Love and passion, cutting up the wasteland.

Chapter 573: Anti-slavery (joint chapter)

There were only a few dim animal oil lamps in the house, with sparks jumping and crackling sounds from time to time - overall, these remote Hive Villages did not have large-scale electricity.

Through the dim light, one can see that there are about a dozen people in the room. Some of them have weapons flashing around their waists, while others are unarmed, but just standing there, the aura and sense of danger they give off are no less than the former.

After listening to Lu Meng's words.

They didn't relax.

Instead, they are more vigilant.

“Don’t be like this,” someone stepped forward to smooth things over and stopped in front of them, “He’s the Lu Beiyou that I told you about.”

Meanwhile, Jager squeezed his golden eye.

Signal to your companions.

This is their territory after all.

However, even though Jaeger said so, the anti-slavery activists still did not take any action until a voice spoke in the darkness:
"We did something wrong in this matter. Please sit down, and then... please come in, Red King."

Hearing this, everyone retreated.

A young man looked at the poison arrow in Lu Meng's hand and snorted in dissatisfaction, but still didn't say much, just turned his head away.

this operation.

He was the one who arranged all the protective mechanisms in the house.

Lu Meng didn't care either.

He placed the poison arrow on the shelf at the door, then walked in. Huo Buyang and the little princess followed.

There was a very slight sound of something falling to the ground.

A petite figure appeared behind them and closed the door. Seeing the familiar figure, Seto stepped forward and greeted her warmly.

Bo nodded: "Long time no see."

Noticing the curious looks from her companions, she explained, "This is the princess of Shaq."

This triggered another suppressed commotion.

Although they had heard about it before, it was impossible for them to not care when they saw Princess Shak actually appear here, next to the Red King.

Only the person sitting at the innermost side and who had spoken earlier remained calm and did not show any special reaction.

"Why is the Red King here?" he asked.

Lu Meng said: "I should be the one asking you this question, right?"

The other party reacted.

Nodding: "Yes."

"I didn't expect that you could detect our whereabouts so quickly."

That's right.

In fact, the emergence of anti-slavery activists did not inform Guo Lumeng.

This is also their usual style.

While this anti-slavery activist was speaking, some of his companions looked at Jage and Bo, but Jage glared back at them fiercely and then looked away awkwardly.

"Don't make blind guesses or doubt each other," the anti-slavery man interrupted them. "I'm sure none of our companions leaked the news... But when a force is first established or destroyed, it is often the most chaotic and imperfect, just like a fishing net, which seems tight but is actually permeable... I'm really curious about how you found out. The guards don't have enough manpower to screen, and there's no way to interrogate every refugee."

What's more, almost all anti-slavery activists are masters of stealth and disguise.

More accustomed to acting in secret.

Those who are not good at it would not be alive today.

"It just happens that everyone has their own specialties." Lu Meng said, "As you said, I also need to guard against other forces taking the opportunity to invade and break into the interior... For this purpose, I have established a professional department."

For example, the swamp ninjas.

In addition to production departments such as the Medical Department and the Engineering Department, he also specially set up a "Shadow Department" that integrates comprehensive reconnaissance, assassination, counter-reconnaissance and other functions.

It will be led by filmmakers.

The main group at the beginning were naturally members of the Water Tribe, but later they began to absorb more talents who were good at hiding and stealth.

Although they are still trained according to traditional techniques, they are also called 'Swamp Ninjas'.

But this group of newcomers in the Shadow Tribe did gradually become sever ties with the Water Tribe.

He is loyal only to the Red King.

——If anyone else were to lead, this model would likely have hidden problems, such as factional conflicts between new and old swamp ninjas, and the Water Tribe's concerns about being sidelined... Lu Meng is an exception.

Because while he is the king of the swamp, he is also the "successor" of the previous generation of shadowmen.

Just like the joint rule in ancient Europe, one person holds the titles of two regions and they are perfectly integrated together to become the co-ruler.

Neither side will have any objection.

In addition to strength factors.

This is legal legitimacy.

In addition, the shadow man also has to stay in the southern wetlands to guard against the revenge of the city of Koslon.

Several teams of swamp ninjas from the Shadow Club, including two jonin, have arrived at the Flash Land together.

It is only due to work requirements and usual habits that they have been lurking in the dark.

Even for other swamp departments.

It is also kept confidential.

but……

"Is that so? Hmm..." The other anti-slavery activist obviously didn't believe it, but couldn't find any better explanation. "...The Red King is really good at this."

There is a report on the investigation of the swamp by Jager and Bo.

