Chapter Thirty-Three: Murdering to Establish Authority

  The young man answering the Earl's questions was only sixteen or seventeen years old, with a pale face and no mustache, his golden hair tied back in a ponytail, a confident smile on his face. Like all young people of his age, he looked proud and arrogant, always full of energy. The only difference was in his eyes, cold and ruthless. When he looked at you, you felt like being stared at by a poisonous snake, or like a wolf sizing up its prey.

  His eyes and smile combined to make him seem older than his years, mature beyond his age. The leader of the Wild Wolf Mercenaries thought so, as did Count Raitzsche.

  "Ainig, are you saying you've come up with a plan?" asked Count Raiseth, his expression somewhat excited. Since hiring the wild wolf half a year ago, this team leader's only son had been coming up with all sorts of ideas for himself. He seemed to have an endless supply of wisdom, one after another unheard-of and even unbelievable strategies pouring out of his mouth. What surprise would he bring this time?

  "Yes, sir." The young man named Aynig sat upright, without any intention of standing up to answer, "Today I observed the city defense of Tabri City, but it's nothing. If I were in command, I could take it down with one breath."

  The Earl of Leicester did not pursue his impolite attitude. He just excitedly said: "Really? Well, tomorrow you will be in command, and after taking the city, there will be a heavy reward!"

  Ainig snorted, saying: "Tomorrow is not possible, I need time. Moreover, I see that your team, Count, also needs to be reorganized. If you bring such a team to attack the city, even if you give me 2,000 more, I wouldn't dare guarantee it. So, I hope you can entrust this team to me with full authority and grant me the power to reward or punish at will. Of course, rest assured, they are still your loyal troops."

  The Earl of Reizis hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement. He called for paper and pen, wrote his letter of appointment, and handed it to Ainiqer. Ainiqer took the parchment, glanced at it, bid farewell to the earl, and turned to leave the main tent.

  "Summon those wolf cubs," he said to a burly man waiting outside the command tent, "and have all other soldiers gather before the command tent."

  The soldiers of the Wolf Mercenary Corps placed their comrade's body on a dry and flat piece of land, resting for the time being. Upon hearing the gathering horn, they quickly got up from the ground and ran towards where the horn was sounded.

  The wolves had lost thirty-four men in total, and the remaining ones, even if they were lightly injured, still maintained their combat effectiveness. Looking at the soldiers standing in formation in front of him, looking at the pits on the edge of the square array, Eynick sighed, then shouted loudly: "Brothers! The earl has already granted me full authority to command his army earlier. You all saw how bad those bastards were. I often tell you that we don't fear god-like opponents, but pig-like comrades. Now each and every one of you is fine, but would you be willing to die because of a comrade's stupidity?"

  The wolves looked at the chaotic crowd beside them, then exchanged glances with their comrades and shouted in unison: "Unwilling!"

  "Alright. Now, you're coming with me to whip those bastards into shape and teach them what it means to fight and have discipline! Of course, we can't expect these softies to turn into our elite overnight, but at least they shouldn't hold us back! Now, scatter and keep an eye on that useless stuff!"

  Then, he slowly walked in front of the miscellaneous soldiers. The massive formation of more than 1,600 people had lost 200 people after the failure to capture the city and more than 100 people had escaped. The remaining 1,000 or so people were crowded together in a chaotic manner, while the Earl's army was maintaining order on the side, but it seemed to have little effect.

  "I am very dissatisfied with your performance." Ainig said with a gloomy face on the temporarily built high platform.

  The people below are not convinced. You're just a little brat, what qualifications do you have to teach us? Even in terms of status, you're nothing but a mercenary, and just because the count looks up to you, you think you're nobility?

  The peasant soldiers were dissatisfied, but they didn't dare show it on their faces. The mercenaries who had been recruited were different. A voice rang out, and even the murmurs of discontent from the crowd couldn't drown out its content: "If you're not satisfied, go home and drink milk!"

