Trust is for good people; bullies deserve to be toyed with.

But then the Swarm of people suddenly rushed out of the village.

Although they were dressed in tattered clothes, they all carried swords and knives, and some even carried imperial-issue shields.

It was obvious that this group had ill intentions.

Upon seeing this, Dasha was so frightened that she immediately lay down on the ground.

As soon as the group rushed into the village, one of the men, who appeared to be the leader, shouted:

"You all better stand up straight and hand over all your grain and valuables."

"Also, everyone assemble here. If I find any of you not here, I'll kill you all."

Despite Stuart's shouts, all the doors in the village remained tightly shut.

No one dared to come out.

However, they never intended to leave any survivors.

Getting them to come out voluntarily makes it easier to take action.

So Stuart directed his men to proceed according to plan, cleaning up house by house.

He instructed two of his men to guard the other end of the village, and then began sweeping the houses from this side.

He kicked open the door of the house closest to the village entrance, where a young couple was huddled together, trembling.

Upon seeing Stuart rush in with a knife, he immediately burst into tears.

"Sir, we have neither money nor food at home."

"If you have no money, then die. The woman is being dragged away."

Stuart swiftly drew his sword and slit the man's neck, then waved for his men to drag the woman away.

Hiding in the mountains, Dasha witnessed her neighbor's brother being killed like a chicken, and her sister-in-law being dragged out by several thugs with sinister smiles.

She covered her mouth on the spot and burst into tears of anguish.

Because her house was the next one that the thugs were targeting.

Although he was hiding in the mountains, his parents were still at home.

Given the ruthlessness with which these thugs kill, his parents will certainly not escape unscathed.

Just as Dasha was sobbing uncontrollably, feeling as if the world had turned dark.

Her gaze suddenly fell on the direction from which the group of thugs had come, and then even more people appeared.

These people were also carrying swords, spears, and even bows and crossbows.

The insignia on their sleeves are the same as the ones on the people in front of them.

Seeing this, Dasha was utterly desperate.

The already ruthless Infected thugs even received reinforcements.

In these villages, not even a pack animal could survive.

They lived ordinary, law-abiding lives, so why did they have to go through this?

The imperial tax collectors and military police, who are supposed to collect taxes every month, have vanished without a trace this time.

Just when Dasha was about to cry herself to death.

She suddenly discovered that those who arrived later, after noticing the situation in the village, had actually formed a formation.

These Infected who arrived later were noticeably more disciplined than those who arrived earlier.

The soldiers in front of them, holding crossbows, approached the village entrance without saying a word.

The soldiers behind them, carrying knives, followed closely.

The Infected thugs who were standing at the village entrance blocking the villagers' escape were shot through the throat by crossbow bolts the moment they noticed the people coming from behind.

"They're not with those people!"

"Could they be here to rescue us?"

At that moment, Dasha even forgot to cry.

He stood up abruptly from his hiding place.

What's that noise?

The Infected were following Stuart through the village, heard the sound of crossbow bolts whistling through the air and couldn't help but turn around to look.

Just then, a flash of white light slashed across his neck.

"What's wrong."

Another Infected turned around, only to be stabbed through the heart by a spear.

The continuous sounds of flesh being torn apart startled Stuart, who was leading the team sweeping the rooms.

He immediately turned around to look behind him, only to be stunned by the scene before him.

Luo Chen, who was supposed to be robbing another village, was now standing at the village entrance.

Moreover, Luo Chen's men raised their swords at them.

"Luo Chen! What are you doing?" Stuart immediately shouted.

Luo Chen simply stared at him expressionlessly.

"You've broken the law, do you know that?"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Stuart glared. "What law have I broken?"

He took a big step forward, brandishing the knife in his hand, wanting to rush over and smash Luo Chen's skull open.

However, at that very moment, Luo Chen's subordinates had already formed a battle formation in front of him.

Before Stuart could kick away the shield bearer in front of him, he saw crossbow bolts coming towards him.

He had no choice but to back away.

Stuart dodged the crossbow bolts, but his men behind him weren't so lucky.

More than a dozen fell in a single volley of fire from Luo Chen.

Including the few who were ambushed and killed at the village entrance.

Soon, fewer than ten people remained standing around Stuart.

At this moment, Luo Chen began to read out his crimes:

"Stuart is suspected of multiple crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, unlawful assembly, and disturbing public order, in Lungmen and the surrounding villages of Chernobog."

"According to the laws of Lungmen and Ursus, he should be sentenced to death."

"We are now taking coercive measures against you in accordance with the law."

"Stuart, don't make another mistake. Lay down your resistance immediately and accept your trial."

The moment Stuart heard those words, his face turned deathly pale, and his eyes widened like saucers, as if he wanted to devour everything in front of him.

Incredible astonishment and anger were evident deep within his eyes.

He racked his brains but couldn't understand why Lermontov would do Black Hand to him.

He glared at Lermontov, his eyes filled with anger and doubt:

"Lermontov, you're imitating Luo Chen? Do you really think you're that crazy guy who talks about law all the time and justice all the time?"

Do you know what you're doing?

"You are harming your brothers and colleagues."

You're not human!

However, Luo Chen rebuked and berated Stuart in front of him.

He still held his head high, like a model student receiving an award.

"In the name of the Lungmen Chief, I declare that you are not a member of the Reunion Movement, but merely an illegal thug."

"Salvation Squad, listen to my command! The rioters are putting up fierce resistance; shoot them immediately!"

Chapter 143: Trust is only for good people; it's only for toying with thugs.

"Lermontov... I'm going to kill you."

Two more volleys of crossbow fire followed, and now only Stuart remained standing of all the thugs who had participated in looting the village.

However, he wasn't completely unharmed.

He was hit by another arrow in his left shoulder and is currently losing strength.

Faced with the encirclement Reunion Movement, defeat was only a matter of time.

Stuart had mixed feelings.

As a veteran of the empire, he was already a seasoned soldier.

I've also experienced all sorts of things.

He witnessed the Empire's Great Purge, participated in the persecution of the Infected, and was also exiled to the border because he himself became Infected.

In the process, Stuart encountered far too many despicable, shameless, and vile schemers.

I've seen through the lowest moral limits of humanity.

But today, Lemontov made him realize that the limits of humanity are limitless.

He was the one who instigated me to disobey the empire's orders and come out early to loot the village; he was also the one who wanted a share of the spoils.

He did all sorts of bad things.

I never expected that this Biyang bastard would now be spouting righteousness and wanting to kill him.

So, when you asked me for a law book a week ago, you were looking for a reason to kill me?

Stuart's eyes were already red; he stared at Luo Chen as if he wanted to devour him whole.

Seeing his anger, Luo Chen felt no remorse for harming his colleague; instead, his smile stretched to his ears.

"Fire! Fire immediately!"

Stuart narrowly dodged another volley of fire.

With the available space dwindling, Stuart decided that he would fight tooth and nail to replace Lermontov, no matter the cost.

This birth must be eliminated no matter what.

Keeping him around would be a great scourge to the empire.

Though I, Stuart, die today, you, Lermontov, will not live either.

This is me, Stuart, as an Ursus.

The last pride of an Imperial soldier.

That means fighting to the very end.

Stuart held his knife horizontally in front of him, crouched down, and prepared to charge in during the crossbowmen's reload interval, trading injury for opportunity.

However, at that moment, Luo Chen did not order the archers to continue firing.

Seeing Stuart's desperate struggle, he decided to emulate the villain in the story and give him a chance.

"Stuart... are you still so stubborn?"