Wanderers, although not numerous in terms of headcount, had already proven their strength by making the Empire retreat step by step with just a few thousand troops.

Gregory Lawrence, however, didn’t care.

He jumped down from the rock, "Psh, what’s that all about? I’ve already snooped around. Their so-called wanderer boss seems to have been captured. Without her, the wanderers are like dragons without a leader!"

Being without a leader meant they could take advantage by storm.

"Besides, we’re not so bad ourselves. Arnold Simmons, you were so impressive when dealing with the Black Serpent, the very image of valor and elegance."

He threw a left hook, then a right, made a couple of gestures, and then ran to Desolation’s side, slinging an arm over his shoulder.

"And there’s Desolation, he’s carrying weapons too!"

Desolation pushed him away and stood at a distance, holding his long sword.

Gregory Lawrence didn’t mind and ran over to Hannah.

"If push comes to shove, we’ve still got Hannah, right?"

Gregory Lawrence counted off the people one by one but didn’t mention himself.

Hannah sat atop a boulder, propping her chin with her hand as she watched the fiery sunset in the distance, "Do you know where the wanderers dock their starship?"

Arnold Simmons looked over.

Gregory Lawrence couldn’t immediately respond, "Well, about that..."

Although he was good at sniffing out information, he didn’t know much about the wanderers.

"So what do you think we should do?"

Gregory Lawrence was also out of ideas.

That was the only plan he could come up with.

Annoyed, Gregory Lawrence scratched his head and plopped down on the ground.

As soon as he sat down, he "Ow!" jumped back up.

"I’m burning up!"

The midday sun had heated the sand until it was scalding hot.

Arnold Simmons walked over to Hannah, shielding her from the glaring sunlight, before he looked down and asked her, "Got any ideas?"

Hannah kept her eyes down, looking at her watch on her wrist.

A white watch, its face adorned with vivid red gems.

It looked like a very ordinary, old-fashioned watch, but it was beautifully crafted.

"Let’s do as Gregory Lawrence says."

That was indeed the only plan.

That was what she had initially thought of too.

Only at that time, she hadn’t expected to encounter Arnold Simmons or Desolation.

Gregory Lawrence was simple-minded and easily swayed, deceived by a few words.

But Arnold Simmons was different.

He knew her too well.

...

After dark, they briefly went over the "starship theft" plan.

Operating at night was the safest time.

But first, they had to figure out the exact location where the wanderers had docked their starship.

"The thought of it is exhilarating. In the past, it was the wanderers who robbed and plundered everywhere; now it’s finally our turn to be the righteous ones!"

Gregory Lawrence was suddenly overflowing with a sense of justice.

Hannah sat off to the side, hugging her knees, unusually silent.

Without a word from her, Arnold Simmons just sat beside her.

"Arnold Simmons, do you know about the wanderers?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

She suddenly spoke.

Arnold Simmons turned to look at her.

There were campfires in the distance, and starlight above, the stars falling upon the night sky.

"I do," he said.

Hannah turned to look at him, her head resting on her arms, "Do you think they’re bad people?"

Madmen involved in "killing, looting, and pillaging" and "robbery and plunder."

That’s what the people of the Empire said.

Because that’s how the royal family described them.

Undesirables from lower society.

Many people across the stars would agree.

Why is it that even though life is already so hard and painful, people of the same class still repel and insult each other?

Arnold Simmons looked into Hannah’s eyes and said earnestly, "No, they are not."

Hannah looked away, her finger scratching at her sleeve, "Why not?"