Chapter 49: The Manhunt

"A mere Wild Wolf Bandit Group, capable of causing my death?"

"And... how dare he murder a lord? This is a provocation to all nobles; all nobles will hunt them down to their deaths!"

"It seems... there truly exists a massive conspiracy."

Aaron thought of the premonition he had when he last attempted to use Dark Spirit, and suddenly felt that all of this had a traceable path.

"Killing me offers little benefit... I don't have many enemies, the remnants of the Davis Family, or perhaps..."

He looked toward the direction of Sotos Castle, his gaze filled with melancholy.

A moment later, at the threshing floor.

Aaron was in full military attire, hand on his sword, his expression solemn.

"Lord Baron?"

Bazhi, wearing Leather Armor, looked at this scene, and for a moment, was actually somewhat dazed.

Since the last war, he had not seen Aaron like this for a long time.

"The Sheriff's team, plus the guards, only thirty-some people, this is completely insufficient!"

Aaron's expression was grave, and he said loudly: "Issue a Conscription Order, every household must provide one adult man, gather one hundred people!"

Ancient feudal petty lords actually find it very difficult to support many non-productive soldiers.

For example, Sotos Castle only had about a hundred standing troops; now that it occupies the entire Green Forest, it has only expanded to several hundred.

The guards in Aaron's previous territory had always been filled by veterans from the team he brought who were willing to migrate, plus some recruited locally, amounting to only thirty-some people.

But at this moment, knowing there was a huge conspiracy, naturally he had to go all out!

Gathering a hundred Militia, within the entire Green Forest, there would be no roving bandits capable of forcibly taking them down; if there were, then they wouldn't be bandits, they would necessarily be a lord of a region!

The reason conspiracies and schemes are conspiracies and schemes is precisely because they cannot see the light!

"Yes, my lord."

Although Bazhi had some doubts, he still went to pass on the order.

Not long after, a vast and mighty group of people began to assemble.

As he walked out of the manor, Aaron, who still had a trace of Spirituality remaining, felt the gaze of someone watching.

He looked in one direction and did not see anyone, but there was a residential house, and without a second thought, he pointed with his riding crop: "Go and surround that place, capture everyone and throw them into the prison, wait for me to return before deciding!"

"Bazhi, lead the way!"

"Yes!"

Bazhi's expression was stern, as if he had returned to the army; the group marched in a vast and mighty formation toward a certain direction.

A mountain valley.

The tall Wild Wolf was caressing a crossbow with great fondness.

This crossbow was exquisitely crafted, something that could only be seen in the army in the past, and he had three of them!

Not only that, one could see his subordinates all had Leather Armor, and their weapons were also very fine, completely reaching the standard of elites in a regular army.

With this kind of lethality, even if they were few in number, it was completely sufficient to fight the Baron's guard!

Not to mention, it was an ambush!

Last night's attack was originally a lure; by intentionally leaving bloodstains and the like on the road, they intended to guide that lord into a trap!

"Pay attention later, after the target enters the ambush circle, all three crossbows are to aim at that noble lord!"

Wild Wolf gave a sinister laugh: "After killing the target, we will all have reward money, enough to buy large tracts of farmland in the south and retire to enjoy life!"

"Don't worry, Boss!"

A one-eyed man also holding a crossbow said excitedly: "With this, those merchant caravans from before, couldn't we just rob them whenever we wanted?"

"Still robbing? After finishing this job, we are all leaving this godforsaken place."

Wild Wolf was very clear-headed, even understanding that he was not a wolf, but merely a vicious dog; he had to bite whoever his master told him to bite!

"But... being able to kill a noble lord is not bad either."

He licked his lips, a bloodthirsty expression appearing on his face.

"Boss, it's bad!"

A man ran over from afar; it was their scout—Kua Tui Luosen—shouting as he ran: "That noble did come, but he brought over a hundred people!"

"Damn it!"

Wild Wolf cursed: "That little brat is really afraid of death!"

He thought for a moment and said unwillingly: "Abandon the trap, we are retreating! There will be opportunities in the future!"

"Boss..." the one-eyed man was somewhat unwilling.

"Cooked a pot of rice, but ten pots' worth of people came to eat; even with a trap, it's useless..." Wild Wolf said somewhat dejectedly.

His mind was finally clear, knowing that his few men were completely insufficient to be killed by the opponent.

Even if it were a two-for-one or even three-for-one trade, the other side could still pile up and kill them.

Furthermore, the opponent was so alert, perhaps they had discovered something.

Aaron led the main force, letting the scout lead the way, and saw a small mountain valley.

"My lord, the enemy is in the valley!"

Bazhi bowed and said: "There is a camp there."

"Send men in to take a look, and also, have people search the surroundings."

Aaron stayed at the valley entrance and did not go deep, saying indifferently.

A moment later, Bazhi returned with a very grim expression: "There is no one in the valley, but I discovered some arrangements outside the valley; they might be traps..."

Speaking of this, his forehead could not help but be covered in cold sweat.

If the Baron had not gathered so many people, and he had entered with just a squad, he might have died here today!

"What is the direction of the Wild Wolf Bandit Group's escape?"

Aaron asked.

"It should be near Knight Yiman's Emerald Territory." Bazhi had observed the footprints and other traces, and said with certainty.

"That works out perfectly; Knight Yiman still owes me a favor. Release the raven and have him mobilize the Militia to assist in the encirclement and suppression!"

There is no point in letting a favor go to waste, and Aaron did not care much about a Knight Yiman, so he gave the order directly.

He prepared to round them all up in one go this time; if Knight Yiman was not effective, he would use the pendulum method to perform divination again, and he would surely be able to catch them!

Three days later.

Knight Yiman was indeed a veteran of this territory; having gathered many hunters to help, he finally allowed Aaron to block the Wild Wolf Bandit Group outside a certain hill.

"Lord Baron, shall we launch a frontal assault?"

Looking at the small hill surrounded tightly by hundreds of Militia, a person who looked like a hunter asked.

They were sent by Knight Yiman, who had previously instructed them to obey the orders of Baron Aaron.

"I thank Knight Yiman for his help, and since the Wild Wolf bandits are extremely vicious, a frontal assault would result in casualties..."

Aaron looked at the wind direction and the vegetation and terrain of the small hill, then sneered: "Pass down the order, set it on fire directly; burn this place down for me!"

Hundreds of people worked together, quickly building a firebreak, and then they lit torches and began to set the mountain on fire.

On the mountain.

"Even if I die, I will bite off a piece of their flesh!"

Driven to a dead end, Wild Wolf howled unwillingly, then his expression suddenly changed: "This is..."

"Fire... the enemy is setting a fire!"

The one-eyed man screamed, suddenly dropped his weapon, and ran down the mountain.

He did not want to be burned or suffocated to death; that would be too painful.

Watching this scene, Wild Wolf felt that his final wish had been completely met with Destruction, and he could not help but howl in despair...