Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

"Don't leave now. Go one by one. There will be no moon tonight. Return to your lodgings during the darkest hour. If you get caught, you know what to do... If you don't want to experience the good stuff in that prison, be decisive and don't make yourself suffer."

Number One gave a few final instructions, then turned and left the attic. A short while later, with a rustling sound, everything fell completely silent below, and the remaining people patiently began to wait.

In this way, every now and then one person would leave, and only after confirming that the person before them had not encountered any trouble would the next person prepare to set off.

They lost interest in talking, especially after realizing how dangerous the situation they were in.

The Emperor's hounds—that's what some people who know of their existence call them… There's no single, universal name for these people; hounds are what those who dread them use to refer to them.

Hidden in the emperor's shadow, they gathered intelligence, captured traitors, and assassinated enemies for the empire's supreme ruler. At their peak, the actions of every governor in the entire empire were reported to the emperor on the same day. No one knew how they did it.

Although the emperor's henchmen are not as terrifying as before, they can still easily crush these little insects. Now that the henchmen have begun their search, lying low is the best option.

The candle flame, as small as a bean, could go out at any moment. Only two people remained. They exchanged a glance, and the strong, muscular man stood up and walked down from the attic. His footsteps were barely audible, and he quickly disappeared into the distance.

The last person reached out and extinguished the candle, then tucked the small candlestick into their pocket. This little thing, showing signs of use, was a significant flaw.

The man in black robes suddenly stopped moving... a strange sound seemed to come from above.

Chapter 108 Shadow (2)

This is a very beautiful fur. The finest tips of the white hairs shimmer with a faint golden light. It is thick and wide, like the finest blanket made by the most skilled weaver.

But the creation of this pelt bears no trace of human intervention; it is entirely the work of nature, a masterpiece that has created such a ferocious and beautiful beast.

Unlike the cloak he was wearing, the remaining half of the pelt had not undergone any further processing and still retained its ravaged state.

Considering that the artisans in the capital have better skills... he himself doesn't care much about that, but if it's a gift for the emperor, it needs to be made more exquisitely.

But to his even greater surprise, the emperor's expression turned somewhat displeased after receiving the fur he presented:

"My general, why don't you give me your gift, but instead a half-finished fur?"

Tersolius didn't react for a moment, until the other person pointed to his shoulder...

“…Your Majesty, the artisans who serve the emperor have the best craftsmanship and can do better than this. Besides, this garment I am wearing already bears my name and is not suitable as a gift.”

"I don't care, give it to me."

Slender fingers had already grasped a corner of the cloak and were pulling it hard. If the emperor's attendants hadn't all been chased outside, they would have been shocked by this scene—the usually dignified emperor was actually pulling and tugging at someone!

Thesolius, expressionless, pressed his hand to the white lion cloak on his shoulder, preventing the emperor from removing it.

"Please forgive my refusal, but I need to sleep under it tonight. It's a necessity for me. Your Majesty, please don't force me."

“My treasure trove contains far better things, and you can choose any one to exchange for.”

"Then why don't you go and enjoy those better things, Your Majesty? Why come and take away the most precious possession of your poor friend?"

The emperor gritted his teeth:

"Of course it's because I'm your emperor! I can have whatever I want! My power as emperor is unlimited!! So obey my orders!"

Thesolius remained expressionless, only slightly lowering his center of gravity to resist the increasing pulling force.

"Please allow me to refuse again, this part of the fur is the most handsome, and I really don't want to give it up."

"Finally telling the truth, huh! You're still making excuses, just like always!"

"His tyrannical Majesty is still the same as before, but this time I am determined to rebel! Starting now."

………………

The emperor ultimately failed. Theorrhus's determination was unwavering, and he did not yield in the slightest even in the face of the emperor's authority. Thus, the disobedient emperor was furious and accepted the half-finished fur, ordering the best tailors and craftsmen to make it with the finest materials.

The victorious general returned in triumph, straightened his disheveled cloak, nimbly dodged the emperor's sneak attack, and then opened the door and went out.

"The Imperial Council is about to convene; it is time for us to depart, Your Majesty."

The maid bowed as she entered, and when she was given permission to raise her head, she saw that the emperor was already prepared, still as majestic and unapproachable as before.

“Then let’s set off… Inform Lord Scripps that I have invited him to tonight’s dinner.”

"Your will."

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

Before the city could cool down from the euphoria of the last frenzy, new news stirred up another wave—the Arswick family had been stripped of their seats in the Senate.

