Lord of Rot

As Leech traveled with the Soldiers from Green Forest Castle, he suddenly froze.

He had reconnected with Aina!

Before the connection broke, the last thing he’d seen was a long-bearded Fishman. Upon reconnecting with Aina, he saw that same Fishman again. Only this time, instead of casting Magic, it was being crushed under Aina’s foot.

"How did it go?" Leech asked Aina via his Spiritual Power.

This was a form of direct spiritual communication that didn’t require words. As such, it couldn’t convey complex ideas, only the general gist of his meaning.

Through their spiritual link, Leech got the gist of what happened. After the long-bearded Fishman cast its bizarre Magic, she had entered a strange state. But unlike Leech, she hadn’t felt any significant fear and had recovered quickly.

During that brief time, Aina had wiped out the Fishman nest.

She had only spared the distinct, long-bearded Fishman.

’Good job.’ Leech was quite satisfied.

In response, Aina’s Spiritual Power nestled against his, like a puppy rubbing against its owner’s leg.

After instructing Aina to investigate the Fishman cave and destroy the eggs, Leech withdrew the bulk of his consciousness back into his own body.

Ordinary Fishmen were beyond his control. Except for the long-bearded one that clearly wielded some kind of Magic, the others simply weren’t worth the gold it would cost to reanimate them. The cheapest reanimation cost ten ounces of gold. An equivalent number of Fishmen probably couldn’t even defeat a group of militiamen, who were far more versatile and not nearly as expensive.

"WHOA~!"

The horses came to a halt.

A young nobleman in a distinctive robe and turban was speaking to a nearby Soldier. "Are you absolutely certain? That they were dragged into the swamp by Fishmen?"

The Soldier replied, "That’s right. Fishmen are known to frequent the swamp. Your master was likely dragged in by them."

The young man said anxiously, "Then go in and look for them! At the very least, you have to find the body!"

"No one’s going in there just to get killed. You’ll sink," the Soldier answered.

"That’s the son of the Lord of Mama City!" the young noble roared. "He was killed in Green Forest Castle’s territory! If you don’t do something, do you have no fear of Mama City’s Cavalry?"

Having already switched the red dot to yellow, Leech glanced over at the shouting young nobleman.

’He must be having a breakdown over Junma Mama’s death. He’s the only one going back alive. It’d be one thing if his own father had some influence, but if not, he’s probably in deep trouble.’

"Mama City’s Cavalry? I’d love to see what they’ve got," a sinister voice interjected.

The nobleman from Mama City froze.

He slowly, painfully turned his head to look at the man who had just ridden up.

Bode Wisdom.

The Fishman Butcher. The Skinner. The future heir of Green Forest Castle.

The young nobleman swallowed hard. Forget Mama City; even its suzerain, Leon City, would be unlikely to declare war on Linta Bay over the accidental death of a single lord’s son.

These old aristocratic houses weren’t just for show.

"Linta Bay will give Mama City an accounting," Bode said, riding past the young nobleman without a single glance in his direction. "But I’d advise you not to return to Mama City."

The young nobleman knew this, of course. With a pained expression, he was forced to accept his fate.

Bode rode up beside Leech, a grim, terrifying smile spreading across his face. "Cousin, my apologies. I wasn’t able to see you off today."

"There will be plenty of time to meet in the future," Leech replied, shaking his head slightly.

"Indeed," Bode nodded.

"Leave this to us," Bode said. "Stacy found the Fishmen’s cave over there. We should be able to wipe them out for good this time."

Leech breathed a sigh of relief on behalf of Green Forest Castle. "That’s good. Those things are a real nuisance."

After exchanging a few more words, Leech took his leave. The journey back to Porcupine Territory was long, and he couldn’t afford any delays.

He returned to his convoy, and they set off.

They hadn’t gone far before a disheveled figure came running after them, shouting, "Lord, my lord!"

The convoy didn’t stop, but two young squires moved to intercept him.

The craftsmen at the rear of the column watched the scene with curiosity.

"My lord, my lord! I wish to pledge my fealty to you, my lord!"

Leech didn’t halt the convoy, but he had Little Joel and Luobo let the man through. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The man was none other than the sole survivor from Junma Mama’s retinue. By a strange twist of fate, he had taken the initiative to seek out Leech. It was hard to say whether this was a stroke of good luck or bad.

"What is your name?"

"Kro Camel!"

"The man you swore fealty to has met an unfortunate end," Leech said, turning to Kro Camel. "I am deeply sorry for your loss, but I cannot offer you a high position. I have no intention of starting a war with Mama City."

’Mama City? What the hell did he care about Mama City? They were leagues apart. The Eastern Gorge rarely had any use for horses from desert traders.’

"I’m willing to work for you, and I don’t ask to be rewarded with a noble title," Kro Camel said at once. "Just allowing me to work under you is enough."

’He knew returning to Mama City was a death sentence. The people of Mama City were indeed a bunch of horse traders who occasionally moonlighted as desert bandits. They weren’t particularly strong, but their bandit blood made them ruthlessly decisive.’

"No, you are a nobleman," Leech said, shaking his head. "Perhaps you will find another lord willing to grant you the high station you seek."

"I am willing to work for you! I would lay down my life without a second thought!"

Kro Camel was on the verge of tears.

’What did a high position matter now? As long as he could stay alive... He didn’t even know what kind of remote backwater Porcupine Territory was.’

’But that didn’t matter. Even if it was just a mountain ravine with a dozen households, where the lord himself had to farm with a hoe, he wouldn’t care. As long as he could live.’

’Besides, judging by the soldiers around Leech, the place couldn’t be that poor, could it?’

’Soon, Green Forest Castle would send word of Junma Mama’s death back to Mama City. Green Forest Castle had nothing to fear from a place like Mama City, but he did. If he couldn’t find a lord to shelter him, he was as good as dead.’

Leech, whom he had only just briefly met, had become Kro’s lifeline.

"Remember the words you’ve spoken today, Mr. Camel," Leech said. "I accept your pledge of fealty."

Kro Camel looked ready to throw himself down and kiss Leech’s boots.

「On the first night」 they camped at the same spot where they had rested on their journey out. The craftsmen huddled around their baggage wagons, pulling out dry bread to gnaw on.

In contrast, Leech’s Soldiers busied themselves setting up a pot. They placed a packet in a small pit and poured water over it.

A thick soup began to cook, without any visible flame!

At Leech’s instruction, the Soldiers shared some of their food with the craftsmen and their families.

’They would experience their new lord’s goodwill while still on the road.’

It might not have been entirely from the heart, but before they had even left the Linta Bay region, he could already hear the craftsmen’s words of gratitude.

"Thank you, Lord!"

Leech finished his meal and returned to his carriage to rest.

He let his consciousness sink, reconnecting with Aina.

Under Leech’s guidance, Aina had exterminated every Fishman in the entire cave network, right down to the last egg.

She had also gathered all their valuables.

Furthermore, Aina had discovered strangely shaped crystalline ores within the Fishman cave.

Jade-green crystals shaped like Fishman skulls.