Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

A slight noise sharpened her eyes, and a cruel and vicious will began to awaken within her—it was the sound of someone trying to approach, but they seemed unskilled on the hard floor, so she still noticed the subtle sound.

Most of the southern cities had just been conquered, and resistance fighters were frequently seen. It wasn't impossible that someone might spot an imperial officer alone and prepare to give him a severe beating. But she would make these people realize just how wrong they were... paying their dues with broken limbs, swollen cheeks, and shattered teeth!

She was prepared; as the opponent lunged, her elbow would strike their most vulnerable side rib, breaking and caved in, then snapping their arm and shattering their teeth…

A cold wind blew from behind, followed by two strong arms that clamped down like iron pincers, and the speed was astonishing. It was so fast that even the air between their hands could hardly escape. It was as deadly as the embrace of a strong brown bear, and bones would be crushed and flesh twisted in that instant!

Completely unprepared for the strength of the man behind him, Colin abandoned his previous plan and, without hesitation, drew his sword and viciously stabbed backward—a blow that would undoubtedly pierce the enemy's chest, and no matter how strong he was, he would convulse and fall to the ground under such a heavy impact.

This was a move aimed entirely at killing... After all, she didn't dare gamble on the consequences of showing mercy; her opponent was clearly no pushover. But unexpectedly, the sword failed to penetrate; her outstretched wrist was precisely caught, and those familiar, rough hands, with their powerful yet gentle force, caused the sharp blade to graz her clothes.

"This girl, you almost killed her, is this how you treat your old man?"

Colin froze for a moment, then without hesitation, he stomped hard on the animal-hide boots. Amidst the other's gasp and scream of pain, he angrily exclaimed:

"Salatag, what's wrong with you now, you old bastard?! I almost killed you just now!!"

The embarrassed middle-aged man finally stopped squatting down and rubbing his toes. He scratched his head and opened his mouth several times, but in the end, he didn't say anything... Could it be that he did it on a whim again? He would be scolded to death if he did that.

Colin knew what kind of person his father was, so he didn't pursue the matter too much, but he still showed a curious expression at the end:

"Dad, what are you doing here? This is the south! There's still fighting nearby, how did you manage to sneak in here?"

Saratag gave a smug smile:

“Who do you think I am? I’m your father. Do you think I’d be scared by something like this? It’s just that you’ve been fighting for so long, and I was a little worried… Although I brought everything over with you, I was still uneasy, so I hitched a ride with you.”

"This area is blocked off, except for supply convoys... Could it be that you went into one of the convoys?"

"Yes, I found a job there. They provide food and drink and even pay me. It's much easier than before. I've left the village affairs to those old guys..."

At this point, the weathered-looking middle-aged man suddenly paused, cautiously glancing up at his daughter:

"And I really missed you, so I decided to come and see you."

Colin's nose suddenly stung with tears, and he immediately turned his head away so the man in front of him wouldn't see it. His voice was somewhat muffled as he said:

"Let's go then, I'll take you to get something to eat... It's not easy to get into the military camp, but there are many good places to eat here."

--------

Chicken broth, topped with a layer of pale yellow oil, was boiling, along with tender taro and seasoned parsley. Lamb, lightly pan-fried in oil and mixed with chopped onions, was sandwiched between two halves of toasted bread, the crust still slightly charred.

Saratag ate with remarkably carefree abandon, one in each hand, and each bite taking a chunk out of the two large loaves of bread filled with mutton. In the blink of an eye, they were completely devoured. Afterward, he picked up a bowl of chicken soup and gulped it down to soothe his throat before picking up a third loaf to eat, carelessly wiping the grease from his hands onto his animal-skin trousers.

Colin, on the other hand, was much more restrained, eating more slowly and leisurely, but he still felt somewhat helpless watching his father eat like a starving ghost.

"Dad, you look like you're starving. Surely our family isn't that poor?"

"No, that's not it. When I was at home, I ate plenty of meat, not to mention what I hunted nearby, I could also buy cheap meat at the nearby market. But I did suffer a bit along the way."

"They provided us with plenty of food, but it wasn't very oily, so we were really looking forward to a proper meal. I didn't expect to find you here. It's quite a coincidence."

"We just finished a battle, and it's our turn to take a vacation."

