Okad border. The military town of Yolanta.

The Yolanta family has ruled the land for more than a hundred and fifty years - about a hundred and twenty years ago, the second patriarch of the Yolanta family broke away from the Five Nations Alliance with the family domain and joined the Okad Federation as an "independent county".

Like many of the more self-reliant families, the Yolanta family sided with Speaker Nicholas in the civil war that had just ended. After the war, Speaker Nicholas stripped the Yoranta family of their lands, and the entire family was exiled to distant places to perform hard labor, and the title of "Count Yolanta" ceased to exist.

Instead, Speaker Nicholas gave it to one of his female generals. Unlike hereditary nobility, the power to appoint and remove the "Yolanta General" was entirely in the hands of Speaker Nicholas. Throughout the territory of Okad, there are also nearly seventy different military towns, which are nearly one-third of the total size of Okad.

Two years of bumper harvests in a row saved people from the brink of famine: last year Yolanta not only did not import much grain from other provinces, but instead made a lot of money by selling special fruits and melons to the alliance of five countries. With the end of the war, the dilapidated streets of Yolanta City began to come to life.

Under the general's arrangement, the town hall of the city of Yoranta has been renovated, and the central military fortress has been transformed into a public market for people to come and go. As the soldiers returned to their hometowns, some of them were regrouped, and within a year a small castle was built northeast of the city of Yoranta as a new garrison for the town. The female general named the new castle Blackstar Castle. It's a pity that she rarely even returns to Yoranta, let alone shows up in Blackstar Castle.

The Eusta family, the second largest family in the Yolanta region, retained their estate. Because the town general did not have a permanent residence in Yolanta, the Eusta family gradually took control of the daily affairs here, and people began to habitually call the middle-aged patriarch of the Eusta family "Master".

When the New Year arrived, the people of Yolanta were not very happy. The bandits in the Red Claw Mountains in the East are rioting again. On January 1st, with the Speaker's order, both the elite soldiers of Blackstar Fort and those young people who had just returned to the field were called up again to prepare to enter the Five Nations Alliance. Yolanta's already tight manpower is even tighter, and the fledgling border trade is in danger of stagnation.

Thankfully, Yolanta is no longer the impoverished Yolanta of three years ago. Years of tax cuts and bumper harvests have allowed people to save more or less a little money and food, deducting the rations for the troops going out, and a little surplus. The Mercenary Guild has promised to mobilize as many reliable "Briar Roses" as possible to help Yoranta defend against bandits, as long as the pay is sufficient, and Master Eusta has announced that he will use his personal money to hire some people.

Now one can only pray for an early end to the war. Fortunately, the speaker did not want to clean up the entire five-nation alliance. It may only take a few months for the young men who have left their homeland to return with their exploits.

……

January 7. Yolanta, Beate Town.

A passenger ship is moored at a small pier. The most precious thing about Yolanta is this river, without which the people of Yolanta would have a problem even how to eat.

"It's such a big thing that the five-nation alliance didn't completely block the river. If it is like this, this five-nation alliance may be coming to an end," a middle-aged mercenary dressed in white, with a goatee, an elegant appearance, and a cyan sword with a hilt pin pinned to his waist, sighed as he disembarked, "Hundreds of years of foundation have been reduced to nothing in one ......"

"Dude, what you said is not right," said a lean man with a pair of "bull's eyes" behind the white-clothed mercenary, "In my opinion, this five-nation alliance is finished. It is also thanks to the chaos of the five-nation alliance that we can find a job. If the world is too peaceful, you and I will not be able to drink the northwest wind? ”

The white-clothed mercenary glanced at the bull's-eyed man in disgust.

"I'm from the Guild," he said, "and I'll have to go to the Guild and meet with the other 'Brians' first." I think let's say goodbye. ”

The white-clothed mercenary went through layers of assessment before becoming a full member of the Mercenary Guild "Wild Rose". For mercenaries outside the guild like bull's-eyed men, the mercenaries in white look down on them in their hearts. In the big cities of the French or imperial powers, illegal mercenaries have long been extinct, and in the chaotic Okad and the Five Nations Alliance, these people can still find a living space.

