Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Laurist looked at the pale Duke Fausta with a faint smile. Kill him? What was the point? It had been seventeen or eighteen years, and it was not Duke Fausta's fault. His girlfriend made the choice to leave him. Whether it was for the sake of her Windsor family or Laurist refusing to become her knight, none of that mattered. What mattered was the unforgettable love that Laurist had experienced. It was the only first love he had in both lifetimes.
First love was so beautiful, but the pain it brought was so fresh in people's memories. Laurist could not forget the heart-wrenching pain and the feeling of losing the most beautiful thing in his life. It was the breakup that finally made him see the true face of this world. Territorial nobles were the ruling class of the Galinthea Continent. A free mercenary and a gold-medal teacher of the Dawn Academy were nothing in front of the territorial nobles …
Laurist did not think about taking revenge on Duke Fausta. It had been so long, and the painful memories of the past had become a memory worthy of remembrance. However, the remembrance was less resentful and more of a sigh. Fate was unpredictable, just like how Duke Fausta did not expect his wife's ex-boyfriend to appear in front of him.
If Laurist was still a poor mercenary, Duke Fausta might have kindly sponsored him with a few gold coins in exchange for some flattery. He would then go home and tell his wife about it as a joke. He sighed. If his wife had rejected his pursuit and remained loyal to love, then perhaps she would only be a housewife busy with household chores now. It would have become a flirting joke between husband and wife. Perhaps Winna would have used all sorts of gentleness to gain his favor and satisfaction.
But now, Laurist had become a legendary existence like a dragon. Whether it was the Grand Duke of the Northern Region or the head of the Norton family, he was on par with Duke Fausta. Besides that, he was the only new Sword Sage in the past hundred years, the Blood Sword Sage who could injure the Storm Sword Sage. This status was something that Duke Fausta could only look up to. In front of Laurist, Duke Fausta realized that he was just an ant.
Seeing that Duke Fausta's face was getting paler and paler, and his body was starting to tremble, Laurist lost interest. There was no need to scare him to the point of having a heart attack. Picking up a glass of wine, Laurist smiled and said, "Please don't worry, Duke Fausta. I just want to catch up with you. Time really flies. Seventeen or eighteen years have passed in the blink of an eye. Back then, I was studying in Moronte City as a mercenary, but now things have changed. I returned to my family's territory to inherit the title and territory, and I even became an enemy of the Trade Union. This is something I never thought would happen … Sigh, come, let's drink. "
Duke Fausta didn't know how he finished the wine in his hand. He didn't even know how it tasted. When he sat down, trembling, he realized that the back of his underwear was soaked. Sitting next to him, Viscount Penélope raised a glass of wine and toasted Laurist from afar. After finishing the glass, Viscount Penélope asked with great interest, "Duke Norton, you said that you were studying in Moronte City as a mercenary. Can you tell us about this experience?"
Laurist also drank a few more glasses at this time. He was in high spirits and recalled his ten years of studying in Moronte City, his experience as a Black Iron Mercenary and an academy instructor. When talking about how the Dawn Academy used his swordsmanship to set up an arena to defeat three thousand Silver Rank swordsmen and mercenaries in Moronte City, Viscount Penélope exclaimed in surprise, "So the Black Iron Locke from back then, the Invincible Silver Rank was actually Your Highness. At that time, hundreds of Silver Rank swordsmen in our Invincible Fleet suffered under your sword, and I even lost nearly a hundred gold coins to you …"
Loriste laughed heartily, pleased with himself.
Viscount Penélope complimented, "No wonder Your Highness could be promoted to Sword Sage so quickly. Back then, Black Iron Locke, the Invincible Silver Rank was a legendary figure in Moronte City. However, at that time, I just happened to be a 2-star Gold Rank and was about to advance to 3-star Gold Rank, so I missed Your Highness' exciting competition. When I wanted to meet you after advancing to 3-star Gold Rank, I found out that you had already left Moronte City … "
This was just a polite remark. At that time, Penélope was already a 3-star Gold Rank swordsman. He had no interest in paying attention to a low-level Black Iron Swordsman. Even if the other party became a legendary figure in Moronte City, it would only be a topic of conversation for Gold Rank swordsmen and mercenaries. However, everyone was well aware that there was no need to fuss over this.
