Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The gaunt man's jaw suddenly began to tremble, his head shifted unnaturally, and the sticky wriggling and rubbing sounds grew louder. As his gaunt cheeks swelled slightly, a pale shadow suddenly shot out like lightning and flew toward Tersolius's face.

The cold glint of the sword flashed by, followed by the crisp sound of flesh being pierced and bone being cut, thick blood spurted out, and a heavy object collapsed to the ground.

Tersolis swung his longsword, and the liquid clinging to the blade fell to the ground due to inertia, restoring the blade's luster to its original state, which was now covered in scattered feather patterns.

A strange lump of flesh was wriggling on the ground, its long tentacles constantly groping in the yellow earth, trying to return to where it had been.

The gaunt man's body lay beside him, his blood soaking a large patch of yellow dust. A hairy, bowl-shaped object lay nearby.

Tarina covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming. What was happening in front of her was beyond her imagination. Before the shadow could launch its attack, Tersolius had already swung his sword and cut off half of its head.

Then... just like something being poured out of a bowl, this strange object crawled out of the skull...

More than ten tentacles of varying lengths, with segments like earthworms and covered in mucus, were wriggling and exploring, covered in a thick layer of dry yellow dust.

The body of this creature was not as soft as its tentacles, but rather covered with a light yellow shell—this shell was like two sunflower seed shells joined together, protecting the soft flesh inside.

Besides that, the most eye-catching thing is that long tentacle... The slimy and disgusting tentacle has sharp, bone-like protrusions that are arranged in a spiral, like a strange drill.

This thing just suddenly popped out of his mouth and stabbed at Tersolius's face—although no one knew what the consequences of being hit would be, no one wanted to try it. Even if it wouldn't cause any harm, being touched by such a disgusting thing was enough to make people feel disgusted.

Tersolius picked up the imperial sword and touched the yellow shell with its sharp tip. The strange creature immediately sensed the threat and retracted its long tentacles into its shell, leaving only a large, seed-like object in place.

It looks like some kind of mollusc... or more accurately, a type of shellfish, only much stranger, even to the point of being disgusting.

Tarina realized her duty. The girl crouched down next to the corpse, carefully examining the cut, and after a while, she suddenly stood up with a look of surprise on her face...

"How is it, doctor? Have you figured anything out?"

Tersolius looked left and right, went into the next room, picked up two earthenware bowls from the table, and then went outside and placed the strange soft-bodied creature in the center of the bowls.

Throughout this process, Tarina remained rooted to the spot, seemingly deeply shocked by her discovery, and still processing it.

Only when Thesolius asked her did the girl, her face pale, reply:

"Sir, part of his brain has been missing, and there are signs of gnaws on it... The remaining part seems to be just enough to maintain the most basic life activities, which is why they have become like that walking corpse."

“I saw many tiny holes in the remaining brain tissue, which may be why this creature used its tentacles to manipulate the rest of its body.”

"How interesting..."

Tersolius gazed thoughtfully at the slightly rattling earthenware bowl. This strange creature residing in a person's mind was probing its surroundings, seemingly devoid of sight.

These assassins must have been normal people before, otherwise they would never have been sent to carry out such a mission... But after they were captured, this creature appeared in their brains and ate up their vital brain tissue, turning them into idiots and morons.

Such cruel and bizarre methods truly opened his eyes... and the mysterious organization that used such methods also completely caught his attention.

Regardless of the circumstances, the fact that this organization possesses such methods and determination indicates that it is by no means gentle or friendly. They control their members with ruthless means, preventing any information about them from leaking out, and they have a strong grasp on their organization.

Such an organization is destined to lurk in the shadows, but now, their claws have reached right in front of us…

Chapter 112 Past Events

Now that this strange substance has been discovered, there's no need to keep the remaining people around... They're of no use now, and who knows if it's contagious?

At Tersolius's command, all the captured assassins were brought to the pit and beheaded. Although some people wondered why the severed heads were wrapped in quicklime before being buried, no one questioned it, assuming it was to prevent the spread of plague.

The only one that remained was the one captured by Tersolius, which was placed in a yellowish glass jar—this world already had relatively mature glassmaking technology, although the impurities were not completely removed, and a pure transparent color could not be obtained.

Even so, this yellowish glass is still quite expensive because of its high failure rate. It is costly to fire such a thin and reasonably transparent finished product, and it is far less durable than earthenware. It will shatter when exposed to excessive heat. Therefore, most commoners are not willing to spend money to buy glass products. Only noble and wealthy lords and merchants do not care about this and use glass vessels in pursuit of pomp and beauty.

This strange, soft-bodied creature slid its tentacles around inside the jar, trying to find a soft spot or a crevice to squeeze through, clearly following some kind of instinct.

No one has ever seen such a unique creature, using brains as food, and after devouring everything, it manages to leave just enough to sustain its life. While bloody and savage, it also reveals a kind of precision.

It's as if the instincts of these mollusks contain the structural knowledge of the human mind, allowing them to know which parts they can gnaw on and which parts they cannot move.

