53: God-given (thank you for your recommendation votes and monthly tickets)

“Yes, it’s him.” Old Farda stared at the portrait, his voice trembling as he replied.

“Are you sure? Look closer, old man!”

The mercenary captain pushed the portrait closer.

Old Farda was clearly intimidated by the aggressive woman.

He instinctively recoiled, but as soon as he moved, Dylan grabbed him.

The family knight sternly warned, “Look carefully before you answer!

Otherwise, I’ll leave you to be questioned by this lady alone.”

The mercenary captain glanced at the knight, then grinned and said, “Old man, if you survive, we can have a deeper discussion.”

Mother Earth above! Arthur silently prayed in his heart.

“No, there’s no mistake.” Old Farda cried out like a startled rooster, “He… he has a knife scar on his right arm, extending all the way to his palm.”

Hearing this, the mercenary captain retrieved the portrait and nodded to Arthur and Dylan.

The family knight waved to the soldier at the door, who then led Old Farda away.

“So?” Arthur asked.

Ms. Kamara took a deep breath: “It’s that damned bastard.

I never thought we’d find them here after being missing for half a year.

So, my lord, do you have an attack plan?”

Arthur tossed the question to the family knight, who said, “Wait a moment, madam, I’ll go get someone.”

After Dylan left, the mercenary captain plopped back into her chair.

Arthur took a bottle of wine from the cabinet and poured a glass for each of them.

“Thanks, my lord.” The mercenary captain reached for the wine. “I suppose you’re going to ask why I hate that scoundrel so much, aren’t you?”

“Uh, actually, I was going to ask about the division of spoils,” Arthur said with a smile.

The mercenary captain laughed, “You’re very honest, my lord.

Unlike those sly nobles who always beat around the bush.

I’ll give you a fair price.

You hand that scoundrel over to us, and all the spoils are yours, how about that?”

“Now, I’m starting to wonder why you hate this guy so much.”

“As you can see, my lord, I have thirty-seven subordinates. About thirty combatants.

Twenty-seven of them are my family—my uncles, aunts, and a bunch of cousins.

We are a family-based mercenary group, which means if anyone is wronged, we have to seek justice for them.”

At this point, Ms. Kamara chugged down the glass of wine, got up, walked to the cabinet, and drank directly from the bottle.

“And that damned bastard not only killed my father but also many other relatives.”

Arthur nodded, “I’m very sorry.”

“Don’t…” Ms. Kamara waved her hand, “You just need to hand that scoundrel over to us.”

“After I’ve questioned him,” Arthur stated his condition.

“Deal.”

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

Jessica was startled by Catherine, who suddenly appeared around the corner.

He asked somewhat annoyed, “Why are you still here?”

“We… uh, we were worried about you,” Catherine stammered in reply.

Jessica pushed aside the dagger she held in her hand, “Don’t point that thing at me.”

“Sor… sorry. So… it’s resolved?”

“Yes, the patrol is coming soon, I need to leave before they start asking questions.

Father is staying there to understand the situation; it seems the matter my lord is investigating isn’t so simple.”

Catherine lowered her head in thought for a moment, then said, “Then I’d better go check; I’m afraid Father might not be able to handle it alone.”

“I think so too,” Jessica agreed, “It’s a complete mess over there. I’ll wait for you at the next corner. Newt.”

“I’m here, Your Excellency.” The half-elf stepped forward.

“Take good care of her.”

“I will, Your Excellency.”

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

The blood-splattered Sheriff blocked Catherine’s path, but hearing the sound behind her, she silently moved aside.

Catherine thanked her and, with Newt, approached the Sheriff.

A deacon with some medical knowledge was cleaning the Sheriff’s wound.

He could only do so much before a real doctor arrived.

“Where did that masked fellow go?” the Sheriff asked.

Catherine calmly replied, “He’s injured; our people took him to see a doctor.”

“Don’t misunderstand, madam, I’m not asking for his whereabouts, I just want to thank him.

If it weren’t for him, I’d be like these corpses now.”

“I will convey your gratitude, my lord.”

Adelaide suddenly let out a pained hiss.

She glared at the clumsy deacon.

The Sheriff questioned, “Do you really know how to treat wounds?”

The deacon scratched his head awkwardly: “I… I was a shoemaker before becoming a clergyman.”

“May I try?” Catherine offered.

The deacon looked at the Sheriff, and only after receiving permission did he hand over his tools to Catherine.

“Your dwarf is quite good at beating people,” Adelaide began, “but not so good at listening.

So I’m going to tell you about this…”

The Sheriff looked up at the deacon waiting nearby, and the deacon discreetly left.

