Chapter 136

Chapter 136

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 136: Fake Gold (4).

The silver bar transport team arrived safely in the small city of Amper. Although Amper had almost fallen, it was quickly recovering to its former level thanks to the numerous caravans coming up from the central-southern region. Of course, they still didn’t have the luxury to worry about the outside security.

They stayed in the city for just two days before leaving…. And there was a group blatantly following them.

They pretended to be a caravan coincidentally taking the same route, but such a trick didn’t fool Allen, who could see the status window.

…They took the bait…!

Confirming their identity, Allen grinned with satisfaction internally.

Honestly, it would be a lie to say there was nothing to worry about at all. If those guys didn’t take the bait, all this effort would be for nothing. Fortunately, the greedy bastards took this tempting bait just as he planned.

Well, with four wagons piled high with silver bars, each worth hundreds of gold coins, how could the greedy bandits resist? Even if the bandit king himself came, he wouldn’t be able to resist.

Of course, they didn’t reveal their true colors from the first day. They seemed to be scouting the convoy at first. They were probably assessing the situation, waiting for the most vulnerable moment.

Their actions were commendable, but unfortunately for them, their opponent was Allen.

No, even if it wasn’t Allen, there was still the Viola-Mercenary Group, one of the Top 10, in this place. Just with that alone, they had already made the worst choice. But they, unaware of this, were probably giggling and enjoying their thoughts of taking the silver bars.

On the third night after leaving the small town of Amper…

Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived.

Ding, ding, ding ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

“Enemies!!!!”

Allen and the members sprang up at the clamorous sound of the bell.

Here they come.

Of course, the Allen-Mercenary Group, having prepared for this situation in advance, calmly prepared themselves for battle. The experienced and seasoned members did not panic.

An immense number of bandits charged toward the convoy from afar, forming a surrounding formation. With a loud “Uwaaah!” they rushed in, and even a rough estimate showed there were at least two or three hundred of them. It seemed they had gathered every single one they could muster.

…Damn, there are so many of them…!

Among them were several ferocious demonic beasts, and it seemed they even had a mage with them, as a mana bolt flew toward the convoy while the bandits charged. It looked like they intended to strike first and gain momentum. The bolt flew directly at the Allen-Mercenary Group.

Though it was a sudden magical attack, fortunately, they managed to block it without much trouble.

The first to reach the convoy were, as expected, the swift beasts.

The creatures with fur standing sharply like spikes opened their terrifying jaws wide, ready to devour humans in one bite. However, the Allen-Mercenary Group had faced such beasts countless times before, so they easily defended themselves and counterattacked.

And soon, the bandits charged in a frenzy.

“Kill them all!!”

The bandits, their eyes turned by the sight of silver bars, showed no intention of leaving any hostages. Greedy for a fortune, they charged with bloodshot eyes full of avarice.

The attack from the bandit group, mixed with hundreds of bandits, beasts, and even mages, was indeed fierce… However, the mercenary group gathered here were veterans among veterans who had survived countless battles. Among them were even those known as the Top 10, the pinnacle of the mercenary world. Frankly, that fact alone said it all.

The leader of the band of bandits, Zerper, also jumped into the battle. Of course, he did go charge right to the front, but maintained a proper distance.

However, seeing the bandits fighting at the front line being easily cut down by the transport unit’s weapons, he felt something was off. Even the beast that the band of bandits prided themselves on were easily defeated!

What is this…?

At that moment, a chilling sensation pierced his spine. It was then that he felt something was wrong.

An individual who had been fighting the transport unit suddenly broke through his subordinates and approached Zerper’s face in an instant. A woman with pink hair and a blindfold.

“Found, you.”

You son of a…!

Nevertheless, Zerper was the second strongest in the bandit group, right behind Martolo, the group leader. The moment he swung his blunt weapon to crush the head of the young girl in one blow, she deftly dodged it like a snake and struck his jaw hard with her elbow.

!!!

Had he reacted a bit slower, he would have been knocked out cold.

