Starting Today, I'll Work as a City Lord-Chapter 201: The Cowgirl’s Big Sister

The Forbidden Mountain Range had many offshoots- some shaped like basins, others like broad, gentle plateaus…

These natural formations made many areas suitable for habitation. Especially in the kingdoms ravaged by the Wrath of the Goddess of Ice and Snow, refugees who had escaped often settled down in a tribal fashion.

“Stop! Who are you?”

Crack-

A dry branch snapped underfoot. Avery came to a halt and turned her head to look at the group of cattle beastkin blocking her path.

“Go tell your chief that Avery of the wolf beastkin is here,” Avery said coldly.

“Y- You’re Lady Avery?? Ah!! Please wait just a moment!” The cattle beastkin guarding the gate immediately dashed off to report.

Avery was currently reeking of blood and rot. Just brushing against her armor would shake loose clumps of congealed blood.

She had spent a month in the Forbidden Mountain Range, long forgotten how many people she’d killed. She was tired now- just looking for a place to rest before continuing her search for the princess.

And the place she had chosen was this mountain fortress made up of beastkin, or more accurately, a bandit mountain fortress made up of beastkin.

The leader of this bandit gang was an old acquaintance of Avery’s. That was the only reason she had come here to spend the night. She would be moving out tomorrow, this time planning to sneak into a human city and gather intel on the princess.

“Lady Avery, the chief welcomes you in,” the cattle beastkin guard returned and said respectfully.

“Mhmm.” Avery, a greatsword slung across her back, strode forward. Her sharp orange eyes were so fierce that none of the guards dared meet her gaze.

“Phew…”

Only once Avery was gone did the guards finally dare to breathe freely again. The killing intent she carried had left them all on edge.

“Hey, hey! Who was it just now that blocked Lady Avery? I honestly thought she was going to cut us in half.”

“Uh… I just didn’t recognize her right away, okay? That grime on her- it’s all dried blood, right?”

“Wonder how many people Lady Avery has killed this time. Probably just more unlucky slave traders and scumbags.”

“Do you think Lady Avery will go with the chief? With her around, our chances of success would be way higher, right?”

The guards started gossiping casually at the gate.

Avery had no idea she was so highly regarded. And even if she knew, it probably wouldn’t stir much emotion in her. Compliments about her strength had long since lost their effect.

She’d been to this stronghold five times before, so she was familiar with the layout. At the center of the camp stood a wooden hut- the chief’s quarters and essentially a restricted area that only a handful of people were allowed to enter.

Creak! freewebnσvel.cøm

Avery pushed open the door and stepped inside, where she saw a green-haired woman standing in the middle of the room, a sword in each hand.

“Ha!”

The green-haired woman rushed at Avery, swords flashing. “Avery, come! Spar with me!”

Clang!

Avery drew her greatsword with both of her hands and clashed with the green-haired woman. The hut was filled with the sounds of steel, their strength evenly matched.

After a while, they both stopped.

Clang!

The green-haired woman tossed aside her swords and exhaled deeply. “That felt amazing! Avery, you really are the only one who can go head-to-head with me.”

“Lady Bella, you’re still as energetic as ever,” Avery said coolly.

“Hehehe…”

Bella laughed and flicked her long green hair, her deep brown vertical pupils glancing at the dried blood on Avery’s armor. Her long, forked tongue flicked out and quickly withdrew, and she chuckled. “Looks like you came back empty-handed again and just dropped by for a break?”

“…” Avery was silent for a moment before speaking. “Lady Bella… you’re leaving?”

“That’s right! Avery, this’ll be the last time you can rest here.” Bella’s forked tongue flicked out again as she smiled. “Want to come with us?”

“No.” Avery refused flatly. “You’re really going through with that plan?”

“Hah! Of course. As long as we gain a foothold in that chaotic land, there’s still hope for us.” Bella’s vertical pupils flashed.

“And if you fail?” Avery asked calmly.

“Hahaha… Then we’ll come back and be bandits again! Rob some human merchant caravans- we’ll survive.” Bella shrugged with a crooked grin.

“With just the few beastkins you have here, how do you plan to compete with the human knights in that region?” Avery narrowed her eyes.

“How will we know unless we try?” Bella grabbed a lock of green hair hanging in front of her eyes, her pupils gleaming coldly. “I heard a few of the kingdoms over there are in turmoil. This is our chance. If we can seize a patch of land, we Brutus beastkin can rise again.”

“You’ll be surrounded and besieged by humans,” Avery said bluntly.

“I’m not going to jump into the power struggle right away. I’m just going to lay low and start as a bandit again. Once I’ve built up my strength, then I’ll make a move.” Bella’s blood-red forked tongue flicked out again.

“I hope so.” Avery blinked quickly a couple of times. She knew how headstrong the woman before her was and stopped trying to persuade her.

“Avery, let it go already. That flat-chested woman is probably already-”

Clang!

Before Bella could finish, a massive sword was suddenly pointed at her throat. Avery’s orange eyes were icy cold. “Miss Bella, I don’t want you to finish that sentence.”

“Ugh… come on,” Bella raised her hands, exasperated. “You don’t even have to bear the responsibility.”

“My sword exists for Her Highness the Princess,” Avery said coldly.

“So…” Bella’s brown pupils flickered as she silently added a word in her heart: tragic!

Clang!

“Where’s Tess? I haven’t seen her,” Avery glanced around. “Did you beat her again?”

“I’m not that free,” Bella rolled her eyes, brushing her green hair back. “She went off to live the life she chose.”

“What do you mean?” Avery frowned.

“Anyway, that idiot girl’s doing okay. At least she’s not starving.” Bella recalled the reports her subordinates had given her. That unusual city… maybe that silly girl would have a better life there, without having to suffer under Bella’s command anymore.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m going to rest.” Avery turned and left. Since Tess’s own sister didn’t seem worried, she figured she didn’t need to press further.

Bella’s slender hand clenched into a fist. Thinking about the ridiculous incidents her subordinates, whom she had sent to follow Tess, had reported, she almost wanted to laugh.

“Liu Feng, huh? I hope that idiot girl made the right choice. If not…”

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