Chapter 166: Act 100 – The Fall (5)
I am Aike?
Damn it, I’m still your grandpa!
Mister Brendel reacted and immediately cursed in his heart. But he quickly pieced together the events that led to this moment and couldn’t help but curse Makarolo for being shameless, using him as well. He took a deep breath and decided to put this debt aside for now, planning to slowly settle it with Lantonrand later. After all, he felt it was better to deal with this arrogant guy first.
At this moment, he really felt that talking to this guy any further might cost him ten years off his life.
However, before he could speak, he heard Sanford interject beside him, “So, Leidi, have you really sided with Conrad?” Brendel turned around and saw the young man calmly looking up, coldly staring into the eyes of the arrogant fool. His expression was mostly devoid of emotion, just slightly disappointed. Brendel was taken aback; he didn’t expect this seemingly easygoing young man to have such a side.
The white-haired young man froze for a moment as he looked at the people before him—or rather, his former companions; he glanced at the intimidating gaze of Sanford, making him instinctively retreat. But then he saw the other faces, each filled with indignation looking at him.
Yet, the questioning looks inadvertently ignited his defiance. Leidi coldly huffed, “It’s really that simple. Makarolo has already abandoned us. Can’t you see that? That old man only sees you as pawns to be used. Why should I serve him? Since that’s the case, why can’t I choose a better way to live?”
“Then you came to hunt us down to express loyalty to your new master, right?” Sanford coldly questioned. “I’m your best friend, Leidi. These people were once your companions. Makarolo wronged you; do we also wrong you?”
Leidi faltered.
He gritted his teeth and answered with difficulty, “I never wanted to kill you. If you were willing to join me, I would still consider you my companions.” The white-haired youth hesitated for a moment before answering somewhat sheepishly.
“I don’t need your pity!” Sanford spat with disgust, “I actually considered you my best friend; I must be blind.”
“So did we!” the ragged men and women of the Gray Wolves mercenary group indignantly responded in unison.
Mister Brendel had been calmly watching the scene unfold with the self-important fool, but unexpectedly, Sanford turned around and respectfully bowed to him. “Mister Brendel, Leidi is right. Makarolo indeed abandoned us this time, but for the past ten years, the captain treated us like family. If there’s any resentment, it’s gone in this moment. From this point forward, we are just a group of homeless pitiful souls. Mister Brendel, only you can lend a hand to save us—if you are willing, we hope to join your team. We have no demands, just the hope to survive—that’s all.”
Brendel was slightly taken aback, then glanced up at the others and found that most of the Gray Wolves mercenary group had seemingly accepted Sanford’s suggestion. It was clear that the young man had significant influence among these people. But he lowered his gaze and, with a somewhat mocking smile, glanced at Leidi not far away, “That’s easy to say, but haven’t you forgotten? This guy says my relationship with your so-called Captain Makarolo is quite close. Even so, are you still willing to accept this?”
“That guy is blinded by hatred; he’s as good as an idiot! Can his nonsense be believed?” a large man among the mercenaries couldn’t help but snort.
Brendel looked back at Sanford and saw him nodding.
He couldn’t help but smile secretly, thinking that this white-haired fellow didn’t seem to be all bad; at least he delivered this group of experienced mercenaries right to him, didn’t he? But Brendel still maintained a serious demeanor and replied, “We’ll talk about that later. Right now, it seems I have a bit of personal grudges to settle with Mr. Leidi. Let me handle this first before anything else.”
After Brendel spoke, he raised his head—but this movement almost made him sick with anger. He saw, to his disbelief, Leidi throwing his head back and laughing exaggeratedly three times: “Ha—ha—ha!” The white-haired young man cast a contemptuous glance at them, laughing, “You’re going to deal with me? Brendel—oh no, Mr. Aike. I suppose you still haven’t realized the situation. The high-level Blackfire cultists under me are the elite of the Blackfire sect; each of them possesses peak silver strength. Not to mention this lady Xi—she’s now one of my warriors. You wouldn’t miss the fact that she’s a warrior of gold rank, right? With such a power disparity, you dare to claim you’ll deal with me? Ha, isn’t that a bad joke?”
While he spoke, he walked behind Xi, intending to jokingly pat the red-haired maiden’s face. However, he was met with her dismissive hand as she coldly turned her head to glare at him.
Leidi coughed awkwardly, but fortunately, his former companions didn’t mind his embarrassment. For including Sanford, several Gray Wolves mercenaries were left stunned by his words—they knew he had no reason to lie, but they hadn’t expected this madman to be so cruel as to turn against someone he once liked. Of course, they were somewhat unfair to their white-haired companion; after all, Xi’s transformation was the work of the Dark High Priest, and he himself wouldn’t have the capability to undergo such a change.