"I want me to meet you next time in the French Realm," thought the mercenary in white, "I'm going to give you a taste of what it's like to be in a squatting room." ”

He turned his head to look at a young man beside him, "You're also from the guild, right?" Don't mess with these people, let's go together. ”

And the brown-haired, dark-brown leather man, just smiled: "I would love to go with you." However, there is actually no branch of the Mercenary Guild in Beyat. We'll only be able to stay overnight in town and report back to Yolanta tomorrow. ”

The white-clothed mercenary made a big red face, while the bull-eyed man laughed: "Dude, you almost made a joke." You've been a mercenary for half your life, and you're not as clever as this little brother. ”

The white-clothed mercenary snorted, too lazy to speak. Most of the people in this boat were warriors who came to support Yolanta, but except for himself and this well-mannered-looking young man who were deployed by the Mercenary Guild, the others were just "wild men" hired by Lord Eusta. The mercenary in white didn't trust them at all, but the little brother got along well with everyone.

"By the way, little brother, I haven't asked your name yet." The bull's-eyed man said.

The brunette youth hesitated.

"Dita? Hammy. …… Ah, just call me Dimi. ”

This young man mixed in with the mercenaries is naturally the Empire's Dimitea? Prince Glaxia is gone. He uses a pseudonym for his identity in the Mercenary Guild, but he still likes to be called "Dimi" by others.

"Dimi," the bull-eyed man touched his chin, his gaze drifting over the Empire-style sword at Dimi's waist, "You are a nobleman of the Empire?" ”

"Sort of." Dimi said vaguely.

"Young man, go out on an adventure alone?" The bulls-eyed man smiled, but leaned close to Dimi and whispered, "Don't underestimate the guild, they will send people to the most dangerous places." In my opinion, it's better for you to be with us and take care of you than to be with that bastard. ”

"What did you say?" The white-clothed mercenary faintly heard a few words, and couldn't help but be furious.

"Thank you very much for the invitation," Dimi said with a deliberately not-so-standard imperial salute, "I'll go to Yoranta City and make a decision." ”

"Tut-tut......" The bull-eyed man laughed dryly a few times, and then stopped talking.

……

Night.

The only inn in Beyat Town has been filled by mercenaries, and Dimi and other latecomers can only take shelter in the hall temporarily. The mercenary in white quarreled for a long time, and "bought" a room from a merchant for double the price.

It was freezing outside, but the stove in the inn was blazing, and the lobby was warm. The troubadour played the organ and sang the old songs of Yolanta in a high tone. The mercenaries stood or sit, drinking beer and cider, and talking and laughing loudly. The bulls-eyed man opened a small gamble on one side, but the victory and defeat of a few copper coins were extremely lively, and from time to time there were thunderous cheers or curses.

Dimi sat alone on the floor in the corner of the room. He looked at the lively scene in front of him, and his hand swiped across the dirty wooden floor of the inn, and suddenly he felt an inexplicable sense of security.

…… Compared to the towering walls of the palace, I finally went home.

During his journey with his father, Dimi had long been accustomed to living in such a dirty little inn. The life of the imperial prince has long left an indelible mark on him, but in the bottom of his heart, he still has a small fantasy of freedom.

It's just that the father is no longer there—and the only person who can now call himself "father" is His Majesty Dieterford. It's a little lonely, Dimi thought.

The young swordsman took out his water bag and took a heavy sip of the fruit wine he had with him. A sweet red liquid ran over the tip of his tongue.

Chirping!

The dilapidated wooden door of the inn was pushed open. Several people turned their heads to look at the new visitor, including Dimi. It was a petite girl with short blond hair, a black blouse, trousers, and boots, and a silver hammer spear on her back.

She looked like she was just a late mercenary.

But Dimi's eyes couldn't be taken off. He raised his hand "tremblingly" and pointed at the girl but was speechless.

"Dimension...... Dimension ......"

The girl scanned the hall and walked straight to where Dimi was.

"Dimi, you can really run!" She shouted, "I've been chasing me for so long!" ”