A slum at the base of the outer walls of the city of Lucesen.

The laborers sat around a shack, and saw that the walls of the shack were covered with dead branches, hanging some dry thatch, leaking light everywhere, and a few stones on the ground, on which some planks and hay were laid.

"Anyway, I'm fed up with this wild dog-like life of grabbing food, and I want to go for it. Brother Odo, what do you think? The red-haired short man broke the silence.

All eyes were on Otto the Iron Arm.

Otto sat on the top, rubbed the bruise on his right shoulder with his left hand, looked up at the red fur and said, "Go out and break in?" Red-headed ghost, do you know how messy the South is right now? Do you know that the Ranger is reliable? Don't forget that you still have an old immortal father in the countryside waiting for you to feed. ”

The man known as the "Red-Headed Ghost" was Kazak, a farmer in a village near the city of Zug, north of Lucesen. Three years earlier, his family had offended the lord and had been taken back from the manor, his mother and sister had died of illness, and this autumn his father had broken his foot when he was feeding a squire's house in the suburbs of Lucesen. The 20-year-old Kazak, who has never married a wife, now supports himself and his bedridden father by following Otto and his party as a laborer in and out of Lucesen.

Kazak was speechless at this time by Odo's lesson. He was really tired of being oppressed everywhere, and if it weren't for the fact that there was no one to take care of his sick father at home, he would really go to the south with that border patrolman.

"Big guy, be quiet, I know you're all tired of living like a wild dog, but many of you have wives and sons, and they're still waiting for you to come home with copper plates and food." Otto looked around and said.

"I think so, tomorrow morning, the guys who don't have a family can go with me to the Seongnam Tavern to have a look, and if the Border Patrol Officer is really reliable, we will discuss whether to go and take refuge. Don't go to those who have families, have you lived for so many years, have you ever seen bread that doesn't cost money? Being a soldier is to exchange your head for food, and if you really go to the border to suppress bandits, you may be chopped off on the same day. If you die, your wife and children will not be able to do even wild dogs. Otto exclaimed.

All the laborers stopped talking, and there was silence in the room.

"Don't discuss it here, it's a big deal, you have to take care of it yourself. Let's all disperse, go back and think carefully, and come back to me tomorrow. Otto drove them out of his hut.

While the laborers were gathering to discuss, Art was taking Ron to bargain with the shopkeeper at the door of a grain store.

"Little man, I don't think you and your master look like they're short of money, one pinney and three pounds of hulled barley is already the lowest price in the city, and besides, you only buy a thousand pounds, it really can't be cheaper." The shopkeeper was a little impatient with Ron.

"I asked you yesterday that you are still a pfennig and four pounds, why did the price increase today? You are discredited!! Ron asked, pointing to the shopkeeper's nose.

The shopkeeper looked innocent and said: "I said young man, now it's getting more and more chaotic outside, the price of grain in many cities in the south has almost doubled, the price you came yesterday is definitely not today's price, and the price may increase tomorrow, if you don't buy it today, it won't necessarily be a price tomorrow~"

“……”

Art stood with his hands folded and watched Ron and the grain store master come and go, and he suddenly felt that Ron had a gift for being a merchant.

Seeing that the two were at a stalemate, Yate no longer regarded himself as a spectator, and stepped forward and said to the shopkeeper: "Man, although we didn't buy much this time, we definitely need to buy more grain in the future, if you can push the price down this time, I can consider ordering grain from your grain store for a long time in the future."

The shopkeeper took a closer look at Art, and saw that he didn't seem to be lying, so he said, "Well~ Okay, but you have to buy some more rye." The shopkeeper was already pestered by Ron's mouth and didn't want to go any further. The rye in the grain store are all old grains that have been stockpiled for several years, and some of them are moldy, and the shopkeepers are worried that they will not be able to sell them.

Yad's head agreed.

Eventually, they bought a thousand pounds of barley for a pfennig and three and a half pounds, and another hundred pfenniels for three hundred pounds of rye, a few loaves of rye, and a bag of wheat flour.

In the end, Ron spared the shopkeeper a large bag of bran for the animals.

After giving the innkeeper a hundred pfennigs, Art ordered the grain to be packed and picked up tomorrow afternoon, and then took Ron back to the inn......