After the person walked away, the Sheriff continued, “Father Eldred is one of the main people in charge of the New Temple’s construction.

The other is the missing foreman, Hoffman. We’ve been watching these two for a long time.

But they acted too secretly, and we never had a chance to act.

The information you brought just gave us a legitimate reason to arrest the Father.

I just didn’t expect Shadow Thieves to get involved.”

“Shadow Thieves?” Catherine frowned slightly, “Are you referring to those beast-men?”

“Who else? I’m not sure if Eldred is allied with the Shadow Thieves, but either way, we face many enemies.

Listen, take your people and find a halfling named Anton Grinski; he’s the manager of the local Thumbtip Bank.

I have reason to believe that some of the funds these people are operating flowed here through him, and he’s definitely involved in the temple’s corruption case.”

“Us?”

“Yes, you!” The Sheriff’s tone was helpless, “My people have suffered heavy casualties; even my deputy is gone.

And look at me, I can’t lead the team myself. Since Arthur trusts you to investigate this matter, you are all I can rely on.”

“But we are just… just civilians; we have no authority to investigate.”

Adelaide took off a ring from her hand and gave it to Catherine, “Take this, and you will have it.

The enemy has been exposed; they will speed up their actions, so you must also be fast.”

With that, the Sheriff gave them the banker’s address.

Catherine handed the ring and address to Newt, telling him to call Father and go together.

She herself stayed behind to continue cleaning and bandaging Adelaide’s wounds.

“Are you sure they can complete this without you?”

The Sheriff asked, looking at the distant figures of the dwarf and the half-elf.

“I’m not a combatant,” Catherine replied, “Following would only cause trouble.

Don’t worry, my lord, they know what to do.

And your condition is also very serious; if the bleeding isn’t stopped soon, you might bleed to death.”

The Sheriff fell silent; besides trusting these people, she had no other choice now.

She saw her deputy’s body being carried out, twisted like a beaten dog.

She lowered her head, not looking at him.

When Catherine finished bandaging her deepest wound,

She looked up and asked, “Where did you learn this? I don’t think it was in etiquette class.”

“Men, old men, children, women,” Catherine said, “I learned it from those who were injured.”

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

When Arthur stated that the temple in the mountain folk settlement had a secret passage leading to the rear of the bandit camp, the war room fell silent.

This was undoubtedly great news, allowing them to deal with those mercenaries more easily.

The question now was, how should they arrange the attack?

The three people besides Arthur almost simultaneously proposed a plan—divide into two groups.

One unit would feign a frontal attack to draw the mountain bandits’ attention, while the main force would flank and surprise them.

This would catch the enemy off guard.

But who would lead the frontal feint, and who would flank?

Dylan volunteered to flank.

He wanted to make these damned mercenaries pay and avenge the two fallen soldiers.

“No, old man, leave them to us.” Ms. Kamara, however, disagreed with the proposal. “We’ve fought them; we understand them.

Who is better suited to deal with them than us?”

This wasn’t the mercenary captain trying to shirk responsibility.

It was just that the feinting party in this attack would indeed be safer.

Information obtained from Farda’s family and the Doppelgangers showed that the Blood Lion Mercenary Group had laid many traps and barricades in front of the camp.

The feinting force only needed to shout, yell, and shoot arrows from outside the traps to draw the enemy’s attention.

The flanking force, however, would have to engage the Blood Lion Mercenary Group in a real fight.

“Are you sure?” Arthur asked Ms. Kamara.

““Of course, my lord. If I get the chance, I’d be happy to deal with that scoundrel myself.”

“I’d prefer you keep him alive; I still have many questions to ask him,” Arthur emphasized. “Since that’s the case, it’s settled. Do you have any other objections?”

Dylan said, “Hey, woman, give those bastards a good greeting for me.”

Ms. Kamara raised her wine bottle in acknowledgment.

Godwin then spoke, “I can use Farda’s family’s furs to gather some mountain hunters.

Those people are good at archery, which will put more pressure on the enemy’s front.”

“Ask them if they have any extra bows and arrows; I have a few here who can also use a bow,” Dylan added.

Seeing no one else speak, Arthur immediately ordered, “Alright, everyone, go prepare.

Godwin, discuss with the mountain folk, have them leave some people to guard the village, so our backyard doesn’t catch fire.”

“I’ll go do that now.”

Afterward, Arthur intended to take Philip, Drax, and the Redtail Sparrow Mercenary Group to the mountain folk settlement, but Dylan called him back, saying he had an urgent matter.

Arthur followed the knight to the village square, puzzled, only to see the soldiers lined up uniformly, waiting for him.

“What’s going on?” Arthur asked.

