Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

"Don't be so surprised, or you might have been putting on an act... Even though you killed one of your accomplices and made another mute, you still left a flaw."

"If I'm not mistaken, the cattle riot and those two escaped guys were just a smokescreen. The real purpose was simply to bring you to me in a straightforward way... After all, someone who has clashed with my army and caused casualties has a very high probability of meeting me."

"What surprises me most is that as the owner of a cattle ranch, you actually possess such excellent horsemanship and martial prowess... and you were able to accurately locate two riders who had already escaped for quite some time. Rather than believing that your tracking ability is excellent, it is more believable that you know their hiding place."

"So, do you have anything else to say now?"

Fitzgerald took a deep breath, and his expression immediately relaxed:

"You truly live up to your reputation... I've come to ask for your protection."

He reached into his robes, the sound of the cavalrymen behind him gripping their hammers with their gauntlets was particularly loud, but he only pulled out a wad of cloth and respectfully placed it on the open ground between them.

After receiving permission, another cavalryman stepped forward and retrieved the bundle of cloth. Unfolding the layers of soft fabric, they discovered a short dagger gleaming with a bluish-green light, its tip as thin and sharp as a needle, radiating a dangerous, cold glint.

"Even if this dagger only grazes the skin, it will cause a person to die of poisoning within a few breaths, turning their entire body black... and this is what your enemy prepared for you."

Chapter 99 The Assassin (2)

The short, blue-green weapon before my eyes exuded an eerie and ferocious aura, like the fangs of a venomous snake, making one want to keep their distance.

The slender, wavy blade resembled the forked tongue of a venomous snake, and the cold glint of its tip seemed to sting the eyes. It was hard to imagine what the consequences would be if such a thing were to pierce the human body.

Tresolius examined the exquisite murder weapon with great interest, holding it in his soft cloth. In some people's original plan, this thing would cut his skin and take his life.

This is not impossible. No matter how brave he is, he cannot fight against deadly poison. Countless wise kings and powerful generals have died from poison mixed in their wine cups... This is especially true in countries that are good at using intrigue to achieve their goals.

With just a servant who has access to food and drink, an opponent who was originally too powerful to defeat will clutch his neck and struggle to his death with a livid face... This method is so extreme that it will inevitably leave many hidden dangers, but it is also so effective that it can be described as having an immediate effect.

He wore his armor most of the time, after all, war had never left him in the past.

But once he returns to his home in this world, he can't stay in this state forever. At that point, he'll have to take the poison plot and the dagger stabbing him in the back seriously and be on guard against.

The delicate yet dangerous little object was tossed onto the nearby table, and someone immediately and carefully wrapped it up and put it into a sturdy iron box.

"Go on, you probably still have something to say."

The man kneeling on one knee pursed his lips. His throat was incredibly dry, not from lack of water, but from intense fear and panic.

Only when he actually faced the general did he realize just how terrible the things he was ordered to do really were... He now suspected that even if he obeyed the order to carry out the assassination, the dagger would not have a chance to succeed.

Before that, they would be completely crushed, with no chance of resistance whatsoever.

A light rain was falling outside, making the temperature inside the tent drop slightly. A magnificent white lion skin cloak was draped over his shoulders. The once ferocious beast now looked pitiful and wretched; the monster that had caused the deaths of dozens of families was now reduced to mere clothing and decoration.

Not to mention the terrifying majesty that almost tore his heart apart, he realized that he was at a critical moment of life and death. Whether he could get protection and survive... or be regarded as a treacherous viper and have his head chopped off, depended on what he said next.

He swallowed hard, trying to clear his dry throat. Extreme tension caused cold sweat to soak through his headscarf.

"Of course, sir, I know this is not enough to gain your trust, but I have reasons for doing so..."

Tell me.

The man suddenly raised his hand, unfastened the leather buckles covering his chainmail, and removed the sturdy helmet from his head.

He then removed his exquisite chainmail, followed by his red jacket and linen shirt, until his muscular chest and scarred back were revealed, at which point he stopped.

"As you can see, my lord, I was once a slave."

Between the man's shoulders was a circular mark, formed by swollen, raised skin, devoid of any body hair, with an eerie smoothness.

Tersolius narrowed his eyes slightly—he recognized the mark, the mark of the Arswick family, the family of Aristotle Arswick.

But the man's story was not yet over.

