Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

400. Misguided intentions (6)

Two thick stone slabs sealed the entire well completely, not to prevent others from polluting the well water, but to prevent the well water from polluting others. Since the last time they learned their lesson, two young men from the security team were specially assigned to guard this place to ensure that no one who was too thirsty would dare to drink water here.

Every other day, the few horse-drawn carriages in the town would be driven out to transport water from dozens of miles away. The townspeople would then gather in the square to distribute the water according to the number of people in their households. Because the water was becoming increasingly scarce and precious, they dared not wash their clothes or take baths. Even the wastewater that had been used a few times would be put to good use.

Such a life was unbearable. Residents of water-scarce areas might have gotten used to it. But for the residents of this place, who never had to worry about water and lived in the mild and humid southern plains, it was truly like being skinned alive, and the whole town became lifeless.

Even recently, in order to solve the drinking water problem here, the residents pooled their money to dig a new well. They painstakingly dug dozens of meters down before they finally found water, but it still contained a deadly poison... This only means one thing: not just that well, but the groundwater of their entire town has been completely polluted.

Although no one has died of thirst yet, the dire situation has caused widespread anxiety. However, thanks to the efforts of Lydos's security forces, no major disturbances have occurred. Furthermore, news recently spread that the Empire is preparing to send professionals to clean the water source, greatly encouraging the town's residents.

Today was another difficult day filled with hope. Carts carrying water returned one after another, but apart from those with sealed water tanks, the other carts that used wooden buckets to transport water inevitably lost a lot of water. Every remaining drop was extremely precious, and some people even argued over a small layer at the bottom of the bucket.

It was under these circumstances that Ludos returned to town. The other wagons had returned earlier than him and had already begun distributing the water they had brought back. He also slowly pulled his mule over, and a group of people who were originally queuing behind the other wagons immediately gathered around.

"It's the same as before. Adults get more and children get less, calculated according to the number of people in each family. Everyone knows what's going on. Don't try to cheat or shirk your responsibilities. If someone is caught cheating, they won't get any water next time. They'll have to walk dozens of miles to fetch water themselves and see if they have time to do their own work."

After saying that, he jumped off the carriage and walked to the water tank at the back—there was a curved copper pipe at the bottom of the tank, plugged with a cork stopper. Once opened, it would flow uncontrollably, and it would take a little skill to avoid wasting this precious clean water.

The task of distributing water to this carriage has always been done by Lydos. With his current prestige, this can effectively avoid a lot of trouble and gossip. Moreover, he knows the population and situation here like the back of his hand, and he can tell how much water to give away with his eyes closed.

The sun grew hotter and hotter, making him parched. Any water droplets he accidentally spilled on the ground dried up completely in the blink of an eye. Only after distributing the water to the last person did he take out a wooden bucket and fill it with all the remaining water from the water tank... filling the bucket to exactly one-third full. That was all the water he had for the day.

He hurried home carrying the wooden bucket, eager to pour the contents into the water vat, otherwise it would be a sin to let even a single drop evaporate under the sun... However, as he passed the tavern, his steps involuntarily slowed, a hesitant expression appearing on his face, and he became uncertain.

The cellar below the tavern still holds the ale they bought before, but the owner has raised the price arbitrarily in the current situation, and it's no longer the kind of drink that can be used to quench thirst directly. Even if he drinks it every day, it still hurts his wallet.

But his hesitation lasted only a moment. He quickly continued walking forward. It wasn't that he had given up on coming here to drink, but rather that he planned to pour the water into the water tank before coming back to sell the wine. Otherwise, he was afraid that once he started drinking, he would be delayed.

Next to the town is a low hill where the residents have planted some fruit trees, but there are not many and they are sparse. Rabbits can often be seen there. In the past two days, no one has taken the time to take care of them, and they have become overgrown with weeds. Some low grass and shrubs have buried the lower half of the fruit trees.

