Work Prophet
Chapter 122 - 38: The New Candidate

Chapter 122: Chapter 38: The New Candidate

Miss Rabbit pondered for a full five days, but the result was still unfruitful.

At most, she thought of mixing the mercenaries with her own guards into a squad, which could reduce some casualties, but there would be problems with command and deployment.

Those mercenaries were no fools; they would surely run away if the situation turned unfavorable, and to save their own lives, they wouldn’t mind betraying their comrades.

Hence, Pablo preferred to venture into the swamp alone rather than join those mercenaries.

Ireya had a hard time calming the hot-tempered knight and hadn’t let him go off on a suicidal mission on his own.

But Ireya couldn’t muster the manpower that Pablo requested.

With the precedent set by the previous squad, very few guards were willing to join the team this time, and most of them were older. Some even had difficulty moving, making Miss Rabbit wonder if they were simply after the pension.

Such people definitely weren’t acceptable; Ireya intended to find the dragon, not afraid it would starve, but to avoid sending it an extra meal.

Thus, the young lady ultimately decided to follow tradition. When in doubt, ask Li Yu.

"...In any case, that’s the current situation," Miss Rabbit said. "I can no longer pick any more manpower on my end. How about your side? Those lizard people, um... are they still willing to go deeper into that swamp?"

"The lizard people are very fearful of that dragon, but they always prioritize their tribe. If necessary, they are willing to sacrifice themselves," Li Yu paused.

"But now they have all joined the Double Rest Sect, and my lord Saturday values the life of each believer. Previously, to save people, especially since there were two of their tribe members in the team, I could send them to venture back into the swamp to search.

"But now that we have found evidence that proves the previous squad encountered a disaster, I no longer have a reason to let them face their past nightmares at the risk of their lives."

"Is that so?" Miss Rabbit’s disappointment was evident. "But if the lizard people aren’t willing to send someone, even if I eventually gather enough people on my side, without a guide, the team will hardly survive in the swamp, let alone find that dragon."

"Who says there’s no guide?"

"Hmm?"

"I heard you are going to execute the murderer of the Trinidad knight’s family in two days," Li Yu suddenly said.

"Are you trying to plead for them?" Ireya frowned. "The Trinidad knight has always been devoted to his clan, yet his family was slaughtered by lizard people. I have already taken a step back by only demanding the lizard people hand over the murderer.

"If I let these three go as well, it will chill the hearts of my subordinates and vassals."

"I’m not asking you to release them, I’m merely suggesting they make one last useful contribution before dying," Li Yu said. "Your second squad needs a guide, and they can be just that. Instead of losing their heads for nothing under the executioner’s axe, it would be better for them to die at the hands of that dragon."

"But what if they don’t die?" the young lady retorted.

"That would mean they have found the dragon, and such merit should merit a reconsideration of your judgment against them," he said.

"So, you are still pleading for them?"

Li Yu didn’t deny it. "Given the outcome of the first squad, seeking the dragon is essentially a suicidal mission. Let’s consider it leaving their sins to fate to judge... As for the team leader, I can also recommend someone to you."

"Oh, who?"

"He is also in your dungeon and running out of time."

"Wait, you can’t be thinking of releasing Jude too, can you?" Miss Rabbit’s face revealed a hint of strangeness.

Without waiting for Li Yu to answer, she shook her head and said, "No, it might be okay with the lizard people, but Jude absolutely cannot be released; he is the remnant of the Enríquez family, and the bounty from over nine hundred years ago is still valid today. I must deliver his head to Marquis Kuren. In fact, I have already made up my mind. After executing those three lizard people, I’ll proceed with him."

"Can you find someone else willing to lead a team to find that dragon?"

"Um... Knight Pablo said he could go."

"You and I both know that Pablo’s real purpose is to seek revenge on that dragon. Letting him go will only lead to his death."

The girl was speechless; she knew Li Yu was telling the truth.

However, the problem was that Jude’s identity was too sensitive. Compared to him, the Weiting family was nothing.

Seeing the girl hesitate, Li Yu did not urge her.

......

Two days later, a guard came to the dungeon and took away the three lizard people.

Jude whistled when he saw this, and regardless of whether the lizard people could understand him or not, he said, "Saying goodbye, huh? I’ll miss you guys; you were all pretty decent roommates, right, Black Beauty?"

After speaking his last words, Jude looked toward his loyal big black dog.

Having been locked up for so long, although Ireya hadn’t skimped on food for the man and dog, maybe because they hadn’t seen sunlight for too long, Black Beauty still seemed somewhat listless.

"Don’t worry, I guess our turn will come pretty soon," Jude said as he reached out and patted the big black dog’s head.

As soon as he finished speaking, the two guards who had left returned.

They opened his cell door, and a cold voice came from inside, "Out!"

This time Jude’s face finally changed. He knew he was doomed from the moment his identity was revealed and the fact that he had lived an additional two months was just luck, but when this moment really arrived, he still felt somewhat unprepared.

He managed to squeeze a smile onto his face. "Aren’t you just executing those lizard people today? I’m not on their side."

"Quit your chatter and just come out," the guard said sternly. "Don’t make us get physical!"

Jude looked at the hand crossbow in the guard’s hand, then at Black Beauty poised by his feet, but ultimately he abandoned any thought of resistance.

Even if he and Black Beauty could take down the two men in front of them, they wouldn’t be able to escape from the castle.

Jude sighed and obediently left the cell that had been holding him, muttering, "This story tells us, when you see someone else’s misfortune, it’s best not to be too happy about it."

However, contrary to what Jude had anticipated, he was not taken to the execution ground outside the castle; instead, he was brought to the hall on the second floor.

The three lizard people who had been taken away earlier were also there.

At the other end of the hall, the new Family Head of the Arias household sat upright, and Li Yu was there too, on her left-hand side.

Jude keenly sensed that there might be a glimmer of reprieve in his situation.

So he looked up at Miss Rabbit and said with a grin, "Long time no see. Have you missed me?"

Having dealt with Jude for so long, Miss Rabbit knew that his glib talk was his way of hiding his true thoughts and a habitual tactic for bargaining.

But this time, the girl didn’t plan on bantering with him. She was direct. "I have a deal I want to discuss with you. If you agree, I will tell you the content of the deal. If not, I will have the guards take you to be executed."