It wasn't that Laing hadn't tried to recruit Astaire before. Half-elves were always arrogant, and he insisted that he wanted a knight's position.
Laing couldn't just give him a knight's position. Half-elves weren't strong enough to convince the others, and he hadn't done much either. If he became a knight right away, it would cause dissatisfaction among the other knights, especially since Astaire was a long-range fighter. The Brittany knights all believed that pious female believers should be in close combat. Charging with a spear and killing with a sharp sword was the best way to repay a lady.
So when they couldn't reach an agreement, Laing's attempt to recruit Astaire naturally fell through.
But now, Astaire and his half-elven companion had taken the initiative to ask for shelter, which made Laing very interested.
Why was he so respectful?
"Can we talk somewhere else, my Baron?" Astaire was a little embarrassed. He could clearly see the doubt and ridicule in Laing's eyes.
"Sure, let's go to the living room on the second floor to talk. Olica, prepare some delicious food. Don't let my friend feel wronged. "Laing ordered the Dark Elf maid to prepare some wine and food.
Five minutes later, in the living room on the second floor, the two half-elves, Astaire and Dais, sat down. Olica poured a glass of wine for each of them and served them white bread and baked bacon. "Please enjoy."
"Thank you!" Astaire felt that he had a good relationship with Laing. He used a silver fork to fork the bacon and ate it with the white bread. His friend Dais also followed suit.
It started to rain outside the castle again. The rain hit the wooden windows, making thumping sounds. The cold air blew into the living room, and the fireplace burned brightly. Under Laing's careful management, the castle felt like a home. The Baron himself sat on the main seat, waiting for the half-elves' reply.
"It's like this, Laing." After a moment of silence, Astaire finally said with a bitter smile, "You should know that last winter, there was a war in the forest. The shadow devils and the wood elves fought a fierce battle, right?"
"Yes, I know." Laing showed that he understood. He spread out his hands to show that he completely understood.
"Both Dess and I participated in this war. We joined the war as lone rangers." Astaire was a little angry when he said this. He angrily took off his recurve bow and put it on the ground to show Laing that he didn't mean any harm.
Seeing this, Dess also took out the composite bow on his back. This composite bow was filled with the power of Star Fire. Under the effect of magic, it could shoot arrows in a straight line, or it could shoot arrows that could pierce through tree trunks. "Hello, Sir Ryan. I am Dess, a former Forest Ranger. I serve the Forest Council and the Forest Lords of the Wood Elves. As you can see, Astaire and I are good friends who grew up together."
"Yes, I understand. And then? Since you served the Forest council, why did you come to my territory to seek shelter? "Laing raised his hand and motioned for Astaire and his companions to continue.
"As you know, Laing, whether it's the Wood Elves or the High Elves, they don't treat us well. They only think of us when they need us. When they don't need us, they treat us as outsiders. When we can serve the Forest Lords, we're Elves. When we can't create value, we're Humans." Astaire sighed and said, "In this war, Dais and I fought with our lives and killed an Orc Shaman. According to our agreement with the Forest council, we should have a position in the council with such a reward."
"The Forest council must have taken back their promise." Laing understood what the Wood Elves were thinking.
"That's right." Ranger Dais also sighed. Laing couldn't see his expression due to his hood and face cloth. "Since I became a ranger for the Forest council, I've been doing the hardest and dirtiest work. To assassinate an Orc leader, I could stay on a tree for three days. The Elves couldn't bear to kill the Dryads. But after all my contributions, they didn't even give me the treatment of a ranger."
"Thus, after the Forest Council went back on their words, Dess and I had a big fight with the elders of the Forest Council." Astaire added, "Because we killed the Orc Shaman, the Forest King and Forest Queen didn't punish us. But we couldn't stay in the forest, so I thought of you."
"So I'm a backup," Laing complained.
