Chapter 5, Yielding and Resistance

In the face of such a problem, Brother Bu could only shake his head. He fully acknowledged his lack of experience and insight; at this moment, he was simply learning

Understood. Ed feigned a look of displeasure.

The three individuals below all have faces full of joy; who wouldn't want to make money? Not to mention the old man has thrown out such a large bait.

"Can something like a guardian knight be taken seriously?" The hunchback laughed scornfully.

It was only then that he realized, he did not know when, they had already been separated by such a great distance; even Thor, who was closest to him, was at least several meters away.

"We still need to talk," said the person who started the conversation after a moment of thought. "However, we cannot act as his informants. At most, we can agree to keep an eye on the people passing by, and if there are any suspicious individuals, we will report them to him."

After careful consideration, Bu Ge is no longer particularly concerned about money. If the Secret Investigation Department refuses to reimburse him, he can at most ask Count Bawadweber for it. This matter is related to whether the Count can successfully control the smuggling routes in the town. Given the Count's shrewdness, he is unlikely to be overly concerned about such trivial amounts.

Indeed. Brother Bu recalled the perplexing question that troubled him at this moment: "These people travel by boat to conduct business everywhere, they must be quite familiar with the sea. You should ask them if they have seen any interesting buildings constructed by the seaside."

"Tell that person I do not wish to see him," Brother Bu said, knowing that this action undoubtedly equated to giving up a significant benefit. He was unaware of how much these smugglers intended to offer him, and could not fathom that a casual remark could result in the loss of an annual income of over one hundred thousand.

At that moment, a series of crisp jingling sounds rang out from above, and a dozen or so nails flying towards him were deflected to the side

However, this may not necessarily be a bad thing. Given his recent escape from poverty, if he were to truly know that such a sum of money awaited him, he would undoubtedly find it difficult to resist the temptation

"Nonsense, if we die, we die. What is there to be afraid of? Otherwise, what right do we have to call ourselves knights?" The bald man spat, as he and the hunchback always had conflicting opinions.

Although he pretends not to care on the surface, someone like Ed is very adept at discerning priorities. Those smugglers are the easiest to deal with, yet they are also the most difficult to completely subdue

"Can those unruly fellows be controlled?" Bu Ge found it hard to believe

Agreement

The bald giant that Brother Bu once saw was sitting against the corner of the wall. In another corner, an old man resembling a monkey occupied the space. On the bench by the door lay a ragged figure resembling a beggar, and everyone kept their distance from him

They parked the carriage at the inn's entrance, accompanied by the nominal servant Tor, and the four of them walked towards the blacksmith's shop at the other end of the street

At this moment, everyone in this room consists of individuals who do not regard human life with any seriousness. However, even murder must be justified; killing indiscriminately, especially one’s own people, will undoubtedly lead to a loss of loyalty among subordinates

I understand your point. As the supervisor, Mr. K knows that the situation is certainly not that serious. He is well aware that this young subordinate of his is most likely abusing his position for personal gain. However, most of the people working under him have special backgrounds, and he is already familiar with how to resolve such troubles.

Indeed, we can provide him with a sum of money every month. With so many of us, if each family contributes one or two thousand, it will be enough to satisfy his appetite. Although the people here do not favor bribery, they are not without the ability to adapt.

The two old men smiled, and Keith took the opportunity to say, "Perhaps we can reveal a bit more. For instance, about next summer's events"

After a moment of silence, the crowd began to whisper among themselves, and only then did they see hands being raised one by one

"I absolutely have no issues here; the soldiers are on standby at any time. As for the materials, I will start preparing them immediately after I return," Mom said, patting his chest. At this moment, he finally felt that his initial bet had paid off. Just by helping out with a small task, he had gained such significant benefits. It seems that flattering the new mayor is the investment with the highest return.

"Is it about delivering a completed task, or is it about delivering a failed one?" someone asked

Let me tell you another thing. The fat man said: "You must have heard about the assassination incident on Carnival Day. That gentleman's cousin took a stab for the king and died. He inherited his cousin's title and received those two honors. Such a remarkable person has been thrown into this place; one would have to be an idiot not to think about the implications of this situation.

"No one will know the outcome until the showdown happens," said the fat man. "What I truly worry about is that he wants us to be his informants. Let us not forget what the intelligence department is responsible for."

