Outside of Dehrim's city, the Peony mercenaries are gathered, and Byron makes a short speech informing them that the Peony mercenaries are now employed by the kingdom of Swadia. And told them that when the snow and ice had melted, they would set out south to Rhodok.

Ellen happily went to buy the necessary weapons and equipment, as well as the cloak and decorations for X, while Fatis took advantage of the remaining time to conduct an intensive training for all the cavalry.

Manid's job is still to take care of the shops during the Peony mercenary war, and to do business by the way, so the task is not heavy. Desaivi didn't have much idea, and it was common for mercenaries to receive money to work for the country.

However, Bandak and Jamila were silent, and in the afternoon the two of them found Byron together.

"Sir, Bandak told me that if the Swadians break through the castles on the frontier, then Viruga and even Aaron will be threatened, right?"

Jamila changed her previous gentle attitude and demeanor, and looked at Byron like a sharp blade.

Under this gaze, Byron could only be silent for a while, and then tell the truth.

"Yes. At most, though, Aaron was a little too far away from Viruga. ”

Byron tried to explain something, but Jamila didn't pay attention to the rest of his sentence, biting her lip and a tear flashing in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

Byron looked at Bandak again, and his heart hung in the air. Before the battle, the heroes in the team had problems, which was too demoralizing. If Bandak objected to this, although it couldn't change the mercenary contract and the reality of attacking Rhoddock, it would be a great loss if he left.

"Djerkhara is our capital and I have a lot of friends there. I'll listen to you, but I'm not going to shoot an arrow at that city! ”

There was no expression on Bandak's face, but there was a resolute one in his tone.

Byron breathed a sigh of relief, if it was just a city of Djerkhala, as far as he knew, even if Svadia could break through the border of Rhodok this time, he would fight to Viruga if he was killed, Djerkhara he didn't think about it at all.

"I promise you, Bandak. If you don't want to, you don't have to shoot an arrow at the people and soldiers of your homeland. ”

Byron nodded vigorously, and Bandak's previously stiff face finally softened. He let out a long breath and sat down in a chair to the side.

Byron turned his head and slashed at Jamila again.

"Don't hurt innocent people, please..."

Looking at Jamila's sad expression and tearful eyes, Byron suddenly felt a little soft-hearted, and he knew that Jamila had convinced him.

"I swear, Jamila. As long as they don't provoke us, I will never do anything to those innocents. ”

Byron made a solemn promise, and Jamila turned her back and wiped the tears from her eyes. She is a beauty, and when a beauty wipes her tears, she is particularly cute.

Seeing this, Byron couldn't help but scold Alleyne in his heart, this guy has such a good girl by his side, and he has lost his inheritance, so what are you waiting for if you don't fight for it, you have to care about that background.

If he doesn't act and waits for another year and a half, Byron probably won't be able to bear it. Jamila is virtuous, intelligent, and beautiful, and there are few men who will not be tempted.

Byron sighed helplessly when he thought of this, and went out for a walk.

As he passed by the famous brothel in the city, he couldn't help but stop and look inside. Seeing those scantily clad and smiling beauties, Byron's heart rate increased a lot, and a certain part immediately reacted.

But in the end, he resisted the desire to go back to his house and solve it on his own. Although he was very disappointed, Byron could not make up his mind to go in.

He wished that his first time was lost in the entanglement with the woman he liked, rather than being thrown in a brothel. However, he also knew that the desire was getting stronger and stronger, and if the woman didn't show up in a few months, he wouldn't be able to endure it so strongly. Neither before the crossing nor now, he has never tasted a real woman.

Byron had everything he needed, a wagon of dry food, and water and ale. Dehrim is a good place, located in the center of the continent, a must for caravans from all over the world, surrounded by a large circle of castles to guard, plus its own fortifications comparable to fortresses, safe and rich. Compared to the rest of Svadia, the kingdom's largest grain producer is geographically advantageous.

Just like the vast black soil between Paraven and Uxhall, because of the high-pressure policy and forcible expropriation of the kingdom for a hundred years, the property is lower than that of Dehrim.

Shopping here is not only complete in variety, but also cheap. More importantly, the transportation is developed, and it is very convenient to go south and north.

Two weeks later, Byron had everything he could think of and filled twenty wagons. He gathered most of his troops and set out with him, leaving only a small number of infantry and a few light cavalry in the camp in front of the Brotherhood and in the farmstead outside the city.

And at this time, a letter from the new Marshal of the Kingdom, Earl Greyward, also arrived, asking Byron to now set out from De Helium with at least a hundred men, and to arrive at Uxhall within a month to join the great army.

The road from Decherim to Uxhall is relatively smooth and the distance is not far, so there is plenty of time for a month. A month later, spring came, and the snow melted away, and it was estimated that the ground would be able to dry out somewhat. Although it was still a little cold, the problem of marching soldiers and transporting and building siege equipment was no longer too big.

Before leaving, Byron also considered whether to bring some of his newly prepared gunpowder. The recipe is already very good now, and a small packet of gunpowder can even cause a terrible explosion. However, apart from Byron himself and Fatis, who had come to know a little bit about the situation, no one knew exactly what Byron was up to.

If you put a few large barrels and dig tunnels and bury them under the city walls, even the border fortress of Rhodok will have to collapse. However, after much thought, Byron gave up on the idea.

First, the raw materials were not collected enough, and for the sake of secrecy, Byron had so far produced only a small barrel of black powder. Second, there is the issue of confidentiality and security. The effect of this thing's appearance was enough to cause Byron to be killed three or four times. Before becoming a nobleman, Byron did not dare to demonstrate the terrifying power of black powder.

Even so, Byron found a craftsman to build two bed crossbows that could shoot short spears, carried in carriages of four horses, covered with three layers of linen. It was expensive, but Byron thought it would always come in handy.

A huge procession set off, and this time, even the soldiers and residents of the city ran out to see the excitement.

They watched as the large battalion of cavalry, with well-armed and variously equipped troops, marched south.

At the head of the procession, surrounded by the heroes, Byron rode a steed with his head held high in a cuirass inlaid with gold trim and a cloak borrowed from Elleon. Behind him, the big man John held high the banner of the peony mercenary, and the red peony flowers stood out against the light blue background.