Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

"As you can see, my lord, I was once a slave."

Between the man's shoulders was a circular mark, formed by swollen, raised skin, devoid of any body hair, with an eerie smoothness.

Tersolius narrowed his eyes slightly—he recognized the mark, the mark of the Arswick family, the family of Aristotle Arswick.

But the man's story was not yet over.

“I took over our family’s cattle farm from my father when I was 12 years old. He died in an attack by a group of bandits when I was 12… At that time, the cattle we raised were the best in the entire central province. Customers from all over the country would come to us to buy cattle.”

“At the time, I thought I would become a wealthy citizen like my father. I learned everything he taught me and did everything well. Our cattle were healthy and strong.”

"Just when everything was going smoothly, a big deal came my way—a merchant from afar was willing to pay a large sum of money to buy dozens of the strongest oxen. At the time, I was blinded by greed and was determined to make the deal."

“I didn’t have nearly that many cattle that met the requirements, but I knew some villages had excellent cattle. If I could buy these cattle and resell them to this merchant, I could make a lot of money… But at the time, I didn’t have enough money. The young man, blinded by greed, borrowed a sum of money and thought he could pay back the principal and interest immediately after making the deal.”

The man gave a bitter laugh, his muscles as stiff as stone.

"You can probably guess what happened next... After I borrowed the money, the merchant disappeared without a trace. I was so stupid that I didn't ask for a deposit beforehand. No one bought the strong oxen I bought, and I had already spent all my money."

"Not long after, my debts completely dragged me down... Our family's cattle farm, which had been run for generations, was also taken away, but it was still not enough to pay off the debts, so the shackles of slavery were naturally put around my neck."

His expression became contorted:

“You can’t imagine what I went through—all the other slaves I knew died before me, and I was the only one who survived… I will never forget the suffering of those days.”

"Later, I finally got some good luck. Although there were some ups and downs, I became a free man again, which is more important than anything else."

“It took me a full 10 years, starting as a laborer in the mines, to finally own a cattle ranch again… This is what I’m good at. My father taught me how to do this job, and I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished. I’m even thinking about getting married…”

"But at that moment!" The man's teeth ground together, the muscles in his cheeks contorting into a ferocious expression, like a lion.

"Just then, they found me again! They said I would always be their slave and had to serve them! To carry out a mission that would surely lead to my utter destruction!"

"Just when I finally had everything that belonged to me, they came after me like a persistent, vengeful wolf! They told me I had to abandon everything!"

"...That is why, my lord, I have made this decision—I wish to request your protection, and I will prove my worth."

The man pressed his head deeply into the floor, exposing his vulnerable neck and back; even a child could easily kill him.

Despite his hair being soaked with cold sweat, he didn't even raise his head, waiting for his verdict.

Tersolius slowly stood up. The chair covered with white lion skin made a slight creaking sound. His sturdy scale armor reflected the flickering torchlight, and his iron boots, made of large copper-plated iron plates, made his heart skip a beat with every step.

Even as the iron boots stood before him, the man, knowing he had no other choice, did not raise his head, awaiting the impending sword or pardon.

But the cold blade ultimately failed to cut through his neck.

"Stand up. You are a soldier in the second battalion. You will have to keep up with the troops tomorrow. Don't exhaust yourself."

The man looked up in disbelief, while Tersolys was already smiling.

"I will not trust a venomous snake, even if it has laid down its fangs, it is still for some ulterior motive."

“But you are an eagle with bound wings, who has willingly offered up his poisonous quills. So I am willing to give you a chance to spread your wings and hunt for me... I hope you can prove your worth, just as you said.”

————————————————————————————

The city was still filled with noise in the dark, but this noise was restrained and secretive, mostly taking place in rooms with lights on.

The light rain had turned into a continuous moderate rain, washing over the city's red-tiled roofs and bluestone-paved streets. In this kind of weather, even the soldiers patrolling the city became scarce.

No one wants to brave the pouring rain and move around in the cold city; a warm fireplace with steaming stew and soft bread, along with a plush blanket, is far more appealing.

The city has an extremely well-developed sewer system, so no matter how much rainwater there is, it is difficult to cause any problems. In some places, there are even reservoirs built specifically to collect rainwater for other uses.

In the pitch-black rainy night, the soldier guarding the city gate was drowsy, his mind constantly being overwhelmed by sleepiness, making his eyelids always try to stick together. Only the spear he was holding in his right hand supported his body like a crutch.

Inside the tower on the broad city wall was a warm stove, on which sat a cast-iron pot, simmering a hot stew, which he could enjoy as soon as the sky began to lighten.

Rain continued to fall incessantly, bringing a chill. The soldier, clad in cold armor, shivered, instantly becoming more alert.

Just as drowsiness was about to return, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came, instantly rousing him. He reached out and grabbed the rope holding the bronze bell beside him, ready to sound the alarm at any moment.

But soon he realized who it was... With a commotion, a small door on the huge bronze door was opened, and a knight wearing a black raincoat rode in without stopping.

