Lollister brought Pat and Reidi into the mercenary camp.
He stopped his horse and saw Steward Cordan and the two mercenary leaders, Husky and Jim, coming up to him.
Lollister was here today to decide on the location of the military camp at the junction of the two mountains so that they could start construction as soon as possible. Yesterday, Steward Cordan had reported that the mercenaries had already surveyed the location and were waiting for Lollister to decide.
After entering the tent, Husky took out an animal skin map and showed it to Lollister. However, these animal skin maps were drawn by the mercenaries themselves and were not standardized. Lollister looked at it for a long time before realizing that it was a cliff.
"Let's go take a look," Lollister said.
It was a three-hour journey on horseback from Poplar Beach to the junction of the two mountains. The border between the two mountains was not like the Monolith Castle in the Morgen Hills, where the mountains converged. Instead, there were two mountain ridges, one in front of the other, with a small stream and a large, winding forest valley in the middle, stretching all the way into the depths of the Demonic Dragon Mountains.
The military camp that the mercenaries had chosen was on top of a cliff beside the stream. Lollister shook his head and rejected the location, "Husky, do you think that I spent so much money to hire you just to be a sentry tower here? Do you think that the seventy or eighty of you are going to light a smoke signal and report to me when you discover the Mountain Barbarians? I want you to be the first line of defense against the Mountain Barbarians. You have to take the initiative to attack the Mountain Barbarians who are few in number and earn a high bounty for yourselves. Although building the military camp on the cliff will increase your defense, you will lose the initiative to attack. By the time you come down from the cliff, the Mountain Barbarians will have run away. "
Husky's face was a little red, but he still argued, "Sir, we are few in number. If we build a military camp in the valley below, it will be difficult to defend against a large scale attack from the Mountain Barbarians. You don't want us to die here, do you? We can discover the Mountain Barbarians from above. Although it is not convenient to attack, our survival and defense will be guaranteed …"
Lollister laughed in disdain, "Wrong. Building a military camp on the cliff will greatly threaten our survival and defense. Let me ask you a simple question. How are you going to get water from the cliff? "
"My Lord, isn't there a stream at the bottom of this cliff? That's why I chose this cliff that's facing the stream. If we are besieged by the Mountain Barbarians, we can drop buckets from the cliff and fetch water from the stream … "
"Don't think of the enemy as stupid. Although the Mountain Barbarians are savages, it doesn't mean that they are brainless. As long as they block the stream on both sides of the cliff or change the course of the stream, where are you going to get the water from?"
Husky was rendered speechless …
If they didn't have food, they could still kill horses and eat hides for a period of time. However, if they didn't have water, they wouldn't be able to last for more than three days. Laurist hit the nail on the head and pointed out the biggest mistake of the mercenaries.
"Go there and take a look." Laurist pointed at a few small mounds in the valley.
There seemed to be traces of broken walls on the largest mound. Steward Cordan rode his horse to Laurist's side and explained in a low voice. In the past hundred years, the ancestors of the Norton Family had the same idea as Laurist. They wanted to set up a military camp or a sentry tower at the intersection of the two mountains. This way, they could defend against and discover the Mountain Barbarians who were invading the family's territory. However, they had failed three times in practice. This mound was left behind from one of the attempts to set up the camp. About sixty years ago, out of the twenty or so soldiers stationed here, only four survived.
"Then we'll do it here. This mound is less than eighty meters from the stream. If we dig a well on it, we'll be able to obtain a clean and safe water source. The biggest problem will be solved." Laurist made his decision.
"My Lord, how do we solve the problem of defense?" Husky's expression turned ugly when he heard Steward Cordan's words to Laurist.
"Hehe, don't worry. I won't let you guys defend a simple camp. I'm planning to build two towers here and surround it with a seven or eight meter tall wall. You don't have to worry about manpower and resources. You guys are mainly in charge of security. In a month, you guys will have an extremely strong defense. "Laurist said.
Husky wanted to say something, but Jim, who was beside him, patted his chest and said, "My Lord, as long as you build the camp, we promise to stay here and not let any small groups of Mountain Barbarians invade your territory."
… …
After deciding on the location of the camp, everyone relaxed. Laurist prepared to rest here for two hours before going back. The mercenaries were indeed experts at surviving in the wild. Some hunted, some fished, and they quickly gathered a large amount of game. They began to roast it by the stream.
Jim pulled Husky and a few mercenaries over with a flushed face.