Lydos crossed the street, passing right at the foot of the hill, his aroused craving for alcohol and a dry cough making him restless. He kept glancing around, trying to distract himself. His gaze initially didn't linger as it passed the orchard on the hill, but after turning his head, he suddenly jerked it back—

The orchard looked very quiet, with hardly any treetops swaying and no birds flying around, like a vivid oil painting. But here's the problem—this grove couldn't possibly be this quiet, it's the breeding season for birds, how could there not be a single one?

"It might just be a coincidence..."

As Ludos spoke, he didn't look away, his brow still furrowed, staring intently at the woods. He stood frozen in place like a statue.

Time passed by, and his brows furrowed deeper and deeper. The small black shadow he had hoped for did not fly out of the woods. The forest began to reveal an eeriness and gloom in his eyes.

An ordinary town resident might overlook this phenomenon, but he wouldn't. He was a man who had survived three battles, so he knew exactly what was going on—someone had startled the birds in the woods beforehand, which was why it was so quiet there.

If he discovered this forest while marching, he would never go in before he had thoroughly investigated it. He would rather flee from the lord's army than foolishly walk into a forest with an ambush and be riddled with arrows.

Could it be someone from the town? ...No, that shouldn't be the case. There are no fruits or water sources there, and he doesn't think the town's residents would have the leisure to go to that grassy hillside. So who could it be?

He put down the wooden bucket in his hand, his fingers unconsciously gripping the long sword at his waist. After a slight hesitation, he decided to go and see... to find out who went there. Maybe he would find a wild boar there.

Just as he was about to set off, a cheer suddenly came from afar, filled with undisguised joy, and more and more voices joined in, soon spreading throughout half of the town, with noisy cheers everywhere.

Ludos was confused again, wondering what was wrong with the guys in town. They were so thirsty just a moment ago that they didn't even want to talk, so why were they making such a fuss now?

After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to go to the square first and ask someone. He would look for the fruit trees on the mountain later. Anyway, whatever it was, there would definitely be some traces there. He could just look for it slowly later.

So he returned the way he came, making sure not to forget to pour his half-full bucket of water into the water vat and put the bucket away properly before returning to the square. He then reached out and grabbed Cato, with whom he had become quite familiar.

"What's going on? Everyone's making such a fuss, like something good is happening."

"Ah, boss, didn't you know!"

Cato, beaming with joy, explained to Lydos:

"A messenger just arrived, saying that the scholars who are working on solving the water problem will be here soon. We won't have to go through the trouble of hauling water anymore! We can drink to our hearts' content without worry."

A smile immediately appeared on Ludos's face, and he instantly forgot about what had just happened... He was also fed up with the exhaustion and toil of traveling dozens of miles every day to fetch water, so it would be great if the matter could be resolved.

Soon, several prominent figures in the town were waiting at the gate. Even Ludos was pulled over by them, and under the scorching sun, he looked longingly at the road in the distance, hoping that a procession and entourage would arrive at the next moment.

The team arrived very quickly, so quickly that the sun didn't even have time to make him sweat... The Imperials seem to be very efficient at everything they do, whether on the battlefield or in daily administration, a fact he had long since come to understand quite deeply.

But he was still taken aback by the sheer size of the group. In fact, when they first came into view, he almost reached for his sword. Few people could see countless armored soldiers remaining calm as they marched toward their village. In this era, this was a harbinger of disaster. Those cold steel pieces were not meant for chopping wood or building; they were forged from the anvil to be stained with blood.

The first to appear was a group of elite knights draped in lion skins. They rode tall, powerful warhorses that resembled giant beasts, wielding gleaming halberds. They spurred their horses forward at breakneck speed toward the gate, then, in a moment of close approach, skillfully parted to the sides, dismounted, and drove the onlookers back.

Even the most confused person can calm down in front of them. The onlookers hurriedly stepped back, quickly making way for the doorway. The group then calmly entered the gate. The scholars in robes and the soldiers in armor were clearly separated, but they were all surrounding a girl in a purple dress.

