Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: 90. Reclaiming Bezos (2)
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The Empire's supply troops let out sighs of relief upon realizing the sudden arrivals were just beggars.
"What the hell? They're just beggars."
"Please give us some food."
"We're starving."
The imperial soldiers threatened the beggars with their weapons.
"Get lost. We're the Empire's army. If you come any closer, we won't hold back."
"Filthy beggar scum..."
They issued sharp warnings.
But the mysterious horde of beggars didn't back down. They kept inching closer, rubbing their hands together subserviently all the while.
"We're so hungry."
"Spare us."
"Please, some food."
As they kept swarming, one imperial soldier shoved a beggar's hand away and slapped him across the face.
"You little..."
"Urk..."
"Get lost while I'm telling you nicely!"
That was the spark.
The beggar whose head snapped to the side suddenly swung his sword.
It happened so abruptly that the imperial troops couldn't process it right away.
"Huh?"
In that moment, blades flashed up from all around, gleaming toward the soldiers who'd been begging moments before. In an instant, the troops were spurting blood and collapsing.
"W-What the?"
"It's an attack! The beggars are attacking!"
The ronin disguised as beggars unleashed frenzied sword strikes.
"We want food, give us food!"
"You think you're hot shit?!"
"Kehhehehe!"
"The sky is blue!"
The ronin bellowed random continental common tongue phrases while swinging their weapons like madmen.
Their blood-smeared grins, combined with their ragged appearances, made for an even more chilling sight.
"Th-They're crazy!"
"Block them!"
Having snuck in close under the beggar guise, the ronin easily transitioned into close-quarters combat.
The imperial forces, caught off guard by the suddenness, couldn't respond effectively.
Chaos erupted.
Yuri watched with a satisfied expression.
"Impressive."
"Ronin live rough lives."
Cheonun, standing beside him, said that before stepping forward.
"I'll fight too."
"Good. Together, then."
Yuri and his hidden companions revealed themselves as well.
The sudden appearance of another group made the imperial soldiers shout.
"More beggars, more beggars!"
"New beggars!"
Indeed.
To hide their identities and fight, Yuri's group had disguised themselves as beggars alongside the ronin. So the imperials couldn't recognize them.
They'd never dream this was Brioll's scheme.
"Charge, beggars!"
Yuri shouted. Francesco, Jared, Simon, and Gines behind him roared to shake off their embarrassment.
"Food!"
"Gimme food!"
To minimize friendly casualties, Yuri targeted only the skilled among the imperials.
"You're mine."
"N-No..."
"Next!"
Who could imagine a Ten-Strong caliber fighter charging into battle disguised as a beggar to ambush a supply unit?
With no preparations for this, Yuri cut through the enemy unimpeded.
Occasionally, a knight crossing swords with him would guess at his prowess.
"C-Could it be."
But he couldn't finish.
"Yeah, it's me."
Yuri severed his neck in one stroke.
The foe who recognized his skill died with an incredulous look, crumpling to the ground.
Things were going smoothly, so Yuri had some leisure even in the chaos.
"Jared."
"Yes."
"These guys are pretty good, huh?"
"They are."
The two eyed the ronin.
They'd initially doubted their skills upon seeing the beggar disguises.
But once the fight started, the ronin slashed through imperials like battle-hardened veterans.
They had no qualms stabbing vitals, rolling on the dirt for openings, or anything practical.
A barrage of ruthless killing moves unfolded.
"Maybe it's only natural."
Yuri murmured.
"These guys abandoned their homeland to survive elsewhere. Without confidence in their skills, they'd never have the guts. Language barriers make it brutal otherwise."
"True..."
"They crossed east because they trust their sword arms."
Yuri was spot on.
This band of ronin were masters confident in surviving anywhere with their blades.
But even with skill, no sect or backing meant scraping by in the East's current state. Dazzled by Ireine Merchant's wealth, they'd banded together to seek fortunes in the prosperous West.
Frustrated ronin elites seeking a new world.
Jared marveled.
"Look at them wield those swords. More practical than most knights."
Living life on the edge of a blade, the ronin mastered bizarre killing arts for survival. They struck vital spots unpredictably, or teamed up to stab backs.
Even superior knights died caught off guard.
"We should post notices in the East. Recruit talent."
"Agreed."
"Look at that one throwing dirt while fighting. True swordsmen."
After prolonged melee, the imperials realized their dire straits and began fleeing.
Cheonun, mid-slash, asked Yuri.
"Pursue?"
"No!"
Yuri wasn't risking it. Disrupt supplies, keep them tense, erode morale—that was the goal.
Yuri yelled.
"No pursuit! Drive them off! Loot only the supplies!"
A few ronin who understood continental tongue glanced at Cheonun.
They conversed in Eastern.
