Love and passion, cutting up the wasteland.

Chapter 637: Old Friend (Combined Chapter)
They strolled on the prairie. The long grass was yellow but showed a kind of tenacity. It did not fall down in the blowing autumn wind. Only a little frost condensed on the tips of the grass.

There were no soldiers around, but there were a dozen waiters dressed in black with silver-gray back patterns, all of whom were believers of the Ashes.

Chad learned some information about this cult from Ji Hai. He knew that they were mainly responsible for engineering and education, and appeared to be quite peaceful... but among them, there was also a cult army that possessed military force, and their strength should not be underestimated.

The believers divided into two rows behind Lu Meng and moved forward slowly, like extended black wings, the autumn wind occasionally lifting their robes.

However, among the exposed limbs, whether it was the upper arm or the palm, or the left leg or the right foot... at least one of them was metallic in color.

Replaced by a mechanical prosthesis.

From this feature, they can also be recognized as the elite among the Crusader Army.

Most of these people are veterans who have fought in many battles, but because they were seriously injured in a certain battle, although they saved their lives, their bodies were damaged and they could not go to the battlefield again.

In severe cases, people cannot even sustain their lives.

It was not until they encountered the Order of Embers and learned of their identities that the higher-ups gave them priority in taking them in for treatment and selecting suitable limb replacements.

The mechanical prosthetics that Lu Meng had purchased and prepared were basically used on them, and the quality was at least [standard] or [high] level. It could be said that a single limb cost more coins than a normal soldier - but correspondingly, this team had the highest loyalty to him, the Grand Commander, among all the armed forces.

At this moment, Chad saw that there was such a team accompanying him, and dismissed the others, showing the confidentiality...but he still stayed here.

I'm somewhat uneasy.

He straightened his mind and expressed his doubts: "Your Highness, Red King, please forgive me for being frank... I don't think it is a good idea to take over the mess of Sorrow Mine Town at this time."

"Hmm?" Lu Meng looked at him in surprise: "Isn't Aikuang Town your hometown? I didn't expect that you would say such words of opposition."

The current manager of the North Wind Clan, Bo Wei, was also born in the Town of Mine. After the Bloody Rebellion, he was liquidated by the nobles and sold to the Land of Shem. He escaped from being a slave and rose to the position of commander step by step.

However, at that time, Ai Mine Town was still being divided and dominated by major lords and nobles. Bo Wei happened to catch up with the chaotic period and had no relatives, so naturally he had no good feelings towards the local rulers.

But he married and had children in Shan, and no longer cared about the affairs of the Mine Town. He had long regarded the North Wind Clan as his home, and had no intention of revenge on the slave owner who had sold him - after all, so many years had passed, and the slave owner must have abandoned this ruin and ran away, making it impossible to find him even if you wanted to.

On the contrary, the younger generation who grew up in Ai Mining Town had never experienced the Bloody Rebellion, nor had they experienced the rule of the aristocracy. For them, this city-state was just the place where they grew up. Although it was abandoned, it was impossible for them to have no feelings for it.

That's why those Mine Hunters care so much.

"Of course I hope that Mine Town can get better, but I am only stating the truth." Chad lowered his eyes, "I am very grateful that you saved my friend. That is why I dare not have any extravagant hopes."

He knew that the Red King could understand the hidden meaning.

--spend.

Even the city-state with a base in the depression lagoon was helpless, not to mention the swamp and Shem.

Rather than investing money in a foreign country that is sure to improve, it is better to use the already scarce resources for local development.

"I see," Lu Meng chuckled, "You are quite straightforward."

When the Mine Hunters who had already left heard that he was going to take over the Mine Town, they were extremely surprised and were very grateful to him... but they had never considered standing in the other side's shoes.

It's not selfish. It's just human nature when good news comes and the last straw is seen.

Chad is still unique in this regard and can actually think the other way around.

However, this was also because he had a deeper understanding of the situation in Shan through Ji Hai, and therefore did not feel so restrained.

"You probably guessed why I wanted to keep you in Shandi... It's not just for you to catch up with your old friends." Lu Meng looked into the distance and said, with the wind blowing behind him, "I want you to come back to Aikuang Town with us."

Chad nodded: "Lead the way?"