"Don't worry about those for now, come over here quickly!" shouted the bald man loudly

Now you know to be afraid. The fat man snorted coldly: "Fortunately, this time not a single hair was harmed on that person, otherwise..."

"What does it mean?" Brother Bu asked, since he was about to die anyway, he was no longer afraid.

Bo Ge widened his eyes; unlike Thor, he understood that this was what is known as an elemental aggregate

Indeed, although that bald man never goes out to sea and only scavenges here, his appetite is greater than anyone else's, capable of consuming anything. What kind of person could possess such great capital?

This gathering is due to someone causing trouble, and this trouble may affect each and every one of us. As for what the new mayor intends to do and whom he has allied with, it is best not to make unfounded speculations until there is clear evidence of harm to us.

I intend to ... ... '' Brother Bu was about to state the reason

"Yes, however, there are two conditions," Mr. K said. "The first condition is that you must take full responsibility; if anything goes wrong, you must bear the blame alone. The second condition is that you need to ask them yourself whether they are willing to do it. I do not know what price they will quote, and this amount will absolutely not be reimbursed by the secret investigation department"

The fact that the people under Count Bavadwe do not engage in such obviously illegal activities does not mean that others do not. In fact, many have become wealthy through such means. The officials at the ports of Fak do not rely solely on their salaries and allowances for their livelihood; the bribes they receive far exceed their salaries and allowances.

"Do not panic, shrinking living beings is not that easy," said the hunchback, who seemed to have a deep understanding of magic. "Changing space is even more impossible; so-called spatial magic is still in its infancy, let alone practical application."

"Four thousand." The camel driver gave a thumbs up and pointed at the young master who was playing cards.

I have always wanted to say something; this time, although it was that little one from the Spencer family who secretly sowed discord, leading that brainless fool to cause this trouble, the newly appointed mayor may not be a good person either

"They are merely a ball of fire, without any substantial body," said the camel.

With no subordinates at hand, one can only seek assistance. The Count has a variety of talents, but is notably lacking in terms of martial strength, thus one can only find a solution here at the Intelligence Bureau

With a sharp sound, the bald giant drew his sword and shouted, "Those outside, do not enter yet!"

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, the overweight man quickly interjected: "Enough, enough. How many times have I said this? What others do is their own business, as long as it does not endanger us all, there is no need to meddle."

The camel glanced at Brother Bu a few times, then turned around and limped towards the adjacent room, muttering, "Follow me."

In a small room, there is a square table placed in the center, around which four people are seated, with a dozen or so others sitting behind them

Please continue to look forward to the sequel of "Little People"

"You need not worry about this," said the person sitting on the left side of the table. Among the four individuals at the table, he was the most unsettling; when he was silent, he resembled a rock, but now that he spoke, he felt like a block of ice

Just a second ago, he was carefree, but in the next moment, the face of the bald giant became much more serious

On the way here, Brother Bu had already warned the two individuals about the crossbow, but they seemed to be completely unconcerned.

Assassinating a king? What a terrifying phrase. The people sitting here, although they are all fugitives, are neither revolutionaries nor resistance fighters; they would absolutely avoid such matters as far as possible.

You can only rely on your own luck. Keith's response was very certain. In the noble circles, he had seen many instances of hiring assassins to kill one another. It was precisely for this reason that Brother Bu still appeared immature in his eyes

He appears to be a mediator, yet how could a person without decisiveness possibly hold this position

The blacksmith shop remains a blacksmith shop, yet everything is rapidly growing larger: the table, the chairs, the water bucket, and that incessantly noisy anvil; each item is becoming increasingly larger

Boge's subordinates do not have particularly skilled individuals; even the strongest, Thor, is merely a half-baked fighter

Of course, you can also resort to unconventional means to deal with them, and the words just spoken apply to you as well

These two individuals were summoned here early in the morning. Brother Bu is currently learning everything from Count Bawadweber. Given that he has such a significant project at hand, those who have previously assisted him can certainly reap some benefits from it. This serves both as a form of remuneration and as a means of winning favor.

As soon as the leader became angry, those below immediately dared not make a sound

"This is definitely a big trouble for us," replied the camel. "My arrows cannot deal with them, and your swords cannot cut through them. To confront them, we would need to find an axe or a war hammer here."

