Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

"Boss, we haven't caught up in a long time, so we decided to get together... You see, we've come all the way from the south and haven't even had a proper meal together. I was just about to have Morif invite you, what a coincidence!"

Although his words were somewhat disjointed, his expression betrayed nothing, conveying a natural sense of surprise. An outsider might have genuinely believed that meeting Colin was a delightful surprise.

The other mountain people in the room immediately looked at Kochkin with new respect—although they knew he was usually glib, they didn't expect him to be so quick-witted at a crucial moment! This was a great help.

Now it's up to them to see if their boss will believe Kochkin's nonsense...

Colin nodded, though her expression still held a hint of doubt. Her naturally carefree nature prevented her from noticing some suspicious details—such as why so many people were shirtless and looking like they were sleeping when they gathered for a meal.

“That’s true. Then put your food and wine on the table. I’ll go and call a few more people over. Just a few people is too stingy. Oh, and call the adults and the doctor over too. They shouldn’t be asleep yet.”

"!!!"

Kochkin's hair was practically standing on end! He never expected his two words to have such a result... If Tersolius really saw them like this, he'd rather be caught and beaten up by his boss!

The gazes that had just been filled with admiration suddenly turned as sharp as knives, stabbing viciously into Kochkin's vest. Everyone was startled, never expecting the situation to deteriorate to this extent.

"No need, boss!" Kochkin's voice was a little too loud, but he didn't care anymore. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, sticking his hair to his skin, as if his mouth was rented from someone else. A string of words came out in the blink of an eye:

“Look, we haven’t prepared much. We only have this small barrel of wine, which is probably enough for everyone to have one cup. We’ve also only prepared some pickled beans and the like. There’s no smoked meat at all, and it’s completely devoid of oil. If we were to serve guests something like this, everyone would laugh at us! We’ll just have our own get-together and not bother Lord Tersolius!”

…………

This reason is quite sufficient, after all, their purpose in coming here was not to have a party, and the food and drink they had were things that were already in the house—probably left behind by a group of legion soldiers stationed here before.

Such a dish is fine as a snack for two people to enjoy with drinks in private, but it would be too shabby and impolite to serve it to guests. Even the most unpretentious person should be mindful of this.

Colin hesitated, and finally sighed with a hint of regret:

"Alright then, let's just eat a little and then hurry back to sleep, or we'll get whipped tomorrow and we can't blame anyone else."

As she spoke, she walked in naturally. The others looked at each other and gathered around the table. The two of them hurriedly rummaged through the wine and pickled beans, and also found more than a dozen earthenware bowls.

The liquor was just ordinary ale, but because the house was rather cold and damp, it tasted refreshing and thirst-quenching. Paired with slightly salty pickled chickpeas, the mountain people, who were gradually getting used to the process, quickly started drinking—just like every gathering they had before, they never brought up anything that might cause conflict while eating and drinking, and would discuss it after they finished eating.

Of course, before that, these shrewd guys didn't forget to put their money away, otherwise there would be no way to explain it.

After a brief exchange of toasts, Colin, who had downed two large bowls of wine, finally noticed a strange wooden plate on the table:

"What is this thing? And why is there a die on it?"

The scene fell silent immediately, but they couldn't leave without explaining, so after looking around, Kochkin was pushed forward again.

After making a rude gesture behind his back at the group, Kochkin forced a smile and began to explain:

"This is a very popular game in the taverns of the Empire. Everyone plays it while drinking... It's called Military Chess, and it's quite fun, so we all like to play it."

"Oh, really? How exactly does it work?"

Kochkin hesitated for a moment, but gritted his teeth and continued:

"The rules of this game are complicated, and you need to remember a lot of things, but the main thing is to play it on this wooden disc that is carved with terrain and rivers..."

………………

"Impossible, absolutely impossible! How could your archers move such a long distance in one turn?! Even with the bonus from mountainous terrain, it shouldn't be this outrageous! You must be cheating!"

Colin, his face flushed, pounded the table, refusing to accept the fact that he was about to be defeated. He was trying to find something suspicious about the other party and turn the situation around.

She even forgot to drink her wine, focusing all her attention on the chessboard in front of her. Everyone else forgot what they were supposed to do and enthusiastically joined the discussion, pointing and commenting incessantly.

It has been shown that when a group of people gather together, their sensitivity to crises decreases significantly…

boom! !

With a loud bang, the bolt on the wooden door snapped and flew out, hitting the unfortunate Warif in the face and causing him to cry out in pain.

Everyone turned their heads in unison, and then they saw Thesolius, with a subtle expression, standing at the doorway holding a torch... Behind him, countless torches were being lit, the gleaming iron armor reflecting a pale yellow light in the flames...

Chapter 138 Interlude (1)

Rewinding to a dozen minutes earlier, the sentries hidden in the tower were surprised to find scattered dark figures gathering in one direction throughout the city's streets and alleys, constantly evading patrols in the process.

