Volume 2: The Road to Dragon Feast Chapter 101: The Alterac Horse
Murphy walked out of the palace gate and saw Razidanan and Roland chatting about something. It seemed that they got along quite well.
Roland (Vassal Knight): "Young man, your idea is very good. Only by following His Royal Highness and fighting hard can you succeed in your career.
When I was young, I always thought too much, and felt that I could make a name for myself with my martial arts. However, when I got older, I found that reality was so cruel. Many times, personal efforts were so insignificant. If you cannot follow a monarch worthy of loyalty, no matter how hard you try, it will be meaningless.
No matter how much blood I shed, I couldn't buy a piece of land to live on. Unfortunately, I realized it too late."
Razidanan (Royal Guard): "No, Lord Roland, I once heard a king say that an old horse in the stable still has a thousand miles to go, and a martyr in his old age still has great ambitions. Although you are old, your body is still strong. Now you have become a guardian knight, and there may be a day when you will achieve great things."
"Hahahaha, you're right, Lord Roland... This sounds really good."
Murphy found it interesting to watch. Rachidanan and Roland seemed to get along well.
Aidan (Prince of Alterac): "Am I disturbing you?"
Roland (Vassal Knight): "Your Highness, have you made a decision?"
Aidan (Prince of Alterac): "Yes, I have found a fortress that can be easily captured. Let's gather the soldiers and we are going to march!"
The three of them brought their troops to the military camp outside the city. Murphy now had 32 troops to dispatch. He selected ten kingdom crossbowmen and six sword and shield infantrymen.
Together with the five Highland Swordsmen, five Highland Warriors, a Kingdom Guard, Murphy himself and Knight Roland, a "large army" of nearly thirty people, "mightily" marched towards their destination.
There was no danger along the way. In the face of such a powerful lineup, the groups of wild monsters were just giving experience. By noon, Murphy had arrived at his destination.
Aidan (Prince of Alterac): "It's that fortress. This is our first target today!" Murphy said, pointing to the Lone Wolf Fortress on the hillside in front.
Roland studied it for a while and nodded in agreement. "It does look like a relatively easy fortress to capture. Your Highness has chosen a good target. However, we lack siege weapons, which is still a problem."
"Don't worry. The fortress just went through a battle, and the gate may not be repaired yet. We can just charge in. I will lead the charge later. Lord Roland, you will command the soldiers. Be careful not to kill the bandit leader. I have a special use for him."
Roland was a little surprised. The fortress was so far away, how did the prince know that the gate was broken? Could it be that the prince possessed some unknown prophecy magic?
He looked at Murphy's muscular body with a strength of 55 points and thought that he couldn't tell.
Although Knight Roland was confused, he was very clear that as a vassal, he should not ask questions that were not right. So he took over the command immediately, with the infantry in the front and the crossbowmen in the back, forming four rows and advancing gradually.
When the troops were less than a hundred meters away from the Lone Wolf Fortress, Murphy heard a system prompt.
[System prompt: You have entered the plot battle [Clear the Bandits 1/3] area, your identity has been determined to be a 'just crusader ', please be ready to enter. ]
At the same time, Linden Wan in the fortress was wiping away his tears and continuing to repair the arrow tower with his men. A new wave of monsters had just spawned, and with the addition of the few remaining bandits who had died before, they were busy in full swing.
They had no idea how many times they had done this kind of work. It had failed again and again, and had been repaired again and again, but not once had it been completely fixed. Just thinking about it gave them a sense of the tragedy of starting a business with great difficulty. However, before he had time to move himself, the sound of the system prompt rang in his ears.
[System prompt: You have entered the plot battle [Clear 1/3 of the Bandits] area, your identity has been determined to be the 'Bandit Leader', please be ready to enter. ]
What the hell, a plot event? Clearing out the bandits? I'm the bandit leader who's going to be cleared out?
Lindenwan was stunned. It was okay that he had been attacked by adventurers before. Although he lost a lot of experience and dropped a lot of items, and the supplies in the camp were harvested in waves, but at least he could be resurrected after death, so there was always hope.
But if I die in this plot event, it will be really GAME OVER.
In fact, everyone else is fine, but he is a bandit leader, which means he has stepped into the threshold of becoming a plot character. This is really what it felt like to join the National Army in 1949. If he dies, he is really dead.
I am so stupid, really, I should not have come to this sad place. If I hadn't come, these things wouldn't have happened. If I had left earlier, I wouldn't have been blocked here. It is true that he who wears the crown must bear its weight. Even being the leader of a mountain bandit is not so easy. If I had known this, I would have better stayed in Broken Ridge and been someone's little brother.
Why did he have to be the leader of this bandit group when he was so weak? If he had gone to another village and become an elite monster, he wouldn't have to wait here to die.
