Chapter 330
Chapter 330: Preparing for war
“Jack, are you truly prepared to face the dangers that are to come?” Fabian asked Jack after he let out a long sigh. He could see the same prideful and fearless spirit that he used to have emanating from Jack
Nodding heavily, Jack said stubbornly, “Yes, I’ve made up my mind.”
Seeing that Jack was insistent, Fabian shook his head and didn’t say anything more. He understood in his heart that Jack had finally grown up. Maybe some tempering at Jack’s age wasn’t a bad thing. Not to mention that Fabian knew that Han Shuo would definitely take good care of Jack and never allow his friend to get hurt.
Fabian’s silence meant that he was no longer opposed to the idea. Jack then turned towards Han Shuo, eyes full of expectation. Han Shuo, half a head taller than Jack, stood in front of him and patted him on the shoulder. He said sincerely, “Don’t rush such a decision for now. Stay in Brettel City for a few days. Let me know after you’ve thought things through clearly.”
Brettel City wouldn’t be quite so peaceful over the next few days. Maybe when Jack saw the cruel realities of war for himself, he’d automatically drop this idea, Han Shuo thought to himself.
Han Shuo didn’t continue to talk with Jack about this topic anymore. However, he was rather interested in Jack’s favored girl, Jessica, and he asked all sorts of things about her.
According to Jack’s stammering answers, Han Shuo gained an understanding that the girl named Jessica was the daughter of a small noble. Her father had done some business with the Boozt Merchant Guild and had gotten to know Jack as he’d often visited Boozt. At the moment, Jack’s love was one-sided. He was a mere accountant of the merchant guild, so he naturally couldn’t attract the attention of the noble’s daughter. Not to mention Jack’s chubby body garnered no advantages in his favor.
Jack had also found out about Jessica’s ideal man by use of sly methods to extract this information. In the Profound Continent, where aristocracy dominated, even Phoebe, the owner of the Boozt Merchant Guild, wasn’t accepted by the upper class. How could Jack, a small accountant, be accepted then?
Therefore, Jack now hoped that Han Shuo would help him due to his fanatical love for Jessica and possibly his truly motivated mindset.
“Your servant swears to follow you to the end, my Lord!” Dorcas let out a loud shout. He stood up straight before Han Shuo, like another invincible Demonslayer Edge.
“Alright then, you are dismissed. The gold coins are temporarily in your care, consider them the capital for the armor and weapons of the seven hundred new recruits.” Han Shuo signaled Dorcas’ dismissal. After the latter left, Han Shuo fell into silence, musing over Dorcas’ words about tempting the bandits. He felt that there was indeed some truth to his words.
Two days later, early in the morning.
Dick hurriedly came to see Han Shuo with a report, “My Lord, several large bandit groups of the same size as Troda’s group are gathering in a forest over six miles away from Brettel City. I have received this information from a Dark Mantle member conducting a mission in one of the duchies. I heard that these bandit groups have a total of fifteen thousand people, all are prepared to rush over and furiously pillage our city.”
“It’s about time they came!” Han Shuo coldly snorted then said, “Send some people to keep tabs on their whereabouts. Fifteen thousand bandits? This will be the first real challenge for Brettel City to face!”
“My Lord, do you want to notify the chiefs of the mountain people? It’s too dangerous this time with just the three thousand soldiers guarding Brettel City. The mountain people might be able to help us!” Dick proposed.
Shaking his head, Han Shuo said, “Not for now. This is a test for us. The results of this battle will determine if I can make them dance to my tune in the future. Humph! Even though we only have a little over three thousand soldiers, the walls of Brettel City are no longer tattered like they were before. I’ve spent so many gold coins on Brettel City! Do they think it’s that easy to break?”
Han Shuo dared to say so because he was quite confident. The soldiers could hide on the high city walls and wait at ease for the enemies to exhaust themselves, while using their new equipment such as the great war chariots, fire and stone-throwing catapults to attack downwards. The six magic crystal cannons were no decorations either. In the worst case, Han Shuo could also summon the great undead army to join the fray. He believed that it absolutely wouldn’t be that easy for fifteen thousand bandits to break into the current Brettel City.
The entire Brettel City had unknowingly gone on high alert. Groups of soldiers dragged massive rocks through the streets. However, the war chariots and huge magic crystal cannons that the citizens had grown used to seeing everyday became tightly covered under gray cloth for an unknown reason, as if afraid of being discovered.
The originally indifferent civilians gradually became more interested in this new city lord. In addition to the bandits being annihilated at Mount Tali, there was also news of the obliteration of a dozen bandit groups between Seamist City and Brettel City that’d been deliberately spread throughout the city.
Moreover, an endless stream food had been distributed to them from the city lord’s mansion on the Food Festival yesterday. For once, the civilians had been treated to a fine filling meal. Their confidence towards the city gradually increased.
However, they were used to the city lords betraying them at critical moments. As the real crisis had yet to arrive, it was still unknown whether this new city lord was worthy of their trust. Therefore, the civilians had yet to sympathize with the new city lord. They only quietly observed the changes in Brettel City with eyes withholding.
After one more day, the four gates of Brettel City were all shut tightly. Merchants or civilians, all were forbidden from leaving. From time to time, soldiers would appear at the four gates to swept their vigilant eyes across the scene outside. Several small teams of knights on warhorses rode tirelessly around the city.
Even though the knights didn’t say anything, the citizens of Brettel City had been through too many painful wars. They smelled a familiar scent in the air.
War was coming!