn’t give him a chance and went back into the Castle. As Lancelot was about to catch up with Big Boss, he saw Guinevere, who said, “Count Lancelot, I heard the Stronghold in the York Territory was attacked. Did the Duke counterattack?”

Seeing Guinevere’s worried expression, Lancelot quickly explained, “Don’t worry. The situation isn’t clear. Believe in our strength. We’ll help you get back your land, Miss Guinevere.”

As he spoke, Lancelot straightened his back like a real Knight.

“Apologies, I’m not Miss Guinevere. I told you before that I’m not a woman.”

Guinevere was embarrassed, but Lancelot nodded with understanding.

If Guinevere’s territory was being usurped and she was forced to flee, she would disguise herself as a man. It would be easier for her.

It was unknown when Lancelot began to believe that Guinevere was a woman and disregarded other people’s perceptions of Guinevere. Guinevere was now his wife, and the Queen was his master. The Queen betrothed Guinevere to him, and the order couldn’t be rescinded.

Though Lancelot nodded, Guinevere didn’t think that Lancelot had accepted his explanation. Guinevere tried to explain many times, but Lancelot still thought of him as a woman. However, it wasn’t the time to fret over it. He asked Lancelot, “If you require my help to fight at the Stronghold, please tell me. Don’t look at me like that. I can wield weapons and ride a horse to battle.”

Lancelot was about to say something when a gamer interrupted them and said, “Do you want to take a look at the battlefield? I can be your guard. Give the mission to me!”

A gamer volunteered himself while other gamers had just recovered from their shock. They didn’t know that a Strange Encounter Mission could be obtained from a Plot. Was that not a Hidden Mission?

If a gamer could receive a generous reward from escorting Guinevere around the battlefield, it would be an easy mission.

“Choose me. The Hoodlum Yoga Association is the strongest Guild in Victoria City.”

“I’m stronger, my Weapon Level is Level 5. Give me the chance.”

“Guinevere, I respect you a lot. Let me be your escorting Knight. I’ll protect you. Even if I die a million times, I’ll not let any harm come to you!”

“Are you becoming unscrupulous because of a Strange Encounter Mission? Are you ditching your integrity?”

Lancelot didn’t have a chance to speak to Guinevere, who was uncomfortable with the gamers’ offers. Guinevere raised his hand nervously in a bid to decline their offers.

The commotion attracted even more gamers. At that moment, a gamer at the Teleport Portal shouted, “My equipment is gone! All destroyed by two volleys of Cannon fire! Give me back my equipment, you trashy game!”

“Isn’t that a safety zone?”

“There’s no safety zone when monsters attack. Even the Queen can be killed!”

“Go and help at the Stronghold. The Knights are attacking!”

More and more gamers entered the Teleport Portal to help defend the Stronghold at the York Territory.

Guinevere was moved when he saw the gamers fight fervently to help him regain his territory. His eyes started to well up.

Lancelot noticed Guinevere’s tears. He unsheathed his Longsword and said to Guinevere, “Don’t worry, we’ll help you get back the York Territory.”

“Thank you, Count Glamorgan.”

Guinevere was touched as he looked at Lancelot. Then, he said to the gamers, “Thank you, everyone. Thank you for helping me regain the York Territory. I’ll reward everyone who has shed their blood and life. Your names will be remembered by all in the York Territory!”

Guinevere’s voice became louder. The gamers were full of anticipation for the generous rewards!

They became very excited and dashed to the Teleport Portal to battle the enemy Knights.

The battle between the Duke of York and Victoria City had just started.