Chapter 386: He Actually Reached The Answer First (2/2)

“Naturally, we won’t bring it back to Lancaster directly. That is why you will wait here until we leave Crookes, and move the goods to a nearby city, where you would buy land to store it.”

Herman spoke with a look of righteousness just then. “It is all in the name of Lancaster’s future!”

Knowing his cue, the aide started to lick his boots.

*

*

*

Old Meredith was not aware that Herman was such a short-sighted person. Believing that he was merely tired from the journey, he did not urge the handing over of supplies.

And during the actual handover next day, Herman had quickly rushed to the scene, ready to embezzle a portion of the supplies on an official capacity.

Or that was how it was supposed to go.

Before he could put on airs and talk things out with Old Meredith, he noticed several familiar Players walking by from the encampment of the Crookes’ survivors.

Though the Lancaster nobles were basically not involved in preparing or running the Twin City Cup, they did watch the tourney and naturally recognized some of the more famous and stronger Church of Games members—in other words, the Players.

And one of them was the champion who wore a pink flatfish head mask.

That was truly unforgettable… And now, not only were those powerful Players showing up in Crookes, but they were also involved in some sort of secret operation.

“What’s the matter, mister envoy?” Meanwhile, old Meredith was puzzled by the Lancaster envoy’s behavior. He could overlook Herman’s not handing over the supplies immediately since he was wise enough after living so long, and knew that some people would always think about getting some commission as the middleman.

But this envoy was neither requesting anything or reacting to the numbers old Meredith himself was putting out, which was certainly puzzling.

Nonetheless, Herman’s attention was completely drawn to the Players, especially when he found them dragging one unconscious person after another past the encampment.

Occasionally, one of them would exclaim “This one’s debuffs are all gone! He’s playing dead!’ After that, a whole bunch of Players would rush toward them, give the unlucky fellow a wild beating until his face was all swollen. Only then would they continue dragging their victim away.

Some of the unluckier fools were directly beaten within an inch of their lives. Seemingly afraid that they would die just like that, the Church of Games believers would force feed them cola to save them, and then beat them up again to knock them out before dragging them away…

Even bystanders would feel that their victims were better off dead than alive.

There was no telling as to where the victims were being dragged off too. It was only known that there were no stockades or dungeons in the encampment, and that those people dragged away never came back…

“Sir Herman?” Old Meredith’s voice left Herman shuddering just then, and he promptly recovered.

“T-Those people being dragged away…” “Don’t worry—those are elements who wish Crookes ill. You are our kind friend, sir, how could you hurt Crookes in any way?” The old man said kindly. “Now, about the supplies…”

Still, the old man’s kindly looked appeared unbelievably sinister in Herman’s eyes right now.

Therefore, he did all he could to stop himself from shaking, while speaking seriously as if it only made sense, “Of course, there’s no problem with the supplies. Take everything! I won’t permit you leaving with one short!”