Chapter 64: Chapter 6: Cherishing Talent
The Barbarians were trapped by the armies of Limborg Farm and Hesse Territory in the canyon between two mountains, bloated like fat on the chopping board. Frightened by the situation and having their leader slain, the remaining monsters completely lost their morale and dared not resist any further, scrambling to escape.
However, Su Li had already ordered the evil monsters to be hunted down and exterminated, leaving no survivors. So three squads of Impact Knights, mounted on war horses, launched a full pursuit against all fleeing monsters, leaving their bodies scattered across the valley, with countless weapons and armor abandoned.
As the Knights pursued with all their might, everyone faintly heard excited cheers and applause echoing through the canyon.
Su Li rode up the hillside, hearing the sound distinctly. It was unlike human voices or the roars of monsters; instead, it felt like whispers of spirits in the night or the mischievous laughter of specters in the dense forest, sharp and mysterious.
Hilude wiped the blood from her sword blade, sheathed her sharp sword, and followed Su Li’s side, observing the surroundings. Swiftly, she pointed to the distant burning farmland and asked, "Lord, did you see that? There seems to be a black shadow in the sea of flames."
Su Li immediately directed his gaze to where her finger pointed, faintly seeing a black silhouette. But it seemed to be just shadows of trees in the night, cast by the leaping flames, and was quickly swallowed by the scorching fire, leaving nothing visible.
Yet, Su Li could basically confirm there was an Essence of Nature present around this battlefield, and thus he promptly ordered, "Knights, enter the farm and tally the spoils. Have the other attendants extinguish the fire. Tell them that if they fail to put out the blaze in the farmland, they will receive no spoils from this battle. But if they successfully extinguish it, I will reward them with twenty percent of the spoils!"
Upon hearing Su Li’s generous promise, the attendants cheered aloud!
The Empire’s Nineteen Taxes are reflected in all aspects. Though the attendants exert the most effort on the battlefield, enduring the enemy’s fiercest assaults head-on, they also toil the hardest after the battle, maintaining armor, sharpening weapons, and collecting spoils. Yet, the wealth they can obtain is the least. Their lord granting them ten percent of the spoils would already be considered merciful and generous.
Now besides the spoils rewarded by their lord, the Lord will give them twenty percent. Their gains will undeniably be significant! Therefore, they cheered and passionately engaged in the firefighting efforts.
Within less than two hours, they successfully controlled the fire.
Meanwhile, the Knights also used this time to successfully capture Limborg Farm. The Beastman’s raid smoothly broke through their stone walls, and the guards inside had to open the gates, sending out Evil Land Rangers to challenge the Beast Herd leader, thereby causing their defenses to collapse, leaving no chance for further resistance, so everyone inside became Su Li’s war captives and slaves.
Oerstein, acting as the Military Commander, proudly reported to Su Li, "Lord, our harvest from this battle is extremely rich. We killed at least a hundred Barbarian monsters and acquired more than 200 items like war axes, long lances, ram’s horn helmets, and iron armor!"
The Beastmen also had armor, and in quite substantial quantities, with heavy plates on their ram noses and shoulders, and even on the chest of the Great Horned Beasts, there was Henrui Plate Armor of notable defense, its thickness reaching one or two centimeters!
If these were led by a Beast King from a Barbarian Tribe, such terrible Beast Herd that could battle with the Human Empire Provincial Army, the Great Horned Beasts on the battlefield could form an impervious wall of iron armor and muscle, charging forward with the power akin to moving mountains and seas. They would seek out the enemy’s elite units (surely those challenging their position of power), then wield giant axes like executioners, severing the enemy’s limbs, trampling their ravaged bodies with massive hooves.
Therefore, defeating a Beast Herd is sure to yield handsome rewards. Not only the treasures and gold coins they carried but their weapons and armor also represent considerable gains.
Bringing back so many iron items to the territory, Belos Dragon Hammer, the Dwarf Master of Forging, could forge numerous farming implements, significantly easing the territory’s farming demands.
Su Li could already imagine this Dwarf master’s angry complaints, preferring to forge powerful fine steel war axes and heavy dwarf armor over farm tools.
Su Li had to turn to Knight Oerstein and ask, "How’s the yield inside the farm?"
Knight Oerstein was very satisfied with the spoils, immediately detailing the report, "This farm clearly has been hidden here for quite some time. Inside, we caught 64 slaves. Besides the considerably large farm courtyard, there are a series of buildings: including a cowshed with a milking room, a stables, and a shed for hired workers to live in. Remarkably, Limborg Farm even has its own forge. This forge is managed by Limborg’s eldest son, Harry, mainly responsible for shoeing horses, making farm tools, and repairing damaged iron items. He’s also the fierce ranger wielding a war axe against monsters."
As he spoke, Knight Oerstein gestured, and his Lion Mastiff Beast bit onto a young man’s right leg, dragging him before Su Li.
In this battle, Su Li’s impression of the golden Lion Mastiff improved greatly. Faithfully guarding Knight Oerstein’s side, any Beastman attempting to approach would be furiously bitten by it. It alone bit to death three Inferior Horned Beasts and seized the chance to bite a Horned Beast, unaware, on the exposed muscle near its shin guard, bringing down an entire Horned Beast.
Currently, this young man, even if not tied up, bare-handed would unlikely be a match for this Lion Mastiff Beast.
Su Li looked down at the young man with fiery red hair and fierce gaze. He evidently hadn’t awakened any bloodline powers, implying he was at most on par with the strongest member of some renowned Armed Attendants warband, akin to the famous Beast Slayer warbands, solely relying on innate divine power to wield fine steel war axes against a Great Horned Beast for a period.
Does the profession of blacksmith really train arm strength this way, nurturing talent?
Su Li couldn’t help but feel appreciation, thus graciously offering him more than the usual slave’s choice: "You should understand, every Evil Land ranger is deeply sinful, stealing land within noble territories, evading taxes, committing unforgivable crimes. According to noble tradition, I ought to punish you cruelly, making you atone for those crimes for life!"
"But I saw your unyielding battle against the Beastmen. When we attacked them, you didn’t flee like a coward, but continued fighting them to the death, contributing even slightly to the victory."
"So, I’m giving you two options to choose from. One is to become my slave like the others, laboring day and night under the whip to atone for your shameful acts of theft and tax evasion."
"The other is to serve me as a Knight’s Squire, don the armor, and utilize your admittedly decent martial prowess in my service, cleansing past sins through military merits. I will provide squire’s wages and include you in trainee activities with other squires. If your loyalty proves true, as a noble squire, I will arrange for a knight to teach you the ways of knightly practice."