[Loot? Cheonun. What's loot?]
[Means take.]
[Oh! Plunder?]
[Yep.]
[That young continental guy's growing on me!]
[Our employer's. Watch it.]
[So what.]
[Didn't see his skill? Absolute master. Could get hurt.]
[Fine, fine. Plunder anyway?]
[Plunder.]
[Plunder!]
Soon, the ronin started chanting short Eastern words.
"Jierue!"
"Jierue!"
"Jierue!"
Sounded like a word, and they shouted it with glee.
Yuri asked Cheonun.
"What're they yelling?"
"Uh..."
He answered sheepishly.
"Means plunder."
"So, 'plunder, plunder' like that?"
"Yes."
"Rough bunch."
Easy to imagine their Eastern exploits.
Yuri lamented the East forcing such talents to flee for livelihood.
"Should open a hiring office there. Bring more like these."
"Good idea..."
Ronin morale soared. Imperials fled in terror from the bizarrely shouting horde.
The tide had turned completely.
"Retreat!"
"Fall back!"
Yuri flung sword auras at fleeing backs, killing as many as possible before halting pursuit once they were far off. He turned around.
Ronin were ransacking the supplies.
Yuri sighed.
"Cheonun. Stop them."
"Yes."
He replied apologetically, then shouted at the Easterners.
But loot-blind ronin ignored him.
As Cheonun geared to yell louder, Yuri grabbed his shoulder.
"Cheonun. Any family or close friends in that bunch?"
"N-No."
"Came alone?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Yuri patted his shoulder.
Realizing his intent, Cheonun swallowed and stepped back.
Yuri approached the ronin.
Sharper ones sensed the mood and retreated, but greedy ones hugged loot greedily.
Yuri tapped one's back.
"Hey, hey. Stop."
The ronin didn't check, spat a short curse, and shook off his hand.
Yuri drew and swung his sword.
The ronin was bisected.
Instant death, no scream. Amid the din, only nearby few startled to a halt.
Yuri tapped another.
Ignored, he lost his head.
A few more died, and the ronin quieted.
Yuri nodded to Cheonun to translate.
"Work under me, act out of line, you die. I'll pay you, so no looting without my say."
Fearful eyes nodded.
They obeyed untouchable masters faithfully.
"Hurry before they return with reinforcements. Food priority, grab and go. Got it?"
Nods.
"Move."
Unlike before, they eyed Yuri warily, grabbing mostly food.
Yuri didn't dawdle. After sufficient food, he torched the remaining wagons.
"Withdraw!"
Ronin agility shone in retreat.
They successfully routed one supply unit and pulled back. At the temporary camp, they recovered and distributed food.
"Payment after this battle. Hold out till then."
No complaints despite him just killing their comrades.
They even thanked him for sharing food.
"Ronin from all walks. Commoners, real beggars, lowliest underworld sect grads."
Chatting with Cheonun brought a familiar name.
"Underworld sect?"
"Lowest faction. Criminals banded together."
"Ah..."
Basically alley thugs forming a 'sect' to help each other. Skilled in dirty tricks, but martial arts mediocre.
Rick's face surfaced—he'd claimed underworld as famed orthodox sect, sold those manuals.
"Hm..."
Flatterer as Iris said.
"That Rick bastard..."
Anyway, Yuri gleaned much Eastern info from Cheonun.
"Hm."
Yuri hinted his idea: import Eastern warriors as mercenaries.
Cheonun nodded.
"Need pay. Enough money, possible."
"Really?"
"Even minor sects broke. East society unfair."
"Money's no issue."
Worst case, loot Empire.
Empire was world's richest for a reason. Rally Easterners, conquer, share spoils.
Plus, Empire had the 'Shadowless Sword'.
"Cheonun. Know about Demonic Cult?"
"Demonic Cult?"
His face hardened.
From talks, martial artists despised them. Orthodox sent investigators hunting remnants.
Eradicating Demonic Cult from Ten Thousand Great Mountains was a long-standing goal.
Telling Eastern martial folk Heavenly Demon was here? Strong incentive.
"Which sects hate them most?"
"All do. Nine Great Sects, Five Clans, all seethe."
"Good."
Yuri grinned.
'Shadowless Sword' never imagined this upon revealing himself.
"After reclaiming Bezos, we'll talk. Got a job for you."
"Understood."
"Good."
Yuri stood.
"Time to eat?"
Mealtime neared. Yuri planned eating same as ronin, no exceptions.
Experienced ronin cooked.
"Today's menu..."
Approaching, Yuri's eyes widened.
In these conditions, they'd made noodles with sauce. Black sauce.
Sweet, oily aroma hit his nose.
Yuri muttered blankly.
"Th-This food is...?"
Cheonun puffed his chest.
"Ronin staple: black bean noodles."