Chapter 184: The One-Month Deadline

Sun Fei glanced at the dozen or so Bloodblade mercenaries trembling on their knees in the distance, hands on their heads, guarded by Saints. After a moment’s thought, he pointed towards the woman still struggling while pinned to the stone pillar, the collapsed bald giant, and the half-dead middle-aged hidden weapon expert lying on the ground. He addressed Prison Warden Oleg who was approaching: “Handle these three. Use whatever methods you need. I require the most detailed intelligence on the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps. Oh, and that one-eyed bald giant? Put him out of his misery… for now. This king said I’d let him live long enough to witness the destruction of Bloodblade with his own eyes.”

Interrogation and torture were Prison Warden Oleg’s specialties. Evil people needed an even more evil person to deal with them. Naturally, the fat man was thrilled by such an order. He excitedly licked his lips: “Understood, Your Majesty!”

Immediately, several Shampoo Saints moved forward. They dragged the bald giant and the middle-aged man towards the lakeshore like dragging dead dogs. The woman pinned to the distant pillar was also brutally torn down by Oleg.

Soon, heart-wrenching screams of pain drifted from the lakeshore, mingled with the fat warden’s smug laughter and angry shouts. Then came several loud splashes, as if something heavy had been tossed into the lake.

Hearing the mercenaries’ agonized shrieks continuing behind him, Sun Fei looked towards the carriages of Angela and the Princess Royal being escorted towards him under guard. He frowned, then casually kicked a small stone that hit Prison Warden Oleg squarely on the back of his head. He cursed angrily: “You fat idiot! Don’t pollute the water by throwing things into the lake! And do it further away! Stop making such horrible, sickening noises like you’re slaughtering dogs! You’ll ruin everyone’s appetite for dinner!”

The fat man, looking aggrieved, moved the interrogation to a dense copse of woods in the distance. Sure enough, the noises faded significantly.

The mopping-up of the battlefield was handled by experts in the field – the Soapland City Guard.

The severed limbs, broken weapons, and stench of blood were swiftly and efficiently cleared away by the Shampoo City Guard. Everything was dumped far away into meadows six to seven hundred meters away. The lake shimmered under the radiant glow of the Magic Moon, while the night wind rustled the tree branches, scattering golden leaves like a soft, gilded carpet on the ground. The scenery was enchanting. The aura of the previous slaughter vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented tranquility.

Dozens of army tents were pitched quickly.

After three or four days of travel outside their kingdom, the Shampoo Expeditionary Force was entirely accustomed to this field-camp life. Everything proceeded smoothly and efficiently. No one paid any attention to the survivors of the Sorros Merchant Caravan huddled nearby, those who had narrowly escaped death yet regarded the Champoo force with faint wariness.

Soon, however, the robed overseer Redknapp and the alluring, red-gowned woman beside him actively sought an audience with Sun Fei.

“Let them in.”

The soldier reported just as Sun Fei sat cross-legged in the campaign tent, meditating and analyzing the gains and losses of the recent battle.

Honestly, Sun Fei had experienced many battles of varying scales since arriving in Shampoo City, vanquishing enemies like a fierce gale sweeping away fallen leaves. There had been considerable luck involved. Aside from opponents who weren’t overwhelmingly strong, giving him time to grow, another crucial factor was that every enemy underestimated both him and Shampoo City’s strength. They underestimated Sun Fei each and every time.

The defeat of the Black Armored Army was due to this. At the summit of the Eastern Peak, the seductive woman Paris and the Princess Royal were both toppled by this ‘Little King’ they had dismissed as inconsequential, using what was essentially the simplest trick – feigning death. Today’s encounter with Bloodblade was no exception. Although Bloodblade’s leaders had learned some of the King of Champoo’s reputation through certain channels, their information was clearly limited. Moreover, Sun Fei’s personal strength had surged dramatically recently, allowing him to single-handedly exert overwhelming dominance and secure victory.

“If an opponent stronger than me appears, could Champoo City still emerge victoriously like before?”

Sun Fei silently questioned himself.

Suddenly, he was shocked to realize that although he had always intended for his officers and soldiers to be tested in battlefire, he seemed only ever willing to let them fight when Champoo City held an absolute, risk-free advantage. He was like a mother hen sheltering her chicks, only lowering her protective wings when the storm was nearly past and the thunder faded, giving the chicks a brief, controlled taste of the rain… Could they truly gain experience this way? Had his fixation on achieving zero casualties blinded him to something vital?

On the Azeroth Continent, a world ruled by the Law of the Jungle, no one knew what dangers the future held. Could the Saints and City Guard of Shampoo truly hold their ground if faced with formidable adversaries?

Sun Fei had no answer.

Just then, the tent flap was lifted.

Led by Torres, the robed overseer Redknapp and the captivating, red-clad woman entered.

“We pay our respects to His Majesty the King of Champoo!” Both bowed respectfully.

Given the repute and influence of the Soros Chamber of Commerce within the Empire and the continent, an overseer like Redknapp needn’t ordinarily grant such attention to the king of a mere Sixth-Class Vassal State. Yet, this exceptional young monarch, standing tall and commanding, was a different case. For a merchant like Redknapp, this level of respect was born not solely from gratitude for the King of Champoo’s timely, god-sent rescue of the Sorros caravan that night – averting catastrophic losses – but also because he saw immense potential for profit in the figure before him.

“Please, both of you, have a seat!” Sun Fei gestured towards side seats in the tent, smiling warmly.

Earlier, Old Zola had privately briefed Sun Fei on the Soros Chamber of Commerce. This was undeniably a superpower far greater than the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps. Their reach and business interests extended across every land of the Azeroth Continent, forming a veritable commercial empire. The Chamber’s founder, Soros, was a legendary figure known throughout the land. Rising from nothing, he had amassed unparalleled wealth. He appeared and vanished mysteriously; his personal strength remained an enigma. Some claimed Soros was a Martial Dao practitioner within the ranks of Sun-level Masters; others said he was an ordinary man with no martial skill. There was no consensus, save one undisputed fact: this legendary man was closely connected to the supreme Twin Sages of the continent, both martial and cultural. This alone ensured no one dared openly harm the Soros Chamber of Commerce.

Tonight’s incident showed how recklessly audacious these Bloodblade mercenaries were, daring to target the Sorros caravan for murder and robbery. However, it made sense. The remote, dense forests of the Scorching Sun Mountains provided the perfect cover, and they had nearly succeeded. Had they murdered everyone and silenced the witnesses, the Soros Chamber of Commerce would have found it immensely difficult to trace the perpetrators.

Of course, there must have been some extraordinary prize concealed among the caravan’s goods to drive ‘Bloodblade’ to such madness.

Seeing the elaborate Magic Carriages so carefully guarded by the caravan escort, Sun Fei was no fool; he had roughly guessed the reason. Yet, these matters were unrelated to Champoo City. He naturally wouldn’t pry.

Then again, developing a connection with such a continent-spanning giant as the Soros Chamber of Commerce was an opportunity. While the robed man before him was only a fifth-tier overseer, befriending him would be fantastic luck with immense benefit and no downside for a minor power like Champoo, hovering near the bottom.

“My name is Harry Redknapp, a fifth-tier overseer of the Soros Chamber of Commerce. Our deepest gratitude for Your Majesty’s timely and decisive aid tonight! Without it, the consequences would be unthinkable!” The old man sat and offered his pleasantries, his face wreathed in a smile. He struck the perfect balance – conveying sincere gratitude without the slightest hint of obsequiousness. Truly fitting for an overseer of such a superpower.

“Ha, Overseer Harry, you flatter me. Bloodblade and the Champoo Kingdom are mortal enemies. My actions merely coincided with your need.” Sun Fei downplayed his role with a light laugh.

“Your Majesty is too humble. Regardless of cause, without Your Majesty’s power tonight, my daughter Sherry, along with the forty-some brave guards, would certainly not have escaped Bloodblade’s clutches. The precious cargo we protected would have been lost forever. For this rescue, the Soros Chamber of Commerce will repay its debt handsomely in due time!”

So the alluring, red-gowned woman was Redknapp’s daughter, named Sherry.

Sun Fei smiled slightly and shifted the topic. “Now that Bloodblade has angered your esteemed Chamber, how does Overseer Harry plan to handle this matter?”

“Within ten days, the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps will cease to exist!” Speaking of this, anger surfaced on Redknapp’s face, instantly revealing the imposing, formidable aura befitting a leader of a superpower. Tonight’s events were a profound stain on his honor. If a minor nuisance like Bloodblade dared disrespect the Chamber so brazenly and went unpunished, where would the Chamber’s prestige stand?

“Oh?” Sun Fei frowned slightly. “I have sworn an oath to my people to destroy Bloodblade myself!”

“Indeed?” Redknapp was momentarily surprised, but instantly understood. He stroked his chin beard, chuckling. “Forgive an old man’s meddling, but might I ask when Your Majesty intends to destroy the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps?”

“Within one month!”

“Within one month?” A flicker of astonishment and something unreadable crossed Overseer Redknapp’s face. His expression was almost amused. He paused, then spoke slowly and tactfully: “Might Your Majesty know… How many members does Bloodblade have within the Imperial Capital? How many elite experts reside at their headquarters, and what are their respective strengths?”

Sun Fei detected the implication in Redknapp’s words.

The robed overseer was tactfully reminding Sun Fei not to overestimate himself. Bloodblade’s headquarters was a formidable fortress, with numerous masters and tight defenses. While Sun Fei’s performance tonight was astonishing and impressive, it wasn’t enough. Eliminating Bloodblade entirely was a different matter altogether, and he still fell far short.

But how could the robed overseer know Sun Fei’s hidden cards and plans?

Sun Fei had his own understanding. A faint smile touched his lips. “Thank you for the reminder, Overseer. I have my plans. Should Shampoo City fail to destroy Bloodblade within the month, there would still be plenty of time thereafter for the Soros Chamber of Commerce to exact justice. Might Overseer Harry agree to this one-month delay?”

Overseer Redknapp hadn’t expected the King of Champoo to propose this. A glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes. Seeing such absolute confidence from the King of Champoo, and knowing he wasn’t a rash or stupid man, dozens of possibilities instantly raced through Redknapp’s mind. He felt a slight shock, and his judgment shifted accordingly.