As the former royal residence and mining capital, Ai Mine Town is quite large. An ordinary satellite town is sometimes equivalent to a small town.

In addition, the city-state was abandoned, many houses collapsed, streets were blocked, barricades and fortresses remained...the internal environment was already quite complicated.

Plus the mines and caves outside...

Take Chad and other technology hunters who come from the Mine Town as an example. They only live in the outer city area at the edge of the Mine Town. It was originally a place where the lower-class people lived. But now it is easier for them to contact the outside world and have the opportunity to go out and make a name for themselves.

But the most prosperous inner city area has almost become a ruin. There are rumors that the people inside have long been dead, but some people also hear noisy and strange noises coming from inside from time to time at night... Even Chad has only been there once with Ji Hai and Lu Jin, so he doesn't know much about it.

I think Ji Hai has already told the Red King in front of him this news.

Ji Hai himself cannot leave Shandi, so he will do this favor himself... Chad had already expected this and had no objection.

As long as I don't go deep into the inner city, I should still be able to play a significant role.

In response to this, Lu Meng just laughed, as if agreeing but also as if not making a comment, and said: "Chad, you don't understand the situation, it's normal to have doubts... This trip to the Ai Mine, you will know the inside story sooner or later anyway, so it's okay to see it in advance."

Insider?

Chad was more confused and was about to speak again when he heard the sound of a bone flute from the sky, as loud as a bird's song.

It is the bone sound of tamed animals.

A transport convoy that was as winding as a long snake gradually emerged from behind the withered grass. Tall and sturdy camels were mixed in with it, and they were lined up densely and kept coming forward under the guidance of the sound of bone flutes.

On their backs, there were mountains of packages. These camels were the best quality camels domesticated by nomadic tribes. They were fatter and stronger than the camels of ordinary chambers of commerce, but at this moment they were all struggling under the weight of the cargo on their backs.

With broad soles of feet, a deep pit was dug with every step.

The leader was wearing armor and had walked all the way fully armed, which should have been a huge drain on his physical strength - but in Chad's eyes, he didn't have time to notice this and was just shocked by the other person's figure.

It's really too tall.

The female Shak with towering horns and a segmented axe on her waist like a sword stood side by side with the Gazakh camels, and was actually taller than these camels.

Title warrior, giant Ryan.

A team from the Kingdom of Shek.

Seeing that it was an acquaintance, Lu Meng took the initiative to greet him with a smile on his face: "Giant Rui... I didn't expect Bayan to ask you to come and escort him."

Ryan punched the human with the etiquette of a Shek warrior: "Long time no see, Nameless... or should I call you the Red King?" "It's up to you." Lu Meng smiled.

Ryan looked at the young man in front of him: he obviously hadn't changed at all, at most he was dressed like a swamp dweller wearing a conical hat and linen clothes when they entered the dense forest together, but now he has adapted to the local customs and is wearing a fur cloak from the grasslands of the Shan land.

But if you really say nothing has changed...

The actual situation is completely different.

Ryan didn't know what to express for a moment: on the other party's advice, she returned to the country first to report the news to the chief advisor and request support... Unexpectedly, when she heard about the situation of the Nameless Man again, he had already taken control of the entire dense forest and became the king of the swamp.

When she was the special envoy and we had the chance to meet again...how come you managed to take down Shandi as well?

"If you hadn't come to see me again, I'm afraid you would have conquered the entire East Continent," Ryan said jokingly, with a hint of regret. "That year in the Thunder Arena, we couldn't decide the winner because we had to act together. Since then, I've been looking for an opportunity to fight again, but I didn't expect..."

They have already achieved war level.

Even the warlike Shek tribe could not muster any interest in such an absolutely irreversible contrast.

However, only a Shek warrior who is forthright and does not shy away from fighting would frankly express his regret for not being able to challenge again in such a situation.

"Then we'll wait until later. I look forward to the day when you become one of the Five." Lu Meng didn't directly continue the conversation, "But you...has your title been restored? Are you still a Hundred Guards now?"

He remembered that Ryan had mentioned in the past that she had actually been stripped of the title of 'Giant', but later on out of habit and fame, she continued to call him that when she remembered and addressed him. He rarely mentioned it in person to avoid poking at her scars.

