Chapter Eighteen: The Trade Route is Attacked

  Carefree days are always especially short-lived.

  Originally, Johnny was thinking of coming back to reunite with his parents and then going out to chat with Astrid, letting his spirit and body, which had been tortured for a long time, relax thoroughly. At home, it goes without saying that after two months of not seeing each other, they all missed each other very much. Old Smith carefully asked about Johnny's work situation, sighed a few times, and encouraged him; Mrs. Smith held her son's face with pity, her eyes brimming with tears. Johnny didn't like such a grand welcome, but he could feel the warmth in it, so he also comforted the old couple with kind words, and talked about how his strength had greatly increased and his body was much more solid, making the two elderly people feel very relieved.

  On the other hand, Astrid hasn't gone on a mission for two days. Every day she comes to drag Johnny to the tavern, asking him to tell her stories of his adventures in Winterfell's underground until it's almost dark before letting him go back. Fortunately, there is good wine and food in front of him, plus a beautiful young girl who is a feast for the eyes, otherwise Johnny would have chosen to escape earlier to relieve his tongue's suffering.

  On the third day of his leave, Odara arrived at Smith's blacksmith shop early in the morning.

  "Excuse me, is Johnny in?" Odara asked politely of Smith inside the shop.

  When Johnny came out, Odara grabbed his hand: "Quickly, follow me."

  Joni wriggled free from Odala's grasp - he thought it was a bit eerie for two men to be holding hands: "What the...? My vacation isn't over yet!"

  "Where did you get the holiday from, wasn't it specially approved by me?" Odara snorted, "Something's happened, the City Master's Guard is going to be deployed, and you, as a follower, have to follow along."

  It's true when you think about it.

  Having packed his bags, Johnny bid farewell to his parents and followed Odara to the castle. On the way, he roughly understood what had happened.

  A merchant caravan was ambushed on the way here, and according to several survivors who escaped, they were attacked by a group of trolls - enough for them to brag about. Trolls are considered permanent residents of the Tabris Forest, but usually they stay deep in the woods, far from major roads and cities. Why did they come out to ambush a merchant caravan this time? Is the city guard fake or something?

  Then set out.

  "Don't worry, the giant demon may not be weak, but in front of our fully configured and numerous team, it's just a dish. Taking you there is just to broaden your horizons and fulfill an obligation." Odala comforted Johnny.

  At this time, there were more and more people on the road, roughly all of whom had heard that the city lord's guard was going to make a move. Everyone made way for the main road leading to the city gate, swarming on both sides, craning their necks in anticipation. In this world lacking entertainment, any excitement was not to be missed.

  Joni and Ondara walked towards the castle under the gaze of the crowd. Ondara seemed to be enjoying this treatment, nodding occasionally to both sides. Joni felt a lot of pressure. Having stayed in for over 20 years and then another decade, Joni was extremely unaccustomed to such crowded scenes. With a stiff upper lip, Joni walked forward, feeling his clothes were already soaked with sweat.

  It's really frustrating, those heroes and whatnot aren't they treated like this every day? Right, they're not otakus like me who have seen the big world. Big world? Who has seen more than I... Joanie walks with her head down, lost in thought.

  As they arrived at the castle gate, the usual motionless guards were there. Joanie felt the gaze behind her leave, and she relaxed a bit, some long-held doubts popping out without thinking: "Sir, didn't Earl say that entry and exit require that sheepskin scroll? Why do these guards never check?"

  Odal looked at Joanie strangely: "Do you think they won't recognize this face of mine?"

  So that's how it is, I didn't think of that myself... Joanie felt a bit embarrassed and to cover it up, he continued asking: "Speaking of which, sir, last time you mentioned the nine guards of Tabri, but only introduced four people."

  Audrey's eyebrows furrowed.

  Jiang saw this and his heart skipped a beat.

  "Those few, humph, let's talk about it when we meet later."

  Among these nine people, there are still factions, Jonyi sighed in his heart. He muttered to himself, but didn't dare say it out loud, and quietly followed Odara to the training grounds.

  At this time, the training ground had already gathered soldiers who were about to go on an expedition. Jony's gaze swept across, and there were more than 50 gunners lined up in a phalanx formation, with large shields in their left hands and long guns in their right hands, with the gun tips pointing towards the sky. They wore sturdy leather armor, with a short sword at their waist. Although they didn't have the same majestic and imposing presence as the soldiers in the previous life's military parade, they were already motionless, but also had the appearance of an elite army. On either side of the gunners were two rows of archers, about 20 people, with longbows slung over their shoulders, quivers hanging from their lower back, and long swords hanging from their left waist. Their bodies were also clad in leather armor. Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that the chest area of the leather armor was emblazoned with the emblem of Tabri City.

