Chapter 70: The Damned Beastfolk

A chaotic uproar of voices swelled, and the sound of messy, rapid footsteps drew closer. Lieutenant Colonel Woto and Baron Milo quickly stood up. The important figures of Dun Er Ke also stepped back one after another. The family guards behind them tightly gripped their weapons, standing ready, forming a solid defensive formation in front of their masters.

The door was pushed open. Outside was a large, cheering crowd shouting loudly. There were official soldiers of the Garrison Army, Dragoons, and Copper Helmets, as well as Dun Er Ke militiamen dressed in black uniforms and iron helmets. They crowded around several dozen robust militiamen, whose clothes were torn and who were covered in wounds and blood. They noisily blocked the entrance.

These several dozen sturdy militiamen, covered in bloodstains and clearly having just been through a fierce battle, were precisely the enforcers of the Black Tiger Family that Lin Qi had summoned earlier. These loyal subordinates of the Black Tiger Family were bandits who robbed homes when wearing night clothes, and heroes who protected their home and country when wearing militia uniforms. They were the same people; their identity simply changed with their clothes.

They were genuine Dun Er Ke militiamen. After all, the Black Tiger Family, as the most powerful hidden force among Dun Er Ke’s established wealthy families, played an active role in forming the Dun Er Ke militia.

For instance, the Black Tiger Family donated a large amount of gold coins to the City Hall every year as funds for the militia. The Black Tiger Family also purchased large quantities of cloth to make uniforms for the Dun Er Ke militia. Even the armor, swords, and bows for these militiamen were transported by cargo ships controlled by the Black Tiger Family.

It followed naturally that among Dun Er Ke’s fifty militia regiments of a thousand men each, twenty-five regimental commanders were staunch core members of the Black Tiger Family. Furthermore, over twenty thousand militiamen in Dun Er Ke pledged direct loyalty to the Black Tiger Family.

After all, most of Dun Er Ke’s militiamen were selected from tough sailors, dockworkers, and lower-class shop assistants. Most of these people made their living on the Black Tiger Family’s turf, so they naturally obeyed Blackbeard’s orders.

These core members of the Black Tiger Family stood panting at the door, respectfully bowing to Lieutenant Colonel Woto and Baron Milo.

At the forefront of these men was the tall Ironhammer, wearing a specially made militia uniform. His body was almost coated in a layer of blood plasma. His belt held over a dozen hideous, pale-green heads, and he held another dozen or so ugly heads in each hand, their long hair tied together.

Gasping for breath, Ironhammer respectfully saluted the military and political leaders of Dun Er Ke. “Lord Mayor, Lieutenant Colonel, we caught up with these damned things. We killed them all!”

Ironhammer loosened his grip, and over twenty heads tumbled to the ground. These heads were hideous and ugly; about thirty percent resembled human faces, but seventy percent retained beast-like features. Their ears were pointed and erect, their snouts protruded nearly half a foot, their mouths were full of sharp white teeth, and their dead, wide-open eyes possessed a chilling, pale-green color. Under the firelight, their lifeless pupils emitted a faint bloody glow.

“Werewolves!” Lieutenant Colonel Woto gritted his teeth hard.

“Damn it!” Baron Milo instinctively stepped back a few paces. He was a civil official, while Lieutenant Colonel Woto was the military officer. Facing these bloody, grotesque heads naturally fell to the military man, Lieutenant Colonel Woto.

Supported by Blackbeard, Lin Qi walked to the doorway. Gnashing his teeth, he said, “Lieutenant Colonel, it was these damned Beastfolk. The Unicorn at sea used the Magic-powered Harpoon to kill that Celestial Knight, and they got so scared they fled everywhere. Enzo and I chased after them, fighting them all the way. Just when we were about to be overwhelmed, these brave militiamen heard the news and came to rescue us!”

Baron Milo’s eyes widened in surprise. “Lin Qi, you and Enzo chased after them! Over a hundred Beastfolk, and you chased them!”

Exclamations of amazement arose from all around. Everyone whispered to each other, praising the bravery of Lin Qi and Enzo.

Lin Qi’s face was flushed with excitement. He gripped Blackbeard’s hand tightly and said through gritted teeth, “My father taught me since I was young that we must dedicate everything for the Empire and its people! That damned Celestial Knight was killed, but we absolutely could not let these cruel Beastfolk rush into the city and disturb the citizens.”

Enzo said solemnly, “Yes, Honorable Mayor, Respected Lieutenant Colonel. We knew clearly we were no match for them, but we had to chase them. Because we had to keep eyes on them, we couldn’t let them leave our sight. We had to buy time for the reinforcements. Before the reinforcements arrived, we couldn’t let them escape. We had to know where they were running, so we could wipe them all out in one go!”

Lieutenant Colonel Woto waved his hand fiercely. He shouted gravely, “Brave lads! This is exactly what a cadet of the Imperial Army Academy should do! I will apply to the Military Department to award you both the Medal of Honor. You are a pair of fine young men!”

Baron Milo also looked at Lin Qi and Enzo with great admiration. He said seriously, “Take us to see those damned Beastfolk. Let’s see what they have done.”

Supported by many enthusiastic people, surrounded by the crowd, and protected by a large troop of soldiers, Lin Qi and Enzo slowly walked to that dark, blood-smelling alley.

The alley was covered in blood everywhere. The walls were marked with cuts from swords and axes. A large number of bodies lay haphazardly on the ground. Twisted, hideous, terrifying Beastfolk corpses!

Over a hundred Beastfolk corpses stretched from the alley entrance for several hundred meters, with a body falling roughly every five or six steps. Beside these Beastfolk, gold coins and silver coins were scattered about. Clearly, these were spoils they obtained from causing trouble somewhere. Even more telling was that these gold coins weren’t just the currency of the Gaul Empire; they included gold and silver coins minted by over a dozen other countries on the Continent.

What made everyone’s faces change particularly was that from a specially large Bearman corpse, from a hidden pouch on his person, they found over a dozen Gold Notes. These notes had face values ranging from ten thousand to thirty thousand, and were issued by famous bankers from various countries on the Continent. The total amount was over three hundred thousand gold coins!

Having obtained a huge sum of money from Ya and Ling, Blackbeard didn’t mind using three hundred thousand gold coins to firmly frame these Beastfolk.

Lieutenant Colonel Woto roared angrily, “These damned Beastfolk! They definitely didn’t just commit crimes in Dun Er Ke. They must have committed similar crimes elsewhere! Heavens, so much cash, so many Gold Notes! How many poor souls have they victimized?”

Baron Milo spoke with extreme seriousness to Blackbeard, “Master Tegg, you have a good son. You should be proud of him! I think you will be the most suitable successor for the Mayor of Dun Er Ke!”

Blackbeard humbly lowered his head. Lin Qi and Enzo also humbly lowered their heads.

Everyone cursed the damned Beastfolk furiously, while at the same time cheering enthusiastically for Blackbeard.