Chapter 272: Mik the Refugee!

After handing over everything, Gervas returned to the living room holding the Red Spirit Fruit.

Just like the first Red Spirit Fruit back then, its surface emitted a faint red glow, a sign that it had ripened.

Under normal circumstances, the Red Spirit Fruit would fall to the ground and rot within twenty-four hours of ripening, losing its magical efficacy.

But those refugee adventurers clearly knew a lot; they wrapped it in leaves called Mana Plantain to slow the loss of magic.

Of course, according to that Nubot's warning, the Mana Plantain leaves could maintain it for at most two weeks.

And by the time it reached his hands, this Red Spirit Fruit had already been consumed for seven or eight days.

So, if he delayed for a few more days, he would simply waste this precious magical potion fruit.

Gervas certainly did not delay; after sitting cross-legged, he directly brought the Red Spirit Fruit to his mouth.

The familiar taste, the familiar warm current; soon Gervas felt his body begin to change.

First, the strength of muscles everywhere was enhanced, followed by the qi meridians becoming wider and more resilient.

Of course, because this was the second time taking it, the efficacy had already weakened somewhat.

Plus, since his body's strength already belonged to the extraordinary realm, little could be seen on the outside.

But Gervas's mouth corner could not be suppressed either, and his eyes were full of excitement.

"I am already vaguely feeling the bottleneck!"

He had no choice but to be happy.

It turned out he actually felt the bottleneck before breaking through to Silver Knight.

For anyone else wanting to break through from Bronze Knight to Silver Knight, two or three years was the starting point.

But now, counting everything, it was not even half a year, yet he had already touched the bottleneck before breaking through to Silver Knight.

This was absolutely monstrous, and even the offspring of those great families might not compare.

Of course, to have this speed, the resources piled up were things others wouldn't even dare to think of.

First, naturally, were these precious magical potions and monster meat.

Second were the spirit spring on the small island and the element spirits in the castle's back garden.

Of course, the most important point was one more thing: that almost every day, Chef Rose's kind, um, was her hardworking help in cultivation...

"My lord!"

"What is it?"

Just as Gervas's thoughts were drifting, Old John's shout came from outside the living room.

Under normal circumstances, since he had previously ordered no disturbances, without an emergency, surely no one would disturb him.

"My lord, Captain Evlan of the Sky Squad says there is an emergency report, regarding the border refugees you instructed this morning!"

"Is that so? I am coming immediately!"

Gervas's eyes lit up.

Border refugees, speaking naturally of the matter of the Mik gathering being hunted down.

A gathering of fifty thousand people; that was absolutely not small-scale, and could even compare to the size of a viscount's fief.

Of course, this was just a metaphor.

Even if these gatherings had strength comparable to a duke, in the kingdom's eyes, they were all just refugees.

And the reason Gervas was interested in them was that these leaders were basically not simple figures.

After all, in a place like the Chaotic Wasteland, only the strong were supreme.

So, although they were refugees, it could be confirmed that the one called Mik, and even those protecting him while fleeing, might all be Title Knights.

And if so many Title Knights could be recruited for his own use, this would be no less than picking up several hundred gold coins!

Chaotic Wasteland, at the edge of a forest ten li from Storm Fief.

A squad was resting.

The squad had men, women, old, and young; everyone's face bore exhaustion.

"Father, we should not be far from the kingdom's border here, right?"

"Almost; at most an hour or so to arrive!"

"Father, you always said before that nobles are very dangerous; if we enter the kingdom's territory like this, will those nobles capture us?"

"Rebena, nobles are indeed very dangerous, but our situation is different now; the Hordon Gathering wants to wipe us out completely, and the Chaotic Wasteland has no place for us anymore."

"So, we can only flee into the kingdom's territory to protect everyone's safety."

"Also, nobles sometimes do not necessarily capture refugees; on the road fleeing here earlier, I already inquired that the lord of that place called Storm Fief ahead should be quite good."

"At that time, let's see if we can request his protection and become his serfs!"

"Become serfs?!" Rebena was somewhat incredulous.

It must be known that refugees on the wasteland hated the word "serf" the most.

Because the vast majority of them fled to the wasteland to escape this status.

And her father was a leader of a large gathering, and even possessed battle qi.

He was actually thinking of becoming a serf.

Of course, she also vaguely understood that her father was willing to do this not out of cowardice, but for her sake.

"Rebena, sometimes, if one meets a benevolent noble, actually becoming a serf is quite good." Perhaps worrying his daughter would overthink it, Mik comforted her with a sentence.

"Of course, once we truly enter the kingdom's border, you also need to disguise yourself slightly!"

"Is it smearing pot ash from the iron pot onto the face?" Rebena actually knew how to do it.

Mik was surprised and asked affectionately, "Who taught you?"

"It was Uncle Mike's wife, Auntie Layla! She said I was too pretty and might attract the lord's attention!" Rebena said.

Mick nodded. "Lady Laya is right, Rebena..."

"Chief Mick! Trouble! The bastards from the Horton gathering are catching up!"

Everyone in the Mick gathering, who had been resting temporarily, instantly panicked.

"How much farther is it?"

"Chief Mick, very close, at most one li!"

"How could it take so long?" Mick's face changed drastically, but he had no time to complain. "Everyone, speed up! We are not far from the Human Kingdom! Once we enter the kingdom's territory, those guys from the Horton gathering won't dare to continue the pursuit!"

Everyone hurriedly began to pack up, while Mick, supported by Rebena, stood up and then boarded a carriage!

Immediately, everyone began to flee toward Storm Territory.

Unfortunately, the pursuing forces from the Horton gathering were much faster than they had anticipated; dozens of carriages were seen galloping toward them in hot pursuit.

Yet the Mick gathering had only three carriages.

One of them was for Chief Mick, who was injured, of course, and it also carried quite a lot of cargo.

The other two carried women and children.

More than ten minutes later, the group from the Horton gathering had caught up!

"Rebena, you go with Aunt Laya and the others first!"

"No, Father, I don't want to leave you!"

Rebena was startled and immediately shook her head in refusal.

But Mick couldn't worry about that; he directly ordered the group to stop, grabbed Rebena, and threw her into another carriage!

"Go quickly!"

With that command, the two carriages carrying the family members continued forward.

Although Rebena struggled, she was seized by Aunt Laya and the others.

Only after the carriage had gone far away did Mick turn his head to look behind him.

Just then, dozens of carriages from the Horton gathering drew near. "Haha, Chief Mick, you really made us chase hard!"