Chapter 350 - 128: Lifebound Profound Corpse! Success!

Chapter 350: Chapter 128: Lifebound Profound Corpse! Success!

...

The ordinary Soldiers might not have understood the intricacies of the situation, but Cam Leisuo was, after all, an experienced Tier Four Warrior. How could he not see why Jack had lost?

But the more he understood, the more shocked he became.

In terms of actual rank, Lord Lynch was only at the Tier Two Middle Stage, yet he could somehow store so much powerful Magic in his off-hand Scripture. Even more absurdly, the power of that Magic was on par with, if not greater than, that of a Tier Four.

Cam Leisuo considered himself far more durable than Jack, but the Lord’s combination of spells was truly formidable. He knew that if he were on the receiving end, he absolutely wouldn’t be able to take it.

Moreover, judging by the Lord’s calm and casual demeanor, this certainly wasn’t his full strength. He most likely had a whole series of follow-up moves he hadn’t even used.

’Forget it, forget it. I won’t go asking for humiliation.’

Cam Leisuo shook his head inwardly, his gaze toward Lord Lynch growing even more reverent.

Lynch glanced around, but seeing that no one else dared to step up, he quickly lost interest.

"Alright, that’s enough. Everyone, disperse. Go on about your business."

He waved his hand, dismissing the crowd of onlookers. Then, he called out to Jack in the distance, who was grimacing and rubbing his backside after his whipping, "You, Jack! That opening sneak attack was a good tactic. Keep up that sharp thinking. I’ll reward you with two hundred Gold Coins. Buy some medicine and take care of yourself."

Jack, who had been dejected just a moment ago, instantly forgot the pain in his backside. Overjoyed, he shouted, "Thank you for the reward, my Lord! Your subordinate will take your teachings to heart!"

Although the grand prize of one thousand Gold Coins had slipped away, getting a personal compliment from the Lord—"good tactic"—and an extra two hundred Gold Coins on top of that made Jack suddenly feel that this whipping... was actually quite worth it!?

’If I could earn this much every day, I’d be willing to be whipped until the end of time.’

Lynch gave him a wave, said nothing more, and turned to leave the training ground, surrounded by the Corpse Demon and other Undead Guards.

「After his figure disappeared into the distance.」

A glint appeared in Cam Leisuo’s eyes. He immediately gathered his companions.

The four of them found a remote corner and squatted down.

After confirming no one was paying attention, Cam Leisuo finally spoke in a low voice, "Brothers, I’ve decided. From now on, I’m throwing my lot in with Lord Lynch for good."

The other three weren’t surprised to hear this. Instead, they all looked as if to say, ’Finally, he said it.’

The burly Hans, who carried the tower shield, scratched the back of his head and said in a booming voice, "Cam, we were actually thinking the same thing. It’s just... sigh... we all swore a formal oath to the House of Hohenzollern back in the day. It just doesn’t sit right with me."

"I know the House of Hohenzollern never seemed to treat us as anything important, but an oath is no joke. I’m afraid that if word gets out that we’re traitors who broke our vow, then..."

"Bah!"

Jack became agitated upon hearing this.

He had just been whipped, so he could only squat sideways in an odd position. His sudden movement pulled at the wounds on his backside, making him grimace in pain, but he still craned his neck to glare at Hans with an exasperated look.

"Hans, you’re way too pedantic! What future is there in following that rotten-to-the-core family? How can it possibly compare to following Lord Lynch? Back in the Imperial Capital, what were we? ’House guards’ if you want to be generous. Hired thugs who watched the gate if you want to be honest. Not only was our pay constantly docked, but the young masters and ladies stole the credit for our work all the time. And when things went wrong, we were the ones pushed out to take the fall. Have you forgotten all that?"

He grew more animated as he spoke, completely forgetting the pain in his backside. "Now look at the situation here! Lord Lynch’s rewards and punishments are clear. I launched such a shameless sneak attack just now, but not only was he not angry, he praised my tactics and casually tossed me two hundred Gold..."

Hans looked a bit sheepish at his words. He mumbled, "I never said I wanted to go back, I just feel..."

"Feel what?" Jack cut him off. "Besides, we’re nominally Young Master Fritz’s guards right now. Isn’t the young master himself undergoing ’labor reform’ under Lord Lynch in the Westridge Mines? And when I went to visit him a few days ago, I found him working with quite some enthusiasm..."

He immediately mimicked Fritz’s expression from that day, putting on a serious face and lowering his voice. "’We must add a culvert to this spring. Otherwise, once the rainy season arrives, the entire eastern section will be at risk of collapse.’ ...You tell me, does that sound like the same profligate young master from the Imperial Capital who raced horses, held dog fights, and blew through three thousand Gold Coins in a single night?"

The taciturn Baal, who rarely spoke, now nodded slowly. "Jack has a point. The young master has indeed changed. We’ve all seen it with our own eyes."

Hans sighed helplessly. "I understand the logic. But the young master’s labor reform will have to end eventually. What if the House of Hohenzollern recalls him to the Imperial Capital? What will we do then? Follow him back or stay in Lakefront Town? We’d be caught in the middle, loyal to no one!"

At these words, all four of them fell silent.

Indeed. The young master was from the direct bloodline of the House of Hohenzollern. No matter how much "labor reform" he underwent, he would eventually return to the Imperial Capital. When that time came, what were they, his "old retainers," supposed to do!?

Cam Leisuo lowered his head, his rough fingers stroking the hilt of the sword at his waist. He said in a deep voice, "That’s why we have to help the young master walk the correct path."

Everyone was taken aback.

But then, their eyes lit up almost instantly.

’That’s right. As long as the young master stays under Lord Lynch’s command forever, then we won’t have to leave either.’

’If the young master insists on going back... well, they’d have to see if their swords have anything to say about that.’