Volume One: The Forest Knight Chapter 53: Dog Eat Dog (Part Three)

As soon as the bandit chief finished speaking, the other leaders seated on both sides chimed in as well.

“Exactly! Why pretend to be a decent man?”

“That Gu Huiyang fellow, always playing lapdog for the lord, obsessed with his rotten rules!”

“If he keeps meddling, I’ll drag him out and feed him to the dogs!”

Listening to these ruthless bandits speak so brazenly, Barin was not frightened in the least; instead, he grew more resolute, for he saw through their bluff and bluster. Boyd was a man of substance, but most of his subordinates were mere posturing cowards, always watching their chief’s expression before acting.

Barin stood tall, his face cold and severe, and sneered, “If that’s so, then drag me out and kill me. Alas, our commander’s judgment failed—this great fortune he hoped to share with others can’t be shared after all!”

Barin’s righteous plea for death left those noisy leaders somewhat embarrassed. The Grizzly gang, though brutal in their deeds, preferred not to make too many enemies if possible. Their threats were meant to intimidate him, making him easier to control later, but they hadn’t expected him to face death so fearlessly, disrupting all their calculations.

Seeing his men at a loss, Boyd shook his head helplessly, then laughed, “Hahaha, Brother Billy truly is a tough man. Untie him and bring him a seat!”

With the chief’s command, his men hurried over to release Billy and brought Barin a table laden with food and a large mug of beer.

In the hall, only Boyd had a chair; everyone else sat on the floor. Barin flexed his arms, sore and numb from being bound, then sat down, grabbed the food and drink, and began to eat heartily.

Boyd watched Barin’s manner with amusement and said mockingly, “Looks like life on Raven Ridge isn’t so good, Brother Billy is eating like he’s never had meat before.”

“Hahaha! Chief, you’re absolutely right!” The other leaders followed suit, ridiculing him.

After eating his fill, Barin wiped his mouth with his sleeve, cleaned his hands on his clothes, and laughed heartily, leaving the crowd puzzled.

Boyd’s face darkened as he watched Barin laugh, and the leaders glared at him angrily. Boyd managed to suppress his urge to grab an axe and hack someone, and asked coldly, “Brother Billy, what’s the meaning of your laughter?”

Barin stood up, smiled gently. “I’m simply glad that even if you order my execution, Chief Boyd, I’ll meet the Fire God with a full stomach, not an empty one. They say heaven’s gates are closed to the hungry.

Oh, and as for us robbers and killers dreaming of heaven—well, even in hell, it’s better to arrive well-fed.”

His playful reply eased the tense atmosphere in the hall. Boyd, seated above, had to admit the Hound gang’s envoy was both bold and clever; his gaze softened, and he was willing to talk in earnest.

“When you arrived, Brother Billy, you mentioned your chief Gu Huiyang has a great fortune to share with me. What sort of fortune is this? He’s never been so generous before,” Boyd asked.

Barin nodded. “Chief Boyd, our leader isn’t known for generosity, not even now. If it were a year ago, he’d want it all for himself and wouldn’t think of including you.

But times have changed. If we don’t work together, I fear that in two years, Raven Ridge and your Bellwind territory will end up like Bloodwolf Valley.”

“Oh? What makes you say that?” Boyd asked.

“After Quide, the Bloodwolf Valley chief, and his crew were wiped out, our leader sensed a crisis. Two recent events made him realize that if he doesn’t act, he’ll share Quide’s fate.

First, our spies in Amondin learned that the Nolanburg lord played a key role in the recent Maple Manor campaign, leading his men to victory against nearly a hundred Newgar bandits.

Second, just days ago, one of our teams was completely annihilated by this lord—no survivors, only headless bodies left behind.

Chief Boyd, if this lord and his men were like the useless knights or county soldiers, it wouldn’t matter. But he’s been here less than a year, and has accomplished all this. And now, as a patrol officer, his duty is to clear bandits south of the Karl River. Do you think he’ll spare us?” Barin spoke with fervor.

“Of course not! But what does this have to do with that fortune? The lord may be formidable, but wiping us out won’t be easy. Besides, if we can’t win, we can always cross the river,” Boyd replied, unmoved by Barin’s intimidation, his mind fixed on the promised wealth.

Seeing Boyd unperturbed, Barin realized the burly man was clever and not easily swayed. Since fear wouldn’t work, he chose to appeal to self-interest.

Barin cleared his throat. “Chief Boyd, the fortune lies with this young lord of Nolanburg. After conquering Maple Manor, he seized treasures stolen by pirates, and the county’s steward also rewarded him handsomely. It’s said he has some two hundred thousand denars.

He’s flush with cash, and greedily so. Two days ago, he sent a captured brother to demand a ransom—five thousand denars to buy back our men, or else they’d be sent to the Snowrealm mines as slave labor.

