Chapter 443: Harrison’s Severe Injury

The two of them set off for the Porter family residence. The Porter family was on high alert, with tight security in place. Every corner seemed watched, with people quietly hiding, fearful of another assassin attack. Victoria had not yet left. She never made a grand exit from the palace, only bringing Rowena along as she arrived. Sadie and Johnathan were also waiting outside.

When Sadie saw Oliver arrive, she asked, “Did you bring it?”

Oliver handed her the box and asked, “How is the situation… now?”

“Not great. Victoria said if he survives tonight, there might be a chance,” Sadie replied before turning and walking inside.

Oliver stepped forward to greet Johnathan. Johnathan clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ve done well.”

Johnathan, being close friends with Harrison, spoke to Oliver in the tone of the head of the family.

“Don’t worry. Harrison will pull through,” Oliver reassured him.

Johnathan’s face grew heavy as he sighed. “He’s seen countless battles, bearing ninety-two scars. He’s a hero on horseback, a warrior who made Thalvinar tremble at his name. He’s meant for a warrior’s fate, not to die at the hands of demons. He’ll pull through, he has to.”

Isolde, listening nearby, felt a deep pang of sorrow. For a military general, the greatest hope is to defeat the invaders and bring peace to the land, allowing the people to live in harmony. People often say that the best end for a general is to die on the battlefield. But those who say that have either never been to war or are only repeating slogans. Dying on the battlefield may be the most honorable end for a general, but it is far from the best. The best end is when the battle drums stop, the flames of war are extinguished, and the general can return home to live a peaceful, happy life in the environment they fought to create. This is what every warrior truly craves as their final homecoming.

Harrison’s attempted assassination was an insult not only to him but to all warriors.

Oliver said, “Southern Watch is conducting a city-wide search. We’ll catch the culprit soon. Don’t worry.”

“This assassin is truly formidable. Harrison’s deputy was with him. The deputy’s injuries are less severe, but he said there was only one attacker. The assassin wore dark clothes and had a small frame. His moves were sharp and precise, using hidden weapons. The deputy was wounded by one, and when Harrison fought, the attack patterns were strange, not like typical Central Plains martial arts,” Johnathan explained.

“It was because Harrison was already injured,” Johnathan explained.

Oliver asked, “Before you returned to Argentum, there were no military conflicts in Fragoland’s border cities. How were you injured?”

“The deputy said, on the way back to Argentum, the road was icy, and Harrison’s horse slipped. They happened to be on a steep cliff, and Harrison fell off the horse. Fortunately, he wasn’t fazed and used his dagger to slow his fall, saving his life, but he was severely injured.”

Oliver furrowed his brow. “What a coincidence. Slipping on a cliff like that? Have the horses been checked for tampering?”

“Well… we didn’t ask,” Johnathan said, looking at him. “What are you suspecting?”

Oliver said, “I suspect that someone tampered with the horse during that incident, but they failed.”

Isolde added, “If I’m not mistaken, this wasn’t the first ‘accident’ you encountered on your way back to Argentum. There must have been more along the way, only they were narrowly avoided.”

Johnathan’s expression turned serious. “If that’s the case, then it’s clear this was premeditated. What could their goal be? Was it only to kill Harrison?”

Oliver shook his head. “I doubt it was only Harrison’s life they wanted. Harrison was heading back to Argentum to report, and in a few days, he would return to Fragoland. While Harrison is there, he’s a barrier. Without him, that barrier becomes a small hill, and Fragoland will be vulnerable, easy to take.”

Just then, the door creaked open, and Victoria stepped out. She looked at Oliver and said, “Your analysis makes sense. Southern Watch is thoroughly investigating this. You’re here, so go and check on the deputy’s condition and follow the leads.”

“Understood,” Oliver replied, turning to leave.

Victoria turned to Isolde. “Come inside.”

Isolde hesitated. Was it appropriate for her to enter? Harrison hadn’t woken up yet. But since Victoria ordered it, she had no choice but to comply.

Inside, she found Harrison’s wife, Brielle, and their three sons. Harrison lay in bed, his bloodstained clothes discarded on the floor, and a basin of warm water beside him, now soaked in blood. Harrison’s face was pale, with a deep gash running from his left brow to his ear. It was clear that if he hadn’t dodged in time, half of his head would have been cleaved off. The assassin had aimed to kill him, and this blow was clearly intended to end his life. There were multiple other wounds on his body, with a deep wound on his chest that hadn’t been properly bandaged. The wound had been cleaned, but the surrounding area was stitched up with thick thread, covering a large area. Harrison’s breath was shallow, and if one wasn’t paying close attention, they would think he was already gone.

Brielle sat beside him, worry and anxiety clouding her face. Her eyes were red, but she didn’t let a single tear fall.

“You don’t have to worry. Harrison will surely pull through,” Isolde reassured her softly.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Victoria had insisted that family members stay by his side. While the young men could endure the scene, Brielle seemed so fragile, her face pale, lips trembling as she held back tears.

Brielle nodded quietly, her voice trembling, “Yes, I hope so.”

Isolde wasn’t sure what to do next, so she glanced back at Victoria. Victoria pointed to the basin of hot water on the floor. “Harrison has wounds on his legs. Go help him with those.”

“I?” Isolde was startled. “I’m not sure I can do that.”

She had treated battle wounds in the past, but those had been urgent and done quickly. Now, with so many eyes on her, including Victoria’s, she was unsure of how to proceed. But she had no choice but to push through.

She took the scissors Rowena handed her and cut open Harrison’s pants leg. She gasped as she saw numerous small wounds across both legs. Upon closer inspection, these weren’t minor injuries – they were caused by hidden weapons, each small wound containing tiny pieces of metal. To properly treat these wounds, she would have to extract each piece of metal. It became clear why Victoria had asked her to handle these wounds.