Chương 83

The cargo wagons rumbled heavily over the snowy mountain trails. Rudra walked alongside the lead wagon, letting the cold wind hit his face. He rested his hand on the hilt of the Great Lord's Sword strapped to his waist. He still hadn't drawn the blade. He had absolutely zero intention of using it to fight. But the administrative skills attached to it were exactly what he needed.

"Let's see how this works," Rudra muttered. He activated Character Observation and looked at the Red Knights riding in and around the wagons. Instantly, a series of detailed, translucent blue windows popped up in his vision. [Name: Winfred Age: 68 Gender: Male Race: Human Title: The Red Sage - Increases the overall stats of all allied forces within a 5-kilometer radius by 20%. - Provides absolute resistance to mental interference, fear, and confusion for all commanded troops. Title: Master of the Battlefield - Predicts enemy tactical movements with a 90% accuracy rate. - Cooldowns for all party members are reduced by 15% when fighting under his direct command. Title: Pinnacle of Tri-Weaving - Can seamlessly wield magic, a spear, and a sword simultaneously without casting delays or off-hand damage penalties. - Magic cast through the spear or sword gains a 30% increase in penetration and destructive power. Level: 380 Strength: 2, 100 Stamina: 1, 200 Agility: 1, 500 Intelligence: 3, 850 Status: Recovered from deep despair. His mind is sharp, and his tactical aura has been fully restored. Skills: Empire's Swordsmanship (S), Empire's Spearmanship (S), Advanced Elemental Magic (A), Absolute Command (SS), Tactical Vision (SS), Tri-Weaving Combat Arts (SS). Description: The former First Knight of the Red Knights and the greatest tactician in the Saharan Empire. After years of wallowing in grief over the massacre of his family and comrades, his broken spirit was forcibly healed by an empathic, fiery meal. He is a living legend whose mind is far more dangerous than his sword, uniquely capable of dominating the battlefield by unleashing devastating combinations of elemental magic, spear thrusts, and sword strikes all at the exact same time.] [Name: Elysia Age: 28 Gender: Female Race: Human Title: Silver Flash - Increases physical attack speed and movement speed by 40%. - When attacking, 20% of physical damage is converted into light-attribute magical damage. Title: Prodigy of the Crucible - Alchemy and Medicine production success rates increase by 50%. - Can simultaneously wield a sword and cast alchemical transmutations without a casting delay. Level: 365 Strength: 2, 850 Stamina: 1, 600 Agility: 3, 100 Intelligence: 2, 600 Status: Fully cured of the Imperial execution poison. Her mana flow is completely stable, and her loyalty to her Liege is absolute. Skills: Empire's Swordsmanship (A), Silver Annihilation Cut (SS), High-Tier Combat Alchemy (S), Imperial Medical Arts (A). Description: The former Second Knight of the Red Knights. A Super-Named NPC possessing limitless potential in both rapid swordsmanship and advanced alchemy. She has cast aside her ties to the Empire and sworn her sword to the one who saved her life.] [Name: Singuled Age: 39 Gender: Male Race: Human Title: Successor of a Half Killing Energy Method - When attacking, there is a 22% chance that the opponent can't resist the 'internal injury' state. - When dealing a counterattack, there is a 9% chance that the opponent can't resist the 'internal injury' state. - The enemy will suffer terrible pain, and all stats will fall dramatically. It is accompanied by bleeding (severe) and reduced resource recovery. Title: Knight of Destruction - Increases physical attack by 20% and attack power of wide-area skills by 40%. The lower his health, the greater the attack power increase. - When attacking an enemy with internal injuries, 1, 200–2, 200 additional fixed damage will be inflicted. Level: 340 Strength: 3, 100 Stamina: 1, 450 Agility: 850 Intelligence: 209 Status: Recovering from severe physical trauma and exhaustion. Skills: Empire's Swordsmanship (B), Penance (A), Frenzy (SS), Half Killing Energy Destruction Method (SS). Description: The former Third Knight of the Red Knights. A massive, heavily scarred warrior wielding a giant chipped broadsword. He inherited his family's vision and sometimes feels sad about his power, which kills the enemy in a terrible manner.] [Name: Amelda Age: 37 Gender: Female Race: Human Title: Geographer - Finds terrain that's favorable to your allies in any location. