At dawn on the fifth morning after the defense of Jushi Town, a lookout reported a lone rider approaching from the north.
Art instructed the lookout to bring the newcomer into the camp, then ordered someone to fetch Angus and bring the young bandit, who was being held captive in the camp, into the military tent.
The newcomer was precisely the Second Leader of the remaining bandits, riding a mongrel horse and carrying three thousand fenny in silver coins to redeem his son.
In the past two days, he had already seen the heads displayed by the western trade route, which had deeply shocked and terrified him.
To be safe, he had already moved the bandit lair to another hidden gorge.
Before leaving, he had ordered the dozen or so old brothers still with him to be ready to flee at any moment; if he did not return by evening, the remaining bandits would take their families and seek a new path.
As the Second Leader of the remaining bandits held his breath and walked through the camp gate, the camp was filled with Soldiers holding sharp blades and eyes filled with murderous intent.
The Second Leader's Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed, looking at the Soldier beside him.
The Soldier gently pushed him, gesturing for him to walk towards the military tent inside.
Entering a slightly larger military tent, his son was gagged and knelt on the ground, guarded by two Soldiers.
The Second Leader was about to step forward to see his son when Art's voice rang out, “Take the Second Leader’s young Master away.”
Then Art dismissed the other Soldiers, leaving only Art, Angus, and the Second Leader of the remaining bandits in the tent.
“You’ve seen your son, haven’t you? I am a man of my word.” Art sat on a wooden chair, leaning slightly forward.
The Second Leader’s head turned with his son, who was being led away, until he disappeared outside the tent.
“Patrol Officer, Master, I have brought the money; not a single copper coin is missing.
Please, I beg you, release my son~” The Second Leader’s attitude was extremely respectful, his voice filled with pleading.
Art and Angus exchanged a glance and laughed, “Of course, you are very trustworthy.”
“Then can I take my son and leave?” The Second Leader’s worried expression immediately cleared.
Art and Angus stared directly at the Second Leader without answering, and the Second Leader’s expression began to grow tense again.
After another moment, the two men in front of him still showed no movement.
The Second Leader of the remaining bandits’ eyes widened, his fingers loosened, and the money bag slipped, then he fell to his knees with a thud, “Master, you said you would let me redeem him with money~”
Angus chuckled lightly, stepped forward, picked up the money bag from the ground, and weighed it, saying, “My Lord did promise to release your son, but we never promised you.”
The Second Leader collapsed onto the ground; he had been prepared for such an outcome.
Just as the Second Leader despairingly waited for the Soldiers outside to drag him away for execution, Art, seated on the wooden chair, took the money bag from Angus’s hand, slowly paced to the Second Leader’s front, and tossed the money bag into his embrace.
The Second Leader did not catch it, and the money bag fell to the ground again.
“I will not kill you.”
The Second Leader, sprawled on the ground, thought he had misheard and looked up at Art in surprise.
“You didn’t mishear, I won’t kill you, and neither will your son.” Art had a sincere expression.
However, the more sincere Art appeared, the more the Second Leader of the remaining bandits’ heart thumped.
He couldn’t figure out what this man, who beheaded people as easily as slicing melons, truly wanted to do.
“Master, if you think the ransom is too little, I’ll go back immediately—”
“No, no, no, no, I don’t need a ransom.” Art interrupted the Second Leader’s words.
“Then what do you need? Just say it, I’ll agree to anything!” The Second Leader’s voice was tearful.
“Really, anything?”
“Really! Really! I’ll agree to anything, just please spare my son and me, our humble lives.” The Second Leader grabbed Art’s armored skirt, as if clutching a life-saving straw.
Art glanced at Angus, who chuckled softly, then walked over, intending to help the kneeling Second Leader up, but the Second Leader absolutely dared not rise.
“Get up.” Art bent down, feigning to help the tear-streaked Second Leader on the ground, and the fellow on the ground finally stood up, trembling.
“If I’m not mistaken, your name is Leiduoan, Leiduoan Fai, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Master, I was originally a commoner from the north of the county, and I only became a bandit because I couldn’t survive.
If you can spare me, I am willing to stay and be your servant.” At this point, saving his life was paramount, and the Second Leader couldn’t care about anything else.
“Being a servant can wait; now I have a more important task for you.”
The Second Leader was bewildered; he truly couldn’t imagine what kind of task a knightly noble would entrust to a remaining bandit leader, but now he could finally confirm that his and his son’s heads were saved, at least for the time being.
“Master, please tell me, what is the task?”
“How many bandit Soldiers do you still have under your command?” Art asked.
“This~ this~” The Second Leader hesitated, thinking Art wanted to wipe out his remaining unfortunate brothers.
“Don’t worry, I don’t care for those small fries under your command.” Art guessed his concerns.
The Second Leader relaxed a bit and respectfully replied, “I was only the Second Leader; the Big Boss always held all the power, and normally I only had about ten old and weak subordinates.
Originally, we had over one hundred fifty people, but a few days ago, you and your brave men killed—no, no, you annihilated more than half, and the rest fled for their lives.
Now I still have thirteen old brothers willing to follow me, and then there are a few families of theirs who have nowhere to go.”
“You bandits even bring your families with you???” Art looked incredulous.
