Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

Even Thesolius felt a little embarrassed being stared at like that by someone close to him. He coughed twice, placed his spear on the rack, stood up, and asked casually:

"How is it? Is everything taken care of, doctor?"

Tarina adjusted her expression slightly before speaking:

"After repeated calculations, we have completed the first phase of material reserves. Other preparations are also nearing completion and should be finished by noon tomorrow."

"Is that so? Very good, it's within the plan. Tell the soldiers to get ready, it's time to go to Alpert."

The second half of the sentence was addressed to Alka, who, upon receiving the order, immediately turned and left to relay it.

Before long, things became lively outside. As darkness fell, the soldiers, by the light of torches and braziers, began to pack their belongings to prepare for the next day so as not to forget anything.

Tarina relaxed now, since the last bit of work was done and there shouldn't be anything else to do today.

As she relaxed, the girl's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the exquisite and beautiful spear... Although she didn't have the same deep love for swords and spears as a warrior, women are still naturally attracted to beautiful things and would naturally notice something that was polished to perfection in every detail.

Lost in thought, Tarina reached out and stroked the smooth shaft of the spear. Suddenly, a question arose in her mind, and she naturally turned around and asked:

"My lord, before we set off from the capital, didn't His Majesty give you a lot of weapons? One room couldn't hold them all, so why do you need to make another new one?"

"Those spears look quite exquisite; they should be enough, right?"

Tersolius's lips curled slightly. He turned around, his feet circling as he stood by the window, now facing away from the windowsill and directly at Talina, who had asked the question.

"Just like some noblewomen who always like to collect gold, silver and jewels and exquisite jewelry, even though I have many excellent weapons, you can never have too many of these things. When I see something excellent, I want to get it, and I always want skilled craftsmen to make it according to my wishes. There is no specific number."

"Just like you, Doctor, enjoy collecting items with unusual 'messages,' sometimes the sellers don't know their value and you can get them cheaply, but other times you have to spend a lot of money. Why do you always do it? Whether it's out of curiosity or something else... it's always hard to give up something you like."

As he spoke, he reached for the spear again, his fingers tracing the shaft until they rested on the sharp tip. A gentle touch produced a clear, melodious vibrating sound.

"Like these sounds, every weapon is different. I can distinguish them even with my eyes closed, but to others they sound the same. That's the power of personal preference..."

Chapter 236 Cleanup

Before the sun had even peeked out at dawn, and darkness still shrouded the land, the military camps stretching for dozens of miles were ablaze with fire, and countless supply wagons crisscrossed the landscape. Soldiers and laborers were everywhere loading and unloading supplies; though it was night, there was no sign of quiet, only bustling activity and constant shouts.

The mess hall had started preparing breakfast early, and it was now finished, with the food being heated in large pots. The soldiers lined up to get their food, ate, packed their belongings, and prepared to set off as soon as it was light, taking advantage of the cool weather to head south to Alpert.

Besides their own packs and tents, the campsite should also be left intact for the logistics troops transporting supplies later, ensuring that the army has no worries about supplies.

Tersolius had prepared everything long ago... or rather, he didn't really need to prepare anything. Everything was taken care of by specialists, and all he had to do was wait.

The waist belt is the key part of securing this heavy armor. It must be tightened enough to distribute most of the weight across the body, which is quite challenging for Tarina, who is currently focused on this task.

Only after the long, lacquered waistband of Tarsus was firmly attached to his upright waist, binding his broad and powerful back, did Tarina quickly fasten the buckle on her belt into the hole.

After stretching his body and finding nothing wrong, Teresolus turned back with a smile to the girl beside him, whose face was flushed from all the exertion.

"You should have just told me to send my guards, but you insisted on being stubborn..."

Tarina blushed and remained silent, only changing the subject when she heard footsteps outside.

"It seems they've already arrived."

Tersolius raised an eyebrow slightly, turned around and sat back in his chair, waiting for his guards to bring the newcomer in.

