I Became the Progenitor Vampire-Chapter 225 - 226: Everywhere the Eye Can See Shall be the Land I Conquer

Chapter 225: Chapter 226: Everywhere the Eye Can See Shall be the Land I Conquer

Barren wilderness.

Mercenary William Harlington lay hidden with his team within towering grass on a small hillside, paying no mind to the damp earth staining his clothes as he pressed his body tightly to the ground.

Every so often, he carefully lifted his head to peek through gaps in the grass at the Beastman army marching in the distance, carrying weapons fashioned from wood or bone.

The ground was covered with low, sparse grass, providing a clear view.

The average height of the Beastmen was around two blades, their eyes mostly dark, clad in clothes made of animal skins.

Their muscles bulged prominently, full of power, and their mouths were lined with four interlocking tusks that exuded brutality.

Savage, backward, primitive, strong—these were words that sprang to mind for William every time he saw a Beastman.

As a descendant of Nobles, though his family had fallen on hard times, William was well-educated, unlike his teammates who couldn’t even recognize their own names completely.

“Nicola, are you sure these Beastmen are heading to a new gathering place??” William asked, his eyes alight with excitement as he watched the Beastman army of over a thousand in the distance.

Ever since a mysterious person issued a largescale task at the Green City Mercenary Association a month ago—to scout the movements of the Beastman armies across the barren wilderness—

Mercenaries like him had been appearing in the barren wilderness far more frequently than usual.

That mysterious person was quite generous, offering bright Gold Pucks simply for scouting the Beastman movements without the need for battle.

Furthermore, the clearer the information and the larger the number of Beastmen scouted, the more Gold Pucks they would receive.

Like this time, discovering the movement of a Beastman army of over a thousand, if he could confirm that these were previously undiscovered troops heading to a new gathering place, he could receive at least 50 Gold Pucks.

If he could trace the source of their movements and uncover more specifics, the bounty could even double.

Since participating in the mission to scout the barren wilderness, he had already earned hundreds of Gold Pucks in rewards, and knowing the mysterious person’s points of interest, he naturally understood how to maximize his profits.

“Of course, I encountered this group the day before yesterday and intended to follow them, but I didn’t expect to be discovered halfway through.

After my resurrection, I came back here to study their route in detail and found that these Beastmen might be relocating their Tribe.

Sir William, we might make a fortune this time.”

Nicola was a slim player with an excited expression on his face.

Since he had joined this small mercenary team by chance a month ago, he had found his means of survival in this world—

As a spy gathering intelligence.

With the player’s ability to resurrect, he could undertake dangerous tasks that mercenary teams dared not attempt, like this close pursuit of the Beastman army.

And William had indeed welcomed this guy into the team, who was working on the docks hauling sandbags, after discovering these Lost Plane adventurers’ resurrection ability some time ago.

Since then, William had indeed preserved most of his strength in the treacherous barren wilderness by leveraging the adventurer’s resurrection ability and had secured a substantial return in Gold Pucks.

Nicola, too, had earned his place as an honored—reserve member of the William Mercenary Corps for the merits he had established.

“Good, stay alert, and don’t let the Beastmen’s Wolf Cavalry pick up our scent,” William said, his voice pleased yet still cautious.

“Don’t worry, Sir William. Although the Wolf Cavalry has a sharp sense of smell, the spot I chose is downwind,

As long as we maintain a distance beyond a thousand blades, they will be unable to detect us,” Nicola said confidently.

In this time, a thief in the Mercenary Corps had passed on to him the thief’s professional Skills and even helped him change his profession, and he had quickly mastered these tricks.

Wolf Cavalry were the elite mounted troops of the Beastmen, with an exceptionally keen sense of smell, often able to detect far-off enemies by scent.

But even the sharpest smell had its limits; the Wolf Cavalry wouldn’t be able to smell them from beyond a thousand blades, and they were downwind to boot, ensuring absolute safety.