On the other hand, they felt a cold dread because they didn’t expect that all the high-level Blackfire cultists surrounding them were at the peak silver rank, and there was even a golden tier presence lurking nearby. Though the gold-tier entity had once been their companion, the red-haired girl didn’t look like she recognized them at the moment.
The Gray Wolves mercenaries couldn’t help but instinctively take a step back, wondering if today was truly the day they would perish here. They unconsciously glanced at their “new boss,” but they regretted it at once; they all stood petrified: that young “merchant” had the leisure to comfort his female companion at this moment—
“It’s okay, don’t mind that arrogant fool.” Brendel turned around, surprisingly patting Romaine’s little face and speaking in a reassuring tone.
“I-I’m not paying attention to him! Wh-why are you touching a girl’s face without permission!” Romaine snapped back, her little brows furrowing as she hurriedly blushed and blocked Brendel’s hand to prevent any further advances, forcefully arguing.
As for Lubis’s mercenaries, they had long become accustomed to such antics, especially since they were already fed up with that arrogant fool. They all exchanged glances with Brendel, then looked at the more than twenty silver elf heavy infantry standing like wooden posts behind them, fully aware of who was destined to suffer misfortune— their lord appeared upright but was actually full of scheming, how could he easily suffer losses? Unaware of the underlying reasons, the Gray Wolves mercenaries were stone-faced, internally shouting: Hey, this lord, do you even understand the situation? Over there is a group of silver-tier and one gold-tier existence!
However, Brendel’s indifference proved to have the intended effect.
Leidi trembled with rage. Normally, he wouldn’t be this arrogant, but the humiliation inflicted by Brendel and Conrad the night before finally exploded at this moment. He couldn’t help but bark like a mad dog, “Charge at them! No, leave that young man a dog’s life; I’ll let him know the consequences of offending me—“ After shouting that, he finally calmed down, “And those two women, leave them alive—”
After giving the order, he couldn’t help but grin as he licked his lips.
But at that moment, Brendel turned his head, raising a hand—
Wait?
Leidi froze. His command had been issued; wasn’t it a bit late to ask for mercy now? He watched as the Blackfire cultists charged forward with fervor, as if facing not their enemies but their sworn foes, showing no sign of slowing down. The white-haired youth was momentarily astonished, thinking it was a good way to see if they understood what fear meant.
“Let me pretend—” he triumphantly cursed in his heart.
The faces of the Gray Wolves mercenaries instantly turned pale; their hands and feet felt icy. Yet, even so, these warriors reluctantly picked up their weapons, preparing for one final fight—they could only die; they were the Gray Wolves mercenaries, even if they had only once held that title, they could not betray their promise and tarnish its name.
Leidi’s eyes widened, as if he wanted to appreciate the final fate of those opposing him. But then he saw Brendel raising his hand and silently mouthed a phrase to him—it wasn’t asking for mercy. Leidi took a while to realize; the meaning behind that phrase was:
“Unfortunately, you came too early.”
I came too early?
The white-haired young man froze; what did that mean? Had the opponent been scared into a mental breakdown? But he quickly dismissed that thought as he saw the young man wave his hand downward. With that motion, the more than twenty heavy-armored, expressionless elf infantry behind him suddenly moved, and at this movement, Leidi’s face changed.
He really did come too early; if he had come a day or two later, although he wouldn’t have been able to handle Brendel, at least he wouldn’t be facing his doom here.
Unfortunately, there are no regrets to be had in this world.
At the same time that Leidi’s expression changed, the faces of the Gray Wolves mercenaries, Lubis’s mercenaries, and even Antinna’s face changed as well. Because everyone saw that those twenty or so advancing silver elf guards suddenly shimmered in vibrant colors, some dazzling, some muted, those lights resembling a rainbow—enveloping their armor, enveloping their weapons, signifying just one thing.
Elemental power.
The continent’s strongest heavy infantry, Knight-class!
What elves were suited only to be hunters, rangers, and archers? Leidi felt that his past words were literally slapping him hard, echoing painfully. The high-level Blackfire cultists didn’t even have time to snap out of their fervor before being drowned in a wave of colors; swords flashed, heads rolled, and demon skulls flew high.
Twenty rainbows, advancing unimpeded—
…(To be continued, for more chapters and support the author, please log in for more information and to support genuine reading!)
