Mercenaries and Adventurers

I haven't seen Mr. Kendo for a few days. Although he looks haggard, his spirit is very good at the moment. When uncles and nephews met each other, they naturally burst into tears and talked to each other.

Mr. Simmons Jr. talked about the abuse he received in the bandit lair and the process of being rescued afterwards, and Keel talked about some details.

Mr. Kendo also talked about the various efforts made by him and his family and partners from the chamber of commerce after Mr. Simmons Jr. was kidnapped. Compared with other efforts, Mr. Kendor said frankly that it is most effective to invite the Kiel warriors who are well-known in Kendall.

Mr. Kendor did not expect that Keir really ran into the mountain forest occupied by bandits just like this, and rescued his nephew and a large group of people at great risk.

Although some people left when fleeing, they were attacked by the bandit leaders who had been waiting after arriving at Bingxun pass. But no matter what, it was survived by Kiel and the people.

Hearing Mr. Simmons talk about the people's respective origins and encounters, Mr. Kendo, who did not expect the rampant banditry, said that he would contact other big chambers of commerce in Bingxunguan and find a way with them to change the current trade roads. Banditry is rampant.

Keir listened to them talking, but his mind was full of thoughts about how to eliminate those bandits.

Of course it would not work to rely solely on the annual militia payment in winter. After all, the bandits were not stupid. They knew that the militia would only send troops in winter when the fields were slack. Normally, unless Baron Kendall wants to fight, it is impossible to gather enough militiamen to work in agriculture.

Counting the time, those bandits avoided the militiamen who had paid up early, and hid in the mountains or neighboring counties. The militiamen in Kendall rarely chase bandit gangs deep into the land of neighboring counties. It’s not impossible, but these counties on the northwest border of the kingdom are sparsely populated. The nobles like to develop their own territories and don’t like to deal with each other.

Even if they work in the provincial capital, they will not have any friendly exchanges when they meet. This is very different from those aristocrats whose territories are sparse and mainly live in big cities.

This kind of aristocrat with a large territory and strong strength seems to those aristocrats who live in big cities all year round. Although they are all nobles and are higher than others, they still look very rustic. They have neither demeanor nor good education and etiquette. .

After saying this, Mr. Simmons Jr. asked the Chamber of Commerce staff to take the head of the bandit leader killed by Keel and let Mr. Kendo examine it.

The face of this old bandit had appeared before when he kidnapped Mr. Simmons Jr., and Mr. Kendo still had an impression of this face. With a smile on his face, he lightly patted the cheek of the bandit's head with the palm of his hand a few times, and asked the money manager of the chamber of commerce to fetch the valuable cash box.

The heavy small cash box was personally carried by the steward in charge of money in the chamber of commerce. Although this cash box is not big, the whole body is made of a very hard wood, and the key parts are made of steel. There are three locks on the front, Mr. Kendo has two, and the steward of the money has one.

The two used the keys in turn to open the metal lock, clicked, and Mr. Kendo took out five gold coins, then closed the cash box and locked it.

Arranging these somewhat heavy gold coins on the table, Mr. Kendo sat upright and pushed one gold coin to Kiel first: "This is the entrustment money for you to find the location of the robber's lair in Los Bagdong. Please accept it. With the exact location of their hiding place, this year's militia will be cleared and they will be hit hard, thank you very much."

Kiel put away the gold coin: "It's all good. To be honest, I didn't realize that the banditry here is so serious. Next to the bandit's lair, there is a corpse pit full of robbers. The corpses of poor people who were caught and then died. Hey, some corpses even spontaneously moved after death, which is really horrible and pitiful."

When Keir talked about the corpse pit, Mr. Simmons next to him couldn't help but tremble all over his body. Although they were not allowed to see it at the time, Mr. Simmons still watched it secretly.

Thinking about it now makes him shudder.

How could there be such a terrifying thing in the same world as them.

When Mr. Kendo heard the news, he muttered something. He looked at the trembling nephew sitting next to him. Seeing the appearance of this calm nephew, he believed that the young Keir was not lying.

Immediately afterwards, Mr. Kendo pushed three gold coins on the table to Kiel: "This is the reward you deserved for your heroic rescue of my nephew. Please accept it. This is our Simmons family and the Simmons Chamber of Commerce." Thank you." After finishing speaking, he patted his nephew beside him.

