Free Web NovelChapter 87: Rivermeadow Plains
The Rivermeadow Plains was the largest section of the basin.
It was an open grassland surrounding the Silverflow River.
It has waist-high grasses, wildflower fields, scattered groves, and grazing livestocks.
The plains provided visibility for several kilometers.
Its economic role focused on livestock raising, horsebreeding, and caravan support.
Numerous ranching communities operated in the plains.
Max sighted at least five communities, living in a hamlet.
Sweeping his gaze, he noticed an unusual hamlet caught in a fire.
The smoke raised high in the sky.
He glanced at its end and realized it only has been recently that the hamlet was caught in the fire.
Max narrowed his gaze.
Raiders.
Due to the Empire investing heavily in fighting against the demons, some citizens were displeased.
They didn’t want to risk themselves, but they didn’t want to continue living a poor life.
The pastoral hamlet was their primary target.
Max would have normally ignored it, but he suddenly thought of Malveris.
Malveris would definitely take advantage of the situation.
Without hesitation, he ordered the horses to change direction, following the road leading to the hamlet.
...
Greenbank Hamlet was a Pastoral Hamlet with a population of 600 citizens.
It was located along a tributary of the Silverflow River.
The economy in the hamlet bloomed through fishing, sheep herding, and wool production.
There were fishing docks and small livestock market, compelling the merchant traveling through the caravan to always visit the hamlet.
It was also the primary target of the raiders. Throughout the years, the hamlet was protected by ranger forces provided by the Empire.
It was why there was a Ranger Outpost in the hamlet.
It hasn’t been targeted by raiders throughout the ages of its establishment, but now...
The Greenbank Hamlet was invaded. The leader of the raiders and his subordinate even had their own horses.
They broke through the hamlet’s defense by planting a spy inside.
The raiders were rejoicing while pillaging the merchant’s caravan and the entire hamlet, even going as far as killing the men while forcing pleasure on women.
The leader of the raiders was Constantine—a C-rank Knight. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
He was actually a hidden subordinate of a Baron noble, who secretly cultivated them for the past years.
It was for this moment. To privately build a raiders group and expand them, taking advantage of the fact that the Imperial Family and their forces were focused on dealing with the demons.
The raiders were merciless, no different than the bandits.
They were fearless as well. The Ranger outpost had already sent a SOS to nearby town.
They were aware that it would take more than half a day for the reinforcement to arrive.
It was currently evening, best time to pillage.
The pillaging was successful—there were barely casualties on their side.
It was all worth it.
Constantine called for his right-hand man to secure the loots to finally return to their master and be granted with their rewards.
Suddenly, a D-rank Scout returned and informed Constantine of a presence of a young man riding a horse with an empty horse following him.
The D-rank Scout was trembling. He remembered how Max was already staring at him before he had the full view of his face.
His heart skipped a beat.
He hurriedly escaped and reported the situation to Constantine.
Constantine frowned heavily.
He felt something was wrong. His hair stood on ends whenever he put himself into his scout’s situation.
He asked his scout, "What is his class? His rank?"
The Scout’s eyes widened.
He tried to remember, only to shiver in terror.
Constantine shouted, "What is it?!"
The Scout stuttered. "I-I don’t know!"
Constantine gritted his teeth and waved his arm.
He was about to order his subordinates to hasten their looting progress and leave when a cold voice echoed in his ears.
"Stay."
A chill ran down his spine.
He turned and glanced at the origin of the voice and saw a young man riding on an arrogant horse.
The arrogant horse snorted, releasing smokes that intimidated the raiders.
Constantine stared at the young man, who was wearing an usual clothes similar to a High-Priest.
If it wasn’t because of the aura that the clothes radiated, only at the Rare rank, Constantine might have thought the young man was a Saint.
Not even a Saint could stop them.
Much less than a High-Priest.
Yet, for some eason, the young man on the arrogant horse was exuding an aura who could subdue them with ease.
Constantine was already perspiring, but he tried his best to hide his fears.
He waited until the young man asked, "Who are you?"
Constantine furrowed his eyebrows.
He formulated the best answer in his head.
After a while he said, "I’m Constantine, the leader of the newly established Black Steel Raiders. This is our first successful pillage."
The young man fixated his cold gaze at him, seemingly pondering.
Constantine took the chance to identify the young man. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
His mantle and other equipments are radiating an aura not different than C-rank. From his mana, he’s obviously a mage.
With light mana affinity?
He’s a noble, then?
Constantine was not familiar with the nobles in the Mirefall Province, so he couldn’t fully identify the young man.
His horses were full of magic runes. He’s definitely a noble.
But how come he’s so powerful at his age?
He’s mere aura intimidates me.
Constantine was shaken.
He’d definitely report it to his master, Patrick Ressel.
Just when he remembered his master, the young man’s eyes widened.
He swept his gaze around as though to confirm something before asking him, "Are you the raiders cultivated by Baron Patrick?"
Constantine was taken aback.
He didn’t hesitate to draw his sword and swung it upward, aiming to point at the young man.
However, three Radiant Lance suddenly manifested.
One Radiant Lance caused him to lose grip of his sword.
Another Radiant Lance broke his sword into pieces while in mid-air.
The last Radiant Lance pierced at the leg of his horse, and the latter stood on its legs while screaming in pain.
Constantine was forced to jump on the ground, watching his horse suffering from excruciating pain.
Without hesitation, he euthanized him with his fist.
He gritted his teeth and glared at the young man, but his fierce facial expression was instantly softened after meeting his cold gaze.
The young man growled. "Know your place."
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