Chapter 152 - Reached the High Cliff
The rain stopped around midnight and the mercenaries could finally continue their journey under the fresh air and warm sunlight. The refreshing morning put everyone in a much better mood. The mercenaries packed up their stuff and moved on after having breakfast.
The little girl they met yesterday was following not far behind at the back of the group. She was wearing her usual clothes. Her dainty wooden stick waved from left to right as she herded the lambs. After the little girl woke up, Rhode managed to find out that she was indeed a villager from High Cliff Village, but there were no further details. Due to the leather mask, the little girl had a hard time speaking. She could only communicate by nodding and shaking her head. This way of communication doesn’t allow complicated words to be understood, so Rhode decided to bring this little girl back to High Cliff VIllage and find out what truly happened.
If it wasn’t for Lize’s healing, the little girl who hadn’t ate for the whole day wouldn’t even have the strength to stand. Even so, she still politely and determinedly rejected the kind help from the mercenaries and continued to drive the flock of lambs while gritting her teeth. She was very experienced in doing it… at least the lambs were obediently following by her side.
Even as the mercenaries walked, the topic never left the little girl. After all, although these people participated in many adventures, they had never seen such odd incidents.
“What a poor child. Why would she receive such treatment?”
“Could she be under a curse?”
“Don’t joke about it. If it was a curse, do you think Miss Lize will not feel it? She said it was only an illness.”
“Could she be disfigured so she purposely hid it? I’ve seen a lady in the city who covered herself with a cloth every day after a major burn scar on her face.”
“That’s just for concealment I guess. Haven’t you seen the collar and chains on the little girl’s neck? This obviously is an act of torture.”
“Evil energy?”
Marlene heard the ominous words and frowned.
“Bloodline? Or curse?”
“I’m not too sure. But it seemed that this child hadn’t realized it herself. Maybe it hasn’t awakened yet.”
Celia spoke with a soft voice as she swept a glance at the little girl.
“But the energy is weak. There shouldn’t be any negative impact on the surroundings.”
“Maybe this was the reason why she wore a mask?”
Anne curiously scratched her head and asked with a frown.
“Anne didn’t think the little girl as someone who will do bad things.”
“Many people are like this. The unknown will cause fear, which is very normal.”
Marlene continued and said.
“But this is indeed too much… even if we judge by what Miss Celia had said, we still can’t verify anything. We can only wait until we reach the High Cliff Village and investigate to find out what is really happening.”
As Marlene spoke, High Cliff Village finally appeared before everyone.
High Cliff Village was a small village located within a moderately deep mountain range. From just one look at it, this town was no different from others. A wooden fence surrounded hundreds of little houses with a clear stream of water flowing from top to bottom causing the windmill to turn slowly under the water flow. Kids were playing happily, and villagers were harvesting crops. It was a prosperous and harmonious scene.
“Tch!”
Most of the mercenaries let out distasteful grunts.
“All of you, hold it!”
Soon enough, the mercenaries stopped by the militia guarding the village entrance. They held weapons in their hands and looked down at everyone in disdain.
“All of you are… mercenaries?”
“That’s right.”
Rhode stepped forward and nodded lightly.
“We received a request from City owner Klautz to get rid of undead creatures. Are there any problems?”
“You guys should have arrived earlier! Why are you so late?!”
Looking at Rhode, the militia captain who stood in the front, growled and swung his weapon.
“Do you all know how troublesome those undead creatures were? We were overwhelmed! Damn it, seems like mercenaries are just a bunch of bastards who only work for money. If there isn’t any money involved then you guys wouldn’t have any sympathy towards us eh? Get the hell in! I will say this first. This path is a business avenue, so all of you barbaric mercenaries don’t create any trouble for me! If not… when the garrisons get involved, you all should know the consequences.”
“Tch!”
Hearing the militia captain blabber, one of the mercenaries coldly spit. The militia captain immediately widened his eyes.
“Why, do you have any objections? Let me tell you, if it wasn’t for the situation now, we wouldn’t even beg the administrative officer for help. All of you should be glad even to be here, so what objections do you have? The lot of you better listen carefully. Do not create trouble. Finish your job and scram. If you break anything or start nonsense during your mission, then don’t blame us if we complain to the administrative officer! By then, all of you can dream about getting your reward!”
The militia captain who spouted everything didn’t realize that Rhode’s gaze turned ice cold. The captain then drew his sword and as if examining prisoners, walked closer to the mercenary group. When his sight fell on the last girl at the back, his face immediately turned ugly.
“You little slut! Where have you been skiving!”
He growled and took big steps forward. Witnessing the terror approaching, the little girl’s body shook instinctively. She held her thin wooden stick firmly, standing on the same spot with trembling legs.
Suddenly, an extended arm blocked his from moving an inch farther.