After entering the forest, the hunter explained to Anke the reason why his attitude had shifted so drastically.
It was because of the projects Anke had initiated in Border City and the ample wages he provided.
This allowed the villagers to earn enough for their winter rations, sparing them from the threat of starvation.
The hunter felt from the bottom of his heart that Anke was a good Lord, which was why his demeanor had changed so much upon discovering Anke’s identity.
“My Lord, you will surely be a great King one day! Also, my name is Liedao, though my nickname is Daozi. If you ever have a need, you can summon me at any time! I am willing to offer my life for you, my Lord,” Liedao said, flattering Anke while recommending his own services.
‘So that’s it. Has what Anke did in Border City earned him such a high reputation?’ Vera thought to herself as she watched Liedao fervently recommend himself.
“There is no need to give up your life. Keep it. Staying alive is what matters most.”
“Yes, the Lord is right.”
“That reminds me. I saw in the logs that the family of the hunter who found the coal was killed by the previous lord. Liedao, how did you find the location of the coal mine in Grey Wolf Forest?” Anke asked curiously.
“To answer my Lord, I found that cave by chance while I was out hunting. It was a cold winter, and I got caught in a blizzard. I had to find a cave to take shelter in, and that cave was full of strange black stones. I had heard stories about the Killer Stone from my elders, so I was terrified and wanted to run out immediately. But it was snowing so hard outside that I likely would have frozen to death, so I had no choice but to stay in the cave and hide from the storm.”
Liedao vividly described his experience to Anke as if he were back in that blizzard.
“By nightfall, I was freezing so badly I couldn’t stand it. I remembered that Killer Stone could be burned, so I picked some up to start a fire. As it turned out, the night passed, and I was actually fine! I figured the Killer Stone might not necessarily kill people, so after that, I often collected some to take back and throw into the stove for warmth during the winter.”
“You certainly have good luck. But considering you approached me earlier, it seems you aren’t a novice at selling coal to others.”
“Heh, my Lord, you guessed correctly. We were just too poor. Sometimes Alchemists pass through the village to buy rare materials at high prices, and I would sell some Killer Stone—er, I mean coal—to them. Of course, there were some fellows who wanted to know where I got it. They were either stabbed to death on the spot by my hunting spear, or I led them into the forest to be trapped and die. Naturally, I would never do such things to you or the Chief Knight.”
Liedao smiled and spoke words that were terrifying upon deeper reflection in a joking tone.
“Uh, I believe you wouldn’t.”
Anke nodded and then leaned a bit closer to Vera.
Two days had passed since the first snow of winter fell. The Grey Wolf Forest to the south of Border City had already put on its white winter coat.
Everything in sight was white, with snow half a foot deep covering everything on the forest floor.
Amidst this pure white snowy forest, Anke and the others were holding snow poles, slowly advancing toward their goal.
“Liedao, how much further is it to the cave with the coal?” Anke asked Liedao, who was leading the way at the front.
“Not far, not far at all, my Lord. We will be there in just a few more miles.”
Liedao turned his head to answer.
“A few more miles? I feel like I’ve walked over 100 miles already.”
Anke massaged his aching legs. For a royal descendant like him, who had been pampered in the Castle all year round, a morning of mountain trails was a significant challenge.
“If Your Highness is tired, why don’t I carry you the rest of the way?” Vera approached Anke and whispered.
“No, there’s no need. I’m a man; how could I let a girl carry me!” Anke immediately refused.
“My Lord, the cave where I collect coal is just ahead.”
After walking for a while longer, Liedao stopped and pointed to a particularly prominent white hill in the distance.
“Is that so? I hope it’s a rich deposit,” Anke said, rubbing his hands together inside his thick bear-fur gloves.
“Who goes there? Halt!”
Suddenly, a strong man wearing high-quality leather armor and wielding a strange, large blade jumped out from behind a tree.
“Careful, my Lord!”
Liedao immediately raised his hunting spear to confront the man.
“A Lord? That’s a big fish!”
The man who had suddenly appeared seemed to be a Mountain Bandit.
“My luck is great today. If you don’t want a few extra holes in your bodies, don’t even think about resisting.”
The Mountain Bandit held his weapon and cautiously approached Anke’s group.
“I will handle this,” Vera said calmly, facing the Mountain Bandit who was two heads taller than her.
“A little girl? Don’t talk big. Don’t blame me if you start crying in a moment.”
The Mountain Bandit did not take Vera seriously at all.
The result was that, in just a few breaths, the Mountain Bandit took three sword strikes from Vera, and his blade was knocked aside.
“Trash…”
Vera flicked the blood droplets off her sword, looking at the wounded Mountain Bandit with contempt.
“You—don’t get cocky! If you have the guts, don’t run! I’ll get my big brother to deal with you!”
As the Mountain Bandit spoke, he suddenly clutched his wound and turned to run.
He didn’t even want his blade anymore, vanishing hundreds of meters away in a flash.
“What the! He’s so fast! Wait, we can’t let him escape! Don’t let him go back for reinforcements!”
Anke was first surprised by the bandit’s speed, then realized they couldn’t let the man get away.
“He won’t escape. Forgive me, Your Highness!”
Vera spoke firmly to Anke, then suddenly hoisted him over her shoulder with one hand. Her legs exerted a burst of power, and she shot off like an arrow after the fleeing bandit.
“My Lord! Chief Knight! Wait for me!”
Liedao was left far behind by the two fast-moving figures.
“Big brother! Big brother, save me!”
Seeing the red-haired woman chasing him, the Mountain Bandit cried out to his companions in panic.
“Cough, cough… Vera… Vera, change… change positions. I… I can’t take it anymore.”
The one also calling for help was Anke.
Being carried over Vera’s shoulder felt like being on a roller coaster; his whole body felt like it was about to fall apart from the jolting.
“Very well, Your Highness.”
Vera complied with Anke’s request. She executed a sudden halt, leaving two long tracks in the snow.
“Phew, I’m saved.”
Before Anke could calm his racing heart, Vera shifted to a new position, picking him up in a princess carry.
“Please hold on tight, Your Highness. I am going to accelerate!”
“Wait—no—!”
Before Anke could finish, Vera sprinted out again.
She left behind only a shrinking silhouette for the sprinting Liedao, accompanied by the fading sound of Anke’s voice.