Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

September 18, 1403, night.

This is Peter's 18th day in this world.

This was also the time when Peter's camp underwent its second expansion, launching an attack on Big Mouth John's gang.

In the mountains south of the crossroads.

The cold moonlight barely penetrated the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the rugged mountain path. Peter used the "one-click outfit change" system in the game panel to change into a set of light cloth clothing. His only weapon was a dagger at his waist. With his stealth level 3 and the "silent cat-like movement" talent, he was like a black cat moving through the night, minimizing his noise.

Of course, in case of an emergency, he can also quickly switch to his three-layered heavy armor set consisting of leather armor, chainmail, and half-breastplate.

Behind him were several equally serious-looking, breathless subordinates—Old Brother Martin, Archer Tom, Scout Jerry, Apothecary and Wrestling Expert Romeo, the seven convicted laborers Charlie and his gang, and the burdensome dog Doug.

Almost all the male members of the camp participated this time. Martin, Tom, Jerry, and Romeo were all present and accounted for; they were considered the camp's regular fighting force. The participation of Charlie and the Seven was somewhat incomprehensible, yet surprisingly successful. Especially when Peter announced that participating in the operation could offset the sin value of 30 trees, Charlie and the Seven's enthusiasm increased dramatically.

Peter promised the Charlie Seven that if each of them felled 100 trees, they would be freed from their sins. Assuming each person felled an average of 3 trees a day, 30 trees would be a 10-day task—quite a lot. They were one step closer to becoming free men.

As for running away? They provide food and lodging here, and there's even communion to attend—isn't that better than wandering around outside? Besides, even if you escape, you'd inevitably be hunted down by Lord Peter in the middle of the night. See, isn't Big Mouth John going to be in trouble tonight?

Driven by the fervor of converts, the Charlie Seven were ironically the most obedient in their actions.

Doug the dog was the most vocal among them. He couldn't handle a knife, a bow and arrow, and wasn't even very good at hand-to-hand combat. He was also struggling to keep up with the pace, constantly panting. He really didn't understand why Peter wanted a burden like him to participate in the operation.

The others were also puzzled by Doug's disheveled appearance. But they believed that the wise Lord Peter must have had his reasons for making such an arrangement.

Indeed, that's true. Team building is about connecting people; you can't exclude a colleague just because they're clumsy, or you'll lose the very purpose of the activity.

Getting back to the point, the group, like ghosts blending into the night, headed along the hunter's trail toward the mountaintop camp where Big Mouth John's gang was based.

Peter led the way, his "system" providing basic night vision and a sense of direction proving invaluable, allowing him to precisely avoid obstacles and choose the safest footholds. His men followed closely behind, step by step. The mountain path was steep, strewn with loose rocks and tangled tree roots, requiring extreme caution with every step.

The occasional hooting of owls and the rustling of unknown small animals in the woods provided them with excellent cover. The air was filled with the scent of pine needles, decaying leaves, and the faint smell of smoke from a distant human camp—they were almost there.

Finally, through the sparse trees, the outline of the camp came into view below. Several tattered tents were pitched around the embers of a campfire, and a few crooked figures were huddled inside the tents or beside the fire, snoring all around. At the edge of the camp, a figure was strolling lazily, seemingly humming an off-key tune—it was the bandit on night watch.

Whether or not someone is on guard duty is the most direct indication of the strength of a bandit group. "Dog Nose's" rabble was lazy and undisciplined; they didn't even notice when someone broke into their door. Big Mouth John's group was clearly more elite, with someone specifically assigned to guard their place.

Peter raised his hand, clenched his fist, and gestured for everyone to stop and take cover. He pointed to the night watchman, then to his own eyes, and made a throat-slitting gesture—not to kill, but to subdue. Martin and the others immediately understood and lay prone, awaiting orders.

Peter activated his stealth ability, leaning slightly forward and lowering his center of gravity. Like a true nocturnal animal, he silently approached the unsuspecting night watchman, using the shadows of tree trunks, rocks, and bushes. His footsteps were as light as cat paws, making almost no sound as he stepped on the soft, humus.

The distance was closing. Ten meters… five meters… three meters… Peter could even smell the mixture of cheap ale and sweat on the other man. The night watchman yawned, rubbed his eyes, and turned to walk in another direction, exposing the back of his neck to Peter's unsuspecting gaze.

It's now!