Linden Wan felt completely hopeless for a moment, but he was a free and easy person after all. After despair, Linden Wan suddenly felt relieved.
I've had enough of this crappy account. I might as well die. Death will be a relief. It would be best if I could kill a few people before I die. At least I can leave my name in the annals of the sky.
I heard that the Sky Chronicles will be published as a physical book, so maybe I can play a minor role in it then, like Lin Dengwan, who died under the sword of a hero on a certain day of a certain year.
He gritted his teeth and roared, "Brothers, prepare to fight."
His two younger brothers also heard the sound of the system upgrading, and now they all looked at him in despair. But when they saw that their boss was so energetic, they thought there was some room for turnaround, so they cheered up and followed Lin Dengwan to climb up the village wall.
The three of them looked down at the city wall, and they were all immediately disappointed.
Lin Dengwan felt a pang of regret as he looked at the approaching army. It was a pity that since he took over the mountain stronghold, he had never been able to fill up the population. The stronghold was just being harvested continuously without even a decent battle. It was not very satisfying to be the bandit leader.
He originally wanted to struggle, but when he saw the lineup below, Lindenwan knew that he had no chance at all.
Boom! The gate, which had just been repaired with several hundred points of durability, was shattered in the blink of an eye.
The battle at the main gate lasted only a few seconds, and the few small soldiers who automatically blocked the gate according to the system program were killed by the Highland Swordsman.
Seeing that things were going badly, Passerby A shouted, "It's over, it's over, Boss, run quickly, you are a character in the plot, you can't die, we will cover you."
After saying that, he took out his javelin and was about to go forward. Xiao Bingyi also drew out his hand axe and round shield. Looking at his two good brothers, Lin Dengwan couldn't help but feel deeply moved. It was not in vain that he made friends with these good brothers.
He was also full of heroic spirit at this moment, and took out two scimitars from behind, one of which was a newly refreshed blank weapon, "Why are you running, brothers, the ancients said that we don't ask to be born on the same day of the same month of the same year, but we ask to die on the same day of the same month of the same year. Today we will die together! Let's be good brothers."
“Brother!”
"Second brother."
"Third brother."
“Second brother!”
"Big brother!"
“Third brother!”
As soon as Murphy walked through the gate, he saw this sad scene on the village wall and was speechless.
Aidan (Prince of Alterac): "I say don't be in a hurry to die. Are you interested in making a deal?"
"What!" Lindenwan was stunned. "Are you a player?"
He immediately felt relieved. As long as he was a player, there was room for negotiation. Even being a younger brother was better than having his account deleted.
Aidan (Prince of Alterac): "Yes, I am a player, and I have a deal to make with you. As long as you cooperate with me, not only will you not die, but I will also make you rich."
Lindenwan's determination to fight to the death was extinguished immediately. He had worked so hard to build this account, so it would be better to survive. "What do you mean?"
"It's very simple. We just need to do this, this, this, this, and finally do this... How about this? After the matter is done, the supplies will be mine, and the village will be yours."
Lindenwan was stunned when he heard this, his eyes lit up, "Is this possible?"
Aidan (Prince of Alterac): "You'll know if it works after you give it a try. Even if you fail, you won't lose anything, right? It's better than being trapped in this place and being bullied by adventurers every day."
Lindenwan (the bandit leader): "Okay, I'll follow you, brothers, let's go."
Lindenwan is also a person who can let go of things easily. He leaves when he says he will, without any regrets.
However, they did not walk too far and just waited outside the fortress. Their configuration of one elite and two small monsters was simply a dessert-level drop gift package. If they met high-level adventurers when they went out, they would be killed for sure.
Murphy didn't hesitate and started to tear down the house.
First, rob the fortress of materials. The warehouse can automatically refresh the supplies. Unfortunately, it was just robbed by a wave of adventurers in the morning. Now the warehouse is really deserted. Only a single-digit number of wood and stone resources were robbed.
The next step was to destroy the fortress hall. A group of infantrymen surrounded the hall and smashed it. With a loud bang, the durability dropped to zero and the fortress hall was destroyed.
The walls of the Lone Wolf Fortress also collapsed, becoming extremely dilapidated in an instant, and the health bars of the walls and arrow towers completely disappeared, turning them from [damaged buildings] into [ruins].
Of course, even in ruins there will be monsters spawning, but most of them will be bandit ghosts, skeletons, mummies and the like.
[System prompt: You successfully defeated the fortress's bandit leader Lindenwan and destroyed the evil bandit stronghold of the Lone Wolf Fortress. However, because Lindenwan successfully escaped during the battle, your action was slightly flawed. Based on your performance in the plot events, you received 79 plot points. Your plot mission is currently 1/3 complete. Please keep up the good work.]
