HCB Chapter 626 The New Boss
Chapter 626 The New Boss
The midday sun relentlessly scorched the earth. Under its rays, Gorkas, drenched in sweat, wielded his shovel, the soil he dug out gleaming a dazzling golden-red in the sunlight.
His clothes were already soaked with sweat, sticking stickily to his back, and the rough linen rubbed against his chafed shoulders, causing a sharp pain with every movement.
"No, why are we doing this? We're mercenaries, we should be charging into battle."
Gorkas shoveled the shovel into the ground, the dust that splashed up smeared his face, mixing with sweat to form mud streaks.
"Say less, I have a pot of water here, would you like some?"
Jiedu, who was standing to the side, took a worn-out water bottle from his waist and casually tossed it to Gorkas.
Gorkas caught the water bottle without even saying thank you, opened the stopper, tilted his head back, and poured the water into his mouth.
The cool water flowed down his parched throat, temporarily suppressing the burning heat.
After the last drop of water entered his mouth, he touched his lips with satisfaction and handed the water bottle back to Jiedu.
"I still don't understand, what are we trying to do?"
Gorkas wiped the sweat and dirt from his face, his eyes filled with confusion and frustration.
He gazed at the vast camp in the distance, where countless tents stood like gray mushrooms, neatly arranged under the blazing sun. Meanwhile, the mercenaries resembled a swarm of driven worker ants, digging seemingly meaningless trenches around the camp.
"Dig trenches!"
Without looking up, Jiedu pointed with his shovel at the busy crowd in the distance, then wiped the sweat from his forehead and pointed to the faint outline of the Midland base camp in the distance.
"It's said to be to prevent Yoda's cavalry from raiding the main camp. The plan was reportedly proposed by a military advisor from Heldran."
"When I was fighting alongside Yoda, I heard about Hilderan. Now that I've joined Midland, Hilderan is still around. How come Hilderan is more concerned about the battlefield and the war than both Midland and Yoda are fighting each other?"
Gorkas pursed his lips, continuing to shovel dirt while muttering to himself, his tone full of displeasure.
He recalled hearing the name Huldran frequently when he fought alongside Yoda's army. Now that they had switched sides, Huldran's military advisors were still omnipresent, as if the war was being led by the Huldrans.
If Hilderan hadn't only been a nation for a few years, he would have suspected that the war between Midland and Yoda was instigated by Hilderan.
“It’s really frustrating.”
Gorkas looked at the Eagle Band mercenaries nearby, who were working hard to shovel dirt. They were all panting heavily, their clothes soaked with sweat that glistened in the sunlight.
He couldn't help but say:
"I wish we could be like Blackwatch."
After complaining, Gorkas asked Jedo:
"By the way, where did Griffith go? I haven't seen him working."
His tone carried a hint of doubt. As the leader of the Band of the Hawk, Griffith was always at the forefront, leading everyone into battle, but he was nowhere to be seen today.
“We’ve been transferred to General Laban’s command, so Griffiths needs to meet our new boss and get acquainted with him.”
Jiedu stopped shoveling, straightened up, wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve, and looked on with a hint of helplessness.
He looked toward the direction of the Midland army's camp in the distance, where flags were flying and he could vaguely see several generals walking back and forth.
"I don't know if this transfer will be a blessing or a curse."
Inside the largest tent in the center of the camp, the air felt heavy and oppressive, as if it had been scorched by flames.
Dozens of armored men stood below, the faint clanging of metal particularly clear in the silence.
Griffith was among them, his long white hair standing out in the crowd like a beam of moonlight piercing through thick clouds, radiating a unique glow in the dim tent.
General Laban sat in the main seat above, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, coldly scrutinizing these people as if trying to see through their hearts.
Seeing that it was almost time, Laban coughed lightly a few times to clear his throat, and then said:
"I am General Laban, the supreme commander of this army."
"I won't go into any more small talk, let's start with you guys."
Laban casually rested his hands on the armrests.
"The reason you were transferred from various armies to my office is because I have reviewed your military merit applications. According to your documents, each of you is an officer and mercenary leader with outstanding performance."
"But is that really the case?"
Laban suddenly changed the subject, his voice rising sharply, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below like a sharp sword, causing many to tremble slightly.
"I've served in the military for over a decade, and I can spot some of the clumsy attempts to cover up in documents. It's nothing more than bribing the officials who reviewed them to get the rewards."
"I can't control the audits, but I can't just stand by and watch certain corrupt elements within the military devour Midland's army from the inside out, leaving it riddled with holes!"
Laban slammed his hand on the armrest, making a loud "bang" that shook the tent slightly. Some people in the crowd below were so startled by the sudden noise that they almost lost their footing.
Seeing the reactions of the crowd below, Laban knew that his attempt to establish his authority had been effective, so he softened his tone slightly, but his eyes remained sharp, as if he was giving the crowd a way out while also observing their reactions.
"Of course, I also hope that only a small portion of you meet the criteria I just mentioned, and that the majority are excellent officers from Midland."
"I can also tell you that my army's current mission is to conquer the city of Rona. As the main force, we suffered some losses in the previous battles, and you are all here to replenish my army as fresh blood."
"I don't care if any of you are the sons of some general or minister, or if you have latched onto some powerful force and joined my army, you must obey my orders."
"If you perform well, I can directly petition the king for rewards on your behalf as the supreme commander at the front. You may receive money, official positions, or even titles."
"So keep up the good work, everyone. The cause you are engaged in will not only bring glory to your families, but will also earn you the respect of the world. I hope that one day we can hold a celebration in the city of Rhône."
After Laban finished speaking, the people below reacted in various ways.
Some people's legs went weak and they couldn't stand up straight. Their faces turned ashen, and fine beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads. They were clearly terrified by Laban's words and filled with anxiety and unease, wondering if they had been included in the "parasite" list.
Some people looked excited, their eyes gleaming with greed, as if the reward Laban had promised was right before their eyes.
Griffith remained calm, though he frowned slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He hadn't investigated Laban yet, didn't even know what kind of person Laban was, and couldn't tell whether what he said was true or false. He wouldn't be easily fooled by these promises.
"That's it, meeting adjourned... Oh, right, the cavalry officers and the mercenary leaders with cavalry units, stay behind."