Loot Store

Kawkab's bloodied head was passed around among the Kurdish cavalry.

It struck the hearts of those stubbornly resisting like a heavy hammer.

Even dismounted, these Kurdish cavalrymen were still skilled in combat.

Moreover, their coordination was seamless, like jackals roaming the desert, pairing up to end enemy lives with the swiftest and most dishonorable tactics devoid of any chivalry.

They were killing machines, showing no mercy, faithfully carrying out Lothar's command to kill everyone wielding a weapon.

Lothar no longer participated in the fight; he didn't want to reach a point where he treated living people as mere experience point fillers.

After a long while, the sounds of shouting and killing finally subsided.

The Kurdish soldiers herded the disarmed garrison and servants onto an open space outside the manor.

Abdullah, holding a mace stained with blood and gore, approached Lothar.

He studied Lothar's profile, seeing his calm expression, as if he had calculated everything, and felt a slight chill.

He lowered his head and respectfully said, "The Holy Fire burns eternal. Kawkab's loyalists have been purged, and all prisoners who laid down their weapons are being held under guard."

Lothar nodded. "Have everyone spread out and collect the spoils. Our time is limited. Remind them not to be blinded by wealth."

"Also, remember to stay in pairs, be careful of enemies hiding and ambushing you."

A smile spread across Abdullah's face. Kawkab, as a lord, must have accumulated considerable wealth over the years.

Even if they only took gold and silver vessels, and coins, it would still be a substantial fortune.

No matter how devout their faith or how brave their fighting, Mamluks wouldn't turn down money.

"Don't worry, my lord. My men are all seasoned warriors; no one will do anything so foolish."

At the same time, a system prompt sounded in Lothar's ear.

You have activated a milestone: Siege and Capture (You have successfully led your soldiers and retainers to capture an enemy lord's castle, killed the enemy lord, and displayed his head as a trophy).

Reward: Loot Store activated.

Loot Store: You can sell spoils to the system store. The system will evaluate their value and grant you gold and silver currency.

Lothar's expression shifted slightly. This was a godsend for him.

He was just worrying about how to select valuable spoils. With only four people here, the amount of loot they could carry was very limited.

"Abdullah, let's go too."

Lothar immediately set aside his reserve and walked into the manor within the castle.

A Kurdish soldier was about to rush into a room to search for valuables, only to be stunned to find the room already empty.

Furniture, carpets, murals, vessels – everything had vanished.

"Holy Fire above, what happened?"

"It's like a swarm of locusts descending upon a field."

The Kurdish soldier checked several rooms, all of them bare.

His companion shouted to him, "Go over there. We've already searched here. Lord Lothar has given us priority to select spoils."

"Searched?"

"How could they search so thoroughly?"

The soldier was completely bewildered.

Lothar, meanwhile, dashed through room after room.

Silver chamber pot, red pine cabinet, velvet mattress, glazed porcelain vase, tables and chairs...

In short, everything except the floor that could be dismantled and judged as loot by the system had been sold off by him.

It was like a bandit raid.

Anyway, he only had to touch them lightly, and they would disappear.

The final profit, after deducting the fractional parts, was a full eight hundred system-produced gold coins, emblazoned with his own portrait. Lothar could use them anytime.

While having his own face on the gold coins made him feel a bit embarrassed, it wasn't actually overstepping. Many local lords in this era had the right to mint coins.

It depended on whether there were gold or silver mines in their territory. If they melted down high-value currency and mixed it with lead and tin to cast debased coins, they might be held accountable by their liege lord.

High-quality gold and silver coins produced by the system were hard currency anywhere and could also enhance his reputation.

"Only eight hundred?"

Lothar was somewhat disappointed.

He had just toured all the rooms that the Kurdish soldiers had searched. He had sold off all the larger items they had missed.

And this was all he got – eight hundred gold coins.

Lothar didn't believe that Kawkab, a prominent feudal lord, would only have items worth this little in his territory.

Besides these large, inconveniently heavy valuables and low-value items, Lothar and the Kurdish cavalry had also collected a large number of portable gold and silver treasures.

These gold and silver artifacts had craftsmanship value, so Lothar hadn't been willing to sell them directly to the system.

It's a shame that living things can't be sold in the Loot Store, otherwise, it would be a lot of money.

The "living things" here refer to livestock and warhorses.

Lothar wasn't so insane as to sell all the captives through the System.

"Everyone, two horses per person, leave quickly."

"Don't bring too much, prioritize fodder, waterskins, and feed."

Lothar commanded loudly.

At the same time, he approached the captives. Under the terrified gaze of the man at the very front, he slashed with his sword, breaking the rope that bound him. "You are free."

