The Profiteer

The surging Lancang River rolled forward, its splashing waves hitting Carlis's face and extinguishing his burning passion.

Only after teetering on the brink of death do we realize the preciousness of life.

Carlis originally thought that as a devout believer, he would be able to face life and death for his faith, but as it turned out, he could not.

The mission has been botched; not only did they fail to find the Blood Moon Horn, they've also created a huge mess.

The assassination of the King's envoy is such a serious matter that it's now out in the open. Not only does the Alpha Kingdom want him dead, but the Church also cannot tolerate him.

To this day, he still doesn't know how he was exposed. He had been very careful, killing people and destroying all clues before immediately fleeing with his men.

To conceal their identities, they even left their dragon mounts dozens of miles away and prepared alibis. Theoretically, the Alpha Kingdom shouldn't suspect them.

Even the treatment of the wounded was carried out in a small town two hundred miles away. Such a remote place, being a secret stronghold of the Church, should have been secure enough.

Under normal circumstances, even if the Alpha Kingdom had noticed something, by the time they came looking for them, they would have already left.

Unfortunately, they had barely settled in when a Noble Allied Forces attacked the very next day, not even giving them a chance to explain. Many soldiers were killed on the spot before they could even mount their dragons.

Those left on the ground died tragically, and those who went into the sky didn't escape either. Although the Alpha Kingdom didn't have Dragon Cavalry, it didn't mean they were helpless against them.

Several noble families' flying magical beasts, along with the kingdom's Griffon Cavalry, formed a force and began to hunt them down.

As expected, the Dragon Cavalry that entered the Alpha Kingdom were wiped out.

Carlis was able to escape death thanks to the mighty Lancang River. The dragon, killed in battle, fell into the river and drifted downstream, allowing him to evade wave after wave of pursuers.

He had drifted downstream until now, only now regaining consciousness. Once calmed down, Carlis realized he had done a series of foolish things that he thought were clever.

Evidence is only needed by the weak. For truly powerful people, as long as they believe you did it, whether there is evidence or not is actually irrelevant.

Count Frado was on his way to the Southeast Province to deal with the Blood Moon Horn incident when an accident occurred, and the Church was the prime suspect.

From the very beginning, people were convinced that they were the ones who did it. With this in mind, they searched for clues, and the evidence they found naturally all pointed to the Church.

Even if the dragon is dozens of miles away, even if it has set up an alibi, all of these can be interpreted as reverse evidence.

No matter how remote and secluded it may be, it is still someone else's territory. Perhaps what he considers a hidden stronghold has long been exposed to their sight.

At this point, there's no point in delving deeper into the reasons.

The Church is beyond repair; such a major event has occurred, and someone must be held accountable.

The Alpha Kingdom could not remain there any longer. After killing the King's envoy, a large number of nobles wanted to claim his head as a reward.

"Carlis, it's been a long time! I didn't expect to see you in such a sorry state when we meet again."

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang out, startling Carlis. His intuition told him that he should know this masked man, and that they were even quite close, but he just couldn't remember who it was.

"Who are you? When did we meet? What's your purpose in contacting me?"

After a slight hesitation, the masked man burst into laughter at the three soul-searching questions.

"Carlis, do you really not remember me?"

Back in the training camp, I was the one who led you through the door. Thirty years ago, on that stormy night, a homeless person on the street..."

Before the masked man could finish speaking, Carlis hurriedly denied it.

"Impossible!"

"You can't be him!"

"He is dead! He died in battle, purging heretics for the great Lord of Dawn!"

His tone was heavy, as if he believed "he" was already dead. But the hesitation on his face betrayed Carlis's true thoughts.

Thirty years ago, his family suffered a devastating tragedy, and at the age of eight, he was forced to live on the streets, just getting by day by day. Until one stormy, cold, and hungry night, a mysterious knight appeared and changed his fate.

Following the mysterious knight, Carlis entered the Church's knight training camp, thus stepping into a new world.

However, the rules within the Church are very strict, and as a novice knight, there's nothing he can do.

When Carlis finally had the chance to find out about the mysterious knight who had changed his life, he was told that the knight had already died in battle.

All specific information was sealed away, and even though Carlis became the commander of the Second Dragon Cavalry Regiment, he was still not qualified to know.

"It seems you've remembered something, but those old things are no longer important. The key is what you should do next."

The Church is gone forever. Those corrupt parasites are incompetent, but they're masters at shirking responsibility.

Although you botched this mission, you're not primarily responsible. If we really look into it, the real culprit is that fool who unleashed the Blood Moon Horn.

In a sense, you can be considered a hero, at least you prevented the Blood Moon Horn from falling into the hands of the Alpha Kingdom.

Compared to this definite outcome, losing a Dragon Cavalry is nothing. Even if traces are revealed, it only brings the already strained relationship between the two sides from the sidelines to the forefront.

However, you'll definitely have to take the blame. After all, they've been rooted in the Church for generations and are the true masters of the Church, while you're just an outsider.

