The rider carrying an obsidian spear led a group of men and hid behind a boulder. He looked around with a nervous expression on his face. The horses were quietly grazing with their heads lowered, and their hooves did not move to dig the ground.
The Wildmane tribe is best at dealing with horses, which are their mounts and animal companions. The men in the tribe have not even fully learned to walk, so they are put on horses to adapt.
However, the Yemane tribe does not treat horses as family members like the Pegasus tribe. They know very well that horses are their mounts and tools. The difficult nomadic life cannot tolerate aging and sick horses, so killing horses for meat is not allowed in the Yemane tribe.
It's not something to be taboo about.
Only a few spirit messengers who have mastered the use of magic to control horses through long-term riding training will have a different view of their mounts. And compared with other tribes, most of which use animal bones and fur to make magic items, the Wildmane tribe is the most
The best magic item is the horse.
Excellent riders fight more efficiently on horseback than on the ground. Even when the spirit messenger activates magic to communicate with the mount, the will, reflexes and Fortitude saving throws can be improved. The speed of charging on the ground is higher than that on the ground.
The flying speed of mages is much faster. There have even been cases of powerful riders charging into the Imperial Legion alone, killing enemy commanders with spears, and flying golems.
However, the Wild Mane Tribe also suffered heavy casualties during the battle with the Imperial Legion. In the past, the habit of going into battle lightly and coming and going like the wind was more suitable for looting. But when the army was fighting and breaking the formation,
Then they couldn't adapt. Only after many high-ranking riders in the tribe were killed in battle did the Wildmane tribe gradually realize that times had changed.
Nowadays, the Wild Mane Tribe has suffered heavy losses and has basically become a vassal of the Ouroboros Tribe. It is even nicknamed the Bi-winged Cavalry Brigade by the Empire. In addition to serving as scouts, they also help Glanfaze patrol the border. The army fights head-on.
, they basically can only cooperate under orders and have no opinions of their own.
The rider holding the obsidian spear was indignant. After catching several smugglers, he saw with his own eyes that the captured magic items, weapons and armor were taken away by the Ouroboros tribe without any reward for their efforts. He and his men
So he resolutely joined the smuggling bandwagon to get a piece of the pie.
Anyway, no one knows where safe trading locations are better than they border cavalry, and horses can carry more smuggled items, come and go like the wind, and are harder to detect!
"Someone is coming!" The spear rider's horse suddenly raised its head and snorted. He immediately realized that this was a sign that the transaction partner had appeared.
On the other side of the boulder, there was a breeze blowing the grass blades flying up. It was very quiet until a man's voice came: "I brought the things, have you prepared enough gems?"
The spear rider dismounted and came to the other side of the boulder, but could not see anyone. He only noticed subtle magic fluctuations. He guessed that it should be the mage's "invisibility". Unfortunately, he did not even have the ability and items to "see through invisibility".
None. If a battle really breaks out, he can only rely on the weak fluctuations and the instinct of his mount to try to attack with his spear. At that time, life or death will all depend on luck.
"We need to inspect the goods." The spear rider could not hide the nervousness in his tone, even though this was his second smuggling transaction, and at the same time he reached out to touch the two large leather bags hanging on the horse's back.
The transaction partner took the initiative to remove the "invisibility spell". He was wrapped in a dark blue cloak and wore a black mask. He reached into the cloak with one hand and pulled out something unknown.
This made the spear rider confused and a little uneasy. After all, the items he wanted to trade this time were metal armor that could equip twenty people, ten sets of saddles with metal stirrups, and a large bundle of refined arrows.
The arrow clusters are made of cold iron, which is particularly effective against elemental creatures. It takes several large boxes to transport so many things, but the masked man in front of him does not have any extra weight to carry.
"Two steps back."
I heard the masked man speaking to the spear rider in a commanding tone. He raised his cloak slightly, and two large boxes appeared on the ground between the two. The masked man raised his hand to open the box, and there were trading items neatly arranged inside.
"Where is what I want?" The masked man was not polite and reached out to ask for the bill.
The spear rider handed the two leather bags to the masked man, who very carefully cast a "detection magic", and then opened them to see that they were filled with rough-ground gems, one bag was light blue.
Sapphires, a bag of crystal topaz.
"The quantity is right and the quality is satisfactory." The masked man looked at the several Wildmane tribe riders who were counting the goods. Some of them couldn't wait to put on half-plate armor.
"Perhaps we can continue to cooperate in the future." The masked man reached into his cloak again and actually took out a bow. He said after his introduction: "This is a third-class demonized weapon, and it has a special killing effect against elemental life.
, I call it the 'Elemental Enemy Breaker'."
