Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

Unlike other beggars, he didn't care even if he didn't get anything. He just drifted along aimlessly, barely surviving by sheer luck.

"The armorer of Alias ​​City died suddenly from an illness a year ago. After his death, his past crimes could no longer be covered up, and even implicated his family... It seems that this was your doing."

A sinister smile appeared on the young man's lips, revealing a surprising mix of resentment and pleasure.

“Yes, I did it… I’ve been dead since I was 16. I only truly came back to life once during those few days! Otherwise, I’m just a walking corpse.”

…………

"Well done."

The young man's sinister smile froze; the other party's response was completely unexpected, leaving him momentarily at a loss for how to react...

"Any normal person with a conscience and blood would praise you like this. This is exactly what a responsible man should do. In any case, based on this alone, you deserve this praise."

"The failure to remove such parasites in time is a dereliction of duty on our part as those in high positions, and this is indisputable. You have used your own means, your own efforts, and your own methods to seek justice for yourself, and no one can say anything against you."

"But your sins cannot be ignored either..."

Tersolius reached out and took a parchment from Talina beside him, carefully examined the data on it, and then continued:

“You gathered bandits along the trade route in the Khalids Forest, leading them to rob, kill, and burn. In five years, no fewer than a thousand people have been silenced by the bandits… You should understand what kind of crime this is.”

"Yes, I understand... According to the sacred laws of the Empire, the tendons of the limbs should be extracted, the skin of the whole body should be peeled off over three days, the eyes should be gouged out, the tongue should be cut off, and the ears should be pierced before death is permitted on the fifth day."

Perhaps he had already made considerable mental preparations on the way here. When talking about the tortures that might be inflicted on him, he only twitched his lips a few times, without showing any excessive panic.

“Let me make this clear beforehand: you can’t expect any mercy from me, and you have no right to have any expectations right now… But you may not know that there’s a girl named Iliana who lives in a tailor shop in the city of Thalias. I think you should know her.”

Before Attorney Teso could finish speaking, the young man, who had calmed down considerably, widened his eyes in undisguised elation and shock, struggling desperately to move forward. He cried out in pain…

"Iliana! Iliana is still alive?! Is it true? Is it really true, Merciful Lady?!... Waaah!..."

His attempt to approach the legion commander was immediately met with severe punishment. His personal guards stomped on his head, burying his face in the dirt, then pulled him up and slapped him twice hard to calm him down.

"That's right. Your sister didn't die in that so-called accident... She was very lucky to escape, and she's already married with a husband and young children. She runs a small tailor shop and earns some money by mending clothes. The couple is quite well-off."

"And she also tried to find you. Ever since learning of the sudden death of your family's enemy, your sister suspected it was you. But ultimately, she was outnumbered and powerless, and couldn't fulfill her wish..."

The young man, whose cheeks were swollen and bluish-red, listened intently, his eyes shining, as if a walking corpse had been given a new soul and come alive.

"If nothing unexpected happens, your last remaining relatives will live a peaceful and stable life, and your family bloodline will continue... But this is all predicated on nothing unexpected happening. You should know that the crimes you've committed will implicate all your immediate family members, right?"

A visible look of panic and fear appeared on the young man's face, more intense and horrifying than ever before, as if he were watching someone pull out his intestines.

"No! Please... Your Honor, I'll give you everything I have! I've hidden a lot of wealth elsewhere, I'll give you all of that, please spare her life!"

He began to struggle again, but this time not to get closer, but simply to crawl on the ground, like a dog, begging for mercy...

“I had prepared evidence to convince you to believe me… but I’ll show it to you anyway. You should recognize this brass hairpin.”

As he spoke, Tersolius took another simple copper hairpin from the side. It had no decorative patterns or exquisite gemstones on it, and it was even worn smooth and rounded, obviously showing signs of many years of use.

The young man stared wide-eyed at the hairpin, only now truly realizing that he actually still had family members alive...

Although the hair clip is simple, it is ingeniously made with hinges and clasps. This craftsmanship alone can earn it a lot more money. The rounded locking teeth in the middle can firmly hold the hair in place. This was the gift he made by hand for his sister.

“I know you can’t suddenly go from a beggar who’s just waiting to die to a skilled thief. I can suppress this news, and no one will know that your sister is still alive. All you have to do is tell me all the valuable information. That way, the only one who will be punished will be you.”

"If your information satisfies me enough, you will receive a relatively quick death, spared from prolonged torture... I don't have much time left for you, answer me now."

The young man took two deep breaths, his eyes quickly hardening, or rather, he hadn't hesitated at all; he had simply been calming himself down.

"I'd love to tell you everything I know, adults, but I can't say it right now..."

I understand your concerns.

Tersolius nodded, knowing that the other party had agreed:

“You don’t need to worry about that. We have a fairly mature solution now… Now, enjoy your last moments. The person you want to see is in the tent behind me.”

…………

"Is this yet another root, sir?"

Tarina scribbled in a small parchment booklet, listening with a touch of melancholy to the weeping and fervent conversation coming from the tent.

"That's right, doctor. Although these roots are hard to find, we've finally found another one. We just hope it won't break down."

"Our person who stayed in the provincial capital hasn't made a move at all. Have they given up?"

“I don’t think they will give up. For these insects hiding in the shadows, being exposed would be their annihilation. So they must be looking for a sure-fire opportunity… and the chaos caused by the provincial legions returning to the central government under the emperor’s orders—what better opportunity could there be?”

Chapter 184 In the Shadows (1)

Although humans are omnivorous, given the choice, more people would prefer to eat meat rather than fruits and vegetables. The human body has an innate and strong craving for fat and protein, a genetic trait that cannot be defied.

At the same time, it is also an obvious reason why it is easier to feel full eating meat compared to fruits, vegetables, and grains.

If a young boy only eats grains and vegetables, it's not unusual for him to eat four or five bowls in one meal. But if it's fatty meat, even if he's tired after a long day, he won't be able to eat much with staple food, because the oil in the food makes him feel full more easily.

This is why the best military rations always include a sufficient amount of meat. Of course, because meat is expensive and difficult to preserve, being full is more important than eating well. Most troops rely on dry rations to fill their stomachs, and if they are lucky—most of the time it's a reward—they can eat meat and fresh vegetables.

But the empire, located on a rich land, was somewhat different. The elite imperial legion soldiers not only enjoyed many privileges, possessing the best weapons, the best armor, the best boots, and even the best belts, but their food was also significantly better than that of soldiers from other countries.

Meat is always prone to spoilage. In this era, the methods for processing meat are generally pickling and smoking. Combining these two methods yields the best results, allowing meat that would otherwise spoil in a few days to remain edible for several months or even years under suitable conditions.

Another excellent method is to remove as much moisture as possible from the meat to make it into dried jerky, which can be preserved for a longer time. If it is dry enough, it may still be edible even after a hundred years.

The cured chicken in front of me is what the soldiers of the empire often eat. The once plump chicken meat has now become dry and shrunken, with a shiny brownish-red color. The soft chicken skin is now tougher than leather, and it is inedible without cooking it over a high flame.

To preserve it for a long time, this chicken was marinated with a lot of salt and a small amount of spices—a privilege reserved for officers and generals.

Therefore, this kind of thing would be very salty if eaten directly. Generally, it is chopped up and put into porridge or soup to cook together, so as to replenish the physical strength and nutrition of soldiers who have a lot of exercise.

Chicken is relatively easy to handle, but if it's dry, coarse jerky, sometimes you even need an axe to chop it up, otherwise you can't eat it and can only stare at it helplessly.

As the cured chicken was chopped, washed, and added to the boiling porridge, finely chopped scallions and wild vegetables were also added and simmered. Soon, a rich and mellow aroma filled the air, rich with the fragrance of oil, making one's mouth water.

Tersolius eagerly awaited the pot of delicious porridge to be served to him. It was already late outside. Although the tent was hastily erected, it was still well-organized. A fire was burning in the tent, and steam was rising from a small pot on it. Tarina, with her hair tied up, was busy working nearby.

Watching the knife chop vegetables and onions on the cutting board, Tersolius suddenly realized that he had been eating special meals for quite some time—it all started when he curiously asked Talina to make him a pot of soup, and somehow this habit continued, with Talina taking care of his daily meals.

There are certainly some important reasons for this—after discovering the cunning and vicious enemy lurking in the shadows, he had to consider the possibility of being poisoned, and his generals also believed that it would be safest to find a trustworthy person to be in charge of his food alone.

After much discussion, it was actually Tarina who took on the responsibility, and the two of them basically stopped eating the food prepared by the mess hall.

At first, the doctor could only cook some ordinary food, and the taste was just passable. After all, Tarina had never put much effort into cooking. But she was clever. After a few suggestions and guidance from the lazy Tersolius, the doctor's skills had improved considerably. He only needed to wait to eat; he didn't even have to wash the dishes.