Jim said excitedly, "My Lord, I told them that you killed Commander Adams in one move, but they didn't believe me. They even said that you took advantage of Commander Adams's exhaustion. They said that you're not even a Silver, so how could you kill so many Flying Feather mercenaries? They even wanted to compete with you … "
Laurist threw away the pheasant bone in his hand and stood up with a smile. "If they don't believe me, then don't believe me. It doesn't matter."
"But my Lord …"
Husky stopped Jim and bowed to Laurist. "My Lord, please don't blame Jim. It's mainly because they praised you to the skies when they came back last time. It's hard for them to believe such a thing. Commander Adams is very famous in the kingdom's mercenary world, and he's also very strong. Especially his two adopted sons, they're famous Shield Defenders. Jim and the others said that the twin brothers died under your sword. It's really unbelievable. If my Lord doesn't mind us lowly mercenaries being presumptuous, could you let us see your swordsmanship … "
"You …" Padt was furious. He stood up and prepared to scold these mercenaries.
"Padt!" Laurist waved his hand. "It's fine. We have time, so let's have a competition. Captain Husky, mercenaries are not lowly. Please remember this. I've been a mercenary for five to six years in Moronte City … How about this, choose ten mercenaries with the best swordsmanship and skills to compete with me. Even Silver-rankers don't mind. "
Husky and the other mercenaries thought Laurist wanted to compete with them one by one. Even though it was a one-on-one battle, Jim and the others praised Laurist so much that they felt Laurist was indeed strong. So, they began to choose their people.
They were all comrades who knew each other very well. Soon, nine mercenaries were chosen to fight against Husky. The rest of the mercenaries surrounded them and placed their bets on how many Laurist could handle. Jim was the banker. He and the mercenaries who returned from Monolith Castle all bet on Laurist's victory.
"Redi, give me your sword," Laurist said.
Because Redi was strong, Laurist specially made a heavy sword for him. This was only a competition, and most of the selected mercenaries were Iron-rankers. They could not infuse their combat aura into their weapons yet. Lollister did not wish to use his own sword to break the weapons of these mercenaries, lest everyone was embarrassed. He could use Redi's heavy sword to break their weapons without damaging them.
After testing the heavy sword in his hand, Laurist said with satisfaction, "All of you, come at me together."
"What?" The mercenaries were stunned. Wasn't it supposed to be a one-on-one battle? How did it become a one-on-one battle?
"Since my lord says so, we will do as you say. Everyone be more spirited and use your best skills. Don't let my lord look down on us, and don't let him down … "Husky was angry in his heart. Laurist was looking down on them too much. One against ten, and he still refused to use his own sword. He was obviously looking down on the mercenaries.
Husky was cautious. As the captain of a small mercenary group, he had the ability to command and organize. He sent a few mercenaries to test Laurist's strength first. Once he saw Laurist's strength, he would be able to respond.
However, Husky didn't expect the four mercenaries to fall one after another as soon as they clashed with Laurist. It was so fast that he blinked twice and didn't even see what Laurist had done.
Then, Laurist charged towards the remaining six mercenaries. The two mercenaries at the front swung their swords at the figure leaping towards him. Husky finally saw it clearly. Laurist blocked the two swords with his sword, but his figure cut through the middle of two mercenaries. The mercenary in front was hit in the back of the head by Laurist's sword, and he fell to the ground.
The mercenary at the back suddenly realized that Laurist was too close to him. Their faces were practically touching, and he immediately retreated in shock, trying to pull away. Who knew that before he could pull away, Laurist's sword had already swept past his chin, and the mercenary fell to the ground.
Husky was shocked. It was too fast. In the blink of an eye, six mercenaries had fallen to the ground, and only the four of them were left. Husky hurriedly called for the other Silver-rank mercenary and the two Iron-rank mercenaries to form a defensive formation to face Laurist's attack together.
The four mercenaries stood in a diamond formation. As long as the point at the front was attacked, they could retreat, and the two sides would press forward. The point at the back could exchange positions with the point at the front, taking turns to block the attack. This was originally a defensive formation used by mercenaries to deal with powerful magical beasts, but now it was being used to deal with Laurist.
Of course, Laurist was not a magical beast, and he would not attack only one person. He wandered around the formation, and his sword was always aimed at the two Iron-rank mercenaries at the flanks of the formation. In the end, Husky, who was at the front, and the Silver-rank mercenary at the back were in an awkward position. They could only use their swords to block the attacks for their companions, and so the formation fell apart. It became three mercenaries fighting Laurist, and the last mercenary was blocked at the back.
