Commander Pula

Soaking in the hot water, Merlin slowly closed his eyes. He was not trying to sleep, but quietly sensing the changes in his body.

"My strength has increased a little, and my body feels lighter, but my limbs are somewhat weak and sore, as though I've just undergone intense exercise. Is this the effect of those strange poses?"

Merlin gently clenched his fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand. He could feel that his strength had increased somewhat. Though the change was not obvious, and though he had been drenched in sweat as if he had just completed strenuous exercise, Merlin knew very well that he had merely maintained the unusual posture depicted on the relief.

All in all, the poses on the relief seemed to be improving Merlin's body. Though he did not know where the relief had come from, since it had such miraculous effects, there was naturally no reason for him not to continue practicing.

Merlin soaked in the bath for a while, washing away the sweat and odor from his body. Only then did he stand up and get dressed. Seeing the relief on the writing desk, he pondered for a moment before gently stroking its patterns.

Merlin had already memorized all the poses on the relief, so it was temporarily of no further use. He hid it beside his bed, opened the door, and went downstairs.

At the dining table downstairs, Mei Xue rested her chin on her left hand while absentmindedly scribbling something on the table with her right. The butler stood nearby. When he saw Merlin come down, he bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Young Master Merlin, dinner is ready."

"All right, I've kept everyone waiting."

Merlin was in a good mood, and his appetite had returned as well. He cut off a piece of roasted lamb leg and drank a cup of milk. The chill quickly left his body, and warmth spread through him, making him feel extremely comfortable.

Merlin loosened his fur coat slightly, leaned his head against the back of his chair, and narrowed his eyes. Through the entrance, he could clearly see snowflakes as large as goose feathers drifting through the air.

"It's so cold. I wonder how Father is doing?"

Mei Xue had finished eating as well. Looking at the snow outside, she spoke with worry on her face.

Old Wilson had gone to collect taxes from the territory. It usually took only three to five days, and by the count of time, Old Wilson should be back soon.

Knock, knock, knock.

Suddenly, urgent knocking sounded from the tightly closed front door. Merlin and Mei Xue both hurriedly looked toward it. At such a late hour, who could be visiting Wilson Castle?

The butler hurried forward and opened the door. A gust of cold wind immediately rushed into the room. Merlin's expression changed slightly when he caught a strong scent of blood in the freezing wind.

"Commander Pula? What happened to you?"

The butler cried out in surprise. The person standing outside was actually the commander of Old Wilson's guards.

At the butler's cry, memories of Pula immediately surfaced in Merlin's mind. Pula commanded all the knights within the castle and territory. Other than Old Wilson, he held almost the greatest authority and was Old Wilson's right-hand man. Even Merlin had to address Pula as Uncle.

"Uncle Pula, why are you back? Has Father returned early too?"

Mei Xue hurriedly rose to her feet and asked excitedly.

Pula had gone with Old Wilson to collect taxes in the territory. Since Pula had returned, Old Wilson should have returned as well.

But Pula shook his head slightly and said in a low voice, "The Baron has not returned yet."

Everyone's hearts sank. Had something happened to Old Wilson?

"It's cold outside. Come in and tell us."

The butler hurriedly ushered Pula into the hall and turned to shut the doors tightly. With the cold wind no longer pouring in, the room immediately felt much warmer.

Only then did Merlin get a clear look at Pula. He was powerfully built, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted. He wore silver-white light armor over his upper body, and his short chestnut hair was quite disheveled, covered in patches of white snow.

Yet Pula's white armor was now stained with dark red blood, and there were even several chips in the greatsword in his hand. He had clearly just been through a fierce battle.

"Uncle Pula, what happened? Where is Father?"

Pula grinned. "Heh heh, the Baron is fine. We merely encountered a small band of bandits on the way to the territory. Under the Baron's command, we've already driven them back. The Baron is worried that if those bandits return, they may threaten the territory, so he sent me back to mobilize one hundred Heavy Armored Knights from the castle!"

Merlin felt slightly relieved. They had actually encountered bandits—this was no minor matter. But Old Wilson had returned from the battlefield and was long accustomed to fighting and killing. He had far more ways to deal with bandits.

Moreover, Old Wilson had long ago trained a force of Heavy Armored Knights. There were one hundred and fifty of them in total, and they were the strongest force within Wilson Castle.

"Uncle Pula, the city is still very peaceful, and the castle does not need so many Heavy Armored Knights for protection. You should take all one hundred and fifty of them with you to ensure that Father and the territory remain safe."

Pula hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded. "All right. As Young Master Merlin says, I'll take all one hundred and fifty Heavy Armored Knights. Young Master Merlin, rest assured, those bandits are nothing. Back when I served under the Baron, I don't know how many Eastern heretics' heads I chopped off. What are a few bandits worth?"

Pula laughed heartily, full of confidence. He had once been a soldier under Old Wilson, and they had experienced the brutal war against the Eastern heretics together. Later, when the kingdom granted Old Wilson a title, Old Wilson brought Pula back with him.

Compared with Old Wilson, Pula was a typical soldier—warlike, loyal, and decisive, but also cruel, bloody, and murderous. Within the castle, many servants feared Commander Pula.

"Uncle Pula, you haven't eaten yet, have you? It's such cold weather, and you've had a hard journey. There's still half a roasted lamb here. Hurry and eat something."

Pula did not stand on ceremony. He had raced through the heavy snow for an entire day and night and was indeed starving. He reached out, grabbed the roasted lamb from the table, and began eating. However, Pula did not delay for long. He quickly mobilized one hundred and fifty Heavy Armored Knights from the castle, then galloped out of Wilson Castle.

Watching the one hundred and fifty Heavy Armored Knights leave the castle, Merlin's brow did not relax. He looked up at the butler and asked, "The area around Blackwater City has always been safe. Why have bandits suddenly appeared recently? And judging from Uncle Pula's condition, this band of bandits is probably not weak. Otherwise, Father would not have sent Uncle Pula back to mobilize the Heavy Armored Knights."

The butler looked at Merlin and said hesitantly, "Blackwater City was indeed very safe in the past. But for some unknown reason, a vicious band of bandits has appeared recently. They have attacked several small towns outside Blackwater City. The City Defense Corps' knight squadrons have already been dispatched several times, yet they have never found any trace of the bandits. But rest assured, Young Master. With one hundred and fifty Heavy Armored Knights, along with the knights in the territory, the Baron will have no trouble dealing with a mere band of bandits."

Merlin nodded gently. With Old Wilson there, nothing too serious should happen in the territory.