Ambition

Watching Baron Katerley leave indignantly, Hudson had originally intended to give him the goose he had hunted to soothe his wounded heart.

But when he thought about the meaning of the number thirteen in the Aslant Continent, he finally gave up on the idea of seeking thrills.

You can't do something good that turns out badly. They've already reluctantly agreed, and if you push them any further, you might really drive them crazy.

I reckon what was just a coincidence of hunting geese was perceived by Baron Katerley as a deliberate act of "intimidation."

In all honesty, "five arrows and thirteen geese, each arrow piercing the head"—is that something a normal person could shoot?

Even if Hudson were to pull off a miracle, the geese still needed to cooperate. If the geese hadn't been changing formation and happened to be hit by the arrows, this miracle wouldn't have occurred.

However, Hudson's show-off was so successful that he completely baffled Baron Katerley, who didn't even consider the possibility of a coincidence.

The fact that he only fired five arrows wasn't just for show; more importantly, to achieve that range, Hudson could only fire five arrows.

Any more and his arm strength wouldn't be enough. But what can he do? He's just a weakling who's barely scratched the surface of Intermediate Knight.

With ordinary bow and arrow shooting, one can easily fire over a hundred arrows; however, the high-strength elven Strong Bow cannot be fully drawn under normal circumstances, which naturally limits its use.

Unless he reduces his range and arm strength, his sustained damage output as a Strong Bow will be truly impressive.

Before Hudson's transport brigade was even fully assembled, the Second Infantry Regiment, which had entered Qiaomu County, had already completed two rounds of extensive searches in conjunction with the local nobles, practically turning the land upside down.

After a whole month of back and forth, we still haven't seen a trace of the Skull Society.

If it weren't for the corroborating evidence of the bodies of the Knight Florian and fifty-seven soldiers, along with the testimonies of numerous eyewitnesses, everyone would have doubted whether the reports of the Skull Society's presence were just rumors.

The fact that they couldn't find the person for a long time didn't make them relax; instead, they became even more tense.

The scary thing about Heretical Cult is that they hide in the shadows; once their identities are exposed, they become easier to deal with.

Unfortunately, almost a month has passed since the incident, and we still haven't found anything.

"Perhaps the Skull Society and Bones have already left Qiaomu County. These rats are masters of hiding. According to past practice, after each crime, they always flee far away."

Although they failed to capture the Skeleton Lord this time, they didn't come away empty-handed.

We successfully dismantled the hideouts of several Heretical Cult organizations, including the Evil God Cult, the Chaos God Cult, and the Desire Church, as well as three illegal salt smuggling gangs, arresting a total of 236 criminals.

"I believe that after this battle, the social order of Qiaomu County will..." Listening to Baron Raphael's summary of the victory, Viscount Oran's face was terribly grim. Most of these criminals were apprehended from Qiaomu City, practically implying that he, as the city lord, was incompetent in governing the area.

But the facts were undeniable, and he couldn't find a reason to refute them. The Baron Raphael before him was sent by the Governor's Mansion to help, and he had no need to listen to him.

"Baron Raphael is right, we have indeed achieved considerable results recently. But these are just a bunch of small fry, and they have nothing to do with our objective."

If we want true long-term stability, we need to keep working harder to wipe out the Skull and Bones Skull Society.

This Heretical Cult has instigated five rebellions since it entered my Alpha Kingdom.

The previous incidents were far in the past and can be ignored for now, but we all experienced the rebellion that occurred in Laite and Huaidun counties firsthand.

I thought they would do what they always do: flee far away after their failure, but now they've reappeared.

Does this mean they have new plans in Qiaomu County or the Southeast Province?

In short, unless this malignant tumor is eradicated, my Southeast Province will never have peace of mind!

"That's what Viscount Oran said seriously."

Stopping the search operation is impossible; who knows if the Skull Society will come back after everyone disbands?

The risk of exposing one's identity couldn't possibly be just for the sake of killing the Knight Florian, could it?

A knight, where does he get this kind of prestige?

