"Danger is relative, Mr. Pine, and danger also means opportunity," the fourth prince read the relevant information collected by the minister's assistant, "I heard that your title was inherited from your father? He was a knight , and was later awarded the title of baron and fief for his meritorious service."
"Exactly," Tigu nodded.
"That battle was a battle of honor to stand up for the innocent, and the time was also in the month of the demon. A small number of demonic beasts accidentally crossed the fortress line through the Chishui River and entered the hinterland of the West. At that time, your father was When patrolling the place, when he encountered the remaining demonic beasts, he did not choose to evade first, as most people do, and notify the reinforcements before encircling and suppressing it. Because behind him is an undefended town - even though that town has nothing to do with him, " As Roland stated, he paid attention to the other party's expression, "You should know better than me about what happened later. Your father called up the town's militia, brought his own servants, and fought the evil beast head-on and won."
"Yes," he said a little excitedly, clearly yearning for this family history, "one of them was huge, like a deer and like a cow, or a monster kneaded together. Its legs are bigger than my father's. The torso is thick, and the ground trembles when running. If it were me, I really don’t know how to defeat such a monster.”
"But he did. My father stood near a shallow ditch and lured the raging beast. As it accelerated and rammed, he lay down in the shallow ditch, propped up his broad-edged sword, the hilt braced diagonally. On a stone at the bottom of the ditch, the seemingly unbeatable idiot just slammed into the tip of the sword, his entire stomach was cut open, and the intestines and black blood that flowed out almost drowned my father. The spoils of that battle are still hanging on my fireplace, a huge horn of an evil beast."
Roland took a sip of tea and said calmly: "A battle worthy of admiration. He followed the faith, mercy and bravery of knights. It was Joey Cole who later gave him the title and fief, who was still in Longsong Fortress at the time. An earl, who was promoted to duke by my father Wimbledon III twenty-five years ago, and also serves as the guardian of the southern border. His territory covers the entire southern border. It is a pity that after the backer became independent, the old Pei still remained in the east of the fortress. En has become a thorn in the eyes of the duke of the fortress."
"Your Highness, you know very well," Tigu sighed helplessly, "The Duke of the Fortress and Lord Joey have always been at odds, and Joey Cole is not an earl assigned by the Duke of the Fortress. His bloodline can be traced back to the royal family. Branches, whether it's family or bloodline, are no worse than Lord Ryan."
This is politics, Roland thought, the game of checks and balances played by Wimbledon III.
In order to understand this intricate relationship, he called the minister's assistant to explain it to himself for a whole day.
The division and jurisdiction between nobles is extremely chaotic. In theory, the upper nobles have the right to issue orders to the lower nobles in the territory, but the actual operation is much more complicated. Joey Cole and Duke Ryan are examples. As an earl directly entrusted by the king, although the territory is in the west, it has the prestige and momentum of Duke Lane.
When Joey becomes the Duke of Southland, new nails will naturally be arranged into his territory. This is the usual method of the Graycastle royal family to maintain stability in power.
"So when you inherited this territory, the commerce and agricultural products withered away day by day, and the family business became worse day by day," Roland said slowly, "Now, there is a new opportunity in front of you."
"A new... opportunity?"
"You must have heard of the famine two years ago. The fortress withheld food for the next month on the grounds that there was insufficient trade in ore. And this year, we are facing the same predicament. The accidental collapse of the North Slope mine has left the people of Border Town with no way out. Retreat, we must stop the evil beast behind the newly built city wall. This battle may not be smooth sailing, but as I said before, danger also means opportunity.”
"..." Tigu already understood what the prince meant, he frowned and did not answer immediately.
"Speaking of which, you don't look like a nobleman in the usual sense," Roland smiled. "No one would go out dressed like this, and your hands are covered in crusty calluses. Mr. Pine, you don't Let go of your father's heritage? The fighting skills that knights are good at."
Of course he didn't let it go, Roland thought, otherwise he wouldn't be running into the Hidden Forest all day. According to the information provided by Barov, during his time in Border Town, he spent at least three days a week in the Hidden Forest. And every time he went, he was fully equipped. Since he couldn't afford the servants, he hired Orion directly from the town as a helper. Some people are naturally fond of fighting, and Tigu Pine is obviously such a person.
"If you are willing to stay in Border Town, I can give you the opportunity to regain the glory of your father, like him, relying on sword and courage to grab honor. If you do a good job, I will draw a block in the east of Border Town. The land is used to reward you, a piece of land suitable for viscount status."
This is rare, but the promise is valid. As an adult prince, he can legally confer viscounts, barons and knights, but he rarely awards rewards to other people's subordinates. First, it would be a loss of aristocratic demeanor by digging a foot in the wall, and second, it would be embarrassing if the other party refused. But Roland didn't care about demeanor, he only wanted Nana, a mobile treatment station, and he wasn't too worried about rejecting him. Joey didn't take his father with him after he became the guardian of the South, which proved that the former had given up on the Pine family.
Tigu finally let out his breath, "Then... Your Highness, can I send Nana back to Changsong Fortress? No one has ever resisted the evil beast here. In case of failure, I don't want my daughter to be buried here. "
"I told you from the beginning, Mr. Pyne, danger is relative. Have you ever thought about what would happen if Nana was found to be a witch in Longsong Fortress? It's not like Border Town, The church has taken root in the city for a long time, and they have their followers and eyeliners everywhere. Once exposed, even I can't save her."
Roland paused for a moment and added: "Border Town will not be lost. When the Moon of Demons comes, I will fight side by side with the people on the city wall. Our opponents are just a group of mutated beasts, not invulnerable devils. Your father We beat them in an open field, not to mention we have an impenetrable wall. If... I mean, if there is an accident, I'll let Nana leave first," he paused. , "And Anna. I'll leave a small boat at the dock, and I promise they'll be safe."
"Since that's the case... I believe in you, Your Highness," Tigu Payne stood up, put on one knee, stretched out his chest, and gave the prince a standard knightly salute, "I am willing to fight for you."
…
When Tigu and Nana left, Anna gave Roland a roll of eyes.
"Are you dreaming?" she said. "I'm not going anywhere."