Chapter 14: Intelligence
The skeletons accompanying Skele-Pride strode forward, carrying three people like plucked chickens.
Thud!
Thud!
Sir Kyle and his two squires were roughly thrown onto the ground, leaving them dizzy and disoriented.
Following closely behind were the thirteen Bone Village villagers, escorted by Skeleton Soldiers.
They were trembling, not daring to breathe loudly.
When they saw the scene before them clearly, only one phrase echoed in their minds—the one the Village Chief had said that day: Undead Lord!
Here was a massive valley, a bustling construction site in full swing.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands of skeletons were carrying out construction work with efficiency and discipline incomprehensible to humans.
Some used bone shields to dig foundations; others used bone swords as saws to cut logs.
Still others lined up, carrying huge timbers toward the center of the valley one by one.
And in the center of that construction site, upon a throne carved from a massive tree stump—so crude it was almost laughable—sat a skeleton.
He looked no different from the other skeletons: same bone frame, same empty eye sockets.
But when anyone's gaze touched him, a shudder originating from the depths of their souls made their knees weak, almost forcing them to kneel on the spot.
That was the absolute Ruler, the singular will of this domain of death.
Kaito sat on his throne, legs crossed, two finger bones tapping rhythmically on the armrest.
After advancing to Tier 3, the qualitative change in his Soul Fire had completely freed him from the embarrassment of a clacking jaw. He could now clearly project his own voice.
"Tell me everything I want to know."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a unique resonance of death energy, drilling clearly into the ears of every living being.
"This is your only path to survival."
Sir Kyle struggled to climb up from the ground, spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva.
He held onto the hilt of the sword at his waist, forcing himself to maintain the dignity of a noble. The clear footprint on his breastplate looked particularly jarring.
"Vile undead! A monster like you who profanes life, don't dream of getting anything out of the mouth of an Imperial Knight!"
Kaito tilted his head.
Courage commendable. But only courage remains.
He didn't even bother to say another word, just waved his bony hand gently.
Standing to the side, Skele-Lust immediately understood.
He strode out, examining Kyle with interest.
An invisible mental wave radiated out, making the surrounding villagers feel dizzy.
"The Empire! Will avenge me! Iron Fortress will roar for me!"
Two Skeleton Soldiers stepped forward, grabbed the struggling Kyle, and dragged him into the crooked wooden cabin.
"Ah—!"
A scream so shrill it didn't sound human came from the cabin, then stopped abruptly.
Outside, the remaining two squires and thirteen villagers turned as white as paper.
Kaito's voice rang out again.
"Now, it's your turn."
Thump!
The two squires couldn't hold on any longer. Their knees gave way, and they knelt heavily on the ground, their foreheads pressed tight against the dirt.
One squire named Lloyd spoke, his voice shaking uncontrollably.
"My Lord! Supreme Lord! We are willing to submit! We are willing to tell you everything!"
The other, named Rosen, banged his head on the ground repeatedly.
"We are willing to serve you! We only beg you to spare our lives!"
"Very good."
Kaito was satisfied with this efficiency.
"First, tell me, what level is an army like yours in this world? And also, your power system."
Lloyd didn't dare hide anything, spilling the beans like pouring bamboo tubes.
"We are the direct cavalry squad of the Iron Fortress territory! In the entire Vollachian Empire (localized: Odri Empire -> Vollachia/Empire), we are only considered a mid-tier local armed force!"
"But in Iron Fortress, we are the Lord's only cavalry force, so our status... our status is okay!"
"We cultivate Battle Aura (Mana/Prana)! Through meditation and training, we stimulate the body's potential!"
"I am a Tier 1 Knight Apprentice, and so is Rosen! Kyle... Sir Kyle is a Tier 2 Formal Knight!"
Kaito's tapping finger stopped.
"And the strongest?"
"The strongest we know is the Lord of Iron Fortress, Viscount Andrew!"
"He is a powerful Tier 3 Professional!"
Rosen rushed to answer, afraid of being a step slow.
