Chapter 764 - 44: Unfurling the Banner (Part 2)

"Dad, what are we doing..."

In a village in Latovia, Andre patrols with his young child through the settlement.

As Latovia’s most valuable resource: reasonably strong men, he has naturally been conscripted, with farming tools replaced by an AK47.

The AK series guns have a very simple structure, highly reliable, and are firearms that require little intellect to use, not even needing to learn how to maintain them...

Anyway, both people and guns are equally cheap; if something goes wrong, just replace them.

Even children can provide support: if you can’t shoot, just carry a bag of ammunition.

In response to his son’s question, Andre forces a stiff smile: "The Lord wants us to find people, so let’s find them..."

Bang.

The earth trembles.

The improved Rhino Armor is more stable, as a quadruped robot, it can better maneuver through Latovia’s mountains, providing cover for the army.

But for the Grand Duke of Latovia, this thing has a more obvious advantage:

It is awe-inspiring, instilling fear.

This over 4-meter-tall giant quadruped robot striding along the mountain paths is outright a metal beast.

On its back is a Cyborg, completely refitted with military weapons, an enhanced version of the Death Warrior.

These two heavily armored units monitor and control every search squad, directly representing the Latovian Grand Duke’s will... Who knows where the tyrant obtained these things.

The Death Warrior’s red eyes are like the tyrant’s gaze, suddenly sweeping over the startled Andre, making his hair stand on end!

Bang!

Suddenly, there was a loud crash next to him!

Andre looks towards the gate in a state of shock, only to see soldiers directly under the Baron of Latovia kick open the wooden door, mocking Andre as they do:

"Haha! What a coward, the mudlegs scared stiff by the Duke’s guards!"

Andre indeed was a bit too scared to move: because inside that giant metal giant was a former comrade of his.

The Duke’s "regular army" not only has guns but also a full set of bulletproof equipment and high-tech gear, looking very professional.

However, to someone with actual military training, it’s apparent at a glance that their walking posture isn’t trained. More than holding a gun, it’s like holding a firewood stick:

They surely know what guns are for, but they’re not used to using such weapons.

Three regular army soldiers walk into the village, searching the shabby houses separately, one delivering a kick to Andre’s backside:

"Get in, scout the way, you know what to do."

Andre rubs his butt, forcing a smile at his child, and walks into the house.

What’s called a "house" is basically a thatched hut of indeterminate age, with a stone foundation and walls forming the basic frame, where wanderers sporadically stop to warm up and make simple repairs over and over again.

But they would never stay at these places long because they know houses can shelter from wind and rain, and the Grand Duke of Latovia knows it too:

No one wants to be found by the tyrant, preferring to roam the wilderness.

Walking into the house, Andre sees many decorations on the walls and floor with similar styles but different appearances, some made of woven flowers and grass, others crafted from wicker and branches...

Even in the difficult life of exile, people manage to find something to express their imagination and creativity.

Every Latovian would leave behind some of these things at places they’ve stayed, which later newcomers would see and smile...

This is the unique local culture.

However, the Vladimir Family does not have this culture: firstly, they never need to roam, and secondly, with access to the outside world, how could they care about mudleg art?

Andre instinctively steps over the woven vines at the door, which seem to be woven to welcome members of the Tribe.

Meanwhile, he is cautious, while the Duke’s guards pay no heed...

Crack.

The boot crushes the woven item, and Andre instinctively turns to look, only to find the vines and flowers used to weave it have long since withered...

This isn’t a detail easy to notice, but at this moment, he suddenly focuses on it.

The Duke’s guard sees this, and with a knitted brow, throws a kick at Andre’s chest!

The burly man’s kick easily sends the malnourished adult flying, crashing hard onto the floor—

Bang!

"Dad..."

Bang!

The child is kicked away as well.

"I told you to work, and you’re looking around, what, you don’t want your eyes? Or you think you’re someone because you’ve got a gun?"

"No, no..."

Andre quickly crawls to his son’s side—an adult’s kick to the torso, if placed right, can easily knock the wind out of a child, and that’s exactly what happened to his son!

With a twisted expression, struggling to breathe, limbs rigid, fear driving this child of less than ten years into total panic, exacerbating the pain...

He wants to call his father, but he can’t speak, short and tense gasps constantly coming from his throat, like the wheezing of the dying...

"Radovan? What’s wrong, what do you want to say, Dad’s here..."

"So damn weak, forget about your broken-chested son. If he can’t breathe, he deserves to die!"

The Duke’s guard suddenly turns his head towards a corner of the wall: the house seems to have collapsed, with logs of unknown age stacked at the corner, forming a nook with stones and other branches...

He seems to hear a sound from inside.

The guard strides over, reaching a large hand into the corner...

"Ah!"

With a scream, he drags out a woman!

At that moment, other sounds of screams, roars, and gunfire also come from different parts of the village.

Aside from these, there are shouts from other Baron’s guards: "Found their leader!"

Yet all of this, to Andre’s ears, is less significant than the faint sound coming from his son’s throat.

The Duke’s guard, seeing this, raises an eyebrow, with an odd smile, pulling a small syringe from his bag:

"Stop whining, work for the Duke, and there are big benefits. I’ve got something to save your son, look at this...

They say it’s...morphine? In any case, good stuff that can save your child, but you’ve got to prove we’re on the same side, right?"

Upon hearing this, Andre looks sharply at the guard, who swings the syringe, kicking the woman he just dragged out, hard in the abdomen:

"But you have to make an example of those treasonous mudlegs first, drag her out and execute her in front of their leader.

The Duke has money now, but he still needs loyal people. Do this, and you’re in; I’ll apologize upfront. I didn’t think your damned son would be so useless."

Finished, he steps behind Andre, whispering, "But even if you’re not loyal it doesn’t matter, the Duke now... has plenty of ways to turn you traitors into loyal Iron Knights.

We’re somewhat old friends, after all, but sometimes, fate is just peculiar, you’re without food, and I have food, think it over."

Indeed, Andre and the guard were friends long ago.

But one chose to work for the Baron, the other chose to wander with the Tribe.

Andre looks at his son writhing in pain, reaching towards him; then at the woman groveling on the ground, and the shattered weaving at the door...

What should he do?

Boom!

Suddenly, a loud explosion comes from outside, a fireball rising, and the shockwave knocks the Duke’s guard down!

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—

The sound of metal grinding roars like the gnashing of teeth; the next moment, the Rhino Mecha crashes down, demolishing the house in front of Andre!

Rhino Mecha falls in flames, with a man in a green cloak standing atop its head, one hand deeply embedded in the mecha’s head, the other holding that so-called "Iron Knight"...

It’s like a Heavenly God descended!

As he turns his head, Andre feels as if his soul is frozen.

"Stand up."

The house collapses, sunlight streaming in through the roof.

In a daze, Andre sees a green-background black-cross flag fluttering under the sun.