Lord of Rot

In the evening, Leech politely declined Baron Jin Fu’s invitation, turned down two serving girls who couldn’t even afford tops, and led his retinue out of Date Palm Village.

Kuer Oasis looked absolutely awful.

He was a man who had weathered many storms, with no small number of deaths on his hands. But today’s ”deathmatch” had been a true eye-opener for Kuer. Acid churned in his stomach, and after leaving Date Palm Village, he finally couldn’t hold it back and let out a loud ”BLECH,” vomiting violently.

The ground had been littered with human corpses, their intestines and viscera ripped out and strewn about.

It was like being in hell.

Leech was in no hurry. He waited patiently for Kuer to finish emptying his stomach, then offered him a handkerchief. ”Take your time. We’ll leave when you’re done.”

”Thank you, my lord.”

Kuer took the handkerchief to wipe his mouth and said apologetically, ”I’m sorry for delaying our journey.”

”Our collaboration with Baron Jin Fu is settled,” Leech said. ”When you get back, arrange for men to bring a caravan to purchase spices and dates. The caravan will know how to transport them back to the East Gorge.”

”Yes, my lord.”

’As long as he doesn’t make me come back here.’

Kuer suddenly found Baron Leech to be quite gentle. At least, compared to Baron Jin Fu, he didn’t enjoy toying with lives or slaughtering people for sport.

He wholeheartedly approved of Leech’s refusal to stay the night. If they remained in Baron Jin Fu’s territory, who knew if that man might suddenly turn into a hyena in the night and rip his throat out.

As the sun set, the group traveled quickly through the desert.

The sand, baked by the afternoon sun, was still scorching, but it was far more comfortable than traveling in broad daylight. The wind felt cool and refreshing on their skin.

Once night fell, they would pitch their tents along the road to rest.

Astride his horse, Leech glanced back. The short arrow tower of the village was slowly sinking below the horizon, until only the crimson sunset remained, painting his face red.

”How many men would it take to conquer this village now?” Leech suddenly turned and asked.

The firearm cavalryman with him mulled it over for a moment before replying, ”Twenty men.”

Nearby, Kuer had emptied his stomach but still had no appetite. He had just refused the food offered by one of his men and was raising a waterskin to his lips. When he heard the firearm cavalryman’s answer, he choked on his water and burst into a fit of coughing.

’Baron Leech was already unhappy this morning when he suggested ten men. Now he’s saying twenty? Isn’t he just asking for a tongue-lashing?’

Leech nodded, quite satisfied. ”Never underestimate any opponent.”

The people of Date Palm Village were fierce. A single youth with a short blade dared to fight a hyena, and a group of three would even take on a Bonta Leopard. If given proper military equipment, they could transform into a formidable fighting force in an instant.

Although Leech strongly disapproved of Baron Jin Fu’s methods—which were akin to a brutal culling—he had to admit that they produced first-class, ferocious killers.

If the people of his other villages, like the spice village, were the same, it meant Baron Jin Fu effectively had an entire population of soldiers at his command. Two or three hundred fearless, battle-hardened Soldiers would be a real headache for any enemy.

Now Leech himself was starting to get a headache. He had wanted to occupy this place through gentler means, not get bogged down in a bloody war.

If he caused too big a commotion, Leon City would not sit idly by.

’Baron Jin Fu is surely thinking of using me to make money and arm his men. Funnily enough, I’m thinking the exact same thing.’ Leech found the situation very interesting. The old him would never have been this interested in war, but now, he felt a faint sense of anticipation.

...

「Date Palm Village.」

Leech’s retinue had left.

Baron Jin Fu’s evening banquet began as usual. The only difference was the man now occupying the seat of honor to his right: Kunq Green Oasis.

Kunq had gone into hiding when his younger brother, Kuer Oasis, arrived.

He knew to keep out of sight to avoid arousing Baron Porcupine’s suspicion. He was determined to take back Bonta Market, which he felt was rightfully his.

