In the afternoon, the scorching sun parched the earth, and the air was thick with dust and a faint, lingering scent of blood. The atmosphere at the entrance of Blackstone Town was anything but calm.
Bolin returned, travel-worn and weary, leading a group of emaciated refugees with hollow, numb gazes. These were the subjects recovered from the abandoned village; they were clad in rags and moved with such faltering steps that it seemed a gust of wind might blow them over. Only when they saw the sturdy new wooden walls of Blackstone Town and the glimmers of emerging order did a faint light flicker in their deadened eyes.
"My Lord." Bolin walked quickly to Leylo, his face etched with unconcealable exhaustion and gravity. "The refugees have all been brought back for resettlement. However..." He paused, lowering his voice. "On the return journey, near the Withered Wood Forest to the west, I discovered a temporary bandit camp. It's quite large, with many campfire traces—it looks like there are at least a hundred men."
Bandits! Leylo's brow furrowed slightly. They had indeed come, though he hadn't expected them quite so soon.
As he was contemplating, a series of arrogant hoofbeats approached from a distance, cutting through everyone's thoughts. A man with a hideous facial scar and grimy leather armor, riding a skeletal jade-mare, barged recklessly into the town entrance. He pulled the reins roughly, causing the horse to paw the ground uneasily.
The scarred man scanned the crowd with vicious, triangular eyes, his gaze finally landing on Leylo, whose temperament stood out from the rest. He showed unmasked contempt.
"Who's the one in charge here?" he shouted, spittle flying. "I am an envoy of the Blood Wolf Mercenaries! Our commander said that from this day forth, Blackstone Territory is under the protection of the Blood Wolf! The annual tax is one thousand gold dragons! If you're smart, deliver it to the Withered Wood camp within three days! Otherwise..." He let out a sinister laugh and made a throat-slitting gesture. "Don't blame us for slaughtering this pathetic town of yours!"
One thousand gold dragons! The surrounding townspeople gasped, the color draining from their faces. That was nearly the entire annual tax revenue of the Blackstone Territory! These bandits were opening their mouths like lions! The knights' faces turned ashen, and some already had their hands on the pommels of their swords.
Leylo's expression, however, remained exceptionally calm—not even a ripple of emotion showed. He looked at the overbearing messenger as if looking at a dead object.
"Ed, take one of his hands," he said flatly.
"Yes, My Lord!" Ed stepped forward. Though the aura of the newly ascended Earth Knight was intentionally restrained, the ground seemed to sink slightly with his step. He didn't even draw his longsword; instead, he held his fingers together like a blade, coating them in a layer of solid, earth-yellow combat qi.
A flash of cold light! It was so fast the movement was nearly invisible! A hallmark of an Earth Knight: Combat Qi Manifestation—it can form armor for protection or blades to strike enemies. The crowd watched in awe; they hadn't realized the Captain of the Guard had already broken through to the Earth Knight realm.
"AHHH—!" The messenger's right hand, along with the reins he held, was severed at the wrist! The cut was as smooth as a mirror, and blood geysered out! The intense pain contorted his face instantly, and he tumbled from his horse, rolling on the ground in agonizing wails.
"Get out." Leylo's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling majesty that rang clearly in everyone's ears. "Go back and tell your master: you want gold dragons? Fine. Come and trade your lives for them!"
The crippled messenger, nearly fainting from pain and terror-stricken by Leylo's words, scrambled to his feet. Using his remaining left hand and his stump, he fled Blackstone Town like a stray dog, leaving behind a trail of vivid blood and a stench that wouldn't dissipate.
The townspeople stared blankly at the blood, then at the composed Leylo. They felt a mix of relief that the bandit threat had been met with strength, and a lingering anxiety about the future. They hadn't expected their young new Lord to be so aggressive.
"Mayor Buck," Leylo turned to the silent old man. "What do you know about this Blood Wolf group?"
Old Buck shuddered, snapping out of his shock. He hunched his back, the wrinkles on his face deepening with worry. "My Lord... the Blood Wolf Mercenaries are old bandits who have occupied this area for years. They started as a wandering gang, but recently their power has expanded rapidly. They've swallowed many smaller groups and... it's even rumored they have noble backing."
"Noble backing?" Leylo's brow arched with amusement. "Which noble?"
Old Buck shook his head, his expression grave. "That... I am not sure. I've only heard traveling merchants whisper that they grow so fast because they always have channels to fence their looted goods. Furthermore, the neighboring Lords' efforts to suppress them are far weaker compared to other bandits. Add to that their leader, Karl 'The Blood Wolf'—he's said to be a ruthless and highly capable man with a horde of desperadoes under him, so..."
Leylo fell into thought. Bandits themselves weren't frightening; it was the hidden forces behind them. If they were just a rabble, he wouldn't care. But if nobles were truly involved, things would get complicated.
"My Lord, what... what should we do now?" Bolin asked with concern.
Leylo looked up, his voice calm but filled with convincing power: "Do what needs to be done. Resettle the refugees immediately and strengthen the town's defenses. As for the Blood Wolf..." He curled his lip into a cold smirk. "I already have a way to deal with them. Follow your orders. They want Blackstone's gold, but they don't realize I don't just want their money—I want their lives."
"Ed," Leylo spoke again, "from today on, you are personally responsible for the defense of Blackstone Town. Increase patrols and monitor the Blood Wolf's movements closely. Report any anomaly immediately."
"By your command, My Lord!" Ed's voice was resolute.
Leylo nodded and turned toward the Manor, leaving Ed to organize the knights and townspeople. Bolin continued with the refugees, and Old Buck did his best to soothe the citizens' nerves.
As the sun set, the sky turned a blood-red hue. The new wooden palisades cast long shadows like the fangs of a giant beast. Leylo stood alone by his window, watching the horizon. Moonlight leaped onto the sill and nudged his arm. These past few days, the "Minister of Rat-Catching" had done an excellent job, with over a hundred Sand Rats falling to its claws.