Trunks didn't persist and sighed, "As a member of the Valley of Sunshine, I'm also very sad that such a tragedy has occurred. The most important thing now is to understand everything. Otherwise, if the enemy has other tricks up their sleeves, then the successive blows will be unbearable for any side!"
None of the leaders believed Trunks' lament. As the leader of the Soul Destroyer mercenary band that was completely unscathed from the great changes in the valley, they definitely wouldn't believe that Trunks wasn't rejoicing in others' misfortune. Of course, at this moment, especially after Trunks had displayed the strength of a great swordmaster, they naturally wouldn't be so foolish as to provoke him.
After an awkward silence, Laureton of the Soul Destroyer mercenary band finally spoke, "I think the murderer's target this time is all the powers in the Valley of Sunshine. The Soul Destroyer mercenary band being able to escape this calamity was completely a fluke. Even the subordinates I sent to the valley after the incident didn't return. This time, our Valley of Sunshine may be facing a huge problem."
If it wasn't for the fact that both sides had suffered heavy losses, the various powers that had been engaged in a bloody battle a few days ago would never have such a friendly conversation in a place like this. Florida of the Rainbow Sickle mercenary band shot a rude glance at Laureton, a trace of hatred mixed in his hazy face. He said in a cold voice, "So what do you think we should do?"
Taking a deep breath, Laureton seemed to have already thought of an answer. His large bell-like eyes scanned everyone before he finally said in a low voice, "Let's put aside our grudges for now and find the mastermind behind all this. Whoever can figure out the truth first will be the one to take control of the Valley of Sunshine. Do you have any objections?"
Laureton, who had always been in control of the Valley of Sunshine, was definitely not a generous person. In fact, Laureton was famous for being petty and mad. Logically speaking, these words shouldn't have come out of his mouth at all.
However, the strength of the Cairo mercenary band after the great changes in the valley was far from what it used to be. Although the other three parties had also suffered heavy losses, the Cairo mercenary band wouldn't be able to withstand them even if they relied on the superior terrain of the Valley of Sunshine.
Rather than that, he might as well happily release the authority that he might not be able to hold and use the future authority of the Valley of Sunshine as a bargaining chip to lure the three factions, causing them to split up over this authority that they couldn't hold for the time being. Although Laureton's limbs were well-developed, his mind wasn't simple. On the contrary, being able to sit in such a high position in the Cairo mercenary band, Laureton had the mind of a schemer.
Almost as soon as Laureton's words fell, the eyes of Adam Menlo and Katar, who'd originally been following Florida's lead, immediately shot out a glint of ambition. The two of them were silent for a while, and looked at each other. They didn't look at Florida's desperate wink, and actually agreed very readily.
The leaders of the small forces that were originally tied to Laureton hesitated for a moment before nodding their heads one by one. When Trunks saw that most of them were nodding their heads in agreement, he also gladly agreed. When everyone's gazes landed on Florida, Florida, who originally had the highest chance of obtaining this power as long as Adam Menlo and Katar supported him, could only agree bitterly in his heart even though he secretly cursed all the relatives of his two previous allies.
Even he, Florida, had no choice but to submit to the irresistible trend!
"Very good, then we can discuss the details now and even draft up an agreement. All the forces in the Valley of Sunshine will be supervisors to prevent anyone from going back on their word when the time comes!" Laureton's face darkened as he grinned and proposed in all seriousness.
This kind of agreement was as laughable as a prostitute saying she was still a virgin. However, there were times when it was necessary. Although everyone understood that the agreement would immediately be torn apart as long as one side was strong enough, it still needed a ceremony after all. Especially when everyone had a "hidden enemy", this would always give them some psychological comfort.
Therefore, the major forces in the Valley of Sunshine, each with their own ulterior motives, came to an agreement that they had to abide by in such a place — all parties would temporarily stop fighting and fully focus on tracking down the mastermind behind the scenes!
After learning everything from Trunks, Han Shuo gave a strange, noncommittal chuckle. He didn't give any explanation to Trunks and quietly left the Valley of Sunshine, this enormous maelstrom that everyone thought of as the mastermind.
Trunks' heart trembled slightly at Han Shuo's hair-raising smile before he left. He looked at the trace of pride in Han Shuo's eyes that was difficult to detect, yet also seemed to be deliberately revealed. He suddenly seemed to have grasped something.
However, Trunks didn't ask any questions. Instead, after Han Shuo left, he led the Soul Destroyer mercenary band to carry out the magnificent feat of searching for the culprit with great fanfare. He appeared to be even more diligent than Laureton and the others.