Threat and kidnapping are two distinct concepts. If an intruder is merely making threats, the personnel of the secret investigation department can handle these troubles themselves. However, in the case of kidnapping, the situation becomes much more serious. Those who dare to kidnap members of the secret investigation department have always faced ruthless consequences from the higher-ups.

In fact, Brother Bu is also very concerned whether this lightweight and flimsy cart can support the weight of this large figure. He somewhat regrets not taking another cart, as that four-wheeled cart would have been much sturdier.

After having lunch, Brother Bu drove his light carriage towards the capital, Rupnail. The forty-kilometer journey did not require him to spare the horse's strength, and within less than an hour, he entered the city with a swift gallop.

The personnel of the Secret Investigation Department are omnipresent, and once entangled, there is absolutely no chance of escape. For those who walk in the shadows, nothing is more terrifying than the Secret Investigation Department

The innkeeper Andrew practiced with him, and with just three moves, Thor was already down; this was still the result of Andrew intentionally holding back.

The intention was conveyed to the former coach, and the hunchback responded straightforwardly, saying: "Everyone here has their own price; as for me, my rate is the cheapest. I only ask for two thousand per hour."

The reason Old Ed allowed these two individuals to be present was to further convince the representative of the smuggler of the veracity of his statements

Young man, you have somewhat miscalculated. The young master said while playing cards: Together, those two may not be as useful as that old thief.

If there is nothing else, you may return and prepare. Ed waved his hand.

Indeed, there is no need for you to worry. Apart from the young one from the Spencer family, there are a total of five individuals involved in this matter. The stout man said, "We have already investigated this matter thoroughly"

"You should think it over carefully," said the camel, as if he also acknowledged the young master's assessment

As soon as the words were spoken, the furnace suddenly erupted with towering flames, a sight as spectacular as a volcanic eruption. With that astonishing outburst, countless glowing coal-like objects fell to the ground. Immediately, these coal pieces seemed to come to life and unfurled.

There are still six months from now until summer, and everyone must understand how pressing time is. The old man put on an act, exuding a compelling aura, to the extent that even Mom, the officer commanding over a hundred soldiers, found it difficult to stand upright under this pressure

The bald giant gently patted his shoulder and said, "Rest assured, with me here, no one can harm you even a hair on your body"

The moment he stepped through the door, he sensed that the situation was somewhat dire

Upon entering the town, Brother Bu did not intend to return to the inn. The two individuals following him were costing him eight thousand silver coins every hour. It was better to resolve the matter sooner and send these two fellows on their way.

He recounted the general situation, but when mentioning the intruder, Brother Bu did not tell the whole truth; he insisted that the intruder originally intended to kidnap him

Six thousand plus your two thousand equals eight thousand, I haven't made a mistake, have I? In the end, Brother Bu still chose what he was familiar with

Bo Ge hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not change his mind. He reassured himself that he was only dealing with a group of thugs, at most one or two of whom were real ruffians. With that light, it was definitely sufficient.

If absolutely necessary, hiring a hitman may be the only solution

This must be magic... Brother Bu is already dumbfounded

Gap. Brother Bu realized his own shortcomings from the words of Old Man Case; as a small figure, he simply could not see through the schemes of a high-ranking individual like Count Bawadweber.

The reason why Brother Bu considered that Hunchback is that the Hunchback excels in the use of hidden weapons, which are most suitable for dealing with numerous opponents. In addition, he also wants to see if the Hunchback concealed any secrets while teaching him.

Among these individuals, he had only witnessed the strength of that bald man, and the scene from that time still lingers vividly in his memory. He never expected that such a formidable person would be ranked so low here.

We have no comments

The fat man now hopes that the more people who are unwilling to present the list, the better. In this way, he can take a larger piece from this enormous cake.

This statement reflects the thoughts of many individuals; at least half of those present here have already developed a desire to withdraw. They do not wish to become entangled in the vortex of politics

"What is going on here?" Thor had also drawn his sword and assumed an attacking stance

His height should be about the same as this house. Just now, he bent down and entered sideways, but once inside, the house suddenly seemed to expand.

The most troublesome aspect is probably this body full of sharp spikes. Brother Bu groaned, likening it to a wolf's tooth club, something that cannot be touched at all

Brother Bu's face was pale; he was certain that he was going to die. Nevertheless, he still drew his sword, determined to fight even if it meant death.

