The King Is Merely the One with Strong Troops and Sturdy Horses!

Back then, the Orc Kingdom and the Sherlock Dynasty had fought for supremacy on the Old Continent. The battle had raged dark and bloody, with war stretching on for more than three centuries. In the end, the Orc Kingdom had been destroyed by the Sherlock Dynasty, which slaughtered several million orcs. Yet the Sherlock Dynasty had also exhausted its national potential through centuries of war and was eventually breached by the rising Empire of Fars.

No matter what, though, the Orc Kingdom had once been one of the Old Continent's foremost powers. It was a famous legend across the continent that those orc nobles slaughtered in bloodshed had hidden away great wealth before their deaths. Some people had indeed found treasures hidden by orc nobles and become wealthy magnates in their own right.

Experienced people like White Wolf and Louis could scoff at a treasure map of uncertain authenticity, but these bottom-tier adventurers lacked that kind of "self-control." They could gather in York Town for a Demon Hunter's inheritance, so naturally they would also believe in an illusory treasure map. Besides, someone was paying to hire them. Even if the trip proved fruitless, they would not lose out.

Especially since Charlotte had run into a wall with White Wolf. Cleverly, he changed the treasure map's origin from an antique shop to an uncle's legacy, making it much more believable.

The remaining adventurers were all stirred up and joined Charlotte's new team. Only two parties refused the invitation. They did not even linger and quickly left York Town.

Charlotte turned around with a smile and said to White Wolf, "Mr. White Wolf, sell me all your ale!"

"I'll treat everyone here to a drink."

The adventurers erupted in cheers, and the area before the giant wooden house immediately became lively.

Charlotte downed a mug of ale in one gulp, then suddenly smashed the cup violently onto the ground and roared at the sky!

He had always acted refined, and he truly was a refined man—whether in his previous life as a math teacher or after transmigrating here, where he had worked as a clerical office employee.

But Magru Teller had signed the dismissal order, casually wiping away Charlotte Mecklenburg's life's hard work. He had even forced him to betray Menilman, all while making no attempt to hide that he intended to discard him like a rag afterward. Charlotte had been holding that rage in far too long.

Before this, Charlotte had only wanted to endure and wait.

Perhaps once Menilman escaped the political struggle, he might still pull Charlotte out. But at that very moment, Charlotte suddenly recalled being hunted by two detectives from the Fiery Steed Detective Agency. A vicious fury welled up inside him, and he personally shattered that fantasy.

He wiped the ale from the corner of his mouth and looked over the hundred-odd adventurers he had fooled. A thought that had been familiar to him since childhood, yet which he had never considered putting into practice, suddenly surfaced in his mind!

Since he was already on the run and could no longer spend his life leisurely climbing the government ranks as a salaried idler, why not make something big happen?

"Damn it!"

"Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born to their stations?"

"The king is merely the one with strong troops and sturdy horses!"

"My strength is weak right now, and this group of adventurers is hardly useful, but one day, I will have thousands upon thousands of warriors. I will kill my way back to Strasbourg, chop off Magru Teller's head, and let him know that bullying a transmigrator never ends well."

Huang Haisheng had been born in a peaceful era and had never encountered war in his life.

So he had never considered taking revenge with his own hands. Even when he had been hunted, it had only been a matter of "self-defense."

But in that instant, Charlotte suddenly understood what it meant for murderous intent to arise when one held a sharp blade. Had he fooled these adventurers merely for some damned ancient Orc Kingdom treasure?

He did not have any treasure map at all. Even if he did...

What use was a mere treasure map?

Even if he really found treasure, would he not still be a wanted criminal of the Empire of Fars?

Even if he went to live in another country, would he not still be oppressed by officials?

Charlotte's thoughts became clear, and an imposing aura rose from him. He swept his gaze over the adventurers drinking heavily, pointed at the sky, and shouted, "Those who follow me in treasure hunting this time—I, Qian Nan, swear upon the ancestors of the orcs that their future fortunes will not be less than one hundred Gold Ecus."

"Let's go!"

He kicked apart the suitcase he had used to conceal his identity. There was nothing valuable inside anyway. Carrying the Magic Alchemy Staff and the Vampiric Rapier Louis had given him, he strode out of York Town.

The adventurers were overwhelmed by his bearing. Some unconsciously tossed aside their cups and followed him. Once someone took the lead, the rest of the adventurers followed Charlotte in twos and threes.

This motley group abruptly gained a faint sense of cohesion.

White Wolf glanced at the mess before his wooden house and said, "Louis! Your friend is extraordinary. He will certainly accomplish great things in the future."

"But..."

"Why do I see the temperament of a desperado in him?"

"You do not usually deal with desperadoes."

Louis Smythe gave a bitter smile. "He is an imperial civil servant!"

"And one with tremendous prospects."

White Wolf asked curiously, "What kind of prospects?"

Louis Smythe replied, "His female companion is the daughter of a certain Count."

White Wolf was stunned for a moment, then said in a low voice, "No wonder! If he wants to marry a Count's daughter, he does need the temperament of a desperado."

Louis Smythe spread his hands. That was not what he meant.

After leaving York Town, Charlotte loudly asked, "Who knows where the ruins of Machu Picchu are?"

An adventurer immediately called out, "I've been to Machu Picchu!"

Charlotte smiled slightly and said, "Very good. Please lead the way for us, sir."

Machu Picchu had been a fortress of the ancient Orc Kingdom, known as the never-falling Machu Picchu.

After the Sherlock Dynasty used a stratagem to capture the fortress, it set Machu Picchu ablaze, reducing the ancient Orc Kingdom fortress to ruins.

Several centuries had now passed. The place had become exceptionally desolate, and many terrifying rumors had arisen around it. Only a handful of adventurers went there to try their luck.

Upon hearing they were going to Machu Picchu, some adventurers hesitated slightly. There were too many frightening rumors surrounding that ancient Orc Kingdom fortress. But then they remembered that this was no longer a small party, but a large team of over a hundred people led by a Transcendence. It was said that Mr. Qian Nan even had a treasure map, so perhaps they could avoid danger. Their hearts grew hot, and they continued onward.

Charlotte had chosen Machu Picchu for two reasons. First, this rabble simply could not endure a long journey. Even for an elite army, long-distance marching was a major problem.

Machu Picchu was very close, only a little over two hundred kilometers from Strasbourg in a straight line.

For these adventurers, it was only a two- or three-day journey—a "dessert" objective.

Besides, he would have to pay their first wages in a week. Although he could afford it, well...

Hmm!

He did not really want to pay.