Encountering Bandits

A Goblin King had appeared southwest of Graylight Wasteland. It was uniting the goblins in that region and preparing to retaliate against the humans who had encroached upon their homeland. An attack on southern Cadro Province was expected within a year.

"We can't go southwest for now."

He had thought the information from his paternal uncle would be useful, but he had not expected such a major threat in the southwest. Velin shook his head helplessly.

Seeing Velin's dejected expression, Orlando walked over and asked, "My lord, is there some problem that requires Orlando's assistance?"

"It's fine. Focus on training harder. Only then will you be able to help me in the future."

Velin looked at the boy and ruffled his golden hair, telling him to return to training and hone his skills so he would not become all show and no substance.

Just then, Belder, Captain of the Knight Guard, approached and reported to Velin, "My lord, according to the map provided by Baron Olcott, the road ahead is a bandit-infested area. We need to strengthen our vigilance."

"Mm. I'll leave the scouting and escort duties along the way to you. This is also a good opportunity to capture some slaves. What we need most for development is manpower."

"Please rest assured, my lord. I will make the necessary arrangements."

On Velin's route, a group of bandits had gathered. More than a hundred men armed with swords and blades lay hidden in the bushes on both sides of the road, greedily watching the path and waiting for a fat sheep to arrive.

"Boss Kuk, that group of fat sheep will pass through here in thirty minutes." A bandit ran over and reported to Kuk, the bandit leader in charge of this operation.

"Tell the brothers to get ready. If we succeed, there'll be enough women, men, and wine for everyone tonight."

The words drew cheers from the surrounding bandits. Under Kuk's rebuke, they quickly quieted down again and waited silently for their prey to enter the encirclement.

Half an hour later, a convoy appeared on the road and slowly approached the bandits' ambush site.

Velin rode on horseback, observing his surroundings. Something felt off.

"Belder, don't you think it's too quiet around here?"

"My lord, it is indeed so. There may be an ambush. Should we halt and send the knights to investigate?" Belder rode forward to Velin's side, swept his sharp gaze over the surroundings, and answered.

"No need. Those bandits should be hiding in the bushes ahead. Just have everyone else prepare for battle."

"Yes, my lord."

Slowly, the convoy drew closer and closer to the bandits' ambush site.

One of the bandit captains looked at the massive convoy, especially the two hundred militiamen armed with spears, and began to lose his nerve. He advised Kuk, "Boss, they have so many people. Should we..."

"Shut up. This is something the higher-ups ordered us to do. We have to complete it."

"Besides, they're only serfs. They're all just empty shells. What are you afraid of?"

"Say that again, and I'll boil you alive."

"Yes, yes, Boss. I understand." The bandit captain looked at Kuk fearfully and replied in a trembling voice.

He had personally watched his boss boil and eat several subordinates who had defied him. He would never dare provoke the leader's wrath.

Watching the convoy draw closer, Kuk held his breath, tightly gripping his spiked club as he stared ahead and waited for the best moment.

"Kill."

At the command, more than a hundred bandits rose from the bushes and charged at the convoy without regard for their lives.

"Enemy attack!"

Belder, Captain of the Knight Guard, drew his Knight Longsword and let out a roar.

Under the leadership of their respective squad leaders, the two hundred serfs quickly formed two defensive lines using the twenty-six carriages as cover.

Though there was some panic during the process, Velin was already very satisfied. He did not expect anything more. They had only been trained for less than half a month—could he really expect them to compare with a professional army?

Meanwhile, the eleven knights outside the formation drew their longswords and urged their Red Phosphorus Horses forward, meeting the bandits head-on.

Crack!

More than a dozen heads flew into the air. The headless corpses of the bandits charging at the front ran several more steps before collapsing.

Facing eleven Bronze Knights, the bandits, most of whom were ordinary men, had no ability to fight back at all.

Seeing this, Kuk, who stood among the crowd, waved his spiked club and moved toward one of the knights, intending to kill one first and steady the morale of his worthless subordinates.

After cutting down two bandits, Andrew noticed a burly bandit trying to sneak attack him and secretly gathered strength.

Kuk seized the moment, kicked off the ground, and burst forward.

Crack!

A head flew high into the air. Kuk's face was filled with excitement, but why was he rising higher and higher? That headless corpse looked strangely like his own body.

Kuk, a Mid-Bronze Tier Warrior, died just like that on the battlefield.

When the surrounding bandits saw their powerful boss lose his head to a single strike, they immediately scattered like monkeys when the tree fell, fleeing in every direction.

Belder seized the opportunity and ordered the serfs to attack, assisting the knights in slaughtering the remaining bandits.

Standing in the center of the formation, Velin watched the utterly one-sided battle. The eleven knights had already sent the bandits fleeing in all directions before the serf formation could even get close. He did not know how to judge it.

All he could say was that the bandits of Cadro Province were too stupid. They had no strength, yet they still tried to imitate others and rob people. They were truly idiots.

The battle ended after only eight minutes. Next came the matter of capturing prisoners.

"My lord, forty-three bandits were killed, and fifty-seven were captured." Belder came to Velin's side and reported.

Velin stepped forward, patted Belder on the shoulder, and praised him loudly, "Your bravery has proven your loyalty."

At that moment, four serfs brought two bandit captains forward and forced them to kneel before Velin for interrogation.

"Speak. Who is your leader? On whose orders did you ambush us?" Belder drew his longsword and placed it against one bandit captain's neck.

"My lord, our leader was called Kuk. He just died at the hands of your knights. As for who ordered us, I truly do not know." Looking at the sharp Knight Longsword, the bandit captain answered shakily.

Velin stared at the bandit captain who had spoken, then waved his hand.

Seeing this, Belder thrust his sword directly through the bandit captain's throat. Blood gushed out.

The other bandit captain looked at his dead companion, then at Belder, who was preparing to strike, and shouted, "My lord, I know! I know!"

"There is a noble behind us. Only our boss knew exactly who it was, but you just killed him."

"Please spare my worthless life."

"It seems some hyenas have set their eyes on us."

"My lord, there are only a few noble families in this region. We can ask around along the way. Whichever family has the worst reputation is likely the one behind this." Belder, Captain of the Knight Guard, cut off the other bandit captain's head with one stroke and said to Velin.