Chapter 145: Royal Soldiers arrive
"I'm sorry to say this, vice captain Ben, but Tula isn't the Tula you knew before the ant incident occurred. This is what happened and what I said to the unreasonable vice captain standing beside you." Vincent then started telling the same story he told the black-caped vice captain.
The blue-caped vice captain Ben displayed multiple expressions during the story of their journey. He could do nothing except believe the story because even when acting, one could mess up.
However, Tula didn't. As the person who knew Tula the most out of those present, Ben knew she was horrible in acting, and her feelings were always portrayed on her face or actions.
It wasn't deceit. Tula truly reverted back to the ten-year-old girl who liked to get taken to the lower district city square and play with stray animals as her father had no time to take care of house pets and her mother busy working as a part-time maid.
Ben would have a handful, but Tula was a cute and sweet child. Saying no was hard. As a man that couldn't have children, Tula was like a daughter to him.
After the story concluded with Tula almost getting detained from being labeled as a deserter upon sight, Ben's anger started displaying a hint of bloodlust.
The three blue-caped vice captains and the soldiers behind them had arrived around the middle of the story. Some had a few tears welling in their eyes upon hearing of Koss's death, but after hearing what was about to happen to Tula, the black-caped vice captain was like a chicken surrounded by vicious starving wolves.
Ben brought with him people who knew Koss, were his friends, some soldiers that kept contact with Koss after passing the training to become an official soldier, and others were soldiers that Koss saved from the disastrous confusion the ant attacks caused.
All in all, Koss's death saddened most while devastating a few very close ones. However, when the mention of Tula entered their ears, their eyes could only menacingly glare at the black-caped vice captain no matter their rank.
After hearing how Vincent tried his best to show their sufferings, but all his words passed through deaf ears. The bloodlust couldn't hold still.
The soldiers could see Vincent with his scared arm revealed. Most felt uncomfortable and had to look somewhere else. It lit a flame of anger in their hearts. Their mouths could barely hold still.
The thought of the unreasonable black-caped vice captain infuriated them even further. It seemed the rank difference held their fists from giving him a lesson. However, their tounges could not. A rain of profanity soon erupted.
Ben quickly raised his hands and covered Tula's ears post haste. With what he saw, he had no choice but to believe Tula had the mind of a child. Such words should not get heard by the pure girl.
"You dare lock the daughter of my savior? You bastard, don't let me find you in a dark alley!"
"I feel disgusted that I thanked you for opening the gate and ordered the archers to fire and kill a few ants running after us. I should have let one in and led it to you."
"Not following the regulations of interrogation is against military law. I will talk to my superiors about this unjust action. Koss was my colleague, my drinking buddy, and my friend."
"Three of the seven South Gate captains were good friends of Koss. I think one of the North Gate captains will give you a visit after this, haha."
These were some of the reasonable mocking and threats the black-caped vice captain received. The others mainly consisted of.
"You P***! I'm gonna F***..."
"The recent promotion has made you a M***..."
"Don't think of enjoying a night at the bar. The drinks will have multiple healthy ingredients such as horse S***..."
Vincent, Ester, Lupa, and Kazumi were left staring with a dumbfounded expression. They couldn't believe how well-known Koss was. The soldiers also appeared to show hostility even if their ranks were lower than the black-caped vice captain.
The black-caped vice captain and the five soldiers under his jurisdiction felt like a pack of lions wanted to eat them whole.
However, the black-caped vice captain persevered. He grabbed Tula's arm. He was about to pull her when Ben slapped him so hard that he fell on the ground.
"You still dare to touch Tula in our presence! I will call in a few favors for this!" Ben glared at the bewildered black-caped vice captain. Then he continued with a menacing tone while covering Tula's ears again, "A few favors to make your soldier life hell!"
As this was happening, a small squad consisting of a dozen well-equipped and decorated soldiers riding an also well-decorated horse arrived.
Each individual wore a yellow cape. On their armor was an emblem similar to the fluttering flags in the towers. Each mightly-looking soldier extruded power and authority.
"What's happening? Why are the Royal Soldiers here?" Many murmured in surprise at this strange occurrence.
"Is one of the three with Tula, a dangerous criminal?" A few others continued.
"Why is an unauthorized force collected here? Where are the suspects that caused the commotion?" One of the Royal Soldiers asked.
Ben kneeled and said, "My lord. The man in bandages, the red-headed woman, and the beastman brought the temporary combat vice captain Koss's daughter. He is otherwise known as the Task Master Newbie Instructor."
