dognovel Chapter 499 Chasing Dreams
Chapter 499 Chasing Dreams
"So why did you help me just now? If these mercenaries fail, they will definitely not be able to escape, right?"
Jie Du shrugged, with a meaningful smile on his face:
"Because I was passing by here, and I saw those mercenaries plotting against you, so I was ready to help."
He paused, his eyes flickering slightly.
"Besides, I hate this kind of mercenaries."
Griffith suddenly thought of something when he heard this, and then looked directly into Jiedu's eyes.
"You are an employee of a circus. Why don't you go back to the circus after the performance? Instead, you hang out in the mercenary camp? The circus doesn't need mercenaries, right?"
"Oh, I just came here to 'borrow' some money from some mercenaries, but I don't have to pay it back."
Jie Du said it nonchalantly, as if it was just a trivial matter.
Griffith was stunned, then burst into laughter:
"Is it that straightforward?"
"Why not?"
Jie Du spread his hands and said:
"Should I say 'I'm poor, can you give me some money'? That's so boring."
Griffith shook his head. He had seen several times that mercenaries arrested thieves and executed them privately. Just as he was about to persuade his savior not to do so in the future, Jie Du suddenly stepped forward and said:
"correct."
"what?"
"After all this talk, I still don't know what your name is. After all, judging from your height, you should be a child like me. You're already a mercenary at this age."
Jiedu tilted his head, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Griffith."
"Griffith..."
Jiedu repeated it in a low voice, his eyes suddenly becoming fiery:
"Are you Griffith, who was able to fight in battle at the age of eleven or twelve?"
Griffith was startled by his sudden excitement and couldn't help but take a step back:
"Uh... I guess so. Am I that famous?"
"More than just famous!"
Jiedu's eyes are as bright as stars:
"Now even the children in the nearby villages and towns imitate you when they play pretend games!"
Griffith couldn't help but shook his head and laughed when he heard this:
"What's the point of being famous? I'm still just an ordinary mercenary."
"ordinary?"
Jie Du shook his head repeatedly as if he had heard a huge joke.
"You are not ordinary! Do you know that? In the eyes of my peers, you are a legend!"
Griffith was silent. He had experienced countless life and death situations, but he never considered himself a "legend".
Now he is just a man living on the battlefield, a mercenary fighting for survival.
"What's the point of being famous? I might die on a battlefield someday, and then people will simply forget about me."
After hearing this, Du thought for a while and then asked:
"Don't you plan to set up a mercenary group?"
After hearing what Jiedu said, Griffith was stunned for a moment, then he said:
"I used to have this wish, but reality hit me hard when I took the first step. Not to mention that I was less than twelve years old, I had no one to help me, no money to spend, and I didn't even know how to accept mercenary commissions. Let alone a mercenary group, I couldn't even work alone."
After listening to this, Jie Du remained silent for a long time. Just as Griffith was about to leave, Jie Du slowly spoke:
“When I first joined the troupe.”
Jiedu began to tell his story slowly, with a hint of self-mockery in his tone.
"I was thinking about making a lot of money and returning home in glory. Later I realized that no matter how well I did or how good my knife-throwing skills were, it was just the director of the circus giving me more money."
Griffith listened quietly without interrupting.
Jiedu continued:
“No matter how hard I tried to learn a skill, I could only do it well, not master it. As time went by, I chose to forget my dream.”
"You're different, Griffith."
Jiedu looked him straight in the eyes and said firmly:
"Ever since I heard about your deeds, I have a feeling that you are the kind of person who can realize some great dreams. Your abilities are first-rate, whether among your peers or those mercenaries."
"so."
Jiedu's voice sounded again:
"In that case, I hope I can establish a mercenary group with you and work together to realize your dream."
Griffith raised his head, a complicated light flashing in his eyes.
This proposal was too sudden, even a little absurd, but he couldn't easily refuse it.
"You...really want to be with me?"
he asked in a low voice.
"of course."