The people in the room seemed indifferent, their attention solely focused on Brother Bu, who was following behind the camel.

The person being questioned sat opposite him, and in the dim candlelight, one could only faintly see a long scar on his forehead

In the room, besides the fat men representing the smugglers in town, there were also Captain Mom, the highest commander of the fortress, and Delo, the owner of the carriage and horse business

He is indeed very curious to see what extraordinary abilities the two individuals, whose prices exceed 10,000, possess, despite their unremarkable appearance. However, the price exceeding 10,000 is truly something he finds difficult to bear

Design is personally handled by the adults. Ed said, "However..." He turned to the fat man representing the smuggler, "Baron, it would be best if you could take care of this as soon as possible"

"Have we shrunk, or has the space inside the house expanded?" Brother Bu asked, having studied alchemy and possessing some understanding of magic.

"Has the guy who broke into my room said anything?" Brother Bu asked. "I suspect that little Spencer is behind this. If possible, I plan to take this opportunity to deal with that family as well"

As soon as the words were spoken, a chorus of gasps echoed around.

At this moment, the four individuals inside the blacksmith's shop were witnessing an entirely different scene.

A resort villa area specifically designed for the most elite wealthy individuals and nobility, what a tremendous treasure trove this is

However, he does not understand what the Count intends to do

Kais appeared quite pleased: "Do you understand? Count Bavadweber actually regards this small town as a fulcrum to leverage the entire smuggling trade network of Fak. For a figure of the Count's stature, what he seeks is control over trade, rather than mere profit"

The occurrence of such an abnormal phenomenon indicates that there is something strange at play. The most likely scenario is that they have fallen into a trap set by a magician

Initially, this camel deliberately misled him, claiming that the arrows he provided were cheaper than those sold in the armory. This statement was indeed correct. However, after completing his training and purchasing a box of arrows from the armory, he discovered that although the items sold in the armory were indeed more expensive, the shafts were made of steel rather than the kind of "toothpicks" he provided that would break with a slight bend.

Twelve thousand. This price is that of a beggar

Instantly, more than a dozen pairs of eyes were once again fixed on the fat man

They made significant concessions, with the only request being that they do not want to be labeled as agents of the Secret Investigation Bureau. Keith appeared quite pleased: "The representative hopes to speak with you in person. Perhaps..." The old man pointed to the pocket where the money bag was kept, the implication needing no further explanation.

However, the one in charge glanced at the fat man and chuckled, saying: "You have the best relationship with Mom, and I know you received some insider information from her. Before the incident, if you were unwilling to share any news, none of us would blame you, but now... if you still refuse to tell us anything, that would be rather inconsiderate, wouldn't it"

This time, the initiative to yield was entirely due to those individuals fearing the power of the Intelligence Bureau, rather than a sincere and wholehearted submission like that of Mom.

Fortunately, the final outcome proved that this seemingly flimsy cart was exceptionally sturdy, and it had no issues even after being subjected to such treatment

"Isn't that trick just now effective?" Thor asked

"Let us vote on this matter first. Those in favor of handing the person over, please raise your hands," said the leader.

Mom and DeLorean quickly retreated, and although the fat man also stood up to take his leave, he hesitated at the door and said: "Please, my lord, be extremely cautious. You must make early preparations against that group of people; they are very mysterious and extremely dangerous"

"Regarding the nonsense related to this matter, I will take care of everything related to the Black Cloak Society once I return," said the person being questioned. "However, there are still some who are not part of our group."

The nails that had fallen to the ground seemed to be drawn together like magnets, gradually forming into individual figurines.

Bo Ge appeared somewhat impolite as he stared at the beggar lying down and the farmer playing cards. He truly found it hard to imagine what made these two worth so much money

"This time, it's changed to a fire puppet," the bald man said angrily

The petty person is also there, the petty person is also there. The boss of the carriage and horse is also nodding and bowing there; among the three, he can earn the most: "However, I must wait until the design is finalized before I can start work." He is already somewhat impatient to begin.

We have made so many preparations in advance; it would indeed be strange if things did not go smoothly. Keith was unfazed by this; he had seen such situations many times. Working under the Earl of Bawadweber, there were plenty of resources at his disposal. With adequate preparation and a bit of luck, everything would proceed smoothly.

