Your Majesty's money, why don't you engrave my name on it?

The shifting beast named "Glove" did the same, taking advantage of the moment when Black Claw missed its bite to leap up and chase after its master.

"Stop them! Don't let him get away!"

Hearing her companion's shout, Bella quickly dropped two seeds. The entwined plants sprouted from the soil and chased after the orc and the teleporting beast. Unexpectedly, the orc also had some knowledge of similar spells and immediately threw out several thorny vines. As soon as the two plants touched, they became entangled and unable to move.

"The mountains are high and the roads are long, we'll meet again!" Seeing that his opponents couldn't catch up, the orc hunter laughed triumphantly. "As long as you're alive, you won't escape my grasp!"

"Be prepared to die and come after me, if you dare! I'll be waiting for you in Riha—"

“You can’t just spout threats and run away, that’s stupid,” von Dahl stopped and watched the man and beast disappear from the dwarves’ sight, spitting on the ground. “Even a Losbeast would guess there’s a trap.”

“Let’s talk about whether it’s a trap or not later, Uncle Vondar,” Angelita said. “I saw your hand earlier—”

“It’s alright, it’s a prosthetic arm,” the dwarf raised his hand. The skin covering the arm that had blocked the surprise attack from the dwarf had cracked open, exposing the twisted, solid steel bones underneath, which were still sparking. “We need to find a place to readjust it. Although it’s not a big problem in the short term, the damage will be significant if it drags on.”

"Even though you didn't say it before, you must have been wondering where I kept all those mineral materials, right? Here it is."

Chapter 345 The Dwarf's Prosthetic Hand

"Wow, grandpa, you're not a robot, are you? A Terminator? Like a T-40K?"

Upon seeing the dwarf's mechanical hand, Daisy immediately became excited, poking around wildly. "Is this the only part that's mechanical, or did you modify your entire body? Where are your eyes? Where are your legs? You wouldn't even have a beard—"

"Don't touch my beard!" The dwarf slapped Daisy away with his other hand. "Go away, do you think everyone's as crazy as you? This is just a fake! Everything else is real—especially my beard!"

"Young lady, don't touch things everywhere, what if you mess them up?"

"Tch, I never knew you had a neatly trimmed beard..." The bard rolled his eyes and then began to mutter some incomprehensible phrases like "flesh and blood are weak" and "mechanical ascension," which enlivened the surrounding air.

"You've taken down that big guy!" Bella and Blackclaw ran over to join them, immediately spotting the dwarf's prosthetic limb, which wasn't particularly well-hidden. "Vondar, you—"

“Just a harmless little secret,” the dwarf shrugged nonchalantly, but when he saw Bella’s somewhat pitying expression, he immediately became annoyed. “What, you don’t think old von Dahl is disabled, do you? I’ve had this hand for almost a century!”

"But your prosthetic hand only just disappeared..." "Nonsense! I can fix it and make it work just like new! You think this is the first time it's malfunctioned?"

The dwarf's words left his companions both confident and uncertain: "It can be repaired and looks brand new, but it always breaks down?"

Regardless, the group ultimately decided to trust Von Dahl's skills, even if they didn't, there was nothing they could do, since the dwarf was the only expert in the group in this field.

“Give me one night,” the dwarf began rummaging through his luggage for the materials and tools he needed. “I should be able to get it to work, but I’ll have to wait until I find a forge to really fix it.”

“But we probably don’t have that much time,” Bella said hesitantly. “I’m sorry, that’s my problem, but it’s true—the orc and his pet ran away.”

“They can’t escape. They’re a group of enemies with unclear motives but clear objectives. We can’t let them get away with this,” Angelita frowned. “Otherwise, we’ll never have a peaceful day again.”

“I can no longer agree with that, Your Highness,” Mary interjected, “but the problem is, where should we look for him now?”

“Of course it’s that Riharo. Since that guy has made it clear, there’s no need to rush to find him.” The bard’s eyes were still scanning the dwarf’s oddly shaped arm. “By the way, Old Lei, you must know where that is, right?”

“I know,” Leslaufer nodded. “The Forest of Riha, also known as the Riha Forest, is located between Central Inassus and Eastern Inassus.”

“People always say that elves live there, and other creatures... but to be honest, I’ve never seen any. Even one of my elf friends doesn’t know if any of her kind live there.”

It is generally believed that the elves completely retreated to the southeast of the Golin Otto Mountains, but in reality, it was impossible for them to have left so cleanly. The Elven King of Korazund led his people in a struggle for many years, and there may have been elves living in seclusion in Inathas, just not in such a high-profile manner.

