Chapter 268: My brother and I are heart‑to‑heart, yet he reaches back and pulls me out

Unfortunately, the emblem hanging on the side can't be seen clearly from the front.

Or rather, these few widows, agitated to the point of seeing stars, had long forgotten this point in their beautiful fantasies akin to babbling.

Finally seeing their savior, they all shouted, "Sir, you've finally come!" Then they vied to be the first to rush forward and pour out their grievances, hoping to make a familiar face before the gentlemen, so they could advance further later.

But the situation in Inner City is already tense as a drawn bow; Boris's trip here also carries great risk, so the guards have been keeping their nerves taut the whole way, unable to tolerate even the slightest stimulation.

Especially now, seeing several black shadows screaming and throwing themselves forward, they were frightened and thought it was those strange creatures that had blown up the building before, returning again.

"Assassins! Protect the master!"

Amid the clanging sounds, they drew their waist swords one after another, not even bothering to ask before swinging.

Moreover, amid the continuous shouts, all the pursuers drove their horses to gather around their family's wagon frame.

Relying on the tight wall formed by iron armor and flesh, they blocked all who tried to advance as 'enemies,' waiting for the master's order to launch a fire assault.

Therefore, if it weren't for someone reminding them in time, and because they were acting more cautiously due to the special nature of this visit, they might really have started fighting over this inexplicable reason.

But even so, the swung knives had already swung; a few unlucky ones in relatively forward clothing had already collapsed on the ground, bright red blood slowly seeping from beneath their black skirts, soon turning into beautiful flowers.

"Damn!"

Even with Boris's upbringing, he strained his neck to look through the gaps between the clanspeople, but what he saw was this scene, and he still couldn't help muttering a curse under his breath.

Originally I came with a peaceful mindset to discuss cooperation, but before I could even speak, I went and slaughtered several people on their turf—can there still be any chance for negotiation?

He was still hesitating whether to leave immediately to preserve his dignity as the Association's chairman, or to stay and see if things might turn around, when he saw several people with clean faces—presumably the so-called Eastern-featured humans—walk over.

They seemed not to have noticed the dead humans, merely giving a slight bow and speaking with a smile.

"Ah, so you're friends from the Adventurers Association; I've long heard of your noble integrity, and indeed it lives up to reputation."

"Yes, thank you for helping us punish those gang ruffians who wanted to cause trouble at the ancestral temple."

"What?"

"Is this a grammatical style and rhetorical device unique to Easterners?"

Boris fell into deep confusion, and his expression suddenly changed dramatically.

——because he discovered that with just this short sentence, the other party had directly labeled what was not exactly a glorious killing as open and aboveboard, even somewhat justified as a righteous act.

This ability to invert right and wrong and spout nonsense immediately reminded him of the rich, oil‑laden tycoons of the Business Union; he never expected there to exist in this world beings as shameless as they!

The players had long, through investigation and inference, guessed that the three major powers of Inner City would likely send people in the next two days, and also had a hunch it would probably be people from the Adventurers Association.

But they never expected the visitor to be Boris himself—tsk tsk, as the chairman, in this sensitive period, truly a remarkably brave, or rather extremely rash, foolish act.

But since they came, the players have no excuse to refuse.

And since the window for negotiation still exists, Boris has no reason to let it pass.

Thus he brought a few of his closest guards and, together with the player representatives, walked into the small building beside the White Wolf Ancestral Temple.

Boris is very serious; he has already regarded the diplomatic victory or defeat with the White Wolf Family as one of the most important turn‑around battles for the Adventurers Association in Outer City.

And the players also value this exchange greatly, after all, whether it's a military sweep or peaceful cooperation, they need locals to help liaise, bridge, and manage affairs.

So now Boris needs the players, and the players need Boris; between them there exists a natural possibility of close cooperation.

Thus the two sides easily reached a cooperation agreement: the White Wolf Family and the Adventurers Association will mutually respect each other's rights in Sunshine City and jointly crack down on all illegal and criminal activities inside and outside the city.

As for the detailed clauses, they include that the White Wolf has the duty to assist registered adventurers in carrying out lawful and compliant activities and residence in Outer City, and to provide them with certain medical aid and relief.

And the Association has the duty to help the White Wolf Family establish an office in Inner City, expand its influence, and grant them first priority in issuing tasks to adventurers, as well as detailed authority to designate executors.

In short, the Association is weak and lacks resources, while the White Wolf has just arrived and lacks helpers; by complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses, they can piece together a cripple and a blind man into a whole person.

