Characters in this chapter: (Alleyne), (Roman), (Victor), (Momecha), (Resarit), (Cress), (Jamila), (Mathilde), (Merck).

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Chapter 038: (New Mission)

After the knight of Rhodok and his soldiers had left, a middle-aged man dressed as a peasant ran from the tavern to their camp and whispered to himself.

When Mo Mo Cha saw this, he was a little unhappy, and frowned and asked, "What are you muttering, hillbilly, say it." ”

"My lord," the peasant's eyes flashed with a hint of horror, and he pleaded in a dry whisper. "You look like someone who is good at using a sword, and should be able to help us, can you listen to my request?"

Mo Mocha didn't think that the ragged Rhodok farmer in front of him could afford to pay a high commission, and he was not interested in listening to a hillbilly's request. Just as Momocha was about to say no, Alleyne interjected and asked, "What's going on?"

"A gang of bandits has taken over our village and used it as a refuge for them," said the peasant, whose face turned pale and trembled with pain. "They robbed us of all our possessions and forced us to serve them and do all the bad things to us. ”

The peasant's expression gradually became sad, and his face was full of despair. "If any of us had said a word of protest, they would have killed the poor man at once, and our life there was unbearable, and I risked my life to escape and find someone to help us. ”

When Victor heard this, he suggested to the peasants: "You can ask the lord here to help you, and the Rhodok soldiers who left just now, you should find them to help you exterminate those bandits, not us." ”

"I've looked for it, sir," whispered the farmer anxiously. "But our lord's men didn't let me see my lord, saying that my lord had more important things to deal with, and that we should solve this problem ourselves. ”

"More important?" said Mo Cha sneeringly. "Treating us as Swadia spies like they did, and then killing us, and then taking all our equipment and belongings, is that what they call more important?"

The peasant politely explained to him: "Recently, there has been a group of elite Swadian knights disguised as mercenaries who have infiltrated the plains of Arnwo, and they have caused a lot of trouble for our transport and supply lines, and I heard that the commander of this group of Swadian knights is Count Rochebas. ”

Victor was no stranger to the name Count Rochebas, and so was Ellene. Although Gran Rochebas did not participate in the famous 'Battle of the Guardians of Zhivacheze', he did capture the city of Zhivadine, which originally belonged to the Swadians, from the Nords.

Rochebaspoye, who was once a prominent general of the Kingdom of Vegia. In a war for the throne in the Kingdom of Vidgia, he firmly chose Prince Vidim, and the war for the throne did not last long before Prince Vidim's support fell apart.

In order to gain the loyalty of Rochebas, King Haraus granted Fort Rennes and the town of Eldeigar to the warlike Virgia general in order to gain the loyalty of Rochebas.

"Sir, you look like a valiant man, and a formidable warrior," said the simple-looking peasant sycophant. "There is no doubt that many friends and warriors here are at your service, and if anyone can help us, it would be you. ”

Eradicating bandits is a difficult task, and casualties are inevitable. This should have been the duty of the lord to protect the safety of the territory and the people, they should send soldiers to exterminate these bandits, or they can spend a lot of money to hire mercenaries to solve this problem.

Mercenaries are willing to help anyone who needs help, and the other party must be able to afford expensive commissions in advance. Victor was skeptical that the ragged peasants would be able to pay a commission, but they might be able to get a more generous commission from the robbers, including weapons.

After Victor consulted with his right and left men, Resarit and Mathilde, he turned to the peasants and said, "Well, we'll help you with this." Now tell me, where is your village?"

"We shouldn't worry about this trouble now," Mocha whispered to Ellene. "Why are we fighting these bandits, what do I get, we should keep on our way to Viruga. ”

Jamila, who was standing beside Ellen, glared at the horse thief viciously, "Shut your mouth, don't forget that your duty is to obey!"

"God bless you, sir," said the farmer excitedly. "Our village is called Tamnu, and it's a bit far from here, but you are all on horseback, and it only takes half a day to get there. ”

"We'll go as soon as it's dawn," Victor told him. "You go back to the tavern and rest first. ”

"Thank you, if you can help us chase away the bandits, we will repay you. "The peasants don't expect the mercenaries to help them exterminate the bandits, they just want them to get rid of them.

When the peasant returned to the tavern not far away, Victor exclaimed, "We need to replenish the personnel for this mission," he commanded. "Alleyne, Momo Tea, you two go to the tavern and ask if anyone would like to join us. ”

"It's full of hillbillies, what can you do recruiting them?" Momocha couldn't help but grumble again. "Commander, we shouldn't have bothered about this trouble at all. ”

When Jamila heard the words hillbilly come out of her mouth, she said angrily, "These Rhodoks living in the mountains are qualified crossbow archers, and they will go to great lengths to protect their villages and join us. ”

"Come on," Victor yelled, changing his usual attitude. "Damn, Momo Tea, stop complaining to Lao Tzu!"

Momocha closed her mouth in amusement and followed Ellen towards a nearby tavern. Alleyne pushed open the door to the tavern, and Momo Tea followed him into the tavern's hall, where a few guests sat sparsely, drinking the ale that Viruga had brought in.

"There were a couple of guys in the corner who looked like they could fight, standing up, maybe trying to get out of here. Mo Mo Cha said. "They should, maybe they could, do it with us. As long as the remuneration is reasonable. ”

"We're mercenaries," Alleyne shouted at the figures in the hall. "For the next mission, we need to recruit some new members of the team, is anyone willing to join us?"

"Stranger," asked a strong man, putting down the wooden cup in his hand, and asked aloud. "Tell us what the task is and how much we can get paid!"

Alleyne blurted out a question, "Our team is going to exterminate a group of bandits who have taken over the village of Tamnu," he added, after a moment's pause. "As for the reward, we can't confirm it until the bandits are exterminated!"

The already quiet hall suddenly became silent. These Rhodoks are not desperate to join them, as Jamila suggests. Maybe the word bandit scared them, or maybe it was because of the payment.

Just as Ellen and Momocha were about to leave the tavern, a young man sitting in the corner stood up and shouted, "I want to join you, and I don't need anything in return, I just want them to pay for it." For the sake of my master, I accept this task. ”

Alleyne didn't know what the young man had had with the bandits or the feud they had with, but at least they had recruited a new member for the occasion, better than none at all. Alleyne and Momocha left the quiet tavern with the young man.

Back at the camp, Jamila asked with some frustration, "Aren't they willing to join us?"

"Do you really think those hillbillies are going out of their way to join us?" Momocha replied unceremoniously. "Oh, beautiful princess, you are so naïve, this is not one of those fairy tales you have seen. ”

"What about him?" asked Jamila, unconvinced, pointing to the strange young man. "Why did he join us?"

"My name is Merck and my hometown is in the town of Selen, near Fort Amela. The young man said politely. "I can tell you a story of mine, if you wish. ”

"Does this have anything to do with you joining us?" asked Jamila. "If anything, I'd like to listen. ”

Merck nodded, and then began to tell his story: "My father was a veteran loyal to the Duchy of Rhodoc, and because of the constant war, he had to go around with Lord Henry Walker, and although I was disgusted that he stayed with me for too little time, but since he died in the battle of Fort Amera, he was shot in the head by an arrow and was ineffective, I often dream of him at night, and I think this is the family friendship that cuts blood thicker than water. ”

Jamila suddenly remembered her father, and she often dreamed of her father, and it wouldn't be long before she would be able to return to Viruga and return to her father's side. But she was afraid to see her father, afraid that he would force her to marry a business partner again.

Merck was silent for a moment, then continued his story: "He left me alone in the town of Imer and introduced me to a local craftsman with whom I had been learning since I was a child. He added confidently. "I'm very proficient with long-pole weapons. ”

"But because of a riot of about 300 bandits, my master died in his craftsman's shop. Thanks to the support of the knight of the city, a good knight saved me in the battle with the bandits, and he gave me his horse so that I could escape from the battle with the villagers, and the townsfolk escaped, but the good knight died at the hands of the bandits. ”

"Now I have no one to rely on, and the only thing left is 70 dinars and a barrel of 150 dried salted fish that I brought with me from my reckless escape. Merck said proudly. "I will always remember what the knight said to me, he said that my father was a great man and made me strong to live......"

"From this day forward, you're no longer alone, you're part of our team," Alleyne assured him. "We will be your brothers, your dependents. Although he could not guarantee that everyone would be like him, treating his companions as if they were brothers. But he would.

"Really?" Merck asked hesitantly.

"Of course!" Mo Mo smiled and leaned closer to the other party, and then whispered. "My brother, I've been having some trouble lately, can you lend me some dinars?"

"How much do you want?" Merck asked, looking up.

"How much can you lend me?" Mo Mo Cha suddenly showed a look that was both obscene and greedy.

Seeing this, Alleyne interrupted, "Momo tea, it's time for you to stand guard." After Mo Mo Cha left unwillingly, he specially told the new young mercenary. "Don't lend him a copper plate, but you can give him a few dried salted fish to satisfy his cravings. ”

The other party smiled shyly. This reminded Alleyne of the dead Parker. They were all Rhodocs, both young, and both had unfortunate backgrounds. The only difference was that Parker had been added to them on his own initiative, while Merck had been improvised in the tavern.

As the lonely moon flew by in the thin clouds, smearing the dull watery light on the endless plains, Alleyne looked up at the lone moon in the sky, and suddenly remembered his father who had driven him away, and his mother who had died. It's as if I'm the lonely moon.

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