Chapter 307 307-Confrontation
Now, Rolf was on his way to Jiakai's capital to speak favorably on Howard's behalf and to stabilize the increasingly erratic Lyon.
Meanwhile, Howard was actively engaged in the task Rolf had left with him.
The situation in Romagna was not particularly optimistic.
According to Rolf, the greedy Governor of Venice had hired mercenaries to bolster his forces, constantly challenging the boundaries of Romagna.
It seemed likely that if he sensed any weakness in Marquis Rolf, he would brazenly move in, ostensibly to "help solve the beast problem," but in reality, to seize the profits.
Despite the long march, the mood among the troops was relaxed.
Everyone understood that this was not a war campaign and that there would be no casualties, making the journey feel more like a lively spring outing for children.
The road from Nok to Romagna was easy to traverse, thanks to the wide highways.
Anna and Margaret, the two knights, took special care of Howard, often preparing wild game for him to eat.
Anna's cooking skills were mediocre, but her dishes were edible.
Margaret, on the other hand, was an excellent cook.
Her culinary talents were so good that even if she chose to become an adventurer in the future, she would never starve.
On one occasion, Anna caught a wild wolf for Howard to eat.
As Howard dined, he casually chatted with Anna, inquiring about her father's recent health.
Anna, while roasting a wild chicken leg, replied, "He's doing quite well. His days are mostly eating and sleeping, void of any ambition. Living the noble life suits him just fine." Her face betrayed a hint of disdain as she spoke.
It was clear Anna held little respect for her father's lackadaisical approach to nobility.
Pondering for a moment, Howard asked, "Now that the Valuva family has decided to separate from your Katerina family, does your father have any plans to enhance the prestige of the Katerina lineage?"
Anna responded with a self-deprecating laugh, "Enhance our family? Him? He wouldn't even dare to sign an alliance treaty."
Howard touched his nose thoughtfully and suggested, "Tell your father that if he wants to bring glory to your family, he should help me by visiting Edward and considering signing an alliance treaty. When the day comes for our three houses to join forces in battle, I won't forget his contribution." Howard's intention was to further solidify the alliance with Edward and establish a treaty with Anna's father.
Anna shrugged, "I'll do my best."
On the third day of their journey, as they neared the borders of Jiakai, a group of masked bandits took advantage of the night to attack Howard's camp.
Golan and Anna each took charge of defending the east and west sides, repelling two waves of attackers.
Meanwhile, Margaret, disguised as a maid, stayed close to Howard, capturing a masked assassin attempting another strike at Howard's life.
Howard recognized the assassin's attire and, after Anna's interrogation, confirmed his identity.
The man, bearing no distinguished family name, was a commoner hired by Duke Lyon of Jiakai.
His price: 250 gold coins, with the mission to kill Howard.
Seated, with a trembling glass of red wine in hand, Howard stared silently at the assassin.
Anna placed her sword near the assassin's neck, glancing at Howard as if asking whether to kill him.
Howard closed his eyes, deciding to let things proceed by the book.
Thus, the assassin was executed.
According to Anna's description, the attackers outside the camp were conscripted soldiers from Jiakai in disguise.
Enraged, Howard smashed his wine glass, cursing Lyon, "Damn you, Duke of Jiakai! A double-dealing scoundrel! Sending envoys on one hand and assassins on the other, you truly know how to play the game!"
Anna stepped outside the camp, spoke briefly with the captain of the guard, and then returned, advising Howard, "Calm down. This is just how relationships between nobles work."
After some time, Howard's army finally reached Romagna and met with Rolf.
Howard and his troops took a brief rest in the town of Romagna before moving to the border to bolster the defense.
There, Howard encountered the Governor of Venice, a man adorned in opulence, resembling a walking treasury.
His attire sparkled with precious gems and gleaming gold buttons.
Every stripe on his garment was masterfully crafted, and the angle of his collar was meticulously precise.
The Governor, a man in his forties, had a face marked by the passage of time yet exuded an air of affluence.
Next to the resplendent Governor, Rolf seemed almost impoverished.
Howard directed his men to station along the border, assigning them in intervals to face off against the mercenaries from Venice.
