"Sir, ahead is Kulau, the city of blacksmiths."

Fatis rode his military horse next to Byron, looking at the city shrouded in black smoke in front of him, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

"I've never been to this north, but I recognize the city at a sight. Nowhere in the whole of Calradia is there more blowers and chimneys, and no city is shrouded in a year-round black fog. The smoke blackened the walls, and the ground was covered with dust. Steel here is shipped to other countries, and in the workshops of other cities, blades and armor can be used in battle. ”

Fatis didn't say much, but he seemed to have a different kind of affection for Kulau. In fact, it is normal that most of the armor and swords of the knights of the Swadia Kingdom are forged from the stainless steel of Kulau.

The aristocracy was no less fond of Kulaugang than a horse and a beautiful woman.

"Perhaps, sir, maybe steel is produced here, but there is always a smell here, and I feel choked every time I come here."

But just as Fatis had a rare chance to speak, a rider suddenly flashed out from behind Byron's team, and as soon as the reins were loosened, the horse trotted a few steps to their side.

And the rider also took the initiative to salute Byron and Fatis, which was standard aristocratic etiquette, although the attitude was a bit arrogant.

Fatis frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, apparently he didn't like the abrupt intrusion into his conversation with Byron, especially with such a stranger.

"Remember to remind me to clean up the guy in charge of the back of the palace."

Byron also glanced at Bandak, who was following him on a traveling horse, and his tone revealed a little dissatisfaction, and Bandak nodded indifferently.

"Oh, hello, Your Excellency."

However, at this moment, Fatis saw the pattern carved on the collar of the other party's clothes and the hilt of the sword, and although he was a little unhappy, he still bowed according to the Swadian tradition, and the other party returned the salute in the way of Vekia.

"It seems that Your Excellency is also a nobleman, and I dare to ask you who your identity is-"

"It used to be."

When the other party raised his interest, Fatis blocked him with a word.

The strong, brown-haired man shrugged his shoulders, then turned his gaze to Byron.

At this time, Byron saw his appearance and clothing clearly, the hairstyle popular among the young nobles of Vicchia, and the clothes he wore were also very valuable, and some family crests were painted on them. Although Byron's first impression of him was not good, Byron must admit that his face was very handsome, not to mention fascinating the girl at a glance, at least Byron himself could not catch up.

"Presumably you are the leader of this team."

"I'm glad you're still noticing me."

Byron was naturally a little dissatisfied with the other party's attitude, so there was a little irony in his words.

However, the noble boy did not seem to pay attention to Byron's words, but saluted again, as if he were seeing his superior.

"My name is Alleyne, the eldest son of the XXX Knight."

"Very well, Mr. Ellene, but I am not a knight, nor am I a nobleman."

If it was another noble child, Byron wouldn't waste time, but the name Alleyne is also a hero in the riding and slashing game, so he has to pay attention.

"I know, sir, I'm here looking for a job."

Alleyne smiled, holding the reins in his hand, his waist straight, and his head unconsciously raised.

"It's interesting, but why?"

Byron, who understands the content of the game, probably knows his purpose and knows his background, but if he doesn't ask for it, he can't be completely assured, and the other party won't believe in him so easily.

"I wonder if you can please have the next drink?"

Alleyne asked with a smile.

"Why not?"

Byron nodded, and asked him to go into the city with himself and Fatis, and the other party gladly accepted.

Byron, however, found that while Alleyne was talking all the way, his eyes were always sweeping to the back of the line, to the carriage in which Jamila was sitting. And Jamila also responded to the other party's greetings very politely, but the communication between the two people from a distance of ten meters has not been broken.

"If this pair of CPs can be matched in reality, I don't know how it will turn out."

Byron thought so.

Byron did not go directly to procure the goods he needed this time, and he gave the work to Fatis and Jamila, the former who did not know how to smelt, but could discern good iron for making weapons and armor. The latter is good at bargaining and purchasing, which can save Byron a lot of money.

Bandak led the team to find a place to settle down, and thirty people could not be accommodated by any tavern shop.

Byron, on the other hand, took John and two other caravan guards to accompany Alleyne to the tavern, and the three of them sat not far from Byron just in case.