Only the golden feathers on the leather mask on the warhorse's forehead swayed in the rain; if it were under the sun, they would surely gleam brilliantly.

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

The emperors of empires rarely have much free time, except for those who are willing to take responsibility and have great ambitions.

Ruling such a vast country inevitably involves dealing with countless affairs every day, as well as accurately and rationally weighing the pros and cons and managing a massive bureaucratic system.

The light in front of Clautina was emitted by a multifaceted crystal, and what shone inside was not a burning flame, but a thin crystal pillar.

Like infusing the sun's brilliance into crystal, this crystal, radiating warmth and light, offers far greater convenience than an ordinary oil lamp. Through the refraction of light from the external crystal, it can easily illuminate half a room.

The pen moved slowly across the paper, leaving clear and distinct characters. The emperor, in his own palace, was not wearing a magnificent robe, but only a long red silk robe and a silk shawl with floral patterns.

The shoes on her feet were secured to her calves by two long leather straps, which were intertwined and locked in place by gold buckles below her knees, slightly tightening her fair and delicate skin.

The pattering rain outside was blocked by the window, keeping the room warm and dry. It wasn't until a dark figure silently appeared behind the emperor that the pen on the paper came to a complete halt.

"What's the matter?"

Claudia didn't even turn her head, while the thin, dark figure, completely shrouded in black, simply handed over a piece of paper, waited for the emperor to take it, and then stood aside without saying a word.

The emperor read the note in his hand under the lamplight, and after a long while, he suddenly sighed:

"It seems he has found a good clerk... even the handwriting in the military report is better than before."

The shadowy figure remained motionless. He knew the emperor wasn't speaking to him; he simply needed to stay there like a statue.

"...It seems we need to make arrangements as soon as possible. Things always change quickly, and the previous plans may need to be slightly modified."

The emperor kept talking to himself while reaching out to grab a blank piece of parchment from the side. After dipping it in ink from the crystal bottle, he began to write.

Her writing was disjointed, often interrupted by pauses. She would furrow her brow in thought for a moment before continuing, and as she wrote, a faint smile would involuntarily creep onto her lips, her eyes reflecting a multitude of thoughts.

Time passed minute by minute, but the wind and rain outside the window showed no sign of stopping. On the contrary, they intensified, with gusts of wind carrying raindrops pounding against the window.

As the last stroke was finished, while waiting for the ink to dry, the emperor checked what he had written one last time, and seemed somewhat hesitant... but still put the parchment into a copper tube.

"Send it out immediately, and don't let anyone know."

The dark figure respectfully took the copper pipe, bowed his head, took two steps back, turned around, gently opened the window, and then jumped down without making a sound, except for the crisp sound of raindrops hitting the glass, which carried a hint of coldness.

100 Arrival (1)

The flat hoe moved among the young wheat seedlings, digging out the uninvited weeds by the roots, along with a few strands of soil.

Exposed to the elements under the scorching sun, it will soon turn into nutrients in the soil.

Bending over to clear weeds from the field is hard work. The scorching sun casts golden rays that relentlessly burn your back and the back of your head. Sweat seeps continuously from the gaps in your hair and from the pores of your skin.

My hands gripped the smooth, cool handles soaked in sweat. The calluses that had long since formed on the palms provided effective protection, preventing me from having to pick at the blisters on my hands after a long day of work.

Before long, the bent back will feel sore and numb. Experienced farmers will straighten up from time to time to relax, while those naive young people who keep their heads down and work will taste the bitter fruit at night.

Even the most dull-witted person would wear a hat and a headscarf to effectively reduce sweat from getting into their eyes.

Farmers work in the fields as summer approaches. The sun is dry and scorching, making it hard to breathe. Only at midday, under the shade of trees, can one look forward to cool water and dry food.

Saric is such a farmer. He has been toiling in the fields for decades. His hair has turned gray, and his rough, dark face is covered with wrinkles and black spots. Even with his eyes closed, he can skillfully maneuver his hoe around the crops.

He was short but sturdy, able to work in the fields all day and still have energy. His hardened, deformed fingers could not even be scratched by sharp stones. His incredible stamina allowed him to endure under the sun and do more work than those strong young men.

The old farmer had lived like this for most of his life; for him, life consisted of the fields and his dilapidated house. He couldn't imagine anything else.

His son was busy in the field next door, swinging his hoe with great force, but when he saw this, he just smiled and shook his head—this kid's personality was nothing like his; he was always in a hurry no matter what he did.

Human physical strength is finite, yet also profound. As long as a suitable pace is maintained, new energy will continuously flow in, allowing one to persevere until rest.

By squandering all his energy in a rush, he only makes himself more prone to fatigue, which is why this strong young man can never surpass the old man in farming.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before his son slowed down, while the old man continued to swing his hoe at a leisurely pace, leaving behind a large field cleared of weeds.

When it was time for lunch break, the old man was still full of energy, while his son had become exhausted and kept wiping the sweat from his forehead.

The two sat under the shade of a tree and began to enjoy their lunch—cold water in a ceramic pot and two dry, hard biscuits, which were a real test of their teeth.