However, when he opened his mouth just now, he called out Ryan's nickname, which also contained a hint of temptation, and the other party accepted it very naturally.

Hearing this, Ryan smiled bitterly and shook his head. It is not easy to be promoted to the war level and join the team that can be called the Invincible Five. Not everyone can be as perverted as you, the Nameless One...

But then, her spirits brightened up again and she nodded, "Yes, I have seen Her Majesty the Queen again."

Ryan's title of giant was originally bestowed by the Stone Demon. After being challenged and losing the duel, he was forced to choose between giving up the title and cutting off his horns... This is a huge shame for a Shek warrior. Some people often cannot bear it and may choose to commit suicide directly.

However, there were some tricks behind that duel. The giant Ryan failed to exert his full strength, and the title warrior on the opposite side was under the command of a general of the Five People, while she was a rare friend that Bayan could use.

Influenced by Bayan, this female warrior was able to endure humiliation and give up her title. She could also use this identity to re-participate in the Thunder Arena and thus join the game between Scone Town and the Lord of Dashan City.

Only then can I get to know Lu Meng.

"Come to think of it, it's all thanks to you," she said with a smile.

The reason why he participated in the operation to go deep into the swamp was that he needed to make a contribution, solve the kingdom's food supply and find Princess Seto, so that Bayan could further facilitate operations... He didn't expect that they were all solved by the nameless person.

Ryan thought he didn't contribute much, but this incident was just an excuse. They were once comrades-in-arms, and Bayan took the opportunity to help him regain his status as a titled warrior.

That's why it's thanks to the other party.

Lu Meng naturally wouldn't care about such a small detail, but then he heard Ryan say, "But I didn't go back to the Hundred Guards of Admark... Now, to some extent, I am a 'free man' like you."

Regardless of their position and status, speaking only of the Shek warriors, the Giants and the Nameless Ones are all wandering warriors outside the kingdom.

"Oh?" Lu Meng's heart moved.

Dozens of methods of "poaching" and "making money" instantly emerged in his mind... But then he also understood the profound meaning of the hornless man who arranged all this.

Although Bayan restored Ryan's reputation, which was his duty as a superior and friend, he did not continue to place him in the Hundred Guards... This was not in his interest as the chief advisor and prime minister of the kingdom.

Logically speaking, he was short of manpower, so the more strong generals he could trust and the higher the positions he was placed in, the more secure his position would be.

But now Ryan was sent out.

This is also the reason why Lu Meng was surprised at first.

Unless...staying in the Hundred Regiments Guard will not only fail to achieve the purpose of building up power and adding insult to injury, but on the contrary may make you a target of public criticism.

Ryan was sent out to protect her.

It is also to preserve the manpower.

"Has the struggle among the high-level officials of the Shak Kingdom reached this point?" Lu Meng thought to himself, "Come to think of it, the people that Bayan could have used before, the Skeleton Group, Ryan... have all been dragged to the Land of Shan..."

He looks more and more like a lonely old man.

This made him feel a little guilty.

However, as long as the Stone Demon Queen does not fall, Bayan, the chief advisor, will be safe and sound and will not have to worry about losing power - this is also the reason why he dares to make these operations.

From another perspective, Bayan’s willingness to send his confidants and friends to Shan for “refuge” also shows his trust in Lu Meng.

not to mention.

In fact, Lu Meng helped the chief consultant a lot, both openly and secretly.

For example, now these -

The old friends met and exchanged pleasantries for a long time. Chad was unable to say anything and could only turn his attention to the approaching caravan.

Probably food… he thought to himself as he looked at the package on the camel’s back.

The swamp is a major grain-producing area, and a lot of staple food has been transported here since the connection with Shan.

Judging from the size, this caravan is neither big nor small compared to ordinary groups - but is it worthy of the Red King's attention to come and greet them in person?

The tech hunter was thinking.

Suddenly I realized something was wrong.

The bulging mountain-like package seemed to flash a ray of light in the sun. It was the gap in the stretched linen that revealed the metallic color.

Look at that outline again...

If it was an ordinary thing, Chad might not recognize it...but this tiny arc, people on the entire continent will definitely not make a mistake.

That's Kaibi!
A whole caravan of Kai coins!
(End of this chapter)