The prisoners shouted and struggled, then one staggered and they all fell sideways at once. Since they were connected at the neck, it was very hard to maintain balance. If they'd been tied at the waist, they could've maintained balance with strength, but not with their necks.
It was the terror of the mercenaries' binding method. Even if they tried to run, if they didn't match their steps, they'd immediately lose balance. And only the mercenaries doing the binding knew this.
"Agh!"
The chief got angry at those who'd fallen.
"Shut up! Who do you think you are to beg to be saved! You've been spreading shit inside the village, so you think you can spread it outside too? You foolish brats!"
The chief turned away. The youth association men with him swallowed hard.
'Do we really have to go?'
The chief hit the standing men's legs with his cane.
"What are you doing? Get back to the village. Tell the families to take out loans and bring them back or whatever."
