C13 Hunter or Prey?

Yuh Chengye served as a third-level deacon for the Black Rock Chamber of Commerce, one of the Huorong Principality's top ten trading powerhouses. His current mission was to lead a team to the principality's southwest to conduct trade with the local nobility.

The journey had been surprisingly smooth, lulling Yuh into a false sense of security. In a bid to cut travel time to the southwest, he daringly ventured beyond the Huorong borders into the perilous Southwest Wilderness.

Contrary to expectations, their trek through the wilderness was not marred by encounters with formidable Magic Beast packs. Instead, they stumbled upon the Wolfriders of the Black Wolf Principality. Though merely a small lord's army, the Wolfriders' strength was not to be underestimated, with each rider being at least Level 4, and their centurion commanding a daunting Level 7 prowess.

The escort team's captain and his men fought valiantly, covering the retreat of the main caravan. Despite heavy losses, they managed to create a significant gap between themselves and the pursuing Wolfriders.

Yuh Chengye made the decisive call for the caravan to delve deeper into the western wilderness, hoping to leverage the roaming Magic Beasts as a means to snatch a sliver of survival.

As the pursuit wore on from high noon to the depths of night, the once-thousand-strong caravan dwindled by over six hundred souls. The remaining three hundred were on borrowed time, their mounts' stamina paling in comparison to the Wolfriders' wolves.

"Curse these wretched wolf spawn!"

Desperation clawed at Yuh Chengye, yet the instinct to survive spurred him to relentlessly drive his horse forward, shouting encouragements he scarcely believed himself.

"Hold fast, brothers! Our resolve is our only ticket to survival!"

But what hope was there, really, in the desolate expanse of the Southwest Wilderness, devoid of any signs of life?

Then, in a moment that cut through the bleakness, a sharp report echoed across the terrain. The head of a leading Wolfrider burst in a gruesome spectacle, showering his comrades in a grisly mix of crimson and white. His headless body was flung from the wolf mount, crashing to the earth only to be trampled under the relentless march of the pack.

Before the Wolfriders had a chance to gather their wits, a barrage of gunfire erupted from the distance. Dozens of Wolfriders at the forefront were sent tumbling off their mounts.

The Wolfriders who narrowly avoided the initial onslaught witnessed the chaos and didn't bother to fight back. They quickly turned to flee, but before they could get their mounts to pivot, they were wiped out by a subsequent hail of bullets. Even the Level-7 centurion managed only to withstand a few more shots than his fellow riders.

The entire skirmish was over in less than thirty seconds. The human merchants at the front heard nothing but a cacophony of bangs. By the time they sensed trouble and looked back, the once leisurely pursuing Wolfriders had been reduced to lifeless bodies on the ground.

"It's the Mechanical Soldiers! A Mechanical Territory Lord must be hunting nearby! We've been saved!"

An eagle-eyed guard from the merchant caravan shouted with elation upon spotting the Mechanical Soldiers on a distant hillside.

"We've made it!"

In the thin line between life and death, there was profound terror.

The humans, who had been toyed with by the Wolfriders for hours, staggered off their horses upon realizing their rescue. Some collapsed to the ground, laughing heartily, while others lay prostrate, weeping with relief.

Yuh Chengye, the caravan's steward, however, couldn't afford to let his guard down. The allegiance of these newly arrived Mechanical Soldiers was still uncertain. A misstep in handling the situation could spell death. He eyed the advancing horde of hundreds of Mechanical Soldiers and, summoning all his courage, stepped forward to meet them.

"Esteemed Mechanical Territory Lord, I am Yuh Chengye, a third-ranked deacon of the Black Rock Chamber of Commerce, one of the top ten chambers in the Huorong Principality. I am profoundly thankful for your intervention. Our Black Rock Chamber of Commerce will surely honor your benevolence with a gift that will meet your approval!"

The Mechanical Soldiers halted their advance but offered no response.

