Defending Against Bandit Invasion

"Are there any people from your village among them?" Mel asked the village chief.

"No."

"Ask whether any of them are willing to join. If they refuse, order the crossbowmen to shoot them dead."

Mel saw none of the strongmen he wanted among the bandits before him. At the very least, this lot could not wear heavy armor, so they were not the talent he needed most.

The heavy armor used to equip knights was the real ultimate weapon. Horses could be found later; he had slaughtered too fiercely back then, leaving all those horses dead. In the end, they could only fill the villagers' stomachs.

Even if used by infantry, the knights' heavy armor was still an ultimate weapon. But not many people could wear heavy armor and still wield a greatsword.

"People inside, listen up! Open the village gates immediately! Hand over your food, and we'll spare your lives!" A bandit lackey took the initiative to run up to the village gate and shout. During this time, the village had added a wall of moderate height. The thirty soldiers in the village were all hidden behind it, and the third party had not noticed them at all.

"Got any women? Hahaha!" the bandits in the rear burst into laughter.

"Is anyone among you willing to join our village's army? The army of a Great Mage," the old village chief called out to the bandits outside.

"An army? Haha, a backwater village like yours has an army? Stop joking. You can't bluff me, old man!"

"Open the village gates now! With a low wall like yours, we can break in easily!"

"I'll give you one more chance. Is anyone willing to join the Great Mage's army? We can provide food and meat. You must undergo the appropriate training and