“I took over our family’s cattle farm from my father when I was 12 years old. He died in an attack by a group of bandits when I was 12… At that time, the cattle we raised were the best in the entire central province. Customers from all over the country would come to us to buy cattle.”

“At the time, I thought I would become a wealthy citizen like my father. I learned everything he taught me and did everything well. Our cattle were healthy and strong.”

"Just when everything was going smoothly, a big deal came my way—a merchant from afar was willing to pay a large sum of money to buy dozens of the strongest oxen. At the time, I was blinded by greed and was determined to make the deal."

“I didn’t have nearly that many cattle that met the requirements, but I knew some villages had excellent cattle. If I could buy these cattle and resell them to this merchant, I could make a lot of money… But at the time, I didn’t have enough money. The young man, blinded by greed, borrowed a sum of money and thought he could pay back the principal and interest immediately after making the deal.”

The man gave a bitter laugh, his muscles as stiff as stone.

"You can probably guess what happened next... After I borrowed the money, the merchant disappeared without a trace. I was so stupid that I didn't ask for a deposit beforehand. No one bought the strong oxen I bought, and I had already spent all my money."

"Not long after, my debts completely dragged me down... Our family's cattle farm, which had been run for generations, was also taken away, but it was still not enough to pay off the debts, so the shackles of slavery were naturally put around my neck."

His expression became contorted:

“You can’t imagine what I went through—all the other slaves I knew died before me, and I was the only one who survived… I will never forget the suffering of those days.”

"Later, I finally got some good luck. Although there were some ups and downs, I became a free man again, which is more important than anything else."

“It took me a full 10 years, starting as a laborer in the mines, to finally own a cattle ranch again… This is what I’m good at. My father taught me how to do this job, and I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished. I’m even thinking about getting married…”

"But at that moment!" The man's teeth ground together, the muscles in his cheeks contorting into a ferocious expression, like a lion.

"Just then, they found me again! They said I would always be their slave and had to serve them! To carry out a mission that would surely lead to my utter destruction!"

"Just when I finally had everything that belonged to me, they came after me like a persistent, vengeful wolf! They told me I had to abandon everything!"

"...That is why, my lord, I have made this decision—I wish to request your protection, and I will prove my worth."

The man pressed his head deeply against the floor, exposing his vulnerable neck and back; even a child could easily kill him.

Despite his hair being soaked with cold sweat, he didn't even raise his head, waiting for his verdict.

Tersolius slowly stood up. The chair covered with white lion skin made a slight creaking sound. His sturdy scale armor reflected the flickering torchlight, and his iron boots, made of large copper-plated iron plates, made his heart skip a beat with every step.

Even as the iron boots stood before him, the man, knowing he had no other choice, did not raise his head, awaiting the impending sword or pardon.

But the cold blade ultimately failed to cut through his neck.

"Stand up. You are a soldier in the second battalion. You will have to keep up with the troops tomorrow. Don't exhaust yourself."

The man looked up in disbelief, while Tersolys was already smiling.

"I will not trust a venomous snake, even if it has laid down its fangs, it is still for some ulterior motive."

“But you are an eagle with bound wings, who has willingly offered up his poisonous quills. So I am willing to give you a chance to spread your wings and hunt for me... I hope you can prove your worth, just as you said.”

————————————————————————————

The city was still filled with noise in the dark, but this noise was restrained and secretive, mostly taking place in rooms with lights on.

The light rain had turned into a continuous moderate rain, washing over the city's red-tiled roofs and bluestone-paved streets. In this kind of weather, even the soldiers patrolling the city became scarce.

No one wants to brave the pouring rain and move around in the cold city; a warm fireplace with steaming stew and soft bread, along with a plush blanket, is far more appealing.

The city has an extremely well-developed sewer system, so no matter how much rainwater there is, it is difficult to cause any problems. In some places, there are even reservoirs built specifically to collect rainwater for other purposes.

In the pitch-black rainy night, the soldier guarding the city gate was drowsy, his mind constantly being overwhelmed by sleepiness, making his eyelids always try to stick together. Only the spear he was holding in his right hand supported his body like a crutch.

Inside the tower on the broad city wall was a warm stove, on which sat a cast-iron pot, simmering a hot stew, which he could enjoy as soon as the sky began to lighten.

Rain continued to fall incessantly, bringing a chill. The soldier, clad in cold armor, shivered, instantly becoming more alert.

