How to live as a wanderer

The Chamber was home to the city-states of the Catalan Peninsula, not Marcel. As for the guilds who lived and rooted in Marcel, or the Grand Chamberlain, it was completely unreliable.

“But you tell a different story. So, tell me. ”

“The Cardyrian is not a good emperor. ”

In John's words, the Praetor smiled admirably.

“Is that so?”

“Did you call me to ask which side? ”

“Oh, of course not. The point is, you have the baron of Einbeck, and you have the right to do so. Earl Bartok's knights said the same thing. ”

It was John who captured Baron Einbeck, and therefore the ransom for the hostages was also John's right.

“Do you have any intention of handing the Baron Einbeck over to another nobleman? ”

“! ”

Delivering the Baron of Einbeck for the money of a third nobleman, not for the money of the Einbecks.

Obviously, it was difficult for a noble family related to the Emperor or the Emperor. It was about throwing shit at the Einbecks' faces.

Of course, John didn't care at all.

“As long as the price is right. ”

“... I'm sure I'll pay a generous price. Are you sure you're okay? ”

“Yes, I'm just curious. Who would want to take the Baron Einbeck? ”

“I can't tell you that yet. I'll tell you when it's settled.”

“Are you an empire aristocrat? ”

“You're quick to notice. I'll let you know something else instead. At sunrise tomorrow, all the Imperials in the city of Marcel, especially those related to the Emperor, will be deported. ”

John was surprised by what the Praetor said. What the Emperor did was immoral, but I never thought he'd react so harshly.

“Is that okay? ”

“The Cardyrian refused to explain, refused to pay, and insulted the Order. I'm asking you to do it, so there's no reason to take it anymore. ”

“Aren't there some emperors in the Grand Society? ”

“It will be gone by tomorrow. ”

“...... ”

John was frightened for a moment.

“Sir, I was frankly greatly astonished by your power. I wonder what he was up to when he mobilized in Congress. ”

“I understand this is an estramorwn knight flowing in. ”

“But in the future... the more chaotic things get around you, the higher the value of knights like Sir." I look forward to your service as the Praetor. And don't think that only the Supreme Court can serve as a backdrop. ”

The Praetor smiled meaningfully.

*

*

*

‘Ugh. It was a banquet that was in a different way than I expected. ’

The conversation with the Praetor was informative, but also burdensome.

I saw exactly what the Praetor wanted. When the interests of the Chamber of Commerce and the Praetor are divided, you want them to come under the Seal of the Praetor, not the flag of the Chamber of Commerce.

Well, it was always a good offer considering the executor's identity, but...

John had no idea what the Praetor was thinking or planning, and he had no choice but to be suspicious.

Compared to that, the commercial was clean. Give and take. Suttleg didn't say it was easy for the council to know.

‘And I don't know how long you've been holding hands and beating up betrayal right away. ’

Reputation and power, as well as trust, were important values. There are a lot of people who don't care about that.

John pondered and did what he had to do. You picked up silver coins and gold coins due to punitivity and majors (some of which you scattered to mercenaries, some of which you donated to monks) and decided to sell Troll hide and blood to Marcel.

Are you talking about the Trolls you hunted? Are you taking him to the Empire?

The Praetor, of course, wanted Marcel to buy such precious materials. Without John's family, I assumed it was enough material to take him to a cart.

Meanwhile, the Elven Knights are ready to leave after their work in the city. They hugged John and told him to send a messenger if he came near.

As John was busy, the city was busy. The deportation order, execution and seizure of property exploded everywhere, as the Praetor said. It was enough for the people of the city to say, 'Isn't the emperor's army approaching?'

Still, people didn't take it seriously. That's how much trust we have in this city. Even an emperor could not easily bring an army from afar to take down this city.

*

*

*

“Are you relieved of your fatigue, Ser? ”

Iaon's voice, which was in charge of the meeting point, seemed somewhat more polite than the last time.

“Yes.”

“The reason I called you here today is because I have a hard offer to make. ”

The poetic offers John received at the banquet flew in from Iaon as well. They were letters from all over, but the contents were similar. I just started raising my reputation and asked you to catch monsters near me.

It was rarely poisoned by a young knight as young as the monster hunt.

You can easily earn a reputation, but if you take that reputation, you will get a business that has nothing left. If you keep winning, if you get hurt badly, there's nothing left at the end.

But there are also things that can be useful in these proposals.

There were two suggestions:

“Earl Bartok and Earl Jarpen would like to see you. ”

“...! ”

Suddenly, John was embarrassed when the two earls said they wanted to meet.

“Do I have to choose between the two? ”

“Yes. As long as you're not fools, if you go to see one, you'll have to go into the other. ”

From the Earl's perspective, John was only a knight who gained a little fame. Rarely, an Earl would take good care of such a knight when he refused his offer.

If I choose one, I have to assume it's hard for the other to meet again.

“You'd better make your decision soon and then make your way to the territory with the group. because it's too late and there's nothing good about it. ”

I had to be that careful to deal with the above identities. For some reason, we may be caught up.

“From the standpoint of Congress? ”

“Well... I think it would be a good opportunity for any of you to be prestigious. And Sir.”

“? ”

“Did the Praetor not make an offer? ”

“Offer? I don't know what you're talking about. ”

John's expression did not change, but Iaon was already convinced.

“The Praetor always likes to keep his own people separate, not trust others. even though we have no intention of betraying Marcel. You're free to take the Tribune's offer, but I want you to know one thing. Unlike our contract, once you accept the contract with the Praetor, you won't be able to escape.

Well, anyway... I'll be waiting for a choice. ”

Iaon does not insist on an answer as a seasoned merchant, but simply says something and then retreats neatly.

*

*

*

“That's what they want you to do. They want you to be escorted. A talented young knight. You do realize the city's guards and white captains are originally mercenaries, right? ”

“I know. ”

The mercenaries fought well, but were not loyal. Knowing that, the city used all sorts of ways to appease mercenaries.

I gave the mercenaries a home and a family, a position to the mercenary commander, and he was short, so he continued to try to control it by mixing mercenaries.

Carrots and whips!

Mercenaries were difficult creatures, not to be lacking, not to be overwhelmed.

John, by comparison, is a knight of noble birth. He was much more reliable.

“That's what they're trying to use you for. Not a bad offer, but not a good time. ”

“? ”

“Marcel's atmosphere smells like war. If we accept the offer like this, we'll have to fight for blood. In someone else's war. ”

“Who are you fighting? ”

“I don't know about that. But if you fight, it's probably the empire, and it's also the emperor-related territory. We can't just stand by and do nothing about it, even from the poem's perspective. ”

John immediately remembered what the Praetor said.

Perhaps the Baron of Einbeck is the Lord of the Holy Empire?

If I could just sell the Baron and borrow some soldiers, I'd be sure to do it. Especially if you want to start a war.

‘It's hard for me to accept such an offer. ’

It didn't matter to participate in the war, but it was a different story to participate as a servant of the Tribune. The incoming reward will be too different.

“That's not what I think you should be thinking about. You can postpone the Senate or the Praetor, frankly. Choosing one side doesn't make one side sick. But the Earl's invitation is a different story. ”

“Do you have any advice? ”

“Don't go to Earl Bartok. ”

“... Why? ”

John asked as if he was tired of Suttleg's sudden cuts.

“Earl Bartok is a whisperer. ”

“That word is a slippery tongue? ”

John recalls Elven Knights cheering and drinking and indulging in luxury. The Earl is the one who makes you such a luxury.

“I'm not talking about the words. I spend my money beautifully because I'm face-to-face. But I won't give you the vomit easily. You saw those articles. No one would have taken the land. ”

Earl Bartok paid generously for his luxury or pride, but was reluctant to give his men the coronation and land.

“I can see that. After I call you, I'll give you a few matches, compliment you on being okay, and formalize you. And then you will strike without giving them land. ”

“What about Earl Jarpen, then? ”

“Earl Jarpen...”

Suetlq blurs his words.

“The erl?”

“... I don't know. ”

“...... ”

In John's expression, Suetlq hurriedly excuses himself.

“I haven't met all the nobles. In the case of Earl Jarpen, I didn't find a wizard, so I never saw him again. ”

“I think I was at war when I came through. ”

“Oh, that's good. Were you losing? ”

“I don't know about that, but I've heard it's disadvantageous...”

“Even better. I can't wait to be treated like that. ”

In his words, John smiles bloody. It seemed like a joke, but it made sense.

“So calling me... is more like finding a useful mercenary." ”

“Are you offended? ”

“Not really. Maybe. I wanted to. ”

“You're a strange man. Maybe it's because it's big, sometimes it's small. ”

“I'll take that as a compliment. ”

Thanks to his conversation with Suetlg, John felt his thoughts cleared up. It seemed more appropriate to go to a nobleman who needed John than to a nobleman who clearly didn't need John.

If Earl Jarpen is desperate, he will offer you that much.

< 41 John's Selection (2) > End