Chapter 250 Chapter250-The Banquet
Anna and Marguerite often requested one-on-one practice battles with Howard.
While Anna's eagerness for combat was somewhat anticipated, it was Marguerite's boldness that took Howard by surprise.
Beneath her shy exterior lurked a warrior's spirit, a revelation that both intrigued and impressed him.
The primary virtue of a Knight Squire was martial prowess.
Howard had no desire to enter the battlefield with a squire who could only gaze at the ground in timidity.
Therefore, Marguerite's request, though unexpected, aligned perfectly with his long-term interests.
Marguerite, usually the epitome of quiet grace, today donned a suit of chainmail.
Her shoulders were shielded by iron plates, and her legs were protected by leather greaves reinforced with iron.
In her right hand, she wielded a sword, and in her left, a shield.
At first glance, her appearance did not particularly stand out to Howard.
However, once the duel commenced, Marguerite transformed.
Her eyes blazed with ferocity, her body radiating an intense battle spirit.
After exchanging more than ten moves with Howard, she swiftly dodged an attack and, with remarkable agility, positioned her sword's tip at Howard's throat.
Howard conceded defeat, both humbled and awestruck.
He realized that his own talents for warfare were modest at best.
Upon hearing Howard's admission of defeat, Marguerite immediately rushed over, embracing him anxiously.
"My lord knight, are you hurt? I am so sorry, I might have used too much force," she exclaimed with genuine concern.
Howard stood up, dusting himself off.
"You did nothing wrong. In fact, you did excellently, much to my delight. The squire I need is one with superior combat skills, and you have exceeded my expectations. On the battlefield, your prowess would indeed make you my right hand!"
Marguerite's face lit up with joy, her head nodding enthusiastically, much like an exuberant bunny.
"I will strive even harder in the future! I will not let down the high hopes you've placed in me, my lord knight!"
Howard twisted his neck, then, with a flourish of his sword, initiated the duel with Anna.
Within three moves, Anna was forced to the edge of the field.
Howard's two-handed sword, heavy and powerful, struck again, toppling Anna.
She conceded defeat, marking another victory for Howard.
From a distance, Resarite watched the scene, calling out to Howard, "Be gentle with the girls; don't injure them."
Clearly, Resarite had only just arrived and was unaware of Marguerite's impressive display earlier.
Howard chuckled at Resarite's concern.
"They are far from weak.
In fact, I'd wager that one of them could easily kick your behind if you faced her in combat!"
Resarite approached, greeted Anna and Marguerite, and began reporting on the training progress of the peasant soldiers.
"With my recent training, their fighting spirit has significantly improved. They can now form ranks proficiently, which gives us a considerable advantage. However, the lack of funds for weapons and armor remains a bottleneck, hindering further training."
Howard's thoughts drifted to Chris and her immense wealth.
He wondered how far the messenger had traveled and hoped the message would soon reach Chris's hands.
If Chris could come to them, it would save Howard a journey.
Yet, he had a nagging feeling that Chris might not believe in the direness of his current situation.
After handing Resarite fifty silver coins, Howard said, "In Yami Village, we have a blacksmith named Schumacher. Despite his age and the fact that he can forge only a few swords a day, let's entrust the weapon-making to him. Being a local, he's likely to offer a more reasonable price. As for the armor, it's more time-consuming to produce, so we can't rely on Schumacher for that. You should go to the nearby market and purchase what's needed. Stick to basic Leather Armor; don't splurge, we need to be frugal with our gold coins."
Resarite, accepting the silver coins, bowed respectfully and departed.
Howard instructed him to recruit more talent, suggesting a slightly larger intake this time.
Three to four days later, two men named Vettel and Alonso arrived in the village.
Howard welcomed them warmly, throwing a banquet in their honor, leaving them pleasantly surprised by such esteemed treatment.
He instructed Vettel and Alonso to be ready at his call, emphasizing the need for reliable hands around him at all times.
They expressed their gratitude with deep bows.
Meanwhile, Resarite made a trip to Castle Fernsouth and returned with over fifty pieces of Leather Armor.
The order for iron swords with Smith Schumacher was halfway done.
The Leather Armor was to be stored in the lord's warehouse under normal circumstances and issued to the peasant soldiers during times of war.
Since training required occasional full-scale combat drills, Howard granted Resarite the authority to manage the distribution of Leather Armor and iron swords.