“Yes, Master, most of those who became bandits in the mountains were unfortunate commoners who couldn’t survive.
Being a bandit is just to give our wives and children something to eat, isn’t it~” The Second Leader looked helpless.
“You became bandits and you have food, but those plundered commoners and farmers will starve to death.
Alright, I won’t waste any more words with you.
From today onwards, you and your subordinates won’t have to worry about going hungry; I will provide for you.” Art said straightforwardly.
The Second Leader blinked, not understanding Art’s meaning, “Master, I don’t understand what you mean.”
“From today onwards, you and your comrades will be my subordinates.”
“You mean you want me and my brothers to join your ranks as Soldiers?” The Second Leader was overjoyed.
Becoming a Soldier who received provisions and pay was certainly much better than being a bandit who lived in constant fear.
Angus, standing nearby, couldn’t help but laugh when he heard the Second Leader’s words, “You certainly have high hopes; become Soldiers? Do you think those scoundrels under your command can become Soldiers?”
“Then what does Master mean?”
Art patted the Second Leader’s shoulder and said, “From today onwards, I appoint you as the Bandit Suppression Officer under the Patrol Officer’s jurisdiction.
You will receive seventy fenny in military pay from me each month, equivalent to the treatment of a Soldier in my army.”
The Second Leader hadn’t reacted yet when Art continued, “However, the position of Bandit Suppression Officer is covert.
Your other identity is that of a bandit leader active in Tinietz County, and I am the shadow hidden behind you.”
Although the Second Leader was honest, he was by no means foolish.
After listening to Art’s words and carefully pondering them again, he somewhat understood Art’s deeper meaning and looked up, saying, “Lord, please tell me, what do you need me to do?”
Art saw that the Second Leader immediately changed his address for him, knowing he had chosen the right person, and his gaze towards the Second Leader softened considerably.
“Leiduoan, I like dealing with intelligent people, and fortunately, you are one.”
Art said, sitting back on the wooden chair, and pointed to a low stool in the tent, motioning for the Second Leader to sit down.
However, the Second Leader dared not sit at all, standing respectfully in front of Art, his waist slightly bowed, waiting for Art’s command.
“I know that your group of bandits has been crippled by me.
I don’t need you to do anything big for me during this period.
After you go back, do three small things well.
First, stabilize the brothers who have always followed you, don’t let them scatter.
Second, try to absorb some scattered bandits to expand your force; when recruiting, be sure to select carefully, don’t let just any riff-raff get in.
Third, ascertain the whereabouts of the larger bandit groups in the county.
After some time, I will send troops to clear them out, and once I have largely defeated them, you can then absorb a batch of the elite remaining bandits.”
Art paused, then softly said to the bandit leader, “For the third matter, I need you to help me keep an eye on Laine Manor.
Some time ago, I heard that a bandit group came from Laine Manor; you must keep a close watch on them for me.”
Art leaned in and gave a few instructions.
“As for future matters, I will arrange them myself.”
The bandit leader Leiduoan nodded repeatedly, indicating his complete obedience to Art’s arrangements.
“Lord, since I am already your subordinate now, can I—can I take my son back?” The bandit leader Leiduoan asked in a low voice.
Art smiled, “You want your son to go back and continue being a bandit?
Your son doesn’t need to go back with you for now; I will arrange for him to be well looked after in my territory.
If he performs well, I can even keep him by my side as a retainer.
Following me is much better than following you as a bandit, isn’t it?”
Seeing Leiduoan still looking worried, Art comforted him, “Don’t worry, as long as you serve me well, your son’s life will absolutely be safe.
In the future, if you wish to send your other family members to my territory to enjoy a good life, that is also possible.”
The bandit leader Leiduoan knew that Art wanted to hold his son as a hostage, but given the current situation, there was no other choice.
Seeing Leiduoan’s expression return to calm, Art then pointed to Angus and said, “This is Angus, my army’s adjutant.
In the future, he will be specifically responsible for contacting you.”
Leiduoan quickly bowed deeply to Angus.
Angus also smiled and said, “Congratulations, Bandit Suppression Officer Leiduoan, you are now one of us.
Ten days from now, at noon, I will bring three people to escort a batch of food and supplies allocated to you to the entrance of Birch Forest north of the trade route.
You bring a few absolutely trustworthy subordinates to wait there to receive them.
The three people I bring to escort the supplies are the bandit Soldiers captured five days ago, whom you also know.
They will stay to help you, and you can arrange a minor leader position for them.”
Art added, “I can tell you clearly that I have informants among them, but if you dare to let them escape or kill them, I will personally chop off your son’s fingers.”
“No, no! Absolutely not, I swear to God I will be absolutely loyal to you.” The bandit leader Leiduoan quickly pledged his allegiance.
Art, seeing that things were mostly settled, stood up, picked up the money bag from the ground, took Leiduoan’s hand, and patted it into his hand, “These three thousand fenny will be the military funds I allocate to you to reorganize your forces.
What we discussed today, you must not let anyone else know, understand?”
Leiduoan quickly nodded, taking the money bag Art offered for the second time.
“Alright, you can leave here and begin fulfilling your duties as the Bandit Suppression Officer.”