…………

In the tavern on the first floor of the hotel, Ron was grabbing a large piece of barbecue meat and stuffing it into his mouth, his cheeks were bulging, the meat in his mouth had not yet been chewed, and he picked up a piece of refined wheat bread and sent it to his mouth, and spoke to Art vaguely: "Old ~ master, what are you recruiting those ~ workers?" There are many homeless deserters in the south, why do you spend that money~"

Art picked up the cask glass on the table, took a sip of light beer, smiled and looked at Ron, who was gobbling up, but didn't answer.

Recruiting force workers into their patrol team is a temporary intention, today in the group fight at the construction site, Yate saw the extraordinary combat effectiveness of the force workers, especially the guy named Odo, dare to fight, but also know some battle formation cooperation, have the potential of officers, such people can not be found. However, although these laborers have a hard time, they are not like those displaced people in the south, who have lost their homes and are completely helpless, and they will not abandon their families and children and go to the southern border to exchange their heads for rations unless they have to, so Art is not sure if anyone will come to him tomorrow.

"Ron, what do you think of that guy named Otto?" Art asked, taking another sip of beer.

Ron lifted his head from the soup bowl, wiped the soup from the corner of his mouth, stared at Art for a moment and replied, "I can't beat him, that guy's arms are too strong." ”

"What else?"

"Hmm~ That guy has the courage to take responsibility, only he dares to stand up when we go."

"Anything else?"

"None"

Art was noncommittal to Ron's answer, and continued to ask, "Did you say he would come tomorrow?" ”

"Definitely."

Surprised by Ron's affirmative answer, Art asked, "How can you be sure he'll come?" ”

"Because today that guy's eyes have been on the long sword at your waist, and that look is like a hungry man who has been hungry for too long sees a bowl of steaming broth." Ron continued to look down at the roast on his plate.

"Haha, Ron, you're pretty careful. Come and have a drink with me......"

—————

The next day, after breakfast, Ron rode a green mule with eighty finnigh to the carpenter's shop to retrieve an abandoned iron-plated four-wheeled carriage that he had bought for one hundred and fifty fennigs the previous day, and eighty fennigs was the money for the carpenter's shop to repair the carriage. The spokes of the carriage were badly damaged, and the side panels were so damaged that the old carpenter only said that he would try to repair them as much as possible, but even if they were repaired, they would last a year and a half at most.

Art himself sat at the long table in front of the hotel, watching the pedestrians come and go outside the door.

After sitting at the doordoor for a morning, with no sign of the laborers, Art was a little disappointed. Ron had led the green mule back to the stable in the tavern, unloaded the yoke, and led the green mule back to the stable.

Ron entered the door and saw Art sitting alone in the doorway, and asked, "Sir, they haven't come yet?" ”

Art shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Ron, it seems that your vision is not accurate." ”

"Alright, you go and pack your bags, we'll go to the grain store to load food in a while, and we'll leave for Tiniets in the afternoon." Art said with regret.

Just as the two were about to turn around and go upstairs, a red-haired guy stood next to the hotel door, glanced sideways into the door, and then slipped away.

At the entrance of the alley outside the hotel, Otto was looking in with a Lihan. Seeing the red-headed ghost Kazak slipping back like a thief, Otto slapped Kazak on the head and scolded: "Why are you like a thief, can't you walk well!" ”

Kazak grabbed his hair and said to Otto with a smile: "The Border Inspector is still here, but it looks like he is leaving, we have to ...... quickly"

"What's the hurry, everyone remember not to talk nonsense for a while." With that, Otto led a few people towards the hotel.

The bartender knocked on Art's door, "Distinguished guests, three of the guys said they were here for you. ”。

Art quickly put down his bags and followed the bartender downstairs.

I saw that the guy named Otto was standing at the door of the hotel with two laborers.

Seeing Art coming down, Odo stepped forward first, bowed to Art and said, "My lord, we have carefully considered what you said and decided to come to your place to have a look. ”

Art made a gesture of invitation, and the group followed Otto into the tavern.

"You may be seated." Art invited the three laborers to take a seat at the long table.

Art looked around at the three people present, all of whom had rushed to the front in yesterday's fight, dressed in coarse cloth shorts, half-exposed arms, dark skin, strong muscles, and a hint of bravery in their restraint. Finally, he swept his gaze to the black-haired, blue-eyed and stout Odo, and it was clear that Odo was the backbone of the trio.

