Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

For the reformers in the Holy Order, this was tantamount to falling from heaven to hell. After enjoying everything that power brought them, who could bear to become mediocre and incompetent? Those who truly fall and are shattered are often those who have climbed high enough, let alone those who have used such power to force growth. Once they lose the help of their parasites, they will instantly fall from the clouds to the dust, their bodies even weaker than normal people. Everything from the past, the scorn and mockery of mortals, all the complacency and pride in their own power, will vanish in the blink of an eye like snow melted by hot water, leaving only a weak and laughable shell.

Faced with such a sudden turn of events, he should have been consumed by anger, panic, and regret, perhaps even erupting into hysteria... But instead, he exudes a sense of genuine relief. It's as if a thousand-pound burden has finally been lifted from his shoulders, no longer weighing on his bones and flesh, like a butterfly finally breaking free from its cocoon and beginning to spread its wings.

He never thought of turning himself into a non-human being. From a young age, his dream was simply to be an ordinary person with some skills, to earn a living, to be born and grow up in an ordinary way, and then to die... But fate refused to grant him this most ordinary wish in the first half of his life.

He paid no attention to those staring at him. He almost recklessly began to broaden his mind, letting his thoughts soar to the heavens.

He was born in a port city on the border between the Empire and the Western Kingdom of Winders. From a young age, he ran around amidst the stench of pickled fish and the damp sea breeze, walking on damp planks and stones. Every morning when he opened his eyes, the tattered blanket covering him was damp with the mist drifting in from the sea. His father was always an alcoholic, and any fish he caught or any money he earned would be quickly spent in the tavern. His mother was always complaining, her face dark all day long. Every now and then, she would whip him with a short plank studded with splinters. Her fingers were white and swollen from soaking in the washbasin, and even her fingerprints were barely visible.

That was his damp, impoverished, and smelly childhood; he was a boy who grew up amidst the salty sea breeze… If nothing unexpected happened, he would become a fisherman like his father, quickly plunging into the hardships of life, casually finding a woman to settle down with. Then, as his body grew increasingly sluggish and decaying, he would be forced to numb his senses with alcohol, and finally, the boy he raised would send him to be buried in that cemetery in the corner of the city. If he was lucky, they would make him a thin coffin out of broken wood; if he was unlucky, he would just be wrapped in a straw mat.

All of this changed when he was 10 years old—sea monsters from the sea raided their city. Those fur-clad, longship-shipping barbarians wielding axes quickly overwhelmed the city's few remaining security forces and retreated with a considerable haul before the nearby army could arrive. His father and mother also died in the raid, and only he, the young boy, was bound and thrown onto the longship as a valuable slave. From then on, everything changed.

Compared to his previous life of poverty and hardship, being a slave was a luxury. He suffered daily beatings and torture, was poorly clothed, and often went hungry. Under the scorching sun, he stood in the market, his head covered in filth, waiting to be chosen. Those deemed inferior and unwanted were often beheaded and thrown into the sea. Even though he was just a child at the time, and his body was feverish and weak from days of wind and rain, he dared not bend his back even slightly, for fear of being deemed useless and beheaded.

Compared to those who ended up as fish and shrimp in the sea, he was considered lucky. He was bought by a landlord to be a serf... Although he also suffered hardships, working under the scorching sun and not getting a chance to rest, he was still short in stature even in his prime.

He thought his life was over, destined to be a slave, toiling away until death. But his master sold him again—after changing hands multiple times, he fell into the hands of the Holy Order, becoming a test subject for the Insect Masters…and then suffered even more inhuman torture. He still can't bear to recall how he survived; all he remembers are the blood-stained knives, the horrifying screams, the dismembered bones, and the mutilated organs.

Perhaps it would have been better to die then and there, but he still managed to pull through. And this wretched life of his was always destined to survive, forced to drift with the tide, accepting one difficult task after another, and then desperately trying to live on... until he completed the last task, finally thinking that he had finally been freed and could live a peaceful and stable life from then on—this little dream was finally shattered a month ago, and he ended up in his current predicament.

