Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 40 Robber
Clang! Bang!
Soon, some people desperately threw down their simple machetes and pitchforks, knelt down with a thud, and cried out in a sob, "Don't kill me! I surrender! I surrender!"

Once there was a first, there was a second, a third... and so on, spreading like a plague.

"Squat on the ground! Hands behind your head! Anyone who dares to move will be killed without mercy!" The command rang out again, concise and effective.

The surviving bandits, as if grasping at a straw, followed suit, throwing away their weapons and lying down or squatting on the cold ground in a sorry state, clutching their heads tightly with trembling hands, afraid of causing any misunderstanding.

Seeing this, Kruse, who had been directing from the rear, finally breathed a slight sigh of relief and loosened his clenched fist.

The first step of the plan has been a success!
Rezael, standing beside him, was flushed and breathing rapidly, not from fear, but from extreme excitement and an indescribable shock.

He witnessed firsthand the entire process of his elder brother's strategy, from its planning to its execution. This wisdom of forcing dozens of enemies to surrender without firing a single shot stirred his heart far more than a simple military assault.

At this moment, the "ambush soldiers" who had been shouting "fight!" slowly gathered around, holding torches.

As the firelight flickered, the truth gradually became clear—where did these hundreds of ambushers come from?
A large portion of them were simply scarecrows dressed in tattered clothes and bound to makeshift frames! They were carried by two or three serfs and moved back and forth under the cover of darkness and deliberately arranged firelight angles, making them look from a distance like real soldiers marching in formation!
The actual militia and reservists numbered no more than forty people. They were cleverly positioned in key locations to shout slogans, carry torches, and exert intimidation at crucial points, creating the illusion of a massive army.

The number of people in the entire "encirclement" was magnified many times over due to visual and psychological effects! This was entirely a meticulously planned psychological war and a magic trick of light and shadow!

Duruth and his men, in a state of extreme panic and the darkness of night, were completely unable to discern the truth and easily fell into this seemingly simple yet extremely effective trap.

In the darkness, Wilstone's figure resembled Death returning from the abyss. He strode forward, a bloodied head looming in his hand.

It was the head of the ruthless bandit leader, Durut, his eyes wide with fury, frozen in fear and resentment!

The heavy stench of blood instantly filled the air, causing the bandits who were crouching on the ground with their hands covering their heads to tremble violently. They buried their heads even lower and dared not even breathe.

Wilstone casually tossed the severed head to the ground, his gaze sweeping over the bloodless victory before settling on Kruze.

The seasoned knight, his eyes filled with undisguised amazement and admiration, bowed with his hand on his chest, his voice slightly hoarse with excitement:
"Young Master, your move... is truly amazing!"

These simple words were the highest praise Wilstone could conceive.

Throughout his life, he had fought many battles and seen countless tactics, but to so cleverly utilize the darkness, firelight, scarecrows, and the fear in people's hearts to create the momentum of a thousand troops at the lowest cost and subdue the enemy without fighting was simply a marvel he had never heard of or seen before!
Rezael, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded, his mind blank.

He was originally eager to fight, thinking that tonight would be a bloody battle, and he even rehearsed the details of how to swing his sword and charge several times in his mind.

To his utter surprise, the battle... or rather, the "hunt," ended in such an unbelievable way before he even had a chance to draw his sword.

Looking at his elder brother's calm profile, he felt not just admiration, but a profound sense of awe that bordered on worship.

Kruse simply smiled and waved his hand in response to their astonishment.

In his view, this was nothing more than the most rudimentary application of information asymmetry and psychological warfare, and there were countless similar cases in his past life.

His gaze returned to its calm and pragmatic tone as he turned to Wilstone and ordered, “Wilstone, these prisoners are yours to deal with. Examine them carefully, ascertain their origins. Those willing to lay down their weapons, genuinely submit, abide by the rules of my Lion's Fang Territory, and remain as serfs can be given a way to survive; they can be dispersed and incorporated into the labor force.” His tone paused slightly, his voice suddenly turning cold, carrying an undeniable iron will: “As for those who are stubborn, have committed evil deeds, or harbor malicious intentions… you know what to do. The territory needs labor now, but absolutely no destabilizing elements.”

"Yes, young master! I understand!" Wilstone understood immediately and bowed deeply.

Cleaning up, identifying, absorbing usable resources, and eliminating hidden dangers are things he excels at.

Just as Kruse finished giving the order and was about to ask about the prisoners' condition in detail, that familiar notification sound rang in his mind again:
【Ding! 】

[Triggering the beginner side quest: Defend the Territory (Combat)]

[Mission Description: Successfully repelled and dealt with the incoming armed threat, protecting the territory's security and property. While the battle employed some tactics, the result was paramount!]

[Quest Reward: Energy Crystal x10]

Sure enough! Kruse's heart skipped a beat.

The system has determined that this defensive battle was a success! Ten energy crystals are about to be obtained, which is undoubtedly a more tangible reward than any praise for him!

【Ding! 】

The system notification sound seemed to have timed it perfectly, ringing out abruptly in Kruze's mind the instant he relaxed slightly after his successful defense, cold and utterly emotionless.

[Triggering the beginner side quest: If the enemy can go, so can I (combat)]

[Mission Description: In chaotic times, hunger is the greatest tyrant. During periods of food scarcity, it's not just ragged refugees who become "bandits." Many nobles, equally distressed or inherently greedy, will also tear off their masks of hypocrisy, disguise themselves, and wield their swords against their weaker neighbors. For the survival and development of their territories, necessary "war to sustain war" is not shameful. Occasionally, it's also worthwhile to play the role of "hunter in the shadows."]

[Quest Reward: Energy Crystal x10]

"..."

Kruse's calm expression froze instantly, his lips twitched uncontrollably, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Let him... work as a bandit? To plunder other noble territories?

At that moment, Kruse felt his worldview had been shaken like never before, and he even began to question the meaning of life.

Since his transmigration, although he had resorted to trickery, exploited information gaps, and even tacitly accepted Wilstone's torture and forced confessions in order to survive and develop, he had always drawn a bottom line for himself—he was protecting his territory and people.

He doesn't consider himself a purely good person, but he's definitely not a villain who indiscriminately kills the innocent and bullies the weak.

(End of this chapter)