"A friend."

Mathilde felt a little nervous on his rare part, and it was true that Byron's physique was a far cry from that of a traditional Nord, let alone a northerner. Byron was more of a mixture of Kugit and other peoples than her compatriots.

"Really?"

The leader of the pirates frowned, and instead of listening to Mathilde's explanation, he called the captive.

"They weren't part of a team, we split up and attacked them, but we didn't take them, they had a strong shield wall and they were very good at equestrianism."

After listening to the captive's words, the pirates understood that Mathilde was not the only leader of this force, and that the man in front of him and his troops had also inflicted considerable casualties on their soldiers.

"Southerners, I have to kill you to avenge the war dead! For her sake, I can not take out your skull. ”

The leader of the pirates looked cold, and many pirates behind him immediately drew their weapons and surrounded them. Seeing this, Ekirsson shouted a "shield wall", and the soldiers behind him immediately stepped forward and wrapped Byron in layers with shields. The leader of the pirates drew his fighting axe and strode forward to attack the shield wall, but Mathilde stepped forward to stop him.

"You just promised not to do us any good." As soon as she turned around, the northern warriors behind her also immediately raised their shields and walked forward.

"I haven't made a formal oath yet, besides, he's a Southern warrior who killed our brother, it's the best prey, and I'm going to sacrifice his blood to the gods!" The leader of the pirates tried to push Mathilde away, his eyes filled not so much with hatred as with the hunter's desire to find the best prey. In his eyes, it is easy and profitable to hunt weak merchants and farmers like rabbits and elk, but it is naturally more attractive if there is a chance to hunt tigers and bears safely.

"Mathilde, you don't have to go to war with us for these people. In the name of the Lord God, I promise you that as long as you do not interfere, we will not attack you, and we will give you sufficient compensation. At this time, the old man also spoke.

Mathilde frowned and assessed the situation, she and Byron were not too familiar, and it was actually nothing to give up on him. But the other party trusted her after seeing her for such a short time, and his disaster was also because of his own idea, so it seemed a little inappropriate to sit idly by, which was really dishonorable. For a while, she was also a little undecided, so she could only use her shield against the other party to prevent him from advancing.

At this critical juncture, Byron considered his current situation, took a deep breath, and walked out of the shield wall against Ekirsson and Porcha, and confronted the leader of the pirates. At this time, although he was still a little apprehensive in his heart, it was no longer as good as when he first crossed over, and even in this case, he could still control his aura and not mess up.

"I have a reason why you can't kill me." Monet kept his expression as calm as possible.

"Then you can say it before my patience runs out." The leader of the pirates was also a little curious when he heard Byron's words, and stopped his charge, and the pirates behind him also stopped.

Byron looked around, raised his chest, and said very solemnly with the side that had been hidden in his chest:

"Because I am the Baron of Svadia and the leader of the Peony Mercenary Regiment, von Byron, I can pay a higher ransom than Nordyar, and I can bring you far more alive than I die!"

For a while, everyone was stunned. They had never seen anyone who could say such a formal ransom for a captive. What's even more interesting is that such a laughable logic really worked at this time. As Byron said, his life was too valuable, and no one here would have a hard time with the Dinar.

Ekirson, Porcha, and Mathilde all looked at Byron in surprise, they really didn't expect this young man to be von Byron, the mercenary lord of Swadia who had made a name for himself on half the continent in two years. All three of them have their own thoughts, and they are all considering their next actions from their own standpoints. At this point, Byron himself has taken a big risk, his current subordinates are basically Nords, and Svadia and Nord are still at war, revealing their identities is likely to cause their betrayal, or will get their support, it all depends on his next performance.

Although the leader of the pirates said that he would kill Byron to avenge his men, Byron knew that honor was important to these northern bandits, but it was not irreplaceable by money, and as long as the price was right, there were few contradictions that could not be resolved.

"I've been in Calradia for a long time, I've heard your name, and they all say that you're rich, and those who follow you are rich. If you really are von Byron, you lay down your arms now, and at a suitable price, I can spare you. "The leader of the pirates gave in very naturally, and if what Byron said was true, he certainly didn't mind making a big profit. As for those who sacrificed, they were voluntary anyway, and not many of them were his direct troops, many of them belonged to other pirate troops, so they didn't mean much to him.

"I'm willing to pay a ransom for my life, but you have to prove that you have what it takes my life." Byron still looked very calm at this time, but his palms were actually oozing sweat, and he didn't know if the plan he had just come up with would succeed, but at this time he could only gamble.

"What do you mean, trying to tease me?" This caused the puff of the pirate leader, who looked furious, and aimed his axe at Byron's cheek, but did not kill him.

"I can see that you are a true warrior of the North, and I have fought many battles against the Nord forces on the battlefield, and you are no worse than any warrior I have ever seen. And you just recognized my strength, which makes me feel honored. ”

The face of the leader of the pirates softened a lot, Byron's disguised flattery was indeed useful, and he now seemed to be waiting for Byron's next words.

“Jeg vil k?? mpe mod dig.！ (I'm going to duel you!) ）”

As soon as these words came out, the audience was shocked, and everyone's eyes were focused on this resolute young lord.

"If I lose, you can't take my life, I confess that I am your captive, and I will pay you a ransom of 100,000 dinars! If you lose, I will not harm your life, but you must accept my employment and send me back to my fiefdom and fight for me for a year. Byron said solemnly with his hand on the mace at his waist.

The crowd was thrown into confusion, some surprised at Byron's courage, others laughed at the southerner's naivety and ignorance, and others whispered about whether the chief would accept his challenge. The ransom promised by Byron was huge, and even a king would not be indifferent to all the proceeds of their ten trips south. What's more, Byron's words just now have raised their leader to the level of bravery, and if he refuses, he will definitely be ridiculed in the future, because a single humiliation can trigger a years-long confrontation and constant war between families, not to mention a challenge in the name of a warrior.

"Interesting, Byron, can you prove your identity and wealth?" When the leader of the pirates heard Byron's challenge, he smiled instead of anger, and demanded that Byron prove his identity, he didn't want to be fooled by a liar, and then found the captive fleeing one night. It's rare, but it's not impossible.

"Of course." Byron ripped off the burqa and cotton armor on his body, revealing a set of custom-made plate armor underneath that would ruin a small nobleman, and then asked, "If you accept the conditions, do you dare to swear to your gods?" ”

"No problem!" The leader laughed and said, "You can wear that steel plate thing, lest your life be lost." Before you is Virgil the Blood-Drinker, son of Virgil! I swear in the name of the Lord God that I will never set foot in Valhalla if I violate my previous terms! Virgil was very confident, as if Byron was just a nobody who didn't know whether to live or die, and directly agreed to his terms.

Most of the rest of the pirates thought that the leader's decision was too hasty, but they retreated one after another, leaving room for the two to fight.