You were made to farm, and now you're the emperor of an empire?

Chapter 19 I have the right to control everything
Roman had heard Moore mention it before, but he hadn't gone into much detail.

A betraying knight, a strange and eccentric doctor, a legendary thief, a deserter from the battlefield...

These people are far more dangerous than hunters; they are mostly wanted criminals, otherwise why would they have fled to this remote and impoverished place?

Moore continued to adhere to the principle of "keeping to himself and others' business".

Roman frowned and said, "Aren't there any witches in the mountains?"

Moore was surprised: "I've never heard of that before... Lord Roman, do you think that witch is looking for companions?" He thought of the strange figure that had been witnessed the night before last.

Roman only suspected, but had no evidence.

The biggest obstacle to hiking in the mountains is the treacherous terrain, the rushing streams, and the extreme drops in elevation, making it difficult to pass through.

But that doesn't mean there are no shortcuts.

There were originally no roads in the world, but as you walk more, a road appears.

Don't think of hunters as gods who come and go without a trace in the mountains. If you want to live there for a long time, you need to have a fixed place to live and exchange goods with Sig Town to obtain the necessary supplies.

Having a fixed residence means having a fixed route.

Over time, the people of Sig Town came to realize that the hunters' encampment was quite reasonable.

Roman and his companions followed this road toward the settlement of mountain people and hunters.

Even in the mountains, people still farm, scattering seeds in the cracks of rocks or cultivating small plots of flat land.

But to farm on his territory and not pay him any respects is outrageous!

Before even reaching the hunters' settlement, Roman suddenly frowned, sensing something amiss from the forest at the corner.

He was a skilled archer, and when an arrow pointed at him, he would have a premonition.

If it were a sniper rifle, the effect would be even greater.

Aaron also noticed something amiss; there was an unnatural disturbance in some of the forests and bushes.

Aaron sensed someone trying to flank them from behind, took off his round shield, steadied himself, and positioned himself to Roman's left. Green's eyes sharpened as he drew his greatsword, infused with orchard steel, and formed a triangle with Roman, back to back.

Seeing the two men's reactions, the guards belatedly realized what was happening and nervously spread out their formation.

"Do you want to be enemies with your lord?" Roman asked loudly.

A voice echoed from the mountains: "We have no lord."

Roman calmly replied, "Now you have it."

crunch~
The sound of a taut bowstring echoed repeatedly through the silent mountain forest.

Tensions rose between the two sides.

Roman did not draw his weapon. He said calmly, "Do you want to fight against the Knights of Conquest? You can't. Come out now, kneel before me, and I will forgive you."

In the silence, Roman and Green, along with other superhumans with keen hearing, could faintly hear whispers coming from the forest.

The hunters were talking about it, but clearly some people had different opinions, so it was more like they were arguing about something.

A moment later, a young hunter emerged from the forest: "We just want a way to survive. If you're willing to leave us alone, we can offer you the game we hunt from now on..."

Just as the hunter was about to make his demands, he noticed that Roman was looking at him with a surprised expression and a strange look on his face.

His heart sank, sensing that something bad was about to happen, but then he heard Roman say, "Then you shall pledge your allegiance to me."

The hunter's brain seemed to freeze: "..."

Roman snorted: "On this land, I have the right to rule everything. Everyone is my subject. Speak your name, my apostle."

"Do...Dota Gni."

……

Two-star multi-tower

Attack: E+, Defense: E, Speed: E+, Constitution: E+, Energy: E
Talent: Keen Eyesight – Enhanced ability to observe the environment
Skill 1: Tracking - Capture subtle clues and deduce the movements of the trace creator.

……

On the day the Apostles are recruited, other modes in Noah's Ark will be unlocked. These include [Battlefield Simulation], [Dispatch Operations], [Integrated Operations], [Apostle Warbands], and [Destiny Expedition].

However, it's of no use to him now.

Those functions require combat and a sufficient number of Apostle units.

Roman scoffed, “Take me to the other people in the mountains, all of them. I will decide whether to make them loyal to me based on their performance.”

……

In fact, every adult farmer in Sige Town is familiar with the mountains.

In some famine years, when food was scarce, the farmers of Sigge Town survived those difficult times by gathering and hunting.

Not to mention that mountains and forests are places where firewood and fuel can be obtained.

However, due to barbarity and ignorance, many people only dare to explore the edges. Even experienced hunters dare not venture deep into the mountains, as they are said to be man-eating and inhabited by ferocious monsters.

All that could be seen in Shasta were forests and rocks.

She couldn't help but sigh.

The mountain isn't high, but the forest is dense, and the trees grow wildly.

A narrow, enclosed space can feel very oppressive.

She knew why there was a saying that mountains could eat people.

The treacherous mountains are like a giant beast's maw, where humans can disappear without a trace in the blink of an eye, no matter where they go.

Shasta obtained a clue about the witch of Sig Town.

Following the woman's advice, she took a cloth bag containing two pounds of peas and explored upstream along a stream. Eventually, in the complex terrain of the mountains, she found the huge, crooked-necked dwarf chestnut tree.

Its branches are lush and resemble a giant afro. As the temperature rises, the dense branches have sprouted green buds, adding a touch of spring.

There are countless dwarf chestnut trees like these in this mountain forest.

But very few of its kind are as thick and crooked as it. It grows on the banks of streams and rivers, its crooked upper body looking as if it is about to droop into the water to wash its hair, with its branches hanging down and touching the river surface.

Shasta tied the bag of peas to a branch of a dwarf chestnut tree, while she hid in a higher spot.

She survived the first day without seeing anyone and had to sleep in the mountains. The early spring air was very cold, and the temperature in the mountains was even lower. Fortunately, she was a witch, not an ordinary person, so she was safe for the time being.

The next day, Shasta finally saw a thin, ragged figure standing under a low chestnut tree. The person tiptoed to take down the cloth bag and lifted up his tattered clothes like an apron, pouring the beans inside.

Then she looked around, lowered her head, and quickly left.

Seeing this, Shasta immediately followed.

She followed the child to her dwelling, a makeshift shack made of leaves and branches, barely enough to keep out the wind and rain. This surprised Shasta, as even the simplest shelter couldn't be built by a child alone; someone must have helped her.

This is normal; without help, a child could not possibly live alone in the deep mountains for more than a year.

Shasta felt a pang of sadness as she appeared before Gweil.

"Gerva!"

Gweil jumped up in fright, scattering all the peas in her arms.

Her dirty little face stared in terror at the beautiful woman before her.

"I am Shasta, Gweil, don't be afraid, we are companions." Shasta released wisps of black smoke from his body.

"You're a witch?!" Gweil exclaimed in shock, taking a step back in disbelief, as if she had seen something terrifying.

"...You are a witch too."

With a sob in her voice, Gweil said forcefully, "No, I'm not!"

"Do you want to deny your power? Or deny yourself?"

Gweil shook her head and cried, "I have no evil power, I am not possessed by a demon, don't come looking for me."

Gweil staggered backward, as if preparing to turn and run away. Shasta reacted quickly, immediately rushing forward and pulling her into her arms, fearing she might lose control. She soothed her, saying, "Good child, I know you're scared, but you don't have to be. I'll take you away. You'll eat bread and porridge every day, you'll be well-fed, and you'll sleep soundly in a soft bed without worrying about the wind and rain. My sister, I won't let anyone hurt you again. We weren't born on this land to suffer, and our awakening wasn't meant to be burned at the stake..."

(End of this chapter)