Only 79 points. It was the first time that Murphy got such a small number of plot points. But it was understandable. After all, he just killed a few bandits and demolished a hall. There was really no real achievement to speak of.
But at least one third of the task was completed.
In the distance, Lindenwan looked at the fortress he had defended for half a month turned into a pile of ruins. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, but at the same time he felt a sense of relief. It was finally over.
Lindenwan (Bandit Leader): "Your Highness, where are we going next?"
Aidan (Prince of Alterac): "Do you know Vulture Hill Fortress?"
Linden Wan nodded, with a little excitement on his face. Vulture Ridge Fortress was much better than his broken mountain stronghold. The terrain was dangerous, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Moreover, it was far away from the mainland , and few adventurers dared to visit. It would be great if he could snatch it and make it his own base.
"So what are you waiting for? Let's go."
So Murphy set out again.
He asked Lindenwan and his two men to walk in the team to avoid being killed by adventurers. If this elite monster with no place to belong was killed, no one knew where it would spawn.
After walking for more than an hour, the group finally arrived at the edge of the bandit camp outside Vulture Peak.
Looking at the bandit camp in front of him, Murphy couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion. He was afraid that he had died here more times than he had in the past six months.
Hey, isn’t that the female mage? And those few small accounts are still leveling up.
Several adventurers over there also noticed this side, but the female mage didn't care and continued to kill her bandits.
Those few small ones came over on their own initiative.
Ralph (Warrior): "Damn, there are so many NPCs here. Hey, there's even a prince among them! Come on, everyone. Maybe you can get a quest. Your Highness, are you going to attack the fortress at Vulture Peak? Take us with you."
Isabel (Priest): "Wow, your highness is so handsome, good brother, bring your sister with you, I can give you some blood!"
Cold Sword Frost (Assassin): "Your Excellency Prince Aidan, Cold Sword Frost is willing to serve you."
Several new adventurers all had cute newbie faces. Murfei was speechless seeing their fawning looks. They were so ferocious when facing the thief Greyhouse before, but now that they met the prince, they immediately turned into well-behaved newbies.
People...
He glanced at them indifferently, "Get lost!"
After saying that, he led the team directly towards the fortress.
Those adventurers were all stunned on the spot. The others had grim expressions on their faces but didn't dare to say anything. However, the warrior tried hard.
"Fuck, he's just a prince, an NPC, why are you showing off?"
A sneer escaped Murphy's lips, this was the sentence he had been waiting for. If he directly ordered an attack on the adventurers, he would not be wanted, but he would lose his reputation. However, as long as the adventurers dared to disrespect the prince, it could be used as a reason to start a war. There was no other way, his identity as a prince allowed him to be so willful.
He turned around and waved at Roland, and the old knight immediately understood.
Roland (Vassal Knight): "Kill these villains who dare to be disrespectful to the prince."
What! Several adventurers were shocked.
I thought, isn't it just a curse on an NPC that triggers a fight? Damn, this game is too realistic.
The crossbowman shot the mage dead in one volley. The Highland Warrior and Highland Swordsman rushed forward, swinging their greatswords and battle axes. Before Murphy could even make a move, the five new players were chopped to the ground. It was obvious that they had been working really hard to kill the bandit monsters, and a lot of low-level materials and junk equipment were dropped on the ground.
The female mage immediately became alert upon seeing the noise.
Murphy had no intention of taking action. Although this female mage had killed him twice, it was not a malicious PK. She was just killing him and mistook him for an NPC monster.
In comparison, these five newbies are much more hateful. Once they find out that the person they are going to kill is a player, they will not only not hold back but will also be particularly excited. In this case, there is naturally no need for them to be polite.
Seeing that Murphy had no hostility, the female mage became curious instead.
Xinbu (Mage): "Are you going to attack the fortress?"
Murphy smiled slightly. A level 39 mage is still very useful.
Aidan (Prince of Alterac): "My beautiful lady, are you interested in joining us? If you can help me defeat those evil bandits, I will definitely reward you generously."
Maybe it was because of Murphy’s good attitude, or because he was too handsome, or because of the lure of the spoils, but the female mage hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
"It is a great honor to serve your Highness."
"Knight Roland, protect this lady."
"Yes, your highness."
[System prompt: Player Xinbu (Mage) joins the team. ]
After temporarily recruiting an adventurer, Murphy did not hesitate any longer and said to Linden Wan and his three companions, "Go ahead."
Lindenwan ran to the gate of the fortress with two of his men, shouted, and the gate opened immediately.
In theory, the bandit leaders in these fortresses all belong to the Brotherhood of the Sons of the Mountain, and are considered brother units, so they can naturally sneak in easily.
