"The Norscans invaded? Oh, damn it, why are you lords so busy? Yesterday the beastmen invaded, today the Norscans went south, what about tomorrow? Should we just forget about the Chaos invasion?"
Heidelberg, when Lawrence arrived here after a long journey, Lord Varrel was dining with his daughter. He went out to greet her, and heard the news as soon as he went out. When Lawrence asked for troops, Varrel couldn't help but cursed loudly.
"Last winter, Rhodes said that the Beastmen were invading, so I sent more than fifty soldiers to reinforce Black Hammer Castle. He swore that Black Hammer Castle would not be captured and these soldiers would return intact. What happened? Evil
Months later, only half of the people came back. They were all warriors from Heidelberg. They all had wives, children, and parents. Now, Rhodes asked me to provide reinforcements again. How many people are needed this time? The Norscans went south, and the scale
It's bigger than the Beastmen anyway, why, he wants me to lend him all the troops in Heidelberg?"
Standing in front of the castle gate, Varrel was cursing and complaining that it was a wrong decision to support Blackhammer Castle in the first place. Lawrence could not say a word from the side.
Just when the atmosphere was extremely awkward, Varel's daughter Caroline walked out from behind the city gate.
She was wearing a fine velvet robe, and her fair skin was soft and charming in the sun. The soldiers made way for her. After all, she was the daughter of the castle lord and a frost witch. Caroline's status in Heidelberg was second only to
Her father. A week ago, she came to live in Heidelberg. As soon as she left, Rhodes' messenger arrived.
"When did the Norscans go south?"
Frost Witch was very worried about Black Hammer Castle. After all, she had ice peppers and free hot springs there. Rhodes once promised her that one-third of the income from the ice peppers would be hers. Plus she and Rhodes
The feelings developed through fighting side by side made her always particularly concerned about the affairs of Blackhammer Castle.
"We have just received information that Lord Rhodes has returned from the north, and on his way back to Blackhammer Castle, he met the rangers from the Troll Country. It was these rangers who brought the news about the Norscans going south.
"
Lawrence answered sincerely.
"Father, we should go support them."
"You have stayed in Blackhammer Castle long enough. The Frost Witch should not run around. The Queen taught you this."
There was a look of dissatisfaction on Warrier's face. The completely opposite attitudes of father and daughter made Lawrence feel embarrassed again. He knew that with Caroline's friendship with his lord, she would help him persuade Lord Warrier to send troops.
But Varrel seems to have reached the limit of his patience with Rhodes. Originally, Blackhammer Castle and Heidelberg were peaceful and did not disturb each other. Since the invasion of Evil Moon Beastmen, the exchanges between the two places have increased.
Although the paving increased trade income to a certain extent, it actually connected the two places more closely. Although Varrel didn't say it on the surface, he already knew his old neighbor's plan in his heart.
"But she also taught me that when the kingdom is in trouble, the Frost Witch has no one to blame."
Caroline retorted. Varrel was so angry that his face turned green.
"The Norscans went south, but I heard that Rhodes also has Norscan warriors on hand?"
Varrel turned to ask Lawrence.
"Yes, there are probably more than a hundred Norscans stationed at Blackhammer Castle now. Another hundred or so people are wandering in the forest hunting. But this small number of people is no match for the invaders."
Lawrence replied.
"How many have they come?"
"Thousands of people... or more... I haven't received accurate information yet. I only know that the entire tribe has gone south. Except for women and children."
Lawrence answered clearly, in fact, he is not suitable to be an envoy. He will not be as glib as a diplomat, but will only convey ideas. Rhodes knew it, but there was no other way. Blackhammer Castle lacked talents.
, the only administrative person is the old butler Muros. But the old guy must stay in the castle to manage daily affairs, finance, internal affairs and so on. Moreover, Muros is already very old. It is useless for him to go out of the city and run around on the road.
Suitable. Therefore, in desperation, Rhodes could only let his cavalry and rangers act as messengers.
"It looks like there are a lot of people. This is a real battle. You can report it to the Queen and let the regular army handle it."
Caroline said.
"There is no time. The Norscans are marching very fast. Lord Rhodes estimates that they will reach the border in half a month."
Lawrence answered.
"This is indeed a problem."
"Father, we should do something."
"Do something? Do you want me to reinforce Rhodes? Help him defend the castle?"
"What the lord means is that we will take the initiative and confront the Norscan invasion head-on..."
"Hahahahaha, should I praise your lord for his courage? Or laugh at his stupidity? For thousands of years, no lord has left his castle undefended and taken the initiative to go out to fight the barbarians."
After Lawrence finished speaking, Varrel couldn't help but laugh loudly. He further strengthened his principle of not sending troops. People would have died defending Blackhammer Castle before, let alone this time the lunatic wanted to take the initiative to go out of the city to fight the barbarians. What Varel could say
No more troops will be sent to support his "neighbor".
"Father……"
"Stop talking, I won't send troops, and you can't go either. I have indulged you for too long. You must stay in Heidelberg until the Norscans retreat."
Varrel said harshly. His tough attitude made the atmosphere suddenly feel uncomfortable.
Although Caroline wanted to help, she was not the Lord of Heidelberg and had no right to mobilize the army.
Just as the two of them glared at each other, Lawrence remembered the second alternative that Rhodes gave him before leaving...
"Sir...Sir...Look at this, Black Hammer Castle is isolated and helpless. There are no reinforcements within several kilometers. You are the only ally. If you are worried about the safety of the soldiers, Lord Rhodes has another suggestion. He will
Pay a certain amount of gold coins as the insurance money for these soldiers to go to war. If they return safely after the war, this fund will be used as a reward; if they unfortunately die in the battle, then this fund will be used as a pension for their wives and children."
Lawrence said tactfully. He gave both sides a step down. On the surface, it sounded nice, it was insurance money and pension money. In fact, all fools knew that no matter whether these soldiers could come back alive after the war, the gold coins would flow into the pockets of Lord Heidelberg.
It's equivalent to hiring soldiers from Heidelberg to fight, but it doesn't say so on the surface.
Varrel's brows were raised, and then he said to the messenger sent by Rhodes——