Doubt

"Guest, here is your loyalty card."

Armand took the item from the restaurant owner's hand, which he would later refer to as "the world's biggest trap."

The restaurant's loyalty card was a wooden plaque. The front had the restaurant's name and address, and the back had a 10x5 grid. Four of the ten squares in the first row were covered with a stamped impression.

With this loyalty card, you could enjoy a 10% discount at the restaurant. For every Kreuzer silver coin spent, one square would be marked. After accumulating a full row of squares, you could get another 10% discount on top of the original 10%.

That wasn't the problem. The problem was that the total price of the various dishes, snacks, and drinks on the menu would always have a fractional amount exceeding 50 copper coins when spending only two to three Kreuzers. This made people unable to resist adding a few more dozen copper coins to reach 1 Kreuzer and get an extra point.

Armand didn't pay attention at first. He usually spent money whenever he wanted to and never considered these things.

He also didn't notice that an invisible, intangible devil was whispering in his ear, "One more point and you'll be closer to the discount," causing him to unconsciously adjust the price of his dinner tonight to 4 Kreuzers and 20 copper coins while looking at the menu.

Before he left, the restaurant owner also gave him a loyalty card for a nearby jewelry store.

Based on years of experience, the owner was certain this young man came from a wealthy and prominent family. That store, which specialized in jewelry for young ladies, was the perfect place for him to go.

Walking out of the restaurant, the sky had already turned dark.

Armand and his two attendants were staying at the inn across from the restaurant and didn't want to go back to sleep yet.

He saw a tavern not far away and decided to go in and sit by himself. It was a good place to gather information, so he let his attendants do as they pleased.

There were quite a few people in the tavern at the time. He found a seat, sat down, and ordered the most expensive set meal from the drink menu.

Soon after, he stared blankly at the plate of bar snacks in front of him. A few small, bow-shaped pieces of bread, about half the size of a palm, were understandable and there weren't many of them. But the smoked meat slices, sausage slices, and pork jelly made him feel like this should have been dinner.

The beer here was good. He took two sips and liked it.

Armand leaned back in his chair, feigning boredom, and listened carefully to the conversations at the surrounding tables.

Two pieces of news caught his attention. One was that sales of steel from Wessen Territory would be restricted starting tomorrow; he had already known this in the afternoon. The other was that Baron Weissen had begun requisitioning carriages and recruiting personnel. The purpose wasn't stated, but the pay was generous, and it sounded like they were preparing for a long journey.

Before he could listen further, a cheer suddenly erupted in the tavern. A minstrel carrying a six-stringed lute walked to the corner and sat on a dedicated high stool.

This minstrel seemed very famous; all the men in the tavern quieted down.

A burst of lute music began, and Armand nodded slightly, picking up his wine glass for a drink.

He understood music; this person's skill was indeed good.

First were several traditional local folk songs depicting warriors in battle. The music and singing vividly portrayed the intensity of the fighting, reminding Armand of the first time he charged into the Risenburg Army on horseback on the battlefield.

The audience was all men, and the atmosphere was instantly stirred up.

Then the tune suddenly changed, with a style completely different from tradition. Armand felt a little unaccustomed, but the tavern's atmosphere instantly became heated.

"Rise up, sing! We shall be victorious! Our banner is marching forward, Please advance with it! You will see the singing rings out, the banner flies, The dawn of victory, Proclaiming the arrival of a new era."

All the patrons stood up, holding their glasses, stomping their feet in unison, and singing aloud "The People of the Rhine Shall Never Be Defeated" together.

Armand was stunned for a moment and didn't immediately stand up. He noticed several cold gazes fixed on him.

He had to stand up, and soon after, he was unconsciously infected by the atmosphere. After one cycle, he joined the people of the Rhine, raising his glass, stomping his feet, and singing along.

Those previously cold gazes also became warm. Several bearded men didn't show hostility towards him because of his Gaulish accent. They came over with their glasses, clinked them with his, and then drank them dry.

Armand finished a glass of beer, feeling a bit strange in his heart, because this song praised Count Weissen, eleven knights, and over two hundred soldiers who died together on the battlefield, and he was from the enemy country.

But he had an even stranger feeling in his heart. Perhaps it was because he admired Count Henry von Weissen's brave, fearless, and loyal spirit. At this moment, he actually felt a sense of closeness with these people of the Rhine whom he had never met before.

"Rise up singing the battle hymn! Wave after wave! Without new battles, how can the future come? But only united, can we defeat the enemy, Fight side by side, tomorrow we are the victors."

The tavern then began singing "The United People of the Rhine Shall Never Be Defeated."

Armand was initially a bit unaccustomed to the new musical form, but young people are quick to adapt. At this point, he had gradually adjusted and soon found it quite good, singing along.

He somewhat understood the meaning of this song. The previous war was lost, and the people of the Rhine needed a new war and victory to regain their former glory.

However, after that war, the Rhine Alliance and the Kingdom of Gaul signed a twenty-year peace agreement. The next war would probably have to target other areas.

"Just because he is also a person, So he also needs to eat, But he was driven from his home,

Wessen Territory welcomes him,

Brothers, come quickly,

Welcome to the Wessen Territory family,

Because you are also human,

Just because you are also human,

You also need shoes and clothes,

But you met William,

Wessen Territory welcomes you,

Sisters, come quickly,

Welcome to the Wessen Territory family!

The singing in the tavern suddenly became heavy. Armand felt as if he were in a church, and the singing choir was the best in all of Gaul... perhaps even the whole world.

This feeling had nothing to do with singing technique; it came from the singers' hearts.

At this moment, Armand was deeply shaken.

He understood that this song was related to the tens of thousands of refugees who were about to be driven to Wessen Territory, and that was why he was here.

In his view, and the view of many others, Wessen Territory would surely be on high alert, sealing all its borders, and doing everything possible to refuse and expel the refugees.

However, he found that all outsiders were wrong. Wessen Territory, from Baron Weissen down to the common people, did not see these refugees as a monstrous flood. Instead, they saw them as suffering brothers and sisters and extended a helping hand.

What kind of spirit was this?

What kind of breadth of mind was this?

What kind of land was Wessen Territory, that such a beautiful flower of kindness could bloom here?

Armand couldn't understand.