Mercenaries and Adventurers

Keir followed in the team, and he approached behind Knight Crowe, and let other people present know Kiel's identity.

The armored metal boots made a clicking sound when walking on the ground in the central area of ​​the manor. Keel wondered if some cushioned soles should be added to the bottom of the boots to prevent the sound from being too conspicuous when walking.

"Young man, what's your name?"

Next to him, a middle-aged man who should be the son of the Gurov knight approached Kiel and started a friendly chat.

Keir quickly made a courtesy to the other party: "My lord, I am the knight squire of Knight Crowe, Joe Keel. I am from Kendall City."

"Knight servant, you are so young. Looking at you, I think of my eldest brother when he was young."

The middle-aged man said.

"I haven't asked your lord for your name yet?"

"Don't call me my lord either. I'm not a lord. Anyway, it won't be my turn to take the father's place. Oh, look at my brain. I'm Prand Gurov, my father's little boy." son."

After speaking, he shrugged.

The Klau knight who was walking in front glanced at Kiel and ignored them. They had already walked along the stone road to the tall house in the center of the manor. This big house made of stone and pine wood is a place that can be used Come as a place for banquets and dinners.

At this moment, a fire has been set up in the center, surrounded by metal grills for baking food, and many servants are busy working under the command of the chef.

Not only that, but outside the fire in the center, there are long dining tables made of wooden tables, and outside, there is an open kitchen that has been moved over. At this time, more people are busy preparing a large amount of exquisite food here.

In one corner of the spacious room, there was even a group of troupe musicians playing music, and a bard invited from Pine Needle Town was making the final preparations for the singing.

The baron and the owner of the manor sat down at the top of the dining table, and then the others didn't have so many rules, and just sat down according to their own preferences.

The two knights were greeted by men who were curious and envious of them, while the daughters of the old knight sat closer to the place where the music was played. A lady seemed to be very familiar with the bard. I personally poured some red wine and sent it over.

Prand Gurov, who was talking to Kiel, curled his lips in disgust at his older sister: "Look, that guy doesn't care about anything when his husband and children are still there, and he's the same as everyone in the town. The captivating bard is so close. Keel, look carefully, which woman here doesn't grit her teeth at this."

Kiel glanced around casually, and found that it was indeed the case. Although some people sat down and waited for the meal, they all stared at the fiery old knight's daughter who was fighting with the bard.

He was not interested in this, and after finding a place to sit down with Mr. Prand, he boasted about his deeds of "killing demons and eliminating demons".

"I led people directly through the goblin settlement, and blocked the remaining stubborn goblins in a weird sacrificial field. You don't know how weird that place is!"

Keir took off his helmet, put it on the dining table in front of him, and then gestured with his hand to tell the story in his mouth.

"How weird?"

Mr. Plant's eyes lit up when he heard this. Although he was born in a knight family, he was obviously the youngest son. He has never personally participated in the adventures that Keel mentioned since he was a child.

Kiel lowered his voice and pointed at his head with his finger: "In that monster's sacrificial ground, there are piles of skulls of all kinds! All are bones with only the head left!"

Not only Mr. Plant, but several other people who were attracted by curiosity were frightened by what Keir said.

"All of them?"

"Pile it up into a hill?"

Keir chuckled: "Of course Xiao Shan is using an analogy, but."

He looked left and right: "The head there can at least fill the ground here, um, it doesn't reach the calf!"

The sound of several people swallowing saliva in fear sounded, and several grandchildren of the Gulov family who were about the same age as Keir looked at the figure of Baron Kendall. Unexpectedly, Baron Kendall, who looked rich and powerful, was in front of him. In the frontier development county, there is such a terrifying monster settlement.

But the middle-aged Mr. Plant is quite calm: "Since you are still here, it means that the place must have been defeated and destroyed by you, right?"

"That's right. Together with the militia leader from another village, I led people to defeat the weird goblin guarding it, and then set fire to that place. It's just that I defeated the weird creation sacrificed by the goblin alone. "

Just as he was about to ask what strange sacrificial creation Kiel had defeated and how, but Mr. Plant hadn’t opened his mouth yet. In the center of the dining table, the old knight Gurov used a silver spoon to look at the exquisite sterling silver creation. The crisp sound of the dinner plate made the restaurant quiet.

"Let us welcome a group of guests from Kendall County, Baron Kendall, Knight Crowe, and Knight Rumi." The old knight Gurov said loudly in a majestic voice.

"They came to my manor because they want to lead the army to the southern part of the kingdom, and support them to resist the neighboring countries' encroachment on our interests there! Let us be proud of them!"

Baron Kendall took the crystal glass of red wine poured from the attendants following him, and gestured to the old knight's family.

He didn't say much. After all, the old knight Gurov was old. Since he was an adult, he no longer managed many things, let alone the remote things in the southern part of the kingdom.

As the two on the main seat began to eat the specially prepared meals, the butler who had been waiting next to him waved his hand and asked the servants to deliver the food to everyone at the table.