In fact, if it weren't for the need for people to risk their lives, those guys would love to occupy every position in the Church so they could enjoy the offerings of the believers for generations!

The masked man's words were like needles piercing his chest, each one a sharp pain in Carlis's heart.

The exposed scandals are all true, and the real Church is even ten times darker than this.

The clergy of the Church, who vowed to remain unmarried for life and dedicate everything to the Lord of Dawn, have somehow managed to turn the Church into a hereditary, unshakeable regime.

Carlis's appointment as commander of the Second Cavalry Regiment was not due to his superiors' favor, despite his distinguished service. The real reason for his promotion was that dangerous work needed to be done.

So he remained in that position for ten years, during which time he paved the way for the Church and made countless contributions, yet he never moved forward a single step.

There's no other reason; the position of cannon fodder is enough. Anything above that requires someone from our own side.

"What's the point of saying all this now? Everything about the Church has nothing to do with me. From now on, I'm a dead man to the Church."

Regardless, I am still grateful for your kindness. If you hadn't taken me in back then, perhaps Carlis would have died on that rainy night thirty years ago.

I'm already lucky to live another thirty years; I'll accept my fate no matter when I die.

Countless pursuers are still waiting for me, so I'm afraid I can only remember your kindness for now. If Carlis is fortunate enough to escape this calamity, he will find a way to repay your kindness in the future.

Despite saying he resigned himself to his fate, a strong will to survive was evident in his tone. However, this matter was far too serious; facing the pursuit of an entire kingdom, surviving was extremely difficult.

"Ha ha..."

"Carlis, don't be so pessimistic. The Alpha Kingdom is only hunting down Carlis of the Second Dragon Cavalry Regiment of the Church, not all of Carlis."

Change your perspective, and you'll find the world will never be the same again. Just like that rainy night years ago, if you hadn't asked for help, we might have missed our chance!

The masked man's words startled Carlis. After countless years of social experience, he was no longer the naive boy he once was, and he knew very well that there was no love or hate without a reason in this world.

Regardless of the circumstances, he killed a count in the Alpha Kingdom and was branded with such a "crime," which is unsolvable anywhere and makes it impossible for him to be pardoned.

"You might as well just say it, what do you want me to do?"

Frankly, Carlis didn't think he had any merit to make the Alpha Kingdom let him off the hook.

That's true. Golden Knight are rare, but for a kingdom, they're not that special.

Take the Alpha Kingdom as an example. There are dozens of Golden Knights on the side of light. It is simply impossible for them to risk everything to recruit their enemy for such a small amount of combat power.

"Carlis, your vision is limited by the Church; you need to broaden your horizons."

For powerful figures, hatred is nothing if the benefits are great enough.

Besides, you don't have any deep-seated hatred for them; this debt is mainly owed to the Church.

The King's envoy who died, though outwardly impressive, was not a truly important figure; all his glory came from Caesar III. But now he was dead, and the dead have no value.

Your presence only makes them look bad right now, but as long as what you do next is beneficial to them, they can put aside what happened before.

At least until you lose your usefulness, they can overlook it.

Come, put on this mask and bid farewell to your past. From now on, we will spend the rest of our lives fighting for the Lord of Dawn, and no one can stop our Lord's glory from spreading to every corner of the world!

After listening to the masked man's seductive words, Carlis was completely bewildered, his mind filled with self-examination.

Fighting for the Lord of Dawn is a slogan exclusive to the Church. Other forces may occasionally shout it, but that's just to liven things up; no one takes it seriously.

But the mysterious masked man before him was serious. This kind of heartfelt, soul-level recognition was something Carlis had only ever seen in a very few Cenobites.

A knight with such unwavering faith appears here in this way, and harbors deep resentment towards the Church. Carlis suddenly realizes that he cannot understand this world at all.

Despite his doubts, driven by his survival instincts, he accepted the mask.

There was no magical energy involved; it was just an ordinary mask.

Without hesitation, under the masked man's eager gaze, Carlis put on the mask, but his doubts only grew stronger.

The turmoil outside did not affect Wright County. Everyone continued with their lives as usual: some were short of food, some were filing complaints, and others continued to watch the drama unfold.

Perhaps feeling insecure due to a lack of supplies, or perhaps unwilling to support his rival's workforce, Baron Katerley immediately urged the deal to proceed after the agreement was reached.

Given the complicated situation in Wright County, neither Hudson nor Catley wanted to be the first to take the lead, making this deal particularly strange.

Maple Leaf Territory was experiencing a growing number of missing citizens, which infuriated Baron Katerley, who cursed the people every day and even organized patrols to escort them—or rather, to protect them.

Meanwhile, a rat plague broke out in the Mountain Territory. Countless large rats swarmed in and devoured large amounts of grain, enraging Baron Hudson, who roared through the forest on his Earth Bear.

This strange situation continued until the population of Maple Leaf Territory was halved, and then peace returned to both places.