"Yes, absolutely, give me three days' time." The fat man nodded repeatedly; he had already formed an idea and planned to tamper with the samples in order to secure the position of chief supplier.

I deeply regret allowing you to follow. You two are undoubtedly a burden. The camel let out a long sigh

The chubby man chuckled: "Isn't this just perfect? That group of people always seems so mysterious, which makes one uneasy. As long as we come to an agreement with that individual, we can certainly ask for their assistance in getting rid of this eyesore."

"That is, that is." This fat man appeared to be even more respectful than De Luo: "I will take care of it when I return. We have quite a few people who have traveled all over the world; I will help you gather them. As for what you mentioned about us becoming suppliers, that is even less of a problem. I have a detailed list in hand and will send it to you this afternoon."

Of course, Mr. Bu would not prevent the construction of seaside vacation villas; this was a spontaneous plan proposed by Count Bawadweber. The original purpose for which the Count sent him here was to control the smuggling trade in this area, which is the most important matter.

In fact, this is the group of people who are most willing to spend money and can afford to do so; the money that slips through their fingers is enough to feed the entire town until they are full.

Old man Case hesitated for a moment and said: "Smuggling trade is highly profitable, but it is also uncontrollable, which presents both trouble and opportunity. As long as one can control this trade, even if only within a very small scope, one can obtain endless wealth from it"

Ed is absolutely right. Keith quickly explained: The court would never allow a noble to stand in the defendant's seat based solely on the testimony of a commoner. Otherwise, those in power would worry that they could easily bribe a commoner to provide false testimony and thus accuse a noble, which is absolutely unacceptable

The one responsible for guarding the door is still that camel, and it is evident that there are no other newcomers undergoing training today

I hate wizards the bald man shouted they always look down on others

In Fak, whoever controls the capital Rupnail means they can control the entire Fak, even the smuggling trade is no exception

This kick was astonishingly powerful, as if an earthquake had occurred; the ground shook violently, and the area beneath the bald head was severely damaged, with all the wooden planks broken and buckled up.

Those soldiers are probably also on their ship, hasn't everyone noticed how desperately they have been currying favor recently? This is the best time of the year for business, yet in their eagerness to flatter, they have even abandoned their business.

This may be an illusionary space, or we are under hypnosis. The bald giant stomped his foot forcefully on the floor

What these smugglers despise the most is not the intelligence department or the anti-smuggling team, but another type of smuggler. These individuals have open identities and are well-acquainted with the port officials, brazenly entering the port to unload their goods. As long as they manipulate the cargo lists and tax reports, everything is settled.

The magician excels at analyzing the weaknesses of others and then finding ways to counter them in battle, the hunchback explained

When it comes to the training department, the first thing that comes to mind for Brother Bu is that bald giant with scars all over his head

It seems necessary to prove that his words are generally true, as a pile of nails suddenly fell from the air without any warning. Each of these nails is over one foot long, and being nailed to the body would certainly mean no chance of survival

Upon hearing this price, Brother Bu nearly fainted. It was the first time he had heard of compensation being calculated on an hourly basis

I have already stated that as long as one-third of the people follow us, the entire smuggling trade in the town will be effectively under our control. Being close to Rupnail means easy access to dominate this largest market

This is the best way

"The last question is, who should go to negotiate with the new mayor?" someone below asked

Do not rejoice too early, it is not over yet. However, the camel showed no signs of happiness: There will be other things to come out.

This is probably not possible, " Old Ed replied expressionlessly

An individual of Bu Ge's status would certainly not meet with this overweight man immediately; according to custom, it is always the subordinates who come forward to make the initial introduction.

The two old men exchanged a glance, clearly inquiring about each other's intentions

Those smugglers just need to follow our lead, and the supply will definitely not be an issue. After we transport the goods into the market, we can absorb all the merchandise and even raise the prices by 10% compared to the average selling price. Since Keith is willing to explain, there is no need for any concealment, and he laid out all the details.

Half an hour later, two stewards arrived at Brother Bo's room

"Once again, let's deal with a troublesome matter," Brother Bu said. "Isn't this going a bit too smoothly?"

The profits of those smugglers are actually not high; their troubles lie in not having the connections to acquire good goods, nor the means to sell them at high prices. However, the count had already arranged overseas supply points ten years ago, and in Fak, there is nothing we cannot sell.