The Imperials certainly didn't do this with good intentions. More likely, it was to get rid of the parasite within him so he could freely reveal the information they needed. Once he had said all that, he would be useless and could be disposed of.

This is nothing. He has no loyalty to that organization anyway. He was just controlled by these damned insects before. Once the threat of those parasites that could eat his brain at any time is gone, he is happy to tell what he knows to the enemies of the Holy Order and give those damned guys a good beating... At least before he dies, he will finally get rid of the things that have been controlling him. He is not free, but he is free.

He finally broke his silence, his expression calming down. He looked up at the tall young man standing before him and nodded slightly.

“I know what you want. I can tell you everything I know. I hope you will not use torture before killing me and let me die a little easier.”

Tesorus's lips curled slightly:

"It's not that easy. Why should I believe that the information you give me is genuine and not something you're deliberately trying to deceive me? I'd rather trust the information from those who are suffering torture and torment and are begging for death."

Patrick nodded somewhat helplessly:

"Of course, I understand that you can't easily believe an assassin's words, but I am indeed very weak right now, and torture could easily kill me, which I believe is not what the Empire wants... Of course, I am just offering a suggestion. It is up to you to decide what to do. If you really want to torture me, I have nothing to say."

Thesolius shifted his right foot slightly back, the steel-scaled armor of his skirt clanging crisply, the leather straps with gold carvings at the ends cascading down his shoulders like beautiful tassels on a magnificent banner, as he looked down at his opponent.

“The Empire’s prisons have plenty of punishments that can be applied to you, and you can’t escape by relying on that… But I can give you another chance. Give me some convincing evidence to prove that you will tell the truth.”

Patrick didn't even look up:

"You must be Lord Tersolius, right? To be honest, I have no way to prove this. There is absolutely nothing I can do. I can only try my best to show that I am willing to cooperate. If you do not want to believe me, then I am powerless and can only submit to your will... So if you believe that information obtained through torture is more reliable, then there is nothing I can do either."

Tersolius suddenly nodded slightly, as if he had reached a conclusion, and then continued:

"Then tell us what you know, the so-called intelligence. Tell us everything you know, and as for whether it's true or false, we'll have ways to verify it."

Patrick remained unsurprised, simply nodding and adjusting himself to a more comfortable position.

"So what do you want to know? I believe it's not some trivial matter."

“How about you tell me his most basic and important question? For example, where is the Holy Order’s stronghold? You’ve been hiding in the dark long enough, and I’m fed up with catching mice.”

“Ah… that’s very simple.” Patrick nodded lightly, as if he were talking about what to have for lunch today, and casually said, “It’s in the Kingdom of Winders in the north, in the territory of Count Porposa, near Salanod in the south, which is also the country where I was born.”

"...It wasn't too unexpected. But I never imagined it would be near Salanod...it's like fate."

The East and South have already been conquered by them. Everywhere the Imperial flag flies, they are searching high and low for traces of the Shrine of the Cautious. Those lurking rats in the shadows are also cautious and unlikely to place their headquarters in Imperial-occupied territory. That leaves only the lands and kingdoms of the North and West. However, Asler in the South is too far from the Empire, transportation is too inconvenient, and there are constant infiltrations by their henchmen, yet no trace of them has been found, making it less likely… And among these, the conditions in the North are simply too harsh. Many places still practice slash-and-burn agriculture and nomadic life, lacking even cities, making it unsuitable for the development of such a clandestine organization. That leaves only the dozen or so kingdoms in the West as the most likely candidates.

Although they could guess the general area, it was still a vast expanse of land, and moreover, it was land that had not yet been conquered by them. How easy would it be to search for something there? In the end, it was just like looking for a needle in a haystack... or at least a needle in a pond.

But now he has a specific destination. The enemies in the west are preparing to start another war. What's even better is that the defenses of the Kingdom of Salanod have been unknowingly infiltrated by his own brother. The mountain defenses they relied on have become useless. The situation that the empire has been trying to achieve through its long-standing wars on all sides seems to be within reach. What appears before him is a completely unobstructed road. He only needs to walk through it to get the answer.

