Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"What is it?" The guard asked in an annoyed tone.

"We have come to negotiate the release of all the soldiers, tell your lord that we are asking, for two platinum coins, to release all of the soldiers here," Branden said.

In times of war, demanding ransom for prisoners was not uncommon, though typically reserved for high-ranking officials or individuals of strategic importance. However, it was rare for common soldiers to face such demands.

In this scenario, the Captain of the city's guard, well-versed in military matters, recognized the subtlety in Branden's request for a relatively modest sum of ten silver coins per captured soldier. This apparently low cost concealed a clever strategy.

With a significant number of soldiers available for release, the city could amass a potent force that would serve as a formidable work force for at least a month. This would give them time to recoup the expenses spent on releasing the soldiers.

Understanding the captured soldiers' value and the security they could provide, the Captain wasted no time in making a prudent decision. His choice was grounded in practicality, ensuring the town's safety and stability during these uncertain times.

"I will deliver the offer to my lord immediately," the captain said.

The captain left, and only his underlings stayed behind, forming a walk in front of Rain. As if that would be enough to stop them…

"That doesn't seem like a high enough amount considering that we will have to split amongst ourselves," Rain said.

"You want to split it?" Branden asked, frowning. "We can't spend it anywhere. We might as well keep as war funds. Our territory is basically a large farm, remember?" Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e'm-p| y r

Branden had a point, they were fighting for survival, so it made sense that they would focus only on that as a group and think about other things once their enemies have been dealt with.

Fortunately, the group didn't have to think too much about that since the captain returned with some bags filled with gold coins… Branden asked for two platinum coins, but two hundred gold coins were valuable as much.

The town's lord, cautious and preferring to keep a low profile, assigned one of his trusted subordinates to handle the negotiations for the release of the prisoners. This approach was driven by his desire to avoid direct involvement, maintain anonymity, and mitigate potential risks associated with being too publicly visible.

Rain, on the other hand, wanted to distance himself from the image of a bloodthirsty warmonger. However, his reputation as a war hero made it challenging to get rid of this perception. Despite his sincere intentions, his past actions had earned him both fame and notoriety that were difficult to shake.

In this situation, he found himself trying to strike a delicate balance between his genuine desire for a peaceful resolution and the expectations and perceptions that accompanied his status.

"Here are the money that you asked," The captain said. "Where are the keys to free the prisoners?"

Rain snapped his fingers, and all the handcuffs fell when Branden received the money. He only did that for appearance sake, since he could have done the same with his mind alone.

"All the money is here, so we are going to leave," Branden said after he counted the coins. "But we will return with the weapons and supplies that we got during this war. Tell your lord that you can recover them for a good price below the market."

The captain didn't know if he should feel good about that or not… he didn't want to fight people that were able to deal with armies by themselves, after all. In any case, Branden and the others soon left and looked at Julie for a moment. Those who went to talk with Orcis had to be careful since they could be silenced… they also had to try to learn as much as possible in that town.

"It seems that things went well… if the lord plans to use that army against us, he will have to use ten times more money or arm and armor all those soldiers, but their fighting spirit is completely broken," Roan said while looking over his shoulder. "The original plan was to go around and take more resources from Joanis allies, but I take it that we will have to change that."

"Yes… it will be better if we don't start the conflicts and just focus on building our foundation for the next battles," Rain said and nodded.

Rain knew that his family and friends had to rest as much as possible when they were surrounded by enemies. So, he couldn't be careless. He recognized the importance of allowing his group time to grow stronger and reshape the kingdom's perception of them.

By giving his companions the opportunity to enhance their abilities and demonstrate their worth, Rain was growing a formidable team. This approach, while time-consuming, was a prudent one. It allowed them to build a foundation of strength and support that would prove invaluable in the tumultuous times ahead.

Rain understood that, in the face of uncertainty, preparation and a favorable public image were powerful allies.

In a hurry, the group dashed toward the others, and as they rejoined the rest of the group for dinner, Rain found himself thinking about Terra's remarkable healing abilities. She had been a crucial factor in his recovery, and he couldn't help but admire her dedication.

Despite having run out of potions earlier, Terra continued to channel her magical healing powers to mend his wounds. Rain was curious about the source of her seemingly endless strength and how she managed to sustain it for such a prolonged period.

"Oh, I thought you would never ask," Terra said and then smirked. "I now know how to absorb mana from the surroundings while keeping a constant state of meditation and doing other things."

"I never thought that you were that type… but it is like they say, the quiet ones are the most dangerous," Rain shrugged. "How cunning of you to wait until someone realizes what you have learned."

"You do that all the time!" Terra raised her voice.

"I do? I guess I do," Rain shrugged once again.