Ben stood up and gently patted Tula's head, "She has suffered a huge blow to the head and lost her memories. But the City Defence vice captain wanted to detain her by giving the excuse of being a deserter."
"M-my lord! I'm trying to keep the city safe. It is my job to keep unidentified people from entering." The black-caped vice captain used his job description as a scapegoat.
The Royal Soldier ignored the sly black-caped man and approached Vincent. His gaze soon noticed the scarred uncovered arm and understood it was the work of acid.
A few soldiers under their commands suffered in the first few days from thinking the acid wasn't strong enough to melt metal. Acid attacks aren't common in the Southern Content.
The Royal Soldiers all had a noble title under their belts. They had people under them similar to a vice captain while Royal Guards were similar to captains. However, royal troops only served a select few noble families of Marquess rank and above.
"Show me your identification." The Royal Soldier ordered.
Vincent did as asked. He could see the attentive gaze on Feng Mengli's disciple identification as he pulled it out.
"Attention!" The Royal Soldier suddenly shouted.
"These four aren't criminals and will not be treated as such. However, they need to pass a comprehensively recorded interrogation to enter the city." The Royal Soldier then turned his head towards the black-caped vice captain, "We have reports of your illegal promotion, but we kept the judgment until you do undesirable work. As such, you will be demoted to a foot soldier."
"But, but..." The black-caped vice captain begged.
"Your actions today have made a certain man very unhappy. You are lucky you get to keep your life. Get your filthy disgusting corrupted hands off of me." The Royal Soldier kicked the begging black-caped vice captain so hard he was sent tumbling a few meters away. The man appeared to be many times stronger than Koss.
"Since we came to interrogate four people. We didn't see a force moving without authorization. However, since we, the Royal Soldiers of the kingdom, gathered many soldiers to participate in a small lecture, the soldiers under us mistakenly followed us." The Royal Soldier wanted to let the soldiers gather to welcome Koss go without a punishment. He turned a blind eye at the gathering.
The Royal Soldier instructed the five young soldiers that were trying out for a position as City Defence Soldiers to escort the now demoted foot soldier inside for further interrogation.
Then the Royal Soldier ordered Vincent, Ester, Lupa, and Tula to follow him to the interrogation room.
"My lord. Can I escort Koss's daughter and stay with her? Not only she lost her memories, but her father, uncle, and uncle's fiancee passed away from the ant disaster." Ben asked. He wanted to beg the higher-ups for leniency no matter the cost.
A second later, the Royal Soldier accepted his proposal. He didn't seem to mind unless it was to hinder Vincent and the other's entrance.
[Is it because of the cultivator disciple identification? I feel it has turned the tables in our favor. I wonder what would've happened if we never met Feng Mengli. ]
-Don't always try to figure out the answer, Kazumi. Let's follow them and hope Ben helps us get out quick and safe.-
Vincent, Ester, Lupa, and Kazumi felt uncomfortable. While they were escorted to the city gate, they were surrounded by many soldiers of different ages, Royal Soldiers, and vice captains.
It was like an important VIP arrived in the city, and it was inevitable for multiple rumors to emerge from this scene. The South Gate's defense soldiers could do nothing but speculate what happened and why the recently appointed City Defense vice captain would decide to fight against such an important figure.
'Royal Soldiers never deploy for mundane reasons. Who is the bandaged man with strange powers?' All the soldiers in the wall and towers thought.
'They will not reprimand us, will they? I was following orders.' A few archers with a missing arrow in their quiver frighteningly thought.
After passing through the enormous gate, a soldier tasked to escort Vincent, and the others asked to follow him through a thick iron door in the wall. No other soldier followed them. They were treated like guests rather than suspicious people.
The Royal Soldiers took the many soldiers and other blue-caped vice captains with them. But it didn't look like they were going to get the people who wanted to meet with Koss in trouble.
The Royal Soldiers were going to perform an unimportant lecture in the meeting grounds before telling them to disperse as if nothing happened. Many eyes gazed upon their every action to report to nobles for rewards.
As the saying goes, walls have ears. No secret is safe. The Royal Soldiers' intent to make this event fade was evident, along with the black-caped vice captain that fought against a person who managed to survive being drenched in acid.
Not only would it bring shame, but some nobles might try to take advantage of the situation and place their men for shady intentions in high ranked positions.
When money is involved, loyalty is tested. Smuggling items or people could make good coin while the army was suffering from a soldier shortage. Such an event would most probably get exploited by shady noble families.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone