Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

He stared in disbelief as the three terrifying jailers walked past him and rushed into his backyard. Amidst the chaos, a middle-aged man with delicate skin was dragged out and pulled by the neck like a wild beast.

"Who are you? When did you hide in my backyard?!"

The young man almost popped his eyes out. He didn't recognize the man at all, and judging from the man's clean-cut and pampered appearance, there was no way they could have any connection, let alone that the man would come to his house to steal.

The middle-aged man couldn't utter a single word; his face was ashen, like a corpse. The jailers offered no explanation, simply dragging him out the door and shoving him neatly into the black iron bars before driving the carriage to the next location.

The young man, barely escaping with his life, collapsed to the ground, ripped off his hat, and gasped for breath.

Completely ignoring the fact that he hadn't sold a single loaf of bread that day, after regaining his composure, he immediately stood up, closed the door, and resolved to stay home for the next three days.

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

The prison guards, driving black carriages, searched the entire city, occasionally taking someone away from a building. Those they took away offered no explanation, simply boarding the carriages in despair and frustration.

As the sun was about to set, the carriages returned to the prison carved out of the mountaintop, taking the special cargo they were transporting into the boundless darkness.

Meanwhile, the emperor in the golden palace also got the answer he wanted...

"Your Majesty, in accordance with your will, we have explored every corner of this city and captured these scoundrels hiding in the shadows. Even if some survive, they will cower in the corners and dare not make any further moves."

The emperor on the throne nodded slightly. In this spacious hall, there were only her and the black-clad figure kneeling in front of her. Although the figure was thin, it was clear that he was strong and his exposed fingers had rough marks from friction.

“Well done, Casarte… but don’t forget your caution. I can’t allow this city to be teeming with parasites, but I also can’t allow loyal and honest people to be framed. You must cut away the rotten sores, but be careful not to damage the healthy flesh.”

The figure in black bowed deeply.

"I obey your orders."

"...You may leave now. Don't forget to collect your reward from my supervisor... You are not allowed to refuse; it is what you deserve."

The man in black paused for a moment, then bowed and quietly left, leaving the spacious hall quiet once more.

The emperor, dressed in ordinary clothes, remained seated on his throne, waiting quietly. All the attendants had been dismissed, leaving the emperor with a peaceful space to contemplate.

This silence did not last long. A knock was made on a small door to the side of the hall, and after receiving her permission, a female official entered to report:

"Your Majesty, Lord Tersolius requests an audience."

"Please let him in... Has Christina returned yet?"

"Lady Christina is back, she came back with Lord Tersolius."

“Go and invite Christina over too… no, never mind. Let Tersolius come in.”

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

Some things are destined to be hard to hide... For example, the convoy that suffered heavy casualties after the attack on Christina. Those passersby who scattered and fled at the moment of the attack had already spread the news. However, because everyone in the city was preoccupied with the return of Tersolius for the past two days, and because the time was extremely short, the news only spread on the outskirts of the city. Many people who heard it thought it was nonsense.

After all, this is the capital of the empire. Who would dare to attack the daughter of the chief senator? Who doesn't know how much Scripps cares about his child? And how good is Christina's relationship with the emperor? Even if someone had the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard, they would still have to consider this.

In addition, two elite legions were stationed on the outskirts of the empire, and anyone with a modicum of sense would not choose to make a move here. Therefore, those who panicked were ridiculed for being scared away by just two bandits.

When Christina's miserable convoy returned to the capital, the news suddenly spread, even overshadowing the bloodshed in the duel arena. Many people realized that it was actually true, and some of the more astute ones had already sensed the impending bloodshed.

The entire capital was gripped by fear, especially after the black-clad jailers arrested people, which exacerbated the anxiety. The roads suddenly became wider, and many people bought enough bread to last a week, determined to stay home and not come out again.

Meanwhile, other high-ranking figures also felt uneasy about the impending storm. They were frequently moving around, exchanging information, and engaging in transactions and discussions...

Nobody knows what will happen next... not even those in power.

………………

The caravan was traveling on the road, carrying carefully selected soft wool. It was bound for a distant town with a highly developed handicraft industry, where the most skilled workers and the best machinery were concentrated.

The finest wool is used to make intricately patterned carpets. The textile workers from the south are the most skilled, weaving dense and clear patterns that are pre-ordered every year.

A caravan guard on horseback suddenly stopped in his tracks. He was wearing simple hardened leather armor that only covered his torso and could be bought for just two silver coins.

The spear and shield in his hands, as well as the sword at his waist, were all cheap items. He wore ordinary cloth shoes and leg wraps, and his forearms were also wrapped in strips of cloth to prevent the sleeves from affecting his movements. He was dressed as a very ordinary caravan guard.

