Chapter 524: On the Brink of Battle

Chapter 524: Chapter 340: On the Brink of Battle

Kemish Blue Diamond sat atop the back of a ferocious Sofen Giant Wolf. He was draped in a black bearskin cloak, beneath which the exquisite, diamond-studded Full Plate Armor he wore was faintly visible. He slowly wiped his Treasure Sword with a handkerchief, his calm gaze fixed on the Wilderness People being herded by his soldiers in the distance.

The Sofen Giant Wolf was a Magical Beast specially bred by the Blue Diamond Clan of the Persian Gulf Empire. It was a hybrid descendant of a Warg Mount and a Two-headed Lion, possessing the head of a wolf and the body of a lion, and was born with a natural mastery over the Water Element.

Every direct descendant of the Blue Diamond Clan is given a Sofen Giant Wolf from a young age to raise and bond with.

This ferocious Giant Beast, standing three blades high at the shoulder, was currently gnawing on something, splattering blood everywhere. Every bone crunched like sugarcane as the beast effortlessly crushed them and swallowed them down.

“How many people are in this Tribe?” Kemish asked.

“My Lord, excluding the elderly and young children, there are two hundred and twenty-one able-bodied adults,” the Slave Guard replied, seemingly oblivious to the Goat-man wailing in agony before him.

‘Barely worth Five Hundred Gold Coins.’ Kemish’s brow furrowed slightly. As a Lord and a Slave Master, he could easily calculate the value of every individual.

Goat-men were cowardly and weak. The males could only be sold as slaves for manual labor, while the females were worth a bit more—after all, some men have a fondness for tight passages.

The most valuable Race, without a doubt, was the Elves. A single female Elf could be sold for over a thousand Gold Coins in the Persian Gulf Empire.

But finding unprotected Elves these days wasn’t easy.

“These Rabbit People and Goat-men are enough for now. From now on, try to capture more powerful Races or other humans.” Kemish’s expression quickly relaxed.

Fortunately, this Wilderness was rich enough, home to many Races not found in the Persian Gulf Empire. If he could transport them all back, he would make a fortune.

“As you wish, my Lord.” The tall Black slave bowed slightly before continuing, “Your Scout just reported back. They encountered a squad of Jackal Wolfman Cavalry in the wilds.”

“They are strong and well-built, clad in fine black Cavalry Armor and wielding gleaming Fine Steel Curved Sabers. Their leader, a Jackal Wolfman wearing an eyepatch, stands a full two and a half blades tall and is as powerfully built as a giant wolf.”

“Why didn’t he report to me in person?” Kemish’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘As a competent commander, I need to receive all intelligence firsthand. Details can be lost in transmission, affecting my judgment.’

“My deepest apologies, my Lord. By the time the Scout made it back, he was on the verge of death with a Curved Saber lodged in his chest. He managed to utter those words before his soul returned to the embrace of the Slave God.”

Surprised, Kemish’s hands froze. “Only one returned out of twelve?”

“That’s right, only one. This is the weapon.” The Slave Guard handed him a Curved Saber.

It was a standard-issue Curved Saber. The blade was forged from Fine Steel and bore a unique metallic pattern. Flicking it with a finger produced a deep, muffled sound.

This proved it was made with substantial materials, not just for show; it was the work of a master craftsman.

Combined with its perfectly designed curve, it would allow a cavalryman to easily slice open an enemy’s throat using the force of their charge.

‘But as far as I know, these Wilderness People can’t even forge scraps of iron. How could they possibly produce weapons with a quality rivaling our own?’

However, his question was answered soon enough.

When his gaze fell upon the exquisite deer-antler hilt, crafted as a single, solid piece, he saw four large words engraved upon it: High Cliff Castle Armory.

“It seems that Baron of Exploration has discovered our activities.” He carefully tucked the Curved Saber into his belt. This weapon alone was worth several dozen Gold Coins—more expensive than ten Goat-men.

“That Rabbitman actually survived?!” a Black Warrior exclaimed, his voice filled with uncontrollable rage. “We should have cut that bastard down! I can’t believe he went to warn them!”

When night fell, they had descended upon the Rabbitman Tribe, slaughtering everyone except for the able-bodied adults.

Although they hadn’t found that particular Rabbitman afterward, all Rabbit People looked more or less the same to them. They had assumed he died in the chaos, never imagining he had escaped to deliver a warning.

Otherwise, it was impossible to explain why the other party would send out scouts to gather intelligence after only seven or eight days.

“Looks like a war is on the horizon.” Kemish merely smiled faintly, unconsciously stroking the Longsword in his hand.

To be honest, he was genuinely surprised to learn that his scouts had been completely crushed by the enemy.

Thanks to being the trueborn son of the Blue Diamond Clan Leader, even though his title was merely that of a Baron, he possessed a corps of Unblemished Slave Warriors funded by his clan.

Numbering one thousand and five in total, each one was a Demon Pattern Warrior capable of wrestling lions and tigers, and all were equipped with fine weapons and armor.

They had performed meritoriously in the early development of his Pioneer Territory.

Although the three thousand five hundred Slave Warriors he recruited later were ordinary men, his rigorous training had elevated them. While they couldn’t match a first-rate Elite Corps, they could be considered second-tier, no worse than a standard second-line army.

But he never expected them to be so utterly crushed in this first skirmish.

‘I know perfectly well what kind of military strength a Baron of Exploration in a Pioneer Territory should have. At best, a few hundred guards of uneven quality. However, if he’s backed by a powerful clan, it’s possible he might have a fine Knight Order… just like me.’