They were certainly aware of the existence of the Swamp Ninjas.

However, as a hidden group, the anti-slavery activists were more confident that they had the strength and assurance not to be discovered by these assassins in the jungle.

not to mention.

The climate of the Flash Land is not as moist as that of the swamps, and without the shelter of the tall rainforest, this is not a space where the swamp ninjas are good at performing;
Look at themselves.

Blending into towns, moving through villages, and blending in with the poor and refugees... these are the signature skills of anti-slavery fighters, so how could they be easily exposed?
Lu Meng did not explain.

In his field of vision, on the stronghold construction panel, there was a small white dot among many green dots... and in the faction relations, the second level "coexistence" of the anti-slavery faction.

Just as the other person said.

When a force is first established, it is limited by objective factors and screening in all aspects may be imperfect. It is normal for loopholes to appear and people to take advantage of them.

However, this period.

It is often also the time when everyone is most united.

Not to mention the original people of the swamp and Shan tribes, even the newly joined refugees were grateful... Mixed in with a large number of "blood alliances" and "respects", "ordinary people" like anti-slavery activists stood out.

Of course, this is the view that Lu Meng saw.

Without module optimization, it can only be very simple and abstract, not accurate.

In the later stage, as more and more people fall into the city, the screening efficiency will decrease.

But, until now.

As long as we know a rough range and then send the swamp ninjas from the Shadow Department to confirm... it will be enough to eliminate most of the risks and make it difficult to guard against.

Sure enough, other anti-slavery advocates also had doubts. They exchanged glances with each other and could sense each other's surprise from their companions' gazes.

They still underestimated this place.

Lu Meng just said: "What is your name?"

Jaeger and Bo's status among anti-slavery activists is not low, but compared with their companions present, they do not have much advantage in the right to speak.

This is certainly due to the fact that there is no strict hierarchy among anti-slavery fighters, but it also shows that the status of others is also not small and very important in the organization. The anti-slavery fighter who was talking to Lu Meng was able to protect Jaeger and Bo in doubt and control the atmosphere and rhythm of the whole scene. He was obviously the leader.

Unexpectedly, the other party just shook his head.

Said: "I am just an ordinary ronin...just call me that."

"The name is just a code name."

"Are you right? The Nameless One—"

After the ronin finished speaking, he did not intend to introduce himself, but from his words, it could be heard that Lu Meng had obviously been investigated.

Jiger looked at Lu Meng with an apologetic look.

Indicated that there was nothing he could do.

Although these are all public information, a large part of them were learned from the two people who had personal contact with Lu Meng.

As a member of the anti-slavery movement, Jaeger was now somewhat embarrassed - he had originally intended for his companions to have a more favorable impression of the newly emerged Red King, but unexpectedly, even after hearing everything through, including himself as the leader, they were still quite wary.

There was even a special action planned to organize all the anti-slavery supporters who could be contacted.

Come to the local area to investigate and witness it for yourself.

This is also understandable:

If you can't see it with your own eyes, and believe the leader of a force that has grown so big now based on the stories of a few people without practicing it...

for others.

Probably nothing.

But for a secret organization like the anti-slavery forces, which has enemies everywhere and is always walking on the edge of a knife, a single mistake could lead to a catastrophic disaster.

That being said.

Both the anti-slavery supporters and Lu Meng's side could sense that the atmosphere had become somewhat cold and hard.

Seto frowned.

I want to go up and say something.

Huo Buyang on the side pulled her back and whispered something to her. The little princess suddenly opened her eyes wide.

But Huo Buyang's voice was soft.

But it seems that it cannot be hidden from the ears of the ronin.

“It’s okay,” he said. “Although we are indeed dissatisfied with the Shek tribe’s restoration of relations and trade with the United Cities, especially the Merchant Guild, and we have expressed concerns... this is your country’s choice. Whether it is the benefits or the consequences, you will bear them by yourselves.”

Ronin looked at Seto and said, "After seeing the effect of the new policy, we have adjusted our policy towards the Shark Kingdom. We will continue to observe... At least for now, we will not become your enemy, and you don't have to worry about anything."

The little princess was stunned.

"Now"……

The subtext is that in the past, anti-slavery activists also viewed the Shek Kingdom as an enemy that should be overthrown like the United Cities, and had even planned actions; and in the future, they might become enemies again depending on the circumstances.

As if he could see what she was thinking.

Ronin nodded and said, "At least during Shager's time, or if the Kral's Choice came to power... that would be the case."

Of course, due to distance and priority.

