"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm~" Thranduil and the others shook their heads like rattles, and Thorin even silently backed away a few steps.
"Can you speak properly now?" Roland asked impatiently as he looked at Pion, who Caslo had lifted by the collar.
"To tell you the truth, we're heading west this time! The reason we gave you a beating is simple: your tolls are too expensive, stopping western merchants from passing through! The Northern Territory needs an infusion of outside blood right now, and you just happened to block our path! Stop acting like everyone has their eye on your worthless land!" Roland said calmly.
"My king originally intended to have a proper conversation with you. Since you can't understand human speech, this marquis happens to know a little martial arts as well!" Marquis Al-Teglang-Franz cracked his knuckles.
"..." Pion, his face swollen and bruised, stared blankly at Roland, his eyes utterly unfocused.
"Your Majesty, I think you slapped him stupid..." Leo Braeu muttered.
"Was he really that fragile? Caslo, you were too heavy-handed!" Marquis Al-Teglang-Franz first waved a hand in front of Pion's eyes, then complained to Caslo.
"..." Caslo held Pion by the collar in one hand and gripped his sword sheath in the other. Hearing Marquis Al-Teglang-Franz's words, he could not help pursing his lips. Great, he was taking the blame for Roland again. He merely shrugged and did not mind.
"Good heavens! I think everyone should calm down..." Bard finally came back to his senses, clutching his head. He had only blinked, and things had already turned out like this. In that brief moment, Pion had been beaten senseless.
"This isn't good... No matter what, he did have some merit. Beating him like this..." Bai Yi quietly moved closer to Roland and whispered as he watched the Beornings