Dylan, while taking a bottle of wine handed by his deputy, quietly explained, “Young master, they don’t want rewards; they want your blessing.”

“What?” Arthur was even more confused.

“I know this sounds a bit strange, but you’ve used divine magic many times, especially healing the soldier who was shot by an arrow.

This makes them think you are an envoy of the gods, and they firmly believe your blessing can bring good luck.”

Dylan handed the wine to Arthur: “Young master, most commoners are very superstitious, especially soldiers.

You might as well satisfy them; it’s simple, just smear wine on their foreheads.

Just like those priests bless soldiers before going to war.”

Arthur looked at the soldiers; they were all staring at him, with a strange fanaticism in their eyes.

He whispered, “Let me remind you, old man, this kind of blessing has no effect whatsoever. It’s just psychological comfort.”

“That’s enough,” Dylan said.

Arthur gave the soldiers a somewhat awkward smile, “Alright, since you insist.”

The soldiers immediately cheered, swarming forward, kneeling on the ground, kissing his hands, and tugging at his clothes.

As if touching him would bring divine protection.

“Get away, all of you, get away! You idiots.

Damn it, line up! One by one, damn it, do you want a whipping?”

Dylan yelled at the fanatical soldiers, but it seemed to be completely in vain.

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

Accompanied by Madam Kadan, the shabbily dressed Arthur once again entered the temple, searching for the switch that could open the secret passage.

According to the information, he needed to temporarily offer the Goddess’s scepter.

But unlike before.

Since the statue was enormous, almost as tall as the entire cave, it was clearly impossible to place the scepter in the statue’s hand.

After walking back and forth twice, Arthur noticed the spring water.

It flowed from a pot on the statue’s left shoulder.

It flowed down to a hollow at the base of the statue, forming a small pond there.

Strangely, as the spring water continuously flowed in, the water should have overflowed, but it maintained a delicate balance.

Arthur approached for a closer look and indeed found a hole in the center of the pond.

He thought for a moment and inserted the scepter into it.

“What are you doing?” Madam Kadan asked, puzzled.

“If I’m not mistaken, this scepter should fit perfectly into this hole,” Arthur explained.

Indeed, the scepter fit perfectly.

The pond water began to rise, gradually overflowing the pond.

“Are you sure this is the way to open the secret passage?” Madam Kadan asked again. “This statue is very old, and those chosen by the goddess, I’m worried…”

Before she could finish, Madam Kadan saw a tender sprout break through the ground at the statue’s feet.

Then a second, a third…

Numerous tender sprouts began to grow from the water-soaked soil.

Their growth rate was astonishing; in the blink of an eye, they grew to half a person’s height.

And that patch of land was like a thirsty sponge, greedily absorbing the overflowing spring water.

“Oh, I didn’t expect this.” Arthur looked at Madam Kadan, teasing, “Have you usually drunk this water? It just so happens it might also…”

“Son of the Wolf, I can tell you clearly, it does not have that effect.

Also, let me remind you, we are in the temple, and Forest Mother can hear your words.”

Arthur laughed, “I don’t think She would mind these things.”

As the two spoke, the plants had already climbed onto the statue.

Arthur noticed that they seemed to be designed, growing vigorously towards the statue’s other hand.

When their numbers reached a sufficient amount, these plants began to entwine, quickly forming a large fruit.

Then, a “click” sound.

The statue’s hand drooped, the fruit fell into the pond, and the entire statue began to move sideways.

A rumbling sound continuously echoed, and as the statue moved, a dark opening appeared before Arthur and Madam Kadan.

Arthur bent down and picked up the fallen fruit, “Oh, it’s an apple! The fruit of the gods, do you want it?”

Madam Kadan narrowed her eyes: “You want to give us the Forest Fruit?”

Upon hearing that name, Arthur had already begun to regret it.

But words spoken are like water spilled.

He asked curiously, “Is there anything special about this apple?”

“Legend says the Forest Fruit can cure many diseases, is a comprehensive antidote, and can prolong life, and of course, for that aspect too…”

“Enough, enough.” Arthur raised his hand to stop her, because with every additional effect, he regretted it more.

“It’s yours.” He handed the fruit to Madam Kadan.

“Are you sure? Son of the Wolf, I can pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”

“We are in the temple of Mother Earth, and I believe She doesn’t like liars.

Besides, I am a nobleman; my reputation is tied to my face.”

Madam Kadan rarely smiled, “The expression on your face doesn’t say that.”

“Take it! Before I change my mind!”

“Son of the Wolf. For your generosity, I will repay you; this time, our warriors will fight alongside you!” Madam Kadan promised.