Mr. Simmons took a deep breath, looked at the opposite Keil and said: "In addition to these monetary rewards, your heroic deeds have won my own friendship, and you will be my lifelong friend. Keil, although you are young, But brave, strong, prudent, and with good thoughts in your heart, I am proud to have known a warrior like you."

Keir was delighted, and he was delighted to have met Mr Thrace-Simmons through a daring rescue operation. The other party bravely rescued other trapped people when he was rescued, which shows that the other party is a person of noble personality. He hesitated when facing other trapped people.

Keir reached out his hand and shook hands with Mr. Simmons Jr. across the table. He clasped his hands together and shook them a few times.

Then he put the three gold coins in front of him into the inner pocket of his clothes and put them away.

Mr. Kendo pushed the last remaining gold coin over, he patted the bandit's head on the table, smiled and said: "This is a proof of your bravery and strength, please accept it, if possible, this one is wanted The bandit bounty on the Internet, I will find a way to give it to you later. But I may need some time to use it to deal with some things."

Keir smiled: "If possible, please deliver the money to the Foxtail Chamber of Commerce in Kendall City, among them, the old Foxtail President and the steward Jamla of the Foxtail Chamber of Commerce are all acceptable, they are all people I trust After all, I still have things to do, so I might not stay in the city."

Mr. Kendo touched his well-maintained, elegant mustache: "Oh, I didn't expect you to know the old foxtail from the Foxtail Chamber of Commerce. He is a very powerful businessman."

Keir looked at the lobby of the Simmons Chamber of Commerce: "Actually, I think the Simmons Chamber of Commerce is also good. It is large in scale and very united."

Kiel's praise made everyone in the Simmons Chamber of Commerce around laugh, and Mr. Kendo waved his hand: "Oh no, it's still far from the Foxtail Chamber of Commerce. We're just taking advantage of the conditions of the Ice Flood Pass to do something. It’s just a small business, and it can’t be said to the high-level officials in the county, it can be called a scale.”

Keel thinks about it too. Although it seems that Bingxun Pass seems to be very profitable to do business, the Simmons Chamber of Commerce really doesn't have much to say to the powerful people here and in the county. When he was in Kendall City, the old President Foxtail was talking and joking with the priests of other churches, and even the steward, Jamura, was close friends with Crow Knight. In terms of relationship with the upper echelons of the county, it is indeed more than a star and a half.

If you think about it carefully, it's more than that.

The steward and president of the Foxtail Chamber of Commerce are all priests of the secret sect. Although they don't show off in front of outsiders, they are all priests of the secret sect who have mastered a certain god who doesn't want to show up.

As for the Simmons Chamber of Commerce, it seems that there is no religious inclination.

Keel felt that if the Simmons Chamber of Commerce wanted to grow bigger in the future, it had to turn to that church. Not only can you rely on religion to enhance the cohesion within the Chamber of Commerce, but you can also find a solid backer.

After all, nothing can be settled by spending money. Mr. Kendo was lucky enough to meet Kiel. If he could not find a reliable man, then either Mr. Simmons Jr. would be torn up, or the Simmons Chamber of Commerce would give in to the Pocket Hole bandits as their checkpoint. eyeliner.

In short, it is not a good result.

Of course, Keir will not talk deep. Mr. Kendo can control such a large chamber of commerce. He is naturally a businessman with rich social experience. He does not need Keir to remind him that he must have his own considerations.

After giving out the last gold coin, Mr. Kendo took out eight silver coins from his purse: "I have heard all about what happened yesterday, so I won't say anything more about your bravery, Kiel." , but you still have to be rewarded for defeating those reckless bandits. This is my personal wish, please accept it."

Keir moved eight silver coins over with his hands, thought about it, and then pushed four silver coins to Mr. Simmons: "The injured people did their best in yesterday's battle, and I will leave later Here it is, these four silver coins, please buy some things from Thrace or provide some help to the injured people, it is my heart. Please tell them, let them live in the ice flood pass first, revenge is not enough In a hurry. The days are still long, and there will definitely be many opportunities for revenge in the future. And I, Keir, take this matter to heart. Also, pay attention to your safety."

Little Mr. Simmons nodded and took the four silver coins without saying anything. This is not a lot of money, but it is still an important help to the injured people, some of whom have nothing.

Afterwards, Keir bid farewell to the people from the Simmons Chamber of Commerce, went to the blacksmith shop in Bingyuguan, maintained and overhauled his weapons and equipment, and returned to the hotel, using big bags to collect some of the scattered items he had seized. All metal weapons were heated and beaten into iron ingots by the craftsmen in the blacksmith shop.