  "Sir, it's just a giant demon tribe, is such a large formation really necessary?" Joanie asked in a low voice.

  "It's been a long time since anything big happened, the Earl means to take them out for some exercise." Odara replied in a low voice. After finishing speaking, she led Joanie to one side. There were several people wearing clothes that were quite different from those of the soldiers chatting together - well, actually they were each talking about their own things, and were scattered quite far apart.

  Audra came to the side of Eisatis and Rur, nodded at them, and counted as a greeting. Eisatis still had a warm smile on his face, and Rur still had a frosty face.

  "That one over there, standing alone in his robe, is Nikolai the Wind Dancer," Odara began to whisper to Jony.

  Taoist priest? Joanie looked back curiously, and saw a thin middle-aged man standing alone with his staff, wearing a red Taoist robe, seemingly meditating with his eyes closed.

  "Red cloak? Tsk tsk, this would be awesome in Ferren." Jony thought to himself.

  "Those two over there, one wearing full armor and the other in a robe, are the Nisas brothers. Their father died twenty years ago during the defense of Tabri, leaving behind four- and two-year-old sons who were taken in by Count-sama."

  The Battle of Tabriz... Jony thought about the scale of that great war, suppressing a smile. Seriously, they are descendants of martyrs! He advised himself.

  "Both brothers were initially trained as warriors, but later Jerry Nessus was discovered to have magical potential and was sent to the Wizards' Academy for study. His brother Tom Nessus continued his training as a warrior. Three years after Jerry graduated from the Wizards' Academy..."

  Jony's face twisted, and he was almost unable to hold back his laughter.

  Tom and Jerry, did the father of the child also come from across?

  Odala glared at himself, and Johnny rubbed his face, restoring his muscles to a calm state: "Nothing, nothing, just now... cough, you continue."

  Glaring at Joanie, Odara continued: "After Jerry graduated from the Academy of Mages, he joined the City Guard. Now both brothers are one an eleventh-level warrior and the other a tenth-level mage. However, these two young men, relying on being the legitimate children of the Earl, always have an attitude that is superior to others, truly lacking in upbringing. So they can't get along with anyone else."

  So that's why the two of them stood on one side, and their equipment was so fine. Looking at Tom's full-body armor, Johnny swallowed his saliva. His younger brother Jerry, as a spellcaster, couldn't wear armor, but the large crossbow he carried on his back looked sharp no matter how you looked at it.

  "Those three over there." Odara's words brought Jonira back to reality, "Also descendants of the previous generation of knights, but their parents are still alive. But also arrogant goods, looking down on us recruited knights. Hehe, they think they're nobles? They can't even inherit titles, just being descendants of knights is not enough."

  Joni looked at Odala, seemingly with a deep grievance, knowing that this contradiction was not small. He felt that it was best not to intervene at this time, so he quietly listened on the side.

  It's okay, just venting out this grievance is enough.

  "On the left, the one with a shield and a spiked mace is Gandowa Ennis, an 8th-level priest of the Sun God - not some fake association, but a genuine temple certification, equivalent to a 13th-level warrior. You should be able to recognize him, he's the one who healed you. This kid isn't bad, has faith and upbringing, won't show his contempt for us too obviously."

  Joni recognized him. That dazzling breastplate made his eyes burn with envy.

  "The guy in the middle with the tower shield and warhammer is Pierre Visas, a holy warrior from the Temple of the Sun God. Same logic as before, sixth level. But it seems like his years in the temple messed up his brain or something, he's always going on about eradicating evil and eliminating vulgarity. If the Count didn't give him tasks to do every day, he'd probably demolish the entire city of Tabri. One time he even stormed into a tavern and chased out a traveling bard who was telling stories, I mean what's wrong with this guy?"

  Jiang Yi is indeed an extremely law-abiding and kind person. But since you're so law-abiding and kind, what are you going to feed the poet?

  Forget it, I don't want to ask this kind of question in person. Johnny shook his head.

  "That one on the right is Davy Tanchesis, a 12th-level warrior. He's the most arrogant of them all. This uneducated thing, with no upbringing, has already become a 12th-level little warrior? Not even a bit of manners! What a shame to his family! I..."

  Hey, you're only level 12, okay? Seeing Odala being a bit violent, Joanie thinks it's better for herself not to speak up.

  Fortunately, at this moment, a horn sounded, and Count Duras slowly walked out of the castle, stopping Odala's chatter.