noveltune Chapter 3 The Threat of the Robbers
Chapter 3 The Threat of the Robbers
The next morning, Luo Xu slowly opened his eyes.
He was awakened several times yesterday by the barking of dogs and had a nightmare, so his head is still a little dizzy.
He subconsciously prepared to get up, but suddenly remembered that all the weeds in the wheat field had been cleared yesterday.
Today, all I need to do is check on the wheat field regularly, and after a short nap, I'll go for a jog to improve my running skills.
Luo Xu stared at the ceiling, letting his thoughts wander.
Even though I have my own system, I still need to be careful, because the world of Mount & Blade is not peaceful.
He needs to think carefully about the game's mechanics; he might need to use them someday.
In the game's backstory, eight nations wage war against each other on a continent called Calradia.
I learned from Alina that the Southern Empire is currently at war with the Khuzait nomads to the east.
Thinking of this, Luo Xu couldn't help but frown.
"Isn't this where the game's story just begins?"
In the storyline, the Southern Empire would lose the war without external intervention.
His village, Lantas, is located in the eastern part of the Southern Empire, one of the six kingdoms, and is not far from Khuzait.
If the front lines fall, the flames of war could spread here at any time...
I need to level up my skills quickly!
Luo Xu suddenly sat up, quickly washed up, and then began to exercise on his futon on the floor.
To improve your skills, you need to practice or kill enemies.
Push-ups and sit-ups.
"Running skill experience +1, distance to next level: 16/86".
"Running skill experience +1, distance to next level: 17/86".
……
"Running skill experience +1, distance to next level: 40/86".
Luo Xu raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, his brows furrowing slightly.
The experience points required to upgrade skills increase progressively with each level. At this rate, it will likely take a lot of time to level up by running around in the future.
We've finished the dark bread at home, but the remaining chestnuts should last us for another two days.
I'll go to Galon's place later and get a few more dark breads on credit; that should be enough to last until the wheat ripens.
After resting, Luo Xu made a simple breakfast with bird eggs and chestnuts.
Just as he was putting the last chestnut into his mouth, a frantic shout suddenly came from outside the door.
"Rossi!"
It was Uncle Tom's voice. Luo Xu got up and went to open the door.
He felt a little uneasy because Uncle Tom wasn't one to make a fuss.
Something must have happened in the village.
Luo Xu opened the door and saw Uncle Tom holding a pitchfork, his face ashen.
"Hurry to the village entrance!" Uncle Tom said before hurrying away.
Although Luo Xu did not know the specific reason, he dared not delay.
He grabbed the hoe he had hidden under his bedding and ran toward the village entrance.
The village was deathly silent; the farm women and children who were usually seen there were nowhere to be seen.
Every household had their doors tightly shut, and through the cracks in the windows, one could see pairs of panicked eyes.
What exactly happened?
Luo Xu gripped the hoe tightly, his speed unconsciously increasing slightly.
As Luo Xu approached the village entrance, he saw a group of villagers blocking the muddy road at the entrance.
Instead of working, they now held farm tools, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Luo Xu ran forward, intending to ask for clarification, but suddenly froze on the spot.
A strong stench of blood filled the air. A villager lay in a pool of blood ahead, his horrifying wound still gushing blood.
A dozen or so men stood a few steps away, each holding a single knife and their eyes gleaming with menacing light.
This is robbery!
Luo Xu's breathing became rapid. Before he transmigrated, he was just an ordinary college student and had never seen such a scene before.
The villagers present were no better off than him; most of them were trembling, but they were just putting on a brave face.
Although there are more than fifty villagers, most of the able-bodied men in the village have been conscripted to the battlefield, leaving only a handful of militiamen with real combat capabilities.
Most of them were farmers who had never experienced fighting, and for a moment their morale was overwhelmed by the bandits on the other side.
The villager, led by a middle-aged man, stood behind several militiamen armed with shields and spears, and said with a solemn expression:
"I am Galon, an important figure in this village, and you..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the bandit leader.
"I've heard of you." He rode his horse a few steps forward, and the militiamen in front of Galon instinctively raised their shields.
Galon didn't reply, but just stared coldly at the bandit leader opposite him.
"Things aren't safe these days; bandits are everywhere." The leader of the bandits grinned menacingly. "But for the next few days, my brothers and I will protect you."
"You'll have to pay protection money during the autumn harvest." The bandit leader held up three fingers. "We don't want much, just 30%."
"Impossible," Galon replied immediately.
Upon hearing this, everyone present tensed up, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.
"We already pay 30% in taxes, and if we give you another 30%, how are we going to survive next year?"
Galon's voice was very low, and his face was extremely ugly.
"That's your problem," the leader of the bandits sneered. "We'll be back during the autumn harvest. Anyone who tries anything funny..."
As he spoke, he pointed his knife at the villager lying in a pool of blood.
"This is how it ends!"
After saying that, the leader of the bandits led his group away.
No one among the villagers spoke, even though the robbers had disappeared from sight.
They looked at each other, some panicked and fearful, some hesitant, but in the end they all looked at Galon.
Luo Xu was also looking at Jialong, his body trembling uncontrollably, his palms sweating profusely.
For the first time, he felt death was close at hand when facing this group of vicious bandits.
Galon glanced at everyone's faces, then said calmly, "The militia will stay; the rest of you can go back first."
The villager lying in a pool of blood had stopped breathing, and two militiamen carried him into the village.
As the villagers left one after another, Luo Xu wanted to follow them, but was suddenly stopped by Jia Long.
"Rosius, are you interested in joining the militia?"
"This..." Luo Xu stopped and hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I need to think about it."
The ten militiamen present looked at him, but their eyes didn't show anything special.
Everyone knows that if it really comes down to fighting those bandits, the militia will naturally be the first to step up, and that's how dangerous it is to join the militia at this time.
Moreover, Rossus was just a stranger who had only been in the country for a few days.
If it were them, they would never have stepped forward at this time.
Galon frowned. He knew that every additional bit of strength increased their chances of defeating the bandits, and immediately said:
"The militia's daily wage is 15 dinars, but if you join now, I'll give you 30 dinars."
The dinar was the circulating currency of Calradia, and it could be used anywhere in the six kingdoms.
Although he only needed to serve as a militiaman for two days to pay off the money he owed Galon, Luo Xu was not swayed by the meager profit in front of him.
Money can be earned again, but life is only once.
Besides, he had nothing to miss about Lantas Village. The village had only taken him in because it lacked labor.
The Southern Empire's tax was 30% of the harvest, but he had to hand over 50%.
Luo Xu was fully aware of everything.
He wanted to refuse, but he swallowed the words back when he heard them, because he suddenly thought of Alina.
If the bandits breach the village, the young and beautiful Alina will surely meet a tragic end.
Luo Xu looked down at the pool of blood, which was still wet and was seeping into the soil.
He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
next moment.
"I joined the militia."