“Nicola, you’ve made a significant contribution this time. As long as the mission is completed, I will give you 20% of the mission’s earnings as a reward.”

William patted Nicola, who lay beside him, in satisfaction.

“Our mercenary team will not let down any team member.”

Nicola nodded happily at the expression. This mission’s haul was at least 50 Gold Pucks, which meant 20% was 10 Gold Pucks!!

This was an astronomical sum.

Recently, some wealthy beta testers, who had had a rough start, were already buying up Gold Pucks on the forums aggressively.

Silver Pucks were 500 RMB each, and one Gold Puck was a hefty 50,000 RMB.

That meant this mission alone had earned him several hundred thousand.

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This made Nicola, of ordinary means back on Earth, virtually blossom with joy.

“Thank you for your generosity, Sir William.”

The player’s level was too low, and at this stage, they had no qualification to register at the Mercenary Guild to become a mercenary, so they could only join other NPCs’ mercenary corps.

It was nearly impossible to complete these tasks by relying on the ability to endlessly resurrect and scout for information alone; even if the player obtained the information, those arrogant NPCs would not pay attention to a newbie.

While the player’s ability to resurrect was indeed powerful, without William’s shelter, he would probably still be at the docks moving sandbags to earn a few dozen copper pucks.

Thinking of this, Nicholas couldn’t help feeling a surge of sadness; despite playing so many games, this was the first time he had such a harrowing start.

His hellish start almost made him want to give up, had he not, after moving sandbags, accidentally passed a small shop lit with pink Magic Lamps and seen the lightly dressed matrons inside…

“Awoo~”

Just then, a series of howls from riding wolves came from ahead.

“Get down, conceal your breath,” William’s expression suddenly changed, and he pressed even closer to the grass.

Thump Thump~ Thump Thump~

William, pressed close to the ground, felt a series of running footsteps approaching; riding wolves usually made very little noise; this could only mean…

William lifted his head slightly, peered through the gaps in the grass, and instantly felt a cold sweat soaking his back.

At the end of his line of sight, at least a thousand huge riding wolves, each 2.5 blades tall and 5 blades long, were running across the land driven by Beastman Knights.

William had a sharp eye; he noticed that many of the wolves seemed to be carrying something on their backs, and when they got a bit closer, his eyes suddenly opened wide.

Dwarves??

The Beastman army had actually captured so many Dwarves??

What was going on??

Why would Dwarves appear in the barren wasteland??

William’s mind was filled with questions, but he couldn’t ponder for long, as the swiftly passing Wolf Cavalry made him lower his head again.

If discovered by so many Wolf Cavalry, not a hundred lives would be enough to walk out of the barren wasteland alive.

After half a Sunshine Hour, once the Beastman army with its family and Wolf Cavalry had long disappeared, William dared to lift his head again.

By this time, his entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

That was too dangerous, just now the Wolf Cavalry had come within 500 blades of them; had they not been downwind, they would probably have ended up in the wolves’ bellies.

“Sir William, do we still need to track the Beastman?” Nicholas, who had been quite excited before, couldn’t help but look a bit pale.

The prospect of being discovered at any moment was too uncomfortable for him; he’d rather just be discovered and die since his level was low and the death penalty was not severe.

William shook his head, “No, we’ve gathered enough information. Our mission was to scout the Beastman’s movements, not to clarify their purposes.

If we continue following them, none of us would survive except you.”

After saying this, William seemed to think of something and casually mentioned, “Nicholas, you’ve passed the test.

Let’s sign the contract when we return; the William Mercenary Corps will officially include you. From now on, you are one of us, and you will share in all the future profits of our adventures.”

Nicholas breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Damn, I’ve finally joined an organization; it’s too hard to go it alone.

“Sir William…”

“No, from now on, you can call me Captain or Boss. Let’s go back and turn in the mission; this time we’ll earn at least 100 Gold Pucks.