Of course, just because it missed didn’t mean it wasn’t powerful. His vision spun once already.

True to his cowardly bandit nature, he quickly dashed backward. However, the blind woman didn’t let him escape and closely pursued him.

“Die!”

The mace, swung with all its might in a desperate scream, once again hit nothing but empty air. Slightly bending her knees and twisting her body to the side to avoid the attack, she swung her fist like lightning, determined to subdue him without any mistakes this time.

It struck precisely at his massive belly with just enough force not to kill.

!!!

His heavy figure lifted off the ground. He flew for a few seconds and then fell straight to the ground with a thud, sprawled out.

The Blind Saintess lightly dusted her hands off and scanned her surroundings.

Of the hundreds of bandits, more than half had already been defeated. Many had realized the hopelessness of the situation and fled.

The group leaders, not intending to let them escape if possible, had already ordered the archers to take down the fleeing ones. The veteran archers, known for their perfect accuracy, each planted an arrow into the back of the fleeing bandits’ heads. Those who persistently survived the rain of arrows were chased down on horseback and killed.

The number of bandits who managed to keep their lives was roughly around twenty.

From the moment the plan was initiated, it had to proceed as quickly as possible, so Allen immediately began the interrogation on the spot.

“I heard you guys are distributing fake gold. Do you know where it’s made?”

“I-I don’t know.”

The moment he said he didn’t know, Furball Geese, standing next to Group Leader Allen, fiercely drove an axe into the man’s head.

!!!

The faces of the bandits turned pale as they saw their comrade’s head split open.

“Next. You. Do you know?”

“Pl-please spare me…!”

When Allen turned his gaze to the next person, Furball Geese once again struck the head of the bandit with his axe.

Despite the terrifying scene, the four members of the secret meeting silently watched. They no longer considered the bandits as humans.

“Next, you.”

“B-Boss will know!”

Realizing that one wrong word could mean death, the underling threw a glance at the large figure. Allen walked steadily towards the big man.

In truth, he already knew the large man was their leader. The beheadings were a preemptive warning. If you act up, you’ll end up like this.

“Are you the leader?”

For now, Zerper maintained his silence. Allen pointed at him with his chin and ordered Geese.

“Cut off his pinky.”

!!!

As the startled man tried to resist, three people swiftly subdued him. Then, when Geese severed his pinky with an axe, a scream burst forth.

“Are you the leader?”

“…Y-Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

“Cut the next one. Arrogant bastard.”

Furball Geese cut off his ring finger. The man, screaming again, had already lost his will to fight.

“Where do you make the fake gold?”

“…I-I don’t know.”

“Cut two more.”

In an instant, only his left thumb remained. He writhed in pain, sobbing.

“Where do you make the fake gold?”

“I really, really don’t know…!”

“Cut off his wrist.”

Furball Geese then brought the axe down on the man’s wrist with a bang.

“Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!”

In an instant, Zerper lost his left hand, and his face turned ghostly pale.

“Where do you make the fake gold?”

“I really don’t know. I swear. Please, believe me. Pleeease…”

“Cut off his right hand.”

“I swear I don’t know. I really don’t. Honestly! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

In an instant, Zerper lost both hands and started thrashing wildly. Unable to watch any longer, Group Leader Kalim approached Allen.

“Could it be that he really doesn’t know?”

Allen confidently smiled and spoke with certainty.

“No, he knows. He’s just pretending not to until the end.”

He squatted beside the giant’s head and spoke.

“Next, it’s your dick. After that, I’ll cut off your balls too. I’ll ask again. Where do you make the fake gold?”

The man gritted his teeth and trembled silently.

Allen commanded Furball Geese without hesitation.

“Cut it.”

At that moment, a bellowing cry erupted.

“…It’s in the Khalil Mountains! The Khalil Mountains. It’s there, it’s there…”

Allen, upon hearing this, smirked crookedly.

“So, you lied earlier. Cut it.”

“No, no, nooo, nooooooo!!!!!!!”

Furball Geese’s axe cut off the unsightly genitalia.