"Hm?" Caesar frowned as he examined the group of people squatting before him. Their faces were smeared with ash and grime, their hair was dry and yellow from days of not being washed, and they were clad in ragged gray cloth. They looked so disheveled that it was hard to tell if they were men or women.
Gulas grinned obsequiously. "This is a group of secondhand smugglers. I noticed them sneaking around during the siege, so I brought the boys and nabbed them. Turns out, we caught a big fish. Look—these crates are filled with their goods. There's a lot of valuable stuff in here!"
As he spoke, Gulas kicked open one of the wooden crates, revealing glittering jewelry and gold and silver coins.
Caesar finally understood. In situations like these, there was an unspoken rule regarding large-scale private loot: fifty percent had to be turned over to the higher-ups, with twenty percent going to the camp, thirty percent to the squad leader, and the remaining share divided among the soldiers. This rule existed because soldiers had no way to offload such large amounts of loot by themselves. Even if they could, hoarding such wealth would cause friction between soldiers and their superiors.
However, Caesar had rarely heard of soldiers managing to seize such large hauls. The wealthy merchants and nobles typically fled before the army arrived, and those who couldn't escape were often targeted by the Baron's cavalry squads. While the Baron allowed his soldiers to enrich themselves through looting, he would never permit them to undermine his own profits. Any soldier who dared to compete with the Baron's coffers wouldn't see the next sunrise.
"Well done," Caesar praised. This was the largest haul he had ever seen in his military career.
"Heh heh," Gulas chuckled foolishly but said nothing more.
Looking at Gulas—a burly man with a thick beard—Caesar found it hard to believe that someone like him could be so meticulous. Truly, appearances could be deceiving.
"Take the portion meant for the higher-ups to the logistics department yourself. As for my share, exchange it for buc and deliver it to me. Half of the remaining goods should go to the Baron's trading caravan, and the other half to a merchant in the camp named Henry."
Caesar was a man of his word. He intended to maintain good relations with the plump merchant, but he wasn't foolish enough to hand over the soldiers' entire haul. Who knew if the Baron might grow displeased over lost profits and retaliate against him? It was better to play it safe.
Since Gulas had identified this group as a smuggling gang, there must be a leader among them.
"Which one of you is in charge?" Caesar asked.
The group of captives squatting on the ground immediately turned their eyes toward a thin, lanky man in their midst.
"So, it's you?" Caesar looked at the unimpressive man. He was tall and frail, almost skeletal, and had a sly glint in his eyes. However, at the moment, he was trembling, showing none of the confidence expected from a smuggler leader.
"Yes, sir. My name is Kebi," the bony man stammered. Despite his fear, he spoke clearly. "I'm a well-known merchant from Phalanx City. If you spare me, I can bring you great wealth."
"Hah! A secondhand smuggler, a common criminal, calling himself a merchant?" Gulas scoffed disdainfully.
But Caesar was intrigued—not by Kebi's talent, but by the wealth he might represent. Caesar realized that smugglers like him rarely worked alone. They were part of larger networks, with suppliers and buyers waiting in the wings. If he could follow this trail, he might uncover something even bigger.
Hearing Gulas's mockery, Kebi grew desperate. He feared the soldiers would deem him worthless and kill him outright.
"I'm also good at appraising valuables!" Kebi said hurriedly. "I grew up working in pawnshops and jewelry stores. I can help you identify treasures!"
"Kebi, is it? Take a look at this," Caesar said, remembering the bracelet he had taken from the maid the previous night.
Kebi immediately wiped his hands on his filthy clothes and took the bracelet. Under the light, he examined it closely, tapping it with his fingers and squinting at it from various angles. He looked surprisingly professional. However, Caesar noticed a fleeting look of disdain cross Kebi's face—so brief that others might have missed it.
"Well?" Caesar asked calmly.
"Sir, this… this…" Kebi stammered.
"Spit it out!" Caesar urged.
"Sir, in my opinion, this bracelet isn't high-quality. Its weight is similar to real gold, but it lacks gold's softness. I believe it's mixed with copper, and perhaps a bit of silver to match the weight. The golden color comes from a thin layer of gold dust on the surface. Without proper tools, I can't say if there are other impurities. But overall, this bracelet is worth no more than five silver coins," Kebi concluded confidently.
Five silver coins—equivalent to one or two silver buc. Once, Caesar might have considered it valuable, but not anymore.
Pocketing the bracelet, Caesar felt a twinge of disappointment. He had assumed the women in the courtyard might have significant backgrounds. But then again, this was just the maid's bracelet. He consoled himself with that thought.
Gulas, ever perceptive, noticed Caesar's sour mood and kicked Kebi. "Hurry up and show Caesar something valuable!"
Kebi, understanding that his life was on the line, scrambled to the crates and began sifting through them. Finally, he selected a pair of exquisite earrings and a dark green bracelet.
"Sir, these are the finest pieces I have. These earrings are among the most precious jewels I've ever seen. And this bracelet—it's made from Cloud Ink Stone. Such a large bracelet means the stone must have been sizable. Usually, Cloud Ink Stones are reserved for high-end rings," Kebi explained eagerly.
The earrings were indeed magnificent, with diamonds that sparkled brilliantly. As for the bracelet, Caesar couldn't tell if it was valuable or not, but he trusted Kebi's appraisal and stashed both items away.
There was no point lingering here any longer. As he prepared to leave, Caesar gave Gulas one final instruction: "Keep this man alive. I have use for him."
The city was still in chaos. Caesar suspected that order wouldn't be restored until the Baron issued an official order. Sure enough, news arrived from the lord's mansion: the Baron had ordered an end to the "searching." Troops were to regroup in the western district and await further commands.
The western district had been devastated by Kashir's mages and was now barren ruins. However, this also meant the area was clear and suitable for setting up camp.
The soldiers, exhausted from the battle and looting, collapsed into makeshift sleeping spots as soon as they gathered.
In the camp, Caesar ran into an old acquaintance—Sean, a squad leader from Baron Kashir's forces. They had once fought side by side and shared mutual respect.
"Caesar! You've been promoted, huh? That's great news. I managed to get my hands on some good wine last night. How about joining me tonight for a drink?" Sean said enthusiastically.
"Absolutely," Caesar replied with a laugh, patting Sean's shoulder.
After mingling with the troops for a while, Caesar returned to his small courtyard, carrying a chicken—courtesy of Tom, his old friend who knew his tastes well.
In the courtyard, Raffi was sweeping the ground, her face heavy with worry. Christine was sitting by the doorframe, playing with her fingers, looking much healthier. Grace was likely inside.
Seeing Caesar return, Raffi tensed up in a defensive stance. But Caesar ignored her, tossed the chicken to her, and asked, "You know how to prepare this?"
"Yes," Raffi replied blankly, still processing the situation.
"Brother!" Christine exclaimed happily.
Caesar ruffled the little girl's hair. Despite everything, he couldn't bring himself to hand them over for a bounty. In his eyes, these women's identities were still shrouded in mystery—but certainly not ordinary.