Chapter 45: XLV. Dragon Pool and Tiger Den
Approaching noon.
Zahak took over the task of searching for the secret port as soon as he heard that Marcus hadn’t done it that morning, starting the work with the highest efficiency and carrying it out vigorously.
Facing the Aran Constitutional Soldiers in ivory-white uniforms, the people of the secret port had no temper to show and obediently submitted to the inspections.
In just one morning, eleven secret ports had been searched, each left with a detachment of Constitutional Soldiers to stand guard. Even the nobles from Londen City didn’t dare show anger, only waiting for the tumult of these few days to pass before continuing their trade.
On the rammed-earth path beside the sea erosion cliff, twenty Aran Constitutional Soldiers were conducting a search. After bribing informants, all secret ports along the coast were exposed.
"The people here are really pathetic—it’s no wonder the Emperor had slaughtered them so brutally in the past. With this attitude, how can they fight any war? Let’s finish up with the next port quickly and get back for a meal."
One of the Constitutional Soldiers spoke arrogantly, reveling in the smooth progress of their work here, in a foreign country, compared to even better treatment than at home. No one at the ports dared disobey their orders, and they took great pride in their Aran heritage.
"One shouldn’t say that. Nearly twenty years ago, I also took part in battles here. The Beima people were quite spirited, and their women were particularly... tempting, haha."
The short-haired Constitutional Captain, an older man who’d attained his rank through seniority, continued to boast, "Back then, we were nothing but bandits in uniform, looking to profit from the war. Who the hell joins the army for anything else? In the lands we conquered, women were ours for the taking—I had my way with more than twenty."
The rest of the Constitutional Soldiers were shocked. Had things really been that wild back then?
"Weren’t such acts against military law?"