Moreover, they all ended up in an ordinary-looking house, and after a long while, no light came out of the house, which was obviously haunted.

Because Cerison had experienced too much turmoil, even after the army took over, various things still happened in the city at night. So several new sentries were placed on the surrounding high points. They wouldn't light fires at night, but they would monitor the situation throughout the city.

The mountain people, however, were completely unaware of this and thought they were doing a good job of disguising themselves... Then, under the astonished gazes of the sentries, they walked shirtless and furtively through the streets and alleys, looking nothing like good people, as if they had the words "sabotage" written on their backs.

The veteran soldier serving as a sentry was filled with astonishment—he had never seen such a daring villain who would dare to sneak into the military camp.

But then he realized another possibility... This possibility made his clothes soak with cold sweat, and even his fingers began to tremble. He dared not delay any longer and climbed down the ladder.

………………

In the blink of an eye, the imperial army began to assemble. Orders were spread silently, and soldiers carrying torches began to gather in small squads. The nearest centurion arrived at the scene and began to command, and the menacing iron armor instantly filled the surrounding streets.

The gleaming swords and iron staffs were already in their hands. These weapons, which were well-suited for close-quarters combat in confined spaces, would give them a significant advantage in this situation. The disciplined soldiers of the legion didn't even make a sound... or rather, the mountain people who were having too much fun didn't even notice.

If they were hunting in their own forests or robbing on the road, their vigilance would be no less than that of a deer that had just escaped from the jaws of a beast... It can only be said that after becoming part of the legion, they had become accustomed to being able to sleep peacefully at night, and their vigilance had been greatly reduced.

The centurion who arrived was named Casanorion. His men were the most resilient thousand-man unit in the Golden Legion, and he himself was equally tenacious and thoughtful.

Despite his rugged and fierce appearance, Casano Leon was actually quite shrewd. He did not act rashly, but instead took advantage of the opportunity when the enemy was unaware to mobilize his soldiers to surround the house.

Only after he had finished doing all this did he feel a little relieved, but he remained extremely serious...

In the darkness, unidentified individuals evaded the sentries and gathered, especially since this happened within a military camp. It would be hard for anyone to believe that these people had infiltrated from the outside. But if they hadn't infiltrated from the outside, then there was only one possibility—soldiers or officers were secretly conspiring to instigate a rebellion or launch a conspiracy...

He couldn't afford to be careless in this matter, especially in the dark of night when chaos could easily escalate. So before arriving here, he had already sent a messenger to report the situation to Tersolius. If all went well, the order to guard the camp had been issued to every military camp.

The best way to deal with this potential unrest is to act swiftly and decisively. So, before his commander arrived, he immediately gathered nearby soldiers and surrounded the area to prevent any troublemakers from escaping.

In the silent night, only the faint crackling of burning torches could be heard. The soldiers suppressed even their breathing, their strict discipline making them appear as one, maintaining absolute silence. But when the order was given, they would instantly transform into a ferocious pack of wolves, tearing apart the designated enemy.

Within minutes, Thesolius arrived, his mind filled with doubt—he couldn't fathom who would unite against him under these circumstances, no matter how hard he tried…

Casalorian came to greet his general and reported on the situation he had gathered. Tersolius listened thoughtfully and remained silent for about a minute before suddenly speaking:

"Pass down my order: each thousand-man squad shall immediately begin counting the number of men, and then submit the results to me."

The messenger left immediately and soon delivered the message. After glancing at it, Tersolius had an expression of "I knew it" on his face, and then walked directly toward the locked gate.

Casalorian hurriedly stopped his commander. Even the centurion, who had remained calm in the face of a large enemy charge, now showed a hint of panic. If the people inside really had ulterior motives, then Tersolius would definitely face unknown risks if he went in alone.

But Tersolius didn't even turn his head; he just smiled and said:

"You're overthinking it. I can pretty much guess what they're doing in there..."

Before he finished speaking, he kicked the door open, sending the broken bolt flying inside. A short scream followed as the heavy wooden door slammed against the wall, allowing the soldiers gathered outside to see what was inside...

A group of mountain people wearing only their undergarments were gathered around a table, shouting and yelling. Colin, the centurion who commanded the mountain archers, was also there... and he was arguing with the person opposite him, his face flushed red, as he slammed his fist on the table.

The loud bang of the door being kicked open finally made them realize something was wrong from the noise they had made. Everyone focused their attention on the doorway in unison, and then, like a flock of frightened sheep, they stood there dumbfounded.

The scene suddenly became incredibly exciting. Even the legionary soldiers who were on high alert and Casano Lyon were just as dumbfounded as they were, and for a moment they couldn't even understand what they were seeing.

Thesolius, expressionless, reached into the bucket beside him and took out a wooden spoon—the water the soldiers used to wash themselves every morning, using a long-handled spoon to pour the water onto their faces.

The spoon's tip was wet and heavy from being soaked in water, making it quite easy to swing around. The sound of it cutting through the air finally woke up the guys playing the role of statues inside, causing them to gasp in unison and take a step back.