This matter has been busy until night, and Kild has been staring at his seized metal weapons, for fear that if he does not pay attention, the working blacksmith apprentice will deduct some iron materials.

Although he had already weighed his metal weapons with the craftsman before melting the metal. But the craftsmen also said that when melting metal weapons, there will definitely be some wear and tear.

As soon as Kiel heard about the loss, he knew that he had to keep an eye on these things, otherwise any lack of iron would be counted as 'loss' by the craftsmen.

Because the quality of various seized weapons is different, and the manufacturing methods used are also different, and the metal materials used are even more different. The precious steel weighs less than two kilograms, and it is specially smelted separately. Others include more than ten kilograms of ordinary iron, and several kilograms of other metals.

Among other metals, some soft metals accounted for a lot, because the blacksmith's equipment in Bingxunguan was not good enough to separate these mixed metals one by one. So I had to smelt it together and let Kiel figure it out later.

After paying the two silver coins, Keir packed the metal ingots cooled by the Kendall River water into a large bag and returned to the hotel where he was renting.

After resting at night, Keir went out from the north gate of Bingxun Pass the next day, and returned to Kendall City after more than a day of trekking.

-----

Through the yellow light from a distance, Zhao Ji saw Kendall City not long before dusk.

He hurriedly pushed the trolley in his hand, and hurried back to the gate of Kendall City before dark. Kendall City is different from Bingyuguan, which has never had a curfew. When it gets dark here, unless it is the knights or members of the Baron Kendall family, it is impossible for anyone else to ask to open the city gate.

The guards guarding the gate were the ones he was familiar with.

Seeing Keir coming back from going out, everyone patted each other on the shoulder and talked.

Kiel briefly told them about the going out this time. Unexpectedly, the guards seemed to be very interested in Kiel killing the bandits at Bingxun Pass.

They all asked how much bounty Kiel had received from Bingxun Pass after killing the bandits. But I heard that Kiel said that he was afraid of causing trouble, so he didn't take any bounty. These guards all looked like Kiel had lost a lot of money.

Keir secretly complained about this, you are the guards of Kendall City, and you are backed by Knight Crowe and Baron Kendall. Naturally, you are not afraid of the bounty that the soldiers of Bingyuguan will embezzle and kill the bandits. But he is different, he is not well-known in Bingxun Pass, and at the same time, he does not know the people and officials in Bingxun Pass who can support him.

So in addition to the bounty and possible troubles, he chose not to cause trouble, and ended the matter with the attitude of who will give those bounties.

Jess, the calm captain of the city gate guard, agrees with Kiel's actions. The other guards didn't realize how bad the soldiers who kept the law and order in Bingxun Pass were.

And Captain Jess, who has been a guard for many years, has dealt with those people a lot. Every time, he was half-dead by those people, but there was nothing he could do. After all, those soldiers were not his guards, and he had no right to reprimand and train those soldiers.

Those soldiers were maintained by the government affairs office of Ice Flood Pass, and they didn’t spend a single penny from Crow Knight. Even Crow Knight had no management power over the soldiers of Bing Flood Pass, although he had the Ice Flood Pass in name. Off the name of the lord knight management.

But it is only a nominal power.

"By the way, Knight Crowe is now in the guard station that is not on the side of the city gate? I have something to ask Knight Crowe." Keel asked the guards.

Nodding, the guards all said that Knight Crowe was still teaching swordsmanship to the resting guards in the stronghold at this time. If there is something to ask Knight Crowe, they can bring Kiel into the guard stronghold.

Lean the trolley in the city gate hole and ask the guards to take a look. Kiel took out a tightly sealed bag from the supplies on the trolley, carried the bag and walked into the gate of the city with the bag behind the guards of Kolico. Guards made of rock are stationed at the stronghold.

The guard's stronghold obviously considered the factor of war, so its gate was very small, and after passing through the gate, one had to lower their heads and walk a ten-meter passage before they could really enter the stronghold.

The passages on both sides are scattered with small holes and observation holes that can be stabbed by long spears. If foreign enemies want to capture this place, many people will be killed or injured in this passage, and it is estimated that they will not be able to enter.

Over the inner hall of the stronghold is a rock-enclosed dome, which is not open to the outside, so all the lighting here depends on the lighting of lights and braziers.

