CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37 MILITIA_1

Olaf squatted down beside Duan’er and answered, "My Lord is a knight possessing both wisdom and strength, and he is also extremely generous and compassionate. I believe he must hold an exceedingly prosperous domain within human territories, his wealth far surpassing our comprehension of riches.

"He can afford to build walls out of steel at will and equip us with steel armor and steel flails.

"And in my clothing here, there are at least five Alchemical Weapons.

"We are merely First Order Werewolves and Second Order Howlers...

"Furthermore, even more steel and Alchemical Weapons are stored in the warehouse. Anyone who wishes to use them need only find the responsible Domain Official to requisition them freely."

While Olaf was answering, Duan’er was also observing Olaf.

The armor he wore was crafted from interlocking steel plates.

Steel! True, forged steel, not common iron. The steel in this single suit of armor, if replaced with iron, would be enough to equip every Werewolf in his tribe with iron flails. Yet here it was, worn by a mere Second Order Howler, and even the First Order Werewolves guarding outside were clad in this type of Full Steel Armor. And they wielded all-steel flails too. This equipment granted them defensive and offensive power far exceeding their actual ranks; the Lizardmen were utterly defenseless against them. If his own tribe could be equipped with such armor and weapons, one hundred elite Steel Armored Werewolves would be enough to sweep through the swamp’s edge. And those slingshots... He was certain the slingshots these Werewolves used were also Alchemical Weapons. Duan’er himself had been struck in the head by a pellet from such a slingshot, and a large welt still hadn’t subsided. Duan’er was a Hero, possessing defenses far superior to ordinary Werewolves. If an ordinary Werewolf were hit in the head, they would be knocked unconscious, if not killed. The Alchemical Slingshot gave melee-type Werewolves a degree of ranged capability. Moreover, in the swamp environment, dense with bushes and trees, the engagement distance upon spotting an enemy was merely twenty to thirty meters. At such ranges, the effective distance of bows and crossbows was largely wasted. In contrast, the Alchemical Slingshot’s rate of fire and the surprise factor of its attacks could inflict maximum ranged damage on the enemy in the shortest time. Even in a firefight across an impassable marsh, the slingshots’ power and rate of fire were enough to suppress enemy bowmen and crossbowmen, preventing them from even raising their heads. The Werewolves and Lizardmen of the Swamp Tribe couldn’t afford armor. As for the cost of such an Alchemical Slingshot? Ordinary bows and crossbows couldn’t compare; perhaps even the price of this suit of Full Steel Armor wouldn’t be enough to buy a single one. Alchemical Weapons were Alchemical Weapons, after all—not something ordinary individuals could possess at will. Yet, in this domain, even the peasants each possessed one. Setting aside the other Alchemical Weapons he couldn’t even identify, the sheer opulence radiating from the Werewolf before him overwhelmed Duan’er. To think he had bankrupted his tribe attacking such a human domain... It was as if he’d been kicked in the head by a swamp bull.

"What does your Lord plan to do with me?" After closely observing the lavish equipment on Olaf, Duan’er’s stubbornness dissipated.

Olaf replied, "My Lord said he wants to think it over thoroughly. Clan Leader, have something to eat first. By evening, the Lord will pass judgment on you.

"I believe the compassionate Lord will not unduly trouble you."

As he spoke, Olaf extended a bowl of nutrient-rich emergency rations to Duan’er’s mouth.

The aroma of beef and the strong, fishy smell of fish oil assailed Duan’er’s nostrils, making his mouth water incessantly.

Before the war, he had proclaimed that hunger would bring out greater fighting spirit in the Werewolves. But that was only because there was genuinely nothing to eat. The Swamp Tribe was a society of hunters and fishers. They ate when they caught prey; if not, they went hungry. Naturally, they wouldn’t prepare rations when going out to fight.

Since leaving the Red Mud Wetland, Duan’er hadn’t eaten anything, aside from a rat he’d caught the previous night that barely filled a gap between his teeth.

Therefore, when Olaf brought such delicious-smelling food to his mouth, Duan’er immediately took a large bite of the dog chow.

The granular dog chow crunched loudly in his mouth as he bit into it.

The taste was a delicacy Duan’er had never experienced before.

After swallowing the food, Duan’er couldn’t help but ask Olaf with envy, "Is this what you usually eat? It’s so much better than what we have at the Red Mud Wetland..."

But Olaf just chuckled and said, "No, we don’t usually eat this. I just tasted these nutrient-rich emergency rations... I can only say they’re suitable as emergency food for the domain or as field rations for soldiers during wartime.

"Normally, I wouldn’t want to eat them."

Duan’er was stunned.

Such delicious food, and he still acts as if he dislikes it! What on earth do they usually eat?

"You don’t like to eat such delicious food?"

"Compared to what we normally eat, these nutrient-rich emergency rations really aren’t that tasty. Clan Leader, I’d advise you not to eat too much... The main meal isn’t until tonight."

"Ah!"

Duan’er stared at the bowl of delicious food before him, unsure of what to do.

Throughout the afternoon, Yan Xing was preoccupied with the domain’s construction, dedicating all available manpower to building the militia barracks and militia training grounds.

There were truly too many captives within the domain. Guarding one hundred and ten Werewolves plus Duan’er, the Werewolf Hero, with just Olaf and his nine Werewolves made it impossible for them to even rest in shifts. Moreover, he had to negotiate with Duan’er that night.

As a human Lord, I can’t just have Werewolves from the Swamp Tribe standing behind me. A human Lord needs to project a human Lord’s authority.

This was another significant reason Yan Xing hadn’t rushed to see Duan’er.

As the setting sun bathed the entire grassland in red, the Eternal Domain’s militia barracks and militia training grounds were finally completed after a rush job.

[A building that meets the standards of militia barracks has been found. Would you like to set it as the militia barracks? Note! Once set as militia barracks, it cannot be changed.]

"Confirm setting as militia barracks."

[Militia barracks have been completed.]

[The militia barracks can provide 8 militiamen per week for recruitment. Recruitment cost: 25 Gold Coins/person.]

[A Hero with training skills can upgrade eligible peasants to militiamen in the militia barracks. Upgrade cost: 10 Gold/person.]

Huh? Recruiting militiamen is that expensive? Twenty-five God-given Gold Coins for a single militiaman? And ’militiaman’ doesn’t exactly sound like a proper combat unit.

However, Yan Xing was currently eager to put on a display of strength, so he reluctantly paid the steep price. Fortunately, the recent battle had rewarded him with over a thousand God-given Gold Coins; otherwise, even if he were willing to be overcharged, he wouldn’t have had the funds.

He tearfully paid 200 God-given Gold Coins.

Eight human militiamen materialized from ethereal shadows, lining up neatly before Yan Xing.

Having already spent 200 Gold Coins, he didn’t mind spending a few tens more. The seven sturdy peasants Eddie had selected had also met the advancement criteria during the war and were likewise upgraded to Second Order militiamen in the militia barracks.

This investment in military strength was definitely worth it!

In a short time, Yan Xing had sixteen human militiamen at his command.

Militiaman (Human Second Order unit, basic soldier of human forces. Can be upgraded to Third Order combat unit Archer; can be upgraded to Third Order elite unit Sergeant)

Attack: 4

Defense: 4

Damage: 3

Health: 10

Talent: Brawl (When forming a situation with a numerical advantage, militiamen can unleash additional attack power.)