Yuh Chengye's heart pounded fiercely. He was aware that the formidable Mechanical Territory Lord was likely scrutinizing him through the eyes of these Mechanical Soldiers.

Yet, he dared not make any superfluous moves that might displease the figure of authority.

All he could do was offer a beaming smile to the leading Mechanical Soldier and await the Mechanical Territory Lord's verdict.

At this moment, Wang Changqing found himself uncertain. The unexpected arrival of the human caravan could be his chance to integrate into the society of the Initial Continent, but he wasn't ready to make that leap just yet.

His initial plan was to wait until he ascended to Knight Level and became a lord before attempting to enter the society of the Initial Continent. But the abrupt appearance of an official from the Black Rock Chamber of Commerce, based in the Huorong Principality, threw a wrench into his plans. Now, he faced the task of making a fresh decision.

As the seconds ticked by, beads of sweat formed on Yuh Chengye's brow.

After what seemed like an eternity, just as Yuh Chengye's spirits were plummeting and the surviving members of the caravan began to sense that something was amiss, a mechanical voice emanated from the lead mechanical soldier.

"Greetings to our guests from the Huorong Principality. I am Wang Changqing, Lord of the Dawn Territory. It is a pleasure to encounter you all in such a perilous and barren place."

Hearing the synthesized voice, Yuh Chengye's sinking heart leapt. He quickly plastered on a smile and ingratiatingly responded, "My Lord, I am Yuh Chengye, a deacon with the Black Rock Chamber of Commerce. I am grateful for your assistance once more. We will certainly not forget your generosity."

"Did I hear correctly that you hail from the Huorong Principality?"

"Yes, my Lord. Our Black Rock Chamber of Commerce is headquartered in the capital of the Huorong Principality."

"And where is this Huorong Principality? How far from here?"

"Sir, the Huorong Principality lies to the east. It's about a half-month's journey from here."

Fully aware that his fate was in Wang Changqing's hands, Yuh Chengye was prompt and thorough in his responses. Yet, between the lines, he subtly underscored the might of the Black Rock Chamber of Commerce. Wang Changqing, however, didn't take him to task over it. Such tactics for self-preservation were beyond reproach.

As they conversed, time flew, and Wang Changqing gleaned a wealth of valuable information from his counterpart.

The Huorong Principality was founded over 50,000 years ago by a human lord from another world, and it remains a purely human nation to this day. The Grand Duke, a formidable High Rank Lord over 60 levels in strength, is rumored to have lived for nearly 100,000 years.

On the Initial Continent, the professional system is split into two main categories: Lord Class and non-Lord Class. As an indigenous human of the Initial Continent, Yuh Chengye had only a limited understanding of the Lord Class, knowing just the basics.

Low-level lords could seek the protection of a High Rank Lord by paying either 10% of their territory's annual income or a tribute based on the territory level. The Huorong Principality, for instance, prohibits High Rank Lords from attacking lower-level lords without cause, though conflicts between lords of the same level are not forbidden.

Moreover, a High Rank Lord has the authority to call upon his subordinate lords to send troops when waging war. As a result, the retinue of a High Rank Lord often includes numerous lower-level lords.

Legend has it that the original alien world lords who arrived on the Initial Continent were categorized as Summoners by the natives. But as more lords arrived, growing in number and power, the Lord Class was eventually distinguished as a separate profession.

The factions founded by these lords typically only allow members of the same race to join, although there are exceptions that focus on the type of Arm regardless of the lord's race.

The non-Lord Class is the primary profession of the Initial Continent's native inhabitants, encompassing mages, warriors, knights, archers, assassins, and more.

Additionally, the Initial Continent features only the Lord Class and a unique class known as "Hero," which can level up through combat and "killing."

This leveling rule evolved with the arrival of the first alien world lords. Previously, natives of the Initial Continent would gradually improve their levels through cultivation. Nowadays, most natives aspire to become Lords or to awaken as Heroes.

Yuh Chengye is no exception. When discussing the Lords' ability to level up through combat, his eyes can't help but betray a hint of envy.