Was it the hatred of killing one's father, the resentment of having one's wife stolen, or perhaps the fact that the Knight Florian dug up the ancestral grave of the Holy Lord of the Skull Society?

It doesn't look like it at all!

The deceased Knight Florian, while not exactly a paragon of virtue, was certainly not a vicious criminal, and had a fairly good reputation among the nobility.

"Viscount Oran, the Governor has ordered martial law throughout the province and is conducting thorough inspections of all major roads and docks. If any members of the Skull and Skull Society show their faces, they will be discovered immediately."

The roads leading in and out of Qiaomu County, in particular, are under close surveillance. If the Skull Society members were smart enough, they wouldn't have shown themselves at this time.

Perhaps they have already entered the northern Feren Province or the western Fengyun Province, which is beyond our jurisdiction and can only be dealt with by the Governor's Mansion through official channels to both provinces.

Baron Raphael analyzed.

Unlike the local nobles of Qiaomu County, who could stay here indefinitely, the Second Infantry Regiment still had its own mission.

It's fine if they come over to help out occasionally, but what about the port if they're stationed in Qiaomu County for an extended period?

If the boss finds out that the port can operate normally without them after a long period of separation, wouldn't that be embarrassing?

The slogan of preventing the invasion of the Sea Tribe has been chanted for countless years, but unfortunately, the port where the Second Infantry Regiment is stationed has been for over a hundred years, and there has never been any trace of the Sea Tribe.

As for the Sea Tribe invasions, there have been no Sea Tribe invasions since the birth of the Alpha Kingdom.

The once heavily fortified coastal defenses are now abandoned, their only remaining task being to combat pirates.

However, that was the task of the naval forces. These landlubbers usually just maintained order in the port.

In fact, there wasn't much to maintain. The port where the Second Infantry Regiment was stationed was a fiefdom of the Dalton Family, and they had the ability to govern it themselves.

The reason they are being transferred here to handle matters in Qiaomu County is not only because they are the closest, but more importantly because they are the most available.

Within the province, the nobles had long been calling for the disbandment of the Second Infantry Regiment. After all, no one wanted to share the military expenses and maintain a useless army.

As for the kingdom's coastal defense forces, they had already been gradually transferred to the Northern Frontier. The task of defending against the Sea Tribe was directly delegated to the major provinces.

Without enemy defenses at sea, there is no defense at sea. It is said that in the depths of the ocean, various races are currently holding a friendly PK competition, and the fighting is even more intense than on the mainland.

The chances of getting ashore are slim until a result is reached in the struggle.

After all, we are not all from the same dimension. Marine species that come ashore can easily become a delicacy on the human dinner table.

In Beda City, upon receiving the message from his subordinate, Count Pierce coldly uttered two words: "Useless idiot!"

Finding no trace of the Skull Society is secondary; at least capture a few influential figures to make up the numbers!

After making such a big fuss, all they caught was a bunch of worthless scoundrels. How is the Governor supposed to clean up this mess?

If all else fails, digging deep into the salt smugglers' territory and uncovering the entire salt-smuggling ring behind them is also acceptable.

Who doesn't know that the salt trade in the Southeast Province is the Dalton Family's business?

Daring to sell smuggled salt clearly shows they don't take him, the "King of the Southeast," seriously.

There is no doubt that the smooth operation of the smuggled salt trade was due to the support, or at least the tacit approval, of the local nobles.

There's no other way; the profits from salt are just too great.

The tens of thousands of salt producers along the coast generated substantial profits for the Dalton Family each year, while the monopoly trade ensured stable profits from salt.

To be precise, the Alpha Kingdom did not initially have the concept of smuggled salt, and the kingdom's laws did not stipulate who could sell salt.

However, with the rise of the great nobles, they gradually monopolized the kingdom's salt trade. Everyone reached an agreement with the kingdom to pay a certain amount of money every year in exchange for the salt monopoly rights in a certain area.

However, these are just unspoken rules and not enshrined in law. Basically, whoever has the biggest fist gets to do the deal.