"But rumors say there are Tier 6 monsters in the Imperial Capital's Royal Knights! But that's just a rumor!"
"The only thing we can be sure of is the Lionheart Guard protecting the Emperor; they are terrifying existences, all at Tier 5!"
"Oh?"
Kaito's Soul Fire jumped.
The Lord of Iron Fortress was Tier 3, the same level as his current Generals.
The Capital had Tier 5s, possibly even Tier 6s.
"Not bad."
Kaito's voice carried a hint of approval.
"From now on, you will live in my Undead Empire."
"Your job is to teach my citizens all the common knowledge about your world."
He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold.
"Don't let me catch you adding personal bias. I can hear every word you say."
Lloyd and Rosen trembled all over, gripped by the fear of being completely seen through.
Is this really a skeleton?
Even the legendary Undead Lords in books were never said to possess such clear wisdom and insight into the human heart!
"Yes! Lloyd is willing to serve you!"
"Yes! Rosen is willing to serve you!"
The two kowtowed heavily again.
Kaito shifted his attention away from them and landed on the group of shivering villagers.
"Do any of you have a craft?"
The villagers looked at each other. A man who looked somewhat sturdy hesitated for a long time, then finally gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
"Lord... Lord Ruler."
His voice was as small as a mosquito's hum.
"I... My name is Paul, I'm a blacksmith... but, but my skills are terrible. I can only make hoes and nails."
Kaito interrupted him.
"Enough."
He waved his bony hand. A squad of Skeleton Soldiers moving logs nearby stopped immediately.
Walking over with uniform steps, ten skeletons—Clang!—stood in a row in front of Blacksmith Paul.
"From now on, they are your apprentices."
Kaito's tone allowed no refusal.
"I need you to teach them blacksmithing."
Paul looked at the ten skeletons standing taller than him, then at the sharp bone swords in their hands.
His legs went weak, and he almost fell.
What if they kill the donkey after it leaves the mill (kill me after learning)?
But on second thought, this might be the only chance for him and his family to survive.
He took a deep breath, imitated the two squires, and clumsily knelt on one knee.
"Blacksmith Paul is willing to serve you!"
"Very good."
Kaito nodded, then looked at the remaining villagers.
"You lot will be responsible for teaching my citizens how to farm. Clearing land, sowing, irrigation, everything."
Although the remaining villagers were scared to death, thinking that this skeleton had technically saved them...
And didn't seem to be a demon who killed innocents indiscriminately...
They all knelt down, expressing their willingness to serve.
"Good. Take them all away. Find an empty wooden cabin and stuff them in."
Kaito issued the command. The Skeleton Soldiers immediately sprang into action, taking this batch of newly joined technical talents to the living quarters.
Having dealt with these trivial matters, Kaito slowly stood up from his throne.
At this moment, his soul link instantly covered the entire Bone Forest!
"All units, return to the territory! I have an announcement!"
Meanwhile, at the edge of the Bone Forest.
Hamus was galloping through the woods on his horse, daring not look back.
He could hear the heavy, rhythmic hoofbeats behind him, like the Grim Reaper's drumming, shattering his sanity step by step.
That Skeleton Cavalry was like a white ghost. No matter how he dodged, he couldn't shake it off.
Just when he despairingly thought he was dead...
The hoofbeats behind him suddenly stopped.
Hamus didn't dare stop, but he couldn't suppress his curiosity. He turned his head to look back.
The Skeleton Cavalry had stopped quietly a hundred meters away.
It was no longer chasing.
Those two points of Soul Fire burning in the darkness penetrated the layers of branches and leaves, locking precisely onto Hamus's eyes.
Hamus swore he would never forget this scene for the rest of his life.
If becoming a "superior" Knight meant facing such incomprehensible monsters, he would rather be a spurned peasant forever!
The next moment, the Skeleton Cavalry turned its horse around and left without hesitation. The Ruler's command superseded everything.
And Hamus collapsed on his horse like a pile of mud. He had escaped, but his courage to hold a sword had been shattered into pieces.