The atmosphere was not particularly tense; the Venetian mercenaries were aware this was a matter of profit, not a prelude to battle.
Similarly, Howard's conscripted soldiers discerned the attitude of their opponents, with many sheathing their swords once again.
The crux of the situation lay in the negotiations between Rolf and the Governor.
Howard stood beside Rolf, letting him introduce Howard to the Governor without refuting any of Rolf's embellishments.
It was a time to intimidate the opponent, and the more impressive they could make themselves sound, the better.
After hearing Rolf's account, the Governor scrutinized Howard, asking, "Did you really rise from a knight to a count within a feudal structure?" Howard smiled naturally, his response radiating charisma, "All of this is the joint achievement of my vassals and me."
The Governor let out a cold laugh, but then commended Howard for his achievements, admitting that he himself could not have accomplished what Howard had.
"In a feudal system, for nobles to rise in ranks is often a fool's dream. But in our republic, it's different. As long as you work hard and earn money, you get rewarded. I was just a common child in my early years, but now, I am known as a nobleman," he said.
Rolf took up the conversation, addressing the Governor, "This time I've brought an assistant. I can eliminate the beasts in Romagna all by myself." The Governor replied skeptically, "The origin of these beasts is a mystery, and their rapid breeding is concerning."
Rolf countered, "This is my territory, and I take full responsibility for it. You need not worry about these matters, my lord." His tone at the end of the sentence seemed to mock the Governor's earlier words.
Clearly, Rolf, a traditional feudal noble, looked down upon those merchants who gained status through wealth.
The Governor tried to deceive Rolf, claiming, "But my people say that these beasts have spread again, reaching the borders of Venice now." Seeing through the Governor's ploy, Rolf retorted, "Then go catch them in Venice's territory, why come to mine?"
The standoff continued, with the conversation shifting from clear and precise negotiating terms to more casual, rambling exchanges, almost like everyday chit-chat.
After two hours of this back-and-forth, both Rolf and the Governor were left with dry mouths and exhausted tongues, eventually deciding to retreat without further discussion.
Walking alongside Rolf, Howard listened as Rolf leaned in and whispered, "Now's our chance! His men have withdrawn. Quickly lead your men into the forest to capture the exotic beasts. The more we catch, the more we earn."
Scratching his ear, Howard replied, "Have your men lead the way." Rolf promptly assigned a guide.
In the afternoon, Howard's 1,500-strong army ventured deep into the forest, successfully hunting numerous exotic beasts.
Howard himself laid eyes on these creatures for the first time, finding their appearance difficult to describe – creatures he had never seen before, testament to the New World's wonders.
That evening, as Howard and his men returned to Romagna, they sold the beasts for a handsome profit.
However, just as they were celebrating their success, the Governor of Venice launched a sudden attack, causing a commotion at the border.
Rolf hurriedly lined up his 3000 conscripted soldiers along the border in a dense, three-layered formation, puzzling the Governor with this unexpected move.
Uncertain whether Rolf was preparing for a desperate fight, the Governor hesitated and eventually withdrew his forces.
For a month, this cat-and-mouse game continued between Rolf and the Governor.
Rolf simultaneously earned money and fended off the Governor, while the latter increasingly struggled with the expenses of hiring mercenaries.
Half a month later, the Governor's mercenaries finally broke through the border, launching an attack.
Rolf and Howard, unflustered in the face of battle, saw the exact moment the enemy crossed the line and commanded their armies to counterattack.
The Governor's mercenaries were repelled, and the Governor himself eventually departed from the area.
Howard and Rolf exchanged high-fives in celebration of their triumph.
Afterward, Howard led his men to Ferrara, where the abundance of exotic beasts allowed him to earn a considerable sum daily.
He instructed Golan to take a portion of the money back to Fernsouth Castle for Vettel to oversee some important projects.
The funds were to be used for refurbishing the knight's training ground and the heavy infantry training facility, as well as for renovating the castle walls to enhance their defensive capabilities.
For Golan, it was his first encounter with such a large amount of money.
He carefully transported it back to Fernsouth Castle and handed it over to Vettel.
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