Taken In Again

Bitter Melon Face, Roger's steward, came out of the castle and walked to Roger's side. In a low voice, he said, "Young Master, I've already spoken with the priest. He's willing to pray and bless everyone."

Roger nodded, then turned to look at the islanders who had passed the preliminary selection.

The islanders knew that Young Master Roger would be their commander from here on, and whether they would receive their reward money would depend on the word of this devilish young master. Those who had been chosen all watched Roger with some nervousness.

Roger gave a light cough and swept his gaze over the islanders before him. He noticed someone suddenly slipping into the back of the line.

Baldhead was the first to recognize the fellow who had sneaked into the crowd. Without another word, he rushed over and gave him a savage kick. "You bastard, you still dare come back?" Then he raised his foot and continued kicking him.

Roger looked closely at the man who had been kicked to the ground. It was Gray Rat, the habitual thief who had been scared out of his wits during yesterday's brawl at the Red Mill and had run off on his own.

"My stomach suddenly hurt yesterday. I went out to relieve myself—I didn't run away, I didn't run away! Please, Young Master Roger, give me another chance. Another chance!" Gray Rat pleaded with Roger while covering his head and enduring Baldhead's beating.

Roger considered it briefly and felt that this fellow might still be of some use. He shouted, "Baldhead, let him in."

Baldhead looked up, his face full of doubt. "Young Master Roger, he betrayed us."

"That's enough. Let him join." Roger's tone brooked no argument.

Baldhead turned around and gave Gray Rat another hard kick before finally stopping.

Once the farce had ended, Roger turned to the crowd and said, "Since you've been selected, I'll honor my promise. The chosen warriors, follow me into the castle church."

"Father Matthew will pray and bless us in the church. Once the ceremony is over, I'll hand out the silver rewards immediately."

The chosen "warriors" erupted in cheers, while the islanders watching the spectacle whispered among themselves.

Roger beckoned Bitter Melon Face over. "You'll be responsible for the islanders outside. Make Brodick livelier."

With a face as bitter as a bitter melon, Bitter Melon Face agreed.

"Baldhead, lead everyone into the castle church."

Baldhead looked deeply troubled. "Y-Young Master Roger, I don't dare enter the castle."

Roger remembered that Baldhead had also refused to enter the castle yesterday no matter what. There must have been many painful memories for him within those walls.

"What are you afraid of? Today, you're a warrior defending the castle. Go in boldly!" Roger's shout filled Baldhead with courage.

Only then did Baldhead call out to the forty-odd islanders, who surged into the castle like a dark mass.

A moment later, inside the castle church.

"...What? We still have to attack the pirates' nest?"

"Heavens, has Young Master Roger gone mad?"

"God, we've been fooled again..."

An instant hum erupted in Brodick Church as the forty-odd islanders exploded into an uproar.

They had been summoned to Brodick under the pretext of taking part in a countryside brawl, only to be told that the enemy they would face was invading pirates.

Pirates were pirates, but at least they would be defending the castle. That was not too dangerous, and these islanders, with the blood of war flowing through their veins, could reluctantly accept it.

But now that devil Roger was telling them they were going to attack the pirates' nest in the north of the island.

The feeling of having fallen into a pit and been buried alive shrouded the entire church. Several people started to rise and leave, only to turn and find the church doors tightly shut. That baldheaded thug was blocking the entrance with a dagger already drawn, while a constable armed with a short cudgel stood guard beside him.

The few men could only sit back down. Though this was a church, that devilish young master might truly dare to make a move.

Roger made no effort to rein in the runaway emotions of the "warriors." He walked over to the steward standing at the side and spoke to him in a low voice.

The capable-looking steward hesitated for a moment before handing the small cloth pouch in his hand to Roger.

Roger returned to the church altar, opened the pouch in his hand, and raised it high. Then he poured ten gleaming gold coins onto the altar's pulpit.

The gold coins clinked and clattered across the wooden surface, bouncing about with crisp, pleasing sounds.

