"Losa!"

From afar, Otto was waving at him from across the review grounds.

In the city.

The former guild members, upon hearing that their leader had paid a visit to the new Lord last night, had become active once again.

In a woodworking shop.

Landon, who was busy hooping wooden barrels, suddenly heard a loud crash.

The door of his workshop was smashed open.

A group of guild members barged into the workshop boldly, and the leader kicked over a cabinet filled with wooden wine cups, and stomped on it with a vicious smile.

"Landon, you owe this month's interest, it's time to pay up."

Landon picked up the hand axe beside him, his voice trembling: "Business has been bad lately. I've stopped working for a long time, and I've already paid back what I owe, even threefold."

The leader of the guild members sneered: "I'm talking about the interest, didn't you hear me?"

A centipede-like scar twisted hideously on his face, making his smile seem to writhe.

His name was Hardy.

An attack dog raised by Lord Rahman.

Landon instinctively stepped back, then raised his voice as if trying to muster courage.

"I won't be extorted by you damned scoundrels. Your backer, that bastard Zane, has already been driven away, and now this is Lord Losa's territory."

Hardy sneered:

"Ha, whoever sits on the Lord's throne must have us to lend money. Do you know how much of the money we collect actually gets shared with the Lord?"

Landon's face showed a hint of astonishment.

"Heh, I advise you to pay up politely, or else, this woodworking workshop will belong to Lord Rahman. You know, he's not merciful."

Landon fell silent.

For a long time.

He lifted his hand with difficulty, as if exhausted, pointing to the corner where wooden barrels lay.

"Take it, that's all my savings, but this is the last time. After this, I won't hand over a single copper coin to you again."

Hardy took out the heavy money bag, counted it roughly, and frowned: "Not enough, Landon. To pay off all the interest you owe, this amount has to be tripled."

Landon's face flushed red, fear completely replaced by anger.

He gripped the hand axe, clenched his teeth, and stepped towards Hardy.

Hardy glanced at him disdainfully, easily dodging as the axe flew towards him, and kicked Landon to the ground.

He dusted off nonexistent dirt on himself, leisurely remarked: "I'll let you go this time, Landon. I'll be back next month. Remember to prepare the money bag in advance, like today."

Landon climbed up from the ground, his chest heaving like a bellows.

Many people, when taking out high-interest loans, find themselves in a desperate situation or have been deceived and intimidated.

However, once a foot is stuck in the trap, there's no way out anymore.

Before leaving, Hardy turned back for a cold laugh: "Don't glare at me with such anger. You're lucky. In the past, if you weren't being thrown onto a ship to be sold to the Black Chief's court, this wouldn't be settled so easily."

Landon looked at the hand axe on the ground, and couldn't help but let out a painful roar.

…

Hardy pocketed the heavy money bag, feeling better. Although most were copper coins, he could only take one-tenth, but it was enough for him to enjoy for a while.

Their usual distribution ratio was, the underlings took one-tenth, he took one-tenth, Lord Rahman took five-tenths, and the remaining three-tenths were offered to the Lord.

Originally, only two-tenths needed to be offered to the Lord. It was all because of that stingy and greedy Zane!

At this moment.

Heavy hoofbeats sounded.

A squad of patrolling Winged Cavalry charged head-on.

Hardy quickly took off his hat, acting humbly, and his underlings followed suit in greeting.

The Winged Cavalry passed by without looking back, raising a cloud of dust.

"Bullshit! What's there to be proud of, these dog-born Frankish bastards!"

An underling showed a resentful expression.

Hardy coldly said: "Shut up, I warn you, don't provoke these cavalry with their Crosses. They made the Zane's Mamluk Forbidden Guard flee, leaving their armor on the battlefield."

"None of you are fools thinking you can compare with those silent Slave Cavalry, right?"

The underling reluctantly replied: "I know, boss. I just can't stand their flaunting. Before, the City Guards were all buddy-buddy with us…"

"You said it, it was before!"

Hardy's voice was cold. He glanced at the underlings, and sternly said: "Now, Lord Losa is the biggest in this territory!"

"You all remember that!"

The underlings muttered agreement.

"Let's go."

Hardy knew very well who he could provoke and who he couldn't. The former City Guard Army were buddy-buddy with them because he had given them money.

Now, these Winged Cavalry?

It's a joke. Knights who can afford to wear such armor and ride such horses, even if he tears himself apart, couldn't satisfy their appetite.

Hardy, with his underlings, started to continue collecting interest.

