57: Orel Valley, attack

A valley, a valley within the Badlands, it had no name, it was just a valley.

However, the Nightwalkers of the "Black Hand" settlement came to the valley, claimed it as their own, and then gave it a name—Aureole Valley.

With Aureole Valley as the core, the Nightwalkers of the "Black Hand" settlement continuously transformed the valley and the surrounding areas.

Finally, the "Black Hand" settlement built Aureole Valley into a stronghold with complete production and living facilities, and considerably strong defensive capabilities.

Aureole Valley is located southwest of the Buckle Family Camp, with a distance of approximately two hundred kilometers between them.

The entrance to Aureole Valley is not very hidden, but if the people of the "Black Hand" settlement intentionally conceal it, it would be difficult for someone unfamiliar with the terrain to find the entrance's location immediately.

When the people of the Buckle Family rushed here, the Nightwalkers had just finished building a new defense line at the entrance of the valley.

Including the three existing defense lines, there are now four defense lines at the valley's entrance.

The leader of the "Black Hand" settlement issued an order to his subordinates to build at least five defense lines at the valley entrance.

After receiving the order, the Nightwalkers, although complaining bitterly, could only grumble while working for the sake of their own lives.

"Damn Buckle Family, why are you in such a hurry to attack us? Can't you prepare for a few more days before coming?!"

"Exactly, exactly. It's all because of them that our leader is forcing us to frantically build defense lines. Ouch, my back, I've sprained my back."

“……”

Walking in from the valley's entrance, one enters the valley, where there is a desolate basin composed of sand, gravel, and abandoned metal.

This basin is the hinterland of Aureole Valley.

The ground of the basin is composed of large expanses of wasteland and soft quicksand pits.

These quicksand pits are natural traps.

The people of the "Black Hand" settlement disguised each quicksand pit to serve as a field trap.

[Field Trap Card, Activate!]

In the center of the basin is a signal tower, surrounded by two circular defensive lines.

On the middle level of the signal tower is a heavy machine gun; as long as the defensive lines below the tower are not breached by the enemy, the people inside the tower can use this heavy machine gun to firmly suppress the incoming enemies.

Precisely because of this, the leader of the "Black Hand" settlement requested the Nightwalkers to temporarily add another layer to the defensive lines around the signal tower, thus ensuring the safety of the signal tower, which is a high ground for firepower and a fortress.

In the hinterland of Aureole Valley, there are some natural caves and tunnels on all four walls.

The people of the "Black Hand" settlement renovated, expanded, and modified these caves and tunnels, turning them into rooms and passages.

Following the consistent style of the "Black Hand" settlement's leader, many traps were set within the rooms and passages.

[I feel like the leader of the "Black Hand" settlement is on the wrong set; he should go to the neighboring Cautious Hero's set.]

At the very back of the valley, there is a spring of underground water.

This spring was the decisive condition for the "Black Hand" settlement choosing Aureole Valley as their stronghold.

However, the defensive strength near the spring is not considered very strong.

After all, the spring is located at the very back of the valley, so there is no great need to arrange too many defensive forces here.

If it weren't for the leader of the "Black Hand" settlement fearing someone might poison the spring, he might not even have placed personnel here.

Moreover, there are no secret passages near the spring leading out of the valley; if forced back here by the enemy, they would only be able to fight like cornered beasts.

Therefore, it is better to place more personnel at the valley's entrance and the signal tower.

[But is there really no secret passage near the spring? (Dog head)]

Within Aureole Valley, the last place that needs attention is the supply warehouse located in the corner of the basin.

The supplies plundered by the "Black Hand" settlement from outside are all stored in the supply warehouse and distributed uniformly by the Nightwalker leader.

……

The people of the "Black Hand" settlement were steadily improving the stronghold's defenses; we shall not mention this for now.

Let's look at the Buckle Family's side.

After two and a half hours of driving, the Buckle Family's convoy successfully arrived near Aureole Valley.

Under Karl's command, the members of the Buckle Family parked their vehicles about ten kilometers away from the entrance of Aureole Valley.

Fang Yun, as a member of the First Assault Squad, parked his vehicle in front of Karl's off-road vehicle along with the other members of the squad.

After parking the vehicles, Karl's low and steady voice sounded in the family convoy's communication channel:

“Family members, the 'Black Hand' settlement's stronghold is now close at hand.”

“According to the operation plan, the First Assault Squad will lead, the Second and Third Offensive Squads will be responsible for the flanks' safety, and the logistics squad will follow behind the offensive squads.”

“Is everyone ready?”

In response to Karl's question, the leaders of the four squads gave affirmative replies in the communication channel:

“We are ready.”

“Let's start! Let's have a big fight!”

“Preparation OK.”

“OK.”

Karl nodded with satisfaction, then issued the command:

“Everyone, cheer up.”

“I won't say anything unnecessary. Remember, everyone, must return alive.”

“Begin the attack!”

As Karl's command was issued, the engines of all vehicles roared powerfully once again.

The Buckle Family's convoy began advancing towards Aureole Valley at a moderate speed.

The time was 5:30 PM, and the sky had already become somewhat dim.

More than thirty vehicles, during the advance, split into four parts, driving towards the entrance of Aureole Valley in an arrowhead formation.

Given the size of the Buckle Family's convoy, it was unlikely they could launch a surprise attack on the "Black Hand" settlement.

Of course, the Buckle Family, coming to seek revenge against the "Black Hand" settlement this time, didn't intend to employ surprise attack tactics either.

Karl, or rather everyone in the Buckle Family, had the idea of 'Confront them head-on! Just do it!'

Within the communication channel set up by Fang Yun, Vavinia, Valentine, and Toke.

Fang Yun (smiling slightly): “Valentine, the two of us can start our competition in a little while.”

Valentine (smiling wickedly): “Start in a little while? No! From now on, we are already competing!”

Valentine: “Whoever rushes to the entrance of Aureole Valley first will gain the upper hand!”

Fang Yun (silent for a moment) (tone of admiration): “You are right. The competition has already begun!”

“Go——!” ×2

Fang Yun and Valentine simultaneously pressed down hard on the accelerator.

Their vehicle speeds continuously increased.

Soon, the two of them arrived behind the vehicle of the First Assault Squad leader.

Fang Yun and Valentine flanked the squad leader's vehicle, one on the left and one on the right.

The squad leader saw the fronts of their vehicles out of the corner of his eye, and then said jokingly in the First Assault Squad's internal communication channel:

“Heh, they've grown up.”

“That little brat from back then, in the blink of an eye, has already grown to the point where he can drive side-by-side with me.”

“Not bad.”