Chapter 319: As Long as I Surrender First

The Comrades Group acted swiftly. As for the reason, it was naturally because Aen had directly handed them the gold coins first.

“We are friends, and I believe in my friends.”

For these words, the entire Comrades Group mobilized. More than a hundred well-armed elite warriors went to blockade the gates of the three gentry families’ estates.

They did not touch the goods distributed to the commoners, as such things had no value to them. The fifteen gold coins had already been divided up by Hode before they set out.

Hode had stood at the entrance of the Comrades’ Home, handing the coins into their palms one by one.

The gentry whose gates were blocked tried to resist. But after clashing with the Comrades Group and losing more than a dozen lives, they quickly quieted down.

The Comrades Group had a total of seven Northern Warriors, while among the three gentry families combined, there was only a single Northern Warrior.

After distributing the gifts, Hode, Cooper, and Zeke each went to negotiate with a different gentry family.

Hode simply knocked down the sole Northern Warrior, sat on his chest, and did not get up until the Morning Star was about to set.

Cooper surrounded one family’s estate with Comrades Group warriors, then charged inside alone, beating everyone without distinction—man or woman, and even the family dogs were kicked as they passed by.

Zeke, however, spoke peacefully with the head of his assigned family.

That evening, when they returned to the Comrades’ Home, they saw that Aen had already lit a bonfire. His caravan’s squires were roasting turkeys and beast meat.

“Thank you, my comrades, for your help. Although we are in the Comrades’ Home, since we are friends, I shamelessly invite you all to a banquet.” Aen declared loudly.

The Comrades Group naturally had no objections. Meat, bread, and ale in abundance—how could they complain?

At Northern warrior banquets, joy was usually expressed by loud howls. But since Aen was the host this time, one of his squires brought out a hand drum, striking it bang, bang, bang, while dancing and singing poetry.

This squire was not a trained bard; he only sang verses written by wandering bard apprentices who roamed the North.

The Northern warriors had little interest in such performances, preferring raw howls. But when they realized the verses praised the bravery of the Comrades Group, they suppressed their cries and listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word.

Aen was grateful that his squire enjoyed listening to bard apprentices perform in the taverns of York City.

The song of the “Brave and Fearless Comrades Group” was, of course, composed by Oscar. Its contents were greatly exaggerated—tales of them charging through ten thousand soldiers with only a dozen men, of each being mighty Northern Warriors, and of village women becoming pregnant the same night after catching a mere glance from them.

Oscar’s style was simple: the more outrageous, the better, filled with the killing and lust he believed Northerners loved to hear.

Unsurprisingly, the song became popular across the North.

It was equally well-received in Greenwood, for it matched the stereotype of Northerners there.

Even Hode and Zeke blushed while listening, and Cooper scratched his ears like an old thin monkey.

When the poetry ended, the Comrades Group members howled and turned to sparring matches.

The Comrades’ Home stood outside the town, and with the gates shut, there were no women present. The men had only duels to release their overflowing energy.

That night, the most eye-catching match was between the leader of the Comrades Group and the leader of the Virtue Knights. Their clash was far more dangerous than any others.

Cooper tried challenging a Virtue Knight but was quickly defeated in just a few moves, earning jeers from the crowd.

Because of this, the two prospective Ring members and two ordinary warrior-level members refrained from issuing challenges.

In the arena, the clash of battleaxes and longswords resounded. At the sidelines, Zeke quietly approached Aen.

“The Virtue Knights truly deserve their reputation as the smallest yet strictest of Greenwood’s three knightly orders,” Zeke remarked.

Aen tilted his head slightly and smiled. “Naturally. They are all close to Fifth Rank Knights. And reaching Fifth Rank is the utmost limit of human potential.”

Zeke spoke with meaning. “When I registered as a mercenary, I learned that the North has four marquises and two earls of the Fifth Rank. Yet one marquis was still slain with a single slap by a Frost Giant. But in Greenwood, there exist men capable of killing Frost Giants.”

Aen understood the implication—it was a probe into Greenwood’s strength. He replied directly: “Above the Fifth Rank lies the Sixth, transcending human limits. We call them Heroes. In Greenwood, there are two: the Dragon-Eagle Knight Richard and the Holy Knight George.”