The woodworking shop was the first stop. Next, there was a Blacksmith Shop, a leather workshop, two bakeries, and a dye workshop. Following that were private residences.

After collecting in all places, he proceeded with this month's earnings to Rahman's mansion.

The doctrine of the Fire Worship also despises the oppression and enslavement of fellow believers.

But this does not affect their loan targets, which also include "their own people."

Just like the "Crossbow Ban" that His Holiness the Pope once issued.

"Boss, look, it seems there's a fire ahead!"

A little brother suddenly shouted.

"It's Lord Rahman's estate!"

Not far away, a wisp of smoke spiraled up.

Haddid showed a trace of astonishment: "It's not a fire, that's the beacon tower of Lord Rahman's house, he's calling for our help!"

The little brothers were suddenly excited.

"Someone actually dares to make trouble at Lord Rahman's house, let's hurry over!"

"Get rid of those fools causing trouble, and each of us should be able to get a handful of copper coins, right?"

The little brothers rubbed their fists, each planning to go back and fetch weapons.

But Haddid felt as if he had plunged into an ice cave, for the guard at Lord Rahman's house was no ordinary one.

Fully armored, with superb archery skills, numbering more than thirty, if they called for help, what chance did he and his group of hooligans have?

"Everybody stop!"

Just then, the sound of hooves echoed again.

Haddid hurriedly called his little brothers to hide in a small alley.

The winged cavalry sped towards the place where the smoke was rising.

"Did you see that? Your opponents are those knights with exquisite armor, just one charge from them could crush us!"

Haddid gritted his teeth and said, "Lord Rahman is definitely beyond saving, offended the new lord, no one can save him."

The little brothers looked at each other in dismay.

Someone dumbfoundedly asked, "What do we do now, go home separately?"

"Are you a brainless fool? We are too deeply entangled with Lord Rahman, if he's gone, will those Frankish barbarians let us off?

Of course, we must flee immediately, take all our savings, and run to the Piercer's territory!"

Haddid spoke quickly.

He concluded that it was the new lord who targeted Rahman because only he had such capability!

The other lords, though Lord Mueller was wealthier due to controlling the shipbuilding industry and the Africa trade route, were still not as strong in terms of private guards as Lord Rahman.

"Alright, everyone divide the money you have on you, and let's disband immediately."

Haddid took two money bags and ran out of the alley without looking back, without any hesitation.

Leaving the little brothers looking at each other, still somewhat at a loss.

"These fools."

Though worried about his brainless brothers, Haddid could only pray for the blessing of the holy fire for the moment.

He didn't even return home, hurriedly trying to leave the city.

However, at the city gate, guards equipped with two-handed axes and double-layered chain armor blocked the gate tightly, not allowing anyone to leave.

"They shouldn't be concerned with a minor figure like me, should they?"

Weighing his significance, Haddid realized that as the head of the largest gang in Eira Port, he couldn't be considered a minor character, leading to a feeling of wanting to cry but having no tears.

Just then.

He saw one of his little brothers cautiously approaching the city gate.

As soon as he got close, he was pinned to the ground by the wolf-like Frankish barbarians, realizing that the way ahead was completely blocked.

"Wait, there's another way, I can go by ship... but that's not possible, the port's ships belong to Lord Mueller, and at this moment, he'd definitely prefer cooperating with the new lord."

"Luckily, I'm good at swimming, even if I have to swim, I can reach the shore."

Determined, Haddid turned to leave.

"Where are you going, Mr. Haddid."

A gentle male voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Who's there?"

The person, not wearing armor, was dressed in a white linen shirt with a relaxed smile: "Hello, Mr. Haddid, I'm Hans. You should feel honored to catch my lord's eye."

Haddid's face twisted slightly.

After more than twenty years in the gang, it was the first time he saw someone who just looking at them made his scalp tingle.

"Who... who is your lord?"

Hans smiled and said, "Of course, it's the master of this city. A small character like you wouldn't typically reach his ears, but your infamous reputation made our lord require you as an example to execute and quell public outrage."

With a thud.

Haddid fell prostrate: "Please spare me, I know Lord Rahman's treasure location, and I've saved a bit over the years, I'll give it all if you agree."

Hans shook his head, sighing: "In prison, you'll tell everything, Ms. Furin's magic isn't something you can withstand."

Haddid suddenly leapt up.

From the ground, his hands grabbed two handfuls of dirt and threw them towards Hans's eyes.

"You're quite a character."

Haddid vaguely heard a sigh, then the world plunged into darkness.

Hans dragged Haddid by one foot, signaling the Varangian Guard at the city gate to take over.

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