Simply put, a transcendent item represented power, and it represented money.
Dismas understood immediately. The Cannon Company would never let such an opportunity pass. Even if the Wolf Pack tried to run, the deserters would abandon the town to hunt them down. It would be a war to the death.
"And one more thing," Lance added, pulling Dismas back from his thoughts. "When you tell them this, you must not be alone with the leader, or you will be the first to die. It is best to tell a few of them at once. And it is best to be vague. Do not state your thoughts directly. You must let them guess the truth for themselves. Only then will they truly believe it."
To be honest, Dismas himself had been somewhat taken in by the story. He couldn't help but ask, "My lord, do you think... it could actually be true?"
Lance paused for a moment, surprised by the question, but he did not give it much thought. "Let us not speak of whether it is false," he said coolly. "Even if there is such a treasure, it will be ours in the end. What are you afraid of?"
Hearing this, Dismas laughed. He had indeed been overthinking it. "Then what should we do with him?"
"Hmph." Lance let out a low sound and walked over to the brigand. "Do you have any last words?"
Realizing his fate, the brigand broke down, sobbing and begging for his life. "Please... spare me..."
Looking at him now, it was hard to connect this pathetic figure with the bloodthirsty madman from before. He looked more like a farmer with a broken leg, begging a nobleman for mercy. Lance stood over him, his expression unmoved by the man's pleas. "Is this not," he asked softly, "how the common folk appeared before you, when they begged?"
The brigand froze. Before he could react, a shortsword had been plunged into his chest. As the light faded from the brigand's eyes, Lance uttered a few final words.
"A debt of blood must be paid in blood. Not one will be left."
The brigand was dead. Lance had fulfilled his promise of a quick end. He then turned, dragged the corpse to the edge of the camp, and threw it out. The wolf pack, which had been waiting for some time, their bellies rumbling with hunger, immediately rushed forward and dragged the body away. Unsettling sounds echoed from the darkness.
Dismas, witnessing this, said nothing. He was only glad that he had long since mended his ways, and even more glad that he was not his lord's enemy.
Lance silently turned back. "This important mission is now yours. Your safety is the priority. If things go wrong, just run. Do not feel any pressure. We will be nearby, ready to support you."
"I guarantee the mission will be completed." Dismas had been through all manner of things. He was confident there would be no problem.
Lance clapped him on the shoulder, then returned to the camp. After checking on Reynauld and the woman and seeing that all was well, he turned his attention to the journey.
"Come, the mission is complete. We are returning to the town. Reynauld, help her."
The Crusader understood his lord's meaning. He took the woman's arm and led the way. Lance, as usual, was in the third position, his pack filled with all sorts of things, and Barristan brought up the rear. In the darkness, the alpha wolf seemed to sense something. It stopped its feeding, looked up in the direction of Lance's departure, and let out a long howl.
"Awoooo..."
......
"Dammit! How did I get stuck with this rotten luck? Standing guard here since sun-up. Am I a brigand or a bloody soldier?"
"Just shut it. The relief will be here soon enough."
"I'll bet you those lazy bastards are still tangled up with some woman, not wanting to get out of bed."
"I wouldn't want to get out of bed either."
"Tch. What's so good about that lot? Now, if it were... heh heh... she's the real prize."
He did not say her name, but the other man reacted at once. "You've got your eye on her? Are you mad? Careful the Captain doesn't put a bullet in you."
Hearing this, the first brigand showed no fear. On the contrary, he grinned lewdly. "If it meant I could have a shot at her, I'd die a happy man."
The two brigands sat to one side, talking nonsense, their lazy posture showing no hint of a proper watch. If a real fight were to break out, they would be of no use at all. Suddenly, a rustling came from the bushes in the forest. The two sentries were instantly on alert, scrambling to their feet and raising their long-barreled flintlocks.
"Who's there?"
"Come out, now!"
"Don't shoot! It's one of ours!" Dismas emerged from the thicket. He looked to be in a wretched state. His iconic greatcoat was gone, and he was dressed in ragged burlap, with another scrap of cloth thrown over his shoulders. His face was covered in filth, and his movements were ragged. He truly looked no different from any other brigand.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm with Big Brother Billy's crew! We were ambushed! I'm the only one who got out!" Dismas held up his hands to show he was no threat, panting as he stressed his point. "You have to take me to see the Captain! I have something important to report!"
The two soldiers, having had some military training, understood the gravity of the situation. They quickly led Dismas back towards their camp. Dismas had only observed the place from afar before. Now, up close, he saw many new things. The entire camp was situated in a large ruin. Most of the buildings were made of stone, or rather, only the stone parts remained. The wood and earth had been worn away by time. He wondered why such a large ruin would exist on this old road.
He could see other brigands walking about. Most were not on high alert, but they all kept their firearms close at hand. His earlier estimate that a third of them were gunmen had been too conservative. As he passed some of the buildings, he could see or hear what was happening inside. Captive women were being tormented. In his past, he would not have reacted to such things. But now, a feeling of anger began to smolder in his heart. But Dismas was calm. He knew he could not save them now. He could only lower his head slightly, to hide the fire in his eyes.
The deeper he went into the camp, the better equipped the brigands became. The proportion of men wearing armor increased significantly, and their gear was more uniform, unlike the mismatched, motley equipment of the men on the perimeter. As per his lord's instructions, Dismas had been looking for the cannons, but he could see no sign of them. He did not know where they were hidden. And with a guard on either side of him, he could not deviate from the path.
Soon, Dismas was brought before the brigand leaders. They met him not in the open, but in a room. And in that room, the first thing Dismas saw was a woman, seated in the center. Her beauty made his heart skip a beat. He had never seen such a bewitching...
"Who are you!"
A sharp command brought Dismas back to reality. He looked to either side and saw two men of different builds, but from their clothes, he could tell they were of high rank. "Sirs," he said quickly, "I'm one of Billy's men."
"State your business."
None of them seemed to pay him any mind, their tone dismissive.