Grain (Part 2)

After thinking it over, Evan looked at Lieutenant Colonel Soxi again and said bitterly, "Lieutenant Colonel Soxi! You've gotten me into a lot of trouble!"

"A lot of trouble?" Lieutenant Colonel Soxi asked, looking puzzled. "I helped you deal with trouble. How did I cause you any?"

Evan clenched his fists at that, then let them fall limply. No wonder you're still only a lieutenant colonel at your age.

He sighed and explained in a low voice, "The men in front of us are the private armies of Earl Hornby and Earl Thompson. They're both major lords with considerable standing in Pearl County."

"Together, their private armies number more than five thousand. When the Demon Disaster broke out, they all fled to Pangtuo City to lie low."

"A few months ago, the two of them joined forces to establish the Pearl County Anti-Demon Alliance and invited many nobles to join. They've become very powerful."

"They claim to be fighting demons, but really they're just banding together for protection and throwing their weight around in Pangtuo City."

"Right now, apart from Earl Elliot, Commander of the Eastern Military Region, no other force can keep them in check."

At this, Lieutenant Colonel Soxi showed no hint of nervousness. If anything, he seemed to be smiling.

He reached out and patted Evan on the shoulder, reassuring him. "Don't worry."

Then he pointed at the noblemen's private soldiers squatting in the middle of the street and sneered, "I'm not bragging, but these spineless fools wouldn't stand a chance. Five thousand? I could beat twice that number into submission."

He wasn't bragging. After Master Lei advanced to the Epic Realm, the system shop's purchase restrictions had been lifted, and many potions could now be supplied without limit.

Although the potions were prioritized for the soldiers