Gasper spoke up, "Of course, my lord."

Rose didn't say a word, but looked at the cavalry beside him. Upon receiving a signal, the cavalry dismounted and began to inspect the goods on the carriage.

Several other soldiers collected the weapons from the hands of these followers.

A few minutes later.

The soldiers reported, "The goods are fine."

"All weapons have been collected."

Rose acknowledged, and turned his gaze to Gasper and Ackman, "Follow me!"

With permission granted, they proceeded as Rose drove the horse under him forward.

Under the escort of the heavy cavalry, the group proceeded slowly towards the gate beneath the city walls.

Not yet close, Ackman, with careful observation, noticed that the corners of the city walls were entirely crimson!

Even the soil had been stained a dark red-black.

Ackman naturally understood that it had been soaked with blood, and over time, it turned such a color!

What horrified Ackman was that it wasn't just one patch, but the entire corner of the city wall was dark red.

A scale like this would require the blood of at least hundreds dead to achieve such a staggering scope!

In an instant.

Ackman recalled the words spoken by the late Jeremy.

The Iron Blood Brotherhood Bandit Corps was annihilated by the lord behind the city wall.

Jeremy wasn't lying!

With eyes wide open, Ackman watched as the group rode through the city wall and arrived behind the gate.

The smooth and neat limestone road extended all the way to the dim end of the forest.

Constructed on both sides of the limestone road were rows of red brick and gray-tiled houses.

Though the slopes were different, they were arranged neatly, and there was no sign of disorder.

Escorted by the cavalry led by Rose, they continuously advanced deeper.

Just as they were about to exit the forest.

Ackman and several followers' eyes widened, their faces filled with astonishment.

In their sight.

A long column of heavily armored soldiers, like a steel beast, was undergoing physical training involving running.

Their orderly footsteps created a continuous, undulating sound of metal clashing against the ground with each step.

Swish~ Swish~ Swish~

Accompanied by the sound of the full-body standard armor they wore clashing and rubbing against each other.

The soldiers wore full-face helmets, making their faces invisible.

Precisely because of this, the long and orderly line of soldiers made them feel afraid!

These were real soldiers, true killing machines!

Compared to them, they were but a rabble.

Engaging in close-quarter combat with soldiers in full plate armor was akin to striking a stone with an egg!

Ackman watched this long line of heavily armored soldiers dash past them, his expression heavy.

He roughly estimated there were at least over two hundred!

He didn't know how many other heavily armored soldiers there were that he couldn't see.

But he knew that with these two hundred heavily armored soldiers mounted on warhorses—wherever they went, they would be unstoppable!

Even if Aiden recruited a thousand followers, what of it?

One charge, and they would be slaughtered to the last!

Aiden was still laboring to recruit temporary followers.

While the lord of these lands had already formed his own fully armed soldiers!

When this long line of soldiers brushed past them.

They finally exited the forest.

Their view ahead suddenly became clear.

Ackman's gaze went beyond a vast expanse of cultivated farmland, landing on a distant and large-scale bustling town.

His heart couldn't help but be shocked once more!

As the carriage convoy continued to draw closer, Ackman found the town's scale to be at least twice that of Morgan Town.

Waterwheels, massive, exotic buildings, ten-meter-tall chimneys...

And was that a vast, expansive castle?

Looking at the real yet dreamlike scene before him.

Ackman couldn't believe his eyes.

Behind that city wall, there was such a prosperous town?

Ackman felt that it wasn't just him; anyone who came here wouldn't believe it either!

As they continued to approach, his mouth gradually fell open.

In front of their carriage convoy, there were large crowds!

They were dressed uniformly in coarse woolen robes or linen robes and pants.

Their expressions were natural, and relaxed conversations continuously flowed from their mouths.

Ackman listened carefully and discovered they were discussing the tasks they were preparing to undertake after dinner!

These were free people under the lord of this territory?

Thousands of free people?

This...

Following the crowd, under Rose's leadership, Ackman and the others soon arrived at a spacious square.

As they approached, Ackman and several followers' gazes simultaneously fixed in one direction.

At the opposite side of the square, a statue stood on a stone platform, staring straight at them.

Wearing armor, a cloak billowing, riding a warhorse...

Though they all knew it was but a stone sculpture.

Yet they still felt immense pressure!

Ackman withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath to calm his tense heart.

Under Rose's leadership, Ackman and Gasper arrived before a commercial hall.

Seated in the reception hall, George was already waiting.

Seeing Ackman and Gasper, George showed a polite smile, "I am the steward of this territory, the merchant, George."

Ackman was about to speak when he suddenly remembered that his current identity was merely that of a Guard Captain.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.