Ludos couldn't see the girl clearly. She was wearing a wide sun hat, and he could only see her long, light blue hair hanging down from the brim like silk. But from her every move, he could tell that she was definitely a beautiful girl, enough to make the girls in town feel ashamed.

They couldn't interfere with what happened next, and could only watch with anticipation as the imperial scholars busied themselves around their well. Lydos, too, was all smiles, determined to go to the tavern for a big celebration later.

Just as he was happily anticipating the upcoming alcoholic feast, a cool breeze suddenly swept over him, instantly cooling his sun-heated skin. Only then did he realize that he was standing in a position where he could see the well in the center of the square... and the hill covered with fruit trees in the distance directly opposite the well.

Ludos suddenly froze. Something was roaring wildly in his consciousness, struggling to break free, yet always separated by a hazy barrier, leaving him both confused and terrified.

His heart pounded, faster and faster. He looked up frantically, almost frantically, wondering why he was so anxious… until one moment, his gaze fell on the girl standing by the well. His mind exploded, and he shouted almost recklessly:

"Get out of the way!!"

Whoosh! Ding!

Her cotton dress was torn open, revealing the shiny, neat armor plates underneath. The tip of the arrow was bent and deformed, and it was flung far away. The impact also made the girl take two steps back and fall to the ground. She was immediately helped up by the guards next to her and dragged into the steel wall made of armored soldiers.

The next moment, the iron cavalry outside immediately split into two groups, kicking up clouds of dust as they galloped toward the hill. One of them even took down a horn and blew it loudly—

Waaah————~

The residents had no idea what was happening; they only saw in horror that the dust and smoke from the distant road began to rise again. Countless armored vehicles weaved through the dust, and mighty warhorses trampled the surrounding land with their iron hooves. The war drums thundered, as if this remote town had instantly transformed into a battlefield of swords and spears, a place of fierce fighting and life-or-death struggle.

In the center of the armored soldiers' circle, the girl, panting, took off her hat. Along with the hat, her light blue wig fell off, revealing Yelia's face covered in cold sweat. Alka turned his head and nodded slightly to her. Yelia smiled faintly, her face pale. The two then looked up together at the hill that had been turned upside down.

He glanced at Alka, then shifted his attention, took two steps forward, crouched down, picked up the crossbow bolt from the ground, and looked at the end bent by the steel armor plates:

"...Fortunately, it wasn't a military device, and the distance was far enough, otherwise it would have been quite dangerous."

Ye Liya, still somewhat shaken, looked at the bent armor plate on her chest and felt the heavy pressure the double armor placed on her shoulders.

"Is this what it feels like to be hit by an arrow? Like being punched in the face..."

"Without armor, you'd only feel like you've been poked with red-hot iron pliers, and then you'd be in excruciating pain."

Alka reached out and pulled her up from the ground, just as the sun was passing overhead...

401 Exposure (1)

With a ding, fine ripples spread across the well water, continuously propagating along this medium, pulverizing the tiny, venomous creatures in the water into invisible particles, and signifying that the well water has been restored to cleanliness and safety.

Tarina took a breath, stood up from beside the well, shook her neck, and a relieved expression appeared on her face.

"In this way, most of the water sources have been treated, leaving only one in a remote village... Ye Liya and the others have already gone there, I don't know how it went."

"It'll be fine. Alka is there. He can pin a donkey to the ground with his bare hands, and he has so many cavalrymen with him. That girl is even wearing two layers of iron armor... To be honest, if I were to do it, I would just quit."

Karila, standing beside the well, gripped the pillar next to the well and, somewhat irritated, forcefully brushed back the strand of blonde hair that kept falling across her forehead. This mistake, made when she tied her hair up, combined with the occasional breeze today, made the strand of hair constantly itch on her forehead.