The only thing that could be used as a dish was a sauce wrapped in broad leaves. This dark sauce was made from fermented beans and was indispensable with meals, providing all the salt needed for the whole day.

Cicadas had already begun chirping among the leaves. In this sweltering summer, the monotonous chirping of cicadas was so distinctive that it made one feel drowsy. The old man looked at the wheat seedlings in the field with some concern.

The sunlight was so harsh that the leaves of these delicate seedlings curled up slightly. If there was no rain, these seedlings would dry up and die in the soil in just a few days.

Logically, this should be the season when rain is plentiful, but the sky these past few days has remained cloudless, so blue it's almost unsettling.

A gasp suddenly rang out from the nearby field, and the old man instinctively grabbed his hoe.

But he quickly realized that the shout did not contain any fear, but rather a sense of surprise.

A sound like muffled thunder suddenly came from the distant land, immediately surprising the old man... He knew what this sound was; only a large army marching on the road would make such a sound.

Flat fields line both sides of the wide road, dotted with large trees and a few shrubs. Neat irrigation ditches meander through the fields, providing the land with the water needed for crops to grow.

People were working in every field, but most people gathered under the shade of trees to drink some water and eat something to give themselves the energy to continue in the afternoon.

But now, people have spontaneously gathered together, standing on both sides of the road, discussing the matter noisily.

As soon as the magnificent black double-headed eagle banner came into view, a commotion erupted like a storm, and everyone hurriedly retreated.

Almost in the blink of an eye, the fierce cavalrymen, clad in full armor, swept past like a gust of wind, kicking up clouds of dust. The crisp sound of their iron hooves pounding on the stone slabs was as dense and rapid as raindrops.

Even though they had already stepped back, the spectators on both sides of the road were still covered in dust and spitting on the ground to clear the foreign objects from their respiratory tracts.

Before they could finish, the fully armed legion soldiers had already marched along the road with dense and orderly footsteps, and the end of their path, with its precipitous, blade-like peaks, was already clearly visible.

Saric stared blankly at these elite soldiers. Each of them was impeccably groomed, with nothing on their bodies that would hinder their movement. Their greased armor and weapons gleamed, and each soldier kept their mouths tightly shut. Their baggage was bulging, indicating that they were not lacking in food.

Other daggers, canteens, and tools for digging trenches and building camps were hung in their designated places. Everyone's shoes were brand new and sturdy, made of the finest cotton cloth, with multi-layered leather soles.

These soldiers were so respectable and elite that they broadened the old man's horizons. Almost instantly, a thought involuntarily took hold of his mind:

"If only my grandchildren could be like them in the future..."

————————————————————————————————————

"This guy is a significant risk; perhaps he's doing all this just to gain trust."

Thesolius didn't turn his head, but he knew exactly what his brother was saying:

"That is indeed possible... but his anger and hatred are definitely not fake, so he will naturally make a smart choice."

"Anything else? I don't believe that's your only reason."

A slight smile appeared on his face as he dodged the opponent's punch by subtly shifting his shoulder.

"Also, this guy is really talented... and the kind of talent who is good at operating behind the scenes, which is exactly what we need."

"...You mean spies and assassins?"

Nathamus seemed to suddenly realize something, and Tesorus continued:

"Even knowing where those two were hiding, the fact that he was able to finish everything and get back in such a short time is enough to prove his talent... not to mention that this was the person originally in their plan to carry out the assassination."

"Although I know that fat pig will definitely do something, would he really be that stupid? To let his family's former slaves do this? Wouldn't that be telling everyone that he's going to commit a shameful and evil act?"

Tersolius raised an eyebrow slightly, a strange expression appearing on his face:

"Perhaps he has gone mad, or someone is interfering and has caused this situation, or perhaps both... As for the specifics, we will naturally find out once we enter the city."

"Judging from your expression, you must already have a pretty good idea, right?"

“There are some, but you don’t need to worry…” Tersolius gently spurred his warhorse, keeping it moving at a steady pace. “If I’m not mistaken, this won’t affect us; in fact, it might even be a significant help…”

Just as he was about to say something, a rapid sound of hooves approached, and a cavalryman arrived in front of them in the blink of an eye. After a brief exchange, he handed him a copper tube with both hands.

Looking at the seal on the copper tube, Tersolius smiled slightly, then reached out and peeled it off without hesitation.

Is it her letter?

"That's right, it's hers."

The two walked side by side at a leisurely pace, their horses maintaining a comfortable distance without requiring them to tighten the reins excessively.

They all knew who this 'she' referred to—and this was their unspoken understanding; the seal used to seal the copper pipes didn't bear a family mark, but rather an image of a carrot and a potato piled together…

The stamp looks rather cute; the carrot, which should be slender, is round and plump. Others might find it puzzling, but they can clearly understand the message it conveys.

Natamus stared at the letter for a while, then suddenly realized what he meant and looked at his brother with slight surprise:

"Can you understand it now?"

"It's only a part, but the content you saw is not the same as mine..."