Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Sitanos Bandit Suppression Chronicles
Village Chief Spike wiped his mouth upon hearing this.
His expression changed as he began to speak seriously.
"Sitanos Village has recently suffered from bandit problems. A gang of bandits is stationed near the village."
"They often attack the cattle pens at night, kill villagers, especially the ones tending cattle, who suffer unspeakably."
"These bandits even disguise themselves as traveling merchants, sneaking into the village to inquire everywhere, making every cattle-raising villager in the village feel uneasy."
"Especially the big landlord in the village, Master Mars; his losses are the most severe."
At this point, Village Chief Spike lowered his voice and leaned close to Zong Shen’s ear.
"Even Master Mars’s beloved little daughter was kidnapped last night."
"Our village guards are too few in number to launch an attack, and the reinforcements from Bang City are too far away, taking two days for a round trip..."
"Therefore, we would like to ask you to eradicate these bandits."
"The bandits have set up camp forty li south of the village."
Zong Shen nodded, suddenly realizing the situation.
No wonder the ragged villager had such a strange reaction when I asked him if he raised cattle. These bandits have made all the cattle-raising villagers in the entire village a bit neurotic.
They are afraid of becoming the next target of plunder.
At this moment, the detailed task prompt finally appeared.
[Task: Eradicate the Bandits]
[Requirement: Completely eliminate the bandits plaguing Sitanos Village recently and acquire their left ears as proof of mission completion]
[Reward: 1000 Mainland Continent Universal Dinar, 200 Reputation Value, and the friendship of Sitanos Village]
(You are advised to visit Master Mars’s house again; he also requires your help.)
Having accepted the task, Zong Shen decisively stood up with his soldiers.
"Respected Village Chief Spike, leave everything to me."
"I will now go see Master Mars to find out if he needs my help."
The old village chief also stood up, shaking his hand.
"Brave lord, I believe you can eliminate the bandits and restore peace to Sitanos Village."
"I’ve already notified Master Mars, and I believe he will arrive soon."
As soon as the old village chief spoke, the salon doors of the tavern were pushed open rudely and urgently.
A middle-aged man, with a big belly and wearing a finely crafted robe, walked in quickly.
He walked directly to the chief, looking at him and then at Zong Shen.
"Is this the foreign lord?"
His face turned red with excitement.
Zong Shen also silently sized him up.
Indeed, he is a textbook example of the landlord class, with such a rotund figure that without a big belly he wouldn’t be worthy of being called ’Master.’
"Exactly, Master Mars. The village has entrusted this lord with the task of eliminating the bandits."
The old village chief explained.
At this time, Master Mars widened his eyes, excitedly shaking Zong Shen’s hand, bowing slightly.
"Sir, please, you must rescue my little daughter, my poor child is only 16 years old!"
"I will reward you handsomely!"
As a landlord, Master Mars was able to accurately seize the key points.
[Sitanos Village Villager: Mars, invites you to accept the task]
[Accept]
[Decline]
Indeed, this is a nested double-task. These bandits have harmed quite a few villagers, and if Zong Shen takes the time to walk around the village, he might receive even more tasks.
However, time is pressing, so it’s better to go straight to the point.
Zong Shen chose to [Accept].
He spoke righteously to Master Mars.
"Rest assured, I will bring your daughter back safely!"
Master Mars nodded excitedly, tears brimming.
[Task: Rescue Marie]
[Requirement: Rescue Marie from the bandits and safely escort her to Mars’s side]
[Reward: 1500 Mainland Continent Universal Dinar, 100 Reputation Value, Avalon Prairie Ox ×10, Small Ranch Construction Map ×1, Friendship of Master Mars]
As expected of a landlord, he is indeed wealthy, offering 500 more Dinars than the village chief.
The total of both tasks amounted to 2500 Mainland Continent Universal Dinar, equivalent to a decade’s salary for a maid, indeed a sizable fortune.
Mainland Continent Universal Dinar can be used to trade with native forces, buying specialties and supplies, which is quite useful.
"Let’s go, the job is here."
Zong Shen called out, and everyone stood up, following Zong Shen out of the tavern.
They first returned outside the village, mounted their respective rides, and then proceeded to head towards the bandits’ camp forty li south of the village.
Village Chief Spike and Master Mars followed them all the way to the village entrance.
When they saw Zong Shen’s mount — the Blood-toothed Wild Boar Eight Immortals — their faces showed expressions of shock.
It increased their confidence in Zong Shen’s ability to eliminate the bandits.
They watched Zong Shen and his men depart.
"Old Spike, the bandit gang led by Fierce Bandit Calier, known as Boss Bang Razor, can they really handle them?"
Mars asked worriedly.
The old village chief simply smiled without answering.
Seeing Mars’s anxious expression, he slowly explained.
"This one is not simple. Those warriors around him are all top fighters, and even the light infantry of Boss Bang wouldn’t be their match."
With sharp insight, the old village chief had great confidence in his judgment and Zong Shen’s strength.
At this moment, Zong Shen was already riding Eight Immortals, rushing at a steady pace towards the south of the village.
The bandits lay low by day, acting at night to plunder.
Half an hour later, they stopped.
Ahead was a forest, with a camp situated near it.
The camp was large, significantly bigger than the roving bandits’ camp Zong Shen took out days prior.
Inside the camp were two rows of tents and one large round tent.
In terms of scale and order, it was much more impressive than the bandit camp.
Outside the camp, twenty to thirty prairie oxen and more than ten prairie sheep were tethered, guarded by two bandits. They didn’t seem as crazed as the roving bandits.
Interestingly, Zong Shen noticed not far from the camp, there was a dilapidated Lord’s Courtyard...
Outside the yard were remains of destroyed buildings.
Evidently, the lord had encountered the bandits here shortly after starting construction.
The small courtyard was surrounded by twenty to thirty bandits, with a lord on the courtyard wall, confronting the bandits.
Among the bandits was a two-meter-tall bald man with a horse-cutting saber, sitting with crossed legs.
The ground was littered with crossbow arrows.
If not for the newbie protection period, this guy might have already been turned into roast slices by the bandits.
Zong Shen couldn’t help but chuckle.
This guy’s luck is truly at its peak.
Only he could be deemed the unluckiest with his small dark face from Africa.
Blocked by bandits right from the start, he seemed destined to be a jinx.