Just as she was considering whether to cut the hair off, Tarina, who couldn't bear to watch any longer, took over the task. She turned her around and, with her nimble fingers, quickly re-tied her hair, finally bringing all the loose strands together and neatly covering her head.

Karila displayed an unusual quietness and submissiveness throughout the process, causing Colin, who was on guard further away, to frequently turn his head to look at her, almost unable to believe that this was the same fierce and agile Imperial Champion... especially after fighting with him twice, she thought she knew this guy's character better than anyone else.

"Is it finished?"

The tall figure standing at the street corner turned around. Today, Tersolius was not wearing his armor or his magnificent black silk robe. Instead, he was dressed like a slightly wealthier citizen in a clean and well-fitting black short robe. His leather boots were also very simple, and the wrinkles and bends in them revealed a bit of age.

Apart from that, he only wore a short sword hanging from his waist with a leather belt... However, no matter how ordinary his attire was, his aura of being used to giving orders, holding a high position, and surviving countless battles was hard to conceal. No matter where he stood, it was always difficult for people not to notice him.

For this reason, his disguise had little effect whatsoever... but the large number of jailers and henchmen in the shadows of the surrounding streets ensured absolute safety while achieving his intended purpose.

The well problem must be solved by Tarina, but he wouldn't be foolish enough to expose his doctor to those with ill intentions, no matter how much preparation he makes, because he wouldn't tolerate even the slightest failure.

So, under his orders, the people responsible for solving the water problem were divided into two groups, one openly and one covertly. One group was openly and ostentatiously organized to deceive those with ill intentions who wanted to assassinate them. They were not only escorted by a large number of elite cavalry, but also deliberately started their operations when the crowds were dense. Yelia, who was similar in stature to Talina, was chosen to disguise herself as a doctor. Moreover, as Talina's deputy, this girl was quite familiar with the doctor's lifestyle and daily demeanor.

In addition, he specially brought in fine armor from the armory—all masterpieces of the imperial craftsmen. The chainmail's rings were so small that even a chopstick couldn't pass through them. They were tightly interlocked, and covered with a layer of fine, neat scale armor that even the army's heavy crossbows would find difficult to pierce with a single shot. He needed to bring out those hiding in the shadows, but he was still too stingy to allow his bait to be damaged in the process.

Meanwhile, the team secretly responsible for solving the water problem was actually this one. They staggered the locations and, with the help of secret escorts and henchmen, accelerated the resolution of the province's water problem while everyone's attention was drawn to the visible part. At the same time, they were ready to swiftly pursue and capture the other team if it was attacked.

Brazil's Saiyaros, the head of the Southern Headquarters, has already been dispatched to lead the elite of the Imperial Prison to wait for the right opportunity... Now it remains to be seen whether this cunning fish will take the bait.

He was tired of playing cat and mouse with these rats, outsmarting and outmaneuvering them. The other side always managed to conceal their true nature so cleverly, controlling every aspect of their organization through intrigue, parasitic toxins, and a tight organizational structure, able to cut their losses and survive at crucial moments... Of course, this was also partly because they had never truly captured any of the other side's key personnel so far.

Like catching fish in murky water, they gradually discerned each other's appearance, but could never truly grasp any crucial part of the fish to pull it out of the filth. Instead, the fish would always dart through the murky water, using cover to seize the opportunity to bite their ankles.

But this time he believed he would gain something extra, not only because he had made thorough preparations and deployed the elite troops of the entire south to the First Province, but also because the other side would inevitably send an important figure to coordinate such an important assassination operation... and this guy would become their opportunity to catch the other side by the tail.

The entire province of Hols I has now unknowingly become a den of dragons and tigers, a place the residents of those cities may never realize. They will never know what those seemingly casual passersby are up to, nor what skills those down-on-their-luck beggars huddled on the streets possess... He is like a hunter who has unleashed his hounds to set a trap, patiently waiting for news of his prey's appearance before setting out with his bow, arrows, and spear.

"Only one area remains, sir. If those people are going to make a move, this is our last chance... We should be able to find out the final result tonight."

Thesolius smiled and nodded, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the hilt of his sword. After a slight hesitation, he turned to look at the three men beside him who were awaiting his orders.

"Then there's no reason for us to stay here any longer. Let's find a more suitable place to wait."

"Uh... for example?"

Colin asked with some curiosity, his expression remaining perfectly calm. But those who knew him well would know that this girl had entered a state of calm yet murderous intent before a hunt, like hunting a brown bear in the mountains. People who cannot remain calm and composed often mess things up, and it's not impossible for them to even lose their lives.

"For example, a place that sells mutton soup also has excellent malt liquor."

Tersolius raised his eyebrows, turned around, and leaped into the front seat of the carriage in three quick steps. Then he turned back and patted the back seat.

"Get on the bus, ladies. We need to leave early to get there. I hope you're satisfied with today's driver, since this is my first time doing this too."

........................

Things were messed up. Completely messed up! ...

Patrick's heart sank to the bottom, but his feet moved swiftly through the jungle, deliberately plunging into the densest and most complex thickets.

The other two separated from him and retreated separately, also to reduce the target and increase the possibility of escape. If one of them was caught, the other two would not be implicated... However, such an escape would depend on each person's own abilities, and there would be no way to get help from their companions.

The moment he saw the crossbow bolt deflected, he knew things were over—the Imperials were clearly prepared, which was why they had their target wear heavy armor strong enough to withstand crossbow bolts. If they wanted to assassinate him at close range, they would have no chance of getting past the steel wall of elite armored soldiers, and the target would never leave the protection of those elite soldiers.

If there were only a few such guards, they would be confident of completing the mission. But if it were a well-coordinated and well-trained hundred-man squad, they would only cause damage to the enemy before crashing headlong into the tip of the halberd and dying... Although he had gained superhuman strength, he still could not withstand the most advanced violence of this era.

As for now, he was almost certain that the Imperials' henchmen had begun their pursuit, and those masked jailers would not let go of this opportunity to tear their flesh apart. A net had been cast over him, and now was the time to escape as quickly as possible, or he would be doomed.

Fortunately, to ensure everything went smoothly, he had already made an evacuation plan in advance—the three of them would evacuate in three different directions, hide in three pre-arranged hiding places, and after confirming their safety, they would meet at a pre-arranged location and then prepare for the next evacuation.

The sun shone on the jungle, and this place, which was originally quiet and peaceful, was now full of dangers. His nerves were on edge, and he dared not relax for a moment. Driven by the parasite, his feet helped him pass through the most rugged and difficult areas of the forest without stopping.

Even the most agile hunting dogs couldn't keep up with his speed, and even the most cunning foxes couldn't predict his movements, let alone a human. He ran like this for a long time until the sun began to set in the west with fiery red colors. Only then did he realize that he had escaped his pursuit. He slapped a tree trunk next to him and used the reaction force to stop himself.

The tendons in his legs and the black tentacles intertwined, providing him with powerful leg strength, but also making him extremely hot. All the key parts of his body were restless, clearly indicating that his desperate escape had greatly exhausted the parasite, which was now demanding more energy from him.

Without even glancing at the contents, he reached into the small leather pouch at his waist, pulled out a clear glass bottle containing a swirl of purple liquid, and was about to pull out the stopper—

Thud! —Smack!

A gust of wind flashed by, and the bottle in his hand disappeared in the blink of an eye. When he subconsciously looked up at the direction from which the sound came, he froze.

A figure clad in black robes stood silently in the shadows of the forest. His face, masked in iron, wore a dangerous, enigmatic smile, reminiscent of a knife thrust from behind. His right hand gripped a curved blade with a beautiful arc and a bright, lustrous sheen like autumn water. His left hand held a terrifying whip.

