Chapter 109: Hunting and Slaughter (Part 1)

Competition exists everywhere.

Especially when mixed with various interests, such competition becomes filled with ugliness, blood, and violence—just like Carl in front of him and the leader opposite.

When both sides were still mercenaries, they were rivals for tasks.

After being recruited by the Defendi Territory, their rivalry did not change in the slightest; instead, it became even more intense—Dean only needed to hear a few fragments of their conversation to understand that the grudge between them was quite deep. Every dialogue was like hiding swords and daggers; undoubtedly, this was the method of Baron Defendi.

Clearly, only Baron Defendi could accomplish this.

As for why he did this?

Facing subordinates with a mercenary background, Baron Defendi undoubtedly did not trust them as much as the rumors suggested.

At least, he could not treat his subordinates as sincerely as Dean did.

After all, the mercenaries’ reputation for doing anything for Gold Pulton was far too loud.

When raising a jackal, to make it work for you without being bitten back, the best method is naturally to find something to restrain this jackal.

Therefore, raising another jackal and giving both jackals a piece of ‘meat’ naturally became the best method.

Fortunately, Baron Defendi did not lack such methods.

And the other party’s so-called first plan?

Dean only needed to think about it instinctively to guess what it was; after all, considering the previous performance of those from the Defendi Territory.

This was not hard to guess.

An accident during the hunt, where the Tier Territory side suffered heavy losses, or was completely wiped out—this should be the earliest, so-called first plan of the people from the Defendi Territory.

And with a first plan, there would naturally be a second plan—

Facing Carl’s sneer, the leader did not say anything more and turned to walk behind the snowhill.

This was not a concession to Carl, but because of obedience to Baron Defendi’s orders; after all, they were now cooperating to complete the orders given by Baron Defendi.

The leader believed that Carl would not deceive him on such a matter.

However, even though he thought this in his heart, a trace of mockery still appeared on his face.

Seeing such mockery, Carl and his subordinates were undoubtedly burning with anger.

The already tense atmosphere between the two sides became tense once again.

But they exercised great restraint.

However, their words became even sharper—

“I think you should go and spar with the Regiment Commander of the Ferrchelen Knight Order!”

Carl said this.

“If there is a chance, I think I will; at least… I will not admit defeat before the fight!”

The leader responded.

“If you can draw your Longsword in front of him, I think I will admire you!”

Carl sneered continuously, a look of disdain appearing on his face.

“If you hadn’t been lucky enough to get the quota for ‘Knight’s Baptism’ given by Lord Baron, I think it would be no problem for me to draw my Longsword!”

The mockery on the leader’s face became even thicker.

“That is the reward I won!”

Carl’s voice involuntarily rose; even Dean, who was behind, could hear it clearly. At the same time, Dean had a considerable understanding of the ‘grudge’ between these two subordinates of Baron Defendi.

At least, he understood what the ‘meat’ that tempted the two jackals was.

And thinking about it carefully, such ‘meat’ was obviously deserved; after all, the quota for ‘Knight’s Baptism’ was simply too tempting for these guys with mercenary backgrounds.

Although the formula for ‘Knight’s Baptism’ was nothing for a major power, it was something unattainable for loose mercenaries.

Unlike Thieves who had the Thieves Guild, although mercenaries would also stay in places like the Thieves Guild, taverns, and docks where there were many people to accept tasks, they did not have a real organization—although Dean had heard of some Mercenary Guilds in his previous life, they were just falsely advertising.

Essentially, they were still the Thieves Guild.

The Thieves Guild had the formula for ‘Knight’s Baptism’, and for those with potential, they were very willing to help these people undergo the Baptism.

But any help was not free.

A contract of servitude ranging from three to ten years, and a considerable amount of Gold Pulton.

All of this made some lone rangers flinch.

After putting aside the Thieves Guild, the remaining option was the recommendation of a local Lord to go to a big city for the Baptism opportunity—mercenaries joining up to get the opportunity for Baptism accounted for a large part of the reason.

As for other forces?

They all had rules similar to the Thieves Guild, which was undoubtedly not the first choice.

However, even so, the ‘Baptism’ opportunities they obtained were just leftovers from Grand Nobles and the Royal Family—at least, Dean, who had stayed on Secret Spell Island, knew very well that the formulas for ‘Knight’s Baptism’ varied in quality; the best kind could raise the success rate of the Baptism to ninety percent, while the worst kind was less than ten percent.