However, during this process, Trunks, who was openly searching for the culprit, took advantage of the convenience of coming and going to continue his shady business of recruiting soldiers. The Soul Destroyer mercenary band, which had ample funds and was gradually becoming famous, actually attracted quite a few strong experts to join them.
* * *
After leaving the Valley of Sunshine for seven days, Han Shuo returned to Ossen City. He gave some instructions to the housekeeper of his mansion, then secretly left through the Dark Mantle's transportation matrix.
Brettel City wasn't a solid city. Due to the habitual weakness of the previous city lords when facing the invasion of the seven grand duchies, Brettel City's city guards had become a motley crew. Once a true attack descended, the soldiers, who knew how to preserve their strength, would always flee faster than the civilians.
It was precisely because Brettel City was habitually breached that the Lancelot Empire didn't dare to spend a huge amount of money to build a transportation matrix within the city. After all, once the grand duchies occupied Brettel City, if there was a transportation matrix within the city that led to other places, no one could guarantee that the invaders of the seven grand duchies wouldn't be able to easily enter the other cities and towns of the Lancelot Empire through the transportation matrix.
Brettel City was indeed barren, but the Lancelot Empire also had many rich and prosperous cities. If these invaders really did enter the other cities and towns of the Lancelot Empire in large numbers through the transportation matrix, then no one dared to imagine the damage that could be caused.
Therefore, as a city that was almost abandoned, this double-edged sword of the transportation matrix project had always been in a state of limitless shelving.
"Spring has truly arrived, but it's a pity that the scenery isn't pleasant at all!" Han Shuo muttered to himself as he sat in a carriage, gazing at the scenery along the way through the opened carriage curtain.
Starting from the transportation matrix in Seamist City, which was close to Brettel City, Han Shuo had been sitting in the carriage as it slowly drove towards Brettel City. Along the way, beggars wrapped in cloth loitered all over the place. Flies fluttered in the air above the conspicuous corpses on the side of the official road, causing a choking stench to persist.
Seamist City was a well-defended and wealthy city in the east of the Lancelot Empire. However, the miserable scene on the road from Seamist City to Brettel City was as different as heaven and earth from the Seamist City he'd just left. During the three days of travel, Han Shuo had already discovered more than ten bandits causing trouble through the yin demons.
These bandits were only local bandits of the Lancelot Empire. They weren't fake bandits like those from the seven grand duchies, who might have regular soldiers disguised as bandits. Even the tenacious Han Shuo couldn't help but be a bit stunned by the various tragic scenes. Along the way, Han Shuo had personally killed no less than fifty beasts in human skin.
"Brian, I didn't think that your territory would be this kind of place. The scenery along the way is enough to challenge one's nerves. I think that Brettel City will also make you feel embarrassed. " Chester, who was determined to follow Han Shuo no matter what, had given up a good mission led by Emily and willingly acted as a coachman to stick to Han Shuo, insisting on coming to this notoriously chaotic and filthy Brettel City.
Chuckling lightly, Han Shuo looked playfully at the courageous Chester and asked, "Chester, why do you insist on following me, even when I've refused?"
Chester, who was focused on acting as a coachman, had already become extraordinarily resilient along the way. He whipped the warhorse fiercely, stopping the extraordinary warhorse's curiosity towards a corpse in the grass on the left. He replied like a philosopher, "If you want to obtain more things, not only do you need perseverance and indomitable will, you also need at least a little bit of foresight."
"Interesting thinking." Han Shuo responded to Chester's reply with a faint smile. His eyes calmly watched the civilians around him fiercely fighting over a piece of bread. His voice was elegant, gentle, and indifferent.
The situation in Brettel City was so bad that apart from some of the original residents who were unwilling to leave their ancestral lands, some special merchants who tried to use violence, and the nobles and soldiers who couldn't leave due to their duties, the rest of the civilians were trying their best to break free from the shackles of sin. They desperately wanted to enter the rich and peaceful Seamist City.
However, the road to Seamist City wasn't peaceful. Even if they risked their lives to reach the city gates, they would still be mercilessly turned away if they didn't have an expensive entrance fee. These civilians of the Lancelot Empire would be left to fend for themselves. After all, the poor civilians would only become the most despicable and unstable beggars in Seamist City. With Seamist City's capacity, it couldn't have too many beggars that would affect the city's image.
Therefore, even the nobles and merchants could enter the city. The civilians of Brettel City who could prove that they had the ability to live could also enter after paying a considerable fee. Otherwise, even if they died outside Seamist City's gates, the guards wouldn't feel the slightest bit of pity.
"So this is my territory, I've finally arrived!" Han Shuo muttered to himself as he gazed at the wide open Brettel City in front of the dilapidated city gates.
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