82: Attack, Kedo Town

September 21, Golden Calendar 1238.

Near the northern border of the Blackstone Territory, Renn inspected the Temporary Camp that Colt had found.

Although the Blackstone Territory and Red River Territory were adjacent, the northern nobles' control over the wilderness areas outside their towns was weak, so the boundaries were not very clear.

Normally, there would be a stretch of wilderness between two territories serving as a buffer.

Renn had instructed Colt to find a spot in this area to set up a Temporary Camp.

Colt stood beside Renn with a flattering expression.

"My Lord, I have carefully selected this place over the past few days. It perfectly meets your requirements. What do you think?"

"Not bad. Let's settle on this place!"

"Godo, how many Kobolds have you gathered?"

Hearing the call, Godo hurried forward to report.

"Master, Godo has gathered more than two thousand clansmen."

"More than two thousand... that's enough!"

Renn pulled out a simple map, which marked the locations of various villages in the Blackstone Territory.

"Colt, check the information on this map and see if it matches what you know. If there are errors, correct them. Get ready today; we attack tomorrow."

"Yes, My Lord!"

Colt was born in the Blackstone Territory and had spent years wandering the wilderness nearby, so he knew the details of these villages like the back of his hand. He quickly revised and perfected the map.

Renn looked at the much more detailed map, his gaze sweeping over the villages before focusing on five small blackstone ore mining areas and one medium-sized mining area in the northern part of the Blackstone Territory.

"Eat and drink your fill tonight. Tomorrow, follow me to attack the Blackstone Territory."

Renn took out the pre-prepared supplies from his spatial ring and placed them all in the camp, emptying the spatial ring. These supplies were enough for the Temporary Camp to use for half a month.

Early the next morning, Renn left the Infantry Squad to guard the Temporary Camp and personally led all the Magic Wolf Knights, the Cavalry Squad, and the subordinates of Godo and Colt south toward the Blackstone Territory.

The great fire Renn had set a few days ago had not yet gone out, but due to a change in wind direction, the flames were moving toward the southeast.

Even from a great distance, Renn could still clearly see the large plumes of smoke and the faint glow of fire rising into the sky.

Renn led his team toward the southwest, just missing the path of the fire.

In the Blackstone Territory, at the Keduo Mining Area—one of the four medium-sized mining areas in the territory—a two-hundred-man Mine Guard Army was stationed year-round.

Next to the mining area was Keduo Town, which had a population of about five thousand, mostly families of the miners and the mine guards.

Within the mining area, over a thousand ordinary miners and more than two thousand mining Slaves were kept for year-round blackstone ore extraction.

The ordinary miners lived in Keduo Town. This morning, as usual, they left the town and rushed to the mining area to begin their work.

As for the mining Slaves, they would never leave the mines in their lifetime; they would work until they died, and their bodies would be thrown into abandoned shafts for disposal.

Hiril was the commander of the Keduo mine guards and the person in charge of the entire Keduo Mining Area. As a Silver Knight from the Blackstone Family, he was the absolute ruler of the entire mining area.

He was in a good mood today and climbed out of bed when he felt it was about time.

"The skin of the women at the mine is still too rough, especially their hands. They aren't nearly as supple and soft as the women in Blackstone Fortress!"

Hiril stretched his body comfortably. On the bed behind him, two young girls were curled up, sobbing quietly.

"Stop crying. Being slept with by this lord is a blessing for you lowly Slaves. Stay here for the next few days. Go wash yourselves clean later; I'll continue to enjoy you when I return tonight."

As the absolute ruler of the mining area, Hiril could control all its resources. As long as he ensured the mine operated normally and handed over a sufficient amount of blackstone ore on time, he could do whatever he pleased.

Three years ago, when he first arrived at the mine, Hiril often cultivated, hoping to improve his strength. Unfortunately, he lacked talent. He had only reached the Silver Rank by relying on the power of magic potions, and further progress was too difficult.

After months of effort with no results, Hiril gave up and began to indulge in pleasure.

He usually had two major hobbies: playing with women and torturing miners. Sometimes he alternated between them, and sometimes he liked to combine the two into one.

Regarding women, he initially only targeted those with some beauty among the mining Slaves. Later, no longer satisfied with Slaves, Hiril turned his gaze toward the families of the miners in Keduo Town.

Given Hiril's noble status, many women would have willingly offered themselves and climbed into his bed if he wished, even without force.

But what Hiril disliked most were those who offered themselves willingly; he preferred those who resisted him. The more they resisted, the more excited he became.

Because of this hobby, many women from good families—from the mines to Keduo Town—fell victim to his cruelty.

Faced with Hiril's tyranny, the families of these women were all furious but dared not speak out. The slightest disobedience would lead to Hiril finding an excuse to beat them to death.

After finishing with the women, Hiril would go to the mining area to act as an overseer. It was already late in the month, and he needed to speed up the progress.

Taking his beloved Human-skin Whip, Hiril strode toward the mining area.

At the Keduo mine, thousands of people were busy. Heavy blackstone ore weighed down the shoulders of every miner as they hauled it out of the shafts and piled it outside.

The Head Overseer saw Hiril arriving and immediately came forward flatteringly.

"My Lord, you've come. You've worked so hard to come and supervise the mine's work so early. The Blackstone Territory is only so powerful because of the hard work and dedication of lords like you."

"Mm."

Hiril gave a faint response to the overseer's flattery. He had heard too much of it and was no longer moved. Only a woman's soft body or blood and wails could excite him.

"Are those Slaves the Lord sent earlier still obedient?"

The Keduo Mining Area usually had three thousand people mining. Not long ago, Blackstone Fortress had added another five hundred Slaves, increasing the number of miners to around three thousand five hundred.

"After those few unruly fellows were skinned by you, My Lord, the rest have been quite obedient. They are already as skilled at mining blackstone ore as the other old miners."

As the Head Overseer was speaking, the whip in Hiril's hand lashed out, striking a Slave who was carrying blackstone ore.

"Don't slack off, you lowly Slaves!"

After lashing out several times, Hiril felt refreshed and stopped.

The Head Overseer was long accustomed to Hiril's behavior and continued his report only after Hiril stopped.

"Alright. The family's caravan will arrive in ten days. You must watch these commoners every day and make them work hard. Ensure that the amount handed over this month is twenty percent more than last month."

"The Lord has been in a bad mood lately. If we hand over twenty percent more, the Lord won't trouble me. But if the task isn't completed and the Lord vents his anger on me..."

Hiril looked at the Head Overseer and said coldly:

"Then my wrath will fall upon your head. I believe you do not wish to endure my wrath."

The Head Overseer felt a chill on his neck and nodded hurriedly.

"Don't worry, My Lord. I will definitely complete the task you've assigned. There won't be any problems, rest assured!"

"I'll go and beat those lowly Slaves right now to make sure production increases by twenty percent."

"No need, I'll demonstrate for you personally!"

Hiril was just about to pick a few fellows to show off his newly devised whip techniques when a mine guard suddenly ran over and interrupted him.

"My Lord, a group of Kobolds has appeared outside the town and is attempting to attack it."

Hiril looked toward Keduo Town in confusion.

"Kobolds?"

"Hahahaha, perfect timing!"

As if thinking of something, Hiril's interest was suddenly piqued.

"I'll use the blood of these aliens to test my new whip techniques. I'll also wipe them out and report it as a merit to the Lord!"

"Assemble the troops! We're going to kill all those ignorant Kobolds!"