However, Viscount Penélope lamented that if Laurist had not returned to the north to inherit his family's territory and title, he might have become a Sword Sage of the Commerce Alliance, and would definitely have become an upper-class noble of the Commerce Alliance. That way, the Invincible Fleet would still be the Invincible Fleet, and would not have suffered such a defeat. Fate really loves to play tricks on people …
Laurist smiled, but did not reply. Viscount Penélope was thinking too much. If he had stayed in the Commerce Alliance and not returned to his family's territory, then there would have been no northbound fleet, and Ciloas Island would not have become the territory of the Norton Family. Laurist would not have gone to obtain the secrets of glass manufacturing and deliberately provoked a war between the Commerce Alliance and the Telimbo Kingdom. As a result, the Commerce Alliance embarked on the path of military expansion because of the War of Glass and became the first major country in Galinthea.
Without the War of Glass, the Commerce Alliance could only make a move against the former Crisen Empire if they wanted to implement the nobility system. They would still maintain friendly relations with the various countries in the south. Laurist would stay in the Dawn Academy and continue to be a happy gold-medal instructor and part-time mercenary. He was not interested in whether Ciloas Island would become the territory of the Chikede Merchant Association, and Laurist would not become a noble of the Commerce Alliance. Without the experience of blood, fire, and war, it was hard to say whether he could become a Sword Sage. The development of this world would be completely different …
After talking for a long time, Viscount Penélope finally asked the question that all the captives were concerned about, "Your Highness Grand Duke Norton, may I ask how you plan to deal with the people of the Invincible Fleet?"
Laurist smiled and nodded, "Lord Viscount, I would have told you even if you did not ask. For the higher-ups of the Invincible Fleet like you, you can pay the ransom and go home after this war ends. I guarantee that the Norton Family will not make things difficult for you. We are all nobles, so we can naturally follow the traditions of the nobles. Just like what Grand Duke Fausta was worried about just now, I can also allow his family to redeem his family's armed Firebird Legion, but the condition is that they must know their place before the war ends and not stir up trouble while they are captives. Otherwise, if something happens, the Norton Family cannot blame us for not taking good care of them. Don't you think so? "
Viscount Penélope and the other nobles of the Commerce Alliance nodded in agreement.
Laurist put down his wine glass, "I plan to place the people of the Invincible Fleet, the Firebird Legion, and Grand Duke Fausta's two thousand guards on Ciloas Island until the war ends. After the war ends, the Firebird Legion and those guards will naturally be redeemed by Grand Duke Fausta or the Roffe Family. It's the same for the members of the Invincible Fleet. If the Commerce Alliance is willing to redeem them, I can release them, and I can also allow their families to pay for the redemption.
If they don't have money, then they have two ways to obtain freedom. One is to join our family's North Sea Fleet and work for us for five years. During these five years, their salary will be halved as their own ransom. The second is to serve our family for five years without any salary during these five years. However, I can guarantee that they will have enough to eat and wear, and will not deliberately mistreat them. Once the five years are up, they will be granted freedom.
"Of course, all of you do not have to go to Ciloas Island." Laurist glanced at the nobles present, "All of you can follow by my side and do your best to end this bloody war that has lasted for three years. This will also allow all the people who have been affected by this unfortunate war to return to a peaceful and peaceful life as soon as possible. As nobles, the Norton Family will naturally respect everyone's talent and power. All of you can carry weapons, and bring along two guards and two servants to take care of everyone's lives. After all, in war, conditions are limited, so I can only ask for everyone's forgiveness … "
This was the traditional practice of war in the Galinthea Continent. Generally speaking, after a noble became a prisoner of war, the treatment they received was far better than that of a civilian prisoner of war. As long as they did not escape, they could still maintain their freedom and be treated courteously in the barracks. If it was a land war, the captured nobles could even have their own horses, carriages, attendants, servants, and grooms. Now, the treatment Laurist was giving them was already the most generous.
Viscount Penélope and the other nobles of the Commerce Alliance could finally relax, because the war between the Commerce Alliance and the Andinac Kingdom was unusual. The second prince, who had been humiliated by the Commerce Alliance and enraged by their conspiracy, had publicly declared that he did not recognize the nobles of the Commerce Alliance. He reprimanded the so-called nobles of the Commerce Alliance as a group of lowly and shameless merchants who did not have the trust of nobles, lacked the sense of honor of nobles, and only knew how to play tricks.
