Berserk, Total War: Second Son of Nobles

The cold wind carried fine snow particles that hit the wooden door of the Chamber of Commerce warehouse, making a teeth-grinding creaking sound.

Griffith thrust the dagger into the loose bolt. The sound of metal rubbing was particularly harsh in the silent alley.

"Back off."

He signaled in a deep voice, and Gorkas and others immediately shrank into the shadow of the corner to prevent a sneak attack from the people inside.

As the rusty door hinges groaned harshly, the warehouse door slowly opened, and the smell of mold and dust hit me in the face.

"These businessmen are good at hiding."

Jiedu kicked open the oak cabinet that was blocking his way, revealing a cash box hidden in the wall.

Bibin had already swung the axe to split the iron lock, and the sound of copper coins rolling down echoed in the empty warehouse.

Gorkas threw himself into the pile of money, groping among the piles of coins with his greedy fingers, and shouted excitedly while putting money into his bag:

"Finally, I've made a fortune!"

Griffith frowned and kicked away several bags of coins:

"Stop when you have twenty bags filled."

He grabbed the scattered copper coins and threw them into the air. The inferior metallic luster in the sunlight hurt his eyes.

"Remember to find some coins with better colors."

Bibin scratched his head in confusion: "Why do you have to do this?"

Griffith replied:

"If a mercenary group comes in to rob us, we can run away immediately. Some cities don't recognize low-quality currency. If it's good quality, we can buy things through some regular chambers of commerce."

Just as everyone was busy packing the coins, a shout came from the street:

"Murder! Black Watch is killing people in the streets!"

The hoarse shouting was like a sharp knife cutting through the thick air, followed by the sound of chaotic footsteps, as if everyone on the street was desperately trying to escape.

Jiedu crouched down and moved closer to the crack in the wall, his pupils suddenly contracted:

"A lot of people are running outside...Oh no, those Black Watch people are coming here."

Griffith made a prompt decision:

"Go out the back door!"

He dragged everyone into a narrower fork in the road. The foul-smelling sewage reached their ankles, and the sticky touch made them feel sick.

After turning three corners, several swaying black shadows suddenly appeared in front of them - several members of the mercenary team were clinging to the wall and looking around. One of them saw Griffith and others and rushed over as if he was grabbing a life-saving straw.

"There are people from Black Watch ahead!"

The mercenary's voice trembled, his forehead pressed against the damp brick wall.

"We were standing guard when we heard screams. We turned around and saw two mercenaries pierced through the heart by crossbow arrows... They killed without blinking an eye, even finishing off the wounded!"

Griffith stared at his bloody cuffs:

"how many people?"

The mercenary's teeth chattered:

"At least... at least a hundred-man team! They are fully armed in black armor, chasing people around in the alleys like butchers!"

Griffith squatted down, dipped his fingertips in some dirty water, and quickly drew a schematic diagram of the alley on the mud:

"I've been to Blackwatch's training grounds for a few years. It looks like Blackwatch is carrying out a security contract. Now that so many mercenaries have run into the alley, they will definitely clear it out alley by alley soon."

"Are they going to kill all the mercenaries except themselves?"

"According to the reputation of the Black Watch Mercenaries, they will complete their employer's tasks to the utmost. It is estimated that Count Rona did not want to pay the balance, so he asked Black Watch to clean up the mercenaries for him."

He looked up and glanced at everyone:

"If you want to live, just do as I say..."

Griffith was huddled in the hay when the Blackwatch soldiers kicked open the first wooden door.

The Blackwatch soldiers blocked all the entrances and exits of the city's alleys as if they were facing a powerful enemy.

There were at least two soldiers standing at each entrance and exit, holding their spears tightly in both hands with the tips of the spears pointing downwards, looking around vigilantly, like a group of dormant cheetahs, ready to pounce on their prey at any time.

Afterwards, the soldiers began to enter the alley in an orderly manner. They formed groups of five and fanned out to search every nook and cranny in the alley.

The heavy footsteps echoed in the narrow alleys, as if the footsteps of death were approaching.

Their eyes were as sharp as torches, scanning every place where people might be hiding, not missing any clues.

"Search carefully!"

The leading sergeant shouted sternly.

