Work Prophet
Chapter 472 - 90 I’m Just a Minstrel

Chapter 472: Chapter 90 I’m Just a Minstrel

Kieren found an opportunity and moved closer to Jude, eagerly asking, "Is the matter resolved?"

The man with the ugly face glanced at him and nodded.

"Did all twenty-five people die?"

"There are now twenty-seven corpses in that place," Jude said.

The minstrel paused, "Did you also kill the brothers who were supposed to signal to others?"

"What, were you particularly close to them?"

"Not really, but according to our original agreement, they should have quietly left there before you arrived; you should not have encountered them."

"They had died before we got there," Jude responded.

"Hmm?"

"Actually, when we reached the place you mentioned, we only saw three living people, and they were fighting over the loot and the bottle of giant dragon blood.

"They realized we were near only when we approached, and by then, they had no chance to run away.

"Before the last confrontation, I even chatted with the fellow nicknamed ’Giant Stone.’ He said they started quarreling over the distribution of the spoils soon after they arrived, and the fight grew fiercer...

"Moreover, they had all drunk quite a bit of alcohol, which gradually led to the situation spiraling out of control, resulting in fatal incidents. Rather than stopping, everyone’s greed was ignited, each wanting to monopolize this extraordinary wealth.

"This eventually triggered a great melee. He initially tried to mediate, but as he saw more and more dying, he couldn’t resist the temptation and joined the fight, killing two of his companions.

"It seemed like he felt quite guilty about it, so I took my sword and sent him to the afterlife," Jude said.

"Okay," Kieren scratched his head.

The story sounded fantastical, but upon reflection, it wasn’t that strange.

The bandits had gathered to steal money, and by various coincidences, had secured the biggest fortune of their lives, then killed each other over it, ultimately being wiped out by the arriving Black Hound guards; it was indeed a fitting conclusion.

Kieren strummed his Layakin a couple of times, suddenly inspired.

Indeed, following the Double Rest Sect, one would never lack material for creation.

However, now was not the time to write poetry. The minstrel stifled the budding urge within and asked Jude, "Those spoils of war... "

"I found them too, but they were too conspicuous so I didn’t touch them," the Deputy Commander of the Black Hounds said.

As he spoke, he pulled out the bottle of giant dragon blood from beneath his cloak, "I also brought this back, and I plan to return it to Prophet Merlin."

"No, no, no, please don’t do that. Remember what I said? There are dishonorable elements to this affair, it’s better not to involve the Prophet.

"The only people who know about this now, aside from you and me, are all dead," Jude frowned and said.

"But if one day you and I unfortunately fall into the hands of the enemy, everyone will know that Prophet Merlin once concealed the truth from those four thousand followers and condoned my wrongdoing.

"If we don’t tell the Prophet about this matter, even if it gets out, people will only blame us. Prophet Merlin would at most have been deceived by us, which is entirely different.

"You are the Deputy Commander of the Black Hounds, tasked not only with protecting the people and assets of the Double Rest Sect but also with safeguarding the reputation of the Prophet and the Church."

"Even if I were captured by the enemy, I would never speak," Jude said indifferently.

"But I would."

The Minstrel saw the Deputy Commander of the Black Hound Guards staring at him, and said innocently, "What, I’m really afraid of pain, I definitely could not endure those tortures. Whatever they’d ask, I’d have to answer."

Jude was too lazy to argue further, "What about the giant dragon blood in this bottle, then? And what about the treasures plundered by the bandits? Are we just going to divide them privately?"

"I don’t need them, you can take them all," Kieren shook his head. After saying this, he glanced again at the ugly-faced man, "Actually... I have a better suggestion."

"What suggestion?"

"Distribute all this money to those behind me, because it originally belongs to them. Also, the bottle of giant dragon blood can be secretly sold once we reach the Royal Capital. Both sums of money could be given to them."

"Of course, not now. Otherwise, they might just settle somewhere after getting the money and stop following us. These farmers are very shortsighted," Kieren said leisurely.

Jude looked carefully once again at the handsome minstrel in front of him, suddenly realizing he could not see through him at all.

"Are you a good person or a bad person?"

The Deputy Commander of the Black Hound Guards said doubtfully, "You lied to these people before, causing them to become displaced, but now with a large sum of money in front of you, you don’t take a penny; instead, you think about using the money to compensate for their losses."

"I am neither a good person nor a bad person. I am just a minstrel," Kieren chuckled, "Back in Golden Valley, everyone calls me ’Golden Voice’. Oh right, I am now also the official poet of my Lord Saturday."

......

In the following two days, no other mishaps occurred, and the group safely left Elk Valley, officially stepping into the King’s Domain.

This area was originally the territory of the Lankayat, Vespasian, and Coburg families, known as the trio of Red Plain.

Though the territories of the three families were not large, the land was fertile and situated in a region prone to constant clashes, which helped the male members of the families accumulate extensive military experience.

Later, when the Furious Lion Alexandro took up arms, Coburg chose to send troops to help, and as one of the conditions, Alexandro married the second daughter of Balorick, the Family Head of the Coburg Family.

As for another family from the trio, the Lankayat family, they stood against the Vespasian and Coburg families and were eventually defeated by Alexandro’s forces.

The decisive battle between the two sides unfolded about twenty miles outside of Lion Heart Castle.

It was not an easy fight, even though apart from Coburg, Alexandro had managed to attract many allies through his outstanding personal charm.

The allies made a pledge together by the shore of Wind Chime Lake.

But those families were quite dispersed and couldn’t bring their troops together in a short time; conversely, the Lankayat family was not fighting alone.

They persuaded the Pangluosi family of Elk Valley to send troops to help and promised that after defeating Alexandro’s Alliance Army, they would split their territory with the Pangluosi family.

Meanwhile, the Lankayat family planned to swallow up the territories of both Vespasian and Coburg.

In terms of sheer troop strength, Alexandro’s side was still at a disadvantage, and this battle was crucial for the Furious Lion. If he lost, not only would his family’s territory be lost, but the newly formed Alliance Army might also disband.

Fortunately, the then still green Alexandro held up under the pressure and managed a close victory in this inaugural battle.

Not only did he annihilate his old rivals, the Lankayat family, and seize their territory, but he also intimidated the Pangluosi family of Elk Valley, which joined Alexandro’s Alliance Army half a year later.