In the Middle Ages, people drew cards to be promoted to nobility.

"It seems that our noble Prime Minister has hit a wall in front of the nobles and knights of Montreal, and instead treats me as a soft persimmon?"

There was not much anger in Lothar's heart, but she felt like she was watching a clown.

Although, he did look a bit like a soft persimmon when he used his own money to provide housing for the soldiers and also paid for the hotel fees.

"Hans, put on your iron gloves and come with me."

Hans's face was full of smile: "Sir, are you sure you don't want to take action yourself? This is a great opportunity to gain reputation."

Hans was specifically told to wear iron gloves. The reason was very simple.

He planned to use the simplest, crudest and most effective way to resolve conflicts as a nobleman - duel.

Perhaps for other people, dueling is still a very dangerous matter. Even if the strength is superior, no one can survive a duel forever.

The war horse stumbles and is stabbed through the weak point of defense by the opponent. Or when the horse falls, its head falls to the ground and its neck is broken in half.

There are too many surprises.

And no one can guarantee that their opponents will be weaker than themselves.

That's why the knight's duel is called a trial in which "the Heavenly Father decides who is right and who is wrong", because luck is indeed very important.

Lothar shook his head and said: "In terms of personal bravery, I have accumulated enough reputation. After all, the honor of killing two werewolves was taken by me alone. If I take action, they will not dare to challenge. "

Hans complimented: "Your Excellency is awesome!"

Lothar couldn't help laughing: "Hans, your compliments are terrible."

A group of well-dressed knights surrounded Amalric and stood outside the "Oak and Hazel" inn.

They were facing off from afar against the heavily armed royal knights and sergeants on the opposite side.

Lothar's reputation in the Knights is rising day by day. For these newcomers, the disdain for his grand leader in their words and deeds has already made them extremely angry.

"Don't be impulsive, it's all up to the leader!"

Pepin, who had been promoted to "Knight Commander" and "Flagbearer", was very prestigious among the knights. He spontaneously restrained the other knights and was no longer as reckless as before.

On Amalric's side, several knights looked at the excited crowd across from them with worried expressions: "This Baron Lothar is the grand leader of the Royal Knights. Will he agree to your request?"

"What a bullshit captain, a young man with no hair at all. Lord Amalric wants him to vacate this hotel just to give him face."

Guy of Lusignan said loudly: "Yes, there is an unclear relationship between Lothar and Sir Humphrey's death. As for the testimony of the local nobles and knights? Who knows if they colluded Get up and want to seize the territory of Montreal while Count Leonard has no time to care about this place?"

Guy was sure that Baron Lothar would never dare to offend his powerful brother at this time. He even wanted to please his brother, hoping that he would say a nice word for him.

"You mean, I'm still a sinner?"

The knights and sergeants blocking the inn slowly separated.

Lothar strode out.

He looked at the condescending knight on a strong horse.

In the history of his previous life, he sat on the throne of Jerusalem because of his marriage to Sibylla. Later, he became the ruler of Cyprus by relying on Richard the Lionheart.

A lucky, but stupid guy.

It would be a disaster for everyone if such a person steals a high position.

He raised his voice and asked: "Answer my question, Guy!"

Guy was not to be outdone and said: "Isn't it right? No one can clear away the suspicion of the death of you and Sir Humphrey without a verdict. As for the idea of ​​evil gods causing trouble? It is even more ridiculous!

There is only one true God in the world, and that is Heavenly Father! Where did this evil god come from? "

"In that case, let Heavenly Father decide whether I am guilty or not."

Lothar took off his glove and smashed it against the opponent.

boom--

Amalric was caught off guard and was hit in the face by the heavy chain mail glove.

He said angrily: "You are crazy, Lothar, I am the palace minister, how dare you do this to me?"

The gloves slipped from his face and fell to the ground.

But he didn't dare to reach out to pick it up, because taking it meant that he accepted Lothar's challenge. Although he was pampered in the palace, he had no confidence in his own bravery.

