Capture Operation

Just as John and Edward were each clutching their newly acquired property deeds, immersed in a complex mix of pride at the low price and lingering suspicion about the villagers' unusual behavior, before they could even sort out their thoughts, the servant's cautious announcement broke the silence outside the study door once more.

"Sir, Mr. Barton from the Blacksmith Shop is outside. He says he has something very urgent that requires your immediate attention."

"Barton?" John and Edward looked up at the same time, exchanged a glance, and both saw surprise in each other's eyes.

Barton was the village's only blacksmith. He had a fiery temper and decent skills, but that was about it. Aside from forging and repairing farm tools and occasionally maintaining weapons for Master John, he rarely visited the village on his own initiative, especially not at this time of evening.

The series of visitors and unusual events created an increasingly heavy atmosphere of unease.

"Let him in," John said in a deep voice, casually placing the two property deeds on the desk. He leaned forward slightly, displaying the authority of a village chief.

The study door was pushed open again, and the tall, burly figure of the blacksmith Barton, whose body still seemed to be steaming from the furnace, rushed in.

He had clearly run all the way here; beads of sweat hung on his forehead, his face was flushed red with anger and anxiety, and his beard seemed to stand on end.

He didn't even bother to bow like Edward did; as soon as he entered, he yelled angrily in his raspy voice, "Master John! Master Edward is here too? Perfect! You'd better stand up for me!"

John frowned, somewhat displeased with Barton's rudeness, but still patiently asked, "Barton, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry? Tell me slowly."

"Speak slowly? I can't slow down!" Barton waved his thick arms, spitting almost onto the desk. "It's my apprentice! That brat Finn! This afternoon, he told me he had a stomachache and wasn't coming to work."

"This kid has never been like this before. I sent a helper to his house to check, and guess what? He actually told me he was quitting! He's quitting the Blacksmith Shop's job! He even signed a five-year apprenticeship contract, and he said he didn't care anymore! He's packing his things and leaving!"

Barton grew increasingly agitated, his chest heaving violently. "This is outrageous! A contract in black and white, torn up like that? All these years I've fed him, taught him a trade, poured so much effort and resources into him, and he just walks away? This is treason! This is blasphemy!"

He took a breath, as if recalling a crucial clue, his eyes widening like saucers, and pointed towards the door. "And another thing! This afternoon I saw Tommy sneaking around outside the Blacksmith Shop, talking to Finn!"

"It's Tommy who ran off to join the army the year before last! He came back yesterday! It must be him! He's the one who egged Finn on! Master John, you have to arrest that kid right now, and that brat Finn too! These bastards are trying to turn the world upside down!"

Barton's rapid-fire accusations and deductions were like a wake-up call, instantly connecting the scattered and dubious fragments in John and Edward's minds!

Tommy returns, Tommy family suddenly sells their house at a low price, Lex's family also suddenly sells their house, Finn tears up his apprenticeship contract and tries to run away, and Tommy has been in contact with both of them...

All the clues point to a clear and astonishing conclusion!

John abruptly stood up from his chair, his face terribly grim. All his previous smugness and doubts had turned into offended anger and cold calculation.

He slammed his hand on the desk, making the two property deeds jump. "Well, so that's what happened! Tommy! You, Tommy! You spent a few days outside the Great Wall, gained some experience, and dare to come back and poach my people, inciting them to flee? You're trying to cut off my roots and bleed me dry!"

He finally understood that Tommy wasn't simply "taking his family to enjoy a better life." He was secretly recruiting people to lead his childhood friends and families in a planned defection to Carnford, the place where the Sauron had supposedly defeated the Sauron!

Selling the house was to raise travel expenses and to completely sever ties with Jialan Village! This was not just an individual's escape; it was a premeditated rebellion against his authority and property as Village Chief John!

Edward gasped, a belated look of horror crossing his face. "So that's how it is! Tommy... he's got some nerve! What's he planning? To kidnap everyone in the village?"

John forced himself to calm down, but the cold glint in his eyes grew even more intimidating.

He looked at Barton, who was still seething with anger, and his tone regained the village chief's authority and soothing tone. "Mr. Barton, please don't be agitated. I understand the situation. Rest assured, violating the sacred apprenticeship contract and running away without permission is absolutely intolerable! Neither the kingdom's laws nor the village rules will allow it!"

"As the village chief, I will certainly punish these lawless bastards severely to uphold the dignity of the contract and the order of the village! You go back first and keep an eye on the shop; leave this matter to me."

Having received the village chief's promise, Barton's anger subsided slightly, but he still grumbled, "Master John, you'd better hurry! Don't let them get away! Especially that Tommy brat, he needs to be taught a lesson!"

"I know, you can go back now." John waved his hand.

Barton then bowed sheepishly, turned and strode away, his heavy footsteps fading into the distance in the corridor.

John and Edward were left alone in the study again, but the atmosphere was completely different from before, filled with tension and impending doom.

John slowly sat back in his chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. He looked sharply at Edward, his voice icy. "Edward, you heard it all. It seems it's not a coincidence. Tommy is behind this. He's going to take Lex, Finn, and their families and defect to Carnford."

