Chapter 107: Wilderness Survival Law! Overwhelming Power Gap! |
This was the letter that the heretics of the Wilderness Knight Order had nailed to his bedside with an arrow two days ago.
It had already been the second year.
Every half year, in the final month, he would unfailingly receive this letter.
Clenching the paper tightly in his palm, Rang Laide’s fist tightened.
There was no way—absolutely no way.
In this desolate border city, even the Kingdom Merchant Caravan would not pass through.
Coupled with the weakening power of the upper territory, the wasteland domain—
those bandit knights exiled into the wilderness had long set their sights on this place.
For someone like him, a Quasi-Knight already in decline, there was simply no strength to resist.
In the end, his resistance failed, and he could only settle the matter by paying money.
Afterward, he reported it to the wasteland domain. The minor lord promised assistance, but no action ever followed.
Rang Laide understood—on this land of the wasteland domain, no one could help them.
Unless the kingdom’s Golden Knight Order just so happened to get lost, and just so happened to have a surge of goodwill, slaughtering those damned bastards.
But he never spoke of this matter.
Every half year, one hundred silver coins as the offering fee.
All of it fell on him alone.
Blackwater City simply didn’t have that much tax revenue. To maintain the situation, he had already sold off most of the valuables in his home.
So he racked his brains and spent a sum of money to send Leo to Blackstone City, even using connections to smooth things over.
It could be said that Leo was now his only motivation to keep going.
He wanted his child to inherit this land.
But at this rate, at most half a year more, he wouldn’t be able to hold on.
Last month, Blackstone City had also experienced a Beast Calamity. Although it ultimately became safe,
it brought additional expenses, making an already strained financial situation even worse.
Rang Laide spread his palm and rubbed his temples with his thumb and ring finger.
He opened the drawer, took out a letter he had prepared long ago, and removed five silver coins from the envelope.
After thinking for a moment, he ultimately put the silver coins back into the envelope.
He planned to make another trip to the wasteland domain. If he still received no help, he would have no choice but to pawn the ring on his hand first.
……
Time quickly reached the next day.
A group of riders galloped all the way to the outskirts of Blackwater City.
Along the way, the civilians had no idea who these people were.
They only knew they couldn’t afford to provoke them, so they stayed inside, doors and windows tightly shut, not daring to go out.
The group rode straight through the small Blackwater City and stopped in front of Rang Laide’s house.
The long-faced knight at the front wore full armor, with a blue longsword hanging at his waist.
He glanced at the eagle circling in the sky, clasped his hands together, and muttered something under his breath.
Ever since joining the Wilderness Knight Order, he had shown great respect to all birds flying in the sky.
Because he had heard that the messenger of the Black God in legend was a three-eyed crow.
If one showed disrespect, it would bring immense misfortune.
With their eyesight, at such heights, he couldn’t tell how many eyes the bird had.
In any case, it wouldn’t hurt to show more reverence.
The group dismounted one after another. The others stood guard at the door, while the long-faced knight and his attendant strode into the small building and headed toward the second-floor study.
“Heh, Sir Knight, looks like the Black God will bring us good luck today.” The short, chubby attendant glanced at the sky behind him and grinned, flattering him.
But soon his expression changed. “What did you say! Wasn’t it agreed—two hundred and ten silver coins? Why are there only two hundred?”
The pockmarked, chubby attendant opened Rang Laide’s money pouch and deliberately displayed it to the knight not far away.
“Gentlemen, there’s really no more. When you came last time, there were indeed one hundred and five people in Blackwater City, but last month we had a sudden Beast Calamity, and five people died.” Rang Laide handed over a roster with several names crossed out.
“Bullshit!” The attendant snatched the roster and tore it to pieces. “Two hundred and ten was agreed—two hundred and ten it is! Not a single coin less. You say they died? Who knows if you old bastard hid them somewhere.”
After speaking, the attendant glanced at the knight by the window, waiting for his reaction.
With a creak, the long-faced knight closed the window.
“Heh, Lord Rang Laide, you know what I appreciate most about you—your cooperative attitude.” The knight sneered, then shut the window. “I’m not fond of tricks, but I’m very reasonable.
If you only have two hundred silver coins, that’s fine. Then I’ll just take five people from your citizens.”
“No!” Rang Laide understood his meaning—these vampires wanted to drain Blackwater City dry.
Taking six people meant five children or young individuals would become their slaves.
As the lord, he had the duty to protect every citizen.
He lowered his head, quietly clenching his fists.
“Wait.” Rang Laide walked to the desk and took out a sealed envelope from the drawer.
Carefully cutting open the wax seal with a knife, he took out five silver coins and handed them over. “This is all there is.”
“Old man, it’s ten silver coins, not five. Is something wrong with your ears or your brain?” The chubby attendant gestured arrogantly.
“There’s really only this much. This money…” Rang Laide stopped mid-sentence.
This was money he had prepared to send to Leo as living expenses. Unless absolutely necessary, he hadn’t wanted to use it.
The attendant was about to speak again but was interrupted by the long-faced knight behind him.
“No problem, my old friend. In times like these, who doesn’t have their difficulties? We’ll let these five silver coins pass this time.”
Watching the five silver coins in his hand being taken away, Rang Laide finally let out a sigh of relief.
“However, next time I come, you’ll have to pay ten extra silver coins as interest. I believe the great and generous Black God will forgive your recklessness this time, dear lord.” The knight joked, squeezing Rang Laide’s shoulder, then took the money pouch, turned the handle, and left.
On the black iron handle, five clear finger imprints were left behind.
Rang Laide looked at the crooked handle.
This was the power of the Knight Realm. With such power combined with weapons and armor, they could truly reduce his small Blackwater City to ruins.
Moreover, behind these few individuals stood other forces of the Wilderness Knight Order.
On the other side, the group that had received the money quickly passed through the small Blackwater City.
Mounted on fast horses, the long-faced knight happily waved his whip.
Clearly, he was in a good mood—he had successfully collected the money and applied pressure.
A steady flow was the best approach.
After over a year wandering the wilderness, he had accumulated plenty of experience in such dealings.
The Knight’s Code he had once learned had long been worn away by the cruel life of the wilderness.
As a member of the Wilderness Knight Order, strength was the law of survival, and money was the foundation.
One had to do everything possible to extract money from these weak lords to enhance one’s own strength.
Only then could one gain a higher position within the Wilderness Knight Order and have a chance to enter the core circle.
To receive the blessing of the Black God and grasp even more powerful mysterious forces.
A few minutes later, the group rode away from Blackwater City in a grand manner.
“Sir Knight, that old man is quite sly. He even hid five silver coins at first. Only when you stepped in did he get scared and hand them over.” The chubby attendant followed behind, speaking ingratiatingly.
“Hmph. Sly? Does it matter? On this land, only strength matters.”
“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right. Look, that divine bird seems to have been following us.” The attendant pointed at the eagle in the sky.
Under the blazing sun, he couldn’t clearly see the bird among the clouds, only feeling that it seemed to be watching them.
“You idiot! Put down your filthy hand—don’t point at it!” the knight shouted angrily, clasping his hands together and no longer looking.
Ever since learning the doctrines of the Black God Church, he truly felt that all signs indicated that gods existed in this world.
For example, the large bird that had been following them.
Maintaining reverence was also a law of survival in the wilderness.
……
In the small courtyard, Leo withdrew his mind.
He hadn’t expected that behind his previously peaceful life, there were so many hidden matters.
The Wilderness Knight Order…
Those bastards.
Leo gritted his teeth, and with a crack, the horseshoe in his hand was unconsciously crushed into two pieces.
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