The fact that the emperor only stripped them of their seats after their eldest son committed such a disgraceful act was already beyond the expectations of many—they had thought that the emperor would use this as an excuse to spread a faint scent of blood throughout the city.

Before they could even discuss the news, new information emerged—the legionary commander Tesolius, Natamus, and the garrison legion general Turias had secured three seats.

The two seats that had previously been vacant for some reason, along with the seats that the Yarswick family had been stripped of, all fell into the Emperor's hands, surprising everyone who knew the inside story.

The Senate of the Empire has a total of 30 seats, and now the Emperor has taken control of 9 of them... Keep in mind that all of this has happened in three years. Three years ago, this Emperor was just a girl in a remote village.

Some attribute the reason to their noble bloodline. Although the emperor had been corrupted, the royal bloodline still possessed noble talents, which enabled them to achieve such success and even reach a balance of power with the Senate.

But the wiser ones would notice the emperor's right-hand men... Both Tersolius and Nathamus were exceptionally talented, and even the garrison general, that always-smiling middle-aged man, possessed remarkable abilities.

With the help of these rare talents, the emperor quickly established himself in a short period of time, and with his superb political skills, he rapidly expanded his power over the next few years.

Given General Tersolius's remarkable achievements this time, it was only natural that the elders did not retain their three seats.

This was the first major breakthrough the Empire had achieved in the south in decades. The cowardly Hols hid behind the mountains like turtles in their shells, leaving them helpless.

But now this hard tortoise shell has been cracked open... As a result, the entire northern defense line is now rendered useless.

Just like an iron pot that is very difficult to break when it is intact, but if you make a small hole in it first and apply force around the hole, it is easy to break it... After realizing this, many imperial generals were already eager to try.

General Tersolius, who brought about such a victory, naturally gained immense prestige throughout the empire and the army, becoming unparalleled in his prominence. Every soldier hoped to join his ranks and be led by this invincible general to achieve victory and wealth.

The entire capital and surrounding areas were abuzz with talk of Tersolius's exploits. Everyone was curious about the young general's experiences, and with all sorts of rumors and embellishments circulating... it was anyone's guess what the final outcome would be.

………………

Some travelers returning from the south brought news of Pontra, a city that had previously suffered from the ravages of lions. Because the garrison had been taken away, the beasts were almost lawless, attacking people and livestock everywhere, causing widespread panic. The city lord had even requested assistance from the governor.

When General Tersolius passed through the city, he happened to encounter the pack of man-eating lions. With the help of his army, these lions, which had previously been almost impossible to control, were slaughtered in an instant. The general even killed a huge white lion with his own hands.

This story was known to every resident of Pontra, and each of them swore they had seen the lion with their own eyes. It was twice the size of an ordinary lion! Its fangs were as long as daggers, and it could bite off a sheep's head in one bite.

Moreover, the lion's pelt was tanned and processed by artisans from Pontra, and that skilled leatherworker still boasts to this day about how smooth and enormous the pelts he processed are.

To ensure that the world remembers this disaster and the heroes who ended it, the lion's bones were cast in molten bronze and placed atop a fountain in the square next to the city gates, so that everyone entering the city could see them at first glance.

The lord of Pontra also issued an indefinite bounty, available to anyone who could bring him a lion's pelt, for which he would receive two silver coins.

This is far more expensive than the normal price of a lion's skin, and the city lord made it clear that he only wanted lion skins from around Pontra, nothing else...

So in no time, the forests and mountains of Pontra were thoroughly searched, and all the remaining lions were slaughtered. Even now, there are still resentful hunters wandering in that forest... after all, even lion cubs can be taken for 10 copper coins.

Such a legendary story clearly appealed to the Imperials. As it spread, it was soon mentioned that General Teresius did indeed wear a white lion skin over his shoulders. This completely confirmed the rumor, and the story of the white lion hunter began to circulate.

Just as Thesolius was enjoying immense success and rising fame, his brother was suffering a terrible calamity... but his brother was destined to receive no help from him.

Natamus's adjutant noticed that his general seemed restless and distressed lately, his short, spiky hair now a mess from scratching.

After they returned to the Second Legion in the capital, Natamus, as the legion's commander, should have had much work to do, handling the pile of large and small matters with the assistance of the army's civil servants.

But now, this man who once roamed freely on the battlefield is scratching his head in distress, hiding in an ordinary tent, and has even pulled his adjutant over to give him advice.

"My brother sent me news... Christina is almost here! Help me think of a way!"

