Chapter 46: The Tavern in Saval City

  For the next few days, the three of them continued to focus on their journey. During the day, Johnny would tell stories about the wars of the Roman Empire and Musata, as well as anecdotes from medieval Europe, while praising Astrid's beauty and boldly expressing his affection for her; in the evening, Elal would appear beside them, telling stories about Odin and Annie, drawing Astrid's attention. Odara asked him why he always appeared beside them, at first Elal said it was on his way, but later changed his words, gazing at Astrid: "It's for you, my lady, for your beauty, this heavenly gift. When was the last time someone praised your looks?"

  It's daytime today! Jony glared at Ailuer with a fierce gaze, trying to kill him with his eyes. But Astrid blushed and her eyes sparkled.

  "Cough, this is my old friend's daughter, Mr. Ailar, please restrain yourself a bit." Odara couldn't help but warn him subtly.

  Ailar smiled apologetically and continued her story.

  Days go by one after another, let's put aside those who repeat the same actions and pull back the camera to take a look at the situation of this world.

  This world is actually quite monotonous. Compared to half a year ago, there are only some strategic changes in the south. The coalition forces of elves and dwarves have made rapid progress, occupying nearly a quarter of the territory of the Kingdom of Cilicese. However, it seems that the noble elves and the rough dwarves can no longer tolerate their differences, and the coalition's offensive has slowed down.

  As for the humans in the captured and occupied areas, they are doing well. The elves and dwarves are kind races, except for hanging those who "voluntarily fell into the evil camp" who participated in the slave trade, they did not harm the local residents at all. The local residents do not need to pay taxes due to their occupied status, and their days seem to be better off.

  In the south of the Second Empire of Velsara, the Solarian Church took over the city of Tabri as a savior and took over the city of Reitz with the reason of presiding over justice. The church, which had taken over the two cities, began to recruit temple knights, collect tithes, and joined the ranks of southern lords in a very high-profile manner.

  Tannias was still locked in a fierce battle on the border with Musata, and Kanyana's ships were still drifting at sea.

  We zoom in and return to these people looking north.

  "This is the Duchy of Sanil," Odara said, pointing to a city in the distance. "This is the domain of the Duke of Sanil, that's Nihar City, I remember it. The strange name left a deep impression on me."

  Joni gazed at that castle with a strange name. From this distance, the city walls looked low and the castle was not high either.

  "Is this the Duke's territory?" he asked.

  "Indeed." Odala nodded, seeing Johnny's disbelieving face, and followed his gaze to look past him, understanding in her heart, "Idiot, that was just a subsidiary castle of a viscount under the duke!"

  So it was. However, viscount?

  "Does the viscount also have a fief?" Jony asked in surprise.

  "That's right. The viscount's fief is very small, and it's almost all attached to the duke or marquis' territory." Odala explained.

  Nihac City was just a small town on the border of the kingdom. The three Jony passed through the desolate city and continued on their way. At this time, it was still early, and their destination was the residence of Grand Duke Saniel, Saniel City.

  Sani City is the administrative center, economic center, military center and cultural center of the entire Sani Duchy... In this feudal era, where the big boss is, the center is.

  Unlike the Empire, the Duchy of Vilsa generally weakened the authority of its vassals and established its own rule throughout the duchy. After all, the imperial family's miserable situation was obvious to everyone, and almost all the Grand Dukes had participated in coups to overthrow the Emperor, only differing in the number of times they did so.

  Sanil Grand Duke is currently the largest vassal of the Second Empire of Wirsa, and the Duchy of Sanil is also the most powerful vassal state in the Second Empire of Wirsa. Located in the center of the empire, adjacent to the emperor's directly affiliated territory, whether it is business or politics, