Chapter 35:

Since ancient times, people have acted without considering their true motivations. In all matters of the heart, no one is perfect.

It doesn't matter why you save the princess.

What matters is whether the outcome of that action is good or bad.

If the result is good, then the act becomes a good deed.

"Three trials, I don't know what they are."

The return on rescuing the princess is as high as 1000%.

Not only can you win over a beautiful and caring princess, but you also stand to inherit the family estate and become the owner of the castle.

And you'd receive a hereditary earl title.

Become a high-ranking noble.

Such immense temptation naturally attracts countless brave souls eager to defeat the banshee and save the princess.

However, for more than ten years, no one has passed even the first trial.

One can only imagine how difficult these three trials must be.

Rhodes was quite intrigued by these three trials.

He loved the challenge of impossible feats.

Not to mention, the reward for completing the challenge was a living, breathing princess.

"The first challenge is posted at the castle entrance."

"Only after passing the first trial can you enter the palace to meet the count and receive the second challenge."

Rhodes rode his dog to the city gates and looked at the notice posted on the inside of the castle gate.

"The first trial is to eradicate the jackal camp near the gold mine, ten kilometers away. Kill the leader of the jackals, and bring its head to the palace to receive the second trial."

"This count knows what he's doing."

Rhodes rubbed his chin, noting how cunning the earl was in getting others to do his dirty work.

Ten kilometers from the Kingdom of Francis, there was a medium-sized gold mine.

But the gold mine was occupied by a group of jackals.

Everyone knew the value of a gold mine, even if it were just one-third excavated.

If it could be fully mined, the Kingdom of Francis would become the most prosperous kingdom in the region.

Even Count Francis himself might stand a chance of rising further.

But alas, the mine was controlled by jackals.

The jackals were a race of orcs, a branch of creatures aligned with the forces of evil. Cruel and cunning by nature, they thrived in groups.

Jackals were physically stronger than humans, and their speed and strength far surpassed that of ordinary soldiers.

Moreover, their favorite prey was humans, those weak and fragile creatures.

The Kingdom of Francis likely endured constant harassment from these jackals.

As for wiping them out?

The cost was too high.

There were at least a thousand jackals in their camp.

Even if the Kingdom of Francis mustered all its military might, eradicating the camp would be a serious strain.

Now, Count Francis had come up with a clever plan. He designated the jackal camp as part of a trial.

Whether someone passed the trial or not, it was a win-win for the earl.

The Kingdom of Francis was the only earldom nearby.

Without the jackal camp as an obstacle, the gold mine would fall directly into the hands of the Kingdom of Francis.

Thus, the eradication of the jackal camp benefitted no one more than Count Francis.

Even if the camp wasn't fully cleared, brave men willing to risk their lives would at least wear down the jackals' strength.

Without sending a single soldier, the earl could exploit these brave souls as cannon fodder to weaken the jackals.

No matter how you looked at it, it was a surefire profit.

And the best part was that the task was presented as a trial, with no actual reward promised.

Even if someone risked their life to complete the task, they would be shocked to find an even more difficult trial awaiting them.

Giving up after the second trial would mean all prior efforts were for nothing.

And the gold mine?

That belonged to Earl Francis. What did the foreign adventurers stand to gain from it?

Without paying a penny, the count would emerge the ultimate victor.

This earl's little scheme was rather well-played.

"Mortal wisdom."

Rhodes shook his head, tearing the notice off the gate.

"I'll take on this task."

The two guards at the gate were momentarily stunned. They clearly hadn't expected anyone foolish enough to take on a trial that had gone uncompleted for over ten years.

Rhodes exited the castle and headed directly toward the jackal camp.

One of the guards, regaining his composure, quickly ran into the castle, making his way toward the palace.

Someone had accepted the earl's trial. That was big news.

The wind howled!

Rhodes sat cross-legged on his massive dog, watching as the scenery sped past him like frames in a film.

Without the burden of a carriage, his loyal treasure house guards moved with astonishing speed.

As soon as they hit all fours, they pounced like cheetahs.

Their explosive power left nothing behind but slowly fading afterimages.

In just a few minutes, a massive camp came into view.

The dilapidated camp exuded a primitive and barbaric aura.

The sound of hammering echoed from within.

Vaguely, hairy figures could be seen moving back and forth.

Outside the camp, gnawed bones lay scattered across the ground.

Among the remains were wild animal bones... and human skulls.

There were quite a few of them.

"Since they're man-eating beasts, there's no need for hesitation."

Rhodes stretched his muscles and leapt off the dog's back.

His expression remained calm and indifferent.

The law of nature was simple: the strong eat the weak.

Since these jackals treated humans as food, he felt no psychological burden as he prepared to slaughter them.

"My time is precious, so let's make this quick."

With a glance at the slowly rising sun on the horizon, Rhodes' body began to glow with golden light.

He stood like a miniature sun, radiating heat and light.

"Unforgiving Sun!"

Boom!

A blazing orb of light gathered at his fingertips and shot into the center of the camp.

With a deafening explosion, scorching flames engulfed the entire jackal camp.

Bestial roars and howls filled the air.

Rhodes walked through the sea of flames, unfazed, as if strolling through a garden.

Small orbs of light, like miniature suns, flew from his hands and into the mines.

As the last mine was swallowed by fire, the jackals in the camp were all but annihilated.

"You must be the leader of this camp."

Rhodes looked down at the only surviving jackal.

Its charred body trembled, and its cruel eyes flickered with fear and hatred.

"It's fine to hate me. I killed your people, and I'll accept responsibility for that."

Rhodes murmured softly, his face expressionless, his voice filled with cold indifference.

"So, remember this face."

"In your next life, stay far away from anyone who looks like me."

Whoosh!

A spear of flame formed in his hand and shot through the jackal leader's heart.

Rhodes grabbed the leader's body.

With a swift swing of his divine axe, the head rolled to the ground.

The jackal camp was obliterated.

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