Chapter 505 Confrontation

Chapter 505 Confrontation

?Now, Rolf was on his way to Jiakai's capital to speak favorably on Howard's behalf and to stabilize the increasingly erratic Lyon.

Meanwhile, Howard was actively engaged in the task Rolf had left with him.

The situation in Romagna was not particularly optimistic.

According to Rolf, the greedy Governor of Venice had hired mercenaries to bolster his forces, constantly challenging the boundaries of Romagna.

It seemed likely that if he sensed any weakness in Marquis Rolf, he would brazenly move in, ostensibly to "help solve the beast problem," but in reality, to seize the profits.

Despite the long march, the mood among the troops was relaxed.

Everyone understood that this was not a war campaign and that there would be no casualties, making the journey feel more like a lively spring outing for children.

The road from Nok to Romagna was easy to traverse, thanks to the wide highways.

Anna and Margaret, the two knights, took special care of Howard, often preparing wild game for him to eat.

Anna's cooking skills were mediocre, but her dishes were edible.

Margaret, on the other hand, was an excellent cook.

Her culinary talents were so good that even if she chose to become an adventurer in the future, she would never starve.

On one occasion, Anna caught a wild wolf for Howard to eat.

As Howard dined, he casually chatted with Anna, inquiring about her father's recent health.

Anna, while roasting a wild chicken leg, replied, "He's doing quite well. His days are mostly eating and sleeping, void of any ambition. Living the noble life suits him just fine."

Her face betrayed a hint of disdain as she spoke.

It was clear Anna held little respect for her father's lackadaisical approach to nobility.

Pondering for a moment, Howard asked, "Now that the Valuva family has decided to separate from your Katerina family, does your father have any plans to enhance the prestige of the Katerina lineage?"

Anna responded with a self-deprecating laugh, "Enhance our family? Him? He wouldn't even dare to sign an alliance treaty."

Howard touched his nose thoughtfully and suggested, "Tell your father that if he wants to bring glory to your family, he should help me by visiting Edward and considering signing an alliance treaty. When the day comes for our three houses to join forces in battle, I won't forget his contribution."

Howard's intention was to further solidify the alliance with Edward and establish a treaty with Anna's father.

Anna shrugged, "I'll do my best."

On the third day of their journey, as they neared the borders of Jiakai, a group of masked bandits took advantage of the night to attack Howard's camp.

Golan and Anna each took charge of defending the east and west sides, repelling two waves of attackers.

Meanwhile, Margaret, disguised as a maid, stayed close to Howard, capturing a masked assassin attempting another strike at Howard's life.

The Governor replied skeptically, "The origin of these beasts is a mystery, and their rapid breeding is concerning."

Rolf countered, "This is my territory, and I take full responsibility for it. You need not worry about these matters, my lord."

His tone at the end of the sentence seemed to mock the Governor's earlier words.

Clearly, Rolf, a traditional feudal noble, looked down upon those merchants who gained status through wealth.

The Governor tried to deceive Rolf, claiming, "But my people say that these beasts have spread again, reaching the borders of Venice now."

Seeing through the Governor's ploy, Rolf retorted, "Then go catch them in Venice's territory, why come to mine?"

The standoff continued, with the conversation shifting from clear and precise negotiating terms to more casual, rambling exchanges, almost like everyday chit-chat.

After two hours of this back-and-forth, both Rolf and the Governor were left with dry mouths and exhausted tongues, eventually deciding to retreat without further discussion.

Walking alongside Rolf, Howard listened as Rolf leaned in and whispered, "Now's our chance! His men have withdrawn. Quickly lead your men into the forest to capture the exotic beasts. The more we catch, the more we earn."

Scratching his ear, Howard replied, "Have your men lead the way."

Rolf promptly assigned a guide.

In the afternoon, Howard's 1,500-strong army ventured deep into the forest, successfully hunting numerous exotic beasts.

Howard himself laid eyes on these creatures for the first time, finding their appearance difficult to describe – creatures he had never seen before, testament to the New World's wonders.

That evening, as Howard and his men returned to Romagna, they sold the beasts for a handsome profit.

However, just as they were celebrating their success, the Governor of Venice launched a sudden attack, causing a commotion at the border.

Rolf hurriedly lined up his 3000 conscripted soldiers along the border in a dense, three-layered formation, puzzling the Governor with this unexpected move.

Uncertain whether Rolf was preparing for a desperate fight, the Governor hesitated and eventually withdrew his forces.

For a month, this cat-and-mouse game continued between Rolf and the Governor.

Rolf simultaneously earned money and fended off the Governor, while the latter increasingly struggled with the expenses of hiring mercenaries.

Half a month later, the Governor's mercenaries finally broke through the border, launching an attack.

Rolf and Howard, unflustered in the face of battle, saw the exact moment the enemy crossed the line and commanded their armies to counterattack.

The Governor's mercenaries were repelled, and the Governor himself eventually departed from the area.

Howard and Rolf exchanged high-fives in celebration of their triumph.

Afterward, Howard led his men to Ferrara, where the abundance of exotic beasts allowed him to earn a considerable sum daily.

He instructed Golan to take a portion of the money back to Fernsouth Castle for Vettel to oversee some important projects.

The funds were to be used for refurbishing the knight's training ground and the heavy infantry training facility, as well as for renovating the castle walls to enhance their defensive capabilities.

For Golan, it was his first encounter with such a large amount of money.

He carefully transported it back to Fernsouth Castle and handed it over to Vettel.