The wasteland of the cave dwellings.
Countless beastmen gathered lazily, some sitting and staring blankly, others in small groups engaging in banter.
The chattering and clamor were irritating.
"Sigh."
Under the shade of a tree, a sigh of melancholy escaped Giles, who was leaning against the trunk. He frowned as he looked at the chaotic beastmen in the distance, feeling inexplicably agitated.
His state of mind had been unstable these past few days.
As a Golden realm great swordsman, being robbed and left with only his undergarments was a profound humiliation.
Fortunately, his life had been spared.
After a difficult journey, he had brought the young master back to town. Ashamed to continue serving as a guest minister in the Ska family, he intended to resign and wander the wilderness, to see the cave dwellings of this chaotic plane and perhaps find an opportunity for a breakthrough along the way.
Unexpectedly, the young master started causing trouble again.
He became chummy with some cave dwelling barbarian who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, discussing plans to avenge past grievances.
This, was not a problem!
If one had the ability, who wouldn't want to regain their honor after being wronged?
It had nothing to do with him.
He had planned to resign and roam the wilderness.
Alas, he was just one step away.
He had already packed his bags and left a letter, but before he could slip away, he was apprehended. The plan for retaliation was set in motion, and he was explicitly named to participate.
In truth, he had had opportunities to escape midway.
Although Kimura, that old hyena, was a great mage of comparable strength, as a swordsman, he could easily elude a mage of that level.
He was held back by his accumulated wealth.
The belongings he packed when leaving were not carried with him. It was possible that Tony, anticipating his intentions, had asked him to leave his valuables behind.
What is life if not for a few pieces of silver?
He also wished to wander the martial world with his sword.
The problem was, he needed to prepare travel expenses.
With his travel funds confiscated, he had no choice but to diligently work.
Regardless, he eventually followed Kimura to this place. Upon arrival, he didn't know where that old hyena Kimura had procured a group of rabble.
He had gathered this unruly horde of beastmen, chattering incessantly.
He couldn't even get a nap leaning against the tree.
"I should have left."
Giles, clutching his sword, felt the desire to leave surge uncontrollably in his mind.
What was he even doing here?
Honestly, he couldn't understand what was in Tony's head. Was it mush?
He didn't even think things through.
If that old hyena Kimura was truly capable, why would he need to cooperate with him to deal with that foreigner? That foreigner, for all intents and purposes, held over a dozen cannons in his hands.
Even more absurdly, Tony wanted revenge but didn't come himself.
He sent Giles instead!
Afraid of being known by the elders of his clan, he hadn't brought any of his own people. However, he hadn't come empty-handed either, hiring a few mercenaries with his money.
They were all Golden realm, and their strength was passable.
But, Giles still had little confidence in this operation.
He had heard that the foreigner now possessed a city-state. How could they, who lived in towns and relied on the Ska family, contend with such a person?
"Mr. Giles, are those beastmen too noisy?"
Just as Giles, leaning against the tree, was lost in thought, the old hyena Kimura walked up with a smile and sighed, looking at the beastmen.
"They are indeed too noisy."
"Hmph, looking at you is annoying." Giles almost cursed Kimura's ancestors in his heart as the latter approached to strike up a conversation.
In his opinion, Young Master Tony shouldn't have had such a mind.
It must have been that old hyena Kimura.
Otherwise, he would have already left with the savings he had accumulated over the years at the Ska family, living a life of leisure.
And now Kimura dared to come and talk to him.
He really wanted to stab Kimura in the back!
Giles grumbled resentfully in his heart, but outwardly, he couldn't afford to fall out with Kimura. He nodded with a forced smile.
"It's a bit noisy, but understandable, it's the outskirts of the cave dwellings, after all."
???
Hearing this, Kimura's face stiffened slightly.
He was also from the outskirts.
Giles's words, while seemingly aimed at the beastmen, also seemed to insult him, which, given Kimura's already narrow-minded nature, filled him with resentment.
It was only when he remembered that he needed to leverage the influence of the Ska family that he slightly suppressed his resentment.
"The beastmen on the outskirts are rather crude, unlike those living in the city-states. Please bear with them, Mr. Giles." Kimura said with a fake smile. "Let's not talk about this. Allow me to introduce you."
Immediately, Kimura gestured lightly, and several individuals with surging auras emerged from among the beastmen.
"These are the tribal chiefs and camp leaders who hold considerable military power in this region. The beastmen we have gathered for this expedition all come from their efforts."
Giles nodded slightly, while the other powerful figures frowned.
"Mr. Kimura, you invited us here to discuss attacking that foreigner, but after we took stock, you and this person from the Ska family haven't brought many people."
These leaders from the outer wilderness were shrewd. None of them were willing to expend their own men.
"What do you mean by that? Is it that the Ska family will take advantage of you?" Among the leaders, a rat-man with a rather shifty appearance muttered, "Besides, even if the Ska family hadn't contacted us, wouldn't we still attack that foreigner?"
"We have to attack!"
A sigh came from among the leaders.
"These days, the free declarations from that foreigner's city-state have made the people in our various camps and tribes restless. If we don't attack soon, our people will probably run over to his side."
"Indeed, indeed."
Echoes of agreement followed.
Giles, however, heard the word "freedom" and a hint of longing appeared in his tightly knitted brows.
"The question is, can we win?" Another anxious question arose from among the leaders. "I heard that the foreigner's city-state has developed extremely well, and just a few days ago, they were extensively recruiting soldiers within the city."
"Each of us brought thousands of people, and combined we have tens of thousands of warriors. Can we still not take down a city-state?"
"We cannot underestimate that foreigner." Suddenly, a great crocodile with a gloomy expression stepped forward. "My camp was razed by him not long ago."
"What?!"
All the leaders were greatly alarmed.
"The city defenses of his city-state are not bad either. We who stand here are all acquaintances, and I am aware of each of our strengths. Forgive my bluntness, but with the forces we have gathered here, we may not be able to shake that foreigner," the great crocodile whispered solemnly.
"If that's the case, then what are we doing here?"
"Let's disband."
For a moment, all the leaders began to have second thoughts. Since they were not a match, why waste their energy on this? At most, they would simply move their camps further away from that foreigner.
"Everyone, please be quiet."
Kimura, who had remained silent throughout, walked forward with a smile.
"We haven't even started, and why are you already losing heart? Are you truly going to let that foreigner develop freely in this region, forcing yourselves to migrate elsewhere?"
Mentioning "homeland," the leaders became somewhat hesitant.
Unless absolutely necessary, who would want to leave the homeland they had lived in for so many years?
"Everyone, please calm down." Seeing that these leaders were becoming swayed, Kimura also smiled and raised his hand. "I understand what everyone is thinking, but this foreigner is our common enemy. If any of us retreat now, it will damage our morale. In time, if this foreigner grows stronger, will there still be room for us to survive?"
"Then what are your plans?"
The great crocodile narrowed his eyes and looked up. At this moment, in terms of hatred, he should be the one most gnashing his teeth at Chen Yu.
Kimura's eyes twinkled with a smile.
"Do you know of the neutral forces, the Mermaid Kingdom!"