Chapter 130 The Actions of the Bandits
In a village outside Solanis, a remote place that took two or three hours to reach, a scene of devastation came into sight. The village had been reduced to ashes, its inhabitants slaughtered. The air was thick with the stench of blood and charred remains.
The sound of horses' hooves and the neighing of warhorses continuously extended.
Accompanied by the cruel laughter of a band of bandits. They had chosen the village to satisfy their thirst for blood or to practice their skills in carnage.
Within an hour, the marauders had killed the entire village, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. Pillage and murder were their proof of existence.
As the marauders emerged from the village, a hundred of them, clad in knightly armor, led the way. Their faces with savage grins, their hands stained with the blood of the innocent. They were the main force of the slaughter.
Following behind were another three hundreds people dressed in leather armor and wielded bloodied spears. Theirs was the role of looting and plundering, a secondary task compared to the marauders.
"Baron Omar is quite generous, allowing us to prey on his dwellers." one of the marauders remarked, his voice laced with contempt.
"These peasants are useless. But they are so poor, not even worth a few silver coins. It is so unlucky." another scoffed.
"You must be joking. These people are merely practice for us. If we were to plunder, it wouldn't be from these wretched souls." A third one chimed in.
The marauders bantered, their words filled with disdain. To them, the villagers were nothing more than livestock awaiting slaughter.
As they approached the village's entrance, they spotted a figure standing on a large rock, with three knights standing below.
The moonlight cast a white glow, revealing the silhouette of the person.
The marauders dismounted, joining the rest of their comrades, and knelt before the figure. "Baron Omar, the task is complete." They intoned respectfully.
"Good. It's been a while since you've had a chance to kill. I trust the sensation is invigorating." Baron Omar replied, a cold smile playing on his face. For him, the village's annihilation was an exercise, a means to satisfy his insatiable thirst for violence.
In this era, many nobles would seek out remote villages for hunting games. Omar had participated in such hunts before, exterminating impoverished settlements without a second thought.
"Of course. The smell of blood reminds me of the thrill of killing." One of the marauders exclaimed, his voice filled with sadistic glee.
"The most beautiful scene is full of blood." Another one agreed.
"Baron Omar, I can't wait to get started." Another added, a twisted smile on his face.
Rebellious and untamed marauders, these were what Omar truly wanted, their ruthlessness aligning perfectly with his tastes. A morbid grin spreads across his countenance.
"Very well. You shall depart tonight and arrive at Hyratos tomorrow morning. By afternoon, I want the head of the Lord of Hyratos and the city's wealth." Baron Omar commanded.
"Remember, I expect a haul of eight hundred gold coins. If you fail, you know what to do." he added, his voice dripping with malice.
"Yes, Baron Omar, the mission will be accomplished with certainty." The marauders shuddered, their voices trembling as they assured him of their success.
If they failed to gather the required sum, they would find a way to make up for it. If not, they were faced with losing an ear or a finger.
In the past, for their failure to complete a mission, many had lost fingers, and some had even lost their lives.
But if they exceeded the target, the surplus would be theirs. This was one of the reasons why many were drawn to a life of banditry.
"Hurry, the best time to attack is at noon!" Omar's voice echoed coldly.
"Yes, my lord!"
The marauders mounted their horses and galloped off in a single direction, accompanied by four hundred orc slaves. These slaves served as their logistical support, and they were responsible for carrying food and water.
Orcs were favored for their strength, making them ideal for labor. Most orc slaves had been captured to toil in the fields, their rations consisting of human food, which was barely enough to sustain them.
With their strenuous work and meager meals, many orcs perished from starvation, adding to the long list of reasons for the nobles' discrimination against them.
The marauders swiftly disappeared into the night, their torches held high, resembling a malevolent serpent on the prowl.
"Baron Omar, will Carter and the others follow the plan? He took quite a few knights with him, while we only have a dozen men in this operation." the chief knight inquired.
"Weren't they supposed to receive twenty percent of the spoils? If they fail to arrive in Hyratos on time, deduct a half from their share and give them a few gold coins as compensation for their efforts." Omar replied indifferently.
He had sent Riley to deliver the message. If they dared not to come, he didn't mind devouring their thirty knights. He believed that with a generous amount of gold, they would be willing to serve him.
"I got it!"
The knights felt sorry for Carter and his family. It would be a pity if they failed to arrive on time.
"Hyratos is a prosperous city, and its lord is quite wealthy but a bit foolish." Omar sneered. Instead of developing his military strength, he invested all his wealth in the fleet. Now that he had grown already, it was time for him to be slaughtered.
"Lord Omar, I heard that your elder brother will come here in winter." the knight asked cautiously.
"That guy just wants to take advantage."
Omar replied, his face darkening. Then he smirked, "This time, I'll see how he can be so smug. I'll wipe that smug look off his face, and then we can return together. I can't wait for that day to come."
The knight could only shake his head helplessly. It seemed that every time, Baron Omar ended up being at a disadvantage in the hands of his elder brother without a single victory.
