Chapter 42: The Despicable Count Farrio!

The ditch was filled with beast corpses for hundreds of meters, and at this moment, the knights finally understood why their lord had summoned two hundred peasants in advance.

Without several hundred people, these beast corpses could never be carried back.

Not long after, a knight arrived at the ditch with the peasant squad and the guard unit.

Upon learning they had entered the Chaos Wasteland, the peasants and guards were terrified—they held a natural fear of the Chaos Wasteland.

But when they saw the ditch filled with beast corpses, everyone was stunned with joy, gaping in disbelief.

“Heaven… heavens, am I seeing things? Are these all beast corpses?”

“Yes, why are there so many beast corpses here? There must be over a thousand at least? Am I dreaming?”

Thwack!

“Ow, Buto, why did you hit me?”

“See if we’re dreaming…”

“You’re not imagining it, and you’re not dreaming! People of Stormhold, this is why your lord summoned you!”

“These beasts were captured by our cavalry under the leadership of our great lord!”

“Don’t stand around—quickly tie up all these beasts and take them back for immediate processing!”

“The lord has promised: anyone who finishes processing these beasts will receive one pound of fresh beast meat and a large chunk of black bread!”

Whoosh!

“Our lord is merciful! Our lord is mighty!”

“Our lord is merciful…”

The peasants who learned they would get two pounds of beast meat erupted in excitement.

This wasn’t fish meat, nor smoked fish meat—it was fresh beast meat.

For those living by the coast, their rare encounters with meat had always been fish and shellfish.

Though scarce, they had already tasted them before.

But fresh beast meat was an absolute luxury beyond their reach.

Instantly, the peasants worked with renewed vigor, tying up each beast.

Among these beasts, at least half were medium to large-sized.

Although during the drive and lure, safety prevented targeting large herds.

Yet the quality of the herds could still be chosen, so larger, meatier herds became the primary target.

After a flurry of activity, all the beasts were tied up, and the group began their return journey.

The knights had to dismount, using their Firehorses to drag the beast corpses.

Mainly because the number of beasts was simply too great—one cart and three hundred men still weren’t enough to haul them.

They constructed simple wooden sleds and had seven Firehorses pull them, barely making it work.

As for Pursuit Moon, the lord’s personal steed, no one dared make it help haul.

…

After more than two hours, all the beasts were safely brought back to the castle.

Of course, since the hides needed processing and the meat had to be preserved, the peasants still had to work through the night.

But with midnight snacks and the reward of one pound of beast meat and a chunk of black bread, the peasants worked with full energy.

In truth, Gervas himself couldn’t rest yet—the night had fallen, and judging by the time, the mother and daughter fleeing Ironwolf City, pursued by the Wild Wolf Brotherhood, should have reached the outskirts of Stormhold.

“Captain Laurence, pick ten sharp-eyed guards and prepare—we’re heading to the northern border soon!”

“Yes, my lord!”

Ten guards were selected, and Lei Meng and the other knights had already been waiting.

“Everyone, push hard—we ride!”

Gervas and his men galloped northward into the night.

…

Rose was terrified and helpless, stumbling along the dark dirt road with her three-year-old daughter.

Four years ago, when Shirley was just born, Shirley’s father was suddenly murdered.

At first, Rose thought it was an accident, but later she noticed that Count Farrio, who often visited her restaurant, began courting her.

But her husband had only just died—how could she accept his advances?

She never expected that when his courtship failed, Farrio resorted to vile tactics.

He planned to drug her with a sleeping potion.

Fortunately, Shirley accidentally knocked over the tea laced with the drug, so Rose never drank it.

But unaware, Farrio burst into her home and tried to force himself on her.

During this, when she confronted him, he, believing she couldn’t escape him, not only confessed his plan to drug her.

He also revealed the truth about her husband’s death—that he had sent men disguised as bandits to ambush and kill him.

The reason? To possess her.

After learning everything, Rose—who hadn’t drunk the drug—immediately fought back, striking him on the head with a candlestick while he was unguarded.

Then, without hesitation, Rose fled with her daughter.

But Ironwolf City was quickly sealed off by Count Farrio—Rose couldn’t escape.

So she cut off her beautiful golden hair, smeared mud on her face, and hid in the slums.

Farrio never dreamed she’d hide in the slums, so he never found her.

Seeing this, Rose settled permanently in the slums.

Compared to fleeing Ironwolf City, hiding in the slums was perhaps safer.

Inside the city, at least some law existed; outside, alone with her daughter, even an ordinary person might harm them.

So she stayed there for three years.

Rose had thought she could live peacefully like this.

But her roasted buns became so delicious that her reputation spread even to Chengnan.

This attracted a member of the Wild Wolf Brotherhood from Chengnan, who happened to recognize her.

Upon hearing the news, Count Farrio immediately sent men to capture her.

Had it not been for her neighbor’s warning, Rose would have been seized on the spot.

This time, Rose truly could not remain in Ironwolf City.

So she fled the city, heading for the Chaos Wasteland.

The Chaos Wasteland was dangerous, but there was no longer any safe place for her within the kingdom.

Count Farrio was merely a noble without a fief.

But his father served under the Viceroy of the Southern Region, wielding immense power—even minor noble lords in the entire southern region dared not provoke him.

“Shirley, we’re almost there—once we pass Stormhold, we’ll reach the border!”

“Mm!” Shirley was obedient; she had run until her hands and feet were raw, yet she didn’t cry once.

This filled Rose with deep guilt.

If not for her strange physiology and beautiful face, she might never have suffered such misfortune.

“Ha ha, you can’t escape now!”

But at that moment, laughter erupted ahead.

Rose’s face turned pale—this voice belonged to the leader of the Wild Wolf Brotherhood.

Soon, over a dozen figures blocked Rose and her daughter’s path.

Rose tried to flee backward, but figures emerged from the trees behind her.

“Whore, you’re done running! I took a long detour just to catch you—kneel and beg for mercy, or I can’t guarantee what I’ll do next!”

The Wild Wolf leader stared hungrily at Rose’s daughter.

Feeling the threat, Rose knew escape was impossible and pleaded: “Wild Wolf Leader, I’ll go back with you—please, spare Shirley!”

“Spare her? Whore, the Count said he wants both you and your daughter! Heh heh, seize this whore and her brat!”

“Yes, boss!”

More than a dozen members of the Wild Wolf Brotherhood prepared to rush forward.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

“Tsk tsk tsk—how splendid, truly splendid. More than ten men bullying a woman and a child? Are you the Wild Wolf Brotherhood… or the Wild Dog Brotherhood?”