Those with guilty consciences quickly realized what was going on, but Colin was still unaware of the situation and stared blankly at the army gathering outside.

Before she could even process her situation, Thesolius strode forward, swiftly swinging his spoon and delivering precise blows to the heads of each guilty-looking fellow.

The sound of the hard wooden spoon striking their skulls was crisp, but the pain was not lessened in the slightest. Screams rose and fell as they filed out as if fleeing for their lives at Thesolius's shouts... only to be captured on the spot by the soldiers waiting outside.

Realizing his situation was dire, Colin instinctively thought of running away, but it was too late…

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

A few minutes later, Colin, who was covering his head, had a few tears welling up in his eyes. At the same time, he was mercilessly kicking the buttocks of the mountain people who were squatting on the ground, making them roll on the ground and scream in pain.

At this point, Kochkin and his men could no longer hide their secret. Their packages containing money were discovered. Their ruthless behavior of gamblers, defying curfew orders and hiding from sentries, was truly eye-opening for everyone.

Kochkin got the worst beating, but he deserved it. Even his fellow sufferers didn't dare to speak up for him... because after some investigation, it turned out that this "healthy nightlife" was started by him and Warif.

After witnessing the prosperity and dazzling lights of the capital, the two of them first came into contact with the interesting game of military chess. At that time, people's entertainment was extremely scarce, and after only a little understanding, the two of them immediately became obsessed with it.

In the past, the only form of entertainment in their hometown was to get together to drink and chat. When they suddenly encountered something so interesting, it broadened their horizons, and they couldn't wait to share this wonderful thing with their fellow villagers.

But simply playing the game quickly became unexciting for some, leaving them wanting more. So soon, some started betting their military pay.

As it evolved, it became natural for people to get some food and drinks while playing these games, and for a group of people to get together...

When the legion was stationed, they had the opportunity to take turns on leave, which allowed them to relax and have fun. When they weren't stationed, management was relatively strict, and they didn't have that opportunity, which led to these clandestine private gatherings.

Colin kicked the group of mountain people until they were lying motionless on the ground. Only then did he angrily stop, but he showed no intention of letting them off the hook.

A torrent of profanities, delivered with an incredibly rich vocabulary, rained down on Tesorus. Unrestrainedly laced with insults directed at relatives and metaphors for certain organs, they launched a vicious attack from every angle, leaving Kochkin and his men utterly humiliated and speechless. They were completely deflated, like wilted eggplants, a far cry from their former battlefield prowess.

Although the soldiers who had gathered here had been ordered to return to camp, what was happening here was still desperately attracting their attention, making them linger when they left, with many turning back to look from time to time.

It's foreseeable that this news will spread to every corner of the army tomorrow, and perhaps even the stable boys who feed the horses will know...

Thinking of this, the mountain girl, still furious, kicked Worif hard in the back, sending him tumbling several times on the ground.

Violating the curfew order and gathering to gamble late at night is punishable under military law—not only will two months' pay be deducted, but the individual will also be responsible for cleaning the toilets of their assigned centurion unit…

Colin was both ashamed and angry that her subordinates had done such a thing behind her back and even dragged her into it. Especially since Tersolius was watching all this with a mocking smile, she was at a loss for words. Her face was burning red, and all sorts of chaotic emotions were colliding and roaring in her mind.

Kochkin quickly realized that his boss seemed genuinely furious, and at the same time, he realized that he had made a big mess of things. Now he didn't even dare to say a word, hiding his head between his arms like a turtle. His usual quick wit was now completely useless.

Finally, Tersolius spoke up and brought the chaos to a halt. At that moment, a hint of purple had appeared in the distant sky, and soon the dawn would break through, bringing forth the scorching sun.

After a night of commotion, even he barely slept, let alone these guys who had sneaked out. Everyone looked disheveled and as pathetic as when he first encountered them.

Now that they had all been beaten, Tersolius simply sent them back.

It was only then that he realized he was still holding the broken spoon handle in his hand, so he casually threw it away and walked over to Colin, who was standing awkwardly in place.

At this moment, Colin didn't know why he suddenly became nervous... It certainly wasn't because of that blow. Back in his hometown, he had grown up fighting with the kids in the village. He had been beaten countless times since childhood, and he had also beaten others quite a few times. The latter usually made up the majority of the time, and Tersolius's blow didn't even rank among them.

Putting aside everything else, there were times when she caused trouble and was chased and whipped by her own old man with a leather rope. At those times, she had nowhere to run and finally managed to escape by hiding in the bushes.

Thesorius looked up at the sky again:

"It's almost dawn. Let's get ready and go eat... After we eat, we can sleep a little longer. Don't stay up late all the time, or you might not grow any taller."

Colin's expression shifted for a long time before he finally managed to squeeze out just one word:

"it is good……"

“Give those guys a good talking-to and make them save all their money. Otherwise, when they go home, they'll still be a bunch of paupers, and then they won't get their pay.”

"Oh, I see."