”My lord,” one of Baron Jin Fu’s Desert Knights said, licking his lips, ”those guards of his are wearing some fine gear.”

”Full plate armor... that costs at least five Jinri per suit,” Baron Jin Fu snarled resentfully. ”Those nobles from the East Gorge certainly don’t lack for money.”

It was simple jealousy and resentment, hating that he wasn’t the one with the money.

”Should we just strike now, while they haven’t gotten far?” another Desert Knight proposed.

Kunq Green Oasis, who had been silent until now, perked up and looked at Baron Jin Fu expectantly.

The death of an East Gorge noble in the desert would be a serious problem, but this was the desert. Anything could be blamed on bandits.

Most importantly, he was traveling with very few Soldiers.

If they killed Baron Porcupine and Kuer Oasis on the road, Kunq could return tomorrow morning to take direct control of Bonta Market and reclaim everything that was rightfully his!

”No!”

Baron Jin Fu slammed his hand on the table.

”I’ve waited for years. I can wait a little longer,” Baron Jin Fu said. ”I want that East Gorge trade route for myself!”

In Leech’s extravagant spending, Baron Jin Fu saw an opportunity to make much more money.

”Besides...”

Baron Jin Fu glanced at Kunq Green Oasis but said nothing more.

But Kunq’s heart clenched.

’That’s right. It wouldn’t be hard for Baron Jin Fu to ambush Baron Porcupine now, but it would be hard for him to keep Bonta Market. Only by building up his own strength, by becoming a power that even Leon City couldn’t ignore, would Baron Jin Fu dare to truly show his fangs.’

”For now, we’ll use Baron Porcupine to build our strength. Don’t worry... it won’t be for long!”

The Desert Knights weren’t in a hurry. They merely regretted missing what seemed like a prime opportunity. However, they were confident in their ability to conquer Bonta Market eventually, so their disappointment was fleeting.

Only Kunq knew that in the end, his fate would be no different from Kuer’s—to become a puppet.

But even if it meant becoming a puppet, he still wanted this chance.

...

In the early morning, Leech emerged from his tent.

He went through his exercises, feeling the medicinal power in his body being absorbed little by little. It felt like it was strengthening him, but the effects were not yet obvious.

’More medicine, more training. It’s the only way to improve myself.’

’I wonder how Prince Hoffman did it.’ Leech’s thoughts turned to Prince Hoffman again. They hadn’t interacted much; otherwise, he could have asked him what it felt like to be beyond the level of an Extraordinary.

He washed his face and ate a simple meal, and then the group set off once more.

When Bonta Market finally appeared on the horizon, looking as small as an ant, Leech glanced back and said with a sigh of regret, ”So they really didn’t come to ambush us. I even went out of my way to camp out for the night.”

Kuer was speechless.

”My lord, you must be joking,” Kuer said with a dry laugh.

”Yes, just a joke,” Leech nodded. He found Kuer’s sigh of relief quite amusing.

’Although I knew it was unlikely, I had genuinely hoped they would try to ambush us. They could have killed us and blamed it on desert bandits. Funnily enough, I had the same idea: I would kill them in self-defense and blame it on desert bandits.’

’Too bad Baron Jin Fu was so cautious.’

He complained, ”I deliberately brought fewer men. We looked just like a fat sheep ripe for the slaughter, yet they didn’t even take a bite. Killing the two of us would have handed them Bonta Market on a silver platter. *Sigh*... that hyena truly is a difficult, cunning opponent.”

Kuer, who had just breathed a sigh of relief at his side, felt his heart leap back into his throat.

’That didn’t sound like a joke at all. He was actually *hoping* they would ambush him! He even made himself look like an easy target on purpose.’

’Now that I think about it, on the way back, Baron Leech mentioned several times that he was in no hurry to travel.’

’At the time, I just assumed the Baron was being considerate of me. But looking back now... he was waiting for an ambush!’