From sailboats to star destroyers (Source: Web)

Chapter 45: Mercenary Group? Or Thugs?

Horse hoof prints extended into the forest path, the soil mixed with dark red scabs.

Miao Meng chased them for twenty miles, and the team that had set up camp in a clearing in the forest was finally exposed to his view, but the situation was far more complicated than he had expected.

More than thirty armored mercenaries leaned against tree trunks, sharpening their weapons. Their chainmail gleamed coldly in the shadows, and the blades of their hand-held swords flashed with a chilling light, just as the Black Earl had judged.

However, another group of people was scurrying around the perimeter of the procession: villagers with their wrists tied together in a long chain of ropes, their coarse clothes covered in mud, men carrying confiscated farm tools on their shoulders, and women hugging their shivering children tightly.

Several mercenaries paced beside the ranks, whips in hand, the tips of their whips sweeping across the ground, raising fine dust.

There were no elderly people in the group; the oldest slave was only around forty years old, his sallow and emaciated face etched with numb resignation.

"Raiders and farmers mixed together." Miao Meng crouched low behind the bushes, and the Black Earl stood like a shadow behind him, his voice extremely low.

"The ropes used to tie people up were dried grass stems, the bindings were loose, and the whips only lashed the ground... This is not a bloodthirsty gang, but hyenas that have been given dirty work."

Miao Meng remained silent for a moment, his fingertips tracing the cold hilt of the sword at his waist.

He retreated into the deeper shade of the trees, where a faint psychic glow emanated, and his medieval aristocratic attire instantly enveloped him—a deep blue velvet coat adorned with silver buttons, and long boots that trotted silently on the ground.

With another thought, more than forty undead crew members appeared in formation in the forest behind him. Their neat armor was covered by heavy robes, and the smell of decay was barely masked by cheap perfume that had been sprayed on them.

The Black Earl straightened his back, a perfectly measured arrogance rising on his pale face, his slender but powerful fingers adjusting a non-existent bow tie.

"A noble title is a stepping stone."

Miao Meng activated the title "Black Knight," and an invisible aura of authority enveloped him. "But I'm missing a horse."

According to Black Knight's memories, there is indeed a knighthood on this continent. This title is lower than a baron, but higher than a knight.

Most of them were renowned scholars, wealthy merchants, or illegitimate children of nobles, who were granted this unique title under the witness of the kingdom.

Furthermore, intermarriages between royal families of different countries have occurred, and although they are constantly at war with each other, it does not affect their mutual recognition of each other's titles.

An earl of the Kingdom of Herest would be recognized even in the Kingdom of Senist.

Therefore, Miao Meng was not worried that his title would be useless. Seeing this, the Black Earl understood immediately.

He walked out of the woods alone, the dry branches rustling under his hard-soled boots, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

The mercenaries gripped their weapons warily, and a scarred man stepped forward to lead the way.

"Halt! The Black Beast Mercenary Group is here to execute a contract." Scarface's voice was like sandpaper scraping.

The Black Earl didn't even bother to lift his eyelids. With a casual flick of his finger, two gold coins traced a famous arc and landed on the muddy ground half a foot in front of Scarface's boots, spinning around.

"My master's horse broke its leg and drowned in that stupid river ahead."

He drew out his words, his voice carrying a salty, briny quality like the sea breeze, "These two gold coins, in exchange for your best horse. Immediately."

If Miao Meng hadn't witnessed the other party's ferocious fighting power before, he probably would have thought that this arrogant attitude of his was the steward of some noble family.

Scarface's gaze swept over the gold coin, then turned to the woods—armored figures appeared and disappeared among the trees, silent as reefs.

The full-body armor made of fine steel is a genuine weapon on the continent of Galtilan, a symbol of wealth and power that ordinary mercenaries cannot contend with.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he winked behind him. A mercenary immediately trotted over and led a fairly robust brown horse.

"May I ask who you are, sir?" Scarface asked tentatively, the dirt under his fingernails clearly visible as he bent down to pick up the gold coin.

"You are not worthy to ask your master's name."

The Black Earl took the reins, his fingertips casually brushing against the saddle. "But what are you doing, tying up a string of farmers in this desolate wilderness?"

Scarface forced a smile: "This is a job led by Kingsby. That village of Watchtower up ahead dared to kill the Baron's tax collector! We're just cleaning house for him, taking these scoundrels back to pay off their debts."

He spoke with a boastful tone, deliberately raising his voice, "In this territory, the name 'Black Beast' means efficiency. If you have any 'minor matters' that you can't handle personally, the price is negotiable."

The Black Earl let out a soft, ambiguous snort as a response.

He turned his horse around, the hem of his black robe brushing against the dew-covered grass, and returned to the shadows of the forest, where he whispered the intelligence he had gathered.

"So, the massacre of the village was a pretense; the real purpose was to quell tax resistance and enslave people," Miao Meng concluded, his gaze sweeping over the empty faces of the slaves in the distance.

A child tripped and fell, and the mother, who was being pulled along by a rope, let out a suppressed sob. The whip immediately cracked at her feet.

"To intervene and save someone?" the Black Earl asked.

Miao Meng shook his head and remained silent. What good would it do to save them? On this continent, nobles are like mountains weighing down on everyone.

Even if they are saved today, they will still belong to some lord tomorrow.

In the eyes of those slaves, his title of "Black Knight" was no different from that of the Baron who issued the arrest warrant.

The impulse of conscience could not withstand the cold reality—he had neither the power to overturn the rules nor the capacity to bear the endless trouble that would follow.

Kingsby City.

Miao Meng uttered the place name, mounted his horse, and let the rough feel of the reins rub against his palms.

"lead the way."

The undead guard turned silently, his iron boots stepping onto the forest path in the opposite direction from the mercenary group. Miao Meng glanced one last time at the writhing slave caravan, flicking his whip lightly into the air.

"drive."

The brown horse galloped away, carrying him into the deep shadows of the forest, leaving behind the bloody mud and numb groans.

The wind rustled through the branches and leaves, its mournful sound lingering, as if it were the heavy sigh of the continent itself.

Although he considered this study to be quite perfect, not only did he obtain the information he wanted, but he also did not leave a deep impression on the other side.

But in reality, this encounter left a deep impression on the Black Beast Mercenary Group.

Leaving aside the question of which nobleman would be willing to spend gold coins to buy horses, although two gold coins are indeed almost the same price as a horse, in reality very few people would use gold coins to buy them.

The sheer size of the armored guard alone was enough to rouse them to their highest level of alertness, making them deeply etch this team into their minds.

If we encounter them again, we must run away as soon as possible and inform the others that a fully armored team has appeared here. I wonder which nobleman is leading his private army to run rampant here.

Therefore, in the eyes of the Black Beast Mercenary Group, this generous and powerful noble team was indeed a formidable force that had crossed the river.

These war hounds are able to thrive in the current chaotic situation, and even grow stronger, all thanks to their eyes.

Of course, intelligence exchange with other mercenary groups is also an important part. Therefore, the news of the unknown noble with powerful guards quietly spread among the lower-level mercenary groups.

Some speculate that he is a branch of a noble family coming to establish a new territory, others that he is a descendant who escaped from the destruction of his family, and still others that he is an illegitimate son of a noble family preparing to seize power.

Rumors were flying everywhere, but without exception, they all indicated that this team's strength should not be underestimated, which caused many mercenary groups to have their minds racing, wanting to take this opportunity to try their luck.