If the chaotic kingdom of the Northland is compared to a relatively closed ecosystem, the wolf bandits and the grizzly bear Michelle belong to a kind of competitive relationship. This kind of rivalry often arises, but it is kept within certain limits, the two are not natural enemies, and Gross and Michelle do not have too deep personal vendettas, unless they are forced to do so, and the two sides will never fight each other without purpose.

Miss Mage's suggestion, Gross was noncommittal—to be honest, he didn't think it made much sense.

And doing something that doesn't make sense is a waste of time.

However, the other party did not come to see them off, and out of caution, Gross and Oliver were already standing on the walls of the castle.

The two of them looked into the distance.

Stretching along the perimeter of the castle walls to the rolling hills in the distance, the band of Bear Bandits returned after leaving. They weaved through the winding mountain paths, the shadows of men and horses looming in the shadows of the sun and the shade, and this time they looked so well prepared that they could be called fully armed—the ones at the head, draped in shiny busts, with reflective surfaces that could indicate the material of metal; Among the group of followers behind them, a properly sized clay bowl was fastened to the head to function as a helmet, and Gross saw a guy with a rusty iron pot that had broken off on his body, as if he had mistaken it for an infantry cuirass.

The ability to protect, of course, is still there.

The battles that took place during the New Moon period between the Northland bandits seemed to Gross like a child's game, but he knew that his side was full of weak rookies. Except for himself, the combat power of his companions remained at the same level as the other party...... Michelle the grizzly bear returned after a while, bringing about 100 people, no matter how you look at it, there is a kind of "don't leave after school" momentum.

But Gross doesn't have any entanglement in his mind now, all his thoughts have flown to the completion of the inauguration, which is very important, enough to make his own strength skyrocket several times in a short period of time - after completing the inauguration, he can be regarded as truly entering the power system of this world. Gross is well aware of this.

It's just that the people who came were not good, maybe the group of Brute Bear Bandits didn't know the fact that the castle had changed hands.

Gross felt the need to let him know.

But he ignored the extent of the grizzly Michelle's anger after being taken advantage of - soon, Oliver, who shouted, received a reply from the bear: let them wash their necks and wait for death!

The wind is rising.

The northern territory of the kingdom is a mountainous area, and Michelle the grizzly bear is standing on a hill looking at the castle at this time, and near it is a mottled birch forest, in this late autumn season, the sky is full of fire, and the golden light passes through the dense foliage overhead, and sprinkles a little shining light on the soft mud covered with dead leaves, and also falls on the somewhat distorted face of Grizzly Michel.

He was gritting his teeth, and there were two strong men who looked like him standing next to him, White the Black Bear and Brak the White Bear. White the Black Bear was born as a mercenary, and Brac the White Bear was his younger brother, the kind he was born to. In the past few years, the two brothers served together in the Northland Legion, and later narrowly escaped in a rout and made it to this area.

This is the eastern side of the Nogo Mountains, where the Laru River meets the edge of the Kingfisher Forest. In the territory of Northern-Norgo, the jurisdiction of this area belongs to Count Wolfe, and Lord Karen Bennett, his castle is located within the jurisdiction of the noble Earl, and he is also a subordinate of the Earl. Thirty years earlier, he had been an official knight under the command of the Earl.

With the experience of a Northland Legion captain, Michelle probably knew this information, and what was happening at the moment made his forehead bulge like an earthworm - the hateful boys of the Wolf Bandits, who were born as mud-legged farmers, actually took the castle right under his nose. He accidentally learned from a certain source that Lord Karen had abandoned the castle with his family and fled to Karthas, and originally planned to take advantage of the situation. Built in the year of Alfalfa (481 Continental Calendar) under Edwin VII, the castle was one of the frontiers of the kingdom's legions against the enemy, but it gradually became a hinterland after the kingdom expanded its territory in a large circle.

The castle has been around for a long time, and it may have been a collection of goodies, but the damn boys have already made it to the top of the city—and Michelle has no doubt that if she arrives a little longer, the castle will be empty. The bandits are called "locusts" by the Northlanders, and they are not a false name.

Therefore, he went back and gathered all the men, for this castle, Michelle was bound to get - the wolf bandits were still there, and they could not be just in time to wipe out the group of boys.

Gross returned to the clearing in the center of the castle. From the hill where Grizzly Michelle was now located, the view was obscured by the wall and the trees between the two points, but this did not prevent the tall, strong bear-like man from roaring under his breath from time to time, and even drew his saber and slashed at a piece of dead wood.

Of course, this movement was already known to the people inside the castle.

Scott ran down from the castle's watchtower, and whispered in Gross's ear that the bandit leader's mouth twitched, and it was clear that the other party's position had blocked them in the castle. The situation was not what he had originally anticipated.

The wolf bandit group and the wild bear bandit group, the two sides do not have the hatred of killing their father or taking their wife, but in this situation, the other party will definitely let them spit out what they have eaten, and a humiliation is indispensable - and then the other party may let them go, maybe not. This "as a chopping block, I as a fish" situation is not what Gross wants. He had intended to avoid the conflict, but now it seemed that there was not much possibility.

After thinking about it for a while, he calmed down, but he didn't have the idea of retreating in his heart - as the leader of the wolf bandit group, some principled issues were destined to be uncompromising, if he bowed to the brute bear bandit group here today and spread the word, maybe he would face more trouble in the future. What's more, a young and beautiful girl is watching his performance.

Gross sighed. There wasn't much he was going to take from the castle, except for some books. These books came from Lord Karen's study, and included the contents of the Continental, which in his opinion were worth as much as gold, silver, and jewelry. Although there were no important items such as weapons and armor in the harvest, he was satisfied.

He has never been too materialistic.

At this time, there was a shouting voice from far outside the castle, and the corners of Gross's mouth inadvertently swept into a smile - he knew that Grizzly Michelle, that man was a veteran, and he had a good reputation among the bandits in the Nordinogo region, and he also had the strength to match his reputation. If Gross was a farmer boy in the past, he would have to eat deflated this time.

However, the soul of Gross's body was completely another arrogant, conceited creature bordering on hubris, and he had planned to leave the castle, so that he had no previous thoughts.

He drew his sword, then looked into the distance.

"Miss Crane, you're quite right."