Alien world

Chapter 1861, Section 494: The Winter Legion
But they discovered that these soldiers were different. They did not harm nobles or commoners in the slightest. When passing through towns, they would simply find an open space or set up camp in the suburbs, rather than forcibly staying at nobles' manors. They did not kill innocent people to claim credit, nor did they capture civilians and insist that they were on wanted lists to demand rewards.

Realizing these warriors wouldn't harm them, some clever individuals began offering clues. Furthermore, the Winter Legion was an extraordinary legion, with several masters, including its commander, Brino Janna. Organizations like the Thieves' Guild and the Brotherhood, though numerous, were no match for them, and the ringleaders were swiftly and decisively annihilated.

But even if you dig out the gray gloves behind them, only about fifty of the villains are qualified to be hanged.

"How come this is all?" Brino Janna complained.

The local lord said that was enough, and the other bandits should not dare to show their faces again.

Gema, mimicking the old patriarch, drawled out, "We came all this way to wipe out the bandits. We barely left before they started again. Isn't that inappropriate?"

The lord quickly shook his head: "It's not appropriate."

"We've come to help our allies deal with bandits, so it's not appropriate to just arrest a few and take them back to report, is it?"

"That's even more inappropriate!"

The lord gritted his teeth and winked at the steward beside him.

The steward ran out, then returned followed by two servants carrying a heavy money box.

bang-

After putting it down and opening it, a dazzling array of jewels began to glitter.

"Are you insulting us?!"

Brino Janna transformed into a bolt of lightning, grabbing the lord's collar and growling, "You think I'm like Anne... those opportunistic nobles who would accept bribes from you?!"

"No, no, you idiot, that's not what I meant! Quick... quick, go and get that list!" the lord yelled at the steward. Regardless of whether that was what he meant or not, he had to admit that it wasn't.

The butler hurriedly ran away again, then came back with a notebook.

The lord readily agreed, saying, "Commander, this contains evidence of all the crimes committed by nobles and wealthy people in the territory, including tax evasion, collusion with bandit groups, and bullying of commoners!"

“Very good, you know how to read the situation.” Gemar looked at the lord with admiration in his eyes.

"Can we kill them?" Brino Janna asked directly.

"Uh……"

The lord frowned. These were the leverage he had prepared to threaten the rich. In other words, they were the leeks he, the lord, had been accumulating but had not yet harvested.

If they were all caught and hanged by the Winter Legion, and their property confiscated, the losses would be maximized...

"Don't worry, we are here to maintain order under Lord Annan's orders, and we won't take a single penny from you," Commissar Adam said, as if he had guessed what the lord was thinking.

The lord chuckled and said, "No, no, it's what you should do..."

With the list in hand, the Winter Legion dispersed to capture the people, and it was much easier than capturing bandits before, since the bandits wouldn't run away and were still indulging in the dream that the Winter Legion wouldn't harm them.

The Winter Legion's surprise attack caught the wealthy off guard, but it also made them refuse to admit the crimes they had committed.

Just kidding. If you admit it, you'll be hanged. If you don't admit it, you still have a chance to escape. Why admit it?

So although they captured the people, the Winter Legion didn't have many good options against the wealthy people who refused to confess. In the end, the only evidence they had was the lord's notes.

A day passed in the blink of an eye, and there was still no progress. Brino Janna became increasingly anxious. It would take more than two days to conquer one territory, and a dozen or so would take a month. By then, the war would be over!
"I have a great idea."

Brino Jana bluntly said, "How about we make them line up, hang every other one, and let the rest go?" "What's so good about it?" Gemar couldn't stand it anymore; what was the difference between this and pure venting?
"I have a solution."

Adam, a political commissar who was an outstanding graduate of the military academy, had taken a few classes with Little Smo, and was also a peripheral member of Free Blade, said.

Commissar Adam summoned several captains, and the next day, the Winter Legion announced the capture of the local gang that had colluded with bandits. Then, he told the civilians, who were somewhat frightened by the mass arrests the day before, that the wealthy were involved in many unsolved cases and encouraged them to come forward and speak out about their grievances, promising that the Winter Legion would protect them.

Meanwhile, Adam personally led a small team to a hunter's house in the suburbs.

The lord's notes state that the son of the Koch family had raped and murdered a hunter's youngest daughter.

The hunter family of three was present, and they were uneasy in the face of the well-armored, resolute warrior.

Adam looked around the house; there were no paintings or photos of his youngest daughter... which was to be expected.

“Don’t be nervous. We’re here because of the murder of your daughter five years ago. The head of the Koch family and his son, the murderers, have been arrested, but we still lack crucial evidence and witnesses to accuse them,” Adam told the hunters.

The hunter stammered and dared not speak, but Adam comforted him, "Don't worry, as long as you can testify, the Koch family will never have another chance to harm you, in the name of His Majesty Annam."

Before the hunters could speak, their eldest son, a boy of fifteen or sixteen, couldn't help but say, "That beast! He and his entourage passed by our house, saw my sister, grabbed her, abused her, and then threw her into the well to drown her!"

"What's your name?" Adam asked the boy.

"My name is Dennis, sir!"

Can you take responsibility for your words?

Dennis ignored his father's meaningful look and shouted, "I can!"

"very good."

Adam admired courage and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't worry, you'll soon be able to avenge your families."

"Woo——"

Before Dennis could say anything, his mother beside him could no longer hold back, her eyes red and sobbing, "My poor daughter, she was killed by that beast, her soul weeps sadly by the well. She didn't mean to hurt anyone, but she was still killed by the priest they called..."

The soldiers who followed all showed great indignation in their eyes.

Rape and murder are already heinous crimes, but to go so far as to erase the soul is even more sinful.

Adam took a deep breath and exhaled, "It won't be long..."

……

As evening fell, the scattered squads returned to the lord's manor to meet and exchange information on their progress.

"It went very smoothly. We just mentioned that a nobleman trampled a passerby to death on horseback, and the streets were filled with people excitedly recounting what happened. How about things on your end?"

"Pretty much. I felt that when we appeared, their young men were all captivated by us, eager to sign up for the Winter Legion immediately, and they answered all our questions without hesitation."

They talked, and soon the topic shifted to the despicable things the rich did.

"We made such great sacrifices in the North and Middle-earth to protect everyone, but the rich enjoy peace and comfort, doing this for thrills. What have we protected at all...!"

(End of this chapter)