Mussen stood aside, with a somewhat stiff expression on his face.

Cold sweat gathered on his forehead, and he didn't know whether his choice was right or wrong.

Mussen hesitated for a moment, and finally cautiously opened his mouth: "Lord Gang Le, please don't harm my neighbors, they have little to do with Count Hawk."

"Relax, we're all in this together now."

Gang Le laughed and patted Mussen's shoulder again: "We only take things, not lives."

"And don't forget your mission."

Gang Le exhorted: "You not only need to take your family, but you also need to persuade your neighbors to come with us."

"If you can achieve this, then you will truly earn the Lord's recognition."

"Honestly, Mussen,"

Gang Le grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth,

"Among you and your companions, if anyone sheds their slave status, you will be the first."

"Thank you, Lord Gang Le!"

Mussen relaxed a bit, heaved a long sigh of relief, and promised: "I definitely won't let you down!"

"Alright, it's dark now, let's get to work."

Gang Le carefully took out a palm-sized parchment scroll from his bosom, stood up, and recited from it:

"Deliver the Lord's command!"

"Count Hawk's dispatch of troops onto Black Pine Ridge for plunder tramples on the dignity of my Lord Luo De Tulip, infringing upon the rights of the Lord and all the subjects!"

"The Hawk Clan must pay the price!"

"Now you shall step onto Eagle Ridge, defending my, Baron Black Pine Ridge Luo De Tulip's dignity in the same way!"

"Moreover, I promise you that two-tenths of the plundered property this time will be taken out as a reward and given to everyone!"

On the parchment was the handwriting of Baron Rod himself, the rigid text bore undeniable authority.

Simultaneously, it was to activate Luo De's "Commander's Blade" and "Commander's Momentum" entries.

And to crown this raid with the title of justice.

Sure enough, after Gang Le finished reciting, the soldiers were full of excitement, their eyes fixed intently on the village ahead.

Gang Le rolled up the parchment and stuffed it into his armor, shouting loudly,

"Now, listen to my command, attack!"

As soon as the words fell, all the soldiers charged toward the village like they were invigorated.

All the soldiers were filled with excitement, eyes gleaming with the desire for loot.

The patrolling militia in the village hadn't realized what was happening yet but saw a mass of dark figures emerging on the snowy slope.

Under the night, these shadows swept over like ghosts!

"Robbers! Robbers are here!"

A militia screamed in horror, the sound exceptionally piercing in the silent night!

Then the urgent sound of horns echoed, reverberating over the entire village!

Next door, the doors of several wooden houses were forcibly pushed open, and several sleepy figures rushed out.

Having nothing to do in winter, many people drank a few sips of alcohol and lay down early.

They were just about to sleep when they were startled awake by the alarm.

Draped in animal skins, holding long spears and hand axes in hand, they looked out nervously.

These people had just run out when the sound of the horn abruptly stopped.

Looking around, the militia who raised the alarm had already been shot and flipped to the ground!

In the next instant, piercing sounds tore through the air continuously, several cold beams slashed through the darkness!

Ah!

Bang!

Wails and sounds of bodies hitting the ground rose and fell, the armed people fell one after another!

"Those who don't want to die, kneel on the ground and surrender!"

Gang Le's voice was deafening,

"Otherwise — death!"

The icy axe blade glimmered coldly under the moonlight, coupled with Gang Le's bear-like body, making everyone tremble inside.

Yet there were still a few defiant militiamen turning to flee, but hadn't run more than a few steps when a hand axe flashed through the air!

"Ah!"

The person in front fell to the ground with a cry, blood instantly staining the snow red!

With such a precedent, the others obediently threw their weapons down, raised their hands, and knelt on the ground.

Soldiers swarmed in, tying up all the militiamen.

"Spread out in squads and search!"

Gang Le ordered loudly, warning: "Remember, we are plundering, definitely not killing!"

Gang Le's standard was not to kill any unarmed civilians.

This was also Rod's directive.

No matter the time, people are the most important, a territory's development always depends on its people.

The Northern Territory is already sparsely populated, wanton killing not only ruins one's reputation but also depletes the foundation of the Northern Territory.

This is more harm than good.

Don't kill people, just take things. Next year, there might be another chance to plunder.

"Besides, if anyone cannot survive, let them go work at Black Pine Ridge, with food and lodging included!"

"Any craftsmen or those with special skills, regardless of their wishes, are to be bound and taken!"

Forcibly taking everyone was cumbersome, some of whom Rod didn't want.

But craftsmen, healers, hunters, etc., were the premium slaves Rod wanted most.

None could escape.

"Yes, Lord Gang Le!"

The soldiers responded in unison and then poured into the village.

Gang Le led the elite under Baron Rod, while the little mountain village had only poorly equipped militia for patrol.

These militia rarely underwent decent training, merely wielding crude weapons to theatrically patrol the village.

Gang Le's hundred-man squad crushed the entire village in sheer numbers, let alone with their superior equipment.

So even though the soldiers had traveled for half a day, they still easily took over the entire village.

To prevent anyone from reporting the incident, all villagers were dragged out of their homes and guarded in several wooden houses.

Gang Le, under Mussen's guidance, headed straight for Mussen's yard.

"Bang!"

Gang Le kicked open the door, the wooden door hitting the wall with a loud crash.

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