Now that the south is secured, and he is leading several legions north to return home, the empire's previously scattered military forces can once again be concentrated in the west. This time, they will even be supported by three new provinces in the south... There are no more worries about the south and the east...

Things were unfolding at just the right moment; one war had barely ended when another was about to break out... It was as if someone was constantly stirring up the calm water, watching with delight the ripples that were created...

Chapter 413 The Emperor's Suspicion (1)

"That's all?"

"Yes, that's all. I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm not some big shot deeply involved in the organization's operations. I'm just a slightly skilled assassin. In fact, I was an assassin who had been retired for two years, but was dragged out here to do this job, and then messed it up... But I can tell you the location of the guy who contacted me, as well as his name and appearance. You did a great job. The news shouldn't have reached there yet. Even if that guy wanted to run, he couldn't go far. With the Empire's power, it would be easy to catch him."

“Those truly high-ranking and powerful figures would not come to such dangerous places as easily as I do. They would always hide themselves in the shadows and would never show up unless they were absolutely certain. They value their lives very much… But coincidentally, I have indeed met one or two of them, and they were even raised in the nest from a young age, so I can still tell you some things.”

The pain gradually returned from the wound, a sign that the anesthesia was wearing off. Patrick frowned involuntarily. He was now just an ordinary person, a weak one, far from the extraordinary physical resistance and recovery speed he used to have. The remaining injuries on his body were enough to make him a cripple. Now, even his pain tolerance had decreased considerably... Of course, perhaps he simply didn't want to endure it anymore.

Thesolius beckoned to the side, and soon a servant brought over a tray of wine with chilled condensation, its color as red as blood. Served in a beautiful glass, it emitted beams of red light the moment the sunlight pierced through it, carrying a chill unique to the underground.

"Have a drink of this to keep your mind clear, then continue."

"Ah! Thank you so much. I was just thinking of asking you for a drink."

Patrick took the glass, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. Only a few drops of wine remained swirling in the glass, and his expression immediately relaxed, as if it were some kind of magic potion.

"This is truly fine wine... Although I can't quite put my finger on what makes it so good, I'm sure someone as esteemed as you wouldn't try to fool a lowly person like me with something like this. And I have nothing more to say now. That's all I know. Please order my head to be chopped off. That would be an unexpectedly good outcome for me."

"This is the first time I've seen an assassin so eager to die yet so composed. Now that you've broken free of the organization's control, haven't you thought about living a good life?" Tersolius flicked the cold wine bottle, glanced at the gold band around the neck, chuckled, shook his head, and tossed the bottle back. He had been subtly observing the assassin opposite him the entire time.

"Of course I want to live, Your Excellency. Who doesn't want to live? Especially someone like me who's used to living a life of ignominy. But I know very well that I'm worthless now. Dying like this would be a better ending. Otherwise, who knows what will happen afterward... Of course, I have no intention of trying to move Your Excellency and make you take pity on me and let me go like a piece of dust... But I know that possibility is extremely small, so I'm just trying. And I believe that being as honest as possible should increase that possibility."

“Then I should tell you the reward for this honesty, at least for now…” The hand, its knuckles clad in nail plates, gently touched the table, slowly wiping away a speck of dust. The sharp-eyed young man subtly raised the corner of his mouth, a smile as fleeting and deadly as his own. “You can enjoy your life for now, assassin, at least until I discover you have shown signs of deceiving me. Until then, you enjoy the honor of access to the most secure prisons and restraints in the Imperial Prison… You should indeed feel honored; according to our prison warden, the last one to enjoy this honor attempted to plunge a dagger into the throat of the Emperor’s beloved son.”

"...I'm starting to regret it now."

Patrick gave a wry smile and said the most sincere thing he could think of.

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

Clear water droplets fell into the pool, splashing up ripples that shattered the reflection of the lion statue in the water. Beautiful ornamental fish swayed their broad, thin, silk-like tails, moving slowly even when disturbed.

Two tiny shrimp, perhaps no bigger than peanut shells, lived at the very bottom of the pond. They fed on floating debris and moss. Because they were at the bottom, they were the least aware of the sudden change. After a while, they hurriedly burrowed under the rocks, leaving only two thin antennae sticking out. Their small pincers were nervously retracting.