Peter pounced like a cheetah poised to strike! His left hand, like an iron clamp, instantly covered the night watchman's mouth and nose, the immense force rendering him unable to utter a sound. At the same time, his right arm flashed around the man's neck, the inside of his forearm precisely wedged into the carotid sinus below the Adam's apple, forming a standard rear-naked chokehold. Peter unleashed his full strength, pushing off the ground with both feet, leaning back, locking the man firmly in his arms.

"Ugh... Ugh!" The night watchman only managed a short, muffled groan before his eyes widened in terror and suffocation. He struggled instinctively, his hands futilely grabbing Peter's arms, his legs kicking wildly. But Peter's strength of 27 points far surpassed that of an ordinary person, and the position of his chokehold was precise and deadly. In just a few seconds, the night watchman's struggles rapidly weakened, his body went limp, his eyes glazed over, and he finally lost consciousness completely.

Peter gently set him down and bound his limbs. Then, he cautiously continued his infiltration towards the sleeping bandit camp, truly beginning his performance as the "Master Thief." Alone, he sneaked in and stole all the bandits' weapons and armor!

He approached the embers of the campfire, where several longswords, axes, maces, and spears were haphazardly piled together, along with a few leather-covered wooden shields. Peter crouched down, his fingers lightly brushing against the cold metal. With a thought, "Weighted Space" activated, and a flash of light appeared before his eyes. The pile of weapons and shields vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

"Thieving skill +1"

"Thieving skill +1"

........

A finely crafted dagger hilt peeked out from a bundle one of the bandits was using as a pillow. Peter carefully pulled it out—it was a decent weapon. He took it!

"Thieving skill +1"

As we all know, people don't like wearing heavy armor when they're sleeping; it's uncomfortable.

A plate breastplate hanging on a tree branch was easily taken away.

"Thieving skill +1"

A burly bandit lay sprawled at the tent entrance, like a dead pig, wearing only a worn-out cloth shirt. A chainmail garment was tucked beneath him. Peter held his breath, crouched down beside the bandit, and reached out to gently pinch the hem of the chainmail, trying to pull it out from under the man's head. However, the bandit was too heavy; part of the chainmail was firmly pinned down by his weight.

Peter supported the man's head with one hand, while using the other to slowly and inching the chainmail out. The chainmail made a faint, almost inaudible rustling sound. Once the chainmail was removed, it vanished into his spatial storage with a whoosh. Peter then gently placed the bandit's head back down.

"Thieving skill +1"

Suddenly, one of the bandits inside the tent smacked his lips in his sleep and rolled over! Peter instantly withdrew his hand, pressing himself against the shadows of the tent like a gecko, motionless. The bandit simply shifted to a more comfortable position, his snoring continuing.

Peter breathed a sigh of relief. Taking advantage of the moment when the other person rolled over, he swiftly pulled out the chainmail and instantly stored it in his spatial storage! Another one done!

"Thieving skill +1"

Following the same method, everyone sleeping in the camp was robbed. Peter finally squatted down in front of a burly man with a full beard and a wide-open mouth snoring. According to Jerry and Charlie's description, this seemed to be the bandit leader, John the Big Mouth. The guy's snoring was very rhythmic, sometimes high-pitched, sometimes low, like blowing a broken horn.

If Peter wanted to, he could have immediately drawn his dagger and assassinated everyone sleeping in the camp, but he didn't. He was there to capture laborers, not to collect corpses.

Peter surveyed the camp. Apart from the bandits' tattered clothes and a few empty liquor cans, all the decent weapons and armor had been stored in Peter's system space. As if he had completed a silent magic show, he quietly retreated to the edge of the camp, though he was a little tired—he had stored too much stuff and exceeded his carrying capacity.

He let out a few owl calls, and Martin and the others, hearing the noise, immediately rushed in.

"Tie him up!"

Martin and his 12 men worked in pairs, each holding a rope and holding one person down to begin binding them.

John the Big Mouth and his friends awoke with a start, frantically trying to resist, only to find themselves transformed into a pack of wolves with their teeth pulled out and turtles stripped of their shells. Terrified, they were helplessly bound one by one.

"Who are you? Charlie? What are you doing here? You're all in cahoots!"

John the Big Mouth questioned loudly.

Peter strode forward with heavy steps, proclaiming, "I am Peter Griffin, the God-blessed knight of God. John the Big Mouth, your crimes of robbing merchants have been exposed, and I will bring you to justice."