The captives looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Go, untie your companions."

"My lord Saladin is a benevolent person. The reason he dealt so cruelly with your lord Kawkab was solely due to Kawkab's arrogant insults towards my lord."

"You may go and tell the Sasanian King that if any of his lords dare to be disrespectful to my lord Saladin again, I guarantee they will meet the same fate."

With that, Lothar turned and, with the Kurdish cavalry, kicked up a gust of wind and galloped away.

Their dark cloaks and the fluttering Holy Fire Eagle Banner gradually faded into the distance as the captives watched.

It was only then that a few loyal servants led away the inferior horses that Lothar's group didn't want and rushed towards the garrison at the oasis near the wooden fort.

An oasis near Kawkab's territory.

Kawkab's eldest son, Saif, who commanded a hundred armored cavalrymen, was leading his soldiers, preparing to rush towards the wooden fort in the distance where smoke was rising.

It had been many years since anyone had attacked this place.

He couldn't figure out which army would be so insane as to attack a wooden fort in the desert. Didn't they consider the supply issues?

Just then.

A servant riding a warhorse hurried over and knelt on the ground.

"Lord Saif, Lord Kawkab was killed by an army sent by Saladin."

His face was flushed red, and his expression was filled with grief. "My lord, we must avenge Lord Kawkab. That group of Saladin's cavalry hasn't gone far."

Saif looked at the messenger in astonishment. "What did you say? Say it again."

The messenger's face was filled with sorrow. "Lord Kawkab is dead!"

"Gather the troops immediately, we're going back to save Lord Kawkab!"

The messenger looked astonished. "But Lord Kawkab is already dead."

"Silence! Lord Kawkab is not dead!"

Saif slashed his sword at the messenger in front of him and shouted, "Lord Kawkab was attacked and has appointed me to command all troops to rush to his rescue immediately."

Among Kawkab's several cavalry units, his was stationed at the small oasis closest to the wooden fort.

That group of Saladin's soldiers had left in a hurry. As long as he arrived, the entire wooden fort and the wealth Kawkab had accumulated over the years would be his!

As for pursuing the Saladin cavalry that had already left?

What a joke!

To be able to break through the wooden fort so quickly, the elite nature of this army was imaginable. He didn't want to waste all the hard-earned forces he had accumulated on such a matter.

With an eager heart, Saif almost took the lead, leading his cavalry unit, kicking up billowing dust, and charging straight into the wooden fort.

"Seal off the wooden fort immediately. If anyone comes, you must keep them out."

He ordered loudly.

But after entering the wooden fort, his heart sank by half.

"What?"

"What happened here?"

The once magnificent manor, like a royal palace, was now as if it had been swept by a sandstorm.

Let alone possessions, even the large stone sculptures in front of the manor had been moved away.

"They dug three feet into the ground!"

"Are they idiots? How could they possibly escape our pursuit carrying so many heavy items?"

"Chase them! They can't have gone far!"

He said in exasperation.

Just then, a guard rushed in and shouted, "My lord, bad news! Lord Rund is leading troops over and demands immediate entry into the wooden fort."

Rund was Kawkab's second son and his biggest rival for inheritance.

Saif's face stiffened. He thought the wooden fort was a great treasure, but unexpectedly, there was nothing left. Now that he had entered the fort first, wouldn't he be implicated?

Saif was anxious and angry. After much thought, he said, "Let them in!"

Rund rushed in with his men and was also dumbfounded. "Saif, did you do this?"

"Impossible," Saif retorted, annoyance coloring his tone. "How long have I even been here? Where could I possibly hide so many treasures? They were all taken by Saladin's lackeys."

"But don't worry, they can't possibly be fast with so much loot."

"Gather the troops immediately, we'll pursue them!"

However, when Saif and his men followed the tracks left by Lothar's party, they discovered the hoofprints were shallow and there were no wagon ruts.

Rund's face contorted with rage. "Saif, do you take me for a brainless idiot? I've already interrogated those spineless commoners. Saladin's men didn't take much at all."

Saif's weapon was drawn in an instant. "Did you also happen to interrogate whether I arrived much earlier than you?"

"Stop making excuses, Saif. You're not worthy of being your father's son. Your father was murdered, and instead of pursuing the enemy, you emptied his inheritance."

Rund roared, "Soldiers, look at the ugly face of this despicable wretch! Are you willing to pledge loyalty to him, or to me, the great Rund?"

"Shut up!"

Furious, Saif swung his sword.

His trusted subordinates naturally joined the fray.

The two sides clashed, and any thought of pursuing the Kurdish cavalry vanished.

Besides, pursuit would have been futile. The cavalry, with two horses per rider, had already vanished miles ahead.