"Don't miss any corner!"

"Swish..."

A slight sound came from the haystack nearby.

"Who is there!"

A Black Watch mercenary immediately shouted in alertness, slightly raised the spear in his hand, and pointed the tip of the spear directly at the haystack.

Hearing the shout, several other soldiers quickly gathered around and surrounded the haystack.

Their eyes were full of vigilance and murderous intent, as if they were ready to kill the enemies hiding within at any time.

"Don't kill us!"

A trembling voice came from the haystack.

Then, several ragged and dirty people came out from inside, their hair was disheveled and hung on their faces, and their clothes were tattered and covered with dust and stains.

The leader trembled and said:

"Mercenary uncle... We are just a few beggars. I hid here when the city was besieged. Please let us go. We are just children begging for food."

"Well...show me your face!"

A Blackwatch mercenary said with a frown, his eyes full of suspicion, the spear in his hand still pointed at the person in the haystack.

Several people immediately took off their hoods, revealing their dusty faces. Their faces were dirty and their original features could not be seen clearly. Only their eyes were flashing with fear under the dust.

But the mercenaries looked at it for a while and said:

"You are all children?"

"Yes, the oldest here is only about ten years old."

The leading beggar spoke hurriedly, with a hint of pleading in his voice.

"Are they only ten years old?"

A mercenary pointed at two of them. The first one was as burly as an adult, while the other one was short but had a weathered face.

“That’s what they look like.”

A mercenary stepped forward and touched their chins. Only after finding that their chins were smooth and without stubble did he confirm that they were indeed children.

"Stay here and don't run around outside. Go out on the street tomorrow."

After that, several mercenaries walked deeper into the cave. Their footsteps gradually faded away, and the footsteps of the god of death temporarily left the area.

Griffith's blue eyes were fixed on their departing backs, full of vigilance and tension. He hid in the dark, his body pressed against the wall, and his breathing became particularly light, as if he was afraid of being discovered by the soldiers.

Only after the mercenaries disappeared around the corner of the alley did Griffith breathe a sigh of relief.

He knew that the Black Watch Mercenaries had strict discipline and that, except for armed members, the Black Watch Mercenaries generally did not kill unarmed people, the elderly, children, women and children.

This was the rule he had learned in Blackwatch, and it was now his only hope of survival.

So he split the entire mercenary team into several groups, disguised them as beggars and stood guard in various alleys.

They carefully hid the stolen weapons in the alley, waiting for the moment when the black guards withdrew.

The next day, as the morning light penetrated the mist and shone into the alley, Griffith and others emerged from the haystack, with the grass debris from last night still hanging on the ends of their hair.

Gorkas stretched his aching waist and put on the leather armor with a rustling sound:

"After one night's sleep, I felt like my whole body was falling apart."

Jie Du was wrapping strips of cloth around his torn cuffs and grinned when he heard this:

"Better than being shot through by a Blackwatch crossbow."

When Griffith walked towards the city gate after gathering all the mercenaries, the entire street was already crowded with people who came to see him off.

The women stuffed bread into the hands of the Blackwatch soldiers, and the children gathered around the Blackwatch soldiers who were standing guard and pointed at them.

On the stone platform in the center of the square, Count Rona was surrounded by his soldiers.

The family emblem on his chest gleamed in the sun, and Count Rona waved his ruby-encrusted scepter and shouted:

"From now on, all the harsh taxes and levies issued by Yoda will be abolished! The whole city will be tax-free this month!"

Cheers instantly flooded the entire square, and Griffith and his group blended into the cheering crowd and moved towards the city gate.

Gorkas touched the purse in his arms and cursed softly:

"This son of a bitch count didn't pay the final payment and wanted to kill the creditor, but he was generous with the tax exemption."

Jie Du replied: "I guess he will collect a lot of taxes in the future. I have seen many nobles who exempt taxes today and collect double taxes the next day. Who cares? The best thing to do is to leave the city while the chaos is going on."

"Let's go."

Griffith said in a deep voice. His voice was low and firm, as if he was trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart.

He took one last look at the Black Watch mercenaries on the streets of Rona, and at the same time, he clenched the purse in his arms, the cold metal against his skin.

“These are far from enough.”