Many of those who wanted to make a living with swords but couldn't join the imperial army would choose to become caravan guards. Although they often had to travel all over the country with caravans, and living a life of hardship was commonplace, the income was generally good. After working for two years, they could save up some money. If they did well and became a guard leader, they could even buy two acres of fertile, easily irrigated land.

Therefore, many families did not receive land, but young people who knew how to use weapons hoped to build a family fortune through this job. With little money in hand, the equipment they could obtain was of this level, not much better than that of bandits who robbed people on the road.

Although the man looked down on his luck, he was very skilled with a spear and could pierce the tops of swaying wild grass while riding a horse. So the caravan leader still hired him to protect the wool-carrying convoy.

Large sacks of wool were piled tightly on the carriage. These were raw wool products that had not undergone further washing and degreasing. They would need to be processed before they could be used to make other products.

The man's gaze swept over the piles of wool, then refocused on the end of the road, making him look like a conscientious guard meticulously surveying his surroundings.

But only he knew how badly his legs were shaking... In the blink of an eye, almost all the spies planted in the city had been caught. If he hadn't been proactive and slipped out two days earlier, he would probably be stuck in that terrible prison now, suffering some horrific torture...

He can hardly be considered safe now... those omnipresent henchmen could appear anywhere, and he must get completely away from this city to avoid their notice.

With that thought in mind, he made up his mind—he would head east until he reached the rendezvous point in Torissas, a newly established location known to only a handful of people, so he could rest assured.

Despite the cold sweat still beading on his back, he disguised himself as a genuine caravan guard, occasionally chatting and laughing with the others around him, whistling at the women by the roadside, and spitting on the ground... and so he continued eastward.

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

Before me stood a magnificent temple, supported by 48 pillars over a meter in diameter, which held the towering marble dome atop securely. Everywhere I looked, there were exquisite sculptures, their muscle lines and clothing textures so lifelike. Various carved railings and decorative paintings, along with colorful inlaid stone bricks, made the place as luxurious as an emperor's palace.

This is one of the few buildings in the city that was allowed to be built so tall, and it is also the dwelling place of the gods worshipped by the people of the Empire in the human world.

As soon as you step through the intricately carved gate, which is over ten meters high, you are greeted by an enormous and magnificent sculpture—

The goddess, dressed in a toga robe, holds a yoke representing the law in her left hand and raises a sword symbolizing war in her right. Her bare feet, one in front of the other, seem to be about to rush out of the palace. A golden crown binds her long, flowing hair.

This is the main deity worshipped by the Imperials—Fosglina, the goddess of war and law. This is the tallest and most magnificent statue in the temple. Every day, countless Imperials come here to pray for the goddess's protection, hoping to achieve victory in war for themselves or the Empire and to plunder more wealth.

War and law are the pillars of imperial society. The fact that the country is surrounded by enemies means that it has never been free from war. Strict discipline and fair and strict laws are important factors in keeping the legions invincible.

The other statues are scattered throughout the temple. Although they are not nearly as eye-catching as those of war and law, they are all the work of famous artists. Every inch of them has been meticulously carved, transforming the fine stone quarried from Eagle Peak into such majestic and extraordinary figures.

The people of the Empire have always held a pragmatic view of the gods. Almost every industry has its own unique patron deity, and the people of the Empire will choose the corresponding deity to offer sacrifices and pray to according to their needs.

The temple is always bustling with people. The entrance fee alone is enough for the priests to keep the temple running. In addition, the offerings made the priesthood a respected and enviable profession.

As usual, as dusk fell, people who came to pray to the gods began to leave one after another, and the priests were carrying out the final cleaning work before closing the temple gates.

There are far fewer people here today, but they know why. Now they are just waiting to close the temple gates and have a proper discussion.

114 Wind and Rain (2)

But just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside the palace. Bathed in the twilight sun, a tall figure stood before the still-open palace doors. The silk robe covering his armor shimmered with a faint luster, and the sword at his waist was inlaid with gold and jewels, reflecting the golden rays of the sun.

Tersolius looked at the towering building before him. Standing in front of the gate, he felt as small as a mouse at a person's feet. Every inch of the magnificent building, made of pure marble, had been carefully polished and was so smooth that no flaws could be seen even when it was pasted on.

The gaps between the stone bricks were even inlaid with golden copper pieces... I wonder how much that alone cost.

Not to mention the exquisite sculptures and ubiquitous patterns, one after another, each lifelike, with the figures' movements and expressions clearly visible, depicting one story after another.

All sorts of stories and myths are depicted on them. Even those who know nothing about them can guess the general idea and understand the stories just by looking at these carvings; they are very easy to understand.

After returning from the Golden Temple, Thesolius was preparing to spend the night at his brother's house, but on the way, he was drawn to this temple and on a whim went in to take a look.