Saratag ate another meat sandwich, then used his spoon to scoop the chicken that had sunk to the bottom of the bowl into his mouth. He didn't even leave behind the condiments and taro, slurping and eating with great gusto. Although his eating manners were rough, they were strangely appealing. It was a way of eating that could easily whet the appetite of others. He didn't think about anything else, but simply enjoyed the taste of the food and the feeling of fullness.

"You're definitely not full yet, hey girl, bring us another set of the same... but no alcohol, we can't drink too much."

Surprisingly, there were no other mountain people in the tavern, as if they had all avoided the place. Only Saratag was drinking and eating without restraint, quickly finishing off the newly served bread and broth before letting out a satisfied burp and stopping.

"Hiccup! Speaking of which, I saw that kid Kochkin on my way here. He was dressed up like a proper gentleman, and his boots were so polished they were practically reflective. I guess it was because of that pointy-eared little girl next to him... Tsk tsk tsk, I never thought that rascal who used to steal things everywhere would end up like this. I bet he'll be having a baby soon..."

Colin rolled his eyes expressionlessly:

"Dad, just say what you want to say directly. Why beat around the bush like this?"

Saratag slapped his thigh:

"I'll just say it outright, what's all the beating around the bush? When are you going to find a good young man? You're already an old maid."

Colin didn't even look up before attacking the chicken in the bowl with his three-foot fork:

"There's no time for that now, so don't make things worse. We're in the middle of a war, and I'm just taking a break from work... Anyway, we'll talk about it later."

These words were quite perfunctory, almost as if the words "I don't want to communicate" were written all over his face. But as a father who had watched his daughter grow up, Saratag keenly sensed a peculiar meaning, a strong intuition, a firm judgment, and a feeling that made his heart sink, but at the same time, he felt a sense of relief.

After a moment's hesitation, this burly middle-aged man adopted a cautious posture, and after a long pause, he tentatively asked:

"Have you already found a young man you like? Who is it? Could it be General Tersolius?"

With a snap, the fork in the girl's hand broke in half, and wood chips fell into the meat.

323 Saratag (2)

In some situations, distinctive actions can also be powerful answers, even more direct and sharp than language, allowing the questioner to instantly realize the answer to the question.

"...You little rascal, you really have wild ideas."

Saratag looked wistful, but beneath the surface lay a strange sense of pride. It was like watching his own child hunt lions, marveling at the child's growth.

Colin's face was flushed red; he couldn't argue, nor could he admit it. He froze like a statue, though his posture suggested an urge to smash a bowl on the table into the man's face.

"As expected of my daughter, you have ambition! But if that's your mindset, then there's nothing I can do to help you."

This recaptured Colin's attention, and Saratag continued:

"If that Tersolius weren't such a high-ranking and powerful figure, I'd take two men and knock him down from behind with a club, then tie him up and bring him back... and then we'd make it a fait accompli!"

Before she could finish her sentence, Colin pounced on her father's face like a tiger, grabbing his beard and pulling it up forcefully to shut his outspoken mouth.

"You old bastard, you're still so outspoken! Have you any common sense? I don't even feel safe leaving you out here anymore. I'll find an excuse to send you back tomorrow!"

"Okay! Alright... I understand... Open!"

After a brief period of playful fighting, Saratag finally broke free and calmed down a bit, but after rubbing his beard, which had been pulled so hard, he still couldn't let go of the previous topic:

"I'm serious, girl, you're really ambitious! What's there to be afraid of saying? Just like men want to find beautiful women, women definitely want to find capable men! Anyway, I've never seen anyone more outstanding than him, and on this point, I absolutely support you!"

“If this were anywhere else, I might advise you to be a little more realistic… but don’t forget you’re in the Empire’s army. Here, I believe in you, my daughter. With your abilities, you’re sure to become a general! What’s there to be afraid of?!”

Colin, however, was no longer angry. Perhaps it was a case of "what's the use of trying" or "I'm done with this," and he no longer bothered to hide it... He lowered his head and mumbled:

"But there are still many people who like him... me..."

Saratag had lost his earlier playful demeanor and became serious. This middle-aged man with a weathered face usually acted like a wild child, but only when he was truly serious did others realize the tenacity and strength he possessed... something unique to this mountain people, something honed in the struggles with tigers, leopards, bears, and wolves.

So you're scared?

Colin abruptly raised his head, his eyebrows twitching.

"There's no such thing as being afraid..."

“You’re just scared, you can’t muster the courage… you feel like you can’t do it anymore, you can’t fool me.”