Although they were very curious about this strange creature, only Tarina had the knowledge to explore its habits.

After confirming that Christina was unharmed, the two brothers unanimously decided to send her back to the capital immediately. No one could guarantee that all the assassins had been killed, and if any of them survived, they could pose a threat to her.

The heavily fortified capital was far safer than the outskirts where the army was stationed. To prevent any further accidents along the way, Tersolius assigned two squads of cavalry to escort them.

He would also travel to the capital with the group again, as there were many things he needed to explain to the emperor in person... The assassination attempt on Christina was not going to pass without any consequences, and they had to be prepared to keep this wave under control.

Because the escorts were in carriages carrying pregnant women, they could not travel as fast as they had come. The cavalrymen restrained their horses and proceeded at a slow trot along the wide roads of the empire.

………………

"You've become less talkative."

Thesolius didn't even turn his head; he knew whose voice it was.

“I wasn’t a very eloquent person before.”

Christina opened the carriage window. To block arrows, the carriage not only had a sturdy red mahogany body, but also a layer of copper mesh woven in the middle of the wooden body. Even the windows were double-layered, with a densely woven copper mesh that could allow ventilation while blocking swords.

Christina smiled helplessly and tidied her hair, which had become a little messy after lying in bed for so long.

“You weren’t this gloomy before. Ever since I met you, you’ve been thinking about something… Don’t try to solve everything on your own. We can all help you.”

“You’ve misunderstood, Christina…” Tesolius smiled and shook his head. His warhorse slightly swayed its neck and then began to slow down, keeping pace with the carriage beside it. During this process, he merely tapped his heel lightly.

"I never intended to solve everything myself; it's just that some of my ideas aren't mature enough yet, so I have to consider them carefully."

"real?……"

A strange smile appeared on Christina's lips, instantly reminding him of the time when he had stubbornly refused to admit his feelings to his mother... Perhaps every man goes through a period like that.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed:

"Okay, I do have some of those ideas... but only a little, not enough for me to actually implement them. I mainly have some new ideas that I want to test."

“You’ve always had the most ideas since we were little… Do you remember what happened in that forest east of Sadivor? You two really gave me a fright back then.”

"Yes, who knew that such a strange thing would appear there... We got our first chainmail and longsword by trading its hide. We almost lost our lives there."

He tapped his temple with a touch of melancholy; there was a scar there, three thin lines intersecting, left by a strange beast.

The reason the beast was considered strange was that no one could say for sure what it was. It looked like a bear with long claws, a short tail, and a thick neck, but its limbs were dry and long.

Its entire body was covered in short, thick, black fur, except for three tufts of short white fur arranged in a triangular pattern on its chest... This beast attacked pedestrians everywhere on the roads in that forest, almost turning the roads into ruins, but it was also extremely cunning, and the hunters failed to catch it despite organizing several hunts.

It was precisely because of this that several chambers of commerce whose businesses in the city were affected offered a generous reward for the beast's pelt. The two brothers, who were then worried about how to raise enough equipment for military service, set their sights on this animal.

Only the two of them were so audacious. At that time, Clautina was not yet the emperor—to be precise, she had no idea about her origins and, like them, was troubled about her future.

If they could get that bounty, it would be enough to ensure they could live a comfortable life without worrying about food or shelter... So the three of them agreed and, armed with bows and spears, ventured into the forest.

Young people are always so daring and energetic. They didn't consider the dangers they were facing, nor did they think about how they, with no hunting experience, would find the prey.

After wandering the forest for several days without success, Thesolius finally decided to deduce the beast's range by collecting remaining skeletal remains in the jungle. He even spent a considerable sum to buy a sheep as bait… though it was ultimately useless and they ate it themselves.

They didn't have the money to hire hunters, so they had to rely on their own ideas and try things out little by little. Thanks to Thesorius's ingenuity, they eventually found the beast's den.

At that moment, they didn't think too much about it. They were even afraid that the prey would escape, so they hurriedly picked up their spears and rushed forward. To be precise, Nathamus and Claudius rushed forward, while Terthorius drew his bow and arrow to support them from a little distance.

The most dramatic turn of events was that they inadvertently saved Christina! No one knew why the Chief Elder's daughter suddenly had the idea to sneak out of the house with a sum of money... and then she experienced all sorts of harsh treatment from society. Not only was her money swindled away, but she was also almost captured and enslaved. Finally, when she tearfully tried to return to her father's side, she was attacked by this beast.

When Natamus saw that the beast was about to kill again, he pounced on its back, grabbed its upper lip and tore off half of its face, which drove the beast completely mad, causing them to suffer greatly and almost die somewhere.

At the time, they didn't think anything was wrong; the three of them were immersed in the joy of making a fortune... Now, thinking back, the fact that an innocent noblewoman was able to escape after being swindled out of all her money and being targeted by the city's gang, and that she didn't encounter any bad guys along the way, is enough to say a lot.

Perhaps even without the sudden appearance of those three, a group of people would have appeared and riddled that beast with arrows... Perhaps that's why the Chief Elder discovered Clautina, a descendant of the former royal family.

