Chapter 86: Setting Off

“What is this?!”

Huck looked at his young Regiment Commander, puzzled.

“The Snow Bear’s Home is your property, but there is no need to let the management of the Snow Bear’s Home fall into difficulty because of the Military Camp!” Dean explained very seriously. He spoke word by word, and interrupted Huck’s words: “I fully understand your love for the Ferrchelen Knight Order, and precisely because of that, you need to accept this money even more!”

“Why?”

Huck still did not understand.

“Because of combat, because of war. As the Ferrchelen Knight Order, we are the armed force of Tier Territory. When we fight against those bandits and robbers, there will be casualties—the Baron will give out compensation, but as the Regiment Commander and Vice Regiment Commander of the Knight Order, shouldn’t we leave some future security for our members as well?”

As Dean spoke, he looked at Huck, who touched his severed right arm as if he had realized something.

“The Snow Bear’s Home is yours, so I can only provide money—after all, you must let me do something, right?”

Dean smiled and asked his Vice Regiment Commander in return.

“The members of the Ferrchelen Knight Order will thank you for everything you have done!”

Standing up from the chair, Huck saluted Dean again, his expression becoming increasingly solemn.

Compared to their previous superior-subordinate relationship and the grace of saving his life, this time, there was added the respect belonging to a veteran of the battlefield. Only a veteran like him, who had saluted the Battlefield and survived after being injured and disabled, could understand what such an arrangement meant.

At least, in the future, the remnants of the Ferrchelen Knight Order would have a place to go.

Of course, Huck believed even more that Dean, who had taken such measures, would not mind those veterans who were still physically able to serve remaining within the Ferrchelen Knight Order.

“As the Regiment Commander of the Ferrchelen Knight Order, I will be responsible for my soldiers, and similarly, I will be responsible for the security around Tier Territory… and now, it is time for us to take action!”

Dean unfolded the map around Tier Territory and pointed to several spots on it.

“I accidentally discovered several strongholds of bandits and robbers. I think they have no reason to exist!”

Dean said this.

“That is certainly so!”

Huck, who deeply hated bandits and robbers, immediately agreed without hesitation.

…

“Lord Baron!”

Ikes, wearing a scholar’s robe, walked quickly into the room of Baron Tier. Baron Tier, who was wiping his Longsword, looked at his Aide and Advisor and asked with a smile: “Ikes, what’s wrong? In recent times, Tier Territory should not make you so hasty!”

After capturing Lamoz, the leader of the thieves, Baron Tier had maintained such a good mood continuously for two weeks.

Although that thief leader’s mouth was tighter than expected, Baron Tier was confident that he would be the final winner of this stalemate.

And the harvest would be substantial.

Therefore, Baron Tier increasingly appreciated Dean, who had given him such an opportunity.

Good family background, excellent ability, considerable Strength—these three points placed on any young man were enough to make him feel proud.

However, the other party showed extraordinary humility.

It was not that hypocritical pose, but true humility!

Baron Tier felt satisfied with this, even very satisfied. If the relationship between them had not yet reached that level, he would definitely ask if the other party had married.

After all, his daughter was already seventeen years old.

If both parties agreed…

Thinking about those beautiful things, Baron Tier’s mood became even better.

Every day, besides maintaining his Longsword and Armor, he even planned to hold a winter hunt—the last hunt after the heavy snow sealed the mountains.

Of course, his Aide, Advisor, and daughter were all advising him against it.

Therefore, naturally, the Baron once again took his hurriedly arrived Aide and Advisor to be for this matter—

“Don’t worry, Ikes, I have already decided not to hold the hunt; after all, Lily showed me the financial report for the recent quarter… we really shouldn’t waste, should we?”

When he said this, the Baron felt somewhat embarrassed.

After all, the vast majority of the unnecessary expenses were due to him.

“Lord Baron, I am glad that you understand Lily Miss’s difficulties; however… I am not here for this matter!”