Despite his distress, Natamus was somewhat relieved—thankfully, his brother had delivered the message in time. Otherwise, if his wife had come knocking on his door unprepared, he would have been completely flustered and wouldn't have had the chance to prepare as he did now.

The adjutant looked at his commander with some confusion—wasn't the wife's arrival a good thing? Hadn't the general not seen his wife for over a month? He always talked about her so much, why did he seem so frightened now?...

Moreover, his wife was pregnant, which was the time when she needed the most care. Given his personality, he couldn't possibly avoid her.

Could it be? ...That's understandable, but if that's the case, then it's troublesome.

“I didn’t tell her anything about my brother! She’s definitely here to settle scores with me, and she might even think I don’t trust her… Plus, she’s pregnant!”

Natamus, seeing through his adjutant's wild thoughts, explained the situation with a dark expression, while urging his adjutant to come up with a solution.

However, the adjutant showed no sign of letting up—this was hardly something he should be involved in! After all, the lady was the daughter of the chief elder! The second most honored woman in this empire after the emperor!

Besides, he couldn't think of any good solutions... but a strange intuition told him that avoidance wasn't a good idea. After all, the master and his wife would have to meet sooner or later, and if he kept avoiding and making excuses, it would only cause more trouble.

"...Didn't Lord Thesolius tell you what to do?"

After hesitating for a moment, the adjutant asked cautiously.

“He did give me a suggestion, but it didn’t seem very reliable—he told me to just do what I was supposed to do and explain everything to Christina when she arrived.”

"My lord, I think you should listen to Lord Tersolius..."

Natamus paused for a moment, then suddenly stood up, the rings of his armor rustling as they rubbed together.

"Alright, since you all say so, then I'll do it that way! Go and have the clerk bring me all the military documents; I need to handle them on the spot!"

The adjutant, noticing the other party's excessive responsiveness, paused for a moment before realizing: Natamus had already made a decision, but was still somewhat hesitant and needed further confirmation...

The adjutant, who had just been worrying unnecessarily, immediately went to handle the matter. Soon, the central command tent of the imperial commander was piled high with documents, and all sorts of things that had accumulated over this period and required the commander's attention began to be resolved.

But as time passed, Natamus became anxious again—this time not because he was worried about what Christina would do to him, but because, judging from the time, she should have arrived long ago, and most likely encountered some trouble on the way.

Finally, it was almost time for dinner, but the long-awaited carriage still hadn't appeared on the road. Natamus couldn't wait any longer. He threw his copper pen into the ink bottle, ordered a squad of cavalry to mount, and charged out of the camp. They rode along the wide roads of the empire, the dust kicked up by their hooves like a short, yellowish-brown snake slithering across the road.

The adjutant was left behind to handle the remaining official business, listening to the reports from others with a blank expression, occasionally making notes on parchment.

………………

How fast the cavalrymen, clad only in chainmail, were when they galloped at full speed! Coupled with their fine warhorses and the well-maintained roads of the empire, it didn't take long for Natamus to lead his cavalrymen to cover more than half the distance.

But even now, the scouts in the team still haven't seen the person or any trace of them they're hoping for, which is making them increasingly anxious...

Chapter 109 Sudden Event (1)

The sharp blade sliced ​​through the air, but failed to penetrate the thick leather shield, bouncing off with a muffled thud.

The shield user was experienced. Taking advantage of the interval between attacks, he raised the shield and slammed it heavily into the opponent's face. After landing a successful blow, while the opponent was disoriented, he used his right hand to swing his short hammer in an arc and smashed the knee from the side.

As the opponent fell with a groan, the short hammer in his hand deftly turned and slammed into the enemy's face, the hard, multifaceted head smashing the nose, lips, and teeth into a mangled mess. After two blows, there was no more sound.

The short hammer, stained with viscous blood and other unidentified liquids, was returned to the inside of the shield. The guard leader, clad in exquisite chainmail, shouted for the others to move closer to him and protect the carriage behind them.

The surviving servants hid behind the guards in panic, their low cries and screams filling the air. The bodies of the unfortunate servants who had been killed lay on the ground, their clothes soaked in blood, pools of blood connecting one after another, staining the entire ground crimson.

The guards calmly linked their shields together to form a solid defensive line. Even though the number of enemies attacking them was twice theirs, these veterans who had retired from the legion showed no fear. They skillfully used their weapons, maintained their formation, and slaughtered any assassins who dared to charge forward.

The captain blew a heavy whistle, and with a sharp, trembling sound, sharp spears emerged from their shields, covering the entire formation with sharp steel spikes.