The emperor's long silver hair was now styled into intricate braids and buns, every single strand neatly gathered at the back of her head and secured with hairpins inlaid with gold and jade, adorned with rubies and sapphires. She wore a long white silk dress decorated with gold-embroidered lotus flowers and vines entwined with laurel leaves. An embroidered toga, made of purple silk, wrapped around her shoulders and hung down to her waist, bound by a golden belt. Only her feet, clad in strappy sandals, were submerged in the pool, occasionally shifting and continuing to disturb the ornamental fish.

"So you're saying there's no unusual activity at all?"

Turials, the commander of the Imperial Capital Garrison Legion and one of the Thirty Elders, stood five meters behind the Emperor, taking in the entire magnificent view... It was a truly pleasing sight, especially considering the unparalleled noble status of the person before him, making this scene even more rare. However, he dared not raise his head, his entire face stiff with fear and tension.

"Please forgive my incompetence, Your Majesty... but there is indeed nothing unusual in the capital. I have ordered my men to conduct thorough patrols, but..."

The emperor nodded slightly. The sun shone on her face, reflecting a texture and luster like white jade.

“That’s good. Maybe I’m being too suspicious… You know, Turials, it hasn’t been easy for us to get to this point. We’ve trudged through a thorny path full of traps. You’re a capable person, which is why I made you the commander of the Capital Garrison. But we can’t let our guard down, or there will always be someone who wants to drag us down from our current positions… Do you understand?”

The overweight middle-aged man's curly hair jiggled, and his entire body looked as stiff as if his joints had been poured with molten lead.

"I understand, Your Majesty."

"Then go, don't waste even a second."

After bowing again, the man slowly backed away until he reached the outside of the garden's circular archway, before turning and leaving.

A black ornamental fish swam slowly past the emperor's ankle. Among the jet-black scales on its back, one was a dazzling gold stripe that ran from head to tail along its entire spine, shining brightly in the sunlight. Each of these fish was selected by the gardeners and servants from hundreds or even thousands of the finest ornamental fish, each with its own unique characteristics. Even the rejected ones were enough to fetch an astonishingly high price... However, the emperor rarely paid attention to them, only visiting more frequently during this period.

"Is he trustworthy?"

Ingersoll stood beside the Emperor the entire time, her hands resting on the tip of the Moonblade Axe, her fingers occasionally tracing the cold steel. Her magnificent armor made her look like a golden statue, almost blocking out the sun on one side. Facing the still silent Emperor, she asked such a presumptuous and offensive question almost without restraint... As a guard, it was quite dangerous to try to discuss things that were not his business, but fortunately, this was an exception for her.

The emperor was not surprised at all. He didn't even turn his head, but remained silent for a moment before speaking:

"I hope I can trust him. After all, he was the one who left the village with us, and he is indeed quite capable. He has been a great help in getting us to where we are today..."

Turiars was originally just a butcher in the village, and a very skilled one at that. He took over his father's business, slaughtering pigs and cattle in various places to earn a meager living. Occasionally, when he saved up some money, he would buy a livestock, slaughter it, and sell it. He was considered quite well-off in the village, a stark contrast to the three of them who were penniless and barely had enough to drink. However, when they decided to venture out into the world, he unhesitatingly abandoned his family's slaughterhouse and sold it to another butcher in the village. With that money, he went out to make his way in the world with them.

This seemed like an unimaginably foolish decision at the time. After all, who could make the decision to abandon their stable life and gamble on a future that was likely to lead to poverty or even death? But even the most reckless gamblers rarely had the guts to do that, yet he did it anyway.

In the early years, the three young men knew almost nothing about the outside world. If it weren't for the experienced, shrewd, and cunning Turials, they would probably have suffered a lot... Although everything that happened later proved that his judgment was absolutely correct and his choice was arguably the wisest decision in the entire history of the empire, even Natamus secretly wondered at the time why this guy, who clearly wouldn't suffer any losses, would follow them through hardship? Wouldn't it have been better to live an easy life in his hometown, with plenty of meat to eat every now and then?

"You have some doubts about him?"

