It was done.
With tears yet unshed.
More than twenty men, silent and resolute.
Stepped out from the crowd and stood before Arthur!
Arthur was somewhat excited.
These men were his foundation!
Since he came to this world.
Besides Old Nicken, Lucien, and Hakon.
These were truly his own people!
As for the other forty-odd people, although there were still more than ten males.
It was certainly not out of fear.
He could see their anger and hatred towards the High Mountain Clan.
But there were people they cared about in the group.
Wives, daughters, mothers.
They couldn't abandon them and pick up swords to fight.
Arthur didn't intend to force them.
Let them go to the territory.
They were also an important new force!
While it wouldn't make the territory well-off.
At least there was hope for development.
Everything was promising!
Arthur drew his longsword, rode his horse forward, and shouted to the soldiers standing around:
"Brothers! Accelerate the march!"
"Find a settlement! Welcome our new brothers!"
"To their new life!"
"To the blood of the High Mountain Clan that will soon flow!"
"All expenses! I'll pay!"
With the order given, the atmosphere of the halted Team suddenly changed.
The soldiers' faces and eyes showed wild excitement and joy.
These days, after every battle, they had to rush for a day and a night.
Only then could they rest.
Each person carried enough silver deer to live half a lifetime or even a lifetime without working.
But they couldn't spend it! Their hearts itched with unbearable desire! Their whole bodies felt like a thousand ants were crawling and tickling them!
Especially after women appeared in the team, everyone felt a suppressed fire in their hearts!
Unfortunately, they all knew that Lord Arthur's military orders were like a mountain, and no one dared to cause trouble, only daring to meet in dreams!
They had long wanted to enjoy themselves!
Six riders were ordered to gallop out to find a settlement.
Six High Mountain Clan warhorses captured from the High Mountain Clan, small like goats.
They looked exactly like riding on a dog!
Small as goats, riding them felt like riding dogs, so no warrior was willing to ride them.
It was suggested to kill them for meat.
But Arthur stopped them.
No matter what.
As long as it could run, it could be used.
It was also a horse! Even if it was a High Mountain Clan horse!
The group sped up, with Arthur leading the way.
The soldiers galloped excitedly, but the formation remained.
Until dusk...
The sun was half-sunk below the horizon, the last rays of twilight falling in the distance.
The front of the group was still empty, not even a single figure could be seen.
They had passed through two villages along the way, both in ruins, devoid of human habitation.
It was clear that the High Mountain Clan had been there!
"Damn it! Why can't we even see a shadow of a person!" a soldier cursed breathlessly within the ranks.
The soldiers lowered their heads, their faces showing sadness, with obvious disappointment and anxiety.
This feeling was like being in a desert with a cart full of gold.
Even Lucien relaxed his discipline, allowing the soldiers to quietly vent their emotions.
Arthur, holding the map, also frowned slightly.
There was a small town ahead; hopefully, the High Mountain Clan hadn't caused trouble there again.
Just then, a rapid sound of hooves came from ahead.
A "goat rider" stumbled into view.
The rider on the horse swayed, as if he would fall off at any moment.
It was the scout rider!
Arthur's heart sank sharply.
Don't tell me!
Nothing else! Just too tired!
Let alone the soldiers!
He was tired even riding a horse!
Even Arthur wanted to enjoy himself!
When the rider galloped in front of Arthur, he almost fell off his horse.
His face was gushing with nosebleed, bruised and swollen, his hair disheveled, his armor twisted, looking utterly miserable.
He had clearly just been severely beaten.
"My Lord! Lord Arthur!"
The rider's nosebleed ran into his mouth, making him speak haltingly, affected by the blood, looking pitiful.
"Ahead... ahead... there's a town!"
"We... we... met... a High Mountain Clan... in there!"
"But... but it felt... like... he wasn't a High Mountain Clan!"
The rider realized he was speaking haltingly, quickly raised his head, and pinched his nose.
"The six of us were ready to take him down! But we didn't expect his longsword skills to be terrifyingly strong!"
"Five brothers were knocked down! And some villagers who helped! Only I managed to retreat amidst the chaos to report to my Lord!"
Arthur was somewhat surprised and asked again:
"One person?"
The High Mountain Clan usually moved in groups, rarely alone, and one person causing trouble in a town?
"Yes, My Lord! Just one! He wasn't strong at all! In fact, he was very thin! But he was very skilled with the longsword!" The rider gestured.
Upon hearing the situation, the soldiers immediately became enraged!
All the villages along the way had been troubled by the High Mountain Clan!
Finally, they found a small town!
And it was being troubled by the High Mountain Clan!
Everyone looked at Arthur with expectant eyes.
Lucien and Hakon also rode forward, awaiting Lord Arthur's command.
During this time, this group had won battle after battle.
The High Mountain Clan no longer seemed so powerful and fearsome in their eyes.
Arthur looked at the soldiers, waving his right hand forward.
"Everyone! Move!"
"Yes!" The soldiers shouted and galloped towards the town.
As Arthur and the soldiers entered the town, they saw the man.
Five wounded soldiers lay on the ground, groaning.
A lean man with black hair, black eyes, messy stubble, and dressed in animal skins.
He was rummaging through them, taking their hard-earned money.
He was somewhat stunned looking at so much money in the bag.
Then he saw so many people coming.
Without the slightest hesitation, the man plunged the tip of the longsword he held downwards, with a crisp metallic sound.
"Clang!"
It plunged into the mud beside him.
The money bag in his hand was also casually tossed aside.
As if it were just something the other party had accidentally dropped.
His hands were raised high, indicating he was harmless.
Only a hint of shrewdness and an almost imperceptible awkwardness flashed in his eyes.
At the same time, he shouted loudly: "I'm not a High Mountain Clan! My Lord!"
"This is a misunderstanding!"
Arthur rode his horse forward, the soldiers following with their weapons in front of the horse.
Lucien and Hakon rode to his left and right.
Arthur pointed to the five severely beaten soldiers lying on the ground, groaning:
"This doesn't look like a misunderstanding?"
He had some guesses about this man's identity, but he needed the other party to confirm it himself.
The man pointed to the fallen soldiers, forcing a somewhat strained smile on his face:
"This is truly a misunderstanding! My Lord!"
"My Lord, I am a mercenary, hired by Deep Valley City!"
"The reason I'm wearing animal skins is to impersonate a High Mountain Clan to break through and seek help!"
"During the fight, I shouted out my identity loudly!"
Arthur frowned and looked at the injured rider who had reported the news.
"Lord Arthur, he seemed to be shouting something, but it was chaos at the time, I didn't hear anything clearly," the rider reported truthfully, touching his injured cheek.
Seeing the rider confirm the matter.
And this young noble did not order an attack.
"My Lord! Your soldiers, as soon as they saw me!"
"They charged at me! As if they saw a fat sheep!"
"I thought they were bandits!" The man looked at Arthur with an innocent expression.
Arthur said nothing.
He rode his horse in front of the man, turning his horse to face him. "What's your name! Mercenary?"
"My Lord."
"My name is Bronn."