Laurist moved to the right as he fought, and his speed increased. The Silver-rank mercenary at the center could not block Laurist's fast sword, and he could not help but take a step back. The moment he took a step back, the three of them were broken, and there was an opening. Laurist did not hesitate to cut in between the three.
Husky felt that something was wrong. He wanted to attack, but his companion blocked him. He quickly moved to the side, and just as he moved, he saw his companions in front of him and around him fall to the ground at the same time. The one standing in front of him was Laurist …
Husky looked left and right, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground. He said bitterly, "We lost …"
In this match, Laurist did not use much of his inner force. He purely relied on his movement technique and fast sword to win. Otherwise, he could have used his inner force to break through from the front. However, that would make the mercenaries lose face. Laurist did not want to hurt their pride. After all, this was just a friendly match, not a battle of life and death.
…
The mercenaries started to talk about the exciting competition and left, but Husky stayed behind. "Sir, I have a question …" he said.
"Tell me about it." Laurist patted the big rock beside him, indicating for the mercenary leader to sit down.
Husky did not stand on ceremony, and sat down. "Sir, the Norton family is actually very strong. The Kenneth family chose to go against the Norton family, and it could be said that they kicked an iron plate. I am very glad that we, the mercenaries, jumped out of that whirlpool and did not have to go against you, sir. What I do not understand is, the Norton family is so strong, so why did they hire us? I have always wondered if you deliberately sent us to our deaths … "
"Is that why you chose to build a stronghold on such a high cliff to protect yourself? Tell me, why do you think that the Norton family is strong? Actually, I hired you because I have no one to use, "Laurist said.
"No one to use? That is impossible, sir. Among the two thousand people you are preparing to build the city at Poplar Beach, there are two to three hundred young men who have awakened combat energy, not to mention the two hundred guards. Some of them are even Silver-ranked … "Husky almost shouted. He did not believe Laurist's words.
Laurist smiled bitterly. "Captain Husky, it is no wonder that you do not believe me. But did you not realize that the relationship between the guards and the Norton family is a little strange? I can tell you the reason, but please promise not to tell anyone. This is not something to be proud of for the Norton family. "
After Laurist explained the relationship between the Norton family and Beiye Town, Husky felt like he was listening to a fantasy. "Sir, I do not know what to say. I have never heard of such an absurd thing. I can only say that your ancestors were too … too kind. It is a blessing to meet a lord like this. Only a lord like this can spoil such a strange guard. "
"I can understand what my ancestors did. You know the situation in the north. What they lack is people. Regardless of whether the ancestors of those guards were refugees, thieves, swindlers, bandits, or criminals, as long as they were human, they were treasures in the Northlands. My ancestors also wanted them to live and work in peace in the territory and contribute to the family, which was why they gave them such generous conditions. But I did not expect them to find a loophole and drag it out until now … "Laurist sighed.
"Then with the power in your hands, sir, you should be able to wipe out the guards in Beiye Town. That Knight Josk will be able to suppress the Silver-ranked guards, and we can also help …" Husky said.
"If we gather the strength of the family and you mercenaries, we can indeed wipe out the guards in Beiye Town. But the price of casualties is not worth it. Don't look at me like that. No matter how good I am, can I kill thousands of people in one go? Not to mention that the people in Beiye Town have deep ties with our family. Many of the people in Maple Villa are related to some of the families in Beiye Town. I am worried that using force will cause the family to lose morale. Although the guards in Beiye Town are in such a situation, they still belong to the Norton family in name. If they do not openly rebel, I cannot start a massacre. So I can only use soft tactics to force them to submit. If they openly rebel, I would be more than happy. That way, I will have an excuse to get rid of this tumor. "
"Then everything that Milord is doing now is a planned arrangement, right? I understand. A few days ago, a few of the laborers who have awakened combat energy came to me and wanted to be mercenaries. I was worried that it would cause a conflict, so I rejected their request. "Husky said.
"It's fine. If they can endure the hardships of being mercenaries, we can accept them. After a while, our family will also choose a group of them to be the new family guards. Building a military camp here will also be a test for them … "Laurist said.
"Alright, thank you sir. Don't worry, we will be the first line of defense for the Norton family against the Mountain Barbarians," Husky promised solemnly.
… …
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