Chapter 53 Forced draft (1/2)

Chapter 53 Forced draft

Translator: Tchu

Editor: Kidyeon

Primal Wildfire Town changing masters was not something extraordinary, but it being occupied by the Byzantium army was actually quite rare.

Shaar was puzzled for a moment, but did not plan to pursue this matter any longer since this had little to do with him. No matter who became the owner, Primal Wildfire Town would still stay Primal Wildfire Town.

However, when Shaar arrived under the city wall and saw several Byzantine Empire infantry guards wearing leather armor from up close, he couldn’t help but be stunned.

These people were the same people as the mercenaries who had occupied here before! When Shaar arrived a few days ago, these people’s identity were still that of mercenaries. He recognized them because when Shaar wanted to get into the town, one of them took his last copper plate as tax.

Shaar remembered very clearly all the people who took money from his pocket!

Only a few days had passed; how could those fellows changed from being mercenaries into the Byzantine Empire’s troops so fast?

Looking at them stupefied, Shaar suddenly heard hoofbeat on the road behind him.

A small squad of the Byzantine Empire’s regular army’s mounted patrol rode towards him. It looked like they’d just completed their patrol in the vicinity. A dozen riders wearing light breastplates and carrying halberds rode with their heads held high and chest out. They immediately formed a single line and entered the city gate. Each cavalryman’s face radiated a rigor and disciplined expression that only regular soldiers had, unlike these mercenaries.

Shaar, who had only put on a normal dress, didn’t attract anyone’s attention when he entered the town. Only after he entered Primal Wildfire Town, did he discover that the town was different than before.

It was obvious that the street looked bleak. On the square in front of the city there was a horse market. During weekdays, merchants from all around the world would gather here. But now, it was quiet. Depression loomed, and only sparse silhouettes could be seen.

Even on the streets one couldn’t see the scene of people gathering up in front of merchants, and it appeared somewhat deserted. Many family taverns and inns on the roadside were even closed and not doing business.

From time to time, a Byzantine infantry squad would patrol inside the town. These infantry wearing their metal boots would issue a firm, fierce sound while walking, and appeared combative.

The Black Alley was also deserted, and the streets filled with carpets were only a third as full as the past. Many shops had closed their doors.

Some doubts emerged in Shaar’s mind – Could it be that Byzantine wanted to ruin Primal Wildfire Town? It was not the first that a country seized the city, but it had never transformed into such a run-down place.

Shaar’s heart was filled with discontent since he just obtained a large sum of money, and wanted to go big, but suddenly discovered that most shops were closed or deserted. He couldn’t help but feel greatly disappointed. Passing through Black Alley, he checked out the shop where he initially signed the contract to capture some young Magical Beast cubs, and unexpectedly found out that its front door was also shut tightly, not open for business.

Walking through Black Alley, Shaar turned at the corner and arrived at the long-awaited Powder Street. Taking a quick look around, this hillbilly’s heart immediately lit up:

If you rode into the Powder Street in the past, you could be see prostitutes everywhere, long red sleeves waving from the windows of the buildings. From afar, one could already smell a romantic flavor. However when taking a look now, the street was deserted and a gust of wind stirred up some withered leaves. Occasionally skinny wild dogs ran across the street……

Women? You would count as lucky if you could find a female dog on the street!

Anger swelled up inside Shaar.

If a man came here full of pride and hope, and encountered such a situation, no matter who he was, he would feel unhappy; let alone a more than decade old virgin.

Shaar walked past two blocks and found a tavern that he once repeatedly patronized before entering. The tavern’s door was only half open and although it was still doing business, the huge lobby was almost empty, and only at two or three tables sat people.

Behind the counter stood a tall thin one-eyed man and he held a dry piece of cloth while wiping a wine glass. Watching Shaar coming in, he nodded and said in a hoarse voice while putting on a smile: “Did little Shaar come? You haven’t come to buy liquor for quite a long time now.”

This shop was often visited by Shaar in the past, because not only was its black ale the cheapest in town, the most important reason was: This one-eyed man behind the bar, was Shaar’s love rival for three years – before Shaar grew up and understood things.

Because ……This one-eyed fellow was Aunt Sofia’s husband.

Of course, this one-eyed man didn’t know about Shaar’s weird thoughts, and Shaar didn’t have any hostility towards this guy. He sat down and threw a gold coin on the counter.

The one-eyed man picked it up and looked at it before giving Shaar a glance. Putting the gold coin into his mouth, he nipped at it and cracked a smile while revealing his rotten tooth: “The little hunter got rich?”

He turned around and took out a bottle of superior tequila: “Here, this is the best we have and it’s yours.”

Shaar had never tasted such nice liquor before and bit open the bottle cap before taking a sip. While finishing his sip, he sighed and said in a low voice: “Hey, what happened to the town? Why did all those mercenaries suddenly became Byzantine soldiers?”

The one-eye looked discretely at the shop entrance and smiled: “Don’t you know? Those mercenaries were Byzantine soldiers. They disguised themselves as mercenaries before occupying the town to make an outpost for the Byzantine Empire’s army. More than ten days ago, a Byzantium army battalion arrived here, ehm, probably two days after you left. The Byzantium army has occupied the town, and the mercenaries inside the town belong to the same army. They replaced their equipment and then announced that the town now belongs to the Byzantine Empire. They also posted notices under the city wall.”