"Just like those guys who get scared out of their wits by a bear on their first hunting trip, you think you're not good enough before you even start!"

The man's voice suddenly grew louder, attracting the attention of many people around. Colin realized he couldn't stay there any longer, so he hurriedly threw down a few copper coins, grabbed his father, and rushed out the door, leaving behind the other guests who were puzzled and curious.

........................

When the conversation is interrupted and you want to continue, it always creates a strange awkwardness, leaving you unsure where to begin, even if you have a lot to say, there's something subtly awkward about it...

The two of them are currently in this state, but fortunately, neither Colin nor her father are people who care too much, and they quickly adjusted their state.

"Alright, Dad, stop messing around. You have no idea what's going on."

"If you don't tell me, of course I won't know! What exactly happened? Just tell me clearly, and that'll be enough."

In the damp alley, the two continued their argument, while Saratag displayed an unusual stubbornness, insisting that his daughter explain her pathetic state.

"If you don't like that man, I won't say anything more... but you clearly like him, so why are you acting so timid?"

“You don’t understand… that person is simply too dazzling. Even the warriors of our mythology could not have done what he did… how could I…”

"Oh, I see."

The man suddenly nodded with a knowing look on his face.

"I understand... What do you mean by 'there are other people'?"

..............................

Colin felt his anger rising... and the strange expression on the man's face was the perfect fuel—an expression that said, "I understand the whole situation, but for now, I'm truly powerless to do anything about it."

"Well, there's nothing I can do about it. I thought you were just shy, but I didn't expect... This is just how it is. Just pretend I didn't say anything today, and that your old man was talking nonsense again and made you angry. Alright, I have to rush back to work later. Don't forget to write to me when you have time."

"...Your attempt to provoke me is terrible. Besides, you can't even read. What's the point of writing you a letter? It'll just be a waste of paper."

"Ha, I can't read myself, but can't I ask someone else to read to me? There are plenty of ways, it just depends on whether you want to or not. Use your brain more. Who goes head-to-head with a bear when hunting? Don't you use a strong bow and spear to deal with it? Don't you use traps to restrict its movement?"

"Of course, if we really can't win, we have to prepare an escape route for ourselves... Alright, alright, I won't say any more to you, if we delay any longer we really won't make it in time."

Just like when he arrived, the man turned and left in a hurry, without even looking back, without the slightest hesitation. Even his messy hair seemed to soften somewhat under the cold wind.

Colin stood there blankly for a long time, and suddenly realized that, for some reason, her mood had improved considerably. If the morning was a gloomy, rainy day with overcast skies, now at least it was a sunny shower...

A strange warmth and ease, like drying rain-soaked clothes in the sun.

----------

"As expected... although the difference is significant, the direction is correct."

This was a rare period of rest. Although the soldiers of the empire were eager to make a name for themselves, they were not machines and needed to relax. So, after eliminating a key node, the soldiers under Tersolius's command were given time to rest—of course, this time would not be long.

The empire's henchmen are unparalleled in the world; their omnipresence and ruthless cruelty are enough to make any imperial governor restrain himself and be cautious, and to make any king of another country worry.

Even before the war began, the Empire's spies were already spread throughout the south. They traveled between cities, using various identities to gather intelligence and information, and relaying the information back through various means. In a sense, they were the Empire's eyes on this land, gathering intelligence on other enemies and adversaries for this powerful nation.

But no matter how resourceful they are, it still takes time to investigate some secret matters. Due to limitations in the channels and speed of information exchange, it will take a considerable amount of time to get the information to him.

Fortunately, these hidden elites once again proved their excellence and reliability—after multiple verifications, it can be confirmed that the captured Asel commander has an extraordinary and noble status, and if traced back further, it can even be linked to the bloodline of the Asel Supreme.

This made him keenly aware of something again... Soon, under his will, more information began to converge on this place... He believed that he had found a rather interesting clue.

324 Offensive

The radish was cut into small pieces and thrown into the soup to simmer with the mutton. The aroma that wafted out was a light meaty fragrance. The chopped celery and scallions helped to remove the gamey smell, and the egg-white broth was bubbling in the earthenware pot.

This isn't something that will stimulate your taste buds, but you can still taste its deliciousness and it brings a deep sense of fullness. Especially in this still cold season, the warmth it contains is indispensable.

