novelraw Chapter 19 – Gale Bandit Gang
Chapter 19 – Gale Bandit Gang
"Doesn't matter if it's the Black Beast Mercenary Group or not, do you know the strength of these bandits and mercenaries?"
As soon as he spoke, Su Nian realized his question might be too difficult for a kobold.
However, he didn't really expect to get detailed information from Polikri.
Sure enough, Polikri stammered for a long time and couldn't answer, only staring at him with pitiful dog eyes.
Ignoring Polikri's pleading expression, Su Nian switched to a simpler question:
"Then you should at least know their exact location, right? As a chieftain, don't you know what enemies are around? What if they raid your home one day?"
"Master, what does 'raid your home' mean?"
Polikri looked confused, not understanding this new term.
"That's not important!"
"Answer my question!"
Su Nian roared irritably, tapping the ground impatiently with his claw, producing a clanging sound like metal striking stone. Anna, in his arms, quickly hugged his neck and gently rubbed her cheek against him to calm him down.
Ever since becoming a Black Dragon, his temper had become increasingly irritable, except when dealing with Anna.
Polikri was so frightened that he lay flat on the ground, fearing the Black Dragon in front of him might swallow him whole. He had heard stories from his elders about dragons using kobolds as reserve food.
He trembled as he reported:
"Reporting to Master! I only know the locations of two bandit groups. The mercenary group moves around, going to towns to hand over various tasks, so they don't stay in the wild for long."
"Very good, gather your kobold soldiers, we're going to check out the nearest bandit group!"
"Lead the way!" Su Nian spread his dragon wings and waved his claw.
It was as if a switch had been flipped. With Polikri's barking calls, the entire cave of kobolds became noisy and busy.
They took out their meager knives, forks, sticks, and trap-setting tools from their sleeping places, wrapping themselves in animal skins or colorful tattered clothes scavenged from humans.
Even though they looked ridiculous, a fierce aura was already evident.
These kobolds didn't question why they were going to fight human bandits, nor did they feel afraid. The True Dragon had given them immense courage.
While the kobolds prepared for battle, Su Nian wasn't idle either.
He asked Polikri for some relatively clean and sturdy clothing.
Then he spent the remaining System Points to modify a comfortable area on his back, raising some horns that didn't affect his appearance but could serve as a fence.
Next, he laid a thick layer of clothing on a relatively flat area so Anna could lie comfortably. He then secured Anna with the clothing, wrapping her completely.
Strips of cloth torn from the clothes were tied to the horn structure, forming a thick swaddle to prevent her from accidentally falling off the dragon's back.
Anna obediently lay on the Black Dragon's back, her soft little hands gently hugging the dragon's neck.
Her fair, tender face pressed tightly against the dragon's back, her slightly chubby cheeks forming an adorably plump shape.
She could clearly feel that the dragon's back, which used to be uncomfortable to lie on, had suddenly become cozy for some reason.
[Mr. Dragon is afraid I'll fall off]
[And to take care of Anna, he went to the trouble of making his back comfortable to lie on]
[So nice, hehe...]
Watching the busy Black Dragon, her heart felt warm, and a sweet smile appeared on her lips.
Even though she didn't know how the Black Dragon managed it, it didn't stop her from admiring and adoring him.
[Anna Hathaway Affection +5, Current Affection 40 (Friendly)]
Ignoring the system's affection prompt, Su Nian nodded in satisfaction after ensuring Anna wouldn't feel uncomfortable no matter how she moved.
Ever since becoming a dragon, he had an urge to keep his most precious treasure with him or hidden away.
He feared something might happen if he left Anna alone in the cave, so it was safer to keep her with him.
Besides, he needed to scout ahead. If the bandits were troublesome, he could hide Anna nearby and have Polikri watch over her, ensuring her safety while keeping her within his sight.
Once everything was ready, a group of kobolds with an unrecognizable swagger walked out of the cave, followed by a Black Dragon with an elf girl on its back, looking somewhat out of sorts.
...
Joseph was the leader of the Gale Bandit Gang, a Level 12 Tier 2 Warrior, leading a hundred or so bandits specializing in robbing adventurers coming to the Outer Silvermoon Forest.
They killed the men, kept the women for entertainment, and killed the ugly ones too. After all, adventurers died in the Silvermoon Forest every day, and King Anrius wouldn't send troops from far away to clear them out.
In this remote place, Joseph's life was incredibly comfortable.
Such a life was unimaginable during the reign of Emperor Xivi, who ruthlessly wiped out bandit gangs like theirs.
Fortunately, that damned Emperor Xivi had long ascended to the heavens, and now only the Duchy of Winter in the Northern Continent adhered to those boring rules.
Joseph had heard from his bard father that the Empire of Winter, at its peak, covered almost the entire livable area of the Northern Continent.
Even the Southern Continent once bore the eagle flag of the Winter Emperor.
Back then, all good-natured races lived equally and peacefully in the Empire of Winter. Now only the Duchy of Winter remained, still powerful but unable to influence the Southern Continent.
Joseph sneered at the Conqueror Emperor's ways. Humans were humans; why should they live with other races? It was just a lucky, powerful traitor. If he had such luck, he could do it too.
While Joseph dreamed of the future, his bandits suddenly shouted, dragging in a male and female adventurer.
"Boss, a Tier 2 Warrior and a Tier 1 Water Mage Apprentice, here to hunt Mana Cores in the Silvermoon Forest. Look at this girl, so pretty, hehe..."
The bandit grinned, kicking the gagged Water Mage to Joseph's feet.
Joseph leaned down, grabbing the girl's water-blue hair, lifting her face. A few strands fell, revealing a delicate, tear-streaked face.
She wore a loose white robe, yet it couldn't hide her alluring curves.
A section of her fair, pinkish leg was exposed, and despite some scratches, it still made Joseph's fingers itch.
This time, they had truly caught a gem.
Seeing the girl's fearful, humiliated, and disgusted expression, Joseph wickedly pulled the cloth from her mouth.
He loved hearing his prey's screams and wails before they were put on the chopping block.
"You... let me go, I warn you, I'm a student of St. Roland Magic Academy, my sister is a lecturer there. If anything happens to me, you'll all die!"
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"Listen, St. Roland Academy, the ace of Anrius's Royal Capital, such a big name, I'm so scared~"
Joseph held the girl's hair, exposing her smooth neck and slightly open chest, displaying her like a dissected fish to the bandits present.
To the girl's despair, none of the bandits were intimidated by the name of St. Roland Academy. Their eyes gleamed with lecherous green light, like hungry wolves.
"Despicable bandits, let her go, come at me instead! Aren't you afraid of the Imperial Army's punishment?"
The Tier 2 Warrior, also ungagged, shouted angrily, but his voice lacked conviction.
"Imperial Army? Even if Emperor Xivi himself came, I'd still do as I please today. You like her, don't you? No need to hide it; your eyes have already told me."
Joseph sneered, leaning close to the warrior's ear, coldly whispering:
"I, ah, will play with her right in front of you."
"Excited?"
"Brothers! Strip her clothes and bring her to this lovely warrior friend of ours. Good things are meant to be shared, hehe."
The surrounding bandits cheered excitedly, unable to suppress their desires. With Joseph's command, they leered and lunged at the girl, who had collapsed in despair.
At that moment, a shadow swiftly passed overhead.
Following a thunderous Dragon Roar, a torrent of Acid Breath rained down, engulfing almost all the bandits and the two captured adventurers.
The Black Dragon had arrived.
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Author's Words:
Fun Fact: [Bard]
(Gleeman) originally referred to those among the Celts who composed praise and satire.
Broadly speaking, it refers to poets and singers in tribes skilled in creating and singing poems about heroes and their deeds.
As early as the 1st century AD, Latin writer Lucanus described bards as national poets or singers of Gaul or Britain.
They were a medieval specialty.
They were geniuses and talents, possibly from noble and wealthy families or from humble and poor backgrounds.
With their wisdom, they crafted many novel stories.
Sometimes invited to a lord's castle, noble ladies, maidens, and their warriors would sit around according to their status, some resting their chins on their hands, others gently setting down their weapons, listening intently to the bard's songs.