The reason he was still here was to wait for someone, someone who should have reported to him long ago... the logistics supervisor, Caglianodos.

A hunched-over man strode in. He had clearly not had an easy time these past two days. His once pristine clothes were now wrinkled, and the beautiful floral embroidery looked tired. His thick leather boots were covered in mud, which he hadn't bothered to clean.

Tersolius waited silently until the other person had bowed before asking:

"You should have come to me yesterday. What caused you to rush here only after the army had already set off? You didn't even send anyone to deliver a message to me."

This statement sounds like an accusation, but Tersolius's tone is not harsh; it is more of an inquiry.

Caglianos bent deeply, then let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping as if a heavy burden had been lifted from them.

"I have successfully completed my mission, my lord. I have thoroughly investigated the embezzlement and loss reporting situation of the transportation team in the southern provinces. A total of 337 people were found to be involved, and after repeated verification, it has been confirmed that no one has escaped the net."

Tersolius sat up abruptly, his brow furrowing in a serious expression.

"337 people... How can there be so many? Does this transportation team still have management personnel?"

"Without exception, sir..."

Carianados, his face stiff, pulled a parchment envelope from his clothes and handed it to Thesorius:

“Apart from the lowly coachmen, slaves, and workers, anyone with even a little power got involved. They colluded to embezzle large amounts of supplies by reporting losses, and they formed their own independent organization by colluding with each other. They even bribed the clerks who compiled the records to cover for them, which is why they were never exposed.”

"Most of the supplies they embezzled would appear on the city's black market a few days later and be sold quickly at a slightly lower price. But because it was a business with no capital and the supplies were important, they never had to worry about finding a market and made a considerable profit."

"Whenever someone joins the team, they coerce and entice them to cooperate. If they refuse, they will find a way to persecute them to death during transport and then disguise it as a natural disaster or man-made calamity. This method has never failed them."

"They even colluded with a group of bandits in the area, and would occasionally stage a robbery to steal a large amount of supplies. Because they had a reason for doing so, they would not be blamed. After the robbery, they would split the loot 60/40. They would also deliberately tip off the army when they were searching for them, so that the bandits could always escape."

"Of course, because this method is too conspicuous, they dare not use it often. They will only plan it when they are sure that there is huge profit to be made."

"After accumulating enough money, they began to bribe those key officials so that they could turn a blind eye and do things more flawlessly, without revealing any loopholes... This time, it was because of the need to prepare additional documents for the supply of military provisions that Miss Talina noticed the clues... But in fact, what they did was far more sophisticated than what was initially discovered."

Tersolius was silent for a moment, then shook his head slightly and sighed:

"So you've been dragging this out until now because you're dealing with the beginning and end of this matter."

“Exactly.” The bearded man stroked his beard, on which night dew had condensed, soaking a patch of his collar.

"Although we thoroughly cleaned it up with the help of His Majesty's henchmen, this supply train cannot afford to be lost during a major battle... So I have been selecting capable personnel and replacing all the problematic ones to ensure that this important team can continue to operate normally... This is their roster, all of them are loyal and reliable."

"In this way, the reserves of supplies will not be affected, and the criminals will receive the punishment they deserve."

"Well done."

A smile appeared on Tersolius's face. He reached out and picked up a bottle of wine from the side and threw it at the man. Caglianodos quickly caught it and then saw the mark on the bottom of the bottle.

"It was a gift from His Majesty. You've always enjoyed drinking wine, so try some this time. There are only a few bottles of this every year, and even His Majesty doesn't get to drink much of it."

As he spoke, he stood up, his armor plates clanging loudly. The sky outside was already beginning to lighten; it was time to set off.

"As for those three hundred-odd people... they should be executed quickly. In wartime, severe punishments should be used. This is a good example to make an example of them."

........................

