Chapter 104: Arrogance
Chapter 104: Arrogance
In the forest outside the Sterwin Farm's fence.
Velen's face was filled with anxiety.
Just moments ago, he thought he could not only rescue his daughter but also destroy a child trafficking den.
However, as soon as they made contact, their group of seven or eight was driven back by just two guards at the entrance.
Yes, just the guards.
This realization suddenly dawned on Velen, making him aware that the enemy inside was extremely powerful. He might have stumbled upon not just a den but a critical stronghold of the traffickers.
Without hesitation, he dispatched the short Mateo to report to Lord Hamilton and seek assistance.
"Boss, look! Two carriages are coming out from the back door of the farmhouse!" One of the Night Watch elite, responsible for observation, whispered to Velen.
Velen immediately looked up and saw two black carriages with spacious compartments slowly emerging from the farmhouse, each pulled by a pair of horses.
Besides the two drivers, there were four or five fully armed men in mercenary attire guarding the carriages.
Moreover, they had clearly spotted Velen's group, and one of them even smirked at them, seemingly dismissive.
"Abigail must be in one of those carriages," Velen thought, his eyes turning red at the thought of his daughter.
Suddenly, he surged forward, determined to rescue her.
But the Night Watch elite members immediately grabbed their captain, restraining him.
"Wait, Captain! You're rushing to your death. Those two guards are so strong, and the others must be even more powerful." One of the Night Watch elite explained.
Velen focused his gaze, noticing that the group was clad in either plate armor or chainmail, their equipment seemingly superior to that of the Night Watch elite.
"Yes, you're right. I'll wait for Lord Hamilton; he should be here soon."
"Boss, if you sacrifice yourself, how heartbroken Abigail will be!" Another Night Watch elite chimed in, trying to persuade Velen.
Hearing this, Velen's struggling body momentarily froze.
"Yes, if I die, Abigail..." Velen's eyes, which had been red, now slightly calmed.
"But I'll wait for only five minutes. If Lord Hamilton doesn't arrive within five minutes, don't stop me."
"Alright, Captain! If Lord Hamilton doesn't come within five minutes, we'll accompany you," said one of the Night Watch elite, his blood boiling with passion.
Velen was touched by their loyalty and patted the young man's shoulder, wanting to say something but ultimately holding back.
Time ticked by, second by second!
Soon, the seven or eight mercenaries seemed ready to depart, preparing to leave Sterwin Farm with the carriages.
Velen's heart raced with urgency.
"I'll go first!" Velen's expression turned serious as he turned to the other Night Watch members and said, "The enemy is strong. I'll stall them for a bit. You follow from a distance and let Lord Hamilton avenge me!"
"Captain!"
Just as Velen was about to step forward, one of the Night Watch members exclaimed, "Lord Hamilton is here!"
A group of cavalry swiftly approached from the south, and at the same time, a cloaked figure emerged from the second floor of the farmhouse.
The figure strolled casually, as if taking a leisurely walk in his backyard.
Seemingly sensing something, he slightly lifted his head, gazing towards the south.
"They've finally arrived. A ranked knight, a little trouble. I wonder if they'll accept my good intentions," the cloaked figure named Mort muttered to himself.
Then, he waved his hand, and a plate-armored hulk emerged from the farmhouse, dragging two men who were crying and begging for mercy.
After Hamilton and Rain arrived, they quickly greeted Velen and then turned their attention to the cloaked figure standing at the farmhouse entrance.
Hamilton stared intently at the middle-aged man in black robes, his gaze lingering on the man's cuffs and collar for a few seconds. "A Black Flame Adept?"
Rain could feel Hamilton's left hand, holding the shield, tighten slightly. Clearly, this Black Flame Adept possessed formidable strength, enough to make even Hamilton wary.
"Hmm! So, you know about us? It seems you're not an ordinary knight," the cloaked figure finally gave Hamilton a more serious look.
"This is our Shangjin Town Sheriff, Lord Hamilton!" Mateo spoke up, seemingly unhappy with the cloaked figure's attitude.
Hamilton remained silent, recalling the previous encounter in the county city with a Black Flame Adept.
The Adept had the robust physique of a ranked knight and wielded bizarre and powerful black flames. It was a battle that left Hamilton with a significant, if not overwhelming, defeat.
Moreover, after that battle, Hamilton's position as the county city's patrol captain was adjusted, and he was transferred to Shangjin Town as the sheriff.
This indirectly confirmed Hamilton's speculation that the Black Flame Adept had deep connections within the county's noble circles, influencing even his job reassignment.
At this moment, Rain also got a clear look at the cloaked figure's face, his narrow eyes giving off a venomous, sharp impression.