"I am my father's first heir, but my stepmother, a malevolent woman, poisoned my heroic father and sent me there. After my father died, she volunteered to give the food to the dog in front of the doctor and the bachelor, and the dog died. I couldn't prove my innocence, so my fortune went to the wicked woman and his son. May Heaven punish and curse her, but I can be sure that I will not be able to return home, despite the lack of evidence to convict me in the noble courts. ”

Ellen held the red wine and recounted his past. He was visibly unhappy, but not as painful as Fatis.

"I found several famous mercenary teams, but they were unwilling to accept me as a noble child suspected of killing my father, and some of them peed in front of me and laughed at me! I cut off one of the guys' ears, and then the big mercenaries in the country didn't want to accept me. They are so sad, and they are so sad to lose a young nobleman like me in the ranks. ”

As he said this, Alleyne leaned back in his chair, an indescribable sarcasm flashing across his face.

"So I thought maybe the team from abroad could find a decent job. So I took a look when I was in Zhivadin, and it seems that your team has been hiring, but it doesn't seem to be going well. ”

"Indeed, if you're going to get a job from me, you've got the right person. I can see that you know the sword very well, and the sword is a good sword. We do need a good warrior, whether he is the son of a knight or a pickpocket on the street, and I am happy to accept him and give him the respect he deserves, as long as he is capable. ”

Byron also learned Elleon's posture, and he deliberately made the gesture of a nobleman he had seen, but he didn't learn it very well. But for a hero with an aristocratic background like Ellene, this gesture is still necessary. Even if it's the behavior of an upstart, don't let the nobles associate you with the street hooligans and helpers.

The nouveau riche had at least the capital that the nobility needed, and the ordinary commoners had little value to them, and they wouldn't care much.

"Thank you, big man."

Alleyne nodded in acknowledgement.

"You don't have to call me an adult, I'm not a nobleman."

"Maybe you will be later? Whatever he is, I won't be as loyal as a commoner, so I can only assume that you are a nobleman. Well... I thought, maybe suppose a lord would make me worth more. ”

"Interesting hypothesis."

Byron laughed, indeed amused by the joke of this somewhat conceited young nobleman.

"But, Captain, I want everyone in the team to respect me, you know, I am still a nobleman despite losing my inheritance. It seems that you already have a noble child in your ranks, which makes me think more highly of you, but it also makes me more certain that I need to be respected as a nobleman. ”

"Of course, no problem, you don't have a title yet, but I can assume you're a knight, right, Your Majesty."

This time Alleyne laughed too, and smiled happily.

"By the way, captain, may I ask about my salary? If I could have hoped to have paid some in advance, my clothes would get dirty, my coat was a little dirty, and I needed to get a spare one, otherwise I would be no different from the civilians. ”

Alleyne makes a request to Byron like in the game, and a Byron seems to have some ridiculous demands. However, Byron would still agree to him, because in terms of combat effectiveness, Ellen was no worse than Fatis except for equestrianism, and knew how to fight.

"Take it, there are 200 dinars here, which is not counted in my salary, but it is a little gift of mine. 10 dinars a week, which is not much, but it is enough for you to live decently. Rest assured, I won't let you good warriors stay and eat worse than I do in the ranks. ”

Byron took out some of the money he was carrying and handed it to Ellen, who accepted it with a surprised expression.

"I have to admit, sir, that you are more generous than my father. If he's still alive, I really should introduce you to him. Your generosity is more than many people I've ever met. ”

However, Alleyne pushed half of the money back in front of Byron.

"But I have a lot of things of my own, and the money is very enough to prepare clothes. For the rest, I will use my abilities to earn them back. ”

"Welcome, Alleyne."

Byron was relieved, and he was sure that he had made a good impression on Ellen.

However, he still had some doubts in his heart, but not about Alleyne himself. After a few drinks, he also asked directly.

"By the way, Alleyne, it stinks when you entered the city before, and although the smoke is indeed unpleasant, this is probably not what you are talking about."

"Yes, good sir, you must know that there are thousands of people who make iron in Kulau, but not every one of them is qualified to call himself a blacksmith."

"Oh?"