“However, Frost Giants are Phantasms, evaluated at least as Eighth Rank, lives comparable to gods.”

Aen stopped there, saying no more.

Even so, Zeke was stunned.

He had not expected Aen to speak so openly. Yet the way he reduced it to simple numbers made it sound strange, as if concealing deeper secrets.

Seeing Zeke’s expression, Aen smiled. “This information is public. The Church does not conceal it; they even publish books explaining such knowledge. If you are interested, I will see if I can acquire some for you.”

“Of course, I am but a merchant. Books are precious. The monastery’s copies must first supply Greenwood’s academies. I will do my best, but when they arrive here, the price will be high.”

Zeke fell silent. He did not press further about Frost Giants.

As Aen said, he was only a merchant. Deeper secrets were not for him to know. At last, Zeke replied, “Money is no problem. Even if I lack it, the captain will earn more. So long as the books come from Greenwood’s monasteries, I will buy them, whatever they are.”

Aen asked, “Then is the Comrades Group planning to settle here?”

Zeke nodded. “Of course. This is the Comrades’ Home.”

Aen continued, “Recently, the gladiator tournament at Frozen Furnace City ended. The champion, Joaquin Fenrir, achieved seventeen consecutive victories. Though no Fifth Rank fighters participated, he is now hailed as the First Warrior of the North. He won five thousand gold coins. Marquis Gustav Ross is said to be marrying his daughter to him, granting him a barony as well.”

“Glory, wealth, women, status—he has gained them all. In half a year, another tournament will be held, this time across the entire Northern Kingdom.”

“But here, the western nobles have abandoned this place. No mercenary taverns or arenas were built. Your glory shines bright this year, but once the next tournament ends, Joaquin’s fame as the First Warrior of the North will overshadow yours completely.”

Zeke declared, “Our Comrades Group reveres glory, but we do not chase it. For the Comrades Group itself is glory.”

Aen laughed. “I will return in a month. Do you need anything?”

“Books, ale, food, breeding hens, weapons,” Zeke replied.

Aen nodded. “I will bring them. I will also try to negotiate for weapons.”

After that, they spoke no further, only watching the fight in the arena.

Warriors and knights clashed, the crowd roared, and the bonfire flickered. But beyond its light, someone slipped secretly into the town.

Giles looked troubled.

He had received reports of the Comrades Group’s deeds.

Though it had been his idea for Aen to hire them, he had not expected them to be so brazen—or for Aen to pay them fifteen hundred gold coins.

A pang of resentment struck him. For that much gold, he would have handled the matter himself for Aen.

But the thought vanished quickly. What troubled him more was how much the Comrades Group’s actions resembled stories Aen had once told him about the Church.

Back when the Church first entered York Territory, while it was only at the viscount level, they had pressured the gentry of villages first. With resistance crushed, the town accepted Church rule without protest.

This was no hidden truth. The monastery had even published analyses, explaining that the Church seized control of production and secured the greatest military support in the territory, forcing York Town’s power core to bow.

Giles now realized: in his own lands, the gentry had already been cowed by the Comrades Group—through intimidation, violence, and persuasion alike. Meanwhile, the commoners’ faith in the Lord soared to the point of offering thanks day and night.

Even his castle’s squires, once gifted with Aen’s “gifts of the Lord,” had done so.

Now it seemed only his army could prove his power.

But according to reports, the Comrades Group had seven Northern Warriors, while Aen had brought four Virtue Knights. And even now they were feasting merrily outside the Comrades’ Home.

Then Giles recalled: the very day the Comrades’ Home was completed, Aen had arrived with knights.

He had once promised to behave and follow trade rules, after which Aen had brought only hired guards. But this time, Aen had come with four knights.

The more he thought, the more fear took root. He even remembered that the Church itself had first been established outside York Town.

That night, for the first time in his life, Giles could not sleep.

The next day, when the Comrades Group helped Aen distribute the Lord’s gifts to the commoners outside the town, Giles’ own soldiers went out to help maintain order.

Suddenly, Giles saw the truth clearly.

The western Northern nobles had abandoned him. The gentry within his lands were worthless. Seven Northern Warriors of the Comrades Group camped at his doorstep, and most of his food came from Aen’s caravans.

