Domiga, what is your impression? Fong Ho inquired, directing his gaze towards Ditiga.
Ditiga, who typically spoke little, responded, "My lord, there are three individuals on the wall adorned in different styles of heavy armor, likely belonging to various factions.
Their chaotic gathering aligns with what Miss and Jia described as mountain bandits.
The diversity of their armors suggests they're indeed a band of robbers or bandits.
It appears the troubles mentioned in the bounty have already infiltrated the village ahead of us.
Chapter 238.
Are you waiting for us? The large contingent departed along the main path, steering clear of the village's sight.
Only after evading the village's gaze did they gather in a secluded hollow at Fonghouse signal to set up camp.
Under the command of Domiga, the team commenced the construction of rudimentary defensive measures to guard against any unforeseen events.
Funhow produced a skeletal gray sparrow and directly invoked divine intervention.
As ethereal flames flickered in the hollow gaze of the sparrow, it flapped its wings and soared back toward the village.
The village remained on high alert with sentinel stationed at top the walls and the gates firmly shut.
Fong maneuvered the sparrow to the left of the village, evading the guards watchful eyes as it entered the settlement.
Within the village's streets, fierce men clad in various armors congregated before the wooden houses, treating the village as their own encampment, laughing boisterously.
Not a single villager was visible among them.
Fong Hao felt a stir within him.
It appeared that Domiga and Anja suspicions were indeed correct, as the place had been overtaken by mountain bandits and robbers.
He directed the sparrow deeper into the village and soon beheld the villagers.
All herded into an open space at the village's center were men, women, and children were being watched over separately.
At the forefront stood the heavily armored man from the wall, a whip in hand, pacing back and forth.
You lot truly have no shame.
I spared your lives and yet someone has the audacity to post a bounty in the city.
Very well, since it's done, stand forth and confess so others do not suffer alongside you.
" He bellowed at the crowd below.
The villagers remained silent.
None daring to step forward at that moment.
"How delightful! Bold enough to act, but lacking the courage to admit it.
"Let's hang you all and continue until someone is willing to confess," the man proclaimed loudly.
The bandits behind him promptly advanced, preparing to hang everyone.
"I did it.
" A young man stepped forward, gazing coldly at the bandit.
You did, you brave lad.
Are you not afraid of death? The bandit leader scrutinized the young man with curiosity.
Afraid of death? One acts on one's own accord.
You need not implicate others.
The young man declared, standing tall.
The villagers looked on inwardly chastising the youth for his recklessness.
Very well, you have spirit.
Hang him up and remember not to kill him, the leader ordered loudly.
Understood.
The bandits laughed heartily as they hoisted the young man up.
The whip in hand struck down fiercely upon him, the sound echoing through the clearing, accompanied by his anguished cries.
"Boss, why not just kill them all? It would draw the army from Prule, and that would be troublesome," one bandit murmured.
"Kill them? We will tell the field for you then.
Have the brothers gather all the goods, and by nightfall, we will relocate everyone to the mountains.
Then we can continue our revalry," the bandit leader proclaimed.
inciting cheers from his underlings below.
It is perplexing to understand the erratic behavior of Rebecca had it not been for her.
We would not have found ourselves in this desolate place.
However, it is rumored that Rebecca possesses a trace of elven blood and is hailed as the fairest lady of Lysa's city.
Once our forces are bolstered, we shall seize this woman and present her to our leader as a bride.
Upon hearing this, the bandit chief erupted in laughter.
There will be an opportunity.
This location is advantageous as it remains undisturbed.
Unfolding a worn leather map, he began to explain to his subordinates.
This is our campsite, and surrounding us are three York tribes.
I have already negotiated with these tribes.
Any large merchant caravans we encounter will be plundered together, and the spoils will be distributed according to our contributions.
Are those greedy orcs capable of such cooperation? One of the subordinates inquired, "Greed requires cunning.
Do those brutes possess any? Ultimately, it will all belong to us.
The chief cast his gaze upon the villagers below and remarked, "Keep a close watch on these people.
We shall need them for farming in the future.
" "Boss, shall we continue to search for items to take?" asked another.
"Indeed, gather everything, food and goods.
Leave nothing behind.
" The bandits dispersed like a whirlwind, scouring each household for anything of value.
Meanwhile, Fong Hoa emerged from a state of divine presence and sat up from the campsite in the hollow of the mountain.
And Ja directly inquired, "What sort of people are they? They are bandits driven from Lys's city by the military.
They have captured the villagers and plan to transport everyone to their newly established campsite after pillaging the village.
" Fong how explained, "What do they need the villagers for?" And Jia asked curiously.
"In the previous bandit camps they eradicated, there were few villagers, mostly just bandits.
They seem to lack laborers and intend to settle in the campsite for the long term, requiring people for farming and such.
Fong how relayed the information he had gathered.
It is rare for bandit thieves to engage in agriculture.
Most rely on plunder.
Even in winter, their food supplies are acquired through raiding nearby villages.
Sometimes a tacit understanding forms between the bandits and the villages where the villagers pay a tribute of 3/10en of their harvest to avoid harassment, a form of protection fee.
From the bandits conversation, Fong Hao gleaned insights into their situation.
They had fled here earlier and established a campsite in the mountains, intending to raid nearby villages today, only to be intercepted by Fong Hao.
What shall we do now? Should we storm in? And Jia asked again.
No, we shall wait for them at their campsite," he replied.
As soon as the words left his lips, a skeletal gray sparrow descended from above, clutching a rudimentary map made of leather.
The map indicated the location of the bandits campsite and several nearby small orc tribes.
"How shall we proceed?" Funho asked.
"Return to the campsite and summoned the bone dragon to swiftly eliminate the camp was the response.
" "Very well.
" The contingent made their way back to the fortress.
In a fortress, Funhao directly changed his troops.
Three skeletal dragons carrying the units soared toward the location of the bandit camp on the map.
In merely 20 minutes, they arrived above the camp.
The encampment was modest in size, housing dozens of mountain bandits.
The attack commenced as the skeletal dragons swooped down, targeting the congregation of people with their death breath.
A black energy beam swept through, instantly reducing several bandits to mere bones.
The bandits screamed loudly, scattering in all directions within the camp.
The skeletal troll leaped from the dragon's back, beginning to eliminate the few remaining stragglers.
As dusk approached, laughter echoed along the mountain path leading to the bandit camp.
A cart train stretched like a dragon.
Laden with spoils collected from the nearby village.
Accompanied by the creaking sound of rolling wheels.
They advanced up the mountain.