sunrise and sunset.
The gravel town, which was noisy all night and during the day, became lively again at night.
People looked at the 50 war horses and the trophies on the cart, and there was a lot of discussion.
Although the latter is covered up, as long as you are not a fool, you can guess what is inside.
Vaughn stood on the main road of the small town to welcome Hall and his party who had returned from victory, but looked around involuntarily with vigilant eyes.
"Don't worry, Vaughan."
"We have plenty of time."
"At least one more day!"
Hall said so.
"one day… "
"Our manpower is too small. Although I selected trustworthy mercenaries, the number is only 10. With our people, it barely reached the original number of militia."
The young militia captain looked worried.
As a young man growing up in Gravel, Vaughan knew just how bold and ruthless some of the guys around the Highway could be.
As long as there are enough interests, attacking a small town is really not a big deal for those guys.
In fact, Crushed Stone Town is attacked every year, but every time there is the rush of assistance from the Burning Dawn garrison, which prevents those guys from succeeding.
But this time is different!
Although the news of Burning Dawn's accident was covered up as much as possible, as time passed, some sporadic news were still spread.
This made the civilians near the High Road uneasy and fearful.
It also excites those guys with special professions.
The young man couldn't imagine the terrible situation that the town of Crushed Stone would face after the news that 50 war horses and a considerable amount of wealth appeared in Crushed Stone Town was spread.
"You have to trust the adults."
"No matter how many enemies there are, it is useless to face adults!"
"The power of adults is far beyond our imagination!"
Hall, who was controlled by Kieran, was full of confidence.
In the mayor's subconscious mind, Qin Ran is omnipotent, and everything is completely correct, and it is worth his life to fulfill it.
"Um."
The young man nodded.
Vaughn thought of the scene last night.
The scene where hundreds of robbers were headshot.
This scene made the young man's heart a little calmer, but he was still a little worried.
The young militia captain cared too much about Gravel.
Therefore, the other party did not find anything inappropriate in Hall's address from beginning to end.
Vaughn didn't notice.
Snark, Blue, and Wylie, who had a three-month contract with Qin Ran, found something was wrong.
However, the three of them, who knew Qin Ran's identity well, exchanged a look and wisely chose to remain silent.
It will do them no good to speak out.
Better to be silent.
What's more, in the eyes of the three, it is not an exaggeration to address Qin Ran as an adult in Hall's capacity.
But in the hearts of the three of them, there was some doubt as to why Qin Ran came to Broken Stone Town.
Especially choose at this time.
You must know that the Burning Dawn is not just a whole.
It is made up of the Burning Family and the Dawn Family.
Similarly, it's not just the three of Snark.
In some hidden places near Broken Stone Town, those well-informed robbers and bandits are also talking closely.
"The eldest son of the Burning Clan appears here..."
"It's really interesting."
"Could it be related to the attack on Burning Dawn?"
"Who knows?"
"However, the wealth in Broken Stone Town is really mouth-watering!"
"I heard that Saier emptied the treasure house of 'Sand Pirates' in order to survive!"
"Hey, it's not just 'Sand Pirates', but also the wealth of 'Skull Crusher' and 'Bearman' have been evacuated, especially the 'Skull Crusher', that guy must be furious at this time, You must know that those horses were carefully bred by him for trading in the Golden City."
"Which one won't be furious?"
"As the liaison of the underground market in the Golden City, Saier is finished this time."
"He should have died long ago!"
"However, Broken Stone Town is going to be lively right now."
"I don't know if it's the eldest son of the Burning Family who is the best, or those guys are better!"
"No matter which one, it's our chance!"
"That's right, that's right!"
"Our chance has come!"
…
Such conversations appeared one after another.
The end result was that many robbers and bandits began to gather in the direction of the gravel town, especially those whose property had been lost.
'Sand Pirate' is a one-eyed middle-aged man with a scar running through the entire left face. Although the opponent's left eye was blinded, the remaining right eye became sharper.
And at this time, traces of scarlet light were hovering in that one eye.