So many Wolf Cavalry, that’s a force that could sway the outcome of a war.

And those Dwarves taken captive… Nicholas, we’re going to be rich…”

Nicholas was in high spirits; hell yeah, I’m finally going to make it big.

50,000 RMB for a Gold Puck; I’ll take advantage of the current rates and make a fortune before they drop.

…….

In Dawn City.

After reviewing the secret message in his hands, Lide, initially elated with his forging of advanced weapons, immediately grew serious.

Stanley had sent word that someone at the Mercenary Guild, while submitting a mission, reported sightings of over a thousand Beastman Wolf Cavalry, and what’s more, these wolf riders were escorting dwarven captives.

The news should have been welcomed, but the mention of over a thousand Beastman Wolf Cavalry furrowed his brow… They were formidable adversaries indeed.

Wolf Cavalry were the elite mounted troops of the Beastmen, with the initial level of their wolves at Level 5, with the highest reaching Level 15.

The training of Wolf Cavalry had to start when the wolves were just cubs, to ensure greater rapport with their riders as they matured.

It was because of this unique training that the Wolf Cavalry were extremely powerful.

Whether it was the wolf or the knight riding it, their cultivated rapport could unleash a combat strength greater than the sum of the two.

However, potent as the Wolf Cavalry were, the cost to raise them was equally steep. Even the major Beastman tribes didn’t dare to keep too many, given the scarcity of the barren hinterlands—they couldn’t afford it.

Yet now, a Beastman Tribe that had captured dwarves was raising over a thousand Wolf Cavalry! The implications behind this were manifold.

This was no mere Beastman Tribe.

Just like the Bloodline’s Magic Language Bats, if he could amass 5000 of them, anyone would be wary.

It represented not just overt power but also the moldering strength behind it.

The Wolf Cavalry was merely the power that had been revealed; who knew what unseen forces lurked in the shadows?

“Emi, Harrison, immediately summon the Bloodline and the Magic Language Bats, all hands but those necessary for the city’s defense.”

Lide’s voice was grave.

“Notify Stanley, Grote, and Betty to hurry back to Dawn City.”

Those around, puzzled by Lide’s sudden command, cast confused glances, but Valen’s face held a complex expression.

“Kachar City Lord, you…”

Before Valen could finish, Lide gestured dismissively and said softly, “Yes, we have detected the movement of the Beastman army. Their Wolf Cavalry are accompanied by dwarven captives…”

His voice trailed off, and he cast a deep, significant glance at the dwarven Forging Master.

“Valen, abandon your pitiful fantasy. The Secret Silver Vein will belong only to Dawn City.”

Valen shuddered, looking utterly dejected. He knew this moment might come, but he hadn’t expected it to arrive so soon.

His previously buoyant posture sagged instantly, and he seemed to age decades in a moment.

“Kachar City Lord, I hope you will honor your word.”

Lide gave him a penetrating look.

“Rest assured, unless your kin draw swords against me, I’ll ensure their safety.”

With those words, he turned to face the excited inhabitants who had risen to their feet, his voice resonate with fervor.

“My people, I am your City Lord, Kachar.

Today, we have spent a wealth of precious resources to forge two pieces of mighty armor. Frankly, the ore for the armor that Kosso and Castro wear cost 100,000 Gold Pucks.”

The crowd stirred with a roar.

100,000 Gold Pucks?! That was an astronomical sum that few could even dare to dream of.

Many citizens earned but a mere ten or twenty Silver Pucks a month, and their entire yearly income might not exceed two or three Gold Pucks.

Now, the forging of these two pieces of armor had cost 100,000 Gold Pucks; Lide’s lavish expenditure took everyone’s breath away. It was incredibly extravagant.

“Why would I go to such incredible lengths to forge armor?

Because, we are about to wage war against the Beastmen!”

Lide didn’t intend to hide this. Every time he waged war, he made sure to publicize it. He wanted all citizens to know that the Bloodline was fighting for them, sacrificing for the future of Dawn City.