As the weather turned cooler, Howard received an invitation from Baron Fernsouth, inviting him to a banquet at his castle.
Howard decided to take Anna as his attendant and set off for Castle Fernsouth.
The towering walls of Castle Fernsouth, reaching into the clouds, signified its formidable defenses, a castle not easily conquered.
The surrounding lands occasionally buzzed with fervent trade activities.
However, what set Castle Fernsouth apart, especially in contrast to the village, was its level of military-industrial production.
Unlike Yami Village, which had only Schumacher the blacksmith, this place was dotted with blacksmith and leatherworking shops.
Howard, seemingly in casual conversation, inquired with a servant who came to welcome him at Castle Fernsouth, "I see there are many military workshops here.
How much does a piece of Leather Armor cost? And what about an iron sword?"
The servant replied, "Here, a piece of Leather Armor costs sixty bronze coins, while an iron sword is fifty bronze coins."
Howard quickly did the math in his head.
To purchase fifty sets of Leather Armor and fifty iron swords, he realized that Resarite had managed to procure them for fifty silver coins, a price lower than what was offered at Castle Fernsouth.
This indicated not only the discount provided by Schumacher but also evidence of Resarite's integrity in handling funds.
Howard nodded in satisfaction, his mood buoyed as he proceeded forward.
Upon reaching the banquet hall, Anna, as his squire, separated from Howard to join the other squires at their designated dining area.
Baron Fernsouth had not yet arrived.
A long, red carpet stretched from the wide staircase all the way down to the ground.
The room was graced by the presence of four knights.
Since the defense of Hof, Baron Fernsouth had been full of praise for Howard.
At the banquet, Howard found himself in the company of Knight Kaido, a man radiating the vigor of youth.
Clad in blue, he appeared distinguished, leisurely savoring his wine in solitude.
Not far off, Knight Zoron, in his thirties yet already marked by furrows on his brow, was known as a noble fond of scheming.
He engaged in lukewarm conversation with Knight Patch, who was dressed in brown, in his twenties, and bald.
Patch, initially absorbed in conversation with Zoron, instantly sharpened his gaze like a predator upon spotting Howard.
He was aware of Howard's covert attempts to infiltrate his village with spies, seemingly harboring ambitions of annexation.
Patch sneered, "Better abandon that thought, Howard, or I'll make you wish you were never born."
Howard, understanding the accusation, stood his ground.
"Do you have proof? Let me remind you, allegations require evidence. Baseless claims are better left unspoken."
In a fit of rage, Patch crushed his wine glass, spilling its contents onto the floor and his shoes.
Unable to contain his fury, he stormed towards Howard, intent on teaching him a lesson.
Howard, unflinching and prepared for conflict, was ready to face any consequences of his plans to seize the other's territory.
Knight Zoron subtly furrowed his brow, sensing the rapidly souring atmosphere of the banquet.
With a tactician's foresight, he discreetly retreated a few steps, melding into the shadows to avoid being tainted by the unfolding scandal.
Knight Kaido, upholding the true spirit of knighthood, intervened to prevent the impending clash.
"Stop this at once! This is a time for celebration, not for brawling. Heed my words and cease your hostilities," he implored.
However, Patch, with eyes wide and wild like a beast, seemed oblivious to Kaido's words and continued his aggressive advance towards Howard.
Unruffled, Howard adjusted his stance, ready to confront Knight Patch.
As Patch lashed out with his right hand, aiming for Howard's collar, Howard swiftly parried the crude attempt with his own right hand.
At that moment, Baron Fernsouth descended the staircase, his voice booming with authority: "In the name of the lord of this land, I command you to stop!"
Patch, though begrudgingly, halted his assault and turned to face Baron Fernsouth, cursing under his breath.
Howard, silent yet evidently triumphant, held his head high in the Baron's presence.
Baron Fernsouth addressed Patch sternly, "Howard has been instrumental in defending Hof under my command. Your baseless accusations are an insult to me! You are not welcome here anymore. Leave!"
Knight Kaido remained stoically indifferent, while Knight Zoron's eyes flickered with inscrutable thoughts.
He periodically glanced at Patch and Howard, as if trying to discern something from their exchange.
The attendants quickly gathered around the scene, while the maids had already withdrawn to the sidelines, awaiting further developments.
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