"But now it seems that the so-called elves may be nothing but a fabrication, while the true nature of them is that they harbor filth and evil."

Although the Forest of Riha was not far from Raslaufer's hometown, there was no lord there recruiting mercenaries, so Doble naturally had no interest in exploring it further; he only knew its location.

The corpse and blood of the gray bag beast rotted and stank, and the foul smell could be carried hundreds of meters away by the wind. Naturally, the place where the group originally planned to rest could no longer be stayed. Fortunately, the wilderness was so vast that after passing through the first half of the night, a weary campfire was finally lit.

The dwarf volunteered to take on the night watch, but the others were unsure whether von Dahl, who was preoccupied with repairing his arm, was up to the task, so they assigned shifts as usual.

"Ask whatever you want."

As dawn broke, von Dahl finally stabilized his arm. The dwarf turned around and saw Bella staring at him curiously: "Don't just stare, you're giving me the creeps."

"Your hand... I'm just curious, of course," the druid hesitated for a moment, "how... did it get injured?"

"Injured? Hahahaha!" Feng Daer laughed. "Just tell me how it died! Even if I'm fragile, that's all in the past now!"

“There’s nothing to hide, and my injury is nothing to be ashamed of. I saved our clan’s chieftain, who is also my father. I will be proud of that for the rest of my life. Besides—”

"This hand is so much better than my original one."

Bella didn't know how much of the dwarf's words were true or false, but in any case, it seemed she shouldn't delve any further into it.

The following day, as the cold morning wind swept across the wilderness, a large flock of vultures, ravens, and flies scattered over the carcass of the gray sac-like beast in the distance. These behemoths, like walking plagues, reproduced by forming and shedding growths on their bodies. Their existence was a disaster for nature and everything beyond it, but their deaths provided a feast for the creatures around them.

But the person who killed it might be an exception.

“Neither central nor eastern Inathas is orc territory, and their reach doesn’t extend here,” Raslaufer said, glancing again at the giant beast’s corpse whose skull he had personally lifted. “This creature probably isn’t either.”

"While von Dahl needs to get his arm repaired, I think we should take this opportunity to go to town and find someone to inform them about this."

"An orc has infiltrated?" Mary raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, I always thought you were a lone wolf..."

“That’s nonsense. I’m a mercenary, and I deal mostly with lords and commanders of various warbands—as well as new recruits and veterans,” Leslaufer scoffed. “It’s just that this mission, being with other mercenaries, has brought more trouble than help.”

“But one thing at a time, that orc clearly has someone backing him. He could be a group of orc tribes that have infiltrated Inathas, or worse, they could have lived and multiplied in Rihar for generations. If their target wasn’t Annie, I would have preferred to keep to myself, but it seems that’s no longer possible.”

"Orcs love war, so the best way to defeat them is to win the war with a warband."

Chapter 346 The Lion's Encampment

The eastern part of Inasas is far less prosperous and developed than the western part, with few towns, but the martial spirit is much stronger. As a result, the encampments of various mercenary groups are scattered across the land like stars, which can be roughly regarded as villages and towns.

Following his memory, Raslaufer led the group diagonally toward Rihar. Two or three days later, they indeed arrived at a military camp nestled against a mountain stream. Several triangular flags with abstract patterns fluttered in the wind atop wooden towers. As they drew closer, they could see several guards clad in leather armor, each carrying a crossbow.

“These people’s crossbows are specially made; they make a sharp sound when fired.” Leslaufer nodded to the group and strode forward.

"Who goes there!" The side of the mountain facing the wilderness had been cleared by human hands, leaving no cover. Raslaufer was spotted as soon as he peeked out, but the crossbowmen on top did not fire rashly. Instead, they aimed at Dople and shouted a question.

“Friend, I need your help, and I've also brought a business opportunity!” Raslaufer raised his hands and stopped a short distance away. “I see the flag hasn't been changed yet, is that Old Dahl's team?”

“…Old Dar?” The guards exchanged glances. They hadn’t seen anyone dare to address their leader like that in a long time. “What is your relationship with our Lion?”

“Friend,” Leslaufer repeated the word, “since you all call him that, it seems I’ve come to the right place—go tell him about it and let him make the decision!”

Two of the guards immediately disappeared from the tower, while the rest continued to monitor Raslaufer's every move, but lowered their crossbows slightly. Seeing this reaction, Raslaufer turned around and waved for his companions to gather around and stand where the guards could see them, to avoid any misunderstandings.