"Seyle!"
"The eldest son of the Burning Family!"
The other party sneered in a low voice.
The robbers who heard such laughter couldn't help but shuddered, and subconsciously distanced themselves from their leader.
But it's moving faster.
…
The eyes of the 'skullbreaker' were wide open, and the anger infected the surroundings. Including the whistleblower, the heads of a dozen people around him burst open just like that.
The red and white brains sprayed on the opponent's face and body.
The opponent completely ignored these brains, and just rode on the horse and headed towards Broken Stone Town. After the remaining men of the opponent looked at each other in blank dismay, they followed closely.
…
'Bearman' is like the other party's title, standing there like a big black bear.
The opponent, who was so strong that he was not at all human, held two adult male waist-thick maces and roared to the sky. His strong body swelled again, reaching the level that ordinary people would be dumbfounded, and the roar was even more shocking. The surrounding ground trembled again and again.
"die!"
"I want you to die!"
…
The night is getting deeper and deeper.
The moon exudes a faint brilliance.
Some caravans that were supposed to be resting started overnight at this time.
Instead of going forward, go backward.
There isn't a single idiot among those running merchants on the High Road.
They all knew a big war was inevitable.
And some residents of Broken Stone Town also came to the security station with panicked faces, wanting to get definite news.
But from the militia captain who received them, they did not get the news they wanted.
The civilians left disappointed one by one.
Some hid at home, hoping that everything would pass.
Others simply joined the caravan and prepared to leave first.
The latter are definitely not rare.
Looking at the retreating team, Vaughan wanted to stop them, but he had no reason to restrain them.
The opponents are just businessmen and civilians.
The only thing that made Vaughan happy was that his subordinates and the newly recruited mercenaries did not desert, even though there was anxiety on their faces.
"Don't worry, everyone."
"With adults here, we will be safe and sound."
"Just like last night."
Vaughan knew he had to say something to stabilize everyone's emotions.
Otherwise, it would really be a mess, but the young man couldn't think of any words of encouragement at all, so he could only start from the things that made him feel at ease.
Fortunately for the young people, the scene last night was indeed shocking.
After hearing what he said, the uneasy expressions of these militiamen and mercenaries eased slightly.
Seeing everyone's calm expressions, instead of letting out a sigh of relief, the young man became more and more impatient.
Because, he knew that Qin Ran was not in Broken Stone Town at all.
"what to do?"
"damn it!"
"Once the war starts, if Master 2567 does not show up..."
Thinking of what would happen at that time, Vaughn couldn't help rubbing his temples.
He had absolutely no idea what to do.
You can only do your best to defend the town.
"Now listen to my arrangement..."
The young militia captain began to arrange tasks.
Special antlers made of pine and fir bundled brambles were placed one by one at the entrance to Gravel Town.
Behind the gate of the town, feces and some herbs were rolling in a large boiling iron pot, and the arrows were submerged in it one by one for more than ten seconds before being taken out.
This is the simplest method of smearing poison, partly derived from hunters, and partly taught by Hall's army.
After the two are combined, it is enough to increase the power of the arrow to a higher level.
One by one, the leather armor and long swords just found from the robbers and bandit dens were distributed to the militiamen. The militiamen put on brand new leather armor and long swords and began to receive arrows.
As for the bow
All are self-prepared.
The mercenaries rejected leather armor and long swords. They were more accustomed to their own weapons and equipment, but they did not reject bows and arrows.
Everyone knows the importance of bows and arrows when you are outnumbered and occupying favorable terrain.
Time passed by every minute and every second.
Except for the militia captain and the mayor who were sentry, everyone was hurrying to get news.
The three of Snark were talking in low tones somewhere in the shadows.
"what to do?"
"Damn Saier hid the most important thing from us. He never told us that those things are the goods that 'Sand Pirates', 'Skull Crusher' and 'Bearmen' are going to trade."
Snark looked serious.
Snark knew about Qin Ran's absence from Broken Rock Town.
Therefore, Snark was extremely nervous at this time.