Jie Du nodded without hesitation.
"I'm willing to take a gamble."
Griffith's heart skipped a beat. The long-buried thought, like a ignited flame, flared up again.
He had imagined countless times what it would be like to form a mercenary group, but every time, reality would bring him back to square one.
But now, Jie Du's words gave him an impulse - maybe this time it could be different.
If there is such a chance, I can really control my own destiny...
Griffith seemed to have made a very difficult decision after thinking about it, and then he said directly
"Then... then it's a deal."
Jiedu smiled:
"Great!"
Under the moonlight, the figures of the two young men gradually faded away.
"Oh, by the way, do you have any money?"
"what happened?"
"My commissions have run out and I have no money for food."
"Hahaha."
"Oh, by the way, I have to go back and pack my things. We'll meet at the entrance of the camp then..."
Before Griffith could finish his words, a roar of anger suddenly erupted from the edge of the camp.
"Search for me! Find those two kids. You dared to attack me? I'll punish you!"
A rough voice cut through the night air, followed by chaotic footsteps and shouting.
Jiedu's expression suddenly changed, and he grabbed Griffith's wrist:
"go!"
"Wait, I haven't said anything yet—"
"Time is running out!"
Jiedu dragged him into the shadow of the nearest tent. The footsteps of the mercenaries holding torches and searching around were getting closer and closer.
Griffith staggered, his sword clanging against his leather belt.
"You fucking stepped on my foot!" An angry roar came from behind, followed by the clanging sound of a sword being unsheathed.
Jiedu suddenly pulled Griffith and turned to the narrow alley on the right, and the two of them ran along the wet brick wall.
The halo of the torches flashed around the corner, casting shadows of them fleeing in panic.
"Where the hell are you running to!"
"Left! On the left there is——"
Before he could finish his words, a spear stabbed from the fork in the road.
Jiedu reacted very quickly, dragging Griffith to the ground and rolling him. The metal spear head rubbed against Griffith's armor and nailed into the brick wall.
Amidst the flying sparks, the roar of the pursuers was close at hand.
"Catch them! Double the reward!"
Griffith cursed and drew his sword to block. At this moment, Jiedu suddenly pulled him open a half-closed wooden door, and the two fell into a warehouse full of miscellaneous items.
Wooden boxes, sacks and old weapons were vague outlines in the darkness.
"Hold your breath." Jiedu lowered his voice and covered Griffith's mouth at the same time.
Heavy footsteps lingered outside the door, and the light of the torch flickered on the ground through the crack in the door.
Griffith could hear his own violent heartbeat mixed with the other person's rapid breathing. After an unknown amount of time, the footsteps finally faded away.
"call..."
Griffith slumped on the ground, cold sweat oozing from his forehead. Only then did he realize that his hand was still tightly grasping Jiedu's sleeve.
Jie Du patted his shoulder:
"gone."
The two men crouched as they walked through the camp where the mercenaries were regrouping.
In the distance, several mercenaries were cursing around an overturned wine barrel, and nearby, a drunk man staggered and bumped into a tent.
As Griffith crouched by, the drunk suddenly reached out and grabbed him.
"Go aside!"
Griffith reflexively elbowed the other man in the chin, and the drunk fell limply.
"You fucking hit me!"
The drunk's accomplice immediately jumped up and threw punches.
Jiedu's flying knife was faster than the curses - with the sound of metal buzzing, the man's wrist was nailed to the wooden stake, and the dagger swayed slightly with his wailing.
"Tsk, I'm in trouble again."
Griffith sighed helplessly.
"Who told you to stop so suddenly?"
Jie Du dragged him and continued running without changing his expression.
When they finally broke out of the camp, Griffith breathed a sigh of relief.
Under the moonlight, the mercenary camp was still bustling, as if the pursuit just now was just an illusion.
“Now I’m completely broke.”
Griffith complained while rubbing his sore shoulder.
Jiedu shrugged nonchalantly:
"Don't worry, I know some ways to make money..."