She Brought a Strange Man

Long River Town garrison.

"Knight Commander Ralph, I believe you can understand Lord Li Ang's good intentions."

Sarah sat upright, her expression sincere. Aside from those fox-like eyes that naturally carried a seductive charm, she looked every bit the dignified lady.

Yet during such a formal conversation, those beautiful eyes did not seem out of place at all. Instead, they made her more approachable and persuasive.

This was an advantage neither Li Ang nor even the most skilled negotiator possessed.

In a one-on-one setting, getting a man who was poor with words to listen seriously to her was effortless for Sarah.

Especially when she intended to turn him into a paying customer.

Only this time, Sarah was acting as the "sales director," discussing business on behalf of her employer.

After steering the conversation with a certain novice charlatan's prophecy, she had easily taken control of the discussion, just as Li Ang had expected.

"Lady Sarah, as you said, I am indeed willing to purchase a completed camp. If Lord Li Ang does not intend to govern that territory for the long term... but..."

Ralph had clearly been persuaded long ago, though he still seemed somewhat concerned.

"Lord Li Ang does not have enough troops to hold a fortress. And, Knight Commander Ralph, just as you previously had no authority to enter the Horton Family's pioneer territory—so long as it remains the Pioneer Lord's land, the sentries truly capable of protecting Long River Town cannot be stationed there... otherwise, it would violate the kingdom's laws."

Sarah gave a faintly mocking smile at the Lionheart Kingdom's rigid laws, yet somehow made herself appear even more trustworthy.

"His lordship knows that you have been in a difficult position all this time. So, for the safety of more people in Long River Town, Lord Li Ang would rather seek a place to settle in Long River Forest..."

Sarah felt that Ralph had been completely convinced, but for some reason, he continued to hesitate.

Ralph rose to his feet and placed a hand over his chest. "Please convey my gratitude to Lord Li Ang. His wisdom and kindness will be repaid by the Rangers. However, Lady Sarah, I..."

Knock, knock, knock!

"Knight Commander Ralph! Urgent military news!"

Just then, after a hurried knock at the door, a mounted ranger clad in green ranger armor charged straight into the room without regard for etiquette, interrupting Ralph.

"This was sent back by pegasus from the frontline Rangers! Brave Shield Fortress has lit the beacons! Three beacon fires! The Gatu army has assembled!—My apologies, milady!"

The mounted ranger first handed Ralph a bloodstained piece of parchment and swiftly delivered the report before finally apologizing to Sarah. He looked extremely tense, clearly having no time to care about manners or appearances.

Ralph quickly read the letter. The concern in his eyes instantly turned into resolve, and his unfinished words became an unquestionable decision.

"Lady Sarah, I will purchase that camp. But please send word to Lord Li Ang as quickly as possible. He must hold the Tongtian River!"

"The Horn Summon Ranger Corps will rush to reinforce him at top speed, but before that, I ask Lord Li Ang... not to let a single Gatu cross the Tongtian River!"

"Please! Take him with you and convey my request to Lord Li Ang!"

Ralph pointed at the mounted ranger who had brought the news.

The mounted ranger immediately placed his right fist across his chest and saluted Sarah.

Sarah stood.

She did not know whether such a request would bring catastrophic disaster upon her employer.

But the blaze in Ralph's eyes made her see Li Ang again, standing by the river with a wave of his hand that had obscured heaven and earth.

In that moment before sunset, she had seen almost the same expression in Li Ang's eyes.

Two different people, with different personalities, methods, and purposes, yet they possessed the same determination and infectious force that made them impossible to refuse.

My lord... had he already anticipated that something like this would happen?

Was that why he stayed behind at the camp and sent me to negotiate the deal...

"I will do my best, Knight Commander. I hope your reinforcements arrive quickly! Friend, come with me!"

Sarah gave a hurried salute with the greatest efficiency of her life, brought the mounted ranger outside, mounted up, and raced north.

She rode so fast that even the mounted ranger nearly failed to keep up with her.

By the Tongtian River, the carpenters were repairing the camp. They had already built a low wall and were nailing boards onto it.

Li Ang had assigned Ansen some homework.

He intended to teach Ansen a little swordsmanship. Otherwise, the boy's dream would probably be difficult to achieve.

How could he become a knight if he could not even tell which side of a sword was the blade?

He could not hide behind Sarah every time they fought...

That was not the behavior of a knight!

Besides, as a medic—a glorious battlefield doctor—he needed some ability to defend himself. If the enemy chopped him to death, who would treat the wounded?

Li Ang's original assignment had been for Ansen to find a way to stab Kloze once.

Later, realizing that Ansen might never accomplish that in his lifetime, he changed it to merely touching Kloze's body.

However...

For Ansen, it still seemed far too difficult.

Kloze held a wooden stick and grinned viciously as he relentlessly abused Ansen, who had already been whipped into jumping about everywhere.

The mercenaries watching nearby kept bursting into laughter. Some had even started placing bets—they had fanciful wagers, betting on who would be responsible for cleaning up the battlefield after the next fight...

That was probably because they were all penniless now.

Though Kloze wielded a wooden stick and Ansen held a longsword, the gap in their combat ability was more than ten times greater than the difference in their size.

Even though Ansen had given it everything he had, he still could not touch so much as the corner of Kloze's clothes.

Ansen panted heavily. If willpower alone was considered, he truly was a strong person—even after being beaten so badly that even Kloze felt a little sorry for him, he still refused to give up.

As for cowardice, that could be trained away slowly. No one was born daring enough to kill.

But some issues of talent could not be overcome no matter how hard one worked...

Ansen clearly had absolutely no talent for using a sword.

Even Kloze, who disliked casually judging others, felt that the boy would be better off switching to some non-melee weapon that could still be useful from the rear—such as a light crossbow or a lady's crossbow.

Kloze deliberately specified the type of crossbow because he knew that if it were a heavy crossbow, or one of the rugged steel crossbows produced by Meitengheim, Ansen probably would not even be able to hold it level...

That was not mockery. It was simply the truth.

But Ansen felt insulted. He stubbornly insisted on completing the assignment Li Ang had given him, and the two had been fighting for more than half an hour.

Of course, it was a one-sided beating.

—Daily training complete. Total experience gained by your soldiers from training: 420

Li Ang was not present, but the system notification did not miss its appointment. This was the additional experience his Coach skill brought his subordinates, though he still had to personally arrange training sessions or assign homework.

Li Ang was reading atop one of the camp's wooden roofs.

That so-called "Officer's Memoir" was actually quite a good popular novel, except it was somewhat lacking in plot, and most scenes took place in bedrooms or bathrooms.

Pendor's writers seemed to lack a little uninhibited imagination...

But that still could not stop Li Ang's thirst for the knowledge contained in the book.

"My lord! Two horses are coming from the south... One looks a little like Sar... ah, Lady Sarah! But she brought a strange man with her... a man carrying a green hat!"

From the newly built watchtower, a sharp-eyed swordsman called out to wake Li Ang. He was Sammer, the unlucky fellow whose foot had been pierced in the pirate camp.

He was also the only tough man in the Charge Squad who did not drink heavily—so he had become a sentry. The benefit of good habits was that his workload had increased.

Of course, that was called being valued...

Li Ang immediately put away his book, flipped over, leaped down from the roof, and hurried toward the riverbank to meet them.

"So impatient... They are not going to fight, are they?"

Sammer grinned atop the watchtower, wearing the knowing expression of a man who understood, then leaned over the railing to watch the show.