Because, Snark is very aware of the three groups of 'Sand Bandit', 'Skull Crusher' and 'Bear Man', or to be more precise, the leaders of the three bandits are terrifying.
The most direct evidence is that the Burning Dawn once issued a reward, and anyone who kills one of the three at will can obtain the status of a 'knight', the kind that can receive servants.
And if two of the three are killed, they will be given the status of Lord directly.
If all three are killed, the status of Lord will become hereditary, and Burning Dawn will be given a corresponding military rank.
From commoner to noble.
From nobility to hereditary nobility.
From hereditary aristocrats to hereditary aristocrats with real power.
Each one is so tempting.
However, the three leaders of 'Sand Pirates', 'Skull Crusher' and 'Bearman', apart from being chased by the Burning Dawn at the beginning, were still alive and well, and their momentum was getting bigger and bigger.
"Don't forget, the purpose of our coming to the Supreme Road."
Wylie smiled, pretending to be relaxed.
"That's right, we came here to prove ourselves, kill one or two of the three, and let us obtain the corresponding identities, but this does not mean that we can deal with them all at the same time."
After Snark sighed for a long time, he looked at Bruce.
"The promise of a sharpshooter, you will never regret it until you die."
Bruce answered simply and directly.
"Promise is a man's romance, how can you go back on it?"
Wylie nodded too.
Facing the words of the two friends, Snark rolled his eyes.
"I didn't say I'd regret it!"
"I mean what are we going to do?"
"How to fight?"
asked Snark.
"Shoot 'em!"
"Sneak attack on them!"
Bruce and Wylie said at the same time.
The answers of the two friends made Snark cover his face.
"Specifically?"
Snark asked somewhat unwillingly.
"Shoot them with bows and arrows!"
Blue raised his longbow.
"Ambush them with a dagger!"
Wylie picked up his dagger.
Snark stared blankly at the two friends, and suddenly had the urge to cry.
"I knew it was a mistake to come to the highest road with you."
"I shouldn't have left Dawn City."
"If I don't leave Dawn City, I won't be forced to sign a contract here."
"If I hadn't been forced to sign a contract, I wouldn't have died here with two idiots."
The double swordsman muttered to himself.
However, the next moment, the two-swordsman who was squatting there muttering to himself stood up straight and looked towards the entrance of Broken Stone Town like lightning.
Da da da.
The faint sound of horseshoes entered the town with the night wind.
Clang!
Snark unsheathed his swords and walked quickly towards the gate of the town.
Although he is nagging, the dual swordsman never violates his principles in his actions.
If he made a promise, he will fulfill it.
Even without a contract.
Looking at the back of their friend, Bruce and Wylie looked at each other and smiled.
Only friends of dual swordsmen will understand how reliable the other party is at critical moments.
"Go!"
"Leave the cover to me!"
Bruce jumped onto the roof with a vertical leap as he said that, and drew his bow and arrow.
"Go!"
"Guy in the dark, I'll help you out!"
Wylie took a step back and dived into the shadows.
The trio from Dawn City showed a tacit cooperation.
However, such a scene was not seen by many people.
When Vaughan heard the sound of horseshoes, his expression changed.
"Ruined!"
"Master 2567 has not returned yet!"
Vaughn is not a young man who is good at disguising himself.
The changing expression made the militiamen and mercenaries who looked at him feel a sudden shock.
Then, their eyes turned to the security station behind them.
It was dark there.
Nothing happened.
On the contrary, the sound of horseshoes in the distance became louder and louder.
The hearts of the militiamen and mercenaries sank with the sound of horseshoes.
A mercenary couldn't help but opened his mouth and said.
"Will that lord..."
Squeak!
Before the voice could finish speaking, the door of the security station was opened from the inside.
The sound of the door opening, which should have been slightly harsh, was covered by the sound of horseshoes, but everyone heard it clearly, as if hearing a hymn that made people happy. , People who step out.
They watched each other slowly walk in.
They listened to each other's disdainful words.
"Humble ants."