Before long, the meat porridge on the delicate stove was cooked. Lina poured the porridge into two large bowls, let it cool slightly, and then brought it over. He could simply reach out and take it to eat.

Eating such scalding hot food too quickly can damage one's throat, and he also took this opportunity to handle some business.

"Was it all resolved yesterday?"

The question seemed nonsensical, but Tarina answered it perfectly naturally, without needing to think too much:

"It's all taken care of. It's much easier now that we've got experience. There were no unexpected problems this time, and he should be able to get up this afternoon."

“But this time there’s a special discovery…” Tarina carefully scooped up half a spoonful, her pink lips pursed slightly, and she first tasted a piece of the stewed chicken that was so tender it was almost falling apart:

"This time, the parasite is quite different in appearance. It has one-third fewer tentacles and is much smaller, so it was much easier to remove this time. This may be due to some kind of mutation, or it may have been specially cultured..."

"According to intelligence, those so-called Mushi Masters all have their own methods for cultivating specific Mushi, and perhaps new variants have emerged during this period."

"Did you save it?"

"It's already preserved. I removed the parts that are prone to spoilage, then soaked it in a special solution, and then I will study its structure carefully."

"We can't rely on you alone. I have some ideas, but I can't implement them right now. We can only talk about them after we return to the capital."

………………

Before long, both of them finished their bowls of meat porridge. Although Talina was a little slower than him, she was still quite formidable compared to the average woman... except that she was noticeably fuller in certain areas.

When I was a doctor in the village, I often had to go into the mountains to collect herbs. The amount of exercise I did in a year was not much less than that of the women in the village.

But now she only needs to be in charge of some paperwork and important affairs. The original medical camp has been handed over to a few capable subordinates. When she travels with the army, she always rides in a carriage. And the food is excellent. Over this period of time, she has become noticeably plumper, and her eyes have a charming and alluring quality.

Moreover, as far as he knew, Tarina always liked to eat some snacks she bought herself in the city after meals, and the sweeter the better... If she continued like this, she would get fat.

After a moment's thought, his expression turned serious, and he waved to stop Talina from leaving. As she looked at him, he spoke in a very solemn tone:

"Doctor, you seem to have gained some weight."

"Hmm?..." Talina didn't react for a moment. Tersolius's tone was too formal, as if he were asking about the blinking situation in the army, which made her subconsciously want to answer.

But before she could speak, the girl finally realized the meaning behind the other person's words. Her fair face quickly flushed red, and she stammered, unable to speak, appearing extremely guilty.

"A fuller figure is good, but if this continues, you'll become bloated... Don't eat too many desserts either; once you start, you can't stop. You have to control yourself..."

Whether nobles or commoners, the empire particularly admired women who were tall, voluptuous, healthy, and fair-skinned. This was the most common aesthetic standard in the country, while a beautiful and delicate face was not the primary standard.

On the one hand, such women were healthier and more likely to give birth to healthy children. On the other hand, the men of the empire often had to participate in military training, and women inevitably had to bear some of the burden, so those who were healthy were naturally more favored.

"If you have some free time, you can train with Colin and learn some self-defense skills... You're a doctor, you should know more about these things than I do."

At this point, Thesolius suddenly paused for a moment, then an idea struck him, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly had a new plan...

Talina blushed as she heard what Tersolius said, realizing that everything he said was true and she was completely flustered.

The girl didn't know why she suddenly felt panicked, as if she had messed up something very important. The chaotic emotions almost overwhelmed her, giving her an urge to cover her face and run away.

But upon closer reflection, my panic seemed to stem from... not wanting to show my bad side to this person?

Just then, Thesolius's words suddenly stopped, and then rang out again:

"Doctor, how about I teach you martial arts?"

"ah?!"

Talina turned her gaze back with some confusion.

Thessalius, however, smacked his hand excitedly as if he had discovered a new continent:

"I'm quite skilled myself. It just so happens that we still have many parts to finish compiling the detailed record of military skills. I've heard people say that teaching others is the best way to learn and summarize, so we can give it a try!"

The more he thought about it, the more feasible the method seemed. He even broadened his thinking and continued to expand on the idea:

"We've recruited quite a few new soldiers this time. We can select elite and brave warriors from the army and focus on training them. In the process, they can also collect what we want."

"It's decided. Doctor, come see me early tomorrow. Remember to wear light and comfortable clothes. I'll teach you some useful things!"

Tarina stared blankly at the elated Tersolius. This usually stern and dignified adult seemed much more approachable, making her heart beat faster for no apparent reason.

In the end, he just nodded vaguely.