Not all five of them agreed to this course of action. Someone below remarked that he had a good relationship with one of those five, which is why he offered a word of support.

Enough! The first person to speak slammed the table.

However, this is not the countermeasure mentioned by the bald man. With that heavy stomp, the shattered floorboards immediately sprang up, each piece being more than a person's length.

It is certainly impossible to subdue others by force, but enticing them with benefits is not out of the question. We do not need to control everyone; just as you need the support of one-third of the people to secure your position as mayor, it is sufficient for us to control an equal number of smuggling routes.

I used a favor owed to me by someone from the past to exchange for some information. I didn't expect it would benefit you all. The fat man pretended to be quite troubled, intending to gain some advantages from various parties later: "Just as you guessed, the newcomer is not merely here to serve as the town mayor, but we shouldn't overestimate our own importance; that person hasn't even regarded us yet."

"You are right, but they did not report us either. Since there was no report, and now such a big incident has occurred, the five of them can only be treated as accomplices." The fat man sighed

Perhaps we can send someone to talk to the newcomer, another person suggested

The fat man did not continue speaking about the books, but everyone here is very well aware of the methods employed by the intelligence department

There is no need to mention Brother Bu himself; he is fine when playing raids, but if he were to fight openly and honestly, he wouldn't even be able to defeat Thor

A harmonious sound resonates from below

The fear of gain and loss is a common human sentiment. These individuals have been managing the town for more than a year or two. Nagga Town offers more than just its proximity to the capital, Rupnagar; it is largely unregulated, making business operations significantly easier. Furthermore, the absence of large ships reduces competition considerably.

Each family has its own rules, and I believe the person in black will know how to provide an explanation to everyone

The personnel from the training department can call upon it at will? Brother Bu felt somewhat incredulous; such powerful military force can be borrowed, wouldn't that make things much more convenient in the future

Upon hearing the words of the stout man, the crowd below fell silent considerably

Except for the person being questioned, everyone sitting at the table is a figure of absolute authority here, and these individuals are the arbitrators elected by them

The fat man said: "What I fear is that the person does not want money."

"There is only one question," said the person sitting on the left side of the table, who resembled an iceberg. "Can we represent all the people on this street? Let us not forget that there is a group of individuals who have never supported us."

"There is no need for unnecessary talk. No matter what you want us to do, as long as you pay, it will be fine." The wealthy young man interrupted before the speaker could finish.

It seems that these precious alchemical materials are about to be roasted.

A dozen pairs of eyes were fixed on the fat man, and no matter how much he wanted to remain silent, he could not do so.

Bu Ge hurriedly ran towards the bald man, but the more he ran, the more he felt something was amiss; it seemed that the distance to the bald man was not decreasing, but rather increasing.

"There is business now." The camel entered the door and immediately shouted.

The old thief seems to refer to that monkey-like old man huddled in the corner

Brother Bu suddenly felt an urge to turn around and leave; this camel definitely belonged to the type that would devour a person without leaving any bones. After a great effort to suppress the resentment in his heart, Brother Bu said: "I need someone stronger."

The room can only be described as chaotic, and it is not a very large space, yet it is cramped with five people

This item is not difficult for wizards to obtain, but for ordinary people like them, it is a coveted alchemical material

As far as I know, the bald man at the inn is very close to him. We have never been clear about the bald man's background, and on the entire street, he is the only one who cannot be considered part of our group

The person being questioned was clearly deep in thought, remaining silent. Instead, the individual sitting on the right side of the table spoke up, saying: "We are all on the same side, so why create discord? To be honest, we cannot place all the blame for this building on the Black Cloak Society; it was that reckless fool who got us into this mess. I suspect Scar is currently suffering from a headache over this as well."

In stark contrast to the concerns of the smugglers, Brother Bu and the group around him did not take them seriously at all. When the plan was first formulated, these individuals, although regarded as a nuisance, were also seen as the easiest kind of trouble to deal with

"Kid, show a bit of what it means to be a man! Don't let a cripple look down on you!" shouted the bald man

At this moment, all that Brother Bu can do is retreat

What exactly does Count Bavadwe want? At first, I thought the Count was attracted by the relatively cheap smuggled goods here. However, some events I encountered in the past two days have left me puzzled; it seems that Count Bavadwe is not relying on these for profit

In the center of the room stood a card table, where two individuals were engaged in a wager. One appeared to be in his thirties, dressed elegantly, seemingly a wealthy young master. The other wore a coarse linen outfit, his complexion dark and lined with fine wrinkles, with short brown hair complemented by a slight stubble, resembling a farmer from the riverbank.