"I hope our friendly exchanges will let Sunshine City enjoy a peaceful tomorrow, making it truly the southern border's pearl."

As both sides smiled and shook hands, this negotiation was declared concluded.

However, the end of negotiation does not mean the end of exchange; both sides wanted to, under the pretext of 'chatting when interested,' pry more information from each other, so they continued idle chatter.

The players did not want Boris to think they had only the Association as a cooperation option, so they straightforwardly told him they actually also have another base outside.

"The number of people there is at least five times that here; we are merely the so‑called vanguard, responsible for coming to Sunshine City to do some small business."

And Boris, weighing the pros and cons, also laid bare the Association's current predicament—for example, they really have no good cards to play right now.

"Ah, then let me start from the assassination I once suffered—this Sunshine City really isn't peaceful."

"... Anyway, these matters may not be common knowledge in Inner City, but a quick round of asking at the taverns will give a general idea; better to bring them out again to show sincerity."

Finally, Boris sat in his own carriage amidst everyone's waving farewells, intending to relax with a sigh of relief, but he continually felt a weight pressing on his heart.

These Easterners, upon entering the city, seemed to beat up officials above and soldiers below, and even singled out the leaders of various gangs for assassination. They repeatedly used violent means, offending the Union and then the Mercenary Alliance—truly like a bunch of belligerent barbarians.

But objectively speaking, their violence was actually quite restrained; not to mention those who died at their hands, even those they beat were not a single innocent person—all were old scoundrels whose comeuppance would make the townsfolk clap and cheer.

Therefore, even if they also formed a 'gang,' many townspeople held them in very high regard; especially today, they even set out an unlimited buffet to invite the whole city to eat.

You must understand that normally everyone 'voluntarily' pays various levies to the Business Union, and 'actively' gives protection money to the mountain folk Mercenary Alliance.

Even the Adventurers Association's adventurers, due to their more complicated cooperation ties and operating costs, have no discounts or privileges to speak of.

In other words, the Outer City residents have continually given to all major powers, yet they have never seen any money returned, nor enjoyed any of the promised benefits.

But now?

Those Easterners not only want none of your money, but even proactively produced a large sum to entertain everyone with fine food and drink!

Boris couldn't help recalling his childhood, when his father was still alive and often invited adventurers to dine at home, even proactively helping them treat illnesses.

His father was the true patriarch of the three clans, highly respected and renowned; no matter which family or which power, all must show him reverence.

This is also the fundamental reason why the three major clans, as outsiders, could qualify to establish the Sunshine City Adventurers Association.

——Actually, everyone is just looking out for the old clan chief's face.

Unfortunately, after his father's death, that influence faded with his passing; no matter how one imitates, they never grasp the essence, and even the Association now finds it somewhat hard to carry on.

So……

These Easterners actually possess at once the military strength of the Mercenary Alliance, the cunning of the Business Union, and the grassroots influence of the Adventurers Association?

Fortunately I acted quickly; otherwise, waiting for that monster to point its spear at Inner City, I would probably just have to hurriedly prepare a coffin and consider how to leave a whole corpse.

As the carriage jolted, Boris's thoughts grew deeper.

By then it had grown dark outside, and the last few townsfolk lingering outdoors hurriedly rushed inside their homes.

The guards outside the window gradually grew quiet, and the pace of the horses gradually quickened.

The outer city at night is truly no place to linger; they've already wasted too much time at the White Wolf Ancestral Temple, and they dare not delay any further.

Unfortunately, some things truly won't stay away just because you don't want them; if nothing unexpected occurs, something unexpected will.

Thus, as the convoy sped all the way toward the East Gate, Boris suddenly felt his heart clench sharply, and every hair on his body stood on end.

"Stop, there's a problem!"

But before his warning could finish, he felt a sharp chill flash through the evening wind; the guard beside him, unaware of what had happened, was cut down from his horse by a sudden blade.

The sensation of blood plasma splattering around his nostrils was very familiar, for he had tasted it two months ago!

——After hiding for so long, you finally couldn't resist taking action, huh?

"Traitor!"

Boris roared angrily, drew the two-handed greatsword lying at his side, and the black-clad assassin who had killed the guard, unable to dodge, was chopped in half by his full-force horizontal slash.

However, these black-clad attackers were not alone; the surrounding darkness seemed their nest, as shadow after shadow rushed out, trying to seize the lives of the nearby guards.

