The Dispute Over Garrisoning the Checkpoint (Two-in-One)

"Sir Nalant, please wait a moment. I'll go report your arrival right away."

After saying that, the guard captain spoke a few words to the guards standing watch outside the tent. One of them then entered the tent to make the report.

"Sir Nalant?" Before long, a slightly plump middle-aged man dressed in a silk formal suit walked out.

"Yes, Sir Dane. I am Nalant!" This steward was also a noble, an honorary knight.

"What an honor. Sir Nalant, you rendered great merit today. Please, come into the tent and have a seat!" Steward Dane immediately became warm and enthusiastic.

It could not be helped. Nalant's great merit was secondary; what truly mattered was that the Storm Territory banner had been deliberately placed by the king beside the banners of several counts.

Who else could receive such an honor?

Thus, no one dared look down on this minor knight any longer, especially petty nobles and guards like them who served under the king.

"You're too kind, Sir Dane. There's no need to sit. It'll be dark soon, and I need to return to Maple Leaf City before nightfall." Nalant swung down from his horse and declined Dane's enthusiastic invitation. He then got straight to the point. "Sir Dane, I heard these serfs are going to be sold?"

"Yes, Sir Nalant. These daughters of misfor—ah, these unlucky wretches would find no noble willing to buy them even if we brought them back to the principality. Only merchant caravans from the smaller principalities would be willing to take them in, so now is the best time to sell them."

"If we keep them for a few more days, the army will still have to feed them. That would be far too uneconomical!"

Steward Dane had originally meant to call them the unlucky