The hall is mainly divided into two parts. The first half is a slightly empty place. According to the Kolico guards, this is where they usually gather people. Immediately adjacent to this clearing there were many oaken tables, on which many guards were already eating.

The guards stationed in the stronghold provided food. Keel looked at it and found that the food was dry and very filling.

Kolico led Kiel past the guards who were eating, and then through a gently sloping staircase to the basement level of the stronghold.

This is where the guards store their weaponry and train indoors.

Keir is an outsider, so naturally he will not be taken to visit the key weapon and equipment storage place. The Kolico guards directly lead him along the rock passage to the spacious indoor training ground.

Although it is said to be spacious here, it is after all an underground place built of rocks, so there are many whole stone pillars standing here and there, supporting the upper floor.

At this time, Knight Crowe was wearing a winter noble warrior uniform, holding a wooden stick and pointing to the posture of the guards practicing swordsmanship. Knight Crowe is very sensitive. When someone else walked into the training ground, he turned around and looked over. After finding out that it was Kiel, he threw away the wooden stick in his hand, told the training guards, and then fiddled with the deerskin on his hand. Thin gloves came over.

"Report to the captain! Civilian Joe Keel has something to ask you, will you meet him?" The Kolico guard actually only saw the actions of Knight Crowe, so he guessed that Knight Crowe knew Kiel, and he was at the gate of the city just now When Keir said he wanted to see Knight Claw, he asked in a very natural manner. Er is here.

"It's Kiel, you came just in time, come with me." Knight Crowe looked at Kiel's current body shape, and then noticed the tightly sealed bag in Kiel's hand, and pointed to the side Said.

Kiel nodded to the Kolico guard, thanking him for bringing him to Knight Crowe, and then hurriedly followed the knight to the weapons and equipment storage room next to the training ground.

Knight Crowe pushed open the door of the storage room, which was an office room for managing stored items. When a bored guard saw Knight Crowe come in, he immediately stood up and let Knight Crowe take a seat.

The guard glanced curiously at Kiel, who was following Knight Crowe. Before he could ask the knight, Knight Crowe let him go out first. He had something to say to the young man Keel.

When there was no one in the room, and the thick wooden door of the storage room was closed, Keel put the bag in his hand on the wooden table in front of Knight Crowe, opened the tightly tied bag, and poured out the pure element that was emitting a slightly khaki-yellow light inside. The crystal shards were displayed in front of Knight Crowe.

Knight Crowe took a deep breath and swallowed.

After blinking his eyes, he picked out a three-centimeter-sized elemental crystal with his fingers, and clicked on it facing Kiel.

Kiel nodded quickly, confirming that Knight Crowe had taken the elemental crystal, and then, under Knight Crowe's signal, tied the bag tightly and hung it on his belt.

Knight Crowe gently placed this elemental crystal between his eyebrows and moved it with a touch. A short touch made a small khaki-colored energy chain form on his face between his eyebrows and the elemental crystal in his hand.

Keir was quite surprised. In his opinion, Knight Crowe just touched the elemental crystal with the center of his eyebrows, and a line between his eyebrows and the elemental crystal was created that looked like a small lightning.

The connection between the two didn't disappear all at once, but this thing that looked like lightning but was actually an energy chain lasted for at least ten seconds.

In Kiel's sight, Knight Crowe's eyes glowed with a bright khaki-yellow light. It doesn't look like a human being.

At the same time, a thick layer of light erupted from Knight Crowe's whole body. This layer of light was close to the figure of Knight Crowe, illuminating the room very brightly.

Soon, this intense reaction disappeared, and the connection between the elemental crystal and Knight Crowe's eyebrows was also broken.

Knight Crowe laughed: "Very good, very good! Haha."

He stood up and patted Kiel on the shoulder, then carefully put the three centimeter-long piece of pure elemental crystal into a small metal square box that he took out from his chest and put it away.

The two walked out of the house. Knight Crowe let the guards waiting outside the house go in and continue working, and then let Kiel leave here with the Keliko guards who led him, and he continued to teach several guards sword skills.

On the way out, the Kolico guards still couldn't hold back their curiosity, and asked Kiel what he wanted from Knight Crowe.

Keir patted the bag on his waist and raised his eyebrows: "This is a secret."

Curiously looking at the bag hanging on Kiel's belt, the Kolico guard smiled and said, "Since it's a secret, then I won't ask."