How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 151.2: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 (8)

The Viscount is very wise and experienced. He has ruled the fiefdom on behalf of His Majesty for a long time.

Emperor Cardirian was old, but Viscount Ginolen was just as old. That meant he had ruled for just as long. For that long, even a steward would seem like the feudal lord to the serfs.

Johan asked various questions, digging for information on Viscount Ginolen.

The intel from the Republic was useful, but information was best gathered from multiple sources. And the intel from nobles on the Emperors side offered another perspective. . .

By the way, why does His Excellency ask about the Viscount? Does he perhaps plan to pay him a visit?

Sir Padovesi jokingly suggested a visit. That he could joke around while being held hostage showed his respect and goodwill towards Johan. Any knight would feel that way after witnessing that hunt.

Yes. I plan to visit him when I release you knights.

???!

Sir Padovesi doubted his ears.

A, a vi. . .sit. . . did you say?

Yes. The Viscount was worried enough about me to send his knights, so it would be rude not to visit him in return.

No, he didnt send us because he was worried, but because of ties between the city and his household. . .

Either way, you came to help me, no? It wasnt for some other reason, was it?

. . .No, but.

Then Ill go visit him.

Oh, yes. . .

The knights wondered why on earth Johan would do that. Of course nobles visiting each other was common. It was customary and an honorable duty.

But that was between houses with ties to each other. Right now Johan was in no position to visit the Viscounts fiefdom. Politically they were in sharp opposition!

?

. . . ?

Visiting enemy territory was crazy. Of course the Viscount wouldnt attack a guest, but it was still incredibly risky.

No matter how they thought about it, it seemed reckless.

Then Ill pass on the message.

Please do. Ill be visiting the Viscounts fiefdom with you knights, so Im relying on you to guide me.

It will be our honor.

After the knights left, Johan gave orders to the mercenaries.

Capture and imprison the servant the knights sent. Also send men to Jekyllid Castle to gather all the mercenaries.

Yes sir!

Johan imprisoned the knights servant so the Viscount wouldnt realize what Johan was up to and prepare countermeasures.

Seeing what comes next, hell surely freak out and try to prepare!

Of course Johan planned to visit the Emperors fiefdom as a guest. But his company would be a bit different from what the knights imagined.

Johan would visit with thousands of mercenary troops as his escort.

?

Hmm. Let me think about this.

Please go ahead.

To uphold a knights honor, right?

Indeed, isnt that so? I thought the same.

. . .???

Jyanina, who was listening nearby, tilted her head. She didnt understand the knights conversation.

Something. . .something is strange?

Did he say the count is visiting as a guest?

Thats right.

Isnt that odd?

Thats why I said so. Because of a knights honor.

But thats. . .

Jyanina felt a chill down her spine as she was about to speak. The servants and slaves around her were staring at Jyanina.

The knights didnt notice, but Jyanina was very sensitive to such things.

!

They must be monitoring the conversation on the counts orders. If she acted obliviously in this situation and offended the counts feelings. . .

The consequences could be dozens of times worse than being tied up and doused in filth. Jyaninas face turned pale.

. . .Youre right. A knight should naturally do that.

What? A wizard doesnt understand a knights honor? Haha!

Isnt this interesting?

The knights burst into laughter at Jyaninas words. They didnt dislike Jyanina. In fact, Jyanina had won the knights favor from working under the Emperor.

However, that didnt make their perceptions of wizards disappear. They liked her, but she was still a wizard, far removed from the honorable ones.

* .

Jyanina heaved a deep sigh. She wanted to leave this city and set foot on the peninsula as soon as possible.

The scenery was beautiful, the food and drinks tasty, but mentally, it was too exhausting.

Id rather listen to the Emperors nagging. . .

As soon as my work here is done, Ill flee to the Emperors court without looking back.

Wizard. His Excellency is calling for you. Come out.

Jyanina knocked over the glass she was holding. The oblivious knights next to her made her even more irritated.

Oh. Jyanina-gong is so lucky. Its frustrating that His Excellency calls for a wizard rather than a knight.

He probably wants advice or a divination. Things we cant do, right?

Jyanina was about to curse but held back and got up. She muttered under her breath.

F**k. . .

What did you just say?

Nothing.

.FiNd 𝒖pd𝒂tes on n(𝒐)/v𝒆l𝒃𝒊n(.)c𝒐m

I presume. . . theyve been captured.

. . . . . .

Gloom hung in the viscounts court. If the intelligence from the city was correct, the knights he had sent were certainly captured.

And it just had to coincide with the counts visit to the city.

Lets protest to the city! Seize the property of merchants from the city in our fiefdom. . .

Stop it. That wont help at all.

If they arrested the fiefdoms merchants now, there would only be retaliation. Reduced income meant losses for the viscount too. They couldnt cause unnecessary commotion.

Then what should we do?

We have to do what we can. Hire more mercenaries and expand the fiefdoms borders. The new count enjoys lightning-fast raids. If we get hit later, there will be nothing but regret.

They knew all too well how Count Yeats would sweep through the south with lightning speed that stunned onlookers.

The current mercenaries are asking to be paid their overdue wages, but. . .

Go to the temple and ask for their cooperation.

The temple had a lot of silver items. A place they could reach out to when in urgent need of money. The problem was dealing with the aftermath. . .

.