The Advisor bowed slightly with a smile and spoke slowly.

“Then what is it about?”

The Baron was startled.

“It is about Regiment Commander Dean!”

“Has something happened to Dean?”

Hearing about this young man he appreciated, the Baron became tense.

“No, no, our Regiment Commander Dean is fine, very healthy, and recovering well. That is why, this morning, he led a group of people deeper into the Snowplains Dense Forest to eliminate the several bandit strongholds he discovered!”

The Advisor waved his hand, reporting this good news to the Baron with a smile on his face.

“How much was the harvest?”

The Baron asked excitedly.

“At least fifty bandits and robbers were killed!”

The Advisor answered truthfully.

“Well done! Splendid work! Far superior to that useless guy Potts—every time I ordered him to clear out these bandits and robbers, he would always find their hiding places, but every time he returned empty-handed!”

“I must reward Dean, greatly reward him!”

The Baron exclaimed excitedly.

“Cough, cough…”

The Advisor coughed repeatedly, interrupting the Baron’s shouting. The Baron, coming back to his senses, muttered as he restrained his excitement, and then scratched his chin with his finger, looking even more embarrassed—the Baron once again thought of his heavily deficit finances; under these circumstances, it was difficult for him to reward a meritorious official.

However, if he did not reward a meritorious official, it would definitely be a matter of losing dignity.

But, similarly, the items in his treasure room were running low.

Especially, he still had to deal with the upcoming Midwinter Festival—he needed to give gifts of corresponding value to the lords of the surrounding territories and that Marquis Vauban.

In addition, a grand banquet needed to be held throughout the entire territory.

All these concerned his Noble dignity and could not be taken lightly at all.

Therefore, for the Baron, this was clearly a extremely painful choice.

So, subconsciously, the Baron turned his gaze to his Aide and Advisor—

“My Lord, we spent unnecessary Gold Pulton during the Moon Celebration,”

Before stating his solution, Ikes gave another piece of advice. In response, the Baron awkwardly shifted his seated body once again.

However, facing the gaze of his Aide and Advisor, the Baron had to make a promise.

“Alright, next time during the Moon Celebration, I will absolutely not cover the entire Manor with blankets made of animal skins!”

The Baron said this.

And receiving the Baron’s promise, Ikes nodded satisfactorily—the reason why he had refused the invitations of other Barons in Vauban County, and even Marquis Vauban, to become Baron Tier’s Aide and Advisor, besides the other party’s bravery against enemies and friendliness to his own people, the most important was this promise of keeping one’s word.

If it were not for this promise of keeping one’s word, he would never have chosen the other party.

After all, among the five territories in Vauban County, one large and four small, Tier Territory was only the most marginal and inconspicuous one.

“Five days from now, Marquis Vauban will normally hold an auction,”

Ikes reminded his Baron.

“Hmm, Lily will represent me to go to Vauban City to attend this auction—after all, Marquis Vauban has sent an invitation, I must send someone with a real status to attend!”

The Baron nodded, but obviously did not truly understand his Advisor’s meaning.

“You originally intended to send Allenor to protect Miss Lily’s safety, but I think Regiment Commander Dean will be a more appropriate candidate; after all, Regiment Commander Dean’s Knight’s Baptism is only about two weeks away from the auction… I think Regiment Commander Dean will not reject such a proposal!”

Ikes reminded his Baron again, and a significant smile appeared on his face.

Seeing such a smile, the Baron suddenly realized.

However, in the next moment, he made a bitter face—

“You know Lily’s character… I, I need to discuss it with Lily!”

The Baron looked quite troubled.

“My Lord, believe me, Miss Lily is more reasonable than you imagine,”

The Advisor said this.

Just as the Advisor said, Lily Tier was far more reasonable than the Baron imagined. After the Baron recounted the whole process, this young lady of the Baron’s family nodded and agreed.

And at this moment, Dean led his team of soldiers to ‘accidentally’ discover that Barbarians Stockade.