Although Boris had the guards quickly contract their lines and even took the offensive to support their defense, the enemy lurked in the dark while they were exposed; outnumbered, the valiant could not withstand, and clansmen kept being knocked from their horses.

In fact, they had used this tactic before; before swinging their blades at the target, they would first eliminate any possible support around the target, then go all out in a 'Giant Beast Hunt'.

Such tactics are utterly repulsive; if it weren't for a bit of luck mixed into my strength, and happening upon a reliable doctor after shaking off my pursuers, I would surely have died in such a siege.

So this time……

This time is different!

"Close your eyes!"

Boris reached into his bosom, pulled out a scroll inscribed with a First-Ring Flash Technique, and in an instant a blinding light illuminated everything around.

Taking advantage of the light before it faded, he spotted every enemy's position before him, leapt like a hunting leopard, and fiercely cleaved his blade.

Several assassins who couldn't dodge were beheaded on the spot, hot blood and entrails spraying out, splattering across Boris's body.

The other guards also held their breath, seized their own targets, drew their blades, and the two sides clashed into a melee.

Amid the melee, though it seemed they had broken the enemy's ruse, Boris's brow remained tightly furrowed.

After all, with only these forces, no matter how they schemed, they couldn't possibly drive him to desperation; there must be someone else among them……

In an instant, the primal instinct of beast and bloodline roared once again.

He forcibly checked the blow he was about to unleash, suddenly lowered his head, and let another blade graze past his crown by a hair's breadth.

Boris's eyes turned red—this was the fury of seeing his enemy, hatred seeping into his bones.

He was about to shout, 'Who are you?' when he realized the opponent wasn't hiding at all this time.

"You are… Fein? Indeed it's you!"

Though his strike failed, Fein's face still bore a smile, the calm of one who had victory in hand, even finding leisure to jeer.

"Long time no see, President Boris—how have you been lately?"

"Beast, I should have guessed it was you earlier.!"

Unfortunately, Boris didn't appreciate his sentiment, merely letting out a low growl, grinding his teeth.

No wonder that swordsman last time, though strong, always felt off in his stance—clearly it was a forced disguise of swordsmanship!

And upon hearing Boris's hysterical cursing, Fein actually burst into loud laughter, which took eight beats to barely subside, his words dripping with mockery.

"Beast? Aren't you lot just a bunch of filthy beastmen?"

But before his arrogant words were finished, Boris, unable to bear it any longer, brandished his greatsword and erupted once more.

"Hah……"

Both wielding two-handed heavy weapons, both masters of the blade, though their origins and martial arts differed, they were still evenly matched.

But time was not on Boris's side; the brutal mercenaries seemed to pour forth endlessly, and his own guards could barely hold on.

Moreover, in the end a lone hero cannot withstand four hands; even his most trusted comrade Hack was pierced through the body by several spears, able only to shout with blood in his mouth.

"Chief, you run on your own, run!"

"Run?"

"But where to run?"

Boris knew that since they dared show their faces today, they would surely pursue to the bitter end—this was a deadlock after tearing all pretenses apart!

At the critical moment, as the son of the old chief, the head of the Sharp Claw Family, and the chieftain of many leopard folk, he also erupted with a savage aura.

His battle markings surged forth, his already tall frame continued to elongate, and even a heavy white vapor spewed from his mouth and nose.

This is a common talent among many beastmen—Berserk.

Faced with this, Fein finally grew solemn, gripping his sword hilt tightly, ready to give his all to meet the opponent's desperate struggle.

Boris sprinted a few steps, his muscles bulging like an explosion, and he still employed the leopard beastmen's forte of charge and slaughter.

However, just as Fein raised his greatsword to launch a splendid counterattack to end the fight, he saw Boris suddenly drop his weapon.

"What?"

In the mere moment of his bewilderment, the leopard folk had already shifted their stance in midair, their hands swelling with surging crimson energy, coalescing into a pair of crystal‑like claws.

——This is the special gift of the leopard as a true‑steel race: the Immovable Claw, an innate powerful weapon.

Boris's resolve was simple: if death was unavoidable, at least he had to trade his life for Fein's.

That way, even if he died, the lone Gelei de, if he turned toward the Business Union, could at least preserve the association's foundation, lest it be……

But just then Boris noticed that beneath Fein's feigned astonishment lay a hint of old‑crafty mockery in his eyes.

He hadn't yet figured out what that meant when a fierce gust struck from his side, and a terribly familiar axe thrust forth from within.

"Ge…… Gelei de?"