The truth doesn't matter; that's how the two lords explained it to the public anyway. The deal definitely didn't happen, and unless evidence can be found, making false statements will have consequences.

As for the extra grain in Maple Leaf Territory, it was secretly transported there by a cunning merchant codenamed "Rat," and Baron Katerley bought it at a high price.

The increase in population in the Mountain Territory was supported by various branches of the Coslo Family. That's the advantage of having a large family; with each family contributing a hundred or two people, they quickly amassed over three thousand.

Just as Hudson was convincing himself to avoid suspicion after the transaction was completed, Baron Katerley visited the Mountain Territory once again.

Not content with being ripped off once, Baron Katerley now willingly walks into a trap to be ripped off again. He is utterly devastated.

But there was nothing he could do. The planting season was fast approaching, but his territory was not only short of livestock, but also had very few farming tools.

Watching the fields across the way being tilled rapidly, while the cultivation on his own territory moved at a snail's pace, Baron Katerley could no longer sit still.

It was all the war's fault; the original lords' livestock were mostly eaten by the Rebel Army. The few iron farm tools they possessed also couldn't escape the Rebel Army's clutches and were melted down and turned into weapons long ago.

If you search the battlefield, you might still find fragments of these broken weapons. But even if you find them, it's useless; corroded by rust, they've long since become scrap.

Having learned his lesson from the food shortage once, Baron Katerley was unwilling to experience it a second time. The livestock problem couldn't be solved immediately, but the shortage of farm implements was easily addressed.

To avoid going hungry next year, Baron Katerley, after much hesitation, finally mustered the courage to visit again.

Guests are always treated with respect, and Hudson never neglects his customers. This time, they even served tea and snacks, a much better treatment than last time.

Unfortunately, Baron Katerley's mind was not on these details at all, so all his efforts were in vain.

"Your Excellency Baron Hudson, I apologize for bothering you today, but I am here to purchase a batch of farm implements from you."

Having dealt with Hudson a few times and knowing his straightforward nature, Baron Katerley didn't beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly.

Unlike last time when he had to be fleeced, the situation was slightly better this time. If he was willing to melt down the weapons into farm tools, he wouldn't have to go out to buy supplies.

Unfortunately, Baron Katerley, who was born in the North, did not have the concept of "integrating soldiers into plowshares" in his life creed.

Even though his warehouse was still full of weapons that he didn't need for the time being, and even though he knew that coming here at this time might mean being slaughtered, he still came.

"No problem, the farm tools are in the warehouse at the back. You can go and pick whatever you like."

However, the recent surge in prices has increased the production cost of agricultural tools, making them slightly more expensive than before.

However, you can rest assured that as the largest supplier of agricultural implements in the Southeast Province, the prices here are absolutely the cheapest.

Of course, the Mountain Territory only does wholesale business and does not accept individual orders. Bundles of items are not sold individually; all items must be sold in minimum quantities of two hundred pieces, and the minimum transaction amount must be no less than five hundred gold coins.

Hudson introduced it enthusiastically.

Of course, the subsequent restrictions were added on short notice. Setting such a high bar wasn't entirely to rip people off; the main consideration was Lord Hudson's appearance fee.

With his title of "Divine Bow Knight", even if he went out to work as a mercenary, he would earn at least two hundred gold coins, and there would be bonuses for killing enemies and a share of the loot.

That's a full twenty times the price of an ordinary knight, and that's just the minimum. If Hudson were willing to take the job, even if he asked for five hundred gold coins, there would probably be a bunch of people vying to invite him.

There's no other reason than that he's Divine Archer who can break through armor and slaughter plate-armored cavalry, giving him enough of a deterrent effect on those guys in the north.

It might not be able to stop a large-scale cavalry charge, but against Heavy Cavalry of thirty to fifty men, it could wipe out half of them before they even got close. It wouldn't take long to annihilate the entire enemy force on the battlefield.

However, this life of constant danger was not what the peace-loving Hudson desired. No matter how high the offers from outsiders, Lord Hudson remained unmoved.

He could choose not to go out and take orders, but his appearance fee wouldn't decrease. Since he personally greeted the clients, this expense must be included in the sales cost.

Based on a minimum of 200 gold coins per transaction, if a single deal doesn't earn 200-300 gold coins, then it's considered a loss-making business.

With prices soaring and it unsuitable to further increase the unit price of goods, Hudson had no choice but to resort to bundled sales, seeking excess profits by increasing the transaction amount of contracts.

Speechless, Baron Katerley rubbed his forehead, confirming once again that the person before him was a shrewd merchant, not a nobleman.

If possible, he really wanted to turn around and leave, rather than be exploited by these unscrupulous merchants.

Unfortunately, there's only one seller right now. Even if you can buy scattered farm tools elsewhere, they're most likely wholesaled from here, so he doesn't have many other options.

"Then I'll trouble Baron Hudson to lead the way!"