"Thirty thousand gold crowns every year. If the construction of the Great Wall lasts for twenty years, then Lord Marius of Ivey must pay six hundred thousand gold crowns to fulfill his promise. There are also countless trade agreements, this
This time, the Mad King spent a lot of money."
"So, do you think we made a profit?"
"I didn't say that, it's just that this is really not in line with the empire's tradition."
In the cold tower, Rhodes and Bear Knight Captain Sibes were discussing each other.
Sibes thinks this transaction is worth it. Even if he organizes an entire legion to go north, as long as he can rescue that little brat, it is worth it. But Rhodes has his own worries...
"In fact, the empire's traditions have not changed at all. Marius is not crazy, he is shrewd. The messenger said that the empire cannot carry out this rescue because it is not familiar with the situation on the Norsca Peninsula. This is one of the reasons
. Another question he did not say was that Seedorf was missing, not kidnapped. If he had been kidnapped, the Norscans would have offered a ransom, but they didn’t. There were only two reasons. Seedorf was in the battle.
They were accidentally killed, and we can no longer find any survivors. Secondly, the barbarians had no intention of leaving anyone alive. They were seeking revenge this time for the disastrous defeat at the last siege of Marienburg. I guess,
The two scenarios are more likely. If it was for money, they would not go on a killing spree, and they would not let out any news. An entire legion just disappeared silently into the snow, and the answer was actually clear.
.The Norscans are still scary when they are united."
Rhodes analyzed calmly.
"So, it is almost impossible for us to find Seedorf alive?"
Sibes was a little disappointed.
"There is no absolute in everything, nor is there any chance. If it is certain that Seedorf is dead, why would the Mad King spend a lot of money to invite us? He will not give up only if there is still a glimmer of hope. After all, that Seedorf is him
The only heir."
Rhodes took a sip of strong wine and continued -
"I guess that Seedorf is still alive. As I just said, if it is for ransom, the Norscans will keep him alive, then there will be nothing wrong with us. If the entire legion, including Seedorf himself, is massacred for revenge,
Then, the barbarians will inevitably stick up Seedorf's body and send it back to the empire to show their sovereignty. There is neither of these two possibilities, there is only one possibility - Seedorf escaped. Although the Imperial Legion is not good at fighting in the north, there are many soldiers in the legion.
There are still some elite knights, and in critical moments, these knights will protect their lords. Do you still remember the team of Rick Guards we met in the north a few years ago?"
Sibes nodded.
"Under the stubborn leadership of Aliria, they were forced into a desperate situation by the barbarians. However, relying on their tenacious fighting power and strong armor, these people miraculously survived. Seedorf brought a whole
There is an imperial legion, and there are many elite knights like the Rick Guards. Therefore, it is not impossible to protect this little kid from escaping."
"The direwolves will hunt them down."
Sibes added.
"The knights will fight back. They may even circle around to get rid of their pursuers. The smaller the number, the easier it is to remain invisible."
Rhodes drank wine and continued to talk——
"We also need to keep a low profile for this operation. The fewer people we bring, the less likely it is to attract the attention of the Norscans. To send out the northern army for this child whose life or death is uncertain is not worth the gain. If we send an entire army to go north, it will definitely
If the barbarians are alerted and there is a fierce battle in the north and Seedorf cannot be saved, then it is really a failed deal."
"So, we have to be implicated again..."
Seedorf complained.
"This is the last time. I promise."
Rhodes came back with a smile, but his face was full of wrinkles that had gone through many vicissitudes of life.
"I'm not worried about my own safety, but I'm worried about you, the great lord."
Sibes said, with rare warmth in his eyes.
"Everything is an arrangement of fate. If the gods wanted me to die, I would have died ten thousand times. In the past, the difficulties we encountered were a hundred times more difficult than this, weren't they?"
Sibes wanted to say that it would have been better if he had not led the team on this mission, but Rhodes did not give him, the Bear Knight captain, any chance to defend himself. He swallowed his drink and continued -
"This time, you should come with me and bring your bear. It may be useful. Tomorrow, I will write to Lord Thorgard of Dulong City, hoping that he can provide help. Just a team of rangers is enough.
Most importantly, we need eyes. The reason why the Imperial Legion was defeated was not because they did not have enough troops or advanced weapons, but because they were blindly confident. They lacked intelligence and spies. In fact, neither did we. And the rangers of Dulong City
They have been wandering in the snowy mountains for many years and know the terrain of Norsk very well. With their help, we have eyes."
"I know what you want to say. You want to tell me that the dwarves have helped us too much, and the kindness that should be repaid has been repaid long ago, right?"
Sibes curled his lips and said that you are the lord and you know everything. What else can I say?
"Even if Thorgard doesn't help with this, I will ask the local dwarf rangers to help. If that doesn't work, hire them to help us explore the road and detect intelligence. If not, we still have our people in Dragonbone Port, and there are tribal hunters there.
"
"Okay, now that you've decided..."
Sibes sighed.
"You go back tonight and help me select twenty bear knights. In two days, we will go north together."
Rhodes ordered.
"Bogur and Celta?"
"I will inform them. Bogur is most happy with this kind of thing. Celta is originally a Norscan raider, so it is most appropriate for him to go."
"What about that elf?"
Sibes asked next.
"I'll tell her."
Rhodes thought for a while, now, how to find Aliria is a problem...
…
Two days later, the "Northern Expedition" team set off. The drizzle in early summer was hazy, soaking the soldiers' armor. The team was sparse, with only about fifty people, but they were all elite, including twenty Northern Bear Knights and thirteen
A raider hunter, twelve Ugor cavalry, plus Bogul the Butcher, Eleria the Wood Elf Wanderer, and Celta, Captain of the Norscan Guard, formed the team heading north.
Starting from Elengrad, we go all the way north, passing Black Hammer Castle, passing through the Black Forest, until we exit the Great Wall of Despair in the north, and then join the local dwarf ranger force in Dulong City. However, no matter how we put it together, the number of this team does not exceed a hundred people.
, moving forward in secret, Rhodes has done this kind of thing more than once before, and this time, it is the same...