Chapter 14: Survivor

It was the seventh day since the circus had arrived at Piyec Fortress.

The performance for the common folk had ended. The peaked tents were temporarily left on Fountain Square.

The soldiers fighting outsiders would return to the fortress in different batches for rest.

So, all they had to do was wait for the guards who deliver messages to notify everyone to prepare for the performance.

In the early morning, the sun's rays bloomed from the horizon, draping the sky and clouds with a golden hue. The sun pierced through the gap in the curtains, gently waking the sleeping guests within the inn.

Xia Zhou had left his deep slumber.

Bo Pai and Sneck, who were staying in the same room, had gotten up early and went strolling in the city.

They probably just came out of some restaurant, praising their delicious breakfast while heading to places for recreation.

The two of them, like all stalwarts who have reached a certain age but still haven't married, would frolic in the tavern until late before returning.

Playing dice, cards, and sometimes arm-wrestling with others for free drinks. Occasionally, they would spend a night out with some beautiful girls, returning the next day with dark circles under their eyes to catch up on sleep.

There were only these ways of entertainment on this land.

"Knock, knock, knock"

There were knocks at the door.

Xia Zhou opened the door to see Audrey standing outside:

"Good morning, Ma'am. Isn't it a bit early for lessons? I haven't had breakfast yet…"

His words and gaze began to slow and he examined Audrey's attire from top to bottom, commenting in admiration:

"You look really beautiful today, Ma'am."

Audrey had put on light makeup, concealing the more rugged lines on her face. Her hair was knotted into a bun at the back of her head, and a sparkling pendant hung around her neck.

Her voluptuous waves were wrapped in a white silk bodice, revealing a deep ravine. Her tall and slender 1.9 meter stature paired with a slit skirt revealed her slender legs.

"Kid, you could accompany me to the tavern later. Go change into something more formal now."

Audrey pushed the boy into his room and closed the door behind her.

With a confused expression, Xia Zhou opened his leather case filled with clothes and began to look for something clean and decent.

After every performance in a city, Audrey liked to wander around the streets.

Xia Zhou followed behind her helping to carry clothes and packages. Occasionally, he would buy a few books or clothes for himself.

A few minutes later, he came out of the bathroom wearing a brown gown adorned with tassels, "Can I wear this?"

"Mmm~ It's good."

Audrey smiled and nodded. She lifted a leg up to sit on the edge of the bed:

"Well, Kid, originally I wanted to go alone. But I think you are smart and have a good memory, so you might be able to help, so I thought about bringing you along."

"What is the specific task?"

Xia Zhou sat near the desk, munching on slices of bread to fill his stomach.

Audrey took a deep breath, her bosom gently quivered, flashes of memories passed by her eyes.

"During those years when I was running around for the Warrior Guild's points, I briefly joined the kingdom's army."

"One of the officers who returned to the fortress a few days ago is an old comrade. We decided to meet at the tavern today to catch up on old times."

"I just wanted to inquire about the military's ongoing war situation with the bandits to prepare for the next reincarnation performance."

While eating his bread, Xia Zhou glanced at Audrey again…

Given her carefully groomed appearance, that old comrade must hold a high-ranking position in the military.

"I'm done eating. Shall we leave now?"

Audrey took the boy's hand and walked outside the room.

"I will introduce you to him. Well… in the capacity of my brother. You must remember all that he speaks about. This is a rare opportunity to understand the war situation."

…

There was a general consensus within the circus: their new fire-breather, Xia Zhou, is a boy who does not like to waste his time in leisure venues.

Indeed, that was the case.

Xia Zhou had once accompanied Sneck and the others to the tavern.

There were plenty of choices for board games.

Although winning could fetch him money, the experience gained was dismal, almost the same as cooking a dish.

Moreover, after losing, he had to pay money without gaining any experience and wasting his time.

Gaining experience through entertainment was apparently not a lucrative deal.

The tavern that he and Audrey had visited today was much more upscale than the ones he had been to before.

The large hall on the first floor had seating booths created with wooden boards and curtains, replacing the long benches and square tables seen in regular taverns.

The clients gently spoke to each other amid the mellifluous notes of the piano.

The bartender at the bar was neatly dressed with a little bow tie on his collar. His purposely decorated beard was even more elegant than Xia Zhou's hairstyle.

Xia Zhou couldn't help but smooth his hair and tidy his gown before following Audrey into a corridor leading towards a private room.

A middle-aged man with a scar on his cheek was sitting steadfastly at a dining table.

As soon as he caught sight of the radiant Audrey, he stood up with a smile to greet her, "Audrey, you are more charming than before."

"Nice to see you, Wilson. You look as fit as ever."

Audrey extended her hand for a light handshake, then turned to the boy next to her, "This is my brother Xia Zhou. Xia Zhou, meet Uncle Wilson."

"Hello, Uncle Wilson~"

With a polite smile, Xia Zhou launched his Detection Spell at Wilson.

...

[Character Name] Wilson

[Identity] Personnel of the Piyec Fortress Army

[Life Value] ??

[Strength] 7

[Agility] 9

[Stamina] 6

[Vitality] 3

[Perception] 6

[Will] 6

[Spirit] 2

[Charisma] 5

[Special Skills]

[Breathing Spell Effects] ??

..

Wilson's attribute distribution is similar to Audrey's and others, both strength and agility are high.

This is characteristic of those who practice the Breathing Spell.

Except for Farns, who has a prominent will attribute.

..

"Hello, little guy. Come, sit down."

Wilson pulls out chairs for Audrey and Xia Zhou, ordering a waiter to bring tea and snacks.

The two, comrades once, first recalled their past military experiences, then talked about their current conditions.

From their conversations, it was not hard to figure out.

Wilson was once the captain of a mobile unit, rushing around to attend emergencies, driving away bandits or killing fierce beasts.

Audrey, on the other hand, had once been his teammate and the only female member of his team.

The two are reunited after several years.

Audrey has become the ringmaster of the circus.

Wilson, on the other hand, has achieved numerous military merits and is now the third-in-command of the Piyec's city fortress military – a secretary, responsible for recording all the affairs of the military, and providing advice to the commander.

Audrey gently strokes Xia Zhou's hair, speaking to Wilson with a touch of sadness:

"Old friend, let me tell you the story of this boy…"

With calm words, she tells the story of Xia Zhou being kidnapped by an evil alchemist for experiments, and eventually rescued by the circus.

Wilson is immersed in Audrey's words.

After hearing that among the boys in the cave, only Xia Zhou survived and that he had walked alone in the forest for two days, Wilson looks at Xia Zhou with admiration.

"You're very brave, Xia Zhou."

A smile lifts the corners of Wilson's stern face.

"Thank you for your praise, Uncle Wilson. I have already moved on from this tragedy."

Xia Zhou responds with a polite, slight smile and nod.

Wilson stands up, reaches over the table to pat Xia Zhou's shoulder, a look of admiration on his face:

"When you turn 18, you're welcome to join the army here. We need strong young men like you."

"That's not okay, Wilson. Xia Zhou is our circus fire-breather."

Audrey interjects with a light laugh.

Wilson's smile wavers slightly, then he shakes his head, jests with a tone of regret:

"Kid, I never thought you'd have this kind of skill. Audrey sure is lucky."

Audrey takes a sip of her tea, using the cup to hide her delighted smirk.

"How have you been lately? My old friend."

"It's a mess…"

A tinge of helplessness flashes across Wilson's face,"It seems that something's been happening in the barren wasteland to the south of the kingdom. The behavior of the bandits is completely different from before."

Audrey and Xia Zhou exchange glances, then turn to listen attentively.

Wilson crosses his fingers on the table in deep thought,"Audrey, do you remember how we used to deal with the bandits?"

Audrey replies with a smile:

"I pretended to be a peasant woman washing clothes and carrying a vegetable basket, you pretended to be a farmer doing hard work, and the others covered their faces with scarves and worked in the fields. When the bandits came, we launched a surprise attack."

Wilson slowly nods,"The bandits of the past just wanted to find something to eat in the villages, pull away a few cattle, or take away the villagers' money bags and clothes.

"The villagers either banded together to drive away these half-starved scoundrels, or simply surrendered to the superior numbers of the bandits. In any case, the casualties in the village would never be as... as severe as they are now."

Wilson's tone grows serious:

"In recent months, it seems that the bandits are not targeting the village's supplies.

"They attack the villagers as soon as they enter the village, kill everyone, loot everything, then burn the village down.

"Every time the fortress receives an alarm and sends troops to the scene, it's a scene of charred devastation."

Xia Zhou frowns, an obscure speculation forming in his mind.

It seems that an opposing force is manipulating bandits to harass Piyec's fortress in an attempt to divide the fortress's military power and wear down the army's vitality.

There are many, many villages in Rosak Province.

As the circus's convoy travels along the commercial road, they pass a village every twenty or thirty kilometers.

With so many scattered outposts, setting up permanent military forces would be a very difficult task.

Normally, the guards in the village are a few soldiers stationed from a fortress, plus a group of militiamen wielding hoes and pitchforks.

The main military forces in the whole Rosak Province are concentrated in various fortresses.

When bandits appear somewhere, the stationed soldiers in the village would ride to the nearby fortress to raise alarm, and then the fortress's military camp would dispatch troops to exterminate the bandits.

The relationship between bandits and villagers is more like the one between a sickle and leeks.

Only living villagers are good villagers; dead villagers can not produce food and other supplies.

For bandits, killing villagers has no benefits other than landing them on the executioner's block.

Audrey realizes this too, "In the villages destroyed by the bandits, are there no survivors?"

"None."

Wilson shakes his head and says:

"You know, the army needs to clear the ruins, dispose of the bodies, to prevent a plague. We've thoroughly searched the site, and found no survivors."

"Uncle Wilson, I can probably be considered a survivor."

Xia Zhou sounds unsure, his tone wavering.