The morning sun dispelled the darkness in the forest, and also took away the worries lingering in everyone's mind.
After the battle last night, everyone was busy cleaning up the battlefield and at the same time guarding against the enemy's comeback, so most of them didn't continue to sleep.
After the sun came out, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, and some of them who were really tired and sleepy began to catch up on sleep.
Some of the mercenaries began to prepare breakfast, while the head of the group, Saru, was still arguing with the merchant Oliver about the compensation for casualties.
In fact, the two parties had already reached an agreement on the standard of compensation before departure, and the reason why they are arguing now is entirely because of an unlucky guy who was accidentally killed by one of his own people.
Oliver insisted that this guy was the responsibility of the Firefox Mercenary Group and that he should not pay the pension, so he quarreled with Saru.
At the moment, Colin has nothing to do with himself, and is squatting beside a fire, drinking the "water" in the kettle leisurely.
The rising sun was a bit dazzling, and Colin lowered the brim of his hat a little, covering the upper half of his face almost completely.
Then, he took out the parchment and crossed out the sentence he wrote yesterday [Human blood can help advance].
Because he discovered that the blood secretly obtained from a thief's corpse last night had no effect on his strength growth, just like deer blood, except that it can satisfy the appetite and replenish energy, it does not have the blood of Carter Knight at all Effect.
Perhaps the blood of ordinary people is useless, and the blood of professionals is needed to help advance.
Moreover, I am afraid that it needs the blood of a higher-level professional than myself to be effective.
Thinking of this, Ke Lin unconsciously turned his gaze to the only second-tier fighter here—Captain Saru.
Then he shook his head again.
Not to mention whether he can beat Saru or not.
Even if he could beat him, he didn't want to kill an innocent person just to advance quickly.
Colin felt that he still had some bottom lines.
While thinking wildly, Colin found that the dispute between Oliver and Saru over there was finally over.
The chubby businessman was walking towards Colin, with a somewhat unhappy expression, as if he didn't have the upper hand in the dispute just now.
"That's such a difficult guy!" After approaching, Oliver glanced at Saru's figure and complained to Colin.
Ke Lin looked at this businessman who proudly said yesterday that he wanted to sponsor an army of his own, but now he became penny-pinching because of a mercenary's pension, and suddenly he laughed a little.
"Forget it, let's take it as a comfort. After all, there is still a long way to go before Falling Eagle City. It is not a wise choice to break up with the Firefox mercenary group at this time."
"I know. If I hadn't considered this, I wouldn't have given in to that old guy Saru!" Oliver obviously understood this, but he was still unwilling and complained in a low voice.
"Would you like to taste the jerky I brought, it's much better than bread." Afterwards, the fat businessman became generous again.
Colin accepted Oliver's kindness with a smile, and chatted casually with him again.
After everyone finished their breakfast and rested for another two hours, the caravan packed up their tents and prepared to set off again.
But at this moment, Saru stopped everyone suddenly, and then he lay down on the ground with his right ear pressed to the ground.
Seeing this, Colin frowned slightly.
His hearing during the day was far inferior to that at night, and he didn't hear any abnormal movements at all at this moment.
But Saru over there suddenly jumped up from the ground and hissed, "Horse! Hooves of the horse! Quick! Everyone, be vigilant immediately!"
Following Saru's roar, the entire camp suddenly became chaotic.
Oliver's face turned pale instantly.
He knows the seriousness of the matter.
This time is different from last night's attack. The thieves can't afford horses. If the people who come here are not friends or enemies, it will be very troublesome...
"Tap Tat Tat..."
As time passed, Colin finally heard the rapid sound of horseshoes.
The ground began to tremble slightly, which made the mercenaries in formation even more flustered, and even the roar of the bearded Saru could no longer calm them down.
Colin squinted his eyes and saw a thin gray line suddenly appearing in the forest not far away, rushing towards the camp like a sharp arrow.
This is a troop of cavalry!
There are not many cavalry, only about twenty.
But seeing their overwhelming momentum, Ke Lin has no doubt that as long as the opponent charges, the defensive position that the Firefox mercenaries tried their best to put together will collapse immediately.
This is the terrifying oppression of the king of war in the cold weapon era!
Rumble!
The earth is roaring.
The cavalry was approaching.
The mercenaries trembled.
Oliver closed his eyes in pain.
With a huge half-shield on his head, Saru stood at the forefront of the line of defense, like a rock.
Ke Lin didn't care about the glare of the sun, he sighed helplessly, lifted his three-cornered hat, and pulled out the one-handed sword at his waist.
Just when everyone was about to fight to the death, the surging cavalry squad suddenly came to an emergency stop about 30 meters away from the camp.
"咴—"
Amid a series of horse cries, twenty war horses stood in the air.
Good horsemanship!
Colin couldn't help admiring in his heart.
At the same time, his tense mood relaxed a little.
The opponent should not be an enemy anymore.
However, judging by their rushing posture without slowing down, and their sudden stop like a show of skill, it is obvious that they want to give the Firefox mercenary group a blow.
Therefore, the other party may not have much goodwill.
Oliver, a shrewd businessman, obviously noticed this, so he didn't take the initiative to go forward, but signaled Saru to negotiate.
Saru was helpless. After all, he received a commission and was obliged to solve any troubles Oliver encountered along the way.
So, he had no choice but to put down his shield and sword, and stepped forward empty-handed, while shouting loudly:
"My friend on the opposite side! I am Saru, the head of the Firefox Mercenary Group, and I am escorting some goods from the Tulip Chamber of Commerce to Eagle Falling City. Is there anything I can do to help you?"
The cavalry squad on the opposite side did not respond, as if they had suddenly become sculptures.
There was silence in the forest, the wind seemed to stop suddenly, and the air was so heavy that it was suffocating.
Saru suppressed the fear and anxiety in his heart, bit the bullet and continued to move forward.
After walking a few steps closer, he finally saw the badge on the chest armor of the leading cavalryman, and he gasped in shock: "Your Excellency is a knight of the Saint Hilde family?"
Saru's loud voice also spread to the rear, so there was a small suppressed commotion among the mercenaries.
But at the same time, everyone involuntarily lowered the weapons in their hands to the ground, as if the name "Saint Hilde" had a terrifying magical power that made people dare not fight against it.
Yes.
In the northern border of the empire, the name Saint Hilde is a symbol of absolute authority.
Even the royal family of the empire does not have such a terrifying appeal and influence here.
"Crack."
The leading knight finally made a move. He lifted his helmet mask, revealing a pair of indifferent eyes, and nodded towards Saru, acquiescing to his identity.
Afterwards, he took out a roll of parchment from the cloth bag in front of the saddle and threw it at Saru's feet. At the same time, he announced in an unquestionable tone:
"On the orders of the Marquis Charles, the son of the Duke of St. Hilde, you have been urgently called up."
(end of this chapter)