The massive army set off in order of seniority, advancing swiftly along the wide roads that had been constructed. Banners stretched endlessly like a surging river, and the sound of their footsteps shook the earth, raising clouds of yellow dust.

At dawn, just as the sun was rising, the legions marched across the land of the empire. Their departure signified a grand war. Every soldier's sword gleamed, their armor gleamed, and each soldier awaited an opportunity to make a name for themselves.

At that very moment, a commotion arose in the city of Dalifia—a large number of prisoners were being led to the square by soldiers, and when the sun began to shine its bright light on the earth, the jailers began to execute them.

Three beheading stakes operated simultaneously, and six executioners took turns. In no time, corpses piled up on the ground, and blood flowed like a river. According to the sacred laws of the empire, none of those who deserved to be executed escaped and all received their due fate.

The ringleaders among them certainly didn't die so easily. The seven most heinous criminals were either dismembered or cut in half at the waist and had their hearts ripped out. The prisoners' heart-wrenching screams of pleas for mercy were sharp and piercing... It was terrifying to watch.

Those whose crimes did not warrant death were not spared physical punishment either; they were whipped or flogged, all carried out in an orderly manner, and by the time the sun was at its zenith, the entire process was completed, and even the blood on the ground was cleaned up.

Those who escaped were bound with iron chains and sent to prison, where they faced a long prison life and hard labor.

Thus, this malignant tumor that had been hidden in the southern provinces was finally completely unearthed, leaving no further worries.

-----------------------

People who have never ridden a horse may find it hard to imagine how to handle such a huge animal. Without actual experience, relying solely on guesswork can easily lead to thinking it's too simple or too difficult.

For Karila, riding a horse was nothing special, and she could handle it skillfully. However, her brothers were slaves trained to fight from childhood and had never been in contact with horses before. They knew nothing about horses and could not ride like her. They could only advance with the army.

It would take a long time for an army of 6 to march from one end to the other. As far as the eye could see, it was a sea of ​​people, stretching endlessly, with about 12,000 cavalrymen kicking up clouds of dust as they advanced. The earth-shattering noise startled countless birds in the surrounding forests, and even the fiercest and most ferocious wild beasts trembled and hid in their dens.

Mos, the horse beneath Thesolius, was shaking its glossy mane. This magnificent Passatian warhorse had not a single stray hair on its body; even its hooves and eyes were pure black, like an elf born from the night. This made Thesolius, who sat on it, appear extremely heroic and majestic.

Karila was looking around curiously. Growing up in the frigid north, the Rigut girl had never seen such a vibrant land in the south before. Everywhere she looked, there were trees and lush forests. Although the leaves were beginning to turn golden in late autumn, there was still a vibrant scene of life among the fallen leaves.

As the army advanced, countless birds and beasts were startled out. Some rabbits, in their panic, even ran around aimlessly. She watched helplessly as two plump wild rabbits darted past her. Their glossy, dark brown fur clearly indicated they were well-nourished.

Karila was immediately excited at the sight of a prey. But without a suitable throwing weapon at hand, in a moment of impulsiveness, she grabbed her battle axe and was about to throw it—a very common tactic in her hometown, where skilled warriors could use throwing axes to cut ropes in the air, so catching a rabbit was naturally a piece of cake.

But before he could throw the axe, two fat rabbits were about to run past him. Tersolius reached for one of the bows on his horse, took out a few light arrows, and with a few twangs of the bowstring, the arrows flew like lightning, easily pinning the two rabbits to the ground. They twitched slightly and then stopped moving.

Colin, who had just untied his bow, clicked his tongue in regret, then whistled. Two long-legged hounds darted out, retrieved the rabbit, removed the pierced arrow, made a ring cut around the rabbit's hind leg with a knife, then cut a slit in the skin and ripped it off with a sharp pull—with a hiss, the furry rabbit skin separated from the rabbit, revealing its red flesh.

