Seeing Gu De's face turn pale and then white again, looking disheartened, Yang Ling understood that he had directly struck his weak point, and the plan to surrender was already half successful.

  To recruit someone with real power, you must first take the initiative and strike at their arrogance. To strike at their arrogance, you must first grasp their weak point! As long as you throw out sufficient bait at the right time, carrots and big sticks, you won't worry that they won't get on your chariot.

  "Hmph, not bad. I overestimated the power of the Snake Spirit Blood Rod or underestimated the strength of adults!" After a cold hum, Gu Du looked at Yang Ling with a calm gaze, as if he had already put life and death aside.

  "Hmph, one misstep and everything is lost! What a pity, what a pity!" Looking at the despondent Gud, Yang Ling understood that he had already given up hope and lost his will to survive. Shaking his head in feigned sympathy, "Yimia's evil deeds are numerous, and death is a fitting punishment for him. However, the others do not deserve to die. Are you willing to accompany him in death?"

  Is the crime punishable by death?

  Looking at Yang Ling's smiling face, Gu De's heart moved slightly, secretly speculating about the other party's intentions. Since being captured after losing his hand, he knew that with his identity, there would be no good outcome, and after the escape route was cut off, he became disheartened. But now hearing Yang Ling say this, he vaguely saw a glimmer of hope.

  Looking at Gude's face with a hint of joy and thoughtfulness, Yang Ling slowly pulled out a thin letter from his pocket and read: "Gude Adamina, originally Steff Masterston, hereditary marquis of the Bantu Empire, Chief of Military Logistics. Eighteen years ago, he led a rebellion, his family was uprooted, and his whereabouts are unknown..."

  "You... who exactly are you? How did you know so clearly?"

  Unexpected, it's really too unexpected!

  Gud was shocked and lost his color. Since he escaped from the Imperial Capital eighteen years ago, he had been hiding his identity and only a few loyal guards knew his true identity. Unexpectedly, Yang Ling, this mysterious summoner, spoke out his origin as soon as he opened his mouth. Who is he and what is his purpose?

  Could it be the legendary Shadow Guard commanded by Your Majesty personally?

  Rumor has it that to monitor the movements of his ministers, each king of the Bantu Empire had a personal bodyguard. They were one level higher than regular officials and could behead first and report later, their actions shrouded in mystery, known as the Shadow Guard.

  "Director Yang, what exactly... are you after? What is your purpose?" Looking at the unfathomable Yang Ling, Gu De swallowed hard. If the other party was indeed the legendary Dark Shadow Guard, sent to hunt him down, he would probably rather die than fall into his hands!

  "After smiling mysteriously, Yang Ling said: 'I'm just a small businessman, hoping to open a few small shops, earn some small money to support my family, and live a stable life!'"

  Gud looked pale with shock, and Yang Ling knew he was one step closer to success. To get this intelligence, he had just captured Gud, the Ank family's top strategist, and asked old butler Mulberry to convey it to Haier Bell, hoping she could help clarify Gud's background quickly. Soon, Haier Bell replied, worthy of being a powerful and wealthy magnate.

  Small business owners who run several small shops to make a living?

  Guo Du swallowed hard, his brow furrowed in concern as he secretly pondered Yang Ling's identity and intentions.

  If Yang Ling, who had opened a dwarf armory, built a brewery and had a large group of followers, was just a small merchant, then the other merchants in town were all ragtag! Add to that the terrifying beast army, and even if you thought with your toes, no one would take Yang Ling, this legendary summoner, for a small-time merchant.

  "What a pity! A hereditary marquis of the empire, a war minister of the imperial military department, has fallen to become an advisor to a pirate leader!" Yang Ling shook his head and continued: "I'm really curious, what benefits did the Anka family give you that made you ignore your suffering family for so many years and be content with being a turtle hiding in its shell?"

  According to intelligence, eighteen years ago, after Gu De escaped from the Imperial Capital under the protection of a team of loyal guards, his family members were either beheaded or imprisoned, some were even exiled to remote areas or directly demoted to plebeians, living a life worse than death. Yang Ling really couldn't understand how Gu De, as the number one strategist of the Anka family and a former high-ranking noble, could endure it all this time.

  Turtle?

  Under Yang Ling's provocation, Gu De's years of suppressed pain suddenly erupted, shaking the iron bars on the cell door violently and shouting loudly: "Who are you, say it, what is your purpose?"

  Looking at Gud's bloodshot eyes, Yang Ling said calmly: "What I am is not important, the key is that I can help you, rescue your poor family!"

  "Haha, rescue my family? What makes you think you can, just because you're a Shadow Guard?"

  Gud seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. Apart from the Shadow Guards, he couldn't figure out how Yang Ling could have such great power and wealth; apart from the all-pervasive Shadow Guards, he also couldn't figure out who else would be so clear about his origins. Apart from these guys who kill without batting an eye, he really couldn't think of anyone else who would be so interested in him.

  Shadow Sentinel?

  Looking at the seemingly crazy Gude, Yang Ling furrowed his brow, knowing that he had misunderstood his identity. He said, "Gude, to be frank, I am an ancient summoner and a tree shepherd, but I have never heard of any Shadow Guard. The purpose of telling you so much nonsense is very simple - it's just that I hope you will serve me!"

  As misunderstandings about Gude deepened, Yang Ling simply stated his purpose. To deepen persuasion, he summoned the Dryad Warrior, Hornet Beast and Evil Eye in one breath.

  Ancient Summoner, Shepherd of Trees?

  Looking at the dense evil eyes and horned beasts, and then looking at the withered warriors who still reached the top of the cell after squatting down, Gud was unexpectedly stunned. In his memory, whether it was an ancient summoner or a tree herder, they were just legends in ancient books, and he had never heard of any Shadow Guard having such unique abilities.

  "Lord Yang, forcibly rescuing my family would mean offending a powerful figure in the Bantu Empire. Are you truly willing to do so?"

  After the unexpected event, Gu De no longer doubted Yang Ling's identity and was excited. Whether it was an ancient summoner or a shepherd, they were all incredibly powerful, which was proven by Yang Ling's defeat of the terrifying nine-headed snake monster. As long as he lent his full support, he had hope to rescue his family members who had been suffering for many years.

  "It's simple, you help me come up with a plan, and in return, I'll do everything I can to rescue your family!"

  "Sir, is this true?"

  "I swear on the name of the Nature Goddess, as long as you serve me with loyalty, I will do my best to rescue your family!" Yang Ling secretly borrowed the deity worshipped by the forest spirits.

  Legend has it that the Shepherd is a messenger of the natural goddess in the world. Upon hearing Yang Ling's words, Gu De no longer had any doubts and immediately knelt down in front of Yang Ling. To rescue his daughter and elderly mother, he would not hesitate to devise strategies or even risk going through fire and water.

  Hello book friends, today there will be three updates, one in the morning, one at noon or in the afternoon, and another one tonight, welcome to support and thank you!