Chapter 40 - 36: Congratulations, Baron

Luo De didn’t mind snake meat, but such small things were usually eaten by the hunting team for lunch rather than brought back.

Martha’s mouth twitched, stifling a laugh as she said, "The snakes were brought back by the slaves; they also brought back five barrels of loaches."

Then Martha recounted the story, making Luo De’s laughter irresistible.

Avril bowed her head, trying hard not to burst into laughter.

"Is he alright?" Luo De asked casually.

This was a concern from one man to another.

"I heard it’s good that the black-browed snake isn’t poisonous, so he’s saved."

"Oh, that’s good. Send him more loaches to eat and recover."

Luo De put away his smile and asked, "How much loach did we get?"

"I heard there’s over a hundred pounds, and they’re very large. If you’d like to eat some, I can prepare it for you now," said Martha.

"No need. Please tell Lawrence to handle the loaches, dry them, and store them away."

Nobles usually don’t eat loaches, thinking of them as dirty and lowly creatures living in mud.

Until it was rumored that a Count fell ill, and every doctor was helpless, then healed by a farmer with a specially made loach soup.

Since then, loaches gradually caught the attention of nobles.

However, many nobles found loaches ungraceful in appearance, so they preferred using loach ground into dry powder.

Especially nobles who were older gentlemen, they consumed it daily, in soups or with wine.

"Yes, sir."

Martha responded and retreated.

Luo De cut a piece of venison for Avril and placed it on her plate, making a gesture of invitation,

"Let’s start dining."

"Thank you."

Avril used a dining knife to slowly cut a small piece of venison, placing it in her mouth and chewing slowly.

Luo De didn’t have such patience, stuffing large pieces into his mouth.

"Hmm!"

Avril suddenly let out a surprised exclamation.

"Hmm?" Luo De glanced sideways.

Avril slightly forced the venison down and congratulated,

"Congratulations, Baron Rod; you now have nine elite veterans!"

...

...

The setting sun cast a layer of evening glow over the desert.

The spring breeze gently brushed past, carrying the mixed scent of soil and fresh grass across Gang Le’s resolute face.

Usually always laughing, he was now silent, a rare seriousness enveloping his brow.

"Sorry, boss."

The tall veteran hesitated, his eyes flickering with guilt,

"I can’t stay like the others, I have to go back and fulfill my promise to Katie, give her a home."

"Boss, my parents in Flower Town are still waiting for me..." Another soldier lowered his head.

"I may also be unable to continue..."

Before the words were finished, Gang Le’s hearty laughter broke the heavy atmosphere.

"Alright, alright, one by one, so much fussing about!"

Gang Le said with feigned ease, "You don’t have to be so careful, knowing you all have homes, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about."

He deftly untied the bag of money from his waist, the silver coin shimmering softly in the sunset’s afterglow.

He divided the money into four parts, handing them to the brothers who were leaving.

"Boss, this is..."

The tall veteran looked utterly perplexed.

"Don’t overthink it, Doron; I’m just paying this mission’s wages to you four in advance."

"The remaining five Lords who’ve stayed have other rewards; silver coins don’t have much use here."

Gang Le joked, "I’m giving you all the money split, so you can’t sneak away early, ha!"

"Naturally!"

Veteran Doron breathed a sigh of relief, and the other three soldiers hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"Alright, find a place to camp and rest well; tomorrow we continue the work."

Gang Le laughed and waved them off.

As they all left, he quietly sighed.

Though he had expected it, thinking about the brothers separating made Gang Le a bit uncomfortable.

This left Gang Le, weary from a day’s toil, with little appetite.

Someone who could eat three to four pounds of venison, tonight only ate two pounds.

Then he voluntarily took on sentry duties, sitting alone on the hillside.

"Why, your dignity hurt because a few subordinates left?"

Vivian leaned against a big tree, crossing her arms over her chest, looking at Gang Le who sat in a corner.

Gang Le opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but after thinking, only sighed in the end.

He didn’t dislike this lively young girl; he just didn’t know what to say.

"Oh, don’t worry, you’ll meet more brothers in the future!"

Vivian advised, "Besides, didn’t Lord Baron say you don’t need to keep everyone here? You’re already impressive."

"This has nothing to do with Lord, you don’t understand, little one."

Gang Le didn’t know Vivian’s identity, so his words naturally lacked much etiquette,

"We’ve been together since joining the Border City Defense Army, it’s been eleven years now; these guys are no different from family."

"Oh, but even family will have times when they must part, right?"

Vivian tilted her head, continuing to persuade, "Don’t be unhappy; look, you didn’t eat enough tonight."

"If you get skinny from hunger, it will only make Lord Baron worried."

Gang Le looked back at Vivian, thought for a moment.

"Fine, then I’ll go eat more."

Gang Le got up, brushing off the dirt from his pants.

Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly stopped, pulling out his war axe.

——In the dim distance ahead, pairs of glowing green eyes appeared.

"What’s wrong?" Vivian asked curiously.

"A bit of trouble."

Gang Le stretched his neck, not looking back, throwing out a line,

"Go find Rein!"

"Okay!"

Vivian unhesitatingly turned and ran back to Rein’s side to hide.

"Gang Le spotted danger!"

Though Vivian was lively, she understood priorities well.

The soldiers quickly rose alertly, Rein swiftly jumped up the hill, meeting Gang Le who retreated.

"It’s a wolf pack!"

"There seem to be thirty or forty of them!"

"That many?"

Rein’s eyes widened; in years of hunting, he’d never encountered such a large wolf pack.

Ordinary wolf packs numbered around ten, more numerous at fifteen to twenty; thirty to forty was exceptionally rare!

"No matter, however many come, kill them all!"

As Gang Le’s words fell, the wolf pack quickly approached, surrounding them in a fan shape!

Dozens of ghostly green eyes flickered in the night, sharp fangs gleaming with cold light.

The desert wolves were noticeably larger, glaring at Gang Le and others as they closed in step by step, deep growls issuing from their throats, ready to pounce any moment.

"I feel something’s off; you guard the fire pit; I’ll flank the Wolf King!"

Rein glanced at Vivian beside him, "You all protect her..."

"Don’t worry about me; I’m the least useful. It’s most important that you all survive!"

Vivian fearlessly responded excitedly, "Go kill the Wolf King!"

"Alright!"

Rein retreated slowly, crouching as he climbed the hill, sneaking around the wolves from the side.

"Brothers, hold off these beasts to buy Rein time!"

Gang Le, wielding the axe, stood before the fire pit, others also fanned out, eyeing the wolf pack.

Vivian hid behind the tree, not only was she not nervous, but there was a hint of excitement.

Thus, the standoff ensued, neither side dared move rashly, until a sudden sharp roar echoed from the night behind!

Roar——

The wolf pack launched an attack instantly, surging like a flood!

The desert wolves at the forefront snarled ferociously, opening bloody jaws, rushing at Gang Le with a pungent stench!

"Kill!"

Gang Le roared, charging head-on, engaging in combat with the vicious wolves!

The others followed closely, meeting the wolves that pounced from all directions!