The emperor nodded slightly, his expression becoming inscrutable.

"What is the reason? Is there any conclusive evidence?" Ingersoll pressed for an answer, and after a brief hesitation, the Emperor turned to look at her:

"Some signs aroused my suspicion... but I didn't have any concrete evidence. To be more specific and accurate, it was intuition—"

"Intuition?" Ingersoll's expression was somewhat puzzled, and he seemed hesitant to speak, but the Emperor had already nodded:

"That's right, it's intuition. It may sound a bit strange and far-fetched, but I often have this intuition, and it has helped me more than once."

"Whenever someone with malicious intent, or someone who threatens or plots against me appears near me, I get this revelation-like intuition. It's hard to explain, but it's almost never wrong. It's not specific, but it makes me feel uneasy."

Ingersoll almost frowned:

"So when did you begin to have doubts about him?"

"Just now."

"Just now?!"

“Yes, just now…did you notice? Ingersoll, he was terrified of me, and his hands and feet were trembling with fear, as if he wanted to run away at any moment.”

"Perhaps it's because he failed to complete Your Majesty's task and is therefore afraid of punishment? This is indeed understandable given his duty, especially since Your Majesty has just ordered the stripping of an elder's honor and status, punishing him for dereliction of duty and corruption."

"Perhaps that is indeed the case, which is why I did not order you to arrest him on the spot... I only gave him a slight warning, hoping it was just my suspicion as the emperor acting up."

Under the bright sunlight, the roses and hydrangeas, which had been specially arranged to form a long corridor, created a cool shade. The emperor got up and walked into it, and Ingersoll immediately followed.

"But no matter what, I can't trust him as much as I used to. Maybe I should tell my henchmen to keep an eye on him..."

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

The carriage hurried through the streets, gliding smoothly on the flat road. The curved steel plates at the bottom of the wheels, after being hardened, could not directly bear the weight but reduced vibration, providing a more comfortable environment for the passengers. Even the driver's seat had the same design, making it difficult to throw the passengers off even when the horse was galloping at full speed. The carriage and the supporting beams were made of tough and sturdy mahogany, carved with grapevine patterns but without any color filling, making the whole carriage look rather plain and unassuming at first glance. However, a closer look would reveal that this vehicle was quite valuable.

Turias sat in the middle of the carriage, his face grim as he sipped his wine, gulping down the icy liquid. After finishing one glass, he would immediately pour himself another from the exquisite wine jug, as if a thirsty person were drinking water…

Chapter 414 The Emperor's Suspicion (2)

Icy fine wine is always one of the easiest things to bring pleasure in this era. Whether commoner or nobleman, soldier or slave, as long as one's tongue can fully savor it, this simple and direct joy is hard to be taken away.

As long as you drink enough to make your head feel dizzy, many troubles will be temporarily forgotten. From this point of view, there seems to be little difference between fine wine and spirits, except that the former is easier to drink. Once you drink to that extent, they have the same effect.

But for Turias, the fine wine from the Central Valley in his glass did not distract him; it was merely a thirst-quenching drink, its rich aroma washing over his mouth in waves, attempting to alleviate his thirst, which was not caused by dehydration.

His fingers were still trembling, chilled by what he had just witnessed... He had never been so close to death before. In the eyes of the powerful emperor, his life or death was just a matter of a word... or perhaps not even a word, just a glance.

Although Ingersoll was a woman, no one dared to underestimate her in the eyes of the palace guards… This woman from the north was undoubtedly a powerful warrior. Anyone who dared to insult or question this would die a horrible death… She even went to the arena to have some fun when she had nothing better to do, and her axe had chopped off no fewer than a dozen beast heads.

At least he was powerless to resist the other party, just like a plump melon that has no chance against a blade. If the emperor really wanted to kill him, he wouldn't even realize what was happening before his head hit the ground.

The emperor's reprimand seemed inexplicable, even cruel and ungrateful, after all, he had been a loyal follower of the emperor since his humble beginnings... Of course, all of this was based on the premise that he was truly innocent, and it was precisely because he knew that he could not be considered completely innocent that he was controlled by fear and trembled uncontrollably.