Of course, if any of the five attributes reached ‘2’, then any formula could succeed.

It was just that the benefits obtained would be vastly different.

The best ‘Knight’s Baptism’ formula could not only greatly enhance one’s own five attributes but also elevate the awakened Talent to a higher level.

And the simplest ‘Knight’s Baptism’ formula could only slightly enhance oneself, and the awakened Talent would only be an ordinary, basic type.

Back then, Dean used the worst ‘Knight’s Baptism’ formula for his first Baptism; the enhancement to himself was basically negligible, and the awakened Talent was not even worth mentioning—although afterwards, Dean underwent ‘Knight’s Baptism’ as many as forty times, because the foundation of the first time was too poor, even though the increase in the three attributes other than Constitution and Will was obvious, there was no progress in his Talent at all.

After all, [Resistance to Disease] was ultimately just [Virus Immunity].

Although because of such Talent, Dean gained quite a lot on Secret Spell Island, if possible, Dean would not mind changing to another one.

Of course, the formula for ‘Knight’s Baptism’ also needed to be the best he could achieve.

In his previous life, Dean was disgusted by his own arrogance.

In this life, Dean would naturally not make such a mistake again.

However, this needed to be planned carefully, and right now, there were more important things waiting for him to complete—

Creak, creak…

Amidst the sound of metal friction, a tall cage was pushed out from under the snowhill—this was a hollowed-out snowhill, which looked unproblematic from the outside, but its hollow interior could hold quite a few things.

For example: an iron cage holding a Snow Bear!

This was a sleeping Snow Bear, but even while sleeping, its limbs and mouth were tightly locked by iron chains—as for the sleep? Naturally, it was due to the Potion.

Undoubtedly, this was the second plan of the Defendi Territory—to win ‘fair and square’ in the hunting competition!

After all, this was a Snow Bear!

Even if the Tier Territory side hunted more animals, it would be useless; unless the Tier Territory could also hunt a Snow Bear; but, quite obviously, this was impossible.

The distance from here to the Snowplains Dense Forest had long since determined that the possibility of Snow Bears appearing was infinitely reduced.

“How much longer will the Potion’s effect last?”

Carl asked.

“Enough until tomorrow night!”

The leader said, with a trace of pride on his face—facing the thing he was best at, anyone would be proud; and it was precisely because of such ability that he had always been valued by Baron Defendi.

An Apothecary, although not a Wizard, could sometimes accomplish things that only Wizards could do.

“Let’s go!”

After glancing at his three subordinates, Carl pushed the iron cage forward slowly. Although the wheels under the iron cage had some difficulty rolling on the snow, it was still much better than the four of them carrying this Snow Bear away, right?

Although with the Strength of four people, this was not impossible, if it could be simpler, Carl and his group would absolutely not mind.

Of course, after reaching a certain distance, they would truly kill this Snow Bear.

After all, hunting a Snow Bear could be said to be incredible luck; if it was caught alive, for Carl’s group, it would be a miracle.

It would be more believable if four Grand Knights were traveling together.

Plus, with the existence of that Potion, they certainly would not let this Snow Bear appear alive.

Creak, creak…

Carl’s group went far away. After the other party’s figure disappeared, the leader spat a mouthful of thick phlegm onto the ground with a “bah”.

“Let’s go!”

He waved his hand to his subordinates.

But just as he lifted his leg to take a step, the sound of an arrow piercing the air suddenly rang out.

Whoosh!

Years of mercenary life undoubtedly made this leader extremely alert; in an instant, he threw himself to the ground, and then quickly rolled to the side, covering a distance of seven or eight feet.

Whoosh!

However, just as he stopped, there was another sound of an arrow piercing the air.

Gritting his teeth, the leader rolled to the side again.

Ding!

The metallic sound of the arrow piercing the snow beside his ear was so clear.

“Good thing I dodged!”

The leader let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

But just as he breathed a sigh of relief, another sound of piercing air came—

Whoosh!

And this time, the leader, who was already exhausted, was not as lucky as the previous two times; even though he moved his body once more incredibly through his survival instinct, the arrow plunged into his shoulder.

The numbness that followed immediately made the leader’s face turn pale—

“Poisonous!”

As a barely qualified Apothecary, the leader clearly understood what this meant.

The scent of death rushed towards him.