Initially, Ren Xiaosu thought the trade caravan would get even more demoralized due to the bandit attack. But to his surprise, not only did the people in the caravan not become depressed, they even cheered up quite a bit.
On the same night Qian Weining defeated the bandits, many people in the caravan started singing and dancing. It seemed like they were celebrating the victory.
Even the two sheeple joined in.
Ren Xiaosu asked Li Chengguo, “Aren’t you worried that bandits will attack us later on?’
WO
However, Li Chengguo, the silly dolt, answered honestly, “With a sharpshooter like Vice President Qian around, what’s there to worry about?”
Qian Weining had become the revered hero of the entire caravan.
As a matter of fact, the people in the Kingdom of Sorcerers were a little more optimistic than those in the Central Plains. In fact, they were even a little ridiculously optimistic.
The revelry lasted for four hours. During these four hours, hundreds of people wanted to toast Qian Weining. Fortunately, Qian Weining remained sober and did not have a single drop of alcohol.
While the crowd was celebrating, Qian Weining went to look for Melgor alone. He glanced at Ren Xiaosu before saying to Melgor, “Your Excellency Lord Melgor, I have something I would like to discuss with you in private.”
Melgor knew Qian Weining was trying to get him to send Ren Xiaosu away, but he shook his head and said, “Don’t worry about my steward. If there’s something, just say it in front of us. There’s no need for avoidance.”
Qian Weining hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “Lord Melgor, I suspect someone secretly helped us when the bandits came to attack. But before we figure out who that might be, please don’t tell anyone about what I said.”
Next to them, Ren Xiaosu glanced at Qian Weining and thought to himself, ‘This vice president of the Chamber of Commerce is quite keen. He actually noticed….’
However, it was not easy for Qian Weining to share his specific thoughts in Ren Xiaosu’s presence after excusing himself from the thousands of people in the caravan to speak with Melgor in private.
Meanwhile, Melgor wondered, “Someone secretly helped us? Vice President Qian, why do you say that?”
“Lord Melgor, you may not believe it if I tell you,” Qian Weining said, “but I’ve got a good idea of just how good my archery is. With my skill, I can probably hit 80% of my targets, but I absolutely can’t achieve a 100% kill rate!”
Next to them, Ren Xiaosu had a strange expression on his face. He thought to himself, ‘How can you fucking say that you’ve got a good idea of your archery? Good idea, my ass!’ While using Old Xu to help Qian Weining build his reputation as a sharpshooter, Ren Xiaosu was quite certain the vice president’s shot accuracy during the night was not even fucking 10%.
At first, Ren Xiaosu thought Qian Weining actually had some self-awareness. However, he realized he had overestimated him.
Melgor thought for a moment and said, “Vice President Qian, it’s already very impressive to have an 80% hit rate in the dark, so why are you belittling yourself? Look at my steward. He doesn’t even know how to use a bow. He couldn’t hit a target five meters from him. You’re much, much better than him.” Qian Weining hesitated for a moment before saying, “That’s true.”
Ren Xiaosu sneered as he watched the two of them. However, he did not say a word throughout.
Melgor said, “Vice President Qian, who do you think might be helping us?” “I’m not sure.” Vice President Qian looked at Melgor seriously. “Was it you, Lord Melgor? I think only sorcerers are capable of something like that.”
Melgor shook his head. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t take any action while you all were battling.”
“That’s strange.” Qian Weining lowered his head and pondered it for a moment. “Who would help us, yet hide their identity? What’s their goal?”
Next to them, Ren Xiaosu said, “Vice President Qian, why don’t you tell us honestly why you’re heading to Ghent City and who your enemy is? That way, we can also help analyze the situation.”
When Qian Weining heard this, he hesitated. At this moment, the two servants returned from the revelry. Qian Weining suddenly bade farewell. “It’s getting late. Lord Melgor, you should rest early.”
“Sketchy.” Ren Xiaosu gave a fake smile and asked Melgor, “Who do you think that guy is actually on guard against?”
“I’m not sure. You also know that I’ve been away from York County for two years. Vice President Qian had only just arrived in York County at that time,” Melgor said.
Ren Xiaosu thought for a moment and then asked, “How’s the relationship between the archmages of the Berkeley family and the sorcerer clans in the capital? I remember you saying that the Berkeley family controls six counties in the south, with four of them considered top counties in the Kingdom of Sorcerers, right?”
“That’s right.” Melgor said, “But the House of Berkeley has always had their own territory. I’ve never heard of them having any dealings in the capital city. Their clan members rarely, if ever, go to Ghent City. When my family was still living in the capital, I heard the behavior of the Berkeley family’s young’uns was quite antisocial when they were there.”
“That’s where the problem lies,” Ren Xiaosu said upon some thought.
In times of chaos, ambitious people would smell the decadence of a dynasty and develop great ambitions.
Not long after Ren Xiaosu arrived in the Kingdom of Sorcerers, he saw many sights of people leading miserable lives. The sights even made him feel that Fortress 178 had pulled away from the Kingdom of Sorcerers in development.
If the dynasty of sorcerers was about to get replaced, authority would also be passed on. In that case, what role would the House of Berkeley play in these times of chaos?
The land of feudal vassals was a natural place for creating ambitious people.
Ren Xiaosu asked again, “How’s the military readiness of the Berkeley family?”
“The Berkeley family’s Knights of the Inferno have always been one of the top armies in the kingdom.” Melgor said, “It’s no secret. Moreover, the size of their army has been increasing over the years.”
“Then I roughly understand.” Ren Xiaosu said, “But I still have to find some evidence to see if it can confirm my thinking.”
“What have you discovered?” Melgor asked.
Ren Xiaosu casually pointed to a young man and woman who were singing and dancing. “Qian Weining has probably seized more than a 100 longbows from the bandits. Yesterday, when he distributed 30 of them to those young people, I realized that they were all very experienced at using the bow. It doesn’t look like it’s their first time ever handling the weapons.”
“Yes, the first time I handled one, I was about the same as you,” Melgor said seriously.
Ren Xiaosu looked at Melgor in surprise. “That’s brave of you.”
“It can’t always be you ridiculing me, right?” Melgor said with a smile.
Ren Xiaosu ignored the remark. Instead, he continued, “You told me that bows were prohibited weapons. In that case, where did those young people learn how to use them?”
“You suspect they’re from the military?” Melgor said.
“It’s not a suspicion but a certainty.” Ren Xiaosu looked at the group of young people and thought that half of the 1,000-odd members who formed the trade caravan were probably from the military. What they were doing was pretending to be civilians and talking up the prosperity and dreams in the big cities before bringing the flames of war to those places.