The one who shot the nails apart was that camel. He used arrows similar to those of Bo Ge, but his technique was far more skillful. With a mere wave of his hand, he shot out dozens of arrows, each one accurately hitting a long nail, single-handedly protecting himself and two novices, while only the bald giant did not require his care

Bo Ge and Tor simultaneously let out a cheer.

However, Bu Ge himself is very concerned about this. He originally wanted to stay in the inn, but now he is being forced to come along. It is only natural to fear death; because of this fear, he always wears a steel wire vest inside. However, in the face of a crossbow, this item is no different from a piece of paper.

At this point, everyone had nothing more to say. The words of the fat man carried a high probability of truth. The most notorious reputation of the Secret Investigation Department was its penchant for coercing others into acting as informants. Once someone became an informant, it was tantamount to being marked by the Secret Investigation Department. Ironically, for those who navigate the shadows, the greatest taboo is to be branded by the Secret Investigation Department.

As they passed through the mountain pass, Brother Bu deliberately slowed down the carriage. He looked around, hoping to see if he could encounter the legendary bandits today. Unfortunately, once again he felt disappointed, as not even a shadow of a bandit was in sight.

The last time he came, he had encountered that group of people from the blacksmith shop, knowing that they were extremely reckless, even equipped with crossbows

There is no need for Mr. K to lead the way to the training department

The advantage of this small town lies in the fact that the scale of smuggling is small and it is close to Rupnail, with a smaller scale meaning it is easier to control

The leader glanced around, roughly counted, and then slapped the table: "Approved"

"You members of the Black Cloak Society have caused such a significant incident; you must provide us with an explanation" said one of the four individuals at the table

Kais stepped out of Boge's room, and just as he reached the door of his own room, he heard the voice of Old Ed coming from inside.

6000. This time refers to the bald giant.

By handing over the person, the other four individuals would face a maximum sentence of two to three years, as their only charge would be failure to report knowledge of a crime, which is clearly a lighter penalty. Although this may dishearten those under their command, it is still preferable to murder

You have two options: either proceed with formalities, and I will transfer your matter to the department responsible for operations, which will take some time

The stout man paused for a moment, glanced around, and indeed, those nearby were all straining to listen: "Have you checked the title of that individual? You only know that he holds the title of a Knight Protector, but do you realize that he is also a member of the Intelligence Bureau?"

Another option is somewhat easier. You can draft a report regarding the diagram and the book, stating that there are special needs and requesting the loan of personnel from the training department. However, you must persuade the personnel from the training department yourself, which may require some expenditure.

I have thought of a solution. The bald man shouted loudly, and he stomped his foot again. With the tremor of the floor, those heavy puppets, covered in sharp spikes, also shook slightly, producing a series of metallic clashing sounds

"At worst, just leave." I don't know who muttered this.

Will they do the same next time? Brother Bu must ask this question, as it pertains to his safety. If this is the game rule of the aristocratic class, he must adapt himself to this rule

Brother Bu forced a smile and tightened his grip on the sword in his hand, trying his best to appear strong. However, this facade of strength did not last long.

Bu Ge did not know what to do; he instinctively obeyed the command and got up from the ground

Do not act impulsively; even if everything here is destroyed, it may not guarantee an escape, and it could instead trap us here.

Returning to Jiajia Town, it was still as swift as when he first arrived, with the sound of galloping hooves. However, where there had originally been a cart attached, now sat a giant man in a half-squatting position. This fellow was so enormous that no horse could possibly carry him.

Since the training concluded, this is his first return to headquarters. To borrow someone, he naturally needs to go through Mr. K, and he is quite fortunate that Mr. K is in the office

I am very sorry, but you have no choice. The camel said, "Everyone here asks me to help them negotiate prices." The camel has quite the demeanor of a shrewd merchant

His headache is of no use! Below, someone started cursing: "Even if you cut off his scarred head, it would be of no use."

