The War Dogs’ Ploy and a Dance in the Rain

The bald strongman’s face instantly blanched, turning ashen white as paper.Clutching his vitals with both hands, he doubled over like a boiled prawn, collapsing to the ground in a painful, twitching heap.Allen moved with lightning speed, bending at the waist to snatch a gleaming dagger from the strongman’s belt.Without a glance, he tossed it to Marianne behind him, calling out, “Catch!”The dagger spun through the air, its cold gleam scattering light.Marianne’s wrist flicked, her hand slicing through the air.Her slender fingers closed swiftly, firmly gripping the humming hilt, her movements fluid as if honed by a thousand repetitions.She stepped forward, the cold blade instantly pressing against the bald strongman’s throat.Simultaneously, her knee drove hard into the spot where he had just been kicked, applying forceful pressure.”Urgh—!”The bald strongman let out another pig-like shriek of agony.The intense pain completely robbed him of his ability to resist, leaving him sprawled on the ground like a dead fish.The maid who had moments ago appeared so delicate and a touch shy now possessed cold, sharp eyes.Her body was taut as a leopard’s, exuding a chilling aura of murderous intent.The fragile maid was merely a disguise; the crimson-eyed killer before them was the true former member of the Scarlet Spiral Cult.She was the one capable of single-handedly eliminating nobles and their guards, earning the recognition of a False Mark.Marianne Durand!Entrusting the bald man to Marianne, Allen’s form blurred, ghosting towards the strongman’s personal guards, the mercenaries clearly loyal to him.He wielded no weapon, his movements cunning and vicious, employing only the low blows of street brawling: eye-gouging, throat-choking, groin-kicking, and leg-sweeping!Before the strongmen could even react, Allen swiftly brought them down to the ground with lightning speed, leaving them groaning in agony, unable to rise.Allen likewise searched them, tossing daggers to Marianne while keeping one for himself.The entire process flowed seamlessly; in the blink of an eye, Allen had crushed the backbone of the mercenary gang.Allen took a step forward, and though he stood alone, he projected the formidable aura of a thousand armies shattering an ice river.An invisible pressure emanated from him, spreading outwards.The mercenaries, who had moments ago been guffawing, found their laughter abruptly choked off, their faces freezing from mockery into instant terror.Allen’s gaze, sharp as an ice pick, slowly swept across each mercenary’s face.”As the saying goes,” Allen’s voice rang clearly in every ear, “we offer fine wine to friends, but a hunting rifle to wolves.””So tell me, you pack of bloodthirsty curs who live by the blade and thrive on murder, what is your purpose in barking so wildly at the gates of my Laval estate today?””You!” the bald strongman managed to stammer, clutching his groin and painfully lifting his head.”What do you mean?”Marianne mercilessly pressed her knee into him, forcing him to his knees in agony.”What do I mean?” Allen scoffed, stepping back to him.He seized the strongman’s collar, staring intently into his eyes.”Who hired you?”The bald strongman clenched his jaw, his eyes fierce.”I’ll never tell you!””Oh? So someone really did hire you,” Allen murmured, glancing at Marianne.”Marianne, have you learned any ‘special’ skills? I want him to confess who unleashed this wild dog.”He deliberately emphasized the word “special.”Marianne tilted her head, a glint of innocent cruelty flashing in her crimson eyes.Her clear, melodious voice echoed in the stillness:”Young Master, how about the ‘Blood Eagle’?””…”The air instantly solidified.Allen and the bald man simultaneously looked at each other, their expressions aghast.’Is she serious?”The Blood Eagle?! That legendary pirate torture where they break out your back ribs to form wings and hang your lungs…?”Good heavens! What on earth did you learn in the cult?!’The bald strongman was well-traveled and experienced; he had personally witnessed the aftermath of pirate rampages, seeing the wretched souls left behind, carved into a “Blood Eagle.”That horrific scene, a fate worse than death, had left an indelible impression on him.He stared at Marianne’s delicate yet subtly sickly face, a chill instantly shooting straight to his scalp!’This woman is serious! She actually knows how to do that!”Such extreme torture, even a tough man like me wouldn’t dare try it!”Damn it all, how did I end up provoking these two lunatics!’Cold sweat instantly drenched the bald strongman’s entire body, his frame trembling violently with fear.”Damn it! You idiots! What are you standing there for?! Attack! Don’t worry about me! I don’t care if I die, just don’t let me die so miserably!”The bald strongman shrieked at the top of his lungs, his voice warped.The mercenaries, stunned by Allen, finally reacted, their fear instantly overridden by the instinct for survival!They roared, drawing hidden short swords and daggers from their pockets and belts.Cold light gleamed, and a chilling aura of death abruptly emerged.Far from being intimidated, Allen burst into hearty laughter, his mirth filled with the satisfaction of a successful scheme.”Excellent! Truly excellent! Article Three of the Royal Public Order Law states: ‘Any individual found gathering with weapons in the Upper City of the Royal Capital, exhibiting suspicious behavior, or roaringly assaulting a noble’s residence shall be charged with treason!’”