This was tremendously effective in unifying the people. Dawn City’s swift harmony and cohesion were not uninfluenced by the two wars he had waged.

One against the One-eyed Giants, and the other against the Dark Contract.

External conflicts often serve as the best way to divert internal discord.

“The filthy Beastmen have seized a Secret Silver Vein that does not belong to them, a precious resource that can forge weapons of strength and shields that could stop arrows aimed at our soldiers’ hearts, a treasure even giant dragons regard with envy.

And Dawn City will seize from the Dwarf Beastmen what does not belong to the Beastmen!

Our soldiers will once again fight for Dawn City, for every single citizen!”

“Every resident of Dawn City, please pray for the Holy Light Bloodline,”

“We will return with a bounty of war trophies.”

“For Dawn City!!”

Lide’s tone carried a powerful rallying force, and with just a few sentences, bolstered by his unshakable prestige, he immediately whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

“For Dawn City!!”

“For Dawn City!!”

“For Dawn City!!”

From a sparse beginning, the chant eventually unified and resounded powerfully throughout Dawn City.

Everyone’s eyes blazed with passion and excitement because this was an order personally issued by the great Kachar City Lord. No one would doubt the far-reaching vision of the City Lord.

And no one questioned their ability to achieve victory in the war!

With the great Kachar City Lord there, Dawn City would surely become an unstoppable force, with every resident a participant and a witness!

Valen, the well-traveled Forging Master, found the scene overwhelmingly complex.

He looked at Lide’s handsome and elegant figure and felt a surge of genuine admiration.

A vampire, a dark being feared and loathed by all in the outside world, had actually earned the heartfelt respect and adoration of humans.

How shocking and staggering that was!

Such an enemy was too terrifying.

If possible, he would rather confront a legion of ten thousand Beastmen anew than become an enemy of this Vampire Lord.

Facing the hordes of Beastmen, he still held a glimmer of hope for victory, but against this powerful, unfathomable force—mysterious and exceedingly wise—he had no confidence at all.

Lide nodded slightly upon seeing the crowd’s excitement; the people’s hearts were with him.

As a dictator in complete control of both military and politics, he understood the importance of public sentiment all too well, hence the relentless efforts of the propaganda department.

After nearly a year of ideological construction, the citizens’ allegiance to Dawn City and the Holy Light Bloodline was nearly at its peak.

Thus, he was hardly worried about any rebellions breaking out while he was away on campaign.

“Nicole, the Dawn Sect must stabilize public sentiment during this time. I don’t want any problems arising because of the Holy Light Bloodline’s departure.”

Although the chance of issues arising was nearly zero, Lide still gave Nicole several reminders.

With over seven thousand believers, as long as the Dawn Sect remained stable, so would Dawn City.

With Nicole there, Lide felt very assured.

“Rest assured, Kachar City Lord. I will manage the Dawn Sect with my sister,” Nicole, the little girl, now approached Lide and blinked her big eyes smilingly.

Nicole had been learning how to handle city affairs at the City Hall under Harrison’s guidance. After some training, Nicole had significantly improved in various abilities.

A new domestic talent was about to shoulder a great responsibility.

“Good, assist your sister well.”

Lide patted the young girl’s head as a gesture of encouragement and then left amidst the cheers of the residents.

Harrison and Emi immediately followed behind him.

Lide now began to ponder.

How to deal with the Beastmen.

The Secret Silver Vein was like a ripe fruit, ceaselessly tempting him.

This was a treasure for which two nations could wage war, and now it seemed within reach—he wouldn’t give it up, not even for a giant dragon.

And moreover, a critical point was the Dwarves—the race famed for its Glory, unmatched in weapon forging skills.

In Lide’s eyes, the value of the Dwarves was no less significant than that of the Secret Silver Vein.

What was the most precious thing in this world?

Talent.

And that was exactly what Dawn City was lacking.