Count's Envoy

"Of course, my dear Sir Valas. I would be delighted to accept your allegiance," Reiner said with a smile.

At the same time, Reiner understood that such formidable combat power did not come for free. In return, he had to pay them two silver coins in wages each month.

If Reiner wanted to maintain the Crimson Gryphon Knights at a hundred men, he would have to spend as much as two hundred and forty gold coins every year.

As it happened, the Moreland Family's entire annual income amounted to only a dozen or so gold coins. A hundred Crimson Gryphon Knights would require the Moreland Family to save without eating or drinking for more than ten years. This showed just how costly a unit they were.

At present, the Moreland Family had only a dozen or so knights and more than sixty armed guards. For a baronial family, such strength could not be called powerful, but it was by no means weak.

These five knights, who required no fiefs and could be satisfied with wages alone, had arrived at just the right time for Reiner. Even the Moreland Family did not have many villages to grant out as fiefs, and the arrival of these five Crimson Gryphon Knights greatly increased the family's strength.

In Reiner's eyes, these five knights were the most worthwhile part of the entire beginner's gift pack.

Reiner believed that five Crimson Gryphon Knights clad in such fine armor, each a battle-hardened elite, would have no trouble dealing with dozens of infantrymen of this era.

"Oh, my dear nephew, who are they? They look like people of high status. Are they friends you met while traveling abroad?" Reiner's uncle, Sir Cord, came out of the castle after hearing the news. He feared that these outsiders might threaten the territory his elder brother had left to his nephew.

With his keen eye, he could tell from their uncommon height, powerful builds, and extraordinary bearing that they were undoubtedly a group of formidable knights.

Their equipment alone made that clear. Cord did not doubt their combat ability; what concerned him was whether they harbored ill intent.

Though there were only five of them, the fighting power they could bring to bear was no small matter. If they had other designs, it would be a devastating blow to this barony. Thus, Sir Cord, a traditional knight, was extremely wary of these visitors.

"Yes, sir. We met Lord Reiner when he traveled through the Frigid Forest. We originally belonged to the Crimson Gryphon Knights, striking against the Abul Barbarians upon the snowfields. They are a terrifying people. Four hundred years ago, our ancestors established a camp there to escape the purge of a usurping false king. The Abul people often attacked us. We possessed fertile land and fine equipment, and after centuries of development, our numbers had grown to tens of thousands. They coveted everything we had, and war after war broke out between us!"

Though Sir Valas was exceedingly humble toward Reiner, he showed no such respect to anyone other than his lord. His words brimmed with immense pride. Suppressing orcs in another world for fifty years was an achievement to be proud of. Even if they could not speak the full truth after coming to this world, the pride emanating from their hearts could not be concealed.

"They were tall and strong. Even the crudest weapons could display tremendous power in their hands. During an enemy ambush, our territory was breached, and the order and our army were nearly wiped out. At that moment, Lord Reiner led his retainers in a charge into the enemy's center and killed their chieftain, saving us!"

These words were far more sincere than the previous ones. After all, Reiner was his lord, and he still had to give him due respect.

"Though we were later defeated by the Abul people due to insufficient reinforcements, we could never forget Lord Reiner's heroic bearing. Therefore, after the order was destroyed, we immediately came south to seek refuge under Lord Reiner!"

Sir Valas spoke proudly to Sir Cord. The other four Crimson Gryphon Knights also raised their helmeted heads slightly, the several crimson feathers atop them fluttering gently in the breeze.

Cord turned his gaze to Reiner again. Reiner nodded and said to his father, "That's right, my dear uncle. That was indeed how we met!"

Then Reiner turned to the knights and said regretfully, "I never expected that such a thing would happen again so soon after we parted ways!"

"Did all your men die in that war?" Reiner asked.

"No, we were routed. Many were separated from their comrades. By my estimate, at least four or five hundred escaped the camp safely and are wandering about now!"

"That is truly regrettable. Such brave knights, gathered for the Holy Father and for their faith, should never have suffered such a fate. Serve under me with peace of mind. I will guarantee your safety and treatment!"

At those words, all five knights dismounted, removed their helmets, and knelt on one knee. They raised the swords at their waists with both hands and said to Reiner, "My lord! Please accept our loyalty. Wherever your sword points is the direction of our charge! We are willing to shed our last drop of blood for you and offer you our hearts!"

"Very good!" Reiner nodded, then said solemnly, "Since you and your families are willing to pledge loyalty to me and my family, then I and my descendants will surely treat you and your families well. I accept your oath. I will protect your interests and rights, and in return, you must remain utterly loyal to me!"

"We swear before the Holy Father that we will defend all of your interests with our lives, defend your honor, and defend the interests of your descendants!"

After the oath was completed, Reiner helped the five of them up one by one. Then, after consulting Baron Corde, he settled them in the castle.

Though the Moreland Family's castle was not large, merely a rather low stone fortress, it was still quite impressive compared with the many earthen and wooden defensive works that were called castles.

Moreover, the castle housed more than soldiers. There were male servants, maids, and cooks, and rooms also had to be prepared for guests. Thus, there were more than enough rooms in the castle to accommodate five additional people.

Over the past few days, nearly every family connected to the Moreland Family had learned that the Moreland Family's eldest son had returned from his travels. Just as in the medieval world Reiner knew from his previous life, the inheritance system here followed absolute primogeniture. Thus, as soon as Reiner returned to the territory after finishing his travels, he inherited the baronial title of the father he had never met.

While Reiner was practicing swordsmanship in the training yard, drenched in sweat, a guard suddenly came before him and said, "Baron, an outsider claiming to be a knight under Count Rademacher is waiting outside. He wishes to see you and says he has something very important to discuss!"

"Count Rademacher?" Reiner raised an eyebrow slightly. The lineages of nearby nobles were all recorded in the Moreland Family's guidebook, yet Reiner had not seen the name Count Rademacher in it over the past few days. Clearly, he was a foreign noble.

What does he want with me? Reiner pondered. They had no connection whatsoever, and believing that unsolicited favors hid either treachery or theft, he instinctively felt that something was wrong.

Furthermore, he had only recently arrived in the territory and had not yet fully taken control of all its authority. He was therefore extremely cautious. Still, to learn the other party's intentions, he said to the guard, "Then let him in. Take him to my study!"

As he spoke, he put on the casual clothes hanging beside him, set down the wooden sword in his hand, and headed for his study.