The magnificent architecture of the empire always makes a strong impression. The city of Alpert initially seemed impressive, but compared to this city, it appeared small and cramped in many places.

Walking through such a building, one feels like an ant. A sense of awe naturally arises, and one's actions become more cautious and careful.

The priests in the temple had already come to greet him. Tersolius spoke with them for a few words and learned that this renowned general only wanted to come and take a look around. Everyone was relieved, and the high priest of the temple also volunteered to show Tersolius around.

He listened with great interest to the kind-looking old man's explanation. After all, this was his profession; his voice was loud and clear, and he could explain the dry myths and stories in a simple and clear way, making them memorable. After listening, he could remember the gist of it... He guessed that even the best tour guides who were specially trained were only at this level.

The patron saint of farmers and workers, the patron saint of merchants and sailors, the patron saint of craftsmen and artists...

Only the capital city in the entire empire has such a magnificent and grand temple. Almost all the gods known to the people of the empire have their own statues here. The empire's best stonemasons and artists have meticulously sculpted these majestic and extraordinary figures.

Among these numerous statues, the most eye-catching and tallest one in the center is the goddess Fusgrina, the symbol of imperial war and law, and the most important deity of the imperial people.

This colossal statue, which is over 10 meters tall, was actually carved from a single piece of marble... Moreover, the sculpture was transported here first, and then the temple was built around it. It could even be said that the temple existed solely for the statues of these gods.

The time, manpower, and resources spent building this city are immeasurable, and the city has never fallen since the moment it was built. Even during the empire's weakest moments, the enemy never had the chance to touch the city.

The goddess of war and law does not appear kind and benevolent. Although she wears an exquisite and soft robe, her arms and body have strong and beautiful lines. She is tall and voluptuous, with a healthy beauty.

The expression on its face was anything but benevolent; it was cold yet contained rage. The hard stone statue seemed to have become soft skin, vividly portraying the subtle changes in its expression.

With the sword and shackles in her hand, this goddess appears aggressive, as if she might swat down her sword and behead someone at any moment. Yet, she is the most widely spread deity in the entire empire, with an icon of her in every household and thousands of people praying to her before every war.

Thesolius took two steps back, widening his view to get a clearer look at the girl's face. But a sense of unease lingered, because he found the face somewhat familiar... as if he had seen it somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place it.

Even by the most objective standards, this face can be described as flawless and highly recognizable. According to the high priest, all the statues of the goddess of war and law in all cities look like this. They have not been modified by artists, and no one dares to change them without authorization.

But a strange sense of familiarity kept lingering in his mind, making him almost certain that he must have seen this face somewhere before... but he just couldn't see it clearly through a thick fog.

Since he was already here, he decided to follow local customs and offer a sacrifice—after all, supernatural forces exist in this world, and no one can say for sure whether these gods are real or not, so it wouldn't hurt to offer a prayer.

He himself did not bring any offerings, so he borrowed one from the kind priest. A fat ram that had been slaughtered was the best offering. After the worship, the offerings could be disposed of as one pleased, since the gods had already enjoyed them beforehand.

Almost every general of the empire would come here to offer sacrifices, especially before the outbreak of war. The freshly slaughtered mutton could fill the place, and sometimes it would be accompanied by wine. The feast before the expedition would leave all the officers with their mouths full of oil.

Seeing that it was getting late, he didn't linger any longer. Before leaving, he didn't forget to take his sheep with him, since he had already paid for it.

It seems this goddess is quite effective... at least the empire has never lost a war in the past hundred years. Although it has not expanded its territory much, it has basically fought against all the surrounding countries.

Perhaps I've unintentionally received this woman's protection before, which is why she looks so familiar...

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

The Natamus family mansion is spacious, with bright and airy living quarters, excellent lighting and ventilation. What's even more remarkable is that in this capital city where land is incredibly valuable, there is also a sizable courtyard and pond. When the night breeze blows, the frogs in the pond make regular croaking sounds, completely isolating the city's hustle and bustle from the outside world.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, so the mutton needs to be processed as soon as possible.

Such a large sheep could yield dozens of kilograms of mutton, and it was from the most tender and delicious breed. In modern society, a single meal of this would cost him half a month's salary. So even though he was now in a high position of power, he couldn't bear to waste it. Therefore, he directly ordered his servants to light a bonfire in the courtyard and start roasting the sheep.

The people of the Empire have a habit of eating late-night snacks, but they eat much less than the other two meals. The chefs in the mansion had already started preparing beforehand, and with this roasted lamb, it was just the right amount.

The spices mixed in the porcelain bowl were smeared onto the cut lamb, leaving no corner untouched, allowing the flavor of the spices to permeate the meat. After being marinated, the lamb was tied with wire to a steel grill and placed over a burning hardwood fire to roast.