Just as drowsiness was about to return, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came, instantly rousing him. He reached out and grabbed the rope holding the bronze bell beside him, ready to sound the alarm at any moment.

But soon he realized who it was... With a commotion, a small door on the huge bronze door was opened, and a knight wearing a black raincoat rode in without stopping.

Only the golden feathers on the leather mask on the warhorse's forehead swayed in the rain; if it were under the sun, they would surely gleam brilliantly.

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

The emperors of empires rarely have much free time, except for those who are willing to take responsibility and have great ambitions.

Ruling such a vast country inevitably involves dealing with countless affairs every day, as well as accurately and rationally weighing the pros and cons and managing a massive bureaucratic system.

The light in front of Clautina was emitted by a multifaceted crystal, and what shone inside was not a burning flame, but a thin crystal pillar.

Like infusing the sun's brilliance into crystal, this crystal, radiating warmth and light, offers far greater convenience than an ordinary oil lamp. Through the refraction of light from the external crystal, it can easily illuminate half a room.

The pen moved slowly across the paper, leaving clear and distinct characters. The emperor, in his own palace, was not wearing a magnificent robe, but only a long red silk robe and a silk shawl with floral patterns.

The shoes on her feet were secured to her calves by two long leather straps, which were intertwined and locked in place by gold buckles below her knees, slightly tightening her fair and delicate skin.

The pattering rain outside was blocked by the window, keeping the room warm and dry. It wasn't until a dark figure silently appeared behind the emperor that the pen on the paper came to a complete halt.

"What is it?"

Claudia didn't even turn her head, while the thin, dark figure, completely shrouded in black, simply handed over a piece of paper, waited for the emperor to take it, and then stood aside without saying a word.

The emperor read the note in his hand under the lamplight, and after a long while, he suddenly sighed:

"It seems he has found a good clerk... even the handwriting in the military report is better than before."

The shadowy figure remained motionless. He knew the emperor wasn't speaking to him; he simply needed to stay there like a statue.

"...It seems we need to make arrangements as soon as possible. Things always change quickly, and the previous plans may need to be slightly modified."

The emperor kept talking to himself while reaching out to grab a blank piece of parchment from the side. After dipping it in ink from the crystal bottle, he began to write.

Her writing was disjointed, often interrupted by pauses. She would furrow her brow in thought for a moment before continuing, and as she wrote, a faint smile would involuntarily creep onto her lips, her eyes reflecting a multitude of thoughts.

Time passed minute by minute, but the wind and rain outside the window showed no sign of stopping. On the contrary, they intensified, with gusts of wind carrying raindrops pounding against the window.

As the last stroke was finished, while waiting for the ink to dry, the emperor checked what he had written one last time, and seemed somewhat hesitant... but still put the parchment into a copper tube.

"Send it out immediately, and don't let anyone know."

The dark figure respectfully took the copper pipe, bowed his head, took two steps back, turned around, gently opened the window, and then jumped down without making a sound, except for the crisp sound of raindrops hitting the glass, which carried a hint of coldness.

Chapter 100 Arrival (1)

The flat hoe moved among the young wheat seedlings, digging out the uninvited weeds by the roots, along with a few strands of soil.

Exposed to the elements under the scorching sun, it will soon turn into nutrients in the soil.

Bending over to clear weeds from the field is hard work. The scorching sun casts golden rays that relentlessly burn your back and the back of your head. Sweat seeps continuously from the gaps in your hair and from the pores of your skin.

My hands gripped the smooth, cool handles soaked in sweat. The calluses that had long since formed on the palms provided effective protection, preventing me from having to pick at the blisters on my hands after a long day of work.

Before long, the bent back will feel sore and numb. Experienced farmers will straighten up from time to time to relax, while those naive young people who keep their heads down and work will taste the bitter fruit at night.

Even the most dull-witted person would wear a hat and a headscarf to effectively reduce sweat from getting into their eyes.

Farmers work in the fields as summer approaches. The sun is dry and scorching, making it hard to breathe. Only at midday, under the shade of trees, can one look forward to cool water and dry food.

Saric is such a farmer. He has been toiling in the fields for decades. His hair has turned gray, and his rough, dark face is covered with wrinkles and black spots. Even with his eyes closed, he can skillfully maneuver his hoe around the crops.

He was short but sturdy, able to work in the fields all day and still have energy. His hardened, deformed fingers could not even be scratched by sharp stones. His incredible stamina allowed him to endure under the sun and do more work than those strong young men.