63 Lustful Hands and Alcohol Part 2 (1/2)

Someone who was not courageous was not worthy of being part of the wealthy. Even though the Qin Empire was built upon magic, most of the wealthy chose to practice swordcraft and could personally kill enemies on the battlefield.

Even though Baron Cook was not particularly skilled, he was also an intermediate swordmaster. Since he had been young, he had set his mind on repaying the country through force. Or perhaps, he just wanted to win battles to rise even higher in rank. Whatever it was, the baron wasn’t useless.

If they survived this time, Baron Cook would be able to promote at least two ranks, becoming a third-class viscount. No matter how much the elders of the lower house hated him, they would not be able to erase his achievements.

”Sijia, go find Mage Saleen. Let him restore your energy,” Baron Cook said before turning to the soldiers and shouting. ”Soldiers of the Qin Empire, out there are the black puppets. I know you are all afraid and many of our comrades have died. But, will the soldiers of the Qin Empire lose their courage?”

”No!”

All the soldiers answered loudly. This was an instinct they had kept since their training.

”Will we retreat?”

”Fight! Fight! Fight!”

”Will we surrender?”

”Never!”

”Good! I swear on the honor of the Qin’s wealthy, I will be with you until the end, never giving up.”

As Sijia walked down the castle wall with tears in her eyes, she saw Flamenco walk over with four other mercenaries. She stopped, and using her hands to touch her chest, she said in a low voice, ”The baron’s safety is in your hands.”

Baron Cook’s promise had not been empty. By law of the Qin Empire, if a wealthy person broke their promise, they would lose everything they had. The emperor could not have been happier to accept whatever the wealthy left behind: gold coins, land, estates.

So could a wealthy person go against their words? Do not forget that in this world, there existed a magic known as detection magic. Baron Cook had made a promise which meant that he would rather die on the battlefield than escape.

Flamenco did not answer and only bowed.

Sijia dragged her exhausted body to the magic laboratory and knocked on the door. She was still very grateful to the mages. If it hadn’t been for Saleen and Aini, the six hundred soldiers on the battlefield would have already died. Those scarecrows would have taken over the castle wall and opened the castle gates. If the headless riders made their way into the castle, everyone would become prisoners of the black mage.

”Come in.”

Inside the laboratory, Saleen was still making restorative water. He needed more time to make the healing medicine and had entrusted that task to Aini. Aini seemed to be learned in magic medicine as well and there were little ingredients involved in simple healing medicine. They were all available in the laboratory shelves and had been left behind by the grand mage.

Sika and Nailisi were by Saleen’s side. Saleen had not been able to do anything, for Nailisi had run to him complaining about her hunger. Saleen knew that if she was confined in her room alone again, it was possible that she would really snatch up two people to eat.

She wasn’t really hungry. She just didn’t like it when Saleen left her alone.

”It’s Sijia. How are the injured soldiers doing?” Saleen asked in a fairly concerned manner upon seeing Sijia.

”Thank you for your help.” Sijia loved the way Saleen spoke. This mage did not put on any airs. She had not noticed that out of nowhere, for everyone who interacted with Saleen had grown accustomed to the way he spoke. Whether it was Aini, Flamenco, or even Baron Cook, they all already regarded Saleen as someone important.

Since the discovery of the double-headed eagle, Saleen had been the calmest and was not flustered. Even the mercenaries from the Nut Mercenary had to admit that this ritzy mage had a lot of guts. His courage was admirable.

”Sit down. Does Baron Cook have any instructions for us?”

Sijia sat in the seat that Saleen had directed her to, looked at the busy Aini, and said, ”No, he only asked me to rest for a while.” She had a good education and was not as direct as the mercenaries when she spoke. Saleen understood, smiling and asking Nailisi to remove her armor for her. He stopped whatever he was doing.

Sijia was embarrassed. As to avoid hindering her in battle, she only wore a blouse under her armor. She was not even wearing any undergarments. The premium cotton material was soaked in sweat and her body was revealed, lacking concealment.

This mage seemed to be lecherous. Sijia closed her eyes and tried to relax, not knowing what Saleen was about to do. She was an intermediate swordmaster and was equivalent to a Grade 5 professional. Saleen was only a Grade 1 mage and a Grade 2 professional. She did not understand why she felt so anxious.

She felt Saleen walking towards her. He was getting closer. If it had been someone else, even with her eyes closed she would have been confident in being able to punch the teeth out of them. However, her fingers were stiff now and she could not even close them into a fist.

The mage’s breathing was right in front of her. Sijia felt two hands on both her breasts, pinching lightly. She immediately stiffened, her body becoming sluggish, and she felt her energy leaving her.