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nAt that moment, Kellman hadn’t realized what Howard was planning to do.

nA glint of coldness flashed in Howard’s eyes as he said, “Kellman, you understand that this matter must not be exposed, right?”

nStaring into Howard’s eyes, Kellman shivered.

nAfter these days of interaction, he understood too well what that look in Howard’s eyes meant.

nIt was the look of someone ready to kill, reminiscent of the time when Tina was bullied by the Empire Knights Order.

n“You’re planning to kill them? But they’re innocent!”

nKellman couldn’t let such an act happen.

nIntegrity was vital, especially among mercenaries.

nPromising payment for a job and then betraying them after the deed was done – that was unthinkable.

n“Brother Howard!” Kellman’s voice was stern as he stared intently at Howard.

nHe could overlook past incidents as they were acts of necessity, but now he would not yield.

n“These are men I brought. You can’t kill them. If you insist on doing so, then please take my and Tina’s lives as well!”

nHoward sighed.

n“Leader Kellman, what are you saying? You and Tina have both saved my life; how could I possibly kill you? Since you find it inappropriate, I won’t touch them.”

nWith Kellman so protective of his men, Howard reluctantly decided to let the matter go.

nHe hoped these men would be trustworthy.

nAfter parting ways with the others, Chris couldn’t help but say, “My lord, we can’t let those men go. Sedge was backed by an even greater power.”

nAlthough Chris was technically a slave, she didn’t accept this fact in her heart, and therefore didn’t address Howard as ‘master’.

nHoward himself lacked a sense of master-servant mentality, so he didn’t mind.

nAfter Chris spoke, Howard, who had initially decided not to harm the mercenaries, found himself deep in thought again.

nShould he really risk their lives? A flicker of resolve crossed his eyes, but soon, recalling Kellman’s words, he felt compelled to abandon the thought.

n“Let it be,” Howard finally said.

n“If I do this, how am I any different from people like Sedge? If the truth ever comes out in the future, I’ll find another way. Right now, these men are innocent. I can’t kill them just because they might betray me in the future.”

nChris stared at Howard, surprised, finding his reasoning very sound.

n…

nMeanwhile, Keadwyn, anxiously waiting outside the city, had yet to receive any news from Sedge.

nLogically speaking, with the Empire Knights Order ruling the city, it shouldn’t have taken Sedge long to eliminate a few targets.

nBut now, dawn was breaking…

n“Boss, something’s wrong!” a spy Keadwyn had sent into the city reported back.

n“Boss, Sedge is dead!”

n“What? What did you say?”

nKeadwyn couldn’t believe his ears.

nHe thought he had misheard.

nThe Vice-Commander of the Empire Knights Order, favored by the Duke of the capital, holding sway over half the city, was dead just like that?

n“The Vice-Commander of the Empire Knights Order, Sedge, is dead!” the spy repeated, and Keadwyn was forced to accept the reality.

nThis spy was his confidant, unlikely to lie, and such significant news must have been thoroughly verified.

nWith Sedge’s death at this juncture, it couldn’t be unrelated to Kellman.

n“That Sedge, such a waste, to die at the hands of a mere Kellman,” Kaedwyn muttered in disbelief.

n“What do we do now?”

nGazing into the night sky, gritting his teeth, he steeled himself and said, “Prepare six carts full of treasures. We’ll go to the agreed place tomorrow.”

nKaedwyn had decided to compromise; there seemed no other option left.

nHe had to admit that he had underestimated Kellman and his associates’ capabilities.

nEven if Sedge was incompetent, he wasn’t easy to kill, especially with the Four Knights around, whom even Kaedwyn wasn’t sure he could defeat.

nNow, the best course of action was to follow the instructions in the letter.

nHowever, his subordinates were less enthusiastic about this plan.

nSix carts of treasures represented their long-term savings, to be given away just like that?

nBut they were all Kaedwyn’s trusted men, and he had treated them well over the years.

nSeeing their leader making such a sacrifice to save his father, they had little to complain about.

nSensing his men’s reluctance, Kaedwyn sighed and said, “I know you brothers have been through a lot with me over the years.

nConsider this as a debt I, Kaedwyn, owe you.”

n“Boss, don’t say that. For the sake of saving the old man, what are these worldly possessions worth!”

n“Exactly!”

nWhile Kaedwyn believed Kellman and Howard were only after wealth, in reality, Howard had even contemplated killing him.

n…

nThe next day, as the appointed time arrived, Howard and Kellman, along with their group, were already waiting.

