Chapter 18: The Wanted Chief Blacksmith!

After placing the two iron-armored lizards in the beast pens on the side of the castle and instructing Knight Mi Gen and several knight squires to take charge of their feeding, Captain Lauren hurriedly arrived.

"My lord, just now, two travelers matching your description entered the town. Their ages happen to fit a father-son relationship, and their clothes are in tatters; it appears they have undergone a long journey!"

"Is that so? Where are they now?" Gervas was delighted and didn't even have time for lunch.

"My lord, those two are currently in the town square. They just bought a black loaf of bread at a shop. I have the guard team watching them!"

"Let's go, take me to see them!"

Meanwhile, in the square of Wheatfield Town, Luca Hammer was eating black bread with his son.

The two sat on a stone bench at the edge of the square and did not attract much attention.

In a border noble territory, travelers in tattered clothes are common; everyone would just assume they are people from other villages or territories.

This also made Luca feel slightly relieved. After fleeing for over a month, even he, originally as strong as an ox, had become thin.

If not for his offspring, he felt he likely would not have lasted until now.

However, having already fled to the border, where could they go next?

Further south lies the dangerous Death Mountains and the chaotic Sunset Wasteland.

Could it be that he truly must enter the Sunset Wasteland to join bandits, barbarians, and alien races?

Just then, Luca suddenly sensed someone staring at him.

He immediately looked up, and indeed, someone was peeking around the corner of the opposite alley, gazing at him.

Looking at their attire, the leather armor, though old and unable to withstand two proper chops, indicated that the person belonged to the guard class.

And the moment their eyes met, that guard instantly averted his gaze, his expression also somewhat panicked.

His heart skipped a beat, and Luca thought silently, "This is bad."

When would guards fear serfs or commoners?

"Sain, let's go!"

"Father, but I haven't finished eating yet!" Sain hadn't reacted yet, but a moment later he realized something, his face turning pale. "Father, could it be..."

"Shh, don't speak!" Luca's face was filled with solemnity.

However, before his words even finished falling, more than ten guards rushed out from the alleys on both sides of the main town road ahead.

"Guard lords, we are just ordinary travelers and have committed no crime. Do you know what you want?"

"Travelers, Captain Lauren said the Lord wishes to see you. Wait here for a moment!" Due to Lauren's instructions, the guards did not dare to act rashly.

But to Luca, it felt as though his identity had been exposed and the other party had notified the lord to arrest him.

"Sain, you go first!"

Luca pushed his son away, then raised the thick wooden stick he used as a cane and charged at the guards.

Seeing the other party trying to run, the guards also surrounded them. "Quick, block them! Don't let them escape!"

Immediately, both sides fought into a melee on the street.

Luca was indeed an excellent blacksmith; his strength was no less than a knight's, so for a short time, the guards could not get close.

Clomp! Clomp!

Fortunately, at this moment, the sound of horse hooves approached.

On the dirt road leading from the castle, two fine horses and a carriage were galloping rapidly.

Luca's heart turned cold. "Sain, run quickly! Don't worry about me!"

Unfortunately, Sain could not bear to leave his father; he hadn't run earlier, and now he was also locked in combat with two guards.

"Stop!"

Gervas saw the scene and exclaimed, "Good heavens."

Fearing the blacksmith might be hurt, he hurriedly called for a halt.

"Lord, they just tried to escape!" Immediately, the scene froze. The guards stepped back, and one of them reported to Gervas.

Luca looked at Gervas with full alertness and despair.

However, to his surprise, Gervas did not order his arrest. "I understand. You may all disperse for now!"

"Yes, Lord!" Seeing this, Lauren immediately led the guards away, leaving Luca and his son bewildered.

"Luca the Blacksmith, is it?" After the guards had gone far away, leaving only Lei Meng and the knight squires, Gervas finally spoke to inquire.

"Noble, you indeed know me! It seems I am doomed this time. However, I have a request: can you spare my son?"

"Count Quake's wanted order is for me; it has nothing to do with my son!" Luca's eyes pleaded.

"No, Luca Hammer. I did see the wanted order, but I am not here to arrest you!"

"Saw the wanted order, but not arresting us?" Luca was instead confused!

"Come with me to the castle first; there are too many eyes and ears here!" Gervas did not explain further.

Hearing this, Luca became alert again.

"I am a Grand Knight, and my Knight Captain is a Bronze Knight. Do you think I need such trouble to lure and capture you?"

Luca immediately felt his face burning hot.

Indeed, if the other party truly intended to capture him, they could have taken him down without going to the castle.

"Sit!" He directly brought Luca to the living room and invited him to take a seat.

The two clearly dared not sit, but Gervas did not insist.

"Luca Hammer, my name is Gervas Gale, Lord of Storm Territory. I know you are wanted, but I do not know the specific reason. Tell me your specific origins!"

Luca hesitated only a moment before recounting the beginning of his flight.

He was originally one of Count Quake's chief blacksmiths.

Several months ago, he had unexpectedly obtained a book on Dwarven smithing at a market.

He had originally treated it as an ordinary book to peruse, but later discovered that this Dwarven smithing art was indeed real.

So he told this matter to one of his best friends, another blacksmith who also belonged to Count Quake.

He never expected that this blacksmith friend, coveting his smithing art, would actually plot to frame him for stealing mithril from the treasury.

Luka had originally wanted to explain to the Count, but that blacksmith had conspired with the Count's younger brother, preparing to kill him preemptively and claim it as killing a resisting arrest.

Fortunately, Luka was well-liked and had received the news early, so he fled overnight with his son.

Afterwards, not two days later, the Count's wanted poster was issued.

And Luka dared not delay any longer; he took his son and traveled south, hiding and dodging for a long time, until he finally arrived at the remote Storm Territory.

Having finished speaking, Luka looked at Gervas with slight nervousness. "Lord Gervas, is it true what you just said about not arresting us?"

"Of course it is true. I, Gervas, have never gone back on my word. Luka Ironhammer, since you have nowhere to go next, then stay in the Storm Territory and serve me!"

"My castle happens to need a skilled blacksmith!"

A chief blacksmith, and one who mastered Dwarven arts—this was absolutely high-level talent.

"This... Lord Gervas, but I still have Count Quake's wanted poster on me. If you take me in..."

"That is Count Quake's wanted poster, not the Kingdom's wanted poster. What does it have to do with me?" Gervas looked completely indifferent.

Luka's expression was strange; that was a Count!

It was the first time he had seen a minor noble treat a Count so casually.

"What do you say? Stay in the Storm Territory, and I can protect your safety, restrict neither your freedom, nor withhold your salary!"

"Additionally, your offspring must be around fourteen years old, right? Are you planning for him to inherit the blacksmith craft? Or shall I have my Knight Commander recruit him as a knight squire?"