Chapter 64: Lives as Fragile as Grass

“Our next objective is soldier recruitment,” said Wu Qingsong.

This was one of the tasks they had pre-determined during their earlier discussions.

Initially, Wu Qingsong had thought about borrowing some personnel from Nina to serve as the backbone of his force. However, mindful of how this might fuel gossip, he changed his mind. On this issue, he was determined to leave no room for gossip.

Harold agreed, but his rationale was entirely different.

While wolfmen were exceptional fighters, they weren’t particularly effective soldiers.

In terms of individual combat prowess, wolfmen ranked among the top tiers of all beastfolk, excelling in strength, agility, and stamina. They were well-suited for roles like scouts, frontline soldiers, or adventurers. Yet, their intrinsic love for freedom was a significant hindrance when it came to strict obedience to commands.

Wolfmen struggled to form cohesive battle formations. Nina’s few elite wolfman warriors might be exceptions due to their ingrained sense of honor, commitment, and extensive training. However, the majority were lone wolves at heart, favoring personal fighting styles over lining up to meet their death.

Even Harold had been much the same in his youth. Although the overwhelming power of the elves had been the primary cause for the past disastrous defeat, the reality was that they were already on the brink of losing to the disciplined formations of the dogmen.

On the continent, the lionfolk, minotaurs, and dogfolk were widely considered to be the most disciplined soldiers. While there were races even more formidable, they were either too scarce in numbers or had been eradicated by the elves for being viewed as potential threats.

The lionfolk, minotaurs, and dogfolk had all earned high-standing positions as vassal races within the empire. The lionfolk, whose grand and majestic appearance resonated with elven aesthetics, were the go-to choice for ceremonial guards and personal bodyguards for elven nobility. In contrast, the minotaurs, valued for their loyalty, hardiness, and exceptional combat capabilities, formed the backbone of the empire’s standing army. The dogfolk, while also praised for their loyalty and obedience, did not align with elven tastes either aesthetically or in terms of martial prowess, relegating them mostly to the role of reserve forces across the empire’s territories.

Yet, the dogfolk’s remarkable fertility and diverse sub-species have made them among the most populous beastfolk within imperial borders. Reportedly, for every hundred beastfolk in the empire, five would be dogfolk. The peripheries of most major cities often harbored slums teeming with impoverished dogfolk, who lived on the brink of starvation while awaiting recruitment.

“Mastiffmen are the most combat-capable among the dogfolk, but they’re also the least loyal and obedient,” said Harold. “Many are inherently brutal and bloodthirsty, lacking any sense of military discipline. They generally only submit to those who are more powerful or hold a higher status than they do. Given our current resources and capabilities, subduing them is out of the question.”

Wu Qingsong cast a glance over his shoulder. Liuli’s abilities were currently shelved due to her petulant behavior following her transformation. Líng’s powers, however, had seen further improvement.

When activated now, her power materialized as a sphere about the size of a goose egg, with a flight speed that was nothing short of astonishing.

Encouraged by Wu Qingsong, Líng had learned how to make her mysterious substance hollow, allowing it to expand in size. The material was as resilient as steel, capable of transforming into various shapes, from spears and swords to a full set of intricately designed armor that could envelop her body. However, given that she weighed far less than Wu Qingsong, this feature was not as beneficial as one might think.

For Líng’s current training regimen, Wu Qingsong had taken to hurling small rocks at her, challenging her to defend herself by controlling a high-speed disc that orbited around her body. Stones thrown directly at her had ceased to be a problem. She could even manipulate the disc with such precision that it sliced larger rocks cleanly in half. Within a radius of three meters, her combat capabilities were virtually unmatched.

Yet, this extraordinary ability had a drawback. It couldn’t be displayed openly. Should word get out, it would undoubtedly draw undue attention. Wu Qingsong’s own combat abilities had greatly improved due to the enchanted ring he possessed.

However, this also posed a dilemma. He couldn’t just eliminate his underlings left and right to maintain discipline, could he? Such tactics would hardly build the loyal and combat-ready force he needed. At most, he’d end up leading a motley crew of rebels.

“I recommend you steer clear of recruiting mastiffmen and instead go for houndmen,” Harold suggested. “They may not be as strong in battle, but their obedience is greater. Mastiffmen, due to their formidable combat skills, often form the backbone of military and raiding forces. Consequently, life for other dogfolk sub-species is challenging, and they don’t have high expectations from a leader. With your current level of strength, you should be able to keep them in line.”

Harold’s comment had his typical, unvarnished frankness, like an abrupt splash of cold water. Yet, Wu Qingsong had become accustomed to it. Forgoing the mastiffmen settlements near Riniconia as potential recruitment grounds, they instead set their sights on more remote, mountainous areas.

As they journeyed, they were flanked by expansive fields and irrigation canals. Occasionally, they saw towering windmills designed for water extraction. What caught Wu Qingsong’s attention, however, were the local villagers–diminutive, emaciated figures who labored in the fields, resembling little more than walking corpses. The sight left him feeling somber.

He couldn’t imagine how such a society could sustain itself long-term, if not for the elves’ staggering martial prowess. 

“Are the elves not worried about a revolt?” Wu Qingsong found himself asking. “Why not offer these people a better life?”

“A revolt?” Harold let out a disdainful chuckle. “They’d welcome one with open arms. It would offer them a legitimate reason to cull what they consider an excessive population and confiscate their wealth. Look at these beastkin. The sheepfolk, rabbitfolk, and mousefolk, they lack any semblance of a rebellious spirit, which is precisely why they’re allowed to inhabit these fertile plains and serve as the primary labor force. Annually, during times of scarcity, their villages see numerous elders and children die from starvation. But even if someone were to rally them, to arm them, they still couldn’t change into soldiers. These beastfolk would rather perish from hunger than offer resistance. They’re born to be slaves and are undeserving of compassion.”

The notion of such inherent servility among the beastfolk was utterly incomprehensible to Wu Qingsong, but Harold seemed manifestly indifferent to their plight.

“They reproduce too fast, too much,” he simply remarked.

While advancing along the road, they were suddenly greeted by a drifting cloud of smoke, punctuated by harrowing screams and desperate cries. Both Wu Qingsong and Harold went instantly on alert. Just as they prepared to take a detour, a squad of canine soldiers burst forth, encircling them.

“Identify yourselves,” the squad leader, an intimidating mastiffman, demanded with a menacing glare.

“We are part of Riniconia’s Mercenary Group, dispatched to Bota on official orders,” Harold responded, maintaining an authoritative demeanor without betraying a flicker of apprehension.

“Bota?” The mastiffman scanned their motley crew–a half-elf, an elderly wolfman, and two young beastwomen–and seemingly decided they weren’t worth the effort. With a dismissive gesture, he signaled for his troops to let them pass.

Harold discreetly motioned for Wu Qingsong to follow. It was only then that they noticed a nearby village ablaze, with mastiffman soldiers scouring homes and seizing valuables. Rabbitfolk were being unceremoniously hauled into the open and strung together with long ropes, appearing no different from livestock.

“What on Earth are they doing?” Wu Qingsong was utterly shocked.

These men were supposed to be local guards, yet they were…

“Most likely the local lord is once again reluctant to part with his own coin to pay his troops,” Harold said. “Don’t bother with it. We need to leave. Now.”