"Let's not talk about other things. I'm a peak Elite Forest Ranger, and I'm already very close to Legendary. Dess is even an intermediate Legendary Forest Ranger. His archery range can reach up to 300 meters. I'm a bit weaker, but I can shoot through plate armor at 240 meters without a problem. You just have to arrange a place for us to stay and give us better treatment compared to soldiers." Astaire said humbly to Laing for the first time, "We … don't have a place to go."
"Don't you have any savings?" Unexpectedly, Laing didn't agree. Instead, the Baron continued to ask questions.
These Half-Elves were too arrogant and thought too highly of themselves. Did they really think that they were irreplaceable? Laing was going to deal a blow to them.
"This …" Astaire didn't expect things to turn out this way. He hesitated for a while, and his face turned red and white. Then he lowered his head and said, "We don't use currency in the forest. We barter with other items, so we don't have much savings. I have a batch of goods that can be sold for money, but … Dais and I don't want to live a wandering life on horseback. We've had enough of that. So, please, Laing, my friend, take us in. If not … we can squeeze into a house and receive a soldier's salary."
"Yes, Sir Laing, please. There are many people in the forest who don't like us, but if you take us in, even the harshest Lord of the Woodland won't say anything," Dais also pleaded.
The two Half-Elves were very humble. Laing finally nodded. "Okay, from today onwards, you are my soldiers. I will arrange a new two-story house for you to live in. Astaire will be responsible for training the crossbowmen of the Zeon Archers Company. Teach them how to load, aim, and pull the trigger. Mr. Dais, you will have to work a little harder. Help me investigate the Bergerac Bandits' movements in the Chalon Forest."
"Yes!"
From today onwards, the two Half-Elves would settle down in Baron Zeon's territory. As Laing expected, the Wood Elves didn't say anything after knowing about this. On the contrary, Vieruodis and Dayrina even brought some food to the two Half-Elves. "Sir Laing, sorry to trouble you. You should know that their position in the forest is very awkward. It's not easy to deal with them."
"Is this how Aisley treats its own people?" Laing said unceremoniously.
"Sir Laing, Aisley isn't what you think it is." Dayrina tried to explain to Laing. "Aisley is divided into twelve territories. Not all the Dryads in the territories welcome the Elves to live together, and not all the territories are willing to trade with humans. In fact, even though the Elves have lived in Azeroth for thousands of years, many of the native Dryads in the forest still don't welcome us. The Lords of the Woodland have different attitudes towards the Half-Elves. Some think that the Half-Elves are our people, while others think that the Half-Elves are a kind of vicious creatures and a curse that should be destroyed."
This was normal. Laing had to admit that Dayrina's words made sense. Just like in Brittany, there were great nobles like the Duke of Montfort who hated all creatures except for humans, and there were also great nobles like himself who were willing to hire Dwarves. The Wood Elves could also have many opinions. Whether they were willing to accept the Half-Elves was their own freedom, and it was also the Wood Elves' freedom.
"I understand."
… …
It was December, and as expected, the King's side had made a move.
In the master's room, Laing, Suria, Katzenberg, Veronica, and Teresa were sitting together. They were discussing the information they had just received, while Olica stood behind Laing.
Laing sat on the main seat, and the female knight naturally sat on his right. Today, Suria was wearing a pure white pearl high-necked ribbed dress, showing her noble and elegant temperament. Her bright golden curls hung down from her shoulders, and her long legs were covered by the dress. Only a pair of white trip-strapped high heels and pink instep wrapped in grey stockings could be seen.
The female knight sat beside Laing and said in a negotiating tone, "The King's order has been delivered by a messenger. He's on his way to Zeon Hill and will arrive in the afternoon."
Whether it was Veronica or Katzenberg, both cast looks of awe and respect at Suria. In fact, there were many rumors that indicated that Suria would become Laing's wife.
Katzenberg, of course, supported Marchioness Suria. This butler was from the Winford Academy, and he had a strong Winford flavor. Of course, he was willing to see his mistress and Laing get married.