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. - Increases the terrain adaptability of your party by 100%. - Greatly increases the marching speed of the army. Title: Chatterbox - Loves having conversations. Be sure to stutter the first word to demoralize the enemy and reduce their stats slightly. - There is a low probability of providing buffs when talking to allies. Level: 300 Strength: 1, 850 Stamina: 1, 300 Agility: 1, 600 Intelligence: 1, 900 Status: Exhausted from years of hiding, but in high spirits. Skills: Empire's Swordsmanship (B), Genius in Swordsmanship (S), Geography (SS). Description: The former Fifth Knight of the Red Knights. She was the only daughter of a family that had produced the most renowned scholars for generations. She joined the Red Knights after showing exceptional talent in swordsmanship and has achieved countless accomplishments in war.] [Name: Kentrick Age: 41 Gender: Male Race: Human Title: Knight of Annihilation - Increases physical attack by 15% and the attack power of single-target skills by 50%. Deals more damage to enemies with greater health. Title: Vanguard - Can wear all types of armor, and the defense of equipped armor will increase by 10%. - Once you stand at the vanguard of the battle, you will gain a shield proportional to your maximum health. - In battle, the first target to be attacked will be hit unconditionally, and there will be a high chance of instantly killing them. Level: 310 Strength: 2, 600 Stamina: 1, 800 Agility: 900 Intelligence: 400 Status: Healthy and eager for battle. Skills: Empire's Swordsmanship (B), Charge (A), Charge Command (S), Decapitation Cut (SS). Description: The former Seventh Knight of the Red Knights. A massive, broad-shouldered vanguard who looks like a walking brick wall. His ability to sweep through the battlefield is unparalleled. Even Piaro gave up the vanguard when he was with him.] [Name: Icarus Age: 32 Gender: Male Race: Human Title: Unseen Shadow - When positioned in natural terrain (trees, cliffs, high ground), stealth capability increases by 80%. - Evasion rate against ranged and magical attacks increases by 40%. Title: Aerial Predator - Physical damage is multiplied by 1. 5x when striking an enemy from above. - Fall damage is permanently neutralized. Level: 295 Strength: 1, 400 Stamina: 1, 100 Agility: 2, 500 Intelligence: 700 Status: Deeply paranoid, completely silent, and prefers to remain in elevated positions. Skills: Empire's Swordsmanship (B), Wire-Maneuver (S), Absolute Stealth (A), Vital Strike (S). Description: The former Eighth Knight of the Red Knights. An aerial scout who practically lives in the trees to keep watch. He is incredibly quiet and trusts almost no one, relying on wire-hooks to zip through the canopy and strike from the blind spots.] [Name: Dante Age: 73 Gender: Male Race: Human Title: Veteran - All attacks will deal a critical hit, and there is a high probability of triggering a weakness attack. - When attacking, 30% of the target's armor is ignored, and there is a low chance of disarming them. Title: Vigorous Old Age - Always immune to critical hits and receives damage on behalf of nearby allies. - Relieves 80% of the damage done to teammates. Level: 320 Strength: 1, 200 (▼) Stamina: 550 (▼) Agility: 515 (▼) Intelligence: 1, 100 ★ Status: This person's life was coming to an end, but high-vitality meals have restored a healthy, warm color to his cheeks and stabilized his frail body. Skills: Empire's Swordsmanship (S), Dotage Swordsmanship (A), Bodyguard (S), Reserve Strength (SS). Description: The former Ninth Knight of the Red Knights. He is a power who mastered the foundations of the Empire's Swordsmanship and is a mentor to all the Red Knights. He is a lot weaker now that he is old, but he often exhibits a surprising strength.] Rudra swiped the windows away, letting out a quiet, amazed whistle.