“This guy has always been narcissistic,” Raslaw said with a slight smile. “He doesn’t allow his men to call him by his full name. Calling him ‘boss’ or ‘commander’ is too tacky, so they have to call him ‘our lion’ or ‘Lion Dahl’.”

"Then we can stop calling it that?" Daisy asked.

“Of course, because I’m here,” Doble nodded, “but you’d better respect him. In our line of work, it’s not easy to live to fifty without retiring.”

Even among the orcs born for war, very few live past forty.

As the group was talking, the gates of the fortress suddenly creaked open. Two strong young mercenaries pushed open the wooden doors on either side, but there was only one young man standing in the middle, and no one else.

"The lion has agreed to see you. Come in!" The young man's voice was loud and clear, full of energy, and his words were very clear. Even Angelita and the others, who were not familiar with the languages ​​of central and eastern Inas, could clearly understand what he meant.

"A show of force? You really like playing this game." Seeing this, Leslaufer shook his head disapprovingly, raised his hand and waved behind him, signaling everyone to follow him. However, just as the group arrived at the entrance of the village, the young man showed no intention of giving way, still blocking the middle of the road, staring intently at the uninvited visitors.

“Get out of the way, little guy,” Leslaufer stopped in front of him, looking down at him expressionlessly. “You’re blocking my way.”

"Since you've come here seeking our help, you must follow our rules!" The young man remained unmoved and retorted, "No weapons allowed!"

"I said get out of the way!" The young man's voice was loud, and Raslaufer's was even louder. With Doppler's height advantage, he took another step forward, which was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, making the person in front of him turn pale instantly.

Even so, he remained standing on the line with the goal, not taking a single step back. This caused a flicker of admiration to flash in Raslaufer's eyes.

He roughly understood why Dahl had sent this young man.

"What if I insist on going in today?" Dople picked up his greatsword with his other hand. Although the bloodstains on it had long been washed away, the stench of the gray sack beast still lingered on the sword. When Raslaufer swung it, even the mercenaries who had also tasted blood changed color.

This is a tough nut to crack, tougher than all of them combined.

“Forcibly entering the camp can be considered an enemy attack!” The young man closest to Leslaufer gritted his teeth, drew his sword halfway out from his waist, revealing two rows of teeth, and taunted like a little lion.

However, just as he was about to draw his sword completely, the weapon he had used for several years simply wouldn't come out of its sheath. It felt as if a huge boulder weighed a thousand pounds had been placed on his palm, making it hard for him to breathe.

The young man looked down along his arm and saw that the other man's gauntlet was resting on the end of his sword hilt. He continued to exert force, but the blade began to retract into the scabbard instead—as if he was afraid of the other man!

"What's wrong with Erwin today?" "Is he chickening out?" "This isn't like him!" "I knew he'd always been just a lapdog, not a lion!"

The whispers and even mockery of his companions around him felt like a thousand arrows piercing his heart. Eager to prove himself, he turned from pale to flushed red and then purple. But no matter what, he couldn't stop his sword from "hiding" back in its sheath, never daring to show itself again!

He could, of course, do the opposite and draw his sword from its sheath—but what would be the point? He couldn't retreat! Nor could the sheath!

The annoyed young man wanted to look up and glare at the rude guest, but before he could even raise his head halfway, the cold gauntlet had already touched the top of his head.

A steady but heavy breath sprayed onto his forehead. The young man had no doubt that if he dared to try to raise his head again, this man would press his head back into his chest cavity like pressing his sword back!

"Can I go in now?"

Every word, uttered with an Eastern Inathas accent, pounded against Erwin's heart. Under such pressure, he swallowed hard, strained his neck, and roared out a voice he had never used before:

"Disarm! Otherwise, you will not be allowed to enter!"

“Too much rigidity leads to breakage.” Daisy shook her head, while her companions stared at her in shock—could a poet really say such a thing?

In his despair, a heavenly female voice suddenly reached Erwin's ears, making his bones feel like they were melting. With the last of his strength, he tried to look up and see who was judging him.

He felt he was about to succeed. But at that moment, the deep, resonant voice of their lion rang out behind him:

"It really is you, Leslaufer! You bastard, you're still alive!"

Chapter 347 The Lion Dahl

Raslaufer looked up and saw an elderly man with light gray hair and beard, clad in armor, striding towards him. This old man was no ordinary person; not only was he strong, but he was also only half a head shorter than Raslaufer. If he were ten or so years younger, it was possible that one of them would be taller. His beard, like thorns, covered the lower half of his face, growing wildly in all directions, indeed resembling the mane of a lion.