So that evening, he invited Aen to his fortress and told him plainly—he would surrender to Greenwood.

Aen was shocked.

At least, he appeared to be shocked.

He spoke with a troubled expression, “Brother Giles, what do you mean by this? We are friends, and Greenwood is a peace-loving land. I have never wanted you to swear loyalty to Greenwood or to betray the Northern Kingdom.”

Giles felt nauseated inside. If you really had no such intentions, then why did you bring an entire order of Virtue Knights with you this time? But he still forced a smile and said, “I am not betraying the Northern Kingdom—it is the Northern Kingdom that has abandoned me.”

“You have seen it yourself. I face the threat of the Annihilation Fiends, yet those Northerners are lost in pleasure, fighting over power and land. They cheer for gladiators, build mercenary taverns, and squander gold to live in extravagance. They will not even send warriors to defend against the invasion of the fiends.”

“And those mercenary taverns keep recruiting vagabonds from my lands, leaving me unable to even collect taxes. If not for you, my friend Aen, bringing food, I would fear my people might starve this winter.”

“And then there is the Comrades Group, stationed outside my town. Their presence gives me more security than the banners of the King of the North flying on my walls.”

“My friend, think about it. It is the King of the North who abandoned me. I must therefore be free, and I choose to pledge loyalty to Greenwood. To swear allegiance to the great Lundex is for myself, my family, and the survival of the commoners in my lands.”

“I have heard you speak of Greenwood’s Eastern Crusade. Even against millions of Fishmen, the armies of Lundex slaughtered them. I believe the great Lundex will not allow a loyal baron like me to be slain by the fiends. This is the only way my people may live.”

Aen’s face showed sympathy, though inwardly he was impressed.

Truly, it is remarkable that a Northern noble like Giles can spin such a lengthy tale—placing himself as the abandoned one, then invoking the lives of commoners.

But Aen did not believe for a moment that Giles cared about peasants’ lives. After all, the first thing Giles had asked him when they struck up trade relations was whether he dealt in slaves.

The Northern nobles’ ways of handling disobedience among their people had long been no secret to merchants like him.

Still, Aen had no intention of agreeing.

He had indeed meant what he said—he had not come to invade or conquer. Even the Virtue Knights he brought were meant only as deterrence, should the gentry resist.

It was mere coincidence that the Comrades Group was present, and he simply exercised a merchant’s instinct for friendship and befriended them.

Gold coins no longer held the same grip on him. Ever since the Corlay Family incident, he realized there were things more precious than gold.

After that, his family moved to Rod City, keeping only a residence in York City for convenience. Now he worked fully in service of Bishop Jeven.

Standing at a higher vantage point, with Jeven’s full trust, gold for him was only a resource to mobilize.

And spending fifteen hundred gold coins to befriend the Comrades Group was clearly worthwhile.

Next year, when he delivered goods again, that gold would flow back into his pocket anyway.

But unexpectedly, his friendship had scared Giles so much that the man was now ready to surrender to Greenwood outright.

Still, Aen was not qualified to accept such a surrender. So he said, “Baron Giles, my friend, I sympathize with your plight. But it is Lundex to whom you would pledge loyalty. I am merely a merchant. I cannot give you an answer. I can only bring your message back to the Senate and let the lords decide.”

Giles looked uneasy. If you refuse to speak, then with the Comrades Group outside my gates, how can I feel at ease?

After a moment’s thought, his eyes lit up. “Aen, my friend, I once heard you say York City of Greenwood is the most beautiful city in the world. I want to see it for myself. This time I will go back with you. It will show my sincerity, and you won’t need to trouble yourself with so many trips.”

Aen restrained his inner joy, but outwardly kept a troubled look. “But what of your lands? If you leave, what if rebellion breaks out while you are gone?”

Following Aen to York City would take over twenty days, even at full gallop there and back.

For this reason, Greenwood’s merchants were reluctant to travel here—the route was long, and the lands along the way were impoverished.

Not only Giles’ region, but even the Diocese of Rod was filled with paupers.

A journey of twenty days or more meant that, given the state of the North, Giles’ children or brothers might indeed rise in rebellion.

But then…

Giles glanced at Aen and said, “I will bring twenty warriors as retainers. I recall that in Greenwood, a baron may bring such followers, yes?”