Our leader values brotherhood above all, so he couldn’t allow such a thing. But five thousand denars is a huge sum, enough to empty our coffers, and we still need supplies for winter. Are we to let our brothers starve?

After much thought, our leader devised a brilliant plan: under the guise of paying ransom, he’d arrange a meeting with the lord, ambush his men, capture him, and raid Nolanburg for its wealth and food. We could even ransom the lord and his kin for another fortune.

This would not only bring great riches but also prevent us from meeting Bloodwolf Valley’s fate. It’s a perfect scheme.

However, we just lost over sixty men, so our force is a bit thin. Besides, it wouldn’t be right for Raven Ridge to bear all the risk while Bellwind reaps the reward.

So our leader sent me to discuss an alliance. If you agree, we’ll share the spoils.

Here’s a sheepskin map marking the place and time agreed upon with the lord. If you’re in, Chief Boyd, say the word and we’ll split the wealth.

If you’re not interested, we’ll do it ourselves—at worst, we’ll lose a couple of teeth. What say you, Chief Boyd?”

“Hahaha!” Boyd burst into boisterous laughter. “Brother Billy, your chief Gu Huiyang is truly resourceful. This is a clever plan. I’m in!”

He motioned for a lieutenant to take the map from Barin.

He opened it and examined the marked location. Despite his burly appearance, Boyd could read—his mother had learned to read and write as a maid in the lord’s house, taught by the lady herself. This not only won the favor of a knight’s squire but allowed her to teach Boyd as well.

Boyd put away the map and nodded. “Good. Go back and tell Gu Huiyang we’ll be there—fighting side by side.”

“Chief Boyd, you are wise. I’ll return at once and inform our leader,” Barin replied with feigned excitement.

“Hey, why leave so soon? Stay and drink with us tonight,” Boyd urged.

Barin shook his head. “Chief Boyd, it’s only two days away. Both sides need to prepare. Once we succeed, let’s drink together in celebration!”

Boyd smiled and nodded. “Well said. Someone, escort Brother Billy out.”

After Barin left, a leader spoke anxiously, “Chief, could this be a trap? Normally, Gu Huiyang would keep such a bounty for himself.”

Boyd chuckled, “Of course I know. But their losses are real—yesterday our patrol reported two or three dozen headless corpses hanging along Knight’s Road.

With their numbers depleted, Gu Huiyang turned to us. I suspect he intends for us to fight the lord to the bitter end, then swoop in and swallow us whole. He’s cunning.”

“Chief, if you know it’s a trap, why agree?” another leader asked, shocked.

“Hmmph!” Boyd snorted. “He’s scheming, but I’m not foolish. We’ll lay low at first, let them fight each other, then strike and wipe them out. We’ll take the lord’s treasure, and finish off Raven Ridge as well!”

“Chief, you’re brilliant! Then Raven Ridge will be ours!” The leaders, delighted by Boyd’s shrewd plan, launched into flattery.

Boyd, in high spirits, enjoyed their praise; after all, who doesn’t love admiration?

After leaving the Grizzly gang’s stronghold in Bellwind, Barin hurried away. Once he confirmed he was not followed, he rendezvoused with his scouting team, distributed tasks, and, armed with a map of the route to the Grizzly gang’s lair, rushed back to Nolanburg to report to Berion.

Two evenings later, in the Red Fox Ridge of Stagwood south of the Karl River, the Hound gang’s elite gathered with their chief Gu Huiyang, lying in ambush amid the forest.

Though it was late summer, the evening air remained oppressive; the men, sweating and uncomfortable amid the shrubs, endured the heat and persistent mosquitoes. The bites, though soon to end with the season, were especially vicious, swelling instantly into itchy, red welts.

Still, the bandits kept quiet, unmoving. First, because they were the Hound gang’s hardened elite, seasoned and resolute. Second, Gu Huiyang had promised them—if victorious, they would ravage Nolanburg, with half the loot for the gang, half for themselves.

Before departure, Gu Huiyang had also given each man a reward of twenty denars. With silver in their pockets, his fifty-odd chosen warriors were eager for battle.

Elsewhere in the bushes, two other gangs recruited by Gu Huiyang as cannon fodder were also in position—but the heat and insects made it impossible for them to stay still, causing occasional movement.

Though slight, anyone observant could see at least several dozen men were hiding there—a supposed hidden force made conspicuous.

Yet this was precisely Gu Huiyang’s intention: for Berion to spot the ambushers first and attack them, allowing Gu Huiyang and his elite to strike from behind at a critical moment.

This scheme was reminiscent of the old proverb, “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.” But Gu Huiyang was too optimistic; who was the cicada, who the mantis, and who the oriole remained to be seen.

Now, with both groups in position, Gu Huiyang waited for Berion and his elite to arrive, ready to enact what he believed to be a brilliant show.

What he didn’t know was that, before they arrived, a force of over forty elite warriors had already quietly taken position on the opposite hillside, watching the ambushers from afar.