CH436 Wildlands Rules II

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Without another word, Alex walked toward the toll wall—the crude roadblock of stone and scrap. He motioned for his followers to come along, while the soldiers stayed behind to assist the scouting team with the interrogations.

Zora followed at Alex's side. Eleanor, meanwhile, remained behind as well, lending her support to the scouts. After all, people were far more talkative when they were in good health.

Just off the roadblock, Alex's group discovered a small encampment a few dozen metres away—likely where the toll band had been sleeping for the past few days.

They proceeded to search and loot the place.

Dozens of toll cards were found, along with thousands of Berserk stone shards. Yet, even taken together, the haul paled in comparison to what the toll group would have earned had they simply accepted Alex's original payment.

That fact caused Alex's brows to knit further.

It meant the toll band didn't dare extort groups of their size. More likely, they preyed only on smaller parties—dozens at most. Merchants, lone adventurers, weak caravans.

Which meant that when this group decided to stop the expedition party, they had judged them to be no more threatening than a minor travelling band.

That realisation only highlighted Alex's oversight.

"I'm no longer in civilised territory where I can act like a noble," he muttered aloud. "These are savage lands… and they demand an equal measure of savagery."

He had spoken just loudly enough for Zora to hear.

"All you need to do is act like it, Alex," she replied quietly, concern lacing her voice. "You don't need to become like them. This place is only a stop on our journey—not our destination. Don't let it shape you."

"I'll keep that in mind," Alex replied solemnly.

"Don't just keep it in mind," Zora said firmly. "Do it."

This time, Alex didn't answer.

He looked toward the distant outline of Camp Red Rock, his gaze lingering for a moment before he shook his head. His thoughts were unreadable—even to the woman who perhaps understood him best.

"Boss!" Kavakan approached, visibly excited. "We found a few thousand more shards hidden away not far from the camp. Looks like this lot was skimming from their own boss."

"No wonder they had such big guts," the weretiger added, baring his fangs.

He rolled his shoulders, axes resting in his grip. The thought that such rabble had dared bar their way—had dared leer at his companions—made his blood boil. Thinking about it, he felt like going over to split the captured tollmen's skulls.

But he restrained himself.

Turning back to Alex, he grinned.

"Boss, I think we just discovered the fastest way to make money in these lands."

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Toll roadblocks?" he asked dryly. "Robbery?"

"Of course not. We are no thieves." Kavakan waved his hands dismissively. "We are heroes of justice, bringing righteous retribution upon the bandits, thieves, and wicked of these lands."

He shot Alex a knowing look.

And then it clicked.

Alex immediately understood what the damned weretiger was getting at.

"And as heroes of justice," Alex replied, mirroring the look, "it wouldn't be wrong for us to confiscate the possessions of these bandits and thieves—so we can continue provisioning ourselves for our rightful cause. Am I right?"

Kavakan clapped his hands.

"Boss, you're a genius!" he laughed loudly.

Alex shook his head at the weretiger's expertly executed ass-kissery.

Still, his mood lifted noticeably—and Zora saw it at once.

"Indeed," she said calmly. "Looting the wicked is indeed an efficient way to make money."

Together, they returned to the roadblock, where the tollmen were still being interrogated.

The scouting team had separated the captives, questioning them individually. Information was relayed piece by piece to Udara, who compiled it into a clear profile.

Alex stepped to her side, watching the proceedings. Or rather, it wasn't clear whether he was watching the interrogations themselves—his gaze seemed distant, unfocused.

A few minutes passed.

Then he spoke.

"Kill the scrawny leader," Alex ordered flatly, "and two others who are holding back the most."

"Huh?" Udara was taken aback. "But you said you'd let them go if they spoke."

"And I intend to," Alex replied calmly. "But not all of them."

His eyes swept over the captives, cold and unfeeling.

"They're still holding back. We need to remind them of the cost of hesitation." He turned to Udara. "And I have a plan that requires ensuring the scrawny one never makes it back to Camp Red Rock."

He paused.

"Give the order, Udara."

"…Alright." She nodded and relayed the command over comms.

Without hesitation, Shadow—who had been interrogating the scrawny man—drew her dagger and slit his throat.

Panic erupted instantly among the captives.

But the nightmare didn't end there.

Two Fury knight-soldiers stepped forward and executed the two most resistant men just as cleanly.

On cue, Alex stepped forward.

"I extended you respect," he said evenly. "I treated you according to the customs of nobility. Yet again and again, you chose to spit in my face."

His voice hardened.

"Did you really believe we can't tell when you hide information? Or when you are feeding us half-truths?"

His gaze bored into the remaining men.

"Very well," he continued. "Then we will treat you the way things are done in the Wildlands."

He met each of their eyes in turn—six men remained, including the burly leader.

"This is your final warning," Alex said quietly. "Don't tell us what you think we want to hear. Tell us everything you know."

Then he turned and walked away.

And with him went the oppressive weight that had been suffocating the air—leaving terror behind in its wake.

Almost instantly, the interrogators stopped looking like enemies.

They became lifelines.

The captives clung to them desperately, speaking everything they knew—or had ever heard. Confirmed facts, half-truths, rumours, hearsay… nothing was held back. Words spilled out in a frantic torrent, driven by fear.

To most members of the expedition party, Alex's actions were a masterstroke.

Only a few realised this outcome was merely a by-product—not the real goal.

And only Alex himself knew what the true objective had been.

A few hours later, the expedition party released the surviving tollmen.

To the confusion of nearly everyone present, Alex even had horses given to them, ensuring their return to Camp Red Rock would be swift and unhindered.

No one questioned the order aloud.

After the survivors departed, the party spent another half-hour reorganising before resuming their journey. The corpses of the tollmen were left behind—offered to nature and her many scavengers.

Most of the expedition members expected retaliation.

Desert Razor Brieger—the gang's leader—surely wouldn't let this go unanswered.

But no reprisal came.

The road remained quiet.

And so, without incident, they arrived before the gates of Camp Red Rock.

"Halt!" a guard shouted.

The guard was an Orc—but unlike the orc races Alex was familiar with on Pangea, this one had copper-coloured skin.

Mordor stepped forward at once.

"Brother," he said calmly, "my liege has come seeking specialities of the Wildlands. We heard Camp Red Rock is a good place to conduct business, so we came to see what trade we can make."

He produced the toll cards and held them out.

"We paid the toll, of course."

"Toll?" The guard frowned, confusion flashing across his face.

Then realisation dawned.

"Brieger, that scum!" the Orc snarled. "Not only has he refused to change his ways, he even dares to block visitors to our Camp Red Rock?"

His nostrils flared as anger vented in a low snort.

"Throw that trash away," he said disdainfully. "It's worth less than the wood it's printed on. Your business will fare better without it than with."

He motioned and the gate opened.

"Next time, don't be fooled," the guard added. "There are no tolls to enter Camp Red Rock. Unfortunately, you've already been swindled. All you can do now is swallow the loss."

He shook his head.

"I wish you better luck here, and in the greater Wildlands."

"Hmph…" Mordor grunted, accepting the explanation.

And just like that, Alex and the expedition party stepped into their first true stop on their journey within the Hollowcrest Wildlands—

Camp Red Rock.

***

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