This Makes Me Not Sleepy Anymore

No matter who came up with this dirty trick, Adam immediately ordered the bodies to be burned and silenced the villagers who hadn't understood what was happening.

"No one is allowed to speak of this. This circus hasn't come to our village this year, and nothing happened today!"

The villagers naturally nodded in agreement, but Old Adam's gaze towards the newly arrived soldiers became much more vigilant.

Fortunately, the troops in Tervain Village had always been a mixed force. Keeping an eye on these soldiers shouldn't be a problem.

He then ordered that no villager could leave the village for a period of time. Only then did Old Adam feel somewhat at ease.

But Ergons knew that his previous thoughts had been too optimistic. In times of peace, in a peaceful country, could ordinary people who had watched a few palace dramas think they could control human hearts and minds?

He was overthinking it.

One couldn't imagine the greed of these nobles as too vile. If he hadn't initially fooled these villagers with the so-called Holy Light and divine miracles, if he hadn't had the natural advantage of replacing the original body's identity, if he hadn't used the System later to maintain loyalty.

He probably wouldn't have been able to control even this single village, let alone those armies, and the powerful Adam, Adamson, and William Adenauer.

Even if these villagers were absolutely loyal to him, whether out of faith or ignorance, they all had their own little schemes and their own lives.

No one was a stereotypical NPC; they were all ordinary, with their own little cleverness and cunning, just foolish people.

So, if someone with ulterior motives wanted to investigate his background, they could control a peasant. They might not even need to use threats or torture; they could just trick them into revealing the truth in their hearts.

With the troops about to depart, this incident had occurred.

Now, everything in Tervain Village could only be handled by Old Adam and William Adenauer discussing it.

Looking at the token of command in his hand again, Ergons genuinely felt a sense of weariness.

This oppressive atmosphere lingered throughout the entire team until they arrived at Tewain Village two days later.

Tewain Village had already gathered six Fief lords, four court knights, and the rest of the allied mercenaries and merchant guards had departed from Baron Tevalinburg.

This time, Ergons, as the commander holding the token of command, arrived a day and a half late.

However, the old camp was still there, and the villagers had cleaned it up diligently. Everything was in order for the troops to settle in.

Thanks to the good foundation laid previously, these soldiers and lords did not excessively disturb the locals, which made Ergons quite pleased.

Because of the previous "divine miracle," when Ergons arrived here with Pastor Ramses Bolton, all the villagers, including the village chief, prostrated themselves in worship.

The soldiers and nobles also showed great respect. The nobles eagerly came forward to express how honored they were to have fought alongside Ergons and won the great victory.

Some expressed regret over the escape of the Swedish Viscount, while others wished "Sir Davis Tevalin" and the Baron good health.

The behavior of these people made him feel that the dialogue design in Mount & Blade was truly spot on...

However, everyone could see his lack of enthusiasm, so they didn't bother him excessively. Only after they had settled down did someone come to chat.

The first person to arrive was Sir Ramai. His son had still not been released, not because Ergons feared he would blabber, but simply because he was too busy.

There were things he could demand, and the villagers would absolutely not speak of them to outsiders, but he couldn't prevent people with some status from spreading the word.

Although those eight pages had also heard the strict order to remain silent, seeing the relationship values between 50 and 60 on their interface, he knew these people wouldn't keep secrets, at least not from their immediate families.

But to not bring them along because of this incident would seem too deliberate.

Sir Ramai was consistently a man who looked a bit plump. It was impossible to say he wasn't strong, but he gave off an air of smooth, oily slipperiness.

Perhaps it was due to his fair, smooth, and oily skin and his face, which was very approachable when he smiled.

If he hadn't had a big beard, people would have believed him to be a jester in a Count's court.

Sir Ramai then twirled his seemingly comical beard and approached with a dejected look to whisper.

"The fact that these soldiers have gathered here without disturbing the locals is your achievement, and it will be a good story."

"Not at all, it's all thanks to the lords' strict discipline. It's a testament to your glory."

"Them?" Sir Ramai seemed very surprised and said disdainfully, "Aren't there merchant caravans following? Those soldiers are all controlled by the large wagons, keeping their desires in check. You expect them to be disciplined?"

Merchant caravans?

Indeed. This battle was the normal state of affairs. These private wars between medieval nobles were also a business. Every time there was an anticipated large-scale battle, it attracted a large number of professionals looking to make a living.

There were mercenaries looking for opportunities in war, laborers who provided physical strength, and caravan owners who, with their large convoys, brought women to provide a battlefield for the young men to fight valiantly on at night.

There were even higher-level, more professional slave traders, also known as ransom brokers. When two nobles went to war, there were bound to be irreconcilable conflicts.

Therefore, if a noble needed to ransom someone, naturally, negotiations that were not in line with their status could not occur.

At this point, professional ransom brokers were needed as intermediaries to mediate.

The bodies, warhorses, and armor and swords of his father, Sir Nova Tevalin, were only able to be fully ransomed through the mediation of a ransom broker.

So, with these large caravans, the most excessive disturbances could likely be resolved.

Sir Ramai's mention of this naturally had a hidden agenda. His eyes darted around Ergons with a shrewd glint, his smile as wicked as a weasel that had stolen a hen.

"Nephew, you didn't bring your Baroness's lover, did you? It's for the best you didn't, to avoid awkwardness for the Baron if he saw them. But if you're cold at night, it'll lack a bit of warmth."

Ergons was stunned. Sir Ramai had clearly misunderstood. He smiled and explained, "Of course, I'm not talking about the merchandise in those caravans. I mean there's a ransom broker who has two noble young ladies from Niunan Province who were held in a castle after a battle."

Ergons was even more surprised. In the game, when you captured an enemy castle, you could indeed find female family members inside, but you usually chose to let them go and receive praise.

Could this also be a business?