The spear rider pursed his lips and said nothing. Most of the riders of their Wild Mane tribe were good at mounted shooting, and he was no exception. There was a bow hanging on the horse's hip. However, bows and arrows with enchanted effects were everywhere in Glenfarz.
They are all rare. When he heard what the masked man said, he couldn't help but feel a desire in his heart.
"This is a gift." The masked man said astonishingly. Seeing the disbelief on the spear rider's face, he said with a slight smile: "This is for the long-term business in the future. If you don't want it, just pretend I didn't say it."
Pass."
The spear rider was not willing to let it go, and quickly tried to dissuade him: "I need it! It's just... I don't understand, you guys from the Empire would be so kind? Third-class demonized weapons are very rare even in the Imperial Legion, how could you possibly do it?
Making a loss-making transaction?"
"This is an opportunity for future cooperation." The masked man lowered his voice: "I can see that there is a crisis brewing within Glenfarz. Talents like you have not been reused. As an outsider, I feel it is a pity.
"
"Do you want me to defect?" The spear rider was secretly shocked and clenched the obsidian spear in his hand.
"No, no, no, I didn't say that." The masked man raised his hand and handed out the demonized war bow: "Let's go quickly, it's not safe on the border now. I got news that your Prince Liu Shui brought a group of smugglers to
Public execution, I'm still looking forward to my next deal with you."
The spear rider took over the "Elemental Breaker" bow, and silver light flashed in his eyes. Uneasiness, anxiety and surprise were mixed together in his heart. Various thoughts were like seeds, nourished by rain and sunshine, and grew rapidly.
.
…
Located on the northeastern edge of the Great Plains, there is a small town called Treaty Town. The architectural style here is very different from that of the Glanfaz tribes. There are not many totem carvings and signs, and there are no city walls to protect against enemies.
Since the establishment of the Grand Alliance of Tribes, this place has been a place where colonists who fled the empire's rule have been housed. They were basically farmers who could not afford the harsh taxes or lost their land. Under the guidance of the Sky Singers, some colonists were once arranged to live in the Great Alliance.
Settling within the alliance brings the colonists' production technology to the tribal alliance while recognizing their status.
The name of the treaty town comes from the alliance of tribes signing an alliance with these colonists. Later, some colonists fled to Glenfarz, and they were all settled in the treaty town.
Colonists living in treaty towns also have to pay taxes to the Grand Alliance or Glanfaz. However, Glanfaz does not have a very complete tax system. It mainly pays various agricultural products and handicrafts.
However, when the tribal alliance was transformed into Glanfaz, the treaty town became a subsidiary town of the Ouroboros tribe, and the requirements for paying taxes became increasingly onerous. The reason was that the Ouroboros tribe was a treaty town.
Provides security protection.
At dusk, when the smoke was rising in the town, a messenger quietly came to the warehouse in the town and entered through the back door.
In the warehouse, there were dozens of townspeople holding weapons. They looked at the messenger nervously and asked: "How is it? Have you seen the special envoy from Chaidui Town?"
The messenger was sweating profusely: "I saw him, but for safety reasons, it is temporarily inconvenient for him to show up."
The townspeople were very uneasy: "Contract Town is even more unsafe now. Those bi-winged soldiers come to search every day, and even arrested several people on charges of colluding with foreign enemies. In a few days, they might catch us all!"
"
The messenger said: "The special envoy of Chaidui Town is also making arrangements and has asked everyone to start packing tonight. Remember not to take too many things!"
"I know! In addition, we will host a banquet for the two-winged species in the town tonight." The townspeople said: "At that time, we can use the medicine given by the special envoy to stun them, and we will leave the treaty town together after midnight!"
Some townspeople sighed: "I really regret not listening to the advice of the Green Ring. As a result, we can only take risks on our own. I wonder if the special envoy from Chaidui Town will really come to pick us up?"
"Stop dawdling, we can't hide here all the time, otherwise the two-winged species will see something wrong." The messenger said, "I'm leaving first, please remember not to leave here together!"
The messenger wiped away his sweat and left the warehouse. As soon as he lowered his head, he saw a figure in the shadow of the house in the setting sun. He turned around and looked up in surprise. A man with blue braids was sitting on the roof with his upper body bare and smiled at the messenger.
:
"What? Are you in a hurry to leave Treaty Town? Do you want me to give you a ride?"
The appearance and characteristics of the visitor were too easy to identify. The messenger instantly understood that the colonists' plan to escape from the treaty town had been exposed. He shouted towards the warehouse: "Prince Liushui is here, everyone, run away!"
Following the shout, the messenger jumped back and threw out a ray of silver light with his backhand. Prince Liushui, who was sitting on the roof, did not dodge. The water curtain that appeared out of thin air in front of him easily blocked the silver light. It was a dagger.
Then dozens of people rushed out of the warehouse, holding long sticks, scimitars and other ordinary weapons. They all looked at Prince Liushui in horror.
"The Sons of the Holy Scales have sent two-winged guards to Treaty Town to ensure your safety. Why do you need to pick up weapons yourself?" Prince Liushui tiptoed on the hay roof with a relaxed and casual expression.
As a result, no one paid attention to him, and the messenger shouted: "Run quickly! Run separately, we can't defeat him!"
As soon as these words came out, most of the dozens of people around turned around and ran away, leaving only five people, including the messenger, with a look of determination in their eyes, holding weapons in a posture ready for battle.
Prince Liushui, who had seen the battle scene, saw a clue and showed slight surprise: "It turns out that I underestimated you before. I didn't expect that there are actually high-level warriors among the colonists in Treaty Town... Judging from your cooperation, it should be
Is it the adventurer team that the Imperial guy mentioned?"
A middle-aged man with a machete in his hand, whose aura was completely different from the fear and worry of others, said: "Yes, we are tired of the adventurous days full of risks, so we chose to settle down in Treaty Town. We thought we could live a stable and peaceful life from now on.
life."
"If that's the case, why are you taking such a stance and even planning to defect to Glenfarz?" Prince Liushui asked, playing with the dagger.
"I hope Prince Liushui can understand that we are not loyal to Glanfazi or the Ouroboros Tribe, but to enter into an alliance with the tribal alliance." The middle-aged man said with a serious expression: "The people of the treaty town are here to avoid strict taxes.
We just chose to come to this land, and the behavior of the two-winged soldiers who repeatedly expropriated grain and taxes has not been improved despite our repeated appeals. This has forced us to rethink our past decisions and find a way out for the future."
"Huh, they are indeed a group of ungrateful barbarians!" Prince Liushui stood up, his face immediately turned gloomy, and the air around the warehouse became cold and damp.
There was a loud noise in the distance of Contracting Town. It was obvious that the fleeing townspeople had encountered an obstacle. Prince Liushui's sight turned away for a moment. The middle-aged man suddenly moved. His body shot up from the ground like an arrow. To the naked eye, only a twisted afterimage was visible.
, the reflection of the scimitar drew an arc like a crescent moon, and the edge was already approaching the throat of Prince Liushui.
This outstanding martial skill called "Steel Wind" allowed the scimitar to cut off Prince Liushui's neck easily, but the middle-aged man noticed something strange the moment he stepped on the roof with his toes.
Sure enough, the decapitated Prince Liushui suddenly exploded into transparent liquid. At the same time, the amount of water increased sharply and instantly froze into skull-like ice claws, trapping the middle-aged man with extraordinary martial arts skills and trying to crush him.
But seeing the middle-aged man react extremely sharply, he touched the crampon with the scimitar, used the force to move around in the narrow space, and came out from the fingers of the skull crampon. He turned around and kicked his legs with the strength of a rhinoceros.
Breaking the crampons, the movements are done in one go. He is indeed worthy of being a high-level warrior, and his pure martial arts also have incredible performances.
"Be careful, he-"
Before the middle-aged man finished speaking, a beam of water jets shot down from mid-air. The high-pressure pump ejected a stream of water that could cut gold and break stone, directly piercing the middle-aged man's chest.
A cloud of mist dispersed in mid-air, and Prince Liushui looked down with a cold expression. With a slight wave of the high-pressure water jet shot from his fingertips, he cut the other four people into pieces without any hesitation.
A scimitar suddenly whirled towards him with heavy force, and a curtain of water blocked the attack. Prince Liushui looked towards the roof of the warehouse, and the middle-aged man who had been hit by the water knife actually used his last breath to throw the weapon at him.
Prince Liushui always felt noble and could not tolerate the offense of such lowly people. He put his five fingers together and swept down the high-pressure water jet like a white wave, directly chopping the middle-aged man who was still alive and cutting the entire warehouse into two pieces.
When Prince Liushui's anger subsided, a spirit messenger rushed over and shouted: "Prince Liushui, something big has happened! The miners are revolting! In the largest ocher mine in Glenfarz, the miners have killed our men.
!”
"What?!" Prince Liushui's blue braids swayed like octopus tentacles, and he said impatiently: "Assemble the manpower and rush there immediately. I'll go first. You guys must clean up everyone in Contract Town."
The spirit messenger was stunned: "Everyone? Clean up?"
"That's right, kill them all. The future of Glenfarz will no longer need these people!" Prince Liushui waved his hand, and a cloud of mist enveloped his body and he flew away quickly.