The fat priest beside him, who had just finished the holy blessing, had his cheeks twitching. It was impossible to tell whether Roger's actions had defiled the altar, or whether those dancing coins had stabbed at his squinting eyes.

Everyone in the hall was immediately drawn to the sight. Before they could recover from their shock, Roger pulled another handful of gold coins from a hidden pocket in his sleeve and once more tossed them high onto the pulpit.

The church hall fell instantly silent; a needle dropping could have been heard.

"There are twenty gold coins here, for the twenty bravest warriors."

Roger raised his hand and pointed north. "In the pirates' nest in the north of the island, there are countless treasures of gold, silver, and jewels. I'll take out one-third of it to reward the bravest warriors."

Whispers and rustling voices rose through the hall once more.

After a while, Roger felt the atmosphere had been brewed to perfection. He picked up a Florin gold coin, held it high, and shouted, "Which warrior will come forward to claim this first gold coin?"

The hall remained silent.

"Which warrior does this first gold coin belong to?" Roger roared again.

A moment later, a bench scraped harshly across the floor. Fat Widow was the first to stand. "It's mine!"

Roger had not expected the first person to step forward to be a woman.

"You bunch of limp-dicked cowards! Your guts are worse than a widow's! You might as well cut off the thing between your legs!" Baldhead, standing at the hall doors, cursed loudly.

He immediately shouted, "Young Master Roger, count me in! I'm willing to follow you and wipe out those remaining pirates."

"Baron John has already planted his own men among the pirates. Tonight, most of those bastards will be poisoned to death. What's there to fear from the few lackeys left behind?"

Baldhead took the chance to reveal the plan to everyone. Roger nodded to himself. This Baldhead really did have some brains.

"There really is an insider?"

"Someone's poisoning them? Then there definitely won't be many little lackeys left."

"I know those people. Apart from a few leaders and hardened bandits, the rest are fishermen forced into it. What's there to fear?"

Several voices rang out in the hall.

"Young Master Roger, I've fought in wars. I'm not afraid of death. Count me in."

"I'm strong. Count me in."

"I'm a hunter. I can shoot a bow..."

The gold coins before Roger were claimed one by one.

As they looked at the coins lying in their palms, the islanders—who had never possessed such a vast sum—stared with eyes wide and round.

One sturdy Fat Widow, two hunters who could draw bow and shoot arrows, five thugs with the reckless courage of common brutes, and nine islanders over forty who had once served in the army and wanted to strike it rich.

Roger had recruited seventeen "warriors" willing to fight pirates.

"Gray Rat, you bastard! Didn't you just beg Young Master Roger for another chance? Gone soft again?" Baldhead shouted at Gray Rat, who was cowering in a corner, and moved to kick him again.

Roger raised a hand to stop Baldhead and softly told Gray Rat, "Follow me on this expedition and scout out the enemy for me. You won't need to fight on the battlefield. I'll give you half a gold coin afterward. Do you dare?"

The moment Gray Rat heard that he only had to scout and would not need to risk his life in battle, he immediately raised his head. "Young Master Roger, I dare."

"Good. Warriors chosen by God, follow Baldhead to the castle barracks and await orders."

Roger then said to the remaining islanders, "To prevent anyone from tipping off the pirates, the rest of you will stay here. No one may leave before nightfall. This evening, someone will bring you free food."

A man who usually had a bit of courage was just about to rise. After hesitating for a moment, he slumped back down in defeat.

Having spoken softly and received no response from the hall, Roger added heavily, "If anyone dares sneak out on their own, the constables will immediately arrest them and execute them on the spot for the grave crime of colluding with pirates."

Another low commotion stirred through the church, but no one dared test the danger with their own body. Offending Devil Roger was never a good thing.

With the situation under control, Roger nodded to the steward and led the eighteen volunteer "warriors" out of the church.

This motley "army" would be all Roger had to rely on to wipe out the pirates tonight.