Therefore, after the second prince had achieved a great victory in the night attack of the two to three hundred thousand troops of the Commerce Alliance in Armenia, he ordered the captive nobles of the Commerce Alliance to be beheaded in public, and thus started a bloody war with the Commerce Alliance that lasted for three years. The Commerce Alliance also returned the favor, and all the captive nobles of the Andinac Kingdom were killed as well. The bloody war that took place in the Mana Hill Plains over the past three years had caused a deep blood feud between the two sides.
Although the Invincible Fleet was an independent unit of the Commerce Alliance, they had heard of the tragic fate of the nobles who were captured during the bloody war in the Mana Hill Plains. When they surrendered, they had already received Laurist's guarantee, but they were still a little afraid. It was only now that they received another guarantee from Laurist that they felt relieved. After all, Laurist was not only the Grand Duke of the North of the Andinac Kingdom, but also the Sword Sage of the Kingdom. His guarantee was naturally more effective than His Majesty's.
By then, Duke Fausta had calmed down. He realized that without the light of the Sword Sage, this Duke Norton was still relatively easy to talk to. He was gentle and polite to everyone, and did not look down on their captive status. Although it was just a facade, at least he could tell that Laurist was not a narrow-minded person who would seek revenge for the smallest grievance. Furthermore, with Laurist's promise to treat everyone well, Duke Fausta stood up again after some thought.
"Your Highness, can I contact my family and urge them to send someone to discuss the terms of redemption with your family as soon as possible?" Duke Fausta requested.
"Hmm …" Laurist looked at Duke Fausta and began tapping his right middle finger on the table.
"Your Highness, I don't mean anything else. I'm willing to help you settle this damn war as soon as possible. However, as the head of the Roffe Family in the Chigda Kingdom, sometimes I have to do things that I'm not willing to do. I believe Your Highness can understand this. After all, we are not alone. The future and development of a family depends on us, the heads of the family, to make decisions.
The Chigda Kingdom is located in the south of the continent and has nothing to do with the Andenac Kingdom. Sending troops to help is just to fulfill the responsibility of an ally. Furthermore, our family's army has become the Norton Family's captive before they even disembarked. I want to write to the family in hopes that they won't panic because of this, lest the enemies who are eyeing the Roffe Family take advantage of us. At the same time, I want them to calm down and not panic and cause chaos in the family. "
Duke Fausta's explanation made the captive nobles feel the same way. They all nodded in agreement. If any family was like Duke Fausta, where even the family's armed army and himself were captured, it would be no less than an earth-shattering change for the family. If they didn't handle it well, it would have a very bad impact and even give the family's enemies a chance to launch a fatal attack. Thinking of Master Theringham's escape, the news of the Invincible Fleet's defeat and the Firebird Army's capture would quickly spread throughout the south of the continent. No wonder Duke Fausta was so anxious to communicate with the family.
Laurist pondered for a moment and finally nodded, "I understand how you feel, Your Highness. If it were me, I would be anxious as well. I agree to you communicating with your family. You can send two of your trusted men back to the Chigda Kingdom as messengers to deliver your letter to your family. Let me know when you're done writing the letter. I'll arrange a ship for the messengers to travel to the Chigda Kingdom. "
Duke Fausta was overjoyed. He bowed to Laurist and said, "Thank you for your kindness and generosity, Your Highness. If possible, I hope that the Roffey Family will never become your and the Norton Family's enemy. One lesson is enough."
Laurist laughed out loud, "Of course, Duke Fausta. The Norton Family is not a warlike family. We love peace. We go to war to stop the war, not to let it burn longer and more fiercely. Just like the war between our kingdom and the Trade Union that has lasted for three years, enough blood has been shed. It's time to end it. Come, come, come, let's have a toast. Let this damned war end sooner, let the bell of peace ring earlier, and let everyone regain their freedom and return home to enjoy peace and happiness. Cheers! "
The banquet lasted until midnight. The guests and the host were all enjoying themselves, and many of the nobles drank themselves into oblivion. Laurist, on the other hand, was very sober. It was the tradition of the nobles to treat the captured nobles with courtesy, but there were other reasons as well. After taking over Moronte City, it would be up to the nobles to stop the war between the Trade Union and the Andinac Kingdom and sign a peace treaty. Duke Fausta would be especially useful.
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