Guy's face turned red and he cursed: "You bastard, a barbarian who ran out of the Germanic mountains and forests. You rely on your own bravery and despise the law. This is a blasphemous act of treating the sacred duel as an excuse for your crimes." !”

Lothar said with some humor: "If I remember correctly, the person who often relies on his rich dueling experience to throw gloves at others seems to be you? I am also curious, how to change this person who always throws gloves at others? The bad habit of losing gloves? You should be experienced, can you teach me?"

Guy's lungs almost exploded with rage.

Ever since he was cleanly defeated by the blacksmith from Gaul, his reputation for bravery seemed to have been trampled by countless feet.

Some of his former defeated generals began to ridicule him as not even a blacksmith's opponent.

Lothar simply tore open the scar buried deep in his heart and sprinkled salt on it.

"That's enough, Lothar."

Amalric feels that he is riding a tiger now.

The glances from all around, the knights who were intimidated by his title of palace minister in the past and were full of compliments and reverence, now looked at him as if they were looking at a clown.

He was convinced that if he just retreated, the team's popularity would be completely lost.

From now on, one can only imagine how many of these knights will remain under his command.

He also plans to make some meritorious deeds in this battle. Even if it is some trivial meritorious service, Queen Mother Agnes can work hard and grant him a fiefdom.

If the knights were all gone, who could he count on?

Do you expect those conscripts who were originally mostly hooligans and didn't even have a full set of weapons?

"Forget it if you don't dare to challenge me. I know it's too difficult for you to challenge me to a duel. Hans, it's your turn to throw your gloves at our palace minister."

Snapped--

This time, Amalric was on guard and subconsciously turned his head, but a pair of heavy iron gloves still hit him squarely in the face.

"Asshole!"

"You are simply too deceptive!"

"Mr. Palace Prime Minister, did I deceive you?"

There was a hint of coldness in Lothar's voice, and the majestic pressure brought by the dragonborn's blood swept across like a storm.

He walked forward step by step.

The expressions of the knights on the opposite side changed slightly, and their mounts retreated uncontrollably.

"You want to seize the hotel that I rented at a huge cost, and seize the resting place that I prepared for my crusaders who went through a bloody battle and killed hundreds of Mamluk cavalry, but now you are trying to bully you. Already?"

"I'll duel with you!"

Guy shouted, unable to bear it any longer.

"It's a good thing that you weren't completely destroyed by those few punches."

Lothar didn't know whether he said it with approval or ridicule.

Amalric quickly added: "It is up to us to decide the day for the duel. We will have to travel in the future and we will be exhausted. It would be too unfair for us to duel now."

"When do you want it?"

Amalric thought for a moment and said, "At least a week later."

This is obviously a pretext.

A week later, the army was probably facing off against the Saracens at the foot of Castle Kalle. There was no time for a duel.

But Lothar did not refuse, he just nodded: "Yes. But, distinguished Lord Palace Minister, I have to warn you one thing, restrain your subordinates, do not conflict with my knights, let alone let them I’ve seen you seize the homes of civilians, even pagan civilians.”

Amalric's face changed slightly. He never expected that Lothar would even think of this.

"Can pagan civilians be considered human beings? Do we warriors who fight for God not even have the right to occupy the houses of pagans? Baron Lothar, do you regard yourself as the supreme and unequivocal king? Do you rely on that? What order do I have?"

Lothar smiled and said: "You can give it a try. I don't mind trying it with your rabble before fighting the Saracens."

"My Lord Prime Minister, you have embezzled so much money in the city defense army, but you just gave some of it to the soldiers who lacked food and clothing. Are you still unwilling? I can't imagine that the brave Frank knights in the past could be like this. He soon became as greedy and miserly as the Jews."

"You are slandering!"

In the end, Amalric retreated in despair.

He was like a clown brought in a gypsy caravan, or an actor in the court to please the nobles, performing a comic farce at the city gate and in front of the hotel.