When a large family declines, these interests will also shift. Whether or not one can protect these interests depends entirely on their own strength.

It's too late now. Those who dare to sell smuggled salt don't necessarily need to be very powerful, but they certainly have a keen sense of smell.

Upon sensing danger, immediate escape is the basic procedure. If they are even a step too slow, the nobles who secretly supported them will often be the first to turn their swords against them.

"Have the Second Infantry Regiment continue hunting down the Skull Society. If they can't catch them, they shouldn't come back."

"That's what Count Pierce said coldly."

It wasn't just a matter of displaced anger; it was also a political necessity for him to make a gesture. News of the Skull Society's presence in Qiaomu County had already spread, and a letter requesting assistance had long since reached the Governor's Mansion.

If the Governor's Mansion does nothing, and something unexpected happens in the area, or if the events of Laite and Huaidun are repeated, the Count Pierce will not be able to handle it.

The kingdom cannot tolerate an incompetent Governor, and the nobles of the Southeast Province cannot tolerate an irresponsible Governor.

Even with the Dalton Family's power, it doesn't mean the Governor can't be replaced. If it really comes to that, the family itself will most likely be the first to demand a change.

Because if I take the initiative, I can still secure the position of successor Governor. It's better to keep things within my own borders than to have someone from the kingdom send someone over.

After more than twenty days of working overtime to rush production and coordinating with other orders that had not yet been delivered, Hudson finally managed to gather all the goods for the Mountain Territory.

All sorts of odds and ends filled forty horse-drawn carriages. Besides weapons and equipment, there were also plenty of pots, pans, and dishes.

On the contrary, they didn't bring much food. Apart from some essential dry rations, they ate whatever they could along the way.

Hudson was very confident in this regard, as his reputation as the "Divine Bow Knight" meant he wouldn't have to worry about not being able to buy food on the road.

If you're shameless enough, you can transport goods by eating and drinking for free along the way.

Looking at Hudson's lineup, Knight Adrian exclaimed in shock:

"Hudson, you're only taking a hundred soldiers with you?"

The crowd's expressions were not good either. The reason they dared to take the order at this time was because of the elite troops under Hudson's command.

It must be said that Hudson was quite cunning; the knights he invited to escort him were not only poor, but also didn't have a single comrade from the Fifth Army.

People have only heard of his glorious achievements, but have no idea how much of it was exaggerated. As a result, people have a hundred times more confidence in him than he does himself.

"Aren't we still here for you? Forty truckloads of goods are more than enough to mobilize four hundred people."

Hudson said calmly.

For transporting goods alone, this configuration is definitely high-end. On average, ten people per vehicle, enough to push it all the way to Qiaomu County.

But now that traces of the Skull Society have been discovered, everyone's confidence has wavered. Especially the rumor that the one who killed the Knight Florian was a Golden Knight, which makes everyone even more uncertain.

There are high-ranking knights, Evil God Sacrifice, and all sorts of evil summoning spells. Once a fight breaks out, you can imagine how brutal the scene will be.

"Your Excellency Baron Hudson, I beg you not to make such a joke. Take your main force with you on the journey!"

Adrian said irritably.

Deep down, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "We're all on the same side, how can you betray your brothers like this? What if something unexpected happens? Wouldn't that be a human tragedy?"

Hudson gave everyone a reassuring look and said with a calm smile, "You're overthinking it! Things aren't as bad as you think. As long as we're not too unlucky, we should have a smooth journey."

The Skull Society did indeed make an appearance in Qiaomu County, but that was a month ago. The Governor's Mansion has already dispatched an infantry regiment to assist the local nobles in apprehending the remaining members of the Skull Society.

Even with their low efficiency, they still managed to clean up Qiaomu County. Whether those rats who used to hide in dark corners are still alive is now unknown.

Nobles along the way also strengthened their defenses, setting up checkpoints on all major transportation routes, just waiting for the Skull Society to come to them.

We're leading the convoy forward, and we won't take shortcuts or back roads. We're surrounded by our own people, so what's there to be afraid of?