  Aini Ge stared at the bottom of the stage and shouted: "Who!"

  A burly man raised his hand: "It's me, your grandfather! I... Ah!"

  A crossbow bolt pierced his arm, cutting off what he was about to say. Next, seven or eight black-clad wolf mercenaries with shields in hand and swords drawn opened up a path through the crowd, dragging out the big man who was clutching his hand and gasping for air.

  "You should thank him," Ennis said suddenly, with an exaggerated smile on his face. "Especially those who were the first to run back, you should thank this man."

  As they spoke, the big man was already dragged onto the high platform. He struggled desperately, inviting a beating. Then several other wolf-like mercenaries rushed back to their camp in a hurry.

  Ainig continued, "Originally, I was going to punish the first ones who ran away, as a deterrent for you all. But now I've changed my mind, I think I should be more merciful, after all, you're just a bunch of softies, can't expect too much from you, should give you some opportunities. However, intimidation is still necessary, otherwise, I think there are many people who share similar thoughts with him."

  The miscellaneous soldiers under the platform discussed and speculated, no one knew what this seemingly young boy wanted to do. Kill someone to establish prestige? Most of the peasant soldiers and mercenaries from other places were somewhat disdainful. This kid really thought we were like him, just weaned? Only some local mercenaries had a pale face.

  The mercenaries of the wild wolf were another story. Some were excited, some were afraid, and some were slightly nauseous.

  Soon, those mercenaries returned to their own camp, carrying a cross.

  In the midst of wailing, the big man was stripped naked and nailed up. However, the iron nails only pierced his palms, and then ropes were used to tie up his hands and feet to prevent him from falling off. Afterwards, the cross was erected, with the big man's body constantly twisting on it.

  The person who was originally disdainful slightly changed color.

  "You must all remember this." Eini's voice was shaking, but still clear. "What you see today is the fate of deserters and those who disrespect me!"

  After finishing, he faced the big man, seemingly admiring his robust physique. Then, from the knife sheath tied to his thigh, he drew out a dagger, took a deep breath, lightly stabbed it into the opponent's chest, elegantly twisted and pulled out a piece of flesh. The big man let out a furious roar, with curses continuously pouring out of his mouth.

  Ainur was clearly not satisfied with this reaction. He furrowed his brow, quickly drew his knife and sliced off the big man's left nipple, then his right one. Then he turned to his right arm, carefully and meticulously carving away at it as if sculpting, stripping away the biceps.

  The curses turned into mere shouting, and then into screams. The miscellaneous soldiers under the stage were terrified. At this time, Aini suddenly turned his head, smiled slightly: "Can't see clearly from behind? Let the people in front go to the back, let everyone take a look." As he spoke, he faced the big Han again, took a deep breath, and had a satisfied expression on his face.

  When the flesh of both arms was completely dismantled, more than 500 people vomited on the spot. Everyone had a ghostly expression, just like the mercenaries of the Wild Wolf Regiment when they saw the corpse tortured by Aini Gema back then.

  At this time, the mercenary had already fainted and was bleeding all over the ground. Einig shook his head, took a step back, and ordered the wild wolf mercenaries to wake him up. A bucket of cold water was poured on him, and the big man slowly came to, feeling the pain, and let out another inhuman scream.

  The scream was abruptly cut off as Einig slit his throat, blood spurted out a few times and flowed slowly, which made Einig very disappointed. He sighed, turned around and ordered: "From now on, my soldiers will be your instructors, you must listen to their orders. Brothers of the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group, you have the power to dispose of any scum who dares to challenge your authority. Now, Dacia, you are in charge of the specifics."

  A young man beside Einig saluted with a military salute. Einig nodded and turned to leave the high platform.

  The young man named Darcia, facing the soldiers below, shouted loudly: "Now, you goblin-blooded bastards, I command..." A series of training arrangements were suppressed.

  As for Aynig, he now needs a bath and then go arrange the siege.

  Siege? He sneered in his heart. In this world, he had countless ways to take down such a simple defense.