41: After the War (Thanks for the monthly ticket from Recalling That Year's Dream)

The Sheriff leaped down the slope, her longsword precisely piercing a sailor.

“Get up! Keep fighting!” she sharply ordered the slumped Sheriffs.

Everything was in disarray.

William’s reckless raid had disrupted the original deployment, dramatically increasing the pressure on the personnel in the secret passage.

The Sheriff secretly rejoiced that she had not stayed on the main battlefield but had chosen to come here to support.

Although the Imperial Knights were contemptuously called the Council’s dogs by the Easterners, their overall combat power should not be underestimated.

The four Imperial Knights cooperated tacitly, advancing and retreating with skill.

They were locked in a fierce battle with the eight fully armed Sheriffs led by her deputy.

Of course, the most troublesome were not the four Knights, but the two Halflings.

“I am Adelaide Glamorgan, the Sheriff of Wolf Den City.

“You are surrounded; drop your weapons immediately!”

The Sheriff’s loud warning made everyone’s movements freeze simultaneously.

“Sheriff?” The Halfling with the hat let out a piercing sneer, “Is the money our Black Hand Gang pays annually not enough?

“To make you go to such great lengths to arrest us, you even invited the Lord of Wolves himself.”

Adelaide’s expression suddenly turned cold, and just as she was about to respond, a low incantation suddenly sounded in her ear.

Her pupils contracted sharply; the next second, a spiritual short sword suddenly attacked from the side.

The Sheriff hastily blocked with her sword, barely parrying the blow.

“Arrest them!” she roared.

The Halfling with the hat let out a strange laugh and drew two daggers.

He shouted to his companion behind him, “Cover me!”

Before his voice fell, he charged at the Sheriff.

The spiritual short sword constantly danced around the Sheriff, attacking from time to time.

This greatly annoyed Adelaide.

Immediately after, the Halfling spellcaster issued a command to the deputy guarding the Sheriff: “Don’t move!”

The deputy suddenly froze in place, uncontrollable.

The Halfling assassin took the opportunity to flash past him.

Two daggers glinted coldly, aimed straight for the Sheriff’s throat.

Just then, the assassin heard the sound of something cutting through the air behind him.

The Halfling was startled, his body paused slightly, and his offensive slowed by half a beat.

The Sheriff swung her sword, parrying one of the daggers, but failed to avoid the other.

The sharp blade cut a deep, long wound on her arm.

At the same time, the assassin’s back was hit by an arrow.

He quickly retreated, turned his head, and was horrified to find a dagger stuck in his brother’s neck.

“No, brother!” he exclaimed.

A pale-skinned woman vanished into the shadows like a ghost.

The Halfling spellcaster could no longer maintain the spiritual weapon.

The now-free Sheriff immediately charged at the assassin.

The crossbow bolts constantly shot from the darkness also began to throw the Imperial Knights’ formation into disarray.

When the last scream fell silent, this fierce battle finally concluded.

The Sheriff gasped for breath and asked her deputy beside her, “What are the casualties?”

“Three brothers died, and one was injured,” the deputy reported, “Two were captured; the others all died.”

The Sheriff glanced at the Halfling assassin pinned to the ground and ordered, “Keep him.

“Kill those Knights, then dispose of their bodies.”

The deputy nodded, about to go.

The Sheriff pulled him back and instructed, “You handle this personally.

“Along with their equipment, don’t leave any evidence, understand?”

“Understood,” the deputy replied.

Then, the Sheriff walked towards the woman who had come to her aid, “Are you Arthur’s person?”

The woman nodded and handed over a letter.

The Sheriff reached out, took it, opened it, and read it by the light of a torch.

Then she said, “Go back and tell him I received the letter. Hey, thanks for your help.”

The woman nodded again, turned, and disappeared into the darkness.

-----------------

“How much are these worth?” Arthur asked Catherine.

The noblewoman quickly estimated in her mind and replied, “They are probably worth about seventeen hundred gold coins.”

Godwin curiously picked up a jade statue, “Why are these things from Chult so valuable?”

“The upper-class dignitaries in Western Amn consider collecting these a status symbol,” Old Joe explained, “How can we understand the whims of the rich?”

In other words, that box of artifacts was worth at least around four thousand gold coins.

Arthur thought to himself.

Funds obtained this way were not only more convenient than directly transporting gold coins.

It was also very difficult to trace the source, and even if something came to light, it would be easy to find an excuse to get away.

“Put these away; we’ll convert them into money when we reach the border,” Arthur instructed.

Godwin interjected, “There are rumors that those Calimshan people in the Bull Earl’s territory are very interested in these artifacts.”

The noblewoman nodded, “That’s right. Their leader, Rahman II, is particularly keen; he has always wanted to enter the center of power in Amn.”

Arthur nodded, looking towards the warehouse door, his expression worried.

Godwin saw this and asked, “My Lord, are you worried about Airo?”

“She’s been gone for a while delivering the letter,” Arthur frowned, “It shouldn’t take this long.”

“Shall I go check?” Godwin asked.

Arthur shook his head, “I’m not worried about her, but about other things.

“Drax, have the body disposal team returned?”

The Orc outside the door shook his head and replied, “No, My Lord, the river is quiet.”

“Alright, let me know when everyone has arrived,” Arthur instructed.

-----------------

As the warhammer struck heavily, the lock on the outside of the box cracked open.

The Evil Wolf Earl stepped forward, kicked open the box, and looking at the artifacts inside, he let out a long breath.

“Extract information from the captives,” he turned to his sister and said, “No matter what means you use.”

The Sheriff replied, “Interrogation is already underway.”

“Where is Arthur?” the Earl asked again.

“According to the plan, he’s responsible for dealing with that Imperial Knight captain, I think his name was Olaf.”

The Evil Wolf Earl’s expression was complex, “You’re saying all of this was planned by Arthur?”

“Yes.”

Just as they were speaking, Robert walked in quickly.

He excitedly announced, “My Lord, the Barracuda is under our control.

“This is another great victory for the Evil Wolf Family, earth mother bless!”

“Hahaha, you’re right, brother!” The Earl laughed heartily, “It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a satisfying battle.

“Tonight’s victory is worth celebrating.”

“I lost three subordinates, and another, the doctor said he’ll be bedridden for the rest of his life.”

The Sheriff unceremoniously poured cold water on the celebration, “Also, if it weren’t for the messenger sent by Arthur, I might have died too.”

These words instantly extinguished the joy of victory.

The Evil Wolf Earl waved his hand in annoyance, “I will compensate the injured.

“Bump, tally these smuggled goods, and convert everything that can be exchanged for money, including these artifacts, into money.

“Give one-fifth to Arthur; he deserves it. All the rest will be used for military expenses.”

At this point, the Earl kicked the heavy wooden box.

He said in a deep voice, “These damn bastards want to sell my life with these things.

“Then let them try. Robert, strengthen patrols in the city.

“You two must deal with these messes for me as quickly as possible.”