"The first person I ever saw who could fight wild animals bare-handed was your older brother. He got himself all bruised and battered, with bits of fur stuck to his face... It was so funny, but I was terrified and just kept crying."

"The three of us were just laughing, thinking we were about to strike it rich... We didn't even know where we were going, and we'd skinned the body so badly that it was tattered. If we hadn't been careful and dragged the body over, those merchants would have refused to acknowledge the deal..."

Christina's smile grew wider as she recalled the bizarre scene of herself sitting on the road crying while the other three laughed heartily around the beast's carcass. Even now, it often made her laugh until her stomach hurt.

"Back then, we always felt that there was nothing difficult to do in this world. No matter what it was, as long as we worked together, we could do it well. We dared to put any crazy idea into practice and were not afraid at all."

"I was really incredibly brave back then. I just heard Dolores mention some interesting things, and I dared to sneak out to see them... If my father hadn't been sending people to protect me, I would have definitely encountered something terrible, but I wasn't scared at all at the time."

"Haha! That's because we knew too little back then..." Thesolius laughed and shook his head. "How could we feel genuine fear if we hadn't seen those terrible things or experienced those tragic encounters?... But that's precisely the characteristic of youth, isn't it?"

"You talk as if you're not young anymore. Don't talk such old-fashioned nonsense, you kid who hasn't even gotten married yet!"

Christina rolled her eyes at him, and Thesolius shook his head sadly.

"As expected, I can no longer talk to you married people... Oh well, this pathetic bachelor is going to scout ahead... Be careful."

As soon as he finished speaking, he spurred his horse forward, and the powerful warhorse quickly overtook the carriage next to him, and within a few breaths it had already rushed to the front of the procession.

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

For city dwellers, bread is an essential commodity.

Fuel is expensive in the city, and few people cook unless it's the cold winter. Bread sold in city bakeries is the main source of food.

For this reason, bakeries in the city are subject to strict control, as strict as the control over water sources. Flour is inspected as soon as it enters the city, and after passing an examination, it is weighed and tested by special officials. Only after it is confirmed to be qualified is it allowed to be sold.

Every citizen permitted to sell bread must have at least one shop in the city, something that many wealthy merchants in other cities cannot achieve.

Every morning, citizens anxiously wait in front of the bakery, and the owner takes samples of the freshly baked bread to the relevant departments for inspection. If the bread passes inspection, a plant-based pigment stamp is applied to it.

When people see this bread on the counter, they rush to buy bread for themselves and their families for the next few days.

Those baked, dry, and fluffy breads that can stay fresh for a week in this weather are the most popular. Whether ordinary citizens or merchants and travelers on long journeys, they will prepare such food for themselves.

Paganius was such a baker. His neighbors had been buying bread from him for three years. Three years ago, Paganius came from a southern city and rented a shop in the city. He managed the business well and saved enough money to buy the shop after two years.

This is not very common in this city, but it is not rare either—countless people come to this city every day, and most of them return to their hometowns dejected. However, there are a few lucky guys who are able to gain a foothold here and even make a fortune.

The young man skillfully used the brass steelyard balance in his hand—the balance was fixed on the counter and was issued by the relevant department. Moving or damaging it would result in being whipped, and any missing or damaged weights had to be replaced as soon as possible, otherwise he would be held accountable.

These large loaves of bread, each weighing several pounds, were enough to feed a family of four for three whole days. They were the best-selling breads. Other soft and delicious breads, made with honey and butter, were mainly bought by servants for their masters.

Some people don't need that much bread, so they need to use a bread knife to cut it precisely into the required amount. Generally, you can only make one or two cuts, since you can't cut someone else's bread into tiny pieces.

As he was intently cutting bread, he suddenly noticed that his shop had become quiet. When he looked up, the knife in his hand involuntarily fell onto the counter.

Three men dressed entirely in black robes stood in his shop, each with a gleaming silver badge around their neck. The others shrank to the side, their faces filled with fear, not daring to even look at them…

Chapter 113 Storms (1)

The three men in black raised their heads, revealing bronze faces beneath their hoods. These were three incredibly miserable faces, their cheeks contorted, their eyes drooping, yet their lips held a faint, almost imperceptible smile that sent chills down one's spine.

The three bronze faces were covered with scratches and black spots, clearly indicating that they had been used for a long time. The eyes beneath the bronze faces gleamed with a fierce and cold light, causing everyone to hurriedly back away, fearing that getting too close would bring them bad luck.

Every empire citizen knows what this bronze face represents—the terrifying jailers of Chegevne prison… Even infants learn to stop crying at the mere mention of their name after a few months. They represent the most severe and cruel side of the empire; no one can escape unscathed after being imprisoned in the Black Prison. The mere sight of these black-robed figures on the streets is enough to make even wild dogs tuck their tails between their legs.

They are the punishments represented by the shackles on the left hand of the goddess Fusgrina, representing the majesty of the law and one of the foundations of imperial rule... but no one wants to see them, especially not in their own homes.