‘Those who physically harm a noble shall have their crime escalated by three degrees, resulting in the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their clan!’”He abruptly cut off his laughter, his gaze playfully sweeping over the mercenaries who had drawn their weapons, their faces now pale with shock.Finally, his eyes settled on the leader’s face, and he even clapped his hands together with delight.”Now, you’ve shown your true colors. Excellent!””My butler has already gone to summon the guards. What do you suppose fully armored guards will think when they arrive and see you brandishing weapons, besieging a noble’s residence? Hmm?””Perhaps running now might still save you? After all,” he deliberately drew out his words with endless mockery, “fleeing is your most practiced ‘basic skill’ as mercenaries, isn’t it?””Damn it, I’ll kill you!”A mercenary, whose eyes had turned red with fury from Allen’s taunts, charged forward, brandishing a short sword.He exposed too great a weakness, allowing Allen to effortlessly sidestep his attack.Allen seized his wrist with a twist, then tripped him, sending the man sprawling face-first with a pained yelp.”Oh, you actually dared to come?” Allen sneered, his foot pressing down on the fallen mercenary’s back, a villain’s signature cruel smile gracing his lips.”You don’t even have a crest; how dare you challenge a young master like me? If I weren’t so benevolent, I could have killed you all from the start. But, I believe it’s always better to offer courtesy before resorting to force.”Despite his words, Allen had no intention of actually killing anyone.At least, not in this setting.The eyes of the Heretical Inquisition were, at this very moment, watching him from somewhere.Before he officially joined the Church, he couldn’t afford any blemishes on his record; it would be disastrous if it affected his political review.As for whether Allen’s prior killings of cultists counted as blemishes… well, could anti-human cultists even be considered human?”Do you… have a crest?”The bald strongman asked, his voice trembling with incredulity.’The intelligence didn’t mention this at all!”If he had known Allen possessed a crest, how would he dare provoke this lord?’He had personally witnessed a knight lord with a crest single-handedly carve through an entire army!Allen’s smile grew even brighter as he spoke with feigned mystery.”Do you guess I have a crest? Guess correctly, no reward; guess wrongly, there’s a penalty.””A crest…” some newly joined mercenaries scoffed dismissively. “What’s a crest worth? We have strength in numbers; we don’t fear him!””That’s right! Brothers, let’s go! Are we afraid we can’t beat a mere brat?””Everyone, stop this instant!” the bald strongman roared, his voice like a clap of thunder, momentarily stunning his subordinates.”You fools, if you want to die, don’t drag me down with you!”He stared intently at Allen, his eyes filled with apprehension and a hint of inexplicable awe.”Are you truly that Allen de Laval?”‘How could the legendary prodigal son, the worthless good-for-nothing, possess such courage, such cunning, such a sharp aura? And he even has a crest?!”This intelligence is wildly inaccurate!'”Are you wondering why the information is wrong?” Allen saw through his thoughts. “The reason is simple.”Allen suddenly conceived a brilliant plan; he decided to fan the flames further.”Because you fools were cannon fodder from the very beginning. I don’t even need to guess to know your patron is some grand noble, and his commission was subcontracted multiple times, so you have no idea who he truly is.””I’d wager he paid you a deposit so substantial it was impossible to refuse, didn’t he?”The bald strongman’s pupils abruptly constricted!Allen’s words, like a cold dagger, precisely pierced the thread of unease that had always lingered in his heart.’That’s right! The money was too generous! Since when was a noble lord’s money so easy to earn?'”You’re all dead,” Allen’s voice was a demonic whisper. “Either you provoke me and get yourselves killed, or after you stir up trouble, you’ll all ‘accidentally’ end up dead in a sewer, your bodies conveniently bearing evidence of ‘the Laval family silencing witnesses’…””Either way, the Laval family will be branded with the name of having murdered workers demanding their wages, dragged