"Reslaufer! You little brat who can't be killed even if you're torn to pieces!"

“Dal.” Raslaufer narrowed his eyes and seemingly casually pushed the young mercenary under his control toward the other party, stepping over the line that Erwin was desperately guarding.

The latter reached out his thick arm to catch the young man who was about to fall, but when he touched him, he made a "hmm" sound and his arm fell backward, barely managing to catch him.

"Reslaufer, I'm already fifty-one years old. If you try to wrestle with me now, I'm no match for you!"

"If you hadn't chickened out so early, you might have been able to hold on for a few more years," Dobul chuckled. "Now, are you regretting it?"

“Not really. Not everyone has your luck to survive on the battlefield,” the old man, who was none other than the Lion Dahl that Raslaufer had mentioned, pushed the still-shaken young man forward and placed his hands on Elwin’s shoulders. “The kids told me what you looked like, and I guessed it was you. Look, this is my carefully chosen successor, one of my adopted sons, named Elwin. How does it feel?”

“Of course it’s good,” Leslaufer had already guessed this, but when he looked at the young man again, he saw that the other man was staring intently behind him. “But you have to change his temperament, or he’ll die on a woman’s breasts sooner or later.”

Erwin was startled by these words and quickly lowered his head to avert his gaze, looking at his toes—damn it, why couldn't he control his eyes!

This man clearly knows my adoptive father, yet my adoptive father still needs to consult him! If he's given such a evaluation, then wouldn't that mean—!

"What's the big deal? Do you want to end up like me, old and without a son?"

To Erwin's relief, Dahl didn't seem to care: "What's wrong with a man liking a woman? I don't want him to turn into a beast like you—you're not even as good as a beast in that respect!"

“Keep talking, and I’ll have a reason to tear this place down,” Leslaufer grinned. “Anyway, I’ve said what I wanted to say, and what you think is none of my business.”

“I know you’ve never had the time for this,” the old lion said, looking around. “What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and bring everyone in! Not a single grain of sand is allowed to be touched. If anyone dares to have any wicked thoughts, I still have a few teeth left in my mouth!”

Upon hearing their leader give the order, the mercenaries in the camp dared not hesitate. Some led the way, while others drove the vehicles, and they arranged the luggage in a makeshift tent, while the horses were led to the back.

"Be careful, these are all warhorses, don't feed them pack animals!" The old mercenary had a sharp eye; after sizing up the animals pulling the cart, he saw through their trick. "You've gone to plunder those knights again?"

"I killed a few while rescuing people, and we happened to need some to pull the cart anyway," Raslaw said casually, but it left the surrounding mercenaries speechless.

Mercenary groups generally can't afford to support cavalry; they're lucky if they have a few messenger riders.

“See this? This is him,” Dahl patted his adopted son on the shoulder. “Your defeat at his hands is hardly a loss. If you had won, I would have been surprised.”

"Men, let me introduce you. This is Reslaufer, from the east! He worked for me for three months back then. When I was almost buried alive in a pile of corpses, he was the one who pulled me out of the battlefield!"

"It was him?" "So it was him!"

Upon hearing Dahl's explanation, many mercenaries looked enlightened. It seemed that Dahl had boasted to his men about his past exploits—Raslaufer naturally remembered that battle, which was indeed extremely dangerous.

"Reslaufer, whatever you want to do, you'll be treated the same as me!" Dahl laughed and patted his chest. "If I have a bite to eat, I won't give you even half a bite!"

"Tell me, what brings you here?"

"Let's go somewhere else?" Leslaufer gestured towards the sizable two-story building in the village. Dahl raised his eyebrows slightly but didn't say anything, simply leading everyone directly towards his residence.

After hearing Reslaufer's explanation, Dahl pondered for a moment: "You can use the furnace and bellows as you please, and the materials are the same; they're not expensive, nothing special. But you're talking about Hasssen here..."

“Reslaufer, I think you’ve got something wrong.”

"Hmm?" Dobler waited for his old friend to continue.

“There are no orc tribes in the Forest of Riha, I can say that for sure—although I don’t know exactly where the orc you encountered came from,” the old mercenary said, “but you can trust me on that point.”

"Of course I believe you. But if it's not orcs, what could be there?"

“It’s hard to say,” Dar said, now it was Dar’s turn to be hesitant. “You may not know, but I can confirm that there are indeed some elves living in seclusion there, and even other creatures that we can’t imagine. The little fairies you mentioned should also exist there.”