Art stopped his gaze on Otto, "So, Otto, would you and your guys join me on patrol?" ”

"My lord, we are all Lucesian's laborers, tired of begging and being bullied. We are not afraid of hardship, tiredness, and death. Otto said.

Accent nodded in agreement and motioned for Otto to continue.

Otto was affirmed, and he took a deep breath and continued: "My lord, please forgive me for my rudeness, we want to go with you, but we want to make sure that what you said is true?" ”

"Understandably, there is nothing to forgive. Ron, go to my room and get the letter of appointment out. Art turned to Ron standing behind him.

"Guys, can you tell us about yourselves? Otto, you speak first. While Ron was away, Art took a closer look at the crowd.

"Yes sir, I was born in a village called Solo near Stefa in the north, my parents and brother starved to death in the famine, and I was the only one left in the family, so I wandered around to beg for food, and came to Lucesin three years ago to work as a laborer." Otto finished his past in a few words.

Otto glanced at Kazak to the side and motioned for him to continue.

Kazak was a little nervous, glanced at the other person, and saw that he didn't mean to say it first, so he had to stammer: "Big ~ Lord, my name is Kazak, everyone calls me a red-headed ghost, I~I~"

"Where's all your usual ability?" Otto slapped Razak with his backhand and then smiled at Art: "My lord, the red-headed ghost is usually very good at talking, don't look at him as small, he is a good hand in fighting." ”。

Arrow looked at Kazak and smiled, "Hmm! Also a good guy".

Otto Kazak and the other person gave a brief introduction. Otto and the guy known as Hammer Bas are both alone, and the red-headed ghost Kazak has a disabled father lying in bed at home, and Otto originally didn't want him to join, but he insists on going south with him.

As soon as the three of them finished introducing, Ron came down with the parchment, and Art took the parchment, opened the silk rope, and unfolded the appointment letter in front of Odo. Kazak was about to reach for it, but Otto slapped Kazak's hand back, and Kazak sat down with a smile.

"Don't be surprised, my lord, we are all rough people. In fact, we can't understand what is written on it? It's just a peace of mind. Since what the adults said is true, we have no worries. Originally, there were a few guys who wanted to come today, but I didn't let it, I don't know how many people you need to recruit, and I'm worried that they won't be able to choose, and

Most of them have wives and children, and I can't explain to their families if they lose their lives if they go south with me. ”

Ather nodded, "You guys are all good, Otto and Bass can go south with me." But Kazak, what will you do with your father when you go? ”

Kazak was very anxious when he heard Yat's words, he was worried that Art didn't want him, and he hurriedly looked at Otto with a pleading look.

Otto struggled for a while before he asked in a low voice, "My lord, we still want to ask, is there any pay to go to the south to be a border patrol?" I didn't care about Bass, it was mainly Kazak, who entrusted his old father to the care of a fellow and promised to bring back his salary as a soldier to support his father. Otto's voice was a little small.

"Otto, as I said, follow me as a soldier and eat food. Since you are willing to carry your head with me, I will not treat you badly. Truth be told, my patrol team is currently just me and Ron, and we'll be forming a patrol team of over 10 people by the time spring comes. Before the formation was completed, everyone was not paid, and I was only responsible for everyone's food and housing. After the formation of the team is completed, in addition to food and lodging, I will give you a salary of no less than fifteen pfennig for a week, and if you kill the enemy or have capture, there will be another reward. But let's talk about it first, the south is very chaotic, the patrol is also dangerous, and it is possible to be disabled and killed, if you are afraid, stay and do a hard job. Once you have eaten my bread and taken my pay, you have to leave your soul to God and sell your body to the devil. How, do you want to do it? Art said very seriously.

The three of them turned their heads and discussed in a low voice, their wages as laborers were less than two pfennigs a day, just enough to feed themselves, and the guys with families were even a luxury to eat a full meal after a day. In contrast, the salary of the patrol soldiers is good, just the food and lodging are attractive enough, and there is a salary of fifteen fennig a week. As for life and death, since you dare to come, you really haven't been afraid.

So all three of them said in unison, "I am willing to serve my lord."

"Ron! Ask the bartender to bring over some beer and barbecue, and I'm going to have a few drinks with the three good guys......"