"Sheriff, I have a suggestion that might benefit both of us. Are you willing to listen?" The Black Flame Adept spoke calmly, as if he were the official representative.
This was the first time Rain had encountered such an arrogant man!
"You speak," Hamilton said, his brows furrowing as he listened. However, considering certain circumstances, he suppressed his anger.
"These two are the kidnappers. I'll hand them and this hideout over to you. That way, your trip won't be in vain, and it'll be a plus on your record. Now, let's part ways; it's a perfect plan, isn't it?" The Black Flame Adept said with a smile.
"Over my dead body! My daughter is still in their hands, you scum!" Velen couldn't hold back his shout.
"Oh? Is that so?" The Black Flame Adept seemed taken aback, but then he laughed.
"My apologies, I didn't realize we had the wrong person. What's your daughter's name? We'll release her immediately." The Black Flame Adept seemed slightly embarrassed and bowed slightly, speaking with gentlemanly politeness.
"Abigail!" Velen's eyes flickered, and after some hesitation, he finally spoke her name.
Hamilton remained silent, his expression as still as water, staring intently at the Black Flame Adept.
"Kave, go and bring over a little girl named Abigail." The Black Flame Adept ordered with a smile.
"Don't worry, your daughter will be back with you soon," he said to Velen, his demeanor and attitude extremely natural, as if he didn't consider child trafficking a violation of Imperial law.
Rain knew that this was a form of arrogance from someone who considered themselves above everyone else, looking down upon all the Empire's law enforcers present.
The Black Flame Adept clearly believed that releasing the little girl, Abigail, was already a significant concession.
On the side of the carriage, the heavily-armored man with the hammer shouted, "Yes, sir!"
He lifted the black curtain at the back of the carriage and asked loudly, "Who's Abigail? If you are, nod your head!"
Although the carriage was not close to Rain and the others, it was only a few dozen meters away, so almost all the Night Watch members could clearly see the situation inside the carriage.
The carriage was packed with children, their hands and feet bound, and their mouths stuffed with cloth, like pigs waiting to be slaughtered.
"Looks like she's not in this carriage," the man named Kave muttered as he was about to lower the black curtain.
Suddenly, a little girl whimpered a few times and then nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with joy and fear. Following her gaze, they saw that she was looking directly at Velen.
Initially, the little girl, Abigail, didn't understand the situation and was afraid to admit her identity. But through the gap in the curtain, she caught sight of her father's familiar figure and began nodding vigorously.
Meanwhile, the other children's eyes, filled with longing and hope, stared wide at Hamilton, Rain, Velen, and the other Night Watch members in their uniform.
They, too, seemed to be hoping that they could be rescued like the fortunate girl.
This caused the Night Watch members' faces to redden slightly, and they felt a sense of shame.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Kave scoffed and lifted the little girl, Abigail, as if she were a light chick.
He brought her directly to the Black Flame Adept.
The Black Flame Adept glanced at her and said, "This should be the girl, Kave. Let her go so she can get to her father."
Kave chuckled, removed the cloth from Abigail's mouth, and untied the ropes binding her.
Mort's eyes narrowed with joy at the sight of his daughter's safe return.
"Sir Sheriff, now we can leave, right?" Mort said, his eyes narrowing with joy as he gestured for the heavily-armored man and the other henchman guarding the two gang members to leave first.
Although it was phrased as a question, his tone and actions suggested that he was informing Hamilton rather than genuinely seeking his opinion.
The Black Flame Adept's apparent reasonableness made Hamilton hesitate.
First, the Black Flame Adept's strength was formidable, and if a fight broke out, there would undoubtedly be heavy casualties. Additionally, the fate of the twenty-plus children was uncertain.
But letting them go like this was unbearable!
"As a lord and sheriff appointed by the Empire, Hamilton couldn't bear the thought of letting them take away over twenty children.
Perhaps it was because he was a commoner by birth and not a noble.
"I'll hold this guy back. Can you save the children and take down those men?" Hamilton turned to the Night Watch members and asked in a low voice. His gaze lingered the longest on Rain through the visor of his helmet.
Before Rain could respond, one of the Night Watch members began reciting:
"As night falls, I am the sword in the darkness, the shield of the empire."
The other elite Night Watch members joined in, their voices growing louder:
"I am the lighthouse before dawn, illuminating the night's peace."
"Whenever danger approaches, I am the horn that awakens battle. I will fulfill my duty, fearless of life and death."
The voices of the twenty-plus Night Watch members merged into a powerful chorus, not deafening but filled with unwavering determination.
(End of Chapter)
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