It was the same for Veronica. She knew very well that with her background and Laing's identity, it was absolutely impossible for her to become Laing's wife. Therefore, she also respected Suria very much. In their interactions, Marchioness Suria's generous, gentle, and unjealous attitude had left a deep impression on Veronica. The witch could guarantee that she could continue to stay by Laing's side.
So Laing discovered that his subordinate knights, his butler, tax officer, and even Veronica seemed to have been conquered by the female knight and had tacitly agreed to their relationship. Teresa was the only one who still hadn't figured out the situation. She had tried to sit beside Laing, but she found that the female knight had beaten her to it. Until now, she was still staring at Suria with annoyance and unwillingness.
Perhaps she was the only one in Baron Zeon's territory who hadn't figured out what was going on.
"Laing, even father has to consider the consequences of refusing the king's order. But you absolutely can't go to the desert. The last expedition to the desert seemed to have disappeared. No one has seen them again. Also, your trade with the wood elves and the dwarven blacksmith workshop you built are all built on your personal charm and prestige. The king has no right to make you give them away. This time, father, Sir Berchemund, and Sir Bodrick will all stand on your side!" The female knight brought this news, and she was a little uneasy. "Even so, the consequences of disobeying the king's order are still bad. You have to be mentally prepared."
"It's okay. I have a way to deal with it," Laing said casually. It seemed that the baron wasn't worried at all.
"Laing, what will you do?" Suria continued to ask. The female knight was very concerned about Laing, and her tone was even a little anxious. "You are the Lady's Chosen Champion, but there's nothing wrong with the king's order …"
"This problem isn't difficult at all. Suria, when the king's envoy comes in the afternoon, accompany me to see him. Then you'll know what I'll do." Laing nodded confidently and ended the topic.
In the afternoon, the kingdom's envoy came. The baron brought all his subordinates to the castle hall to receive the king's order.
Laing knew the envoy who came to announce the king's order. He was the father of the late Marquis Anci during the War of Chivalry, Count Gantt Bornoy Desmond.
The king's envoy raised his chin and said impatiently, "Baron Zeon Laing Macado? Please come out and accept the king's order! "
Laing didn't say anything. He lowered his head and walked in front of Bornoy, kneeling on one knee to show that he was listening.
"Baron Zeon and Laing Macado are to immediately stop trading with the wood elves and the dwarven blacksmiths. Expel the dwarven refugees from the country and stop the operation of the hospital. The king's envoy is to take over and stop exercising his authority as a baron. He is to immediately depart for the capital and await his next orders!"
"There's another important order. The king intends to form an expeditionary force to the Nikohala Desert. It is scheduled to depart on the fifth of next month. Laing Macado will be the general of the expeditionary force. Laing Macado, please prepare to depart immediately!"
Two consecutive king's orders, one more urgent than the other. The king ordered Laing to depart immediately.
After reading the king's orders, Count Bornoy looked at Laing with hatred. Even now, he still felt that his son's death was caused by Laing. He purposely dragged out his words and shouted angrily, "Laing! Hurry up and accept the king's orders! "
"I won't accept the king's orders, my Count." Leon didn't take the two parchments at all. The baron reached out and opened the two parchments, letting them fall to the ground.
The atmosphere in the castle hall froze. Whether it was Laing's subordinates or the female knight Suria, they all looked at Laing's actions in disbelief.
"What are you doing?!" Bornoy pointed at Laing's nose and roared at the baron in disbelief, "Do you know what you're doing? You're rebelling! Even if you're the champion of the ladies, you can't do this. Are you trying to rebel? "
"Now, immediately, pick up the king's orders and beg me. I'll pretend this never happened." Bornoy sneered, "Hurry up if you don't want to be declared a rebel, my Baron. You don't have much time left."
Laing also laughed. On the contrary, he stood up, "I won't do this because someone disagrees."
"Someone disagrees? Who? Who disagrees? " Bornoy sneered. The king's messenger and Baron Jean were at loggerheads, "This is Brittany. Who can go against the king?"
At this time, a cold female voice came from the back of the castle hall. A beautiful figure with endless divine majesty slowly walked out.
"I don't agree!"
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