Even if the Skeleton Lord really came, he'd be the one avoiding us. Surely his remaining three or five followers wouldn't dare rob our convoy?

Hudson made it sound easy, but he was actually betting that Skull Society wouldn't consider his team a good fit.

Weapons and equipment may be good, but they need someone to use them. The most important thing for the Skull Society now is to stay hidden. Even if they steal a convoy, they can't bring such a large target on the road.

Taking action rashly will only increase their chances of being exposed and attract more pursuers.

Unable to find a sufficient reason to refute, the group was reluctantly persuaded by Hudson. Having already come all this way, they couldn't simply turn back out of fear of risk, could they?

This is not something a knight should do.

Besides, everyone needs this money, so there's even less reason for them to back out.

Seeing that the people's hearts were barely at ease, Hudson was too lazy to continue with any more nonsense and simply waved his hand to announce the departure.

Offering help in times of need is far more valuable than adding to someone's already good fortune.

Before the nobles of Qiaomu County have recovered from their fear of the Skull Society, sending the goods there first will earn them a lot of favors.

Later, when the risks have completely passed, it's just a business deal.

The convoy moved slowly forward, the biting wind hitting everyone's faces, signaling the arrival of winter.

Winter in the South is like a magical attack; traveling during this season is definitely not a good choice.

Fortunately, those accompanying them were all elites from their respective families, and they were not treated harshly. They were all wrapped up tightly from head to toe to withstand the biting cold wind.

Traveling sixty miles a day was slower than Hudson had anticipated. This was mainly due to the poor condition of the roads along the route, which slowed the convoy down.

This is where the advantage of having a wide network of connections comes into play. By sending someone ahead to inform the nobles along the way, everything that needs to be prepared will be ready.

Hot water, hot meals, hot dishes... everything is available, so you can basically eat and stay along the way.

Since it was all about friendship, money couldn't be discussed. However, the sensible Hudson had prepared several generous gifts well in advance. He basically gave gifts along the way, making sure his host wouldn't suffer any loss.

Unfortunately, in his haste to continue his journey, he had to decline the welcoming banquets held by nobles along the way, missing the opportunity to further develop relationships and expand his social circle.

However, there's no rush for these things. If you're willing to make friends, you'll always find an opportunity.

The well-arranged arrangements completely put the previously anxious knights at ease.

There's no reason to be afraid of the remnants of the Skull Society when everyone around us is one of our own.

Soft power is also a form of strength. The connections he displayed along the way changed how the knights looked at Hudson.

As it turns out, the famous "Divine Bow Knight" was not only a skilled fighter with many relatives, but also had friends everywhere.

The most direct impact was that the three good neighbors, Knights Coelho, Knight Roman, and Knight Valov, privately indicated to Hudson their willingness to submit to him.

Although there had been signs of this before, it was only a preliminary step and hadn't yet been fully revealed. What they saw and heard along the way undoubtedly solidified their decision.

Other knights also showed signs of joining, but due to geographical reasons, they were unable to make up their minds.

The weaker a company is, the more it needs to band together. Before taking on this transportation business, Hudson hadn't realized this need.

After all, he was the local tyrant, and his neighbors were generally not very powerful. He was already being kind by not bullying others, and he wasn't worried about external threats at all.

However, as the transportation business expanded, Hudson suddenly realized that his stronghold was not so safe after all, otherwise he would not have gone so far as to threaten Baron Katerley to help guard the place.

This kind of thing can happen once or twice, but it absolutely cannot happen three or four times. If oppression goes on for too long, it will eventually backfire.

It was unrealistic to significantly enhance the territory's strength in a short period of time, so Hudson had no choice but to turn his attention to the outside world.

Having more friends makes the road easier; having more allies makes fighting more daunting.

However, forming an alliance is a matter that requires comprehensive consideration. While enjoying the benefits brought by the alliance, one must also bear the corresponding obligations.

These things can't be rushed; we have to keep filtering to find the most suitable allies to form a group with.