We are not on the same side as them!

All this time, Edmund Blackthorn and the other family leaders had never seen the grain store in town import any grain from outside. A few days ago, they even put up signs limiting the daily purchase of grain, but in practice, they did not follow these rules. As long as they made money, they kept selling grain. Initially, Edmund Blackthorn and the others did not realize this, so they bought grain like crazy. Now that the grain price in the store has plummeted, they finally noticed.

"Where did they get so much grain from?"

"They must be lowering the grain price to create an illusion! They definitely have no grain left, so they are using this price-cutting tactic to shake our confidence!"

Edmund Blackthorn analyzed the current situation earnestly, and the two smart-looking people beside him, Walter Ravenswood and Alaric Hawthorne, also agreed with Edmund's view.

"Patriarch Edmund's analysis is correct. They must be out of grain, so they deliberately dropped the price to 20 copper coins per kilogram!"

Walter Ravenswood said regretfully, "Yes, unfortunately, we don't have any cash on hand right now. Otherwise, we could have exposed Mayor Magnus Valorion's last shred of decency!"

The other family leaders also found this analysis very reasonable.

Alaric Hawthorne suddenly had an idea and said to everyone, "Why don't we mortgage our ancestral estates and borrow some money from Galen Veritas? After all, our grain has already been shipped to Greenwood City and Lionheart City for sale. At worst, we can repay Mr. Galen with some interest later!"

This time, however, Walter Ravenswood and Edmund Blackthorn hesitated, while the leaders of the smaller families started to stir up the idea.

"Yes, yes, let's borrow some money from Mr. Galen. We can use this money to strip Mayor Magnus of his last cover. Wouldn't that be great!"

Unable to resist the coaxing of the others, Walter Ravenswood and Edmund Blackthorn had no choice but to agree.

For some reason, though, Edmund Blackthorn couldn't shake off a feeling of unease.

Magnus was kind-hearted; he only used strategies to take the land from the various families. However, he didn't expect these families to lose their heads and try to leverage when the "stocks" hit rock bottom. Good intentions can't save those determined to perish. Since the families were bent on destroying themselves, the merciful Magnus couldn't be bothered.

Magnus immediately had Galen lend them money, with agreed daily interest. On the surface, this daily interest was very low, but it was compounded. After a month, it was much higher than the usurious loans of the so-called "nine out thirteen returns" by loan sharks.

The "nine out thirteen returns" meant that if someone pawned something worth 10 dollars, they could only get 9 dollars, and when they redeemed it, they had to pay 13 dollars. Truly black-hearted!

In a few days, Neil Thompson and his son Ethan would also intercept the grain transported by the various families to the two towns. Magnus did not rob the grain immediately after it left the families' hands, just to give them some time to dream.

On Ram's Horn Mountain, Ethan Thompson led over a thousand soldiers, lying in wait among the trees, eagerly watching for the grain convoy.

Just past noon, as Ethan's team rested and ate in the shade, a soldier came running up urgently.

"Sir, they are here! The grain convoy is here!"

Hearing this, Ethan Thompson immediately shoved the chicken leg into his mouth and swallowed it.

"Brothers, gather up! Remember to wear your masks and hoist the flag. We're going down the mountain to seize the grain!"

Ever since the villain Sinbad was appointed mayor of Green River Town, the surroundings of these two towns had been peaceful and without danger. Therefore, the grain convoy from the families traveled cheerfully and without concern. But as they walked along the shaded path in Ram's Horn Mountain, a large group of men and horses suddenly emerged from both sides of the forest!

These men were dressed and equipped similarly to the "Sinbad" gang that had previously raided their manor, except they all wore various strange masks. The leader wore a peculiar mask, carved with a face that seemed to be eternally sneering. The thick, slightly upward-angled eyebrows above the mask gave it a sinister appearance. The most striking feature was the mustache at the bottom, curling upward from the corners of the mouth like two long ram's horns. The mouth of the mask was also slightly upturned, as if in silent laughter, making one feel very uneasy.

Magnus did not personally lead this raid but had given this handsome Guy Fawkes mask to Ethan Thompson.

The group saw the "Skeleton Scimitar Banner" in the convoy and couldn't help but curse their luck.

The convoy leader, Victor Blackthorn, exclaimed, "This is truly wicked! Isn't Sinbad supposed to be enjoying his power as mayor in Green River Town? How did he suddenly appear here!"

A member of the Ravenswood family pointed to the waving banner and said, "Master, look at that flag. Last time, it had two swords, but now it has a sword and a bone."

"What sword and bone! It's just robbery!"

Before he finished speaking, Ethan Thompson, wearing the Guy Fawkes mask, rode out and shouted, "In our Great Latium Imperium, we have a saying: Those who know the times live longer!"

"Anyone smart enough to listen to me, we are only after your money, not your lives!"

"If anyone disobeys..."

Before Ethan could finish, someone from the grain convoy drew a long sword, ready to fight Ethan's men head-on. Unfortunately, he didn't last three seconds before an arrow struck his knee.

Ethan pointed to this living example and said, "Anyone who disobeys or tries to be a hero will end up like him. Now, everyone stand on either side of the grain carts."

After looting the grain, Ethan didn't forget to thank the convoy, "Everyone, our leader Sinbad thanks the Blackthorn family, the Ravenswood family, and the Hawthorne family for sending the grain!"

At these words, the others in the convoy looked at the members of the three families.

Everyone remembered how, during the last raid by "Sinbad," these three families hadn't resisted at all but had opened their doors wide. It seemed they had colluded with the bandits back then. This time, they must have informed the bandits about the grain shipment to Lionheart City.

Victor Blackthorn quickly explained, "Everyone, don't be fooled by the bandits' tricks! Our three families have no connection with these thieves! Our grain was also robbed!"

Ethan added fuel to the fire, "Master Victor, and the heads of the Ravenswood and Hawthorne families, listen up! In a few days, our leader will return your grain in full. The other families' grain will be split seven-three with us."

This left the Blackthorn, Ravenswood, and Hawthorne families with no way to defend themselves!

The man who had been shot in the knee angrily hopped on one leg, trying to punch Victor Blackthorn, but fell and accidentally hit Victor's knee instead.

Seeing this, the others joined in, attacking the three families' members.

The scene quickly descended into chaos, with everyone fighting.

Taking advantage of the disorder, Ethan Thompson and his men quickly dragged away all the grain.

Meanwhile, on the way to Greenwood City, passing through Green River Town, another convoy encountered another group of bandits, and similar events unfolded elsewhere.