Aen replied, “In fact, a baron may bring twenty-four warriors, as well as two knights—or in your case, two Northern Warriors.”

Giles clapped his hands. “Then I shall do so—bring my twenty-four finest warriors, along with my two Northern Warriors. As for my lands, I will entrust them to the Comrades Group. They take contracts, do they not? Two hundred… no, three hundred gold coins… Forget it, five hundred! Yes, five hundred gold coins should be enough to hire them.”

His face twisted in pain.

Aen could not help but widen his eyes.

This was beyond anything I imagined. Distrusting his own kin, yet willing to hire mercenaries to guard his domain. Is this the North?!

From Giles’ expression, it was clear he was serious.

Aen hesitated before saying, “You are my friend, and the Comrades Group are my friends. So you and the Comrades Group ought to be friends as well. As friends, when you leave home, they should guard your lands for you. Would you insult our friendship with gold coins?!”

The pain on Giles’ face vanished instantly. He asked, “Would that be proper? After all, I’ve only met them twice.”

Aen replied, “Of course. I will personally vouch for you. If the Comrades Group fails to guard your lands, then all my wealth shall be yours, and I will devote the rest of my life to helping you reclaim them. I ask the Lord to witness this oath.”

He spoke solemnly, one hand clutching the cross at his chest.

Giles finally smiled. “Very well, then we set out tomorrow?”

He was impatient. He could no longer bear such fear.

Aen sensed that Giles was even more eager to surrender than he himself was.

Still, he said, “Very well, we leave tomorrow. But tonight, I must visit the Comrades’ Home. I must celebrate the New Year with my squires. It is our tradition—to gather beneath the cross at New Year.”

“You know, the Comrades Group are the pride of the North, and they have inherited its hospitality. That is why my squires are still there.”

Giles did not know such “hospitality” as a Northern tradition. In his life, he only acted hospitable when facing those stronger than himself—especially if they gave him gifts.

Like Aen.

But such a tradition must be real—he corrected his memory and agreed, “Yes, hospitality is indeed our tradition. If you had not said you needed to be with your squires for the New Year, I would have had you remain in my fortress, to be received with the highest honors.”

By “highest honors,” he meant gnawing on snow bear meat frozen like stone, and perhaps offering his daughters to attend.

The snow bear meat was tough enough to crack jaws, and as for his daughters…

Looking at Giles’ thick-bearded face, Aen shivered and quickly said, “Yes, what a pity. Next time, for sure.”

After their courtesies, Aen took two Virtue Knights with him and hurried overnight to the Comrades’ Home, where he conveyed Giles’ request to the captain and vice-captain of the Comrades Group.

Hode sucked in a sharp breath after hearing it. Growing up in Greenwood, he had never heard of such a thing.

Cooper was unfazed, being a true-born Northerner. He had seen plenty of such cases.

Zeke’s expression was grim.

“This matter will take more than a month. Let us treat that as a contract, and I will pay you one thousand gold coins,” Aen said.

He simply noted their reactions.

Hode replied, “As you said, we are friends. Of course, I mean you and us are friends. And so, as friends, we need no payment to help one another. Besides, we already live in Baron Giles’ lands. Helping him defend them is our duty.”

Zeke remained silent.

Aen, after pondering for a moment, said, “Then let it be so. If nothing happens, when we return I will bring one thousand gold coins to the Comrades Group. If anything happens, I will pay another one thousand, and should any member fall, I will provide additional payment.”

He raised a hand to halt Hode’s protest. “We are friends. I will not let my friends suffer losses. Believe me, this matter is worth far more than three thousand gold coins. And entrusting you with guarding this land is a heavy burden.”

“I love making friends, but I am also a merchant. When friends help me, and I have the ability, I must ensure they do not suffer loss.”

“As the Lord said, a laborer deserves his wages.”

He clasped the cross in his hand and spoke with solemnity.

Seeing this, Hode, once a knight of the Church, could only nod.

When he did, Aen smiled. “Of course, when the day comes that I can no longer offer gold, I ask you not to forget me as a friend.”

Hode’s face grew serious. “In the name of the Comrades Group, I swear: you, your bloodline, and your family shall forever be our friends. This oath shall last until the name of the Comrades Group itself disappears from history.”

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