through the mud, or even convicted and exterminated.””Your deaths, moreover, would not only ensure your patron sleeps soundly but also save them a hefty sum in final payments.””So, how about it? Do you realize now how utterly foolish you’ve been? You’ve been played for fools and didn’t even know it.”Cold sweat instantly trickled down the bald strongman’s temples.The surrounding mercenaries exchanged glances, their anger replaced by a chilling dread.The scenario Allen painted was too real, too perfectly aligned with the treacherous and ruthless modus operandi of noble lords!”You pack of imbeciles!” Allen sharply rebuked. “From the moment you stepped into this trap, you were already disposable pawns! You have no idea what kind of maelstrom you’ve stumbled into! Is noble infighting something you wild dogs are fit to participate in? Now get out!””Go back to your homelands! Perhaps you can still salvage your dog lives and see your families! Stay here, and only the guillotine and the reeking sewer await you!”Panic spread like a plague.In the distance, at the end of the street, the dense, heavy thud of footsteps and the clanging of armor already resounded!The silhouettes of guards were faintly visible!The bald strongman’s face turned ashen, his last shred of hope vanishing completely.’It’s over!’Yet, at that moment, Allen bent down kindly, helped the bald strongman to his feet, and even brushed dust from his clothes, his tone as gentle as if he were tending to an old friend.”Still hurting?”The bald strongman: “…Huh?”He was utterly bewildered.”You idiots, aren’t you going to help your boss up and make a run for it?” Allen shouted at the dumbfounded mercenaries.”Wh-why?” the bald strongman’s voice was hoarse.”I’ve given it some thought, and I’ve decided to offer you a win-win option.” Allen’s smile held a touch of cunning. “I’m going to do you a favor and let you live.””Remember me, Allen de Laval. This name will become the benefactor of your future prosperity.”His gaze swept over the mercenaries. “I know you are Imperial citizens. Nobles adore naive foreign mercenaries like yourselves, but it doesn’t matter, I like you too. Once the commotion you’ve caused completely settles, have your contacts in the Royal Capital seek me out; I will establish a long-term cooperative relationship with you.””Unlike those nobles who devour men whole and spit out bones, I am a man of my word. You can trust me, become my hounds, and I will feed you the finest fodder, making each and every one of you plump and well-fed.””Of course, you could also flee back to the Empire, keeping your lives constantly at risk, and continue to live by the blade, always on the verge of death.””The choice is yours. Now, get out immediately! Abandon the routes your patron arranged for you, and withdraw using your own alternative escape paths at once!”Supported by his subordinates, the bald strongman gazed deeply at Allen, his eyes now devoid of contempt, holding only a profound apprehension and a trace of inexplicable respect.”Lord Allen de Laval…” the strongman’s voice was slightly hoarse, and he stated his name, a typical Imperial name. “I, Werner Kruger, and the ‘War Dogs’ mercenary group, accept your contract.”‘War Dogs’?Allen paused, taken aback.’My ‘hounds’ remark actually hit the mark perfectly.'”You are indeed an extraordinary individual; your reputation as a debauchee appears to be nothing more than a facade,” Werner Kruger continued.”We admire ambitious individuals like yourself, for ambition always breeds slaughter, and slaughter is our very way of life.”Werner Kruger saluted Allen.”Finally, thank you once more for sparing our lives. Brothers, retreat!”Without any superfluous words, the well-trained mercenaries dispersed as swiftly as a receding tide, their movements rapid and orderly.Following their pre-planned alleys and concealed routes, they vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only the scattered red stains and wooden signs on the messy ground.Allen remained in place, resuming his usual somewhat languid demeanor.”Young Master, are you truly letting them go?” Marianne asked softly, stepping to his side.”Marianne,” Allen said, watching the direction the mercenaries had disappeared, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, “we must make many friends and few enemies. Remember this saying; it will be key to our survival.”Marianne pondered his words.She had heard Allen’s entire conversation with the mercenary leader.The Young Master actually intended to establish a cooperative relationship with foreign mercenaries? This was an extremely dangerous move!Nobles colluding with mercenaries privately violated royal prohibitions! This was a capital crime, bordering on treason!The Young Master daring to do this must be accumulating strength for his grand plan to save humanity.Indeed, the Young Master truly intended to use his whip to awaken this fallen world!As if to confirm Marianne’s