The leaves of the treetops began to turn yellow, and the fields turned golden.

Farmers toiled their land and harvested their crops. The women were also busy with their household chores, piling up the grain in the carts and carrying it to the mill later.

After paying the taxes, the remaining grain, that is, the rations for the winter, and the seeds for the next spring.

Autumn has arrived, and during the harvest season, merchants, farmers, nobles, and even robbers are busy with their work. Even the Peony mercenaries have a lot more work.

Many villages are busy with autumn harvest celebrations, and there is always someone to keep them safe. Robbers in the forest, in particular, also have to prepare for the winter, so it is likely that at this time they will rob the village and the carriages and pedestrians traveling to and from the country city.

The recruits are now qualified militiamen, and Byron has sent them out on missions, and with the help of the veterans, these jobs are basically risk-free.

The nobles of the city also took advantage of the tax collection to start holding banquets, and the pomp and circumstance were often not small.

As the captain of the Peony mercenaries and the owner of many shops in the city, Byron is also a bit of a face. Coupled with his relationship with many nobles, he often had a seat at these banquets.

Compared with the troublesome interpersonal relationships and entertainment of the New Year and festivals in his hometown, the banquet in the Calradia continent is very simple. Except for occasions like weddings, even gifts can be saved.

These feasts not only strengthened Byron's ties within the aristocracy, but also allowed them to talk about business, and occasionally pick up the slack.

The last time Byron attended a banquet, a sergeant came to the door with his son to apologize to the baron, because his son beat the baron's son, or because of the woman.

The baron forgave him, but also relieved him of his duties and demanded a fine.

This sergeant Byron knew, named Myles Nock, had seen him at a previous celebration party. The sergeant had little money, and he had a wife and two sons who were idle when they didn't make trouble, and he was in his forties, haggard like a little old man of fifty.

It was a good opportunity, and Byron personally visited Byron and hired the sergeant at a monthly salary that was one-third higher than his in the army.

And to Byron's surprise, the system judged Myers to be a "mounted sergeant", not only able to fight on foot, but also no worse than heavy infantry on horseback.

Byron asks Myers to help train the troops, and if he can be trusted, let him take people to the camp before the Brotherhood. It was now under the care of Desaivie's old ministry and a few Byron soldiers, and had been lightly renovated to survive the winter.

Byron always needed a shelter to keep in and to his own, and this place was quite suitable. Byron thought about it, repaired it before winter, stocked up on a few carts of grain, and stationed dozens of people, where it would always be useful in the future.

Time passed like this, and the militia became poorly trained light infantry, the Nord skilled light infantry became Nord warriors, and even the mercenary sentries became mercenary swordsmen and caravan guards. And because Byron had previously set the number of salaries, Byron's expenses did not increase much.

When the land was bare, the autumn leaves were falling, and the smell of the wine of the village's celebrations wafted nearby, Byron also sat in his room with some emotion.

He still vaguely remembers his former life, although it is not as beautiful as it is now, and he has a few hundred troops in his hands, but it is quite comfortable. But when I woke up, I had come to this world. And I have integrated into this world.

Sometimes he thinks of his family, and sometimes he lies in bed and chokes, but there is no way, after all, he is no longer a person of the same world. Even the concern can no longer be conveyed...

When the first snow of winter arrived, Byron came to the office of the Peony mercenary in a fur coat, gathered his heroes, and fondly recalled everyone's experience this year.

From Byron alone, to the most powerful mercenary team in Decherim, there is only one year in between.

If you just say it, it's hard to be convinced. But it did happen, right next to them.

Except for Kenrad, everyone was drunk.

Byron asked him why, and he replied that it was because he was always running around the Sultanate of Salander, where the people were Christians and rarely drank alcohol, and when they did, they only drank Salander's wine. He also developed the habit of not drinking alcohol for the sake of work.

And in one night, that habit saved them all.

When the robbers attacked, everyone else was drunk, but he heard the noise, woke up the people around him, hid in the corner, and when the robbers came in, he pounced in the darkness and killed them all.

"It was dangerous, but it was also very profitable. We had plenty of weapons and armor, and a dozen desert horses, and there are still people riding horses captured at that time. ”

Kenla had to talk about the past, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Risks and opportunities coexist, but only by staying sober and finding opportunities can we seize them."

Byron was impressed by his words.

When the banquet was over, only Kenla was still awake. There were no robbers this time, but he did catch a thief that night.

Winter is not suitable for going out, nor is it suitable for running business. The work of the Peony mercenaries has plummeted, and in addition to the necessary training, everyone habitually gathers around the fire, drinks and chats, and occasionally plays a few games.

Occasionally, Byron would hold wrestling and archery tournaments, and even relax the ban on a gambling game in which he would sit in the bank, so that the soldiers could have some fun.

Only Manid and the hardy Wecchian riders and soldiers were still busy wandering around, taking advantage of the winter to buy a little more fur, and then hand it over to the tailor to make leather clothes and sell them for a good price.

During this time, Bandak once took a leave of absence to return to his hometown, he wanted to see his son, and Byron was granted leave. For this reason, Byron also gave Bandak 200 dinars, saying that it was a gift to his son, and he insisted that he accept it.

Jamila considered returning home to see her father, but chose to stay and spend the winter in Deherim. Byron didn't know if she was still angry with her father, but her life in the Peony Mercenaries was definitely a big reason for her to stay.

On the eve of the New Year, Byron went to the Earl of Claes, who intended to recruit Byron as a mercenary for the kingdom, and Byron was not happy to do so.

He also had his own intelligence network, and he knew very well that King Haraus had not given up on his plans to expand, that he was still expanding his army, and that he was giving orders to the lords of the south.

After winter, it is estimated that there will be a war. And at that time, it was Byron's early days.

His current strength has reached the point where even Earl Claes, who rules the area of Dehrim, should be taken seriously.