The wines produced in the Imperial Estates have an exceptionally rich flavor due to the abundant sunshine and the fact that they are grown on flat, barren land. They are the best-selling products across the entire continent. In this kind of weather, they need to be slightly heated to prevent them from spoiling the palate.

The fish, pan-fried until crispy on both sides, exudes a unique sweet and savory aroma, and is sprinkled with chopped thyme and parsley.

Finally, there's the turmeric-colored bread with a soft, fluffy interior, fresh out of the oven and still warm—perfect for eating right now.

This is the perfect food for this kind of weather, effectively replenishing energy and calories, and it also reflects the cook's meticulous care.

Tarina packed the food in a three-layered mahogany box. The box was lined with thick layers for insulation, which kept it warm for a long time, even in the cold wind. The design was ingenious, and the handles were even secured and rotated with special buckles and knobs.

The wind howled here, making it unsuitable for a long stay, but a fluffy scarf kept the cold wind at bay. Combined with her thick, quilted clothes and a straw hat made of winter fox fur, she looked all soft and cozy.

This food wasn't prepared for Tarina herself; she had already eaten it before it arrived. Normally, the food would be shared between the two of them after it was cooked, but today she had to walk a few extra steps to deliver it to the river.

The rivers in the south are always calm, with numerous tributaries, and are filled with canals, streams and gullies of all sizes. The banks are covered with lush vegetation and teem with life. Even in the cold winter, you can see many creatures like rabbits darting around in the grass.

A figure draped in a white lion cloak stood by the river, holding a slender wooden pole coated with tung oil. He stared intently at the rippling water in the distance, seemingly focused on the slightest movement.

The surrounding riverbanks were not peaceful either. Armored guards with halberds stood silently around, their armor covered with lion pelts—a symbol of their experience of betrayal, following their commander to slay the ferocious lion, defeating powerful enemies, and being forged and tempered by the flames of war where flesh and steel were forged together… In a sense, they were the empire’s most elite soldiers.

Tarina tried to lighten her steps. But Tersolius, who seemed completely focused, still keenly sensed her approach. Although his guards didn't make a single move, he turned around precisely, as if he had eyes in the back of his head.

This gave Tarina a subtle sense of frustration—Tesolius had offered to send her two guards for protection, but she believed that she was already safe enough as a member of the army, so she refused the offer… She had just thought that without the sound of armor plates scraping against each other, she could get closer.

Thesolius didn't speak, but just smiled and waved to her, his left hand still gripping the fishing rod, waiting for a fish to bite. The amount of fish caught in the wicker basket at his feet was unclear.

Just as Tarina approached, the fishing rod finally bent, and ripples spread across the water—something unimaginable in the north, but in this land near the Sea of ​​Us, even when it snows, it's only a light snowfall, and the water never freezes over, allowing the fish to swim freely in the warm water.

The flexible and elastic fishing rod can automatically absorb the force of the fish's struggle and prevent it from breaking. The fishing line made of the best bowstring material in the south is even more tough. No matter how much the prey struggles, it will not break easily. It can only gradually exhaust the fish's strength, and eventually it will not be able to swim anymore and will be pulled ashore.

In the pale blue river water, a large fish with blue back scales struggled. Its body was round and stout, with densely packed scales the size of a fingernail. The end of its tail had a strange shape, like an unfolded maple leaf with several short, blunt points. Its wide mouth opened and closed, and a sharp fishhook had already pierced through it, making it difficult to escape.

Talina took two steps back in unison, waiting for Tersolius to pull the fish ashore, while carefully avoiding splashing water from the fish that would wet her clothes and the food box in her hands.

The fish's strength in the water was truly astonishing; the fishing rod bent to its limit several times, but Tersolius skillfully maneuvered it without breaking it. He pulled the large fish to the shore and was about to reach for it when he heard Talina exclaim in surprise:

"Sir, the tip of the fishing rod is about to break!"

The crisp sound of breaking wood followed the initial noise; a moment of lapse in concentration just as the catch was about to be made gave the big fish its chance. With its last burst of strength, it leaped upwards, its powerful body tracing an arc through the air before crashing heavily into the center of the river!

“Cen!!”

The cold glint of the blade caught up with it, and the sharp sword pierced through the fish's gills without any hindrance, emerging from the other side and hooking the large fish onto the sword. Then, with a swift upward flick, the arc extended in the opposite direction, sending it flying towards the grass.