Chapter 108: The Calm After the Storm

The unknown is often the root of fear. Witnessing the giant bearmen, each substantially larger than Ling and even dwarfing Harold, collapse so effortlessly, More’s mind was thrown into turmoil.

Was this the legendary top-tier assassin?

The thought of being the target instead of the bumbling bear guards made More’s skin crawl, his fancy silk robe feeling oppressively heavy.

“Mr. Harold…”

“I hope this won’t inconvenience you,” Harold remarked. “Manager Benstem’s remains have been secured at the Elmons Mine. If you could honor us by retrieving his body and meeting with Lord Tagraedi at Elmons, I’m sure it would please the Lord greatly, and your efforts would not be in vain. Now, I must take my leave.”

More watched them exit, acutely aware he should be shouting for the guild’s enforcers to apprehend them. However, as the seemingly fragile girl glanced back, More found himself immobilized, like a mouse under a cat’s gaze, his instinct to resist completely fading away.

“My Lord, are we going to let them leave just like that?”

A guild officer entered, only to be confronted with More’s rigid stance and the corpses on the floor, prompting a scream of shock.

Bearman guards charged in, their roars echoing as they prepared to chase after Harold and Ling.

“Back off, all of you useless ones!” 

More finally snapped back to his senses. Now, he was acting brave, but if he had relied on them, he would already be a corpse.

Such defiance was indeed hard to stomach, but from another perspective, if the Thirteenth Mercenary Group truly had such formidable strength, then the benefits of collaborating with them would be substantial and more assured.

More’s greater concern, however, was their boldness in killing Benstem and committing murder right in his office. What else wouldn’t they dare do?

What gave them such audacity?

Recalling previous rumors, Tagraedi had publicly rejected the invitation of the son of the Fentali family, embarrassing him without any repercussions. In fact, Marquis Osaga had allocated the best part of the Esola Hills to him.

What had Harold said?

That our two groups should essentially be considered one?

“Prepare a carriage! No, two carriages!” 

He noticed the blood-soaked carpet under his feet and hastily retreated, “Get a gift ready, we’re leaving immediately!”

***

“This is…” 

Despite Wu Qingsong’s repeated warnings, Ram still found the scene overwhelmingly uncomfortable. Though she wasn’t about to vomit, her race’s inherent need for cleanliness obstinately surged, making her feel as if she were swarmed by innumerable insects, an utterly unbearable sensation.

Many bodies had been gnawed to pieces by crows and other carrion-eaters, leaving only a few sun-dried fragments, yet she could still sense the terror induced by the intense visual impact.

“I lost my temper back then,” Wu Qingsong admitted. “However, it proved effective, so we had to proceed in the same vein. Thankfully, it was only necessary at the start. There’s nothing of that sort later on.”

‘The Hangman’ Tagraedi was his new alias, though few dared to use it in the presence of the Thirteenth Mercenary Group.

The situation validated that, akin to in games, when one’s own power is feeble, the positive impact of virtuous behavior on one’s allies is substantially less than the deterrent effect of brutality on adversaries.

Smaller mercenary groups cautiously steered clear of this region, preferring detours to other areas. Meanwhile, nearby mercenary groups, whether or not they were involved in the assault, all adopted a more conservative approach. They even sent envoys to declare their positions, asserting complete unawareness of the incident, denouncing the acts of the now-defeated mercenary groups, and expressing a fervent wish for his leadership.

The scouts who were usually seen gathering intelligence had disappeared as well, at least within the patrol teams’ operational domain of the Ermont Mines.

Even the merchant guilds altered their approach. With the Osaga Merchant Guild changing its stance, most guilds subtly shifted their policies regarding the Thirteenth Mercenary Group. The situation where money couldn’t buy anything completely vanished, and some even sought to establish inns, taverns, and shops in Elmons, offering fair terms.

“I’ve realized,” Wu Qingsong remarked to Ram, “these people are all servile. If you don’t bare your fangs, everyone thinks you’re weak and everyone tries to take a bite. But once they see you’re formidable, everything suddenly becomes easier.”

Ram shook her head in response. 

“But this can’t be the new normal, right? With so many gone so suddenly, what’s your plan?”

The overall population in their territory had indeed increased substantially, but these beastmen were only fit for labor, not as soldiers. In Ram and Harold’s eyes, they couldn’t be counted as effective manpower.

Undoubtedly, Wu Qingsong’s forceful tactics had intimidated everyone for now, but beastmen were naturally curious and skeptical. Such a deterrent effect couldn’t last indefinitely. Wu Qingsong couldn’t constantly showcase his true strength. If they failed to swiftly recover the power lost in the recent conflict, these people might recklessly return. Yet, if they continued to exhibit their might, perhaps for a considerable time, no one would dare cross the Thirteenth Mercenary Group again.

The most straightforward method was to borrow manpower from the Silver Moon Wolf Clan. With Wu Qingsong’s offered wages, Ram could easily hire two to three hundred wolfmen warriors.

However, this carried significant risks. Countless eyes were likely watching Wu Qingsong, and these wolfmen warriors could inadvertently reveal his ties to the Silver Moon Wolf Clan, potentially undoing all their hard work.

“I’ve already discreetly sent Angus and Beck to nearby cities to recruit houndmen,” Wu Qingsong explained. “If things go smoothly, we should be able to replenish our ranks within a month. Once they’re armored, it should be hard for outsiders to notice any difference. With about three to six months of training, we can quickly regain our combat strength.”

“But what about their loyalty?” Ram asked.

“I’m confident about that,” Wu Qingsong replied with a smile.

He was convinced that his approach was unparalleled on the continent. The houndmen wouldn’t find a better quality of life, more respect, or brighter prospects anywhere else. Considering the nature of the houndmen race, it wouldn’t take long for him to secure their loyalty.

He had to concede that compared to royals like Nina, he faced innate disadvantages. Every one of his followers needed to be persuaded and their loyalty secured through such means. Meanwhile, Nina could simply rally under the banner of the Silver Moon Wolf Clan and, especially within the central Tecks Mountains, swiftly assemble a force of thousands.

At that moment, their caravan had finally left the ominous “Road of Death” behind, lifting Ram’s spirits a bit.

Around the ruins of Orgrimmar, rabbitfolk scoured for salvageable items, while on a nearby eastern hill, construction of a new wooden city had commenced. This time, without Feya’s powers, they reverted to traditional building methods, erecting gin poles and tall wooden cranes. The rabbitfolk, recent additions to the territory, worked apprehensively.

“In about two months, we should be able to restore everything,” Wu Qingsong tried to maintain an upbeat demeanor in front of Ram, but a faint sigh escaped him nonetheless.