Love and passion, cutting up the wasteland

There were only a few dim animal oil lamps in the house, with sparks jumping and crackling sounds from time to time - in general, these remote beehive villages have not yet been powered on on a large scale.

Through the faint light, you can see that there are about a dozen people in the house, some of whom have weapons flashing around their waists, and some of whom are bare-handed, but just standing there, the momentum and sense of danger given to people are no less than the former.

After listening to Lu Meng's words.

They did not relax.

Instead, they became more vigilant.

"Don't be like this," someone stood up to make peace and blocked the front, "He is the one I told you about... Lu Beiyou."

At the same time, Jeger squeezed his golden one eye.

Signal to his companions.

This is their territory after all.

However, even if Jeger said so, the anti-slavery people still did not move until a voice in the dark spoke:

"We did something wrong in this matter, sit down, and then... please come in, Red King."

Hearing this, everyone retreated one after another.

A young man looked at the poison arrow in Lu Meng's hand and snorted in dissatisfaction, but he didn't say much, just turned his head away.

This operation.

The protective mechanisms in the house were all arranged by him.

Lu Meng didn't care.

He put the poison arrow on the shelf at the door, raised his legs and stepped in, followed by Huo Buyang and the little princess.

There was a very subtle sound of landing.

A petite figure appeared behind them and closed the door - seeing the familiar Bo, Seto also stepped forward and greeted him enthusiastically.

Bo nodded: "Long time no see."

Sensing the curious eyes of her companions, she explained: "This is the princess of Shak."

It caused another restrained commotion.

Although they had heard about it before, when they saw Princess Shak really appear here, next to the Red King, it was impossible for them to not care.

Only the person sitting at the innermost side who spoke before remained calm and did not have any special reaction.

"What is the purpose of the Red King?" He said.

Lu Meng said, "I should be the one to ask you this question, right?"

The other party responded.

Nodding: "Yes."

"I didn't expect that you could detect our whereabouts so quickly."

Yes.

In fact, the anti-slavers did not inform Lu Meng of their appearance.

This is also their usual style.

When the anti-slaver was speaking, a companion looked at Jage and Bo, but Jage glared back fiercely, and then shifted his gaze awkwardly.

"Don't make blind guesses and doubt each other," the anti-slaver interrupted them, "I can be sure that our companions did not leak the news... But when a force is founded and destroyed, it is often the most chaotic and imperfect, just like a fishing net, which seems tight but is actually pervasive...I am really curious about how you found out. There is not enough manpower for the guards to screen, and there is no way to interrogate every refugee."

What's more, almost all anti-slavers are masters of stealth and disguise.

They are more accustomed to acting in secret.

Those who are not good at it would not have lived to this day.

"It just happens that everyone has their own specialty." Lu Meng said, "As you said, I also need to guard against other forces taking the opportunity to invade and break into the interior... For this reason, a professional department was established."

For example, the swamp ninjas.

In addition to production departments such as the medical department and the engineering department, he also specially formed a "shadow department" that integrates comprehensive reconnaissance, assassination, counter-reconnaissance and other functions.

It was led by the shadow man.

The main body at the beginning was naturally the members of the water tribe, and later more talents who were good at hiding and stealth were absorbed.

Although they were still trained according to traditional skills, they were also called "swamp ninjas".

But this group of newcomers in the shadow department did gradually break away from the water tribe.

They were only loyal to the Red King.

- If anyone else were to lead, this model might have hidden problems, such as factional conflicts between new and old swamp ninjas, and the water tribe's concerns about being sidelined... Only Lu Meng was an exception.

Because he was the king of the swamp and the "successor" of the previous generation of shadow men.

Just like the joint rule in ancient Europe, one person holds the title of two regions, and they are perfectly integrated together to become the co-lord.

Neither side will have any objections.

In addition to the strength factor.

This is the legal orthodoxy.

In addition to the shadow people who have to stay in the southern wetlands to guard against the revenge of Koslon City.

The Shadow Department has several teams of swamp ninjas, including two senior ninjas, who have come to the flash land together.

It is just due to work needs and in line with their usual habits. They have been lurking in secret.

Even to the departments of other swamps.

It is also confidential.

However...

"Is that the case? Hmm..." The other anti-slavery obviously didn't believe it, but couldn't find any better explanation, "...The Red King is really a good trick."

With the investigation report of the swamp by Jager and Bo.

They are of course aware of the existence of the swamp ninjas.

