Pomp, Circus

Ergons toyed with the token of command in his hand, listening to the Red Feather messenger's effusive praise about how highly the Baron regarded him.

The onlookers around were happy that the young master was valued by the Baron, but the few people at the core knew that the so-called token of command, which allowed one to act as the Baron himself and control the entire army, was just empty talk.

This token, the Baron could deem it useful or useless in an instant.

After dismissing the messenger to rest, Adamson gathered the Gatehouse Trio and eight of the seventeen veterans, making a total of twelve people, and prepared to head to the assembly point.

"I believe that even without the Baron's token, all the participants will look at us with more respect this time."

Adamson was naturally simple-minded, and along with the original dull and honest body he possessed, they were the two biggest simpletons in Tervain Village. However, sometimes what he said was quite accurate.

Within three weeks of the divine miracle and the supposed magical item incident spreading among those who had experienced it.

The other six Fief Barons had all sent local specialties and their second sons to Tervain Village. Ten of the seventeen court knights had clearly expressed their willingness to support his succession as Baron.

This time, it wasn't just lip service; they were truly treating him, Tervain Village, as if it were a small Tevalinburg.

And it was only because of those six Barons and the court knights, Big Beard and youngster, that Young Master Ergons finally had pages accompanying him.

For this campaign, he would definitely bring eight pages. Firstly, so they could reunite with their families, and secondly, Old Adam said that a Baron should have the retinue befitting a Baron, especially since he, this Baron, was so highly regarded.

The troops would still depart in the afternoon, taking the main road along the river. This way, they could reach the assembly point three days before the Baron, making it convenient for him to organize his troops.

During lunch, Adamson, who had only eaten a few mouthfuls and had gone to pack his things, rushed in breathlessly, looking very excited.

He was as excited as a child weighing four hundred pounds.

"The circus, the grand circus from Gaudy City is here."

This statement also triggered some memories he had received from the original body.

Every year before winter, before the last harvest of the year, a circus from Gaudy City would always arrive with several large covered wagons to perform in various villages.

Like Adamson, the original body, having little experience, paid great attention to this annual circus. As soon as the winter wheat was harvested, he would start looking forward to it.

But thinking about it carefully, the performances in his memory weren't actually that novel; they were quite ordinary.

"But logically, this shouldn't be the last stop before our return journey. It shouldn't have come so early?"

"Who cares, let's watch it since it's here. Last time, I didn't understand how that woman cut off her limb and it grew back. I plan to go up and chop her myself this year to see if it can grow back!"

Adamson couldn't understand Ergons' confusion and started acting foolishly. However, his muddled brain could only muster a little cleverness when it was being foolish.

"How long would it take to ride from here to Tewain Village?

Hmm, no, I think it's right that Young Master, you're leading these old veterans. These old veterans have issues with motivation and can't endure hardship. We should take this opportunity to cure their bad habits!"

He seemed to have finally found a reason to convince himself, and with a thick skin and a smile, he said, "Then if we speed up the training, we'll get there a bit early."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Ergons wanted to tease him and followed his lead, asking.

"I say, to highlight the purpose of the training, we need to create a sense of urgency, an opportunity where they will be late if they don't work hard.

So, I think it's perfect if we depart tomorrow noon!"

Ergons wasn't interested in the circus, but he was happy to make Adamson happy. After all, Adamson was a major force under him and a friend of the original body since childhood.

"Then, as you said, go and inform the troops to postpone their departure. The circus will set up in the drying ground as usual and perform for the villagers after dinner."

"Alright!"

Adamson replied and excitedly hopped away.

Ergons steadied the cups and plates that had been shaken over and glanced at the clearly uneven stone floor. His mind recalled the "Ramming Beast" from "War of the Five Armies," a monstrous beast in the orc army with an iron battering ram on its head.

He shook his head. A page came to wipe his hands and replace his meal; this was the difference between having pages and not having them.

Since Young Ramai, the second son of Sir Ramai who hadn't yet become a squire, was sent here, Ergons felt he had clearly become decadent.

It wasn't to the point of needing help to wipe his backside after defecating, but every morning after coming out of his bedroom, this little shadow would follow him.

He'd hand him water when he was thirsty, a towel when he was tired, a stool when he wanted to sit, and anything he wanted would be handed to him. Not to mention carrying the flag and gun before and after the horse.

To put it simply, the only things missing were help pushing his backside in bed, holding his little thing when he urinated, and wiping his backside when he pooped.

And this was with him only having pages, not maids. Those three tasks belonged to maids.

When the second sons or younger brothers of the six Barons, along with the relatives of the two court knights, Big Beard and youngster, also arrived, these people would each perform their duties, and it would truly be... magnificent.

During meals, the court musician, who was also a bard, would play the flute. The other two, older attendants, would stand by. One would hold a handkerchief ready for immediate cleaning, and the other would hold a teapot for replenishing milk tea.

The other five pages, much like the palace maids serving Prince Si when he dined in his study in "Scarlet Heart," would each hold a tray and pass dishes one by one, asking if His Lordship wanted to eat.

Only the dishes Ergons didn't eat would be placed on the lower table for Adamson or William to eat.

If he nodded, Little Ramai, the one with the handkerchief, would use a special set of chopsticks to pick up some food and place it on a plate in front of Ergons on his desk. Then, the page holding the tray would step down to be replaced by the next.

This protocol, the Baron probably hadn't even witnessed.

After finishing lunch, Ergons, with his eight pages, swaggered towards the large drying ground. It wasn't that he wanted to see the circus, but in his memory, the circus had some rare and exotic beasts worth seeing.

Circuses, after all, always had some strange and unusual things. Circuses in his previous life usually had lions and tigers, but circuses in this medieval world usually had exotic things.

If he remembered correctly, this circus from Gaudy City had not only lizardfolk from a large swamp in the interior but also goblins from the jungle and little mermen from the streams and valleys. These were all things that human settlements like theirs couldn't see.

He had been in this world for nearly three months, only hearing about these novelties but never seeing them. The original owner had seen them in his memories, but since he hadn't seen them with his own eyes, it always felt unreal.

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.