Brother Bu lay on the ground and let out a sound of "hm." At this moment, every bone in his body ached terribly, and his shoulder felt as if it had shattered. That slap was indeed light for the bald giant, but for him, it felt like being kicked by an elephant

Now, a pile of enticing bait has been thrown out here, and those smugglers may become more compliant in light of the benefits. However, mere financial temptation is absolutely insufficient. While offering the carrot, it is also necessary to wield the stick. At this moment, there is such a good opportunity to instill a sense of intimidation and fear in those individuals, and it is essential to seize it firmly.

If you could guess the thoughts of the count, he would not be referred to as the god of wealth of Fark. "The price difference is merely a small profit," Keith said somewhat dismissively, "the important thing is the control over smuggling trade. Do you know why this small town was chosen?

Brother Bu's identity is easily misleading. When Mom and the other three learned about this initially, they were so frightened that they lost their composure. Now, these people are not much different.

The blacksmith's shop continued to emit the harsh clanging sounds as it always had. Standing at the door, Bo Ge hesitated slightly: "Must I go in?"

"Do you really think his appetite is much greater than this? Does he want to have complete control over us?" asked the person at the forefront

If you cannot provide more direct evidence, the Spencers can completely distance themselves and claim that you are making false accusations

The person who was questioned was initially filled with anger, but upon being scolded like this, he immediately jumped up: "Chang San, how about we go outside and practice? I'll take you on with one hand; those who dare not come are cowards"

It would be best to have samples. The initiative is now in our hands, and Ed certainly needs to maintain an air of superiority. Not only do we require the list, but we also need to obtain samples.

I have something to attend to. "Ed stepped out.

Before Boge could get up from the ground, the giant pushed open the door of the blacksmith's shop

Fifteen thousand. The farmer is undoubtedly the one with the highest price here

With a swift slap of his bald palm against his thigh, more than a dozen wooden boards flew out like shooting stars in the blink of an eye, each striking an iron puppet with great force. Those seemingly heavy iron puppets were surprisingly sent flying with ease, as broken wooden pieces and nails scattered across the ground.

This time, there are more people in agreement

Do not run around anymore. That camel has clearly noticed that something is amiss

This roar shook the entire blacksmith shop, causing it to tremble. However, a transformation ensued; the building seemed to come alive, and the door suddenly morphed into a gaping maw, swiftly swallowing the three individuals standing at the entrance.

"I would rather talk to someone else first," Brother Bu said fiercely. This detestable camel in front of him had already made him spit blood once.

Goods are transferred from the left hand of the earl to the right hand, and in the blink of an eye, the price multiplies several times. All the illegal charges are placed on the shoulders of these smugglers, while the earl himself shows no obvious signs of wrongdoing. What a clever scheme, indeed, sighed Brother Bu involuntarily

"Damn it, it's a puppet made of iron," the bald man cursed.

Brother Bu was very curious about what an Iron Golem was, but was preempted by Thor, who asked, "Is this thing difficult to deal with?"

Therefore, when a plump man claimed to be the representative elected by the smugglers in town to express their respect, Brother Bu felt neither surprised nor delighted.

Seven thousand. Next is the old monkey huddled in the corner of the wall

He glanced around, wanting to gauge everyone's reaction

"Don't bother us, go negotiate the price with him," said the beggar-like fellow, pointing at the hunchback.

It is a pity for this dock. Where else can one find a port so close to Rupnail?

Brother Bu shook his head with a bitter smile; this was the aspect he found most incomprehensible. The upper echelons of the law seemed to strongly encourage nobles to resolve their disputes through duels and assassinations. The court appeared to be entirely prepared for the common people. As long as one was a noble, they would strive to avoid any association with the court, whether as a defendant or a plaintiff, as such a situation would be regarded as a great humiliation.

On that table stood a dimly lit candlestick, the small flame being the only source of light in the room, insufficient even to illuminate the faces of the four individuals seated closely at the table, let alone those behind them. As the shadows flickered, the entire house appeared vague and exceptionally gloomy.

All of this happened in an instant, and then everything returned to normal. The rhythmic sound of "ding-dong" from the blacksmith's hammer still echoed along the long street, and the door of the blacksmith shop remained wide open, yet no figure could be seen inside

The crossbow is a weapon that is subject to strict control. Not only are civilians prohibited from possessing crossbows, but even ordinary soldiers within the military are not allowed to use such weapons. Those who are permitted to use crossbows must be at least officers, aside from specialized crossbowmen.

... ... ''