The Sandstorm on the Grassland

Recruitable Unit: Nomadic Cavalry

Ranged Damage: 55-65

Melee Damage: 45-55

Armor: 0

Shield: 25-35

Speed: 250-350

Morale: Good

Discipline: Low

Reinforcements: 5-15 per day

"What kind of lousy data is this?" After purchasing a recruitment order with his initial funds, Shu Yichao found that he could only recruit one type of soldier, the nomadic cavalry.

"60 ranged? Just slightly better than peasant archers, huh?"

"50 melee? Are they only good for bullying peasants?"

"Recruitment fee of 400 dinars, weekly maintenance fee of 200 dinars, why don't you go rob instead!?"

"Forget it." Although Shu Yichao had many complaints about the nomadic cavalry, he had no choice. For now, this was the only type of soldier he could recruit.

"Thinking positively, zero-cost cavalry, this data is still acceptable, especially with my talents—"

"[Proficiency in Archery and Horsemanship] adds 15% to ranged damage, and 20% to cavalry melee damage, [Logistics Master] adds 15% to ammunition reserves and 20% to stamina recovery."

"With these talents, the 70 ranged and 60 melee of the nomadic cavalry can barely be used—too bad this [Overwhelming Charm] talent wasted one of my slots."

While Shu Yichao was thinking, he recruited the soldiers.

"Phew—" Dust rose, and after a moment, eight nomadic cavalrymen, riding tall horses, wearing leather coats, and carrying bows and arrows, appeared in front of Shu Yichao.

"Woo woo woo!!" The nomadic cavalrymen howled and waved their curved blades in salute to Shu Yichao.

Shu Yichao looked at the curved blade in his hand, then at the horse he was riding.

"You, come here."

He pointed to one of the nomadic cavalrymen.

After a moment, the nomadic cavalryman, looking at Shu Yichao, led away his horse, took away his bow, and even handed over his curved blade, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Well, the nomadic bow, 30 piercing, not bad."

"Nomadic arrows, 5 piercing, average."

"Nomadic curved blade, 40 slashing, passable."

"Nomadic steed, 300 speed, not bad—why are you staring at me?"

Shu Yichao couldn't bear to see the pitiful look of the nomadic cavalrymen and waved his hand.

Dismissed.

The stripped nomadic cavalrymen disappeared on the spot.

[Nomadic cavalry morale decreased.]

"Hey hey hey, why is morale dropping for no reason?"

"Pull yourselves together, I'm taking you to raid villages!"

[Nomadic cavalry morale increased.]

"Heh, simple nomadic people, this is all the spirit you have."

Although "Worlds Ablaze" economy system was complex, theoretically, there were several ways to make money: fighting, raiding villages, farming, trading, and managing territories.

But for Shu Yichao, there were only three ways to make money.

Fighting, raiding villages, and selling captives.

With his initial funds spent and only a few soldiers recruited, raiding villages that didn't require high combat power was the most profitable option.

However, what Shu Yichao never expected was...

"There are people competing with me in raiding villages!?"

Shu Yichao stared dumbfoundedly at the village that had been leveled to the ground.

"My money, my money, it's all my money!!"

"Who the hell dared to steal from me!?"

As he sifted through the ashes, he felt residual warmth.

"They haven't gone far!" Shu Yichao's anger flared: "Chase after them!"

"What's that?" A group of E'elam cavalrymen, laden with spoils, slowed their pace in confusion.

At the end of their sight, a cloud of dust was approaching.

"A sandstorm? It's too small for that."

After a moment, the truth was revealed.

Several riders were charging toward them aggressively, led by a man with angry eyes and gritted teeth, as if these E'elam people owed him a lot of money.

"Enemy attack—" Before the alert E'elam soldiers could finish their warning, they fell from their horses: an arrow pierced through one's eye socket and out the back of his head.

"How is this possible!?" The remaining E'elam soldiers were shocked; from over a hundred paces away, someone could shoot them accurately?

"Shoo!"

"Shoo shoo shoo!!"

Shu Yichao didn't give them a chance to react. He continuously fired arrows, and with each twang of the bowstring, another E'elam soldier fell.

"Monster!"

"Devil!"

Seeing most of their comrades fall within moments, the remaining E'elam soldiers were terrified and fled, but where could they escape to? Moments later, they were all annihilated.

"Hmph—" Shu Yichao put down his bow, snorted disdainfully: "Let's see if you dare to steal my money next time."

Then, he saw his nomadic cavalrymen cheering and rushing forward, skillfully looting armor, weapons, and food from the fallen soldiers—occasionally exchanging blows with each other.

"The discipline is really low," Shu Yichao sighed, but then he realized something.

"Wait! These troops were recruited by me alone."

"Why are they dividing the spoils!?"

"Stop!"

[My points, my internship points...]

System 12345 wept bitterly.

[What's wrong with this program? Why have my internship points been deducted so much?]

[If something else goes wrong, won't I have to postpone my graduation?]

It trembled.

[No, absolutely not.]

[I am a system destined to achieve great things. How can there be such a blemish on my record?]

[Master, you must work hard and make sure to conquer several dangerous beauties.]

[Whether I pass this semester or not depends on you.]

[Wait a minute, Master, you have another important target nearby. I'll send you the information right away.]

"Is the Khan's brain... sick?"

The queued nomads looked at each other in confusion.

Just now, Shu Yichao had given them a severe beating and taken all the spoils.

Then, after only a quarter of an hour, he distributed all the spoils to them.

"A pile of junk..." Shu Yichao muttered.

"Oh my, can they still upgrade armor?"

Watching the nomadic cavalrymen happily change into leather armor given to them, Shu Yichao couldn't help but exclaim at his gullibility.

"Ah, I was too hasty earlier. After all, it's equipment bought with my money, I shouldn't have dismissed that guy."

"Hmm, new message?"

Shu Yichao clicked on the notification, and a character illustration popped up—two girls who looked almost identical, one smiling brightly and the other with a distant expression.

[Master, master.]

[This time it's a pair of twins.]

System 12345 chuckled.

[Saria and Sarina are the daughters of the Governor of the E'elam Maritime Province.]

[One is fiery and passionate, the other is as cold as ice—If you think otherwise, you're completely wrong!]

[Saria seems warm, but if you approach her recklessly, she'll kick you out mercilessly—usually resulting in a game over.]

[Sarina appears cold on the surface, but in reality, she's much kinder than her sister.]

[You should first try to win Sarina's favor. As long as she doesn't want you dead, Saria won't execute you. Then, Master, you can...]

System 12345 tirelessly strategized for Shu Yichao's conquest, but Shu Yichao noticed something.

"The next mission jumps straight to besieging the city?"

Looking at the blinking target, marked on the map inside the city, Shu Yichao glanced at the few cats around him and felt that they wouldn't be much of an advantage against the thousands of defenders in the city.

"Let's clear the surroundings first."

Let's see how many troops can be recruited.

As Shu Yichao pondered, he continued to recruit troops with the money he had just plundered, while also scolding the nomadic cavalrymen.

"You bunch of useless people, remember this!"

"We are an army!"

"An army is a place where discipline matters."

"Even if it's robbery, you should line up and rob!"

——————————

"Has Governor Delibeil Pasha not returned yet?" Along the E'elam coastline, the well-dressed governor, with a small beard, was feeling restless.

Although this time Delibeil claimed to have brought orders from the Sultan, requesting a thorough clean-up of the forces along the E'elam coast, cutting off the trade routes to Constantinople in preparation for the siege.

But who knows if she has other plans, like removing him, the governor?

Moreover, he has been tyrannizing this area for years, taking bribes, filling his pockets, and may not withstand a surprise inspection.

So when Delibal went out, he had been feeling restless.

"Not yet." The captain of his personal guards shook his head.

"Then send more people to look for her!" The governor took out a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and growled.

"We must clarify her movements..."

And find a way to figure out Delibeil's intentions, hopefully not the worst-case scenario, maybe just giving her some extra money...

After all, he was appointed as the governor personally by the Sultan. As long as he takes care of things properly, he shouldn't—

"Oh, tell Saria and Sarina." The Governor seemed to remember something: "Keep a low profile these days."

"Don't casually provoke unidentified people."

"Master."

"Hmm?"

"The young ladies haven't returned since they left the city today."

"What!?"