The others couldn't help but look at each other when they heard William's words, they didn't notice the existence of Viscount Curwen, so they didn't pay attention to this matter.

"Viscount Curvin? Did he show up here? ”

Several nobles were a little curious, they didn't believe William's words, but they were just surprised that Viscount Cowen was here, after all, he didn't know where to flee since he failed to usurp the title of Count of Denglenburg.

It would undoubtedly be quite surprising to find Viscount Curvin here.

"It's a pity, Lord Baron, we don't seem to have found Viscount Cowen, maybe they've fled here!"

Norwen asked among the knights, after all, if Viscount Curvin really appeared, then he must also be in the knight queue, and he could ask those knights who fought against the enemy to ask for this information.

However, without exception, each knight shook his head one after another, indicating that he had not discovered the existence of Viscount Curwen.

After hearing this, William's brows furrowed slightly, he took a deep breath, slowly spit it out, and said softly: "What an old fox!" Like a cunning mouse, he can't even catch him! ”

The name of the cunning rat can be said to be very appropriate for Viscount Cowen, and he was able to escape in the face of two general pursuits.

Of course, this is also a kind of ability!

"Then forget it, let the soldiers clean up the battlefield, eighty percent of the loot will be recovered, and two percent will be kept by the soldiers themselves! After packing up, give me a good search within 20 kilometers of the surrounding area! ”

William said, thinking a little more, after this battle, he did not capture or kill Viscount Winston, because he did not go to the battlefield.

Now that they were nowhere to be seen, it was clear that Viscount Winston had fled back to Winston with the rest of his men.

Although William's victory was a foregone conclusion, he would never truly unify Winston without conquering Winston and eliminating the hostile fighting forces and Viscount Winston.

And just after William's order was given, several leaders of the mercenary group came to William and began to explain the casualties to William, and at the same time came to ask for compensation.

After all, the money William spent before was only a commission for hiring them, and after the casualties, he had to pay a part of the money as compensation, which was basically the practice of all mercenary groups on the mainland.

"Dear Baron William, the total casualties of my mercenary group have reached more than five hundred and fifty people, and only more than four hundred people are left to continue fighting, which can be said to be a devastating blow to us, therefore, I hope you will pay us some additional compensation!"

The leader of the mercenary group is still the bearded man before, and the prestige of the bearded man is obviously very high among these people, so he was selected as a representative.

They had already seen William's strength, so instead of the vulgarity and rudeness that mercenaries were peculiar, they made a request to William in a respectful tone.

William nodded, this kind of thing is natural, if he refuses to pay, then he must not think about hiring mercenaries in the future.

Seeing William nodding, the bearded man couldn't help but show a smile on his face that he thought was bright, but as everyone knows, his smile is enough to scare many children to cry.

"Since your Excellency has agreed, then please pay again fifteen thousand silver coins, or fifteen hundred gold coins, within three months! I thank you for your kindness and generosity on behalf of those who have fallen in battle! ”

"Wait!" William couldn't help frowning and asked in surprise, "Fifteen thousand silver coins?" For each mercenary who died in battle, you want me a pension of thirty silver coins? ”

"You're not kidding me!" William's face drooped a little, and his tone was mixed with some stiffness.

William was not stingy with those pensions, after all, many of those mercenaries were family members, and it was reasonable to give some pensions after they died, as for whether their families could get the money smoothly, it was no longer in his consideration.

But although William planned to give money, he didn't plan to give so much, fifteen thousand silver coins!

Even if it is a Mandes infantry, the death pension is only twenty silver coins, and this group of miscellaneous fish mercenaries wants thirty silver coins as a pension?

For their lions to open their mouths, William certainly could not indulge in such indulgence any longer.

"Of course, we never joke about this kind of thing, but this time our losses are too great, and if we don't get enough compensation, then we will die!"

The bearded man is still a little bold, and the rest of the people still dare to talk to William like this, which can be said to be the fewer troops the harder the words!

"My dear Captain Merlin, what an exaggeration of your demands! Please forgive me for not being able to accept it! William shook his head and said with a pained expression.

In fact, he couldn't get 15,000 silver coins now, and there were only about 4,000 silver coins left in the silver vault of the main castle of the entire Menders Manor.

During this time, the preparation for war, the construction of castles, the training of militia, the payment of pensions to the soldiers, the various banquets, and the spies, which have been expanding in size recently, are very expensive expenses.

The money in William's treasury flowed out like water, making him very embarrassed.

After more than five years, nearly six years, except for the very beginning, William felt such a lack of money for the first time.

"If you have to pay such a pension, then I'm very sorry, I can only terminate my cooperation with you, and at that time, I will have no obligation to pay the pension and all follow-up funds!"

William came up with his tricks, but the bearded captain Merlin had nothing to do with him, if it was another nobleman, as long as he threatened with force, he could easily get these things.

But standing in front of him was William, who, despite heavy losses, still maintained a strong fighting force.

Therefore, he did not dare to threaten William with force to compensate him.

"So, my lord, Lord William, what is the number in your mind?" Captain Merlin and the other mercenary leaders glanced at each other, and after making eye contact, they finally relented and began to ask William about his plans.

"Hmm......" William looked at their compromise, and couldn't help but be happy in his heart, and sighed at the same time: "Sure enough, strength is everything, if you don't make such a request, you may have been cleaned up a long time ago!" ”

"I'm hoping to complete the compensation with a thousand silver coins, you see how the number is, I think it's good anyway!"

William simply played a scoundrel and directly reduced the amount of compensation by fifteen times!

Captain Merlin looked embarrassed, obviously very dissatisfied with William's number, but because of William's strength and majesty, he did not directly scold or threaten to fight as before.