Chapter 256: Chapter 257: This City is Ruled by Us


    Trantor: 549690339


    The Copper Knife Army has always been one of the more infamous private military forces in the tea-colored grounds. They don’t belong to any nation but are often seen in national wars.


    Whichever country is willing to pay a high price, they sell their services to them; given the chaos of the tea-colored grounds, a strong private army like theirs never has to worry about going hungry.


    In the Copper Knife Army, there are more than three thousand soldiers proficient in de techniques, not to mention a few Divine and Mortal beings among them. The core force leading this army is also a group of de Masters with high cultivation bases, experts in assaulting cities and killing enemies. Even the armies of some city-states need to retreat when they encounter the Copper Knife Army!


    With their formidable strength and strict discipline, and with many powerful interests entangled behind them, many countries tend to amodate them.


    “So it’s a private army led by a bunch of de Masters, huh? Since your Copper Knife Army is so remarkable, why usurp another’s nest, wouldn’t it be better to attack and take a city for yourselves?” Zhu Minng said to Zhu Weicai, the Copper Knife Army’smander.


    “Our army has taken over cities before but, while capturing a city is easy, managing it is not. There hasn’t been a single city under our management that didn’t end up steeped in debt. After numerous asions, we’ve learned our lesson—fighting and killing is our forte; we know nothing beyond that!” Zhu Weicai, themander of the Copper Knife Army, replied with surprising honesty.


    “Then, Runyu City isn’t exactly a lucrative ce either, why cling to it so stubbornly?” Zhu Minng asked.


    “Haven’t you heard that Mourning Dragons have appeared again? Our Copper Knife Army is waiting here to catch them off guard. Theplete corpse of a Mourning Dragon can fetch a few thousand gold pieces, and those of high level can sell for tens of thousands…”


    “Commander, weren’t you going to question him about why he wanted to drive us out of the city?” At that moment, a Junior beside Zhu Weicai quietly reminded hismander.


    “Right, why am I discussing this with you? Are you the new City Lord of this city?” Zhu Weicai asked.


    “This is the City Ownership Deed, at noon I’ll issue the first order to expel all armed forces. Your Copper Knife Army might want to head outside the city early to pick a prime spot to camp, to save your brothers from freezing at night.” Zhu Minng said.


    “Hmph, acting all high and mighty with that featheredmand, just issue your order, and when the timees, we’ll see if the Copper Knife Army moves an inch!” Zhu Weicai disyed his disdain once more.


    “Where is your camp located?” Li Yunzi spoke up.


    “Right beside this ruined marketce, why, fancy a tour of our camp’s might?” Zhu Weicai of the Copper Knife Army said.


    “Sure, lead the way.” Zhu Minng smiled in response.


    Following the soldiers d in copper helmets and armed with copper knives, they headed towards their camp.


    The Copper Knife Army had upied argepound of residences directly and had transformed the most important markets, streets, and business districts into their camp. The significant crossroads had be a ce for their soldiers to drill.


    At that time, several thousand soldiers split into multiple battalions were practicing right in the thoroughfares of the city, looking no different from the regr armies of some nations, and even with the presence of Divine and Mortal beings and de Masters, their might seemed even more impressive.


    “Don’t you have any Dragon Shepherds?” Zhu Minng asked.


    Most armies would recruit Dragon Shepherds, as they are the mightiest force in battle and many ferocious Dragon Beasts are killing machines on the battlefield!


    “No, Dragon Shepherds are all too arrogant, spending money to hire them is not worth it when we could give that money to our brothers to enjoy themselves!” Zhu Weicai again showed a disdainful curl of the lip, clearly holding great prejudice and dissatisfaction toward Dragon Shepherds.


    “Commander, this morning we saw the Dragon Shepherds of the Hu Family Army, it seems like they’re nning something big,” a Junior soldier hurried over, paying no mind to Zhu Minng, Li Yunzi, and Hao Ye, and reported directly to themander.


    “What are Hu Bailing and Hu Chongming, those siblings, up to now?” Zhu Weicai said, furrowing his thick brows.


    “The details are still unclear. Should we send someone to keep a close watch first?” asked the Junior.


    “Hey, City Lord, didn’t you want to expel all armed forces? Why don’t you start by driving out the Hu Family Army? They are the original owners of this city after all.” Zhu Weicai turned his head and said to Zhu Minng.


    “We are with them,” Zhu Minng said indifferently, not minding revealing himself.


    “Damn it, doesn’t that mean you are here to scout our military information!” Zhu Weicai red back in anger.


    “You invited us to visit,” Zhu Minng said.


    “I invited you to visit only to let you clearly see our strength, to stay out of our way. Young people can be wild, but don’t court death!” Zhu Weicai said angrily.


    “At what price?” Li Yunzi asked.


    “What price?” Zhu Weicai was utterly confused.


    “To hire your army,” Li Yunzi continued.


    “You little girl, the Copper Knife Army does big jobs: seizing cities, annihting ns, stomping on Dragon Caverns, and trampling demonirs. We’re not here to act as guards for you Embroidered Ladies, or to y the role of de Masters.” Zhu Weicai said.


    “So the price,” Li Yunzi asked coldly.


    “One million and a half in gold as a down payment. It depends on what we do for you. If it involves attacking cities, participating in national wars, or eliminating some stubborn forces, we need to charge a more reasonable fee ording to the level of danger and our potential losses,” Zhu Weicai said.


    Zhu Minng certainly hadn’t anticipated that Li Yunzi would recruit troops on the spot!


    But upon reflection, it made sense.


    Such a big city, teeming with dragons and fishes, bustling with numerous forces, it’s indeed difficult to clean up without one’s own army.


    The Hu Family Army, after all, was cooperating with them and notpletely under theirmand.


    “One million in gold for Hu Family, and their Dragon Shepherds are easier to deploy,” Li Yunzi said.


    “How could those greenhorns possiblypare to us, the battle-hardened Copper Knife Army!” Zhu Weicai retorted, his thick eyebrows raised again.


    “One million in gold. If you ept, continue to be stationed here and follow my orders from now on. If not, pack up and leave as soon as possible. Once night falls, we control everything in this city, including your lives!” Li Yunzi said.


    “This… this…” Zhu Weicai was actually somewhat indecisive at the moment.


    He had originally intended to invite this new City Lord over to intimidate him, but now he found himself overwhelmed by her imposing manner.


    One million in gold…


    To take it or not, the price was a bit low, but actually, earning a profit from hunting Mourning Dragons was not something that happened overnight. It really might be better to ept the employment, a stable job for a while.


    After all, with three thousand of the Copper Knife Army having no work for a day, they would lose arge sum of money!


    “Agreed, agreed, agreed! One million in gold it is!” Zhu Weicai epted.


    Zhu Minng and Hao Ye still hadn’t quite grasped what had happened, and Li Yunzi had already taken control of the Copper Knife Army!