Edward nodded repeatedly, a fierce look appearing on his face. "That's right, Chief! That must be it! Tommy thinks he's something special just because he served a few days in the army and killed a few Sauron Barbarians? He dares to come back and undermine our foundation! We can't let them succeed!"

John's mind raced as he analyzed the pros and cons. "This matter cannot be allowed to go unpunished! If they succeed and escape, it will set an extremely bad precedent!"

"What will all the other poor folks, tenants, and apprentices think when they see this? They'll think, 'Oh, so I don't have to pay rent, do labor, or abide by contracts. I can just run off to that supposedly 'fantastic' Carnford and live a good life!'"

"If one Lex and one Finn run away, there will be a second and a third! Once the news gets out, people will be restless, and who will still be willing to honestly farm and work for us?"

"How many people are left in our village? Who will farm our land? Where will our rent come from? Where is our authority?"

With each word he spoke, Edward's face paled further, until finally he was drenched in cold sweat.

He fully realized the gravity of the situation; it was not merely about losing a few tenant farmers and an apprentice, but a matter that was shaking the very foundations of their rule!

If a mass exodus occurs, the good days for these landlords will be over!

"Village Chief, you're absolutely right!" Edward's voice was shrill with excitement and fear. "They must be brought back! Punished severely! As a warning to others! Let everyone know what the consequences are for betraying the village and betraying the Lord!"

John nodded, a ruthless and decisive glint in his eyes. Without further hesitation, he began to quickly deploy the suppression operation, like a general planning a small battle.

"Relying on just the two of us might not be enough," John pondered. "Tommy, after all, has fought on real battlefields. I heard he even killed Sauron with his own hands. He's seen blood; he's got some real skills."

"Lex is a hunter, agile and familiar with the mountains and forests. Finn is young and strong, and also has considerable strength in blacksmithing. If they are cornered and fight back desperately, it could cause unnecessary casualties."

He looked at Edward: "Here's what we'll do, Edward. Tonight, gather your ten most capable and loyal servants, and equip them all with weapons... Hmm, to minimize the risk of death, use sturdy, pointed clubs with iron tips—the kind that can subdue people without easily killing them. Choose the best fighters."

"Yes, village chief! I'll go back and make the arrangements right away!" Edward replied immediately, his eyes flashing with excitement at participating in this "big event" and a hint of cruelty.

John continued his deployment, "On my side, I'll also send ten of my most elite guards, equipped with pointed clubs. In addition, I'll mobilize the Village Guard! Captain Hugo has twenty men under his command. Although they usually just maintain order and catch petty thieves, they are still a proper village militia."

"I told him to select his ten most elite and obedient team members to come and take my command! That way, we'll have thirty men! Thirty armed men are enough to deal with Tommy, Lex, and Finn's families. At most, we'll need six or seven capable men, plus the elderly, women, and children!"

"We must use overwhelming force and overwhelming momentum to wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

Edward nodded repeatedly, excitedly saying, "Great! Excellent! Thirty against six or seven, and it's a surprise attack! Let's see what trouble they can cause! The village chief is brilliant!"

John waved his hand, his expression still serious, and added, "Remember, Edward, the operation must be swift, precise, and ruthless! But also try to control it and minimize casualties."

"Our goal is to arrest, punish, and deter, not massacre, especially Tommy. Try to capture him alive. I want to interrogate him personally and see what benefits Carnford gave him to dare to be so audacious!"

"Of course, if they put up a stubborn resistance, kill them without mercy! In short, we cannot let a single one escape!"

"Understood! Don't worry, Village Chief! I'll go back and prepare right away, and I'll make sure to call up my ten most capable men!" Edward nodded heavily, his face filled with a sense of mission for carrying out an important task. He turned and hurriedly left the study to gather his household guards.

John showed no relief as he watched Edward leave.

He took a deep breath, as if trying to gather the murderous intent and determination in his heart.

He walked to the study door and solemnly instructed his personal servant, who had been standing respectfully outside, "Old Cole, go and summon Hank, the head of the household guards. Tell him to immediately select ten of the most elite, clever, and disciplined guards, equip them all with iron-tipped clubs, check their weapons, give them a good dinner, and have them stand by at any time!"

"Send someone to the garrison's camp immediately and tell Captain Hugo to drop everything and bring his ten most capable men, fully armed, to report to me! Tell them there's an urgent mission to quell the rebellion, a matter of life and death for the village, and there must be no delays!"

"Yes, sir! This old servant will take care of it right away!" Old Cole bowed and accepted the order, his footsteps hurrying as he disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.

John turned and went back to his study, standing by the window, gazing at the Jialan Village gradually being enveloped in twilight.

Scattered lights flickered like will-o'-the-wisps in the cold night, and his gaze was icy yet resolute.

Tommy, and those ignorant and arrogant commoners, dare to challenge his authority and shake his foundations?

Tonight, we'll show them who the real masters are in this Jialan Village!

He wanted to personally extinguish this newly ignited, dangerous flame of defection, and in the most brutal way, tell everyone what the price of running away is.