However, as a hidden group, the anti-slavery people are more confident that they have the strength and confidence to not be discovered by these assassins in the jungle.

What's more,

The climate in the Flash Land is not as moist as the swamp, and there is no tall rainforest to shelter it. This is not a space where the swamp ninjas are good at performing;

Look at themselves.

Sneaking into towns, walking through villages, and blending in with the poor and homeless... this is already a specialty of the anti-slavery people, so how could they be exposed so easily?

Lu Meng did not explain.

In his field of vision, on the stronghold construction panel, there was a small white dot among the many green dots... and in the factional relationship, the second level of "coexistence" of the anti-slavery people.

Just as the other person said.

When a force is founded, due to objective factors, screening in all aspects may be incomplete. It is normal for loopholes to appear and allow people to take advantage of them.

However, this period.

It is often the time when we are most united.

Needless to say, the original people of the Swamp and Shendi tribes, even the newly joined refugees, are very grateful... Mixed in a lot of "blood alliances" and "respect", "ordinary people like the anti-slavery people" "On the contrary, it is extremely conspicuous.

Of course, the vision Lu Meng saw.

Without module optimization, it can only be very simple and abstract, and not accurate.

In the later period, when more people fall into the city, the screening efficiency will also decrease.

But, until now.

As long as we can know a rough range, and then send the swamp ninjas from the shadow department to confirm... it will be enough to eliminate most risks and make it impossible to guard against.

Sure enough, the other anti-slavery people were also suspicious. They exchanged glances with each other and could detect each other's surprise in their companions' gazes.

They still underestimate this place a little bit.

Lu Meng just said: "What do you call your Excellency?"

Jaeger and Bo's status among the anti-slavery people is already high, but compared to these companions present, they do not have many advantages in terms of voice.

Although this was due to the fact that the anti-slavery people did not have a too strict superior-subordinate relationship, it was enough to show that the status of other people was also not small and very important in the organization.

However, the anti-slavery person who was talking to Lu Meng was able to defend Jaeger and Bo despite suspicion, control the atmosphere and rhythm of the whole place, and was obviously the leader among them.

Unexpectedly, the other party just shook his head.

Said: "I'm just an ordinary ronin...just call me that."

"A name is just a code name."

"Are you right? The Nameless One—"

After Ronin finished speaking, he had no intention of introducing himself, but it could be heard from his words that Lu Meng had obviously been investigated.

Jaeger looked at Lu Meng with apologetic eyes.

He signaled that there was nothing he could do.

Although it is all public information, after all, a large part of it was learned from the two of them who had personal contact with Lu Meng.

As a member of the anti-slavery group, Jaeger is now a little embarrassed - his original intention was to hope that his companions would have a better impression of the new Red King. Unexpectedly, including himself, the team leader, even if he was completely After listening to it once, I still remain quite wary.

They even planned a special operation to organize anti-slavery people who could be contacted.

Come to the local area to investigate and witness for yourself.

This is also understandable:

If you can't see it, believe it, and without practice, you can simply believe the leader of a force that has grown so powerful from the words of a few people...

for others.

Probably nothing.

But for a secretive organization like the anti-slavery people, who have enemies everywhere and always walk on a knife's edge, if they make one mistake, they may face catastrophe.

That being said.

Both the anti-slavery people and Lu Meng could sense that the atmosphere had become somewhat colder.

Seto frowned.

I want to step forward and say something.

Huo Buyang on the side pulled her and whispered something. The little princess suddenly opened her eyes wide.

It's just that Huo Buyang's voice was soft.

But it seems that it can't be hidden from the ears of Ronin.

"It's okay," he said, "Although we are indeed dissatisfied that the Shaq people have restored relations and maintained trade with the United City, especially the merchant guild, and have also expressed concerns... But this is your country's choice, regardless of the benefits. The consequences are all yourselves.”

Ronin looked at Seto: "After seeing the effects of the new policy, we have also adjusted our policy towards the Shark Kingdom and will continue to observe... At least for now, we will not be enemies with you, and we don't have to worry about anything."

The little princess was stunned.

"Now"……

The subtext is that in the past, the anti-slavery people also regarded the Shark Kingdom as an enemy that should be overthrown like the United City, and had even planned actions; but in the future, they may become enemies again depending on the situation.

It was as if he read her thoughts.

Ronin nodded and said: "At least during the Shagel period, or if Krall's Choice comes to power... it will be like this."