This process took quite a while, and they probably wouldn't be able to eat until midnight. Although they had encountered an assassin attack, Christina was not a weak person and had long since returned to her normal state. At this moment, she was sitting on the soft carpet, eagerly waiting for the roasted lamb to be ready.

Talina fidgeted with her legs, because Natamus was really worried about his wife, and also because the captain of the guard was out of danger and gradually recovering, so she came to the capital with him.

This was the first time the girl had ever seen such a magnificent and towering city, so grand that it was almost frightening. She felt dizzy and disoriented as she entered the city gate, as if the sky had collapsed and crashed down on her head.

Fortunately, most of the buildings in the city were relatively low, not taller than towers as she had imagined. At that time, she was even worried that so many buildings would block out the sun...

Although it has been proven to be nonsense, the spaciousness and brightness of the Imperial residents' houses and their grand architectural style still left a deep impression on the girl, and she was also somewhat surprised by the extravagance of the Imperials eating an extra meal every night.

Beneath me sat a thick carpet embroidered with intricate patterns, with soft pillows behind me. A table made of black hardwood sat on the carpet, laden with fruit and wine. The crackling campfire in front of me provided a comforting warmth, and a gentle night breeze caressed my hair like soft down.

The comfortable and clean environment made Tarina quite uneasy, even though everyone around her was very welcoming and there weren't many rules or etiquette. This unease wasn't something she could easily shake off.

But one person adapted very well... A mountain girl with short, dark golden hair was eating and drinking heartily, holding fresh fruit in one hand and a silver wine jug in the other. If the meat hadn't been served yet, she probably would have already reached for it... She showed no regard for the noble status of the host, acting like a starving ghost, which made the host frown.

Talina wanted to give her a hint, but she didn't want to say it directly. Since the girl was sitting right across from her, she kept winking at her, but unfortunately, no one noticed...

Tesorus was unaware of the subtle interaction between his men; he was intently watching the mutton being roasted over the campfire, the fresh meat emitting an enticing aroma that drew sniffs from those around him.

Although there were many sheep, the servants would share them, so they would definitely be able to finish them. However, this was the first time he had been able to enjoy a meal in such a relaxed and comfortable manner since that battle.

The mosquitoes haven't swarmed much in the last couple of days, so they're easy to handle. Besides, the weeds around the pond had already been cleared beforehand, so they won't breed a lot of mosquitoes.

The utensil of the imperial people was generally a three-pronged fork about the length of a finger. Ordinary people used wooden forks, while nobles used ivory or gold and silver forks. They were very easy to use, and together with a dagger for cutting meat, they were sufficient to handle most kinds of food.

Even at the emperor's banquet, knives for cutting meat were commonly present, and this was the only sharp weapon allowed to be brought to the banquet.

In Tesorus, it is considered impolite to get your clothes and hands dirty while eating, so many people choose to slice the food and then eat it with a fork, which looks very familiar.

Soup spoons are also a versatile utensil, used for most kinds of food, and soldiers' bags mostly contained these large wooden spoons for drinking soup.

Amidst the crackling of the burning coals, Christina suddenly leaned closer, a teasing smile on her face:

"That child seems a bit too reserved. Is it his first time in the capital?"

Thesolius knew without turning his head who Christina was talking about, and nodded with a smile:

“That’s right. This is Talina’s first time here. She has been to cities in the Empire before, but she has mostly been studying in the southern provinces. This is the first time she has come this far.”

"How did you find her? I have never seen a young girl with such exquisite medical skills. Siliscani's burns were so severe that I thought she was beyond saving... You always manage to surprise me."

“That’s not surprising, Christina. This world is vast, incredibly vast. Every place has its own unique features and customs. No one can possibly see them all… There are also many talented people out there, like gems waiting to be discovered. I was just lucky to run into one.”

“If the doctors at the Imperial Academy saw her, they would be too ashamed to treat anyone,” Ristina said, tapping the porcelain plate in front of her lightly with her silver fork. “If this child hadn’t already joined your ranks, I would definitely have recommended her to the Imperial Academy. Knowledge is always precious, and we should record and collect it.”

“That’s certainly true, and that’s precisely why our country is so powerful…” Tersolius twirled the small knife he used to cut meat, adjusting the blade to a suitable angle to reflect the moonlight. “This accumulated knowledge is the most precious treasure… but for now, this treasure is just piling up, and very few people can actually enjoy it… One day, it will all be used up to exchange for something more valuable.”

“You must have your own plans and ideas again. I can tell at a glance.”

The lamb was finally roasted, its rich aroma filling the lawn. The crispy crust crackled as the knife sliced ​​through it. The final cut fell to Thesolius, who stood up, dagger in hand.

"After all, we're in this position, we should do something... and nothing should be wasted, right?"