"I basically have a walking natural disaster for a caravan," Rudra grinned. If the Saharan Empire actually tracked them down right now, the assassins would be walking into a literal meat grinder. Ten days later, the snowy mountains finally gave way to a harsh, rocky descent. The air grew warm and smelled strongly of salt and old blood. In the distance, the violent, crashing waves of the Red Sea slammed against the jagged coastline.

Sitting in the valley between the treacherous mountains and the hostile ocean was the Stormbreak Region. Rudra walked up to the edge of the cliff and looked down at his new territory. It wasn't a thriving city. It was a massive, battered stone fortress. The outer walls were covered in deep claw marks and dried acid burns. Several watchtowers had completely collapsed.

"They built a city in a choke point," Winfred noted, stepping up beside him. The old tactician's eyes scanned the geography.

"It acts as a permanent shield against the monster tides from the sea. But looking at those walls... they have been fighting every single day just to survive."

"Let's go say hi," Rudra said, his expression turning serious. When the wagons rolled through the heavy, iron-reinforced gates, the entire population of Stormbreak was waiting for them in the central dirt square. The citizens didn't look like normal NPCs. They were cheering, ecstatic that the King had finally sent a noble to lead them, but the sight of them made Rudra's stomach drop. He tapped the Great Lord's Sword and used Character Observation on the crowd.

[Citizen: Militia Spearman | Level: 152 | Status: Severe malnutrition. Internal bleeding.] [Citizen: Blacksmith | Level: 148 | Status: Extreme fatigue. Missing left eye.] [Citizen: Guard | Level: 155 | Status: Starving. Muscle atrophy.] Rudra scanned the crowd. There were only about 5, 000 people left in the entire city. And worse, there was not a single elderly person in the crowd. The harsh reality of Stormbreak was obvious: if you couldn't fight the constant monster waves, you didn't survive.

The soldiers here averaged Level 150—an absurdly high number for commoners—but their health bars were flashing red. They were literally starving to death while holding the line. A man missing his left arm walked to the front of the crowd. He bowed deeply, tears streaming down his dirty face.

"My Lord! Thank the gods! We thought the capital had forgotten us!" Rudra didn't smile. He hated seeing people starve. It genuinely bothered him more than fighting a demon. He didn't walk up to the wooden podium to give a grand noble speech about taxes or leadership. He walked straight into the middle of the dirt square. He unbuckled the Great Lord's Sword and handed it to Elysia. Then, he pulled off his black trench coat, leaving him in a simple tunic.

He reached into his inventory and pulled out a clean white apron, tying it tightly around his waist. Thud. Rudra dropped the heavy Protean Crafting Cauldron directly into the dirt. He tapped the side of it, using the Form Shift skill. The metal rapidly expanded, turning into a massive, multi-station outdoor kitchen with boiling vats and flat-iron grills. The cheering crowd went completely silent, totally confused.

"Winfred, Kentrick, secure the walls," Rudra ordered, his voice echoing with absolute authority.

"Amelda, grab ten of those guards and start chopping firewood. Elysia, I need you to filter the water supply. Right now." A bright golden light flashed in front of Rudra. [Quest Generated: The Lord's Banquet] [Difficulty: S] [The citizens of Stormbreak have been abandoned for years. They are strong, but they are dying from starvation and untreated injuries. A true Lord provides for his people. Clear Condition: Use your culinary skills to feed and heal the 5, 000 citizens until their health stabilizes. Reward: Maximum Affinity with the citizens of Stormbreak, Divine Power +100.] Rudra didn't even read the reward. He opened his inventory and dumped a massive mountain of ingredients onto the tables. He pulled out hundreds of pounds of leftover forest boar, wild onions, sweet river-kelp, and finally, the freezing blue slabs of Morax's Demonic Ice-Core Meat. He ignited the fires under the vats. The massive flames roared to life.

"Nobody dies in my city," Rudra yelled to the stunned crowd, grabbing his cooking knife.

"Line up! Breakfast is served!"