Grilled wild animal meat, big fish in the river, soft raised chicken, and good meat from livestock. These things were processed by the chefs and brought up by the servants one by one.

Not much of everything, but obviously a lot of variety.

A kind of ingredient can change in many ways in the hands of a chef. If it wasn't for Keel's previous life as a florist, it is estimated that the first time he comes into contact with these dazzling arrays of food, he will be confused.

"Please don't be polite, these things are just a lot of tricks, nothing else. My father traveled all over the world when he was young, and he went to many places. He actually wrote down many things he ate at that time. When he settled down, He also handed over the preparation methods of those foods to many chefs who served him."

Mr. Plant shook his head and said indifferently.

"He's always like this, sleeping in the memories of the past. If Baron Kendall hadn't been there, I'm sure he'd be chattering about where the food came from again."

Hearing what Mr. Plant said, some of the grandchildren beside him secretly laughed.

Keir also smiled politely. He took off his gloves and ate the food with the tableware brought by the servants. Compared to Kiel, Baron Kendall is much more particular. His servant took out pieces of the baron's special tableware from the satchel on his side, and when the baron needed something, he handed it to the baron immediately.

Knight Crowe didn't pay much attention, and asked the chef to send him and Knight Rumi each a whole lamb roasted on the central fire.

In addition to this, Knight Rumi ordered a whole grilled fish.

The members of the Gurov Knight's family are not surprised by this. After all, their father or grandfather would eat so much food occasionally after exercising on the training ground, and the knights can eat so much.

They've known it since childhood.

In comparison, Kiel's food intake is at the level of ordinary people, and he can eat a little more. This is because he has gone through long marches during the day, and even if he is riding on horseback, he will consume more energy than usual.

But it can't compare to the guards and militiamen who walked all day.

-

While eating, Keel spoke to Mr. Plant again.

From the conversation, I learned that Mr. Plant, as the youngest son of the old knight, was responsible for the management of some passing business travelers in Pine Needle Town.

Pine Needle Town is next to the river and on the commercial road, so there are many business travelers coming and going.

These merchant brigades brought a lot of wealth to the town, and allowed the Gurov family to rely on this wealth to establish such a manor dedicated to serving the old knights.

"Actually, most of the family members live in the town, or go to various villages as village managers. Life is good."

Mr. Plant said casually, and he glanced at Keel.

"But you know, my father is old. Although he is still invincible around the town, he hasn't stepped out of this 'cocoon' he created for himself for a long time."

Keir blinked, and wiped his mouth stained with meat sauce with a soft cloth on the dining table: "Is something wrong?"

With a slight smile, Mr. Plant then said: "Although the merchants on the commercial road have brought us wealth, they are also foreigners, unlike the nobles and knights who are all locals."

"Although those people are generally more polite in doing things, some people are very rude."

A young man next to him asked, "Is it about the Ska Chamber of Commerce from the east?"

Mr. Plant pushed the young man's head away, and then said: "It's a thing called the Scar Chamber of Commerce."

Keel was eating, listening to the explanation from the person next to him.

"That chamber of commerce is from the east, and I heard it has a lot of background. When they first came to Pine Needle Town, they made a lot of people unhappy. They were too domineering. They took over a residential house in the town. Although they gave money, they still forced that household People drive away directly."

"And then?" Keel asked.

"More than that, they have a lot of people, and they have a lot of thugs who came to help them work. After occupying a residential area as a stronghold in the town, they used the villages within a range of the town as theirs. General stronghold."

"It doesn't sound like a business." Keel was a little puzzled.

"Business is still going on. They want to get involved in any business. And they have used financial resources to confuse many guys who plan and eat in the fields. Some people do the same business with them, but they are quickly beaten by their thugs and forced to quit."

Kiel chuckled: "They have thugs, so it's difficult for the businessmen in the town to 'convince' the robbers who robbed in the business road outside? Perhaps, when they do local business, they also rely on reason to compete for business Is it?"

Mr. Plant drank a little wine: "Of course not. But generally everything in the town is managed by our family. They do business in Pine Needle Town, so they are showing favor to our family."

"Then how do you deal with this tough foreign chamber of commerce? And why did they come to Pine Needle Town? I guess they all know the reason behind it, right?"

Keir thought for a while, and said something that made Mr. Plant unhappy.

"Hey, I know. But in fact, you don't need to do anything, just bring some people, not many, dozens of people. Take dozens of people over there, and let those people have a look. I will watch it when I return to the manor from the town in the evening The soldiers who have been to you are very elite. You don’t need to fight, just show them a face, scare them, and let them know that there is such a reinforcement in the town. Those people will naturally survive.”

Keir felt that the middle-aged man in front of him was really naive.

It is said that strong dragons do not overwhelm local snakes. The Ska Chamber of Commerce saw that the old knight was old and powerless, and led the force to forcibly enter the area of ​​Pine Needle Town, in order to seize the good place where Pine Needle Town relies on business roads and rivers.

Now that he has made such a plan, he is of course ready to tear his face off with the local forces.

Maybe the chamber of commerce can't deal with the old knight living in the manor, but it's fine if they don't come here to make trouble at all. In other places, it eroded the power of the Gurov family.

The big and small business travelers who come and go don't care who is managing Pine Needle Town, they will do business with whoever wins.

Now the Ska Chamber of Commerce only occupies a village, and they dare not confront the Gurov family in the town, but Kiel believes that within a few years, the other party will take the Gurov family's properties and follow them in the town one by one. The forces of the Gurov family were defeated one by one.

The chambers of commerce in this different world basically coexisted in business and force. After all, law and order depend on the individual forces of each region. As long as you go to the wild, it is basically a 'free' environment where force is paramount.

Free business, free robbery, free counterattack, free killing, free revenge, free bounty.

Out of doubt, Keir still asked: "Is there no town militia controlled by your family in Pine Needle Town?"

"Militiaman?" Mr. Plant froze for a moment.

"They are all migrants. If they are allowed to organize their own militia, it will be difficult. You understand, right?" Mr. Plant stammered.

Keir rolled his eyes and understood immediately.

In this Gurov family, except for the old knight Gurov and the eldest son of the knight who is no longer coming back, everyone else is soft.

In order to prevent the resettlers from gaining more power than they could handle, the villages and Pine Needle Town were not allowed to form their own defense militias.

Perhaps their lives are too comfortable.

"Because there is no militia, don't you worry about attacks by monsters or wild beasts?"

Mr. Plant smiled: "Don't be ridiculous, when my father was still active, the monsters and beasts in the entire territory were killed countless times. When I was young, every day was full of beast meat , and some strange things."

"That's it." Kiel was stunned for a moment, and when he looked up, he saw a map of the territory of Pine Needle Town spelled out on the wall with colored stones in the corner of the place used for dining and banquets.

Seeing Keel looking at the thing, Mr. Plant explained to Kiel.

Sure enough, as Kiel expected, the entire territory of Pine Needle Town is an open area, basically distributed along a part of the lower reaches of the Kendall River and the trade route.

All good places.

The bad and dangerous mountains and forests are all in the territories of other nobles.

The old Gurov knight is really good at picking places!

But wouldn't the whole domain look both rich and harmless in this way?

It was fine when the knight was strong and active, he could just spend more time and effort on his own, but now that the knight Gurov is old, whether those places are no longer under his control.

That Ska chamber of commerce might just be the first guy who dared to test it out. Other large chambers of commerce are just waiting to see if the Gurov family in Pine Needle Town has the power to protect this place.

-

After the meal, the music in the corner of the room gradually became louder, and the bard who had already prepared to perform officially came on the stage, singing a long poem with a very magnetic voice.

Many young people and women gathered around. After all, to be honest, this bard is really capable. The guys of the same profession in Kendall City can only give this man a shoe and a urinal. What.

But Keir was not in the mood to listen to this poem he hadn't heard before. Instead, he talked to Mr. Plant and learned about the affairs of the Scar Chamber of Commerce. The request was forwarded to the knight for decision.

Of course he knew why people came to him.

From a knight servant who can be brought to the table to get on line with the knights who are the real masters, after making such an embarrassing and excessive request, whether it is rejected or not, their family will not cause publicity and embarrassment.

If possible, take the line from Keir, so it won't look too abrupt.

If it doesn't work, then from Kiel to the Cavaliers, it will be rejected~www.readwn.com~The Baron's place is also better.

Knight Crowe has been listening carefully to Keir's account, then he thought for a while and stared at Keir.

Keel felt a little strange.

But Knight Crowe then quietly discussed with Knight Rumi and didn't know what.

Knight Rumi showed an indifferent look, and even slapped Knight Crowe on the shoulder with a smirk.

Afterwards, Knight Crowe found the Baron who chatted with the old knight after dinner.

Several people said something in the superior position, and the old knight Gurov was obviously not happy, but he looked helpless. Baron Kendall was surprised and asked the old knight something.

The old knight said something reluctantly, which made Baron Kendall hold the other's hand and pat it lightly a few times.

Then the baron told Knight Crowe what to do. After the knight took the order, he received another item from the old knight, and then walked towards Keel and Mr. Plant.

"There are a lot of people here, let's find a quieter place to talk?"

Knight Crowe said to Mr. Plant.

"Of course, of course!" Plant also saw what Knight Crowe had received from Old Gurov, so he naturally knew what it meant.

He looked left and right, and then called his other brother and his sister's husband-in-law. The three of them, led by Knight Crow and Kiel, walked out of here under the leadership of the servants. In the center of the lush manor After walking for a while, Chu Xiao came to another tall house.

"This is actually the place where the family usually eats. There is no one in it now, and it is relatively empty, suitable for talking."

Knight Crowe nodded and walked in.

Keel followed suit.