No matter how fat a rabbit looks, it is actually difficult for it to accumulate fat. Even after skinning it, it is all lean meat with more bones and less flesh. Eating this for a long time will actually make you thinner and hungrier, and it can only be used to satisfy your cravings.

The two rabbit skins were hung on the saddle. With a little more processing, they could easily make two gloves.

The rabbit's entrails were left for the two dogs, while Thesolius still held his bow, his sharp, hawk-like eyes scanning the jungle. The other two immediately realized there was more...

Thesolius put the light arrows back into his quiver, reached out and drew out a whistling arrow with a tip carved from deer antlers, nocked it and drew it back steadily. After a quick glance, he shot the arrow directly into a thicket of bushes.

The arrow flew through the air with a tearing whistle, extremely loud and piercing. Almost at the same time, the bushes shook, and a huge figure, panting heavily, suddenly burst out and fled into the ravine without looking back.

"There's a bear here!"

Colin’s surprised voice reached Tersolius’s ears—the broad and sturdy figure was undoubtedly a strong brown bear, which was now moving with incredible speed, having already darted a hundred meters away in the blink of an eye.

"It's going to run away if we don't act now!"

Karila couldn't wait any longer. She snatched a spear from a guard and spurred her horse forward, while Tersolius had already drawn his bow and was estimating the distance.

This beast appeared extremely cunning, deliberately venturing into densely wooded areas during its escape. It had most likely witnessed hunters using bows, arrows, and spears to hunt, and thus knew that something deadly was about to fly in from the sky, attempting to use the trees to block its prey.

boom!

As the bowstring twitched, the arrow flew like a shooting star, and the fleeing brown bear suddenly collapsed to the ground—the arrow had accurately emerged from a gap in the forest, piercing its muscular shoulder and causing the wild beast, which was running at breakneck speed, to fall to the ground.

"Why!…………"

That's the sound Karila made, its cries blocked by the bushes...

Chapter 237 The Smell of Meat

Autumn is the time for animals to store up energy for the coming cold season, especially bears, which often hibernate to survive the long winter. To avoid freezing or starving to death during their sleep, they need to store large amounts of fat, making autumn a busy season for them.

This ferocious and cunning beast is not only extremely strong, but also incredibly fast. It hunts everywhere in the forest, catching anything it can get its hands on. Of course, if possible, it will try to eat the fattest parts to accumulate enough fat.

The brown bear before them, already well-fed and bloated, was usually a formidable foe in the forest thanks to its thick hide and tough flesh. However, the passing army, gleaming with armor, frightened it into hiding in the bushes. It hurried past these clearly dangerous creatures, but unexpectedly, it revealed a weakness and was startled out by a whistle arrow.

Of course, this approach wasn't necessarily wrong. After all, if it had continued to lie in the bushes, it would likely have been shot dead by a hail of arrows. If it were an ordinary hunter, it would most likely have already escaped by now. But it was facing Tersolius and Colin.

A broad-bladed long arrow pierced through a gap in the trees, striking the brown bear's thick, muscular shoulder blade. It embedded itself deeply into the bone, tearing through the fascia and becoming firmly embedded in the bone, rendering it powerless to move even with immense strength. Before the bear could even roar or struggle, another heavy arrow pierced through the trees, striking precisely below the rounded ears—the most vulnerable and tender spot. The arrow passed through both ears without resistance, emerging from the other side, still warm and streaked with blood.

The incredibly strong bear twitched a few times before collapsing, not in its death throes, but as a final, instinctive reaction. Then it fell silent, its tongue oozing like water from between its teeth as it lay in its gaping mouth, and its foul-smelling blood began to soak the fallen leaves and the soil.

Carila finally arrived late. She rode her horse around the messy bushes in the woods and came to the side of the fallen brown bear.

The girl clicked her tongue in utter disappointment, then turned to look at Colin, who had fired the arrow, now proudly raising his longbow at her. Even though he wasn't physically present, she could guess what he was saying…