In the castle's other corners, the looting had already spun completely out of control, turning into the most primitive, most savage atrocities.
A mid-ranking officer with a scar on his face and bloodshot, slaughter-maddened eyes led several dozen soldiers just as drenched in blood and wild-eyed as he was, and smashed open the front gate of a household with high walls and a deep courtyard, one that looked rather wealthy and respectable.
An old butler in a decent silk shirt, his beard and hair grizzled, tremblingly opened the door a crack and tried to negotiate in a shaking voice. "M-military lords! Have mercy! What do you want? Grain? Money? We'll give it! We only beg you to raise your hand high and spare the lives of our old and young, to build a little hidden virtue..."
The scarred officer's face was splattered with someone's blood. He split his mouth in a savage grin, revealing teeth blackened by tobacco.
"What do I want? Hahahaha! I want damn near everything! Money, women, and the life of you old dog too! No need for you to give it—I'll take it myself!" With that, without waiting for the old butler to speak again, he lashed out with a flying kick that slammed hard into the door. The old butler screamed, struck by the heavy door panel and sent flying backward, blood spurting from his mouth.
"Brothers! Rob them! Kill them all! Strip them clean!" the officer roared, charging inside with his soldiers.
Suddenly, there was a slightly muffled bang of musket fire. The chest of the soldier at the very front burst open in a spray of blood, and he toppled over on his back without so much as a grunt.
"There's an ambush! Careful!" The soldiers were startled, instinctively scattering in search of