nKellman brought the same men as the day before, and Howard instructed Chris to keep a close watch on them.

nIf they showed any suspicious behavior, she was to act without seeking his approval first.

nHoward had Chris wear a helmet to prevent Kaedwyn from recognizing her, aiming for a surprise attack on him.

nAs time passed, Kellman remarked, “Could it be that Kaedwyn won’t show up?”

n“He will,” Howard confidently assured.

nThey waited a bit longer until they finally saw a caravan slowly approaching, led by Kaedwyn himself.

nKaedwyn had initially not planned to exchange the treasures for the hostages, which was why he had rushed back the previous night to prepare, causing a slight delay.

nHoward was certain that by now, Kaedwyn knew of Sedge’s death and would be highly vigilant, evident from the dozens of elite troops he brought with him.

nHowever, as long as he was unaware of Chris’s presence, Howard believed they still had a chance.

nUpon arriving, Kaedwyn glanced at Howard, standing at the forefront, with suspicion.

nHe thought to himself, could this young man be the mastermind behind everything?

nEven Kellman was obediently standing behind him…

nWithout saying a word, Kaedwyn gestured to his men to bring the caravan forward.

nHoward asked Chris to check the boxes in the wagons to ensure they were filled with treasures.

nAs Chris opened each box, everyone, including her, was stunned.

nThe chests full of gold coins, jewels, and silverware shone dazzlingly in the sunlight.

nThe mercenaries Kellman had brought were especially astonished.

nThey had never seen, nor even dreamed of, such wealth in their lifetimes.

nIt was unbelievable that Kellman was involved in such a deal.

nWhen the stakes are high enough, there are always those who will take risks, and this was exactly what Howard was concerned about.

nIf he didn’t need the manpower, he wouldn’t have allowed anyone other than Kellman, Tina, and Chris to come along.

nHe wasn’t worried about Chris betraying him; the thought wouldn’t even cross her mind.

nBesides, she was Howard’s slave, her life hanging on his whim.

nAfter confirming that there were no issues, Howard released the hostages.

nAt this moment, Chris, escorting an elderly man, approached.

nKaedwyn, upon seeing his father unharmed, breathed a sigh of relief.

nHis gaze then shifted to Chris.

nSomething about her seemed familiar, but with the helmet and armor, he couldn’t recognize her.

nThus, he relaxed his guard, mistaking her for an ordinary warrior, and hurried over to greet his father.

nThe old man, unaware of Howard’s plan to kill Kaedwyn, was prepared to witness his son’s death.

nHe had long anticipated such an outcome, knowing all too well Kaedwyn’s character.

nYet, when Kaedwyn rushed over eagerly, the old man found himself hesitating in his resolve, feeling a pang of unwillingness.

nHis mouth was gagged, unable to speak, but he tried to warn Kaedwyn with his eyes not to come closer.

nKaedwyn, who knew his father well, instantly sensed danger.

nHe looked around but found nothing amiss.

nWhere was the threat?

nIn his moment of confusion, Chris had already closed in on Kaedwyn.

nIn a swift motion, she drew her sword and struck.

nChris’s strikes were always clean and forceful, and this time she exerted her full strength.

nKaedwyn was cleaved in two, falling lifelessly to the ground.

nThe onlookers were shocked beyond belief.

nKaedwyn had just died like that? .𝒎

n“True to her orcish bloodline, Chris is terrifying,” someone murmured.

nThe mercenaries, who had been eyeing the six carts of treasures, began to weigh their options, considering whether the risk was worth taking.

n“Boss!”

nThe men Kaedwyn had brought with him, undoubtedly loyal to him, charged towards Chris upon seeing him killed, seeking vengeance.

n“Let’s help them out, brothers!” Kellman and Tina quickly moved to assist.

nHowever, the mercenaries hesitated, not following suit.

nTheir eyes lingered on the six carts filled with treasures.

nThis was the perfect opportunity.

nWith Chris engaged and potentially overwhelmed by Kaedwyn’s men, her survival was uncertain.

nKellman and Tina were also tied up in the fight, leaving only Howard.

nThey had witnessed Howard’s strength, which, while not weak, was not particularly exceptional compared to theirs.

n“Brothers, fortune favors the bold,” one of the mercenaries said, his eyes shining with a sharp light.

nThe others immediately understood his implication. .𝒎

nEven if they completed this job with Kellman, they would only receive a few dozen gold coins at most.

nBut now, there were millions of gold coins, perhaps even more, within their grasp.

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