Chapter 1504: The City Tower
Although I had walked past the gates of Cando City several times, this was my first time entering the city walls, and it was into a city tower at that.
Jayad was the only one who presented the investigation order, and it didn’t specify how many people were investigating. The soldiers were quite curious about him bringing a scantily clad little girl along, but no one stopped them.
This was a city tower located on the southern section of the city wall. The city wall here was formed by a series of castle-like buildings joined together. Of course, they weren’t as luxurious or grand as a formal castle, but at least they possessed defensive capabilities.
We entered from the inside. There weren’t many soldiers guarding the wall, as the surrounding monsters had been cleared out in the past few days. There was basically no chance of a monster attack today, so the guards could take the opportunity to rest and repair any damaged sections of the wall.
Inside the city wall, there wasn’t much in the way of decoration. The corridor had many rooms with iron sheet beds, which were places for the stationed soldiers to sleep. If necessary, they could also sleep on the floor, accommodating many soldiers.
Inside the city wall, many key structural parts were reinforced with timber or added. If one wanted to go up, although there were stairs, there was only one every kilometer. If one wanted to ascend quickly, it was faster to take a suspension ladder.
We took the suspension ladder up. Relying on steam power to drive the gears, we were pulled up. Ascending to the upper levels, we could see many warehouses filled with ammunition, gunpowder, and arrows.
We could also see cannons extending outwards from rooms along the outer wall, along with hatches and embrasures that could be opened to fire from the city wall outwards. I had already seen the city wall firing outwards when I was in the outer district.
We rode the suspension ladder directly up to the top of the city wall. Although we had only been inside for a short time, emerging from the dark city wall into the bright sunlight was a bit blinding.
After our eyes adjusted, we could see many laborers busy repairing the city wall. They were diligently mending the gaps in the wall and some damaged defensive equipment.
The continuous city wall was covered in pitted marks everywhere. Some heavily damaged areas had developed a large opening, revealing the internal structure.
The city wall was also equipped with an astonishing deployment of firepower. The wall even had fixed, large stone-throwing machines, with large baskets filled with stones that could be flung out like a scattering of flowers.
Every few meters along the edge, there was a fixed steam gun. The steam pipes supplying them were pulled from behind to the side to prevent a supply cut-off if the pipes were interrupted. In addition, these steam guns had their own steam tanks, allowing them to operate for a period of time.
Every kilometer along the city wall, there was a protruding tower, also built in a castle shape, with openings featuring cannon ports and crossbows. Every two towers could provide mutual cover or crossfire.
In addition, there were many platforms, stairs, and cages built from timber outside the city wall to facilitate troop movement. These were likely structures recently added to enhance the city’s defenses.
Such a long defensive fortification was certainly not built by the city lord, a mediocre person who loved to boast, but was the result of the combined efforts and accumulation of generations of Cando City lords. The dark color of the stones underfoot showed that the city wall had a history.
The soldiers managing the prisoners here all carried whips. Although these prisoners couldn’t be described as utterly wicked and extremely dangerous individuals, they were not people who would obediently comply. If anyone tried to escape or resist, it would inevitably result in a severe beating.
The soldiers checked the list one by one and led us to MacDuff. I also took a look at the list; they were all addicts, thieves, smugglers of contraband, and criminals involved in fights. They were all minor figures.
“Perhaps we’ll even see a colleague Older Brother Jayad recognizes,” I said with a smile. Older Brother Jayad scanned the faces of these men, seemingly wanting to see if there was indeed a colleague.
Finally, the guards confirmed that the same batch of prisoners as MacDuff was in the tower ahead, responsible for cleaning up bloodstains and transporting cannonballs.
We followed a few soldiers up the tower. This tower felt newer than the city wall, likely added by a lord in more recent times.
“MacDuff! Which one is MacDuff?!” the soldier shouted loudly. Prisoners dressed in rags dodged the light from the lanterns they carried, and most of the prisoners illuminated were sallow and gaunt.
At this time, it was certainly impossible to provide the prisoners with very good food. Long-term hunger and heavy labor left them exhausted.
I felt that even prisoners shouldn’t be treated this way. It wasn’t out of sympathy, but mainly because the efficiency wasn’t high when manpower was wasted like this. It would be better if there was scientific work-rest balance and sufficient food, which would yield greater value.
At this moment, a prisoner stammered, “Officer, MacDuff is on the upper level, scrubbing the floor.”
“Very good, you can rest for a bit,” the soldier said with satisfaction, seemingly pleased that these prisoners were being so obedient, which he felt showed them in a good light before the Cavalryman. Although we actually held no official positions in the army.
The prisoners, relieved, put down their tools and sat on the ground to rest. The soldiers then led us to the upper level of the tower.
There was a rather spacious hall here, with a large round table in the center. Swords and shields hung on the walls, along with a bird’s-eye view of the city wall. It looked like a meeting room.
Without them needing to ask, I immediately recognized the familiar back. Even though I myself had not interacted much with MacDuff, the original owner’s memory of him was deeply ingrained.
Older Brother Jayad stared intently at the figure hunched on the ground, wiping the floor, and strode forward. MacDuff seemed to hear the sound of armor on the floor and turned his head to look at us.
His complexion was sallow, his face gaunt, and his hair disheveled. The fierceness he once possessed was long gone, with only the scar on his face hinting at his past.
Seeing so many soldiers approach, and a knight in full armor standing before him, he became flustered and asked, “What do you need, sir?”
“I don’t need anything. Parul has something she wants to ask you,” Jayad said. Upon hearing his voice, MacDuff’s eyes widened in shock, and then he noticed me standing behind Older Brother Jayad.
“Ha, ha ha! It’s, it’s you, kid, and you, little girl!” MacDuff laughed heartily, but then he was kicked to the ground by a soldier following behind.
“What are you laughing at? The adults have something to ask you, answer them honestly!” the soldier shouted sternly.
“Adults? That brat managed to get this far? I knew it; you’re not just that capable!” a sinister glint flashed in MacDuff’s eyes.
“Shut up! How dare you disrespect the adults!” the soldier raised his whip and lashed MacDuff several times, causing him to yelp in pain.