conjecture, the sky, like the wrath of a god, suddenly erupted!Boom—!A clap of thunder tore through the sky!The long-accumulated downpour finally unleashed itself like a celestial river pouring forth!Raindrops the size of beans pelted down, instantly drenching Allen and Marianne to the bone.Allen wiped the rain from his face, looking at the equally disheveled Marianne, and couldn’t help but laugh:”Marianne, look at you. You actually look so innocent and pitiful now, but earlier, you truly scared me. Quite a performance!””You as well, Young Master Allen,” Marianne said, tilting her face upwards, rain sliding down her delicate chin, her crimson eyes glowing astonishingly bright in the rainstorm.”You just now… were particularly dashing.””Really? Hohoho, hearing you say that, it seems I’m not doing too badly as a villain.”Allen burst into hearty laughter, the deadly crisis of moments ago seemingly cast to the furthest reaches of his mind.He looked up, gazing at the lightning streaking across the sky.How beautiful!This thunderstorm that seemed poised to crush the entire Royal Capital!Allen’s heart, in truth, trembled.Cultists, the Inquisition, mercenaries…If Allen hadn’t possessed the experience of these thousands of reincarnations, any single one of these elements could have been his demise.These endless death flags were only just beginning.The ‘War Dogs’ mercenary group was a force never mentioned in the original story.Their attack was also outside the original plot.If time had progressed according to the Church route, Allen would have already been sacrificed to an evil god by now, and the Laval family would have completely exited the stage.The mercenary attack would naturally not have occurred.However, Allen had survived and completely altered the story’s trajectory.What would happen next?Allen didn’t know, and frankly, he didn’t care to know.When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth.He was about to die a thousand times; he feared nothing that came.…Except Livia.That one was the protagonist!A natural enemy to villains!As the saying goes, what you fear most comes true.Based on the maliciousness of the ‘Starlight Serenade’ world towards Allen, he guessed that Livia would most likely appear as an early-game boss.He absolutely had to find a way to defeat Livia.Allen knew his plan to conquer Livia was unreliable; he would probably be killed by Livia at first sight, long before Marianne could even recognize her.Ah… my brain is trembling!Why am I utterly chilled, as if soaked by the rain?Is this what it feels like to be kissed by the goddess of death?Ah, sweet death!It’s not that you’re coming for me, but that I’m rushing to you, so don’t you dare run away, you bastard!Yes, poor villainous young master Allen de Laval, he must truly be insane by now.”Marianne, listen to the rain, the thunder…” Allen suddenly spread his arms, letting the rain wash over him. “This is a symphony the heavens are playing just for us! Come, I’m in a good mood, so I’ll teach you a noble’s social dance. You’ll need it when you try to win over Livia!”Facing the somewhat crazed Allen, Marianne’s eyes instantly lit up.Overwhelmed, she placed her cold hand into Allen’s equally cold palm.”Yes, Young Master Allen.”Allen didn’t realize that he, driven mad by endless cycles of death, had an astonishing compatibility with Marianne.Judging by Marianne’s behavior in her personal route, she was definitely one of the most deranged Yanderes.Both of their minds were far from ordinary; these two lunatics together truly ought to make people worry about whether they would turn the Royal Capital upside down.In the pouring rain, two drenched figures whirled and danced in the chaotic open space before the Laval estate gates, oblivious to all around them.Allen’s dance steps carried a noble elegance, while Marianne earnestly tried to match his rhythm.The rain blurred their vision, yet it could not obscure the genuine, radiant smile on her face.”How about it! This feels good, doesn’t it!”Allen’s voice was almost drowned out by the heavy rain.Marianne, as if releasing all the pent-up frustration in her heart, shouted:”Yes, Young Master! I’m very happy!”When the old butler, Jean Leclerc, rushed back with a squad of fully armored guards, he was met with this sight:An empty street, scattered red paint and wooden signs on the ground, and the master and servant happily waltzing in the pouring rain.This scene truly appeared both mad and bizarre.The guards exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions asking, ‘Have these two master and servant gone mad?’The old butler stood in the rain, watching the two figures dancing oblivious in the rain, his urgency and worry slowly fading.In their place was an indescribable mix of emotions.He remained silent for a moment, ultimately letting out a soft sigh, muttering under his breath, his voice lost in the roaring rain:”Truly, he is the Young Master.”