In the square.
In Kent's eyes, thousands of Cave People were chattering and murmuring in fear and curiosity, surrounding the area like a large group of frail monkeys watching a few tall humans.
The torches on the carriages crackled and burned, puzzling the Cave People.
It was broad daylight—why were they lighting torches?
In the open space, about a hundred square meters, three humans with their heads wrapped in filthy straw cloth, their arms and wrists bound, lay slumped on their knees before Kent. One of them was even a woman.
Kent frowned.
Humans captured by foreign tribes, used as slaves or even sacrificed by them—this was a concept he found hard to accept deep down. Especially since one of them was a woman.
There were so many single men in the human race!
"Untie them, Haka Chaka," Kent instructed.
He now trusted Haka Chaka to some extent. Since they'd shared that meal of fish soup and flatbread, the system had been persistently showing a message about Haka Chaka's desire to join, and that message remained even now. At the very least, it indicated that Haka Chaka wouldn't try any tricks for the time being.
They were currently at the Cave People's settlement, an open, circular square.
The Cave People were a tribal society; they would swarm together to fight, retreat en masse if defeated, and were straightforward and direct. Although divided into many different clans, they lived in cave clusters not far from each other.
This square was obviously a place where the Cave People would usually sing, dance, or play games.
Following the principle of "better safe than sorry," two guards, Dry Leaf and the Lame Guard, along with all the horses and three large carriages, had stayed back and hadn't left.
The rest of the guard squad lined up behind him, donned in freshly equipped armor, weapons, and huge shields that shone brilliantly. Though not uniform, their appearance was impressive—especially Kent, who was like a man clad in black armor, no, a god in black armor.
The guard squad didn't know what plan Kent was contemplating, but with two easy victories and the powerful enchanted black armor worth twenty thousand gold coins he now wore, their commander had proven himself blessed by the gods of fortune.
All they had to do was follow and pick up the rewards.
To the sides of the guard squad, the warriors from the Whirlpool and Mud Tribes stood proudly, with their small chests puffed out, crowding together. Those Cave Warriors standing beside Splitting Blade, barely reaching his chest in height, felt as though being able to stand alongside the legendary messenger of the gods meant they could die without regret.
Satisfaction level from the Cave Warriors, +1, +1, +1...
Satisfaction level from the Cave Warriors, +1, +1, +1...
Satisfaction level from the Cave Warriors, +1, +1, +1...
At Kent's command, Haka Chaka waved his hand, and the brothers Lukak and Luqik rushed forward to untie the ropes and remove the head coverings of the three humans.
The two brothers understood each other well; Haka Chaka had clearly gained the favor of the messenger of the gods. In the face of such overwhelming power, any hesitation was a fool's errand. Urubuk, who had been killed by the god's wrath, was a living example.
All the Cave People knew that Urubuk and Haka Chaka had been rivals!
When their head coverings were removed and ropes untied, the three people took a long time to adjust to their surroundings.
Two of them, clad in protective leather armor, looked around in confusion. One of them finally noticed Kent's black armor and showed a look of surprise. "Lord Bloodstone, is it you?" He stumbled forward despite his injured leg, suddenly noticing the unfamiliar faces in Kent's guard squad. He froze and halted his movement.
Bloodstone? Kent's mind filled with questions, but he quickly understood. The man probably recognized this set of black armor.
Kent ignored him, his gaze fixed on the woman in the back.
Her facial features were distinct, carrying a classical beauty reminiscent of medieval sculptures. Though now dirty—inevitably so after days in the Cave People's captivity—Kent felt that if she jumped into a river now, she'd emerge as the cleanest woman imaginable. Her long legs, wrapped in layers of animal hide and cloth strips, had a startling beauty, and her bare feet were captivatingly graceful.
The woman glanced at him.
It was just a glance, but it left Kent feeling as if he were pricked by thorns. Someone behind him suddenly stepped forward, dragging a large sword across the ground, creating a screeching sound. Splitting Blade moved in front of Kent as though he were shielding him from a venomous snake.
He glared at the woman with a fierce, murderous intent.
"It's fine," Kent said.
Wearing his enchanted black armor, the woman wouldn't be able to hurt him even if she were formidable. Besides, he had noticed that she had wounds on her shoulder and waist.
Strangely, the woman's brief gaze had made him feel a chilling sense of danger, as if a scorpion's venomous sting could strike at any moment. Yet she was unarmed, with tattered animal hides barely covering her body, and he could see layers upon layers of cloth strips where her skin would otherwise be exposed.
Splitting Blade paused, confirmed there was no threat, and then stepped back.
"So, how did the three of you get captured?" Kent asked gently.
"My… my lord, we are guards from the Bloodstone family of the Rapids Clan, escorting…" The guard who had almost lunged forward stammered, his eyes lingering on Kent's heavy armor and the equipment of the guard squad behind him. His face paled. "If… if my lord can save us, Bloodstone… Bloodstone will certainly… reward you generously…"
"Bloodstone family…" Kent murmured, so no one could see his expression behind his visor. Without looking back, he asked, "Splitting Blade, have you heard of them?"
"They're one of the top five families along the Rapids River, chief," Splitting Blade replied. Before becoming a royal guard, he had served in the military for years and was familiar with the western highland regions.
"And how are they as people?" Kent inquired.
"Huh? How to say…" Splitting Blade was stunned, not expecting such a question from Kent. "Chief, the Bloodstone family makes its living through armed escorts and trading foreign slaves. As for their character… I haven't dealt with them personally…"
"I see." Kent nodded before Splitting Blade could finish.
Armed escorts and slave trading—this meant their hands were stained with much blood.
"The armor I'm wearing—is this what you were escorting?" Kent asked, staring down at the humble, cowering guard. "Where did it come from?"
"My lord, we only escort; we know nothing else," the guard replied, trembling and not daring to raise his head.
"I'm merely asking where you came from. Is that also unknown?"
Kent's voice showed a hint of anger.
"Could it be that you stole it as well?"