Of course, due to the relationship between distance and priority.

Even if they become enemies again, the anti-slavery people will most likely not take immediate action.

"Your mother is a rare hero, and Mr. Bayan is also an outstanding politician... However, I think you, princess, also know the hidden dangers."

Seto didn't answer.

Of course she knew what the other party was referring to: the five generals in the country, and Dashan Mukai, who was named Banished but was actually still accumulating military merit in the final fortress... But she already knew these.

She was surprised.

The anti-slavery people, a seemingly distant and mysterious organization, are thousands of miles away, but they still know the situation in the Shaker Kingdom very well.

This shows that there is their hidden line and intelligence network in the Kingdom of Shaq.

At the same time, there is also an outstanding politician in the anti-slavery group, as the ronin himself said, who analyzes the pros and cons thoroughly.

The ronin spoke so bluntly.

In a positive sense, it can be considered straightforward.

But it can also be said to be reckless.

However, Seto could not blame him.

Because——

This ronin is a war-level.

In the process of fighting against the United City, the anti-slavery group is small in number compared to the imperial army. This can certainly be said to be an elite route, but relying on ordinary covert actions, self-sacrificing assassinations... without hurting the bones, how can they really become the United City’s confidant?

They naturally have war-level strongmen.

There are more than one.

These are what the United City officials want to hide, just like this ronin is not even on the wanted list-the anti-slavery group only needs to be a group of hiding gangsters in the minds of the people. If they can’t be caught, at most they will complain about the incompetence of the police, but they will not doubt whether the Empire State Building will collapse.

The fact that Ronin chose to lead the team despite knowing Lu Meng's strength was enough to explain his identity - of course, from another perspective, he had to come.

Otherwise, there would be no equal conversation.

These were all analyzed by Lu Meng before. In addition, Huo Buyang followed him when he became famous, so he could be said to have learned most of his thinking. As the little princess was his student, it was not difficult for them to think of this.

However, Huo Buyang reminded Seto that:

Because of their natural suspicion of the rulers, the anti-slavery people may not be friendly to her, the princess of the Shak Kingdom, and may even be hostile to her because of this, so she needs to be cautious in her speech.

This is why Ronin replied before.

"It seems you understand." He nodded. "For us, the way to judge friends and enemies is not as simple as people imagine."

"Just like the Holy Kingdom and the United City, whether the United City wants to avenge Bast's burning of the city, or the Oaklanders want to completely eliminate these heretics... it is an absolutely irreconcilable relationship, and there is no possibility of reconciliation."

"But do you know-"

"Such a fanatical Holy Empire, how many slaves are working in their mines, farms, and temples of priests... and how many of their slaves are from the United City?"

"Not plunder... but active purchase."

The ronin paused: "Through the Slave Trade Guild."

The first-level franchisee of the Merchant Guild, its owner Kana is Long En's closest comrade-in-arms.

More than half of the slaves on the entire continent are produced from it, and in terms of taming, preparing and using slaves, the Slave Trade Guild's methods are unique in the world, from psychological admonition to physiological transformation, everything is used.

In the Holy Kingdom, only heretics and aliens are nominally enslaved, but the "products" of the slave trader guild are naturally unrestricted, or they already meet the requirements.

In this way, they can call on the peasants to launch a holy war while collecting their land and handing it over to the purchased slaves - among them may be prisoners of war of the Holy Kingdom captured by the United City on the front line, but since you did not die in the battle, you are also a heretic who betrayed Oakland.

The key is that it has become more "cheap".

"In other words: the food and weapons produced by the slaves are supplied to the Holy Kingdom's Chosen and Knights to launch a holy war against the United City; and the coins they use to buy slaves are continuously imported into the United City through the channels of the slave trader guild - the merchant guild, and armed the imperial army..."

In this process.

Countless soldiers and civilians fought on the long front from Bast to the Iron Valley, shedding blood all the time - and only the priests and nobles in the rear made a lot of money.

The merchant guild, as a link between them.

It is even more irreplaceable.

"In the past, the Shark Kingdom was also part of it, even though they themselves were unaware and thought they were fighting for glory... Fortunately, there are still sober people after all." Ronin's eyes turned from Seto to Lu Meng, and the white-haired young man had not spoken before, but it was not like he was silent, just listening quietly.

Such a calm attitude.

It surprised Ronin a little.

But he still said:

"And this is also what we think we should let you know after serious consideration... Your Highness the Red King."

"The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend."