CH435 Wildlands Rules I

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The most eager to get their hands on the tollmen were the members of the security team.

Alex's order had barely fallen when Kavakan shot past him like a cannonball, charging straight at the scrawny leader of the tollmen. The man still had his wits about him and twisted aside at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the axe meant to cleave him in two.

The weapon did not stop.

Carrying terrifying momentum, the axe flew another thirty metres and split the skull of an unfortunate goon standing near the roadblock.

Kavakan didn't slow down.

The moment the axe left his hand, he surged forward again, leading the charge straight into the tollmen.

Mogal followed close behind. As the scrawny leader scrambled to recover from his evasive roll, Mogal's massive leg came down like a falling tree.

Crack!

"ARGH!"

The man screamed as his thighs were crushed beneath the barbarian's trunk-like legs, snapping like brittle twigs.

Mogal didn't even spare him a glance.

He simply continued his charge, barreling toward the rest of the tollmen.

With the two hulking leaders of the security team at the forefront, the Fury knight-soldiers followed closely behind. They had no choice but to keep up—otherwise, the battle would be over before they even had a chance to strike.

Kavakan and Mogal tore into the enemy ranks with savage efficiency.

The tollmen barely had time to react.

It was like wolves descending upon sheep.

But that was only the beginning of their nightmare.

[Slow]!

[Icicle Barrage]!

[Fire Lance]!

Alex fell back slightly, joining Zora and Mordor as they unleashed spells into the clustered tollmen.

From behind them, Silver and the Crossbowmen fired in disciplined volleys, arrows and bolts tearing through exposed gaps. Even Fen and Senu joined the fray, adding their own brand of devastation.

Only Udara remained still.

She stood quietly at the rear, observing the battlefield.

Yet from time to time, her arms twitched—as if she were about to move—only for her to stop herself a heartbeat later.

If one paid close attention, it was clear why.

Each time she prepared to act, the danger threatening an expedition member was resolved by another before she could intervene.

Even the slightest injury was erased almost instantly—Eleanor's healing spells sealed wounds before blood could even pool nor spill.

The two injured leaders of the tollmen stared at the scene with eyes wide as saucers.

"Sorcerers?!" the scrawny man roared in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell us you were sorcerers?!"

The moment the word left his mouth, panic rippled through the tollmen.

Their will to fight shattered.

Several of the wiser ones immediately threw down their weapons and dropped to their knees in surrender. Others hesitated—only a moment too long—and were cut down by the overly excited expedition members.

As the last pockets of resistance collapsed, the surviving tollmen were dragged to the ground, disarmed and restrained.

By long-standing convention, those who surrendered were not to be killed.

The expedition members turned toward Alex, awaiting his decision.

Alex's eyes remained frigid.

Even as he launched a few spells during the clash, his gaze never truly left the two tollmen leaders—especially the burly one writhing on the ground.

In his extreme state of Calm Madness—or perhaps because of it—Alex barely held onto his composure. His thoughts were cruel, vivid, and relentless. Merely skinning the man alive barely scratched the surface of what crossed his mind.

It was painfully clear to everyone present that the tollman had touched Alex's reverse scale.

So much so that not a single expedition member dared take independent action. Every man waited with bated breaths.

They strictly waited for his order.

Although seeing Alex angry on their behalf stirred something fierce and protective in them, his wives couldn't help but worry about how deep his rage had gone. Zora and Eleanor exchanged a glance, uncertain how to pull him back from that chilling state.

Before either could speak, Udara—who had never left Alex's side—stepped in front of him.

"Master, I need them," she said quickly. "The scout team can get information out of them."

She looked up at him, eyes earnest and pleading.

Unbeknownst to her, her succubus charm trait subtly activated—cutting through the storm of cruel, nefarious thoughts clouding Alex's mind.

"Let us question them first," she added softly. "You can decide what to do with them after. I promise… we won't be gentle."

Her voice—combined with her expression—was a clear light cutting through darkness.

It created an opening.

Alex drew in a slow breath… then released it.

It was as though he was exhaling his rage itself.

The crimson chill in his eyes softened. His familiar, gentle smile returned—calm, composed and controlled.

"Alright," he said quietly.

Then, more clearly, "I can't say no when you look at me like that, can I? Go ahead. Do it."

Udara smiled—bright and relieved.

Not because she'd gotten her way, but because she'd brought him back.

Though there was no true competition among the women, Udara sometimes felt she didn't contribute as much as her two sisters. This moment mattered to her. For once, she had 'beat' them in something they could all do.

Zora and Eleanor both released quiet sighs of relief upon seeing Alex return to himself.

That was when a broken voice rang out.

"Why…?"

The scrawny leader looked up, terror filling his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell us you were sorcerers?" he said. "If we knew… if we knew, we would never have messed with you."

Alex turned to the man.

The warmth with which he had looked at Udara was gone. In its place, a trace of the earlier frigid cold had returned.

"Why should it matter whether I am a sorcerer or not?" Alex asked calmly. "You demanded a toll you had no right to, and I was magnanimous enough to pay it. You raised the price unilaterally, and I was still willing to comply."

His voice dropped.

"And yet, that wasn't enough."

"You should have taken the money and let us leave. Instead, you let your filthy eyes wander toward my people… my women." His cold, measured words echoed in the ears of both the scrawny man and the bleeding brute beside him.

"Did you ever stop to think," Alex continued, "why someone would dare bring women like them into the Wildlands? Did it ever cross your mind that perhaps—just perhaps—we could defend ourselves? Or that we might have backing you could not afford to offend?"

He locked eyes with the scrawny man.

It was often said the eyes were windows to the soul.

And there, Alex saw the truth.

Unlike the idiotic brute, this one had thought about it. He simply believed the Wildlands would shield him from consequence—and that Alex's party lacked enough visible deterrence to make caution worthwhile.

"We did nothing wrong," the burly man snarled suddenly. "This is the way of the Wildlands. The strong devour the weak until nothing remains."

"Shut up!" the scrawny man shouted.

But the brute ignored him.

"If you were weaker, none of this would be a mistake. You'd be the ones begging!" he roared. "So stop wasting time and kill us already! It's your right!"

"Shut the hell up!" the scrawny man cursed back. "If you want to die, go do it yourself!"

He turned to Alex, panic spilling into his voice.

"Please, sir. Please let us go. You're a magnanimous sorcerer—there's no benefit in our deaths."

Alex sighed.

"You're right," he said quietly. "You're both right."

He straightened.

"Thank you. I will remember these lessons."

Then he turned to Udara and nodded.

"Make it quick. Corroborate everything they say. Anyone who lies—don't waste time. Kill them immediately."

Udara inclined her head. "And those who tell the truth?"

"Let them go."

The answer shocked her.

"Let them… go?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

Alex nodded.

"This happened because we have no infamy," he said evenly. "Someone needs to live—so our name spreads."

Relief flooded the scrawny man's face.

"Yes—yes! We'll tell everyone! We'll make sure no one ever messes with you again!"

Around him, the remaining subdued tollmen hurriedly echoed the same promises.

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