Ralph hid behind the tent and called out to the middle-aged man with a weather-beaten face:"Raymond."The middle-aged man, who had found Ron, stopped in surprise. He was still holding the cloth to be used for shelter from the rain in his hands, and looked at Ralph with a puzzled expression.

When Raymond's family was selected as the object of the blood tax collection, he didn't send out his daughter or son like others, and also refused his wife's request. After ensuring that his family could survive, he stood up and took on this "responsibility" by himself.

When Ralph, who hadn't been reduced to paying the blood tax at that time, heard about this, he secretly laughed at this stupid guy in his heart. He clearly knew that he was the pillar of the family who could bear the most weight, but he still chose to believe that his sixteen-year-old son could support the lives of the other two and made this worst decision.

But soon he himself became a member of this team and never thought about other people's problems again.

Raymond looked at him warily:"What's the matter?"Ralph said with a smile:"I want to ask you for a favor."Raymond was the strongest man in the whole team and one of the few exceptions among such people who didn't completely follow him. Therefore, Ralph had long wanted to get rid of him.

And he did so.

When the knights came to select the pathfinders, they didn't care who they chose at all. So they usually chose the first two people standing in front.

And as the leader of the team, he could control the specific position of the crowd in advance. Just as he said to Ron, there were two losers who died during the exploration before.

But what Ralph didn't say was that they both died on the way because they were "arranged" to explore the way when they were extremely hungry.

And Raymond was also arranged by him to explore the way. Unfortunately, he actually came back alive.

The middle-aged man said expressionlessly:"Sorry, I'm not interested."Ralph looked curious:"Really? Do you also want to be ostracized, watch others spit on your face and eat what we left, Raymond?"Raymond sneered:"You can't do anything to me in the camp. And I have already explored the way. Unless you want to break your own rules and arouse their anger."Since you can't kill me, what do I have to be afraid of?"Besides, since we are all doomed to die, it makes no difference to me whether I die earlier or later."Ralph suddenly smiled:"I really admire your courage. But before that, at least listen to what I want you to do?"Raymond looked at him calmly.Ralph continued:"The newcomer you brought back is a trouble to me, and I have to deal with him."Raymond shook his head with a smile:"You want me to help the tyrant. You still didn't understand what I just said, right? To tell you the truth, if it's a little farther away from the camp, I will stop Helen who is calling the knights."He originally had a chance to survive in the face of the unknown danger, but I pulled him onto the carriage destined for death. I still feel a little guilty about him."You want me to attack him. It's a joke."Ralph showed a confident smile:"I really like your strength. Then let me tell you a secret, something I haven't told anyone. Have you ever thought that I would choose to embark on this desperate road with you when there were other opportunities?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

He looked at Raymond with an amused expression.Raymond's face gradually became ugly.Ralph said aggressively:"Let me tell you. Do you remember my grandfather? He is still alive and has now become a knight. When I arrive at the castle and get in touch with him, I may also become a blood servant."I know that this possibility is not high, but it's still one in ten. And when I become a knight, the first thing I will do is to return to the town and kill my former opponents."And whether I will kill your children and wife in this process depends entirely on your decision today."Raymond looked at the other party with a pale face.He had heard the relevant rumors and thought it was a rumor spread by Ralph himself at that time. He was also surprised at his courage. But what if what he said was true?Ralph said word by word:"Are you a good father, Raymond?"

...

In another part of the team.Ron and Helen were sitting in a small tent big enough for the two of them to rest separately.

Ron was taking the opportunity to explore his system, trying to figure out the meaning of each word on his panel and the functions he hadn't understood yet.

Helen was secretly observing the handsome young man opposite her. After he simply tidied himself up, his outstanding appearance began to show.

And more and more questions arose in her mind. How did this outsider from other regions appear in the unconscious place? And he seemed to have no understanding of the place where he was.

And she had also vaguely guessed the reason why Ralph "planted" her beside Ron. Now she was faced with a serious problem.

Which side should she stand on?

Of course, Helen didn't plan to take sides now. But when Ralph asked her to "accompany" Ron, her first reaction was that she was going to do undercover work.

Although Ron's performance hadn't made her change sides yet, Helen had also given up the idea of firmly supporting Ralph. Of course, relatively speaking, she definitely trusted Ralph who had the support of most people more.

"Miss Helen," Ron said in a low voice, looking at her, "now we can talk sincerely with each other."

Helen's cheeks flushed slightly:"What are you talking about, Mr. Ron?"Ron ignored her feigned shyness:"I want to ask you, based on your understanding of Ralph, will he cause me any more trouble?"Helen tilted her head and looked at Ron blankly:"Sir, what are you talking about? I don't understand."She still thought that Ron couldn't beat Ralph who had the support of others. And if he could really completely overthrow Ralph, he would have done it when he first arrived. Why hadn't he made any move until now?

And if we look at the situation of their first confrontation, Ron was the one at a disadvantage.

He wanted her to take sides, but she wasn't so naive as to show trust just because of his words.

Pop!Ron suddenly snapped his fingers.

Helen looked at Ron in horror and suddenly covered her mouth tightly with both hands.

Ron looked at Helen, whose hands were controlled by his psionic energy, gently:"Now, are you willing to talk to me frankly?"Helen covered her mouth and nodded frantically, her eyes full of pleading and surprise. That expression was as if Ron was the long-awaited savior. And if she could speak, she might have expressed her worship and respect with the most "sincere" words.