The reason this whip is so terrifying is simply because of its grotesque appearance. He had never seen a whip with such a structure before—it was made of layers of four sharp blades stacked and extended, each part with a gleaming blade, precisely connected and interlocked with each other, with a core woven from cowhide in the middle, and a sharp tip at the end. One can imagine the terrible wounds this thing would cause when it lashed a human body, enough to easily peel flesh from bone.

The medicine bottle he had just held had now fallen into the other person's deerskin glove with sharp steel claws—it was snatched from his hand by the whip with unimaginable speed and force, and he didn't even see the afterimage in the process.

"You were decisive enough and evacuated quickly enough. If I hadn't made thorough preparations beforehand, you probably would have gotten away. If that had happened, my dereliction of duty would have been irreparable... Hmm, perhaps I should express some kind of gratitude to you for your subsequent efforts."

Brazilian Saiyaros twirled the bottle in his hand with great interest. The steel claws in his hand slowly scraped across the glass, making a sharp, piercing noise. Meanwhile, the sharp blade in his right hand casually cut at the large tree next to him, shaving off strips of bark in an extremely neat manner.

“A villain and a coward like you will never amount to anything in your life, but I must sincerely thank you for what you will bring me next… such as glory and achievements, which I crave now. Even if I had to settle for less, I could slowly peel you back to see what lies beneath…”

"Let me guess where the core of the parasite on your body is located... I believe it should be in the area slightly below the center of your chest, close to your heart."

Patrick's face was stiff, but his eyes had already narrowed slightly—he wasn't going to sit idly by and wait to die. Brazil's Seyalos, however, seemed extremely relaxed. He slightly moved his arm, causing the blade to spin with dazzling light and shadow, then released his grip on the whip blade with his left hand, letting the terrifying barbs and sharp edges scatter along the whip.

"Alright, now I have to take you back. Depending on the situation, you might lose some limbs or organs... Before that, try to struggle."

402 Exposure (2)

Patrick inwardly scoffed at the enemy's foolishness. To use a whip, such an easily restricted weapon, in this dense jungle could easily get tangled in branches and trunks, creating a fatal opening for him.

But soon, his smile vanished... He was the pinnacle of the Holy Order's creation, agile and nimble, fierce and deadly, capable of severing a fly's wing or pinning a mosquito to a tree trunk with pinpoint accuracy... But now he had to retreat two steps in a sorry state, clutching his bloodied arm, his face grave.

The whip in the other man's hands was not like an inanimate object at all, but rather like a fierce and venomous snake. It skillfully avoided every cover in the jungle, as if it had its own life, and launched terrible bites at him. In one careless move, a large chunk of flesh was torn off his arm, exposing the bloody layer of fat and muscle fibers.

Even the parasite inside him was injured by this attack. A tentacle that had grown into his shoulder was hooked out and severed, wriggling and struggling between his fingers, with dark green blood splattering everywhere.

The wounds inflicted on him by the strange weapon in the opponent's hand were truly terrifying. A whole piece of flesh the size of a palm was viciously torn off, and blood flowed rapidly. Because the wound was so large, he could clearly feel the muscle spasms and the slickness of the blood with the five fingers he was using to cover his shoulder... He could even watch helplessly as the piece of flesh that had fallen into the grass was still slightly throbbing.

And this was just a slight graze. If his arm were properly entangled by the whip, one can easily imagine the horrific scene that would unfold, and any attempt to escape would come at a terrible cost.

Brazil's Saiyaros gently flicked his wrist, and the whip in his hand, made of stacked blades, began to tremble like a venomous snake, fluttering and unfolding in the air like a ribbon. The blades rubbed against each other, making a pleasant sound, just like an iron snake vibrating its scales, while the sharp tip at the end was like a slender snake tongue.

The next instant, with a flick of the wrist, the terrifying venomous snake shot toward his throat with lightning speed. All that could be seen was a flash of silver light in the air, followed by the crisp sound of the metal scales vibrating and the cold glint of the blade against his body. It was like a knife suddenly revealed in a casual conversation, catching him completely off guard.