Even if they become enemies again, anti-slavery advocates are unlikely to take immediate action.

"Your mother is a rare hero, and Mr. Bayan is also an outstanding politician... However, I think Princess you also know the hidden dangers."

Seto didn't answer.

Of course, she knew what the other party was hinting at: the five generals in the country, and Dashan Mukai, who was nominally exiled but was actually accumulating military merit in the final fortress... But she already knew all this.

She was surprised.

The Anti-Slavery Movement, a seemingly distant and mysterious organization, is thousands of miles away, but it still knows the situation in the Shek Kingdom very well.

This shows that they have secret lines and intelligence networks in the Shak Kingdom.

At the same time, among the anti-slavery forces, there was also an outstanding politician, as Ronin himself said, who analyzed the pros and cons thoroughly.

The ronin spoke so bluntly.

In a positive sense, it can be considered as straightforward.

But it can also be described as reckless.

However, Seto couldn't be blamed.

because--

This ronin is a war-level one.

In the confrontation with the United Cities, the anti-slavers were outnumbered compared to the Imperial Army. It could be said that they were taking the elite route, but how could they become a real threat to the United Cities just by relying on ordinary covert operations, self-sacrificing assassinations... without causing any serious damage?

They naturally have war-level warriors.

More than one.

These are what the United City officials tried their best to hide, just like this ronin was not even on the wanted list - in the minds of the people, anti-slavery activists only need to be seen as a group of bandits hiding everywhere, and if they can't be caught, at most they will complain about the incompetence of the police, but they will not doubt whether the Empire State Building will collapse.

The fact that Ronin chose to lead the team this time even though he knew Lu Meng's strength was enough to illustrate his identity - of course, from another perspective, he also had to come.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to have an equal conversation.

These were all analyzed by Lu Meng long ago. In addition, Huo Buyang followed him when he was on the rise, so it can be said that he learned most of his thinking. As the little princess was his student, it was not difficult for them to think of this.

However, Huo Buyang reminded Seto:
Because of their natural suspicion of rulers, anti-slavery advocates may not be friendly to her as a princess of the Shek Kingdom, and may even be hostile to her, so she needs to be careful when speaking.

This led to Ronin’s previous reply.

"It seems you understand." He nodded. "For us, the way to judge friends and enemies is not as simple as people think."

"Just like the Holy Nation and the United City, whether it's the United City that wants to avenge Bast's burning of the city, or the people of Auckland that want to completely eliminate these heretics... it's an absolute mortal enemy relationship, and there's no possibility of reconciliation."

"But, you know—"

"In such a fanatical Holy Empire, how many slaves are working in their mines, farms, and temples of priests... and how many of their slaves are from the United Cities?"

“It’s not plundering…it’s active purchasing.”

The ronin paused and said, "Through the Slave Trade Guild."

A first-level franchisee of the Merchant Guild, its owner Kana is Long En’s closest comrade-in-arms.

More than half of the slave supply on the entire continent was produced from there. When it came to taming, producing, and using slaves, the slave trading guilds were unique in the world, using everything from psychological training to physical transformation.

In the Holy Kingdom, nominally only heretics and aliens could be enslaved, but the "products" of the slave trading guild were naturally not subject to restrictions, or in other words, they already met the requirements.

In this way, you can call on the peasants to launch a holy war while confiscating their land and giving it to the purchased slaves - among them may be prisoners of war of the Holy Kingdom captured by the United Cities on the front line, but since you did not die in the battle, you can be considered a heretic who betrayed Oakland.

The key is that it has become cheaper.

"In other words, the food and weapons produced by the slaves are supplied to the Holy Nation's Chosen and Knights to launch a holy war against the United Cities. The coins they use to buy slaves are continuously imported into the United Cities through the channels of the Slave Trade Guild - the Merchant Guild, and used to arm the Imperial Army..."

During this process.

Countless soldiers and civilians fought on the long front from Bast to the Iron Valley, shedding blood all the time - and only the priests and nobles in the rear made a fortune.

The merchant guild serves as the link between them.

It is irreplaceable.

"In the past, the Shek Kingdom was also a part of it, even if they themselves were unaware and thought they were fighting for glory... Fortunately, there are still sober people after all." The ronin's gaze turned from Seto to Lu Meng, and the white-haired young man had not spoken before, but it was not as if he was silent. He was just listening quietly.

Such a calm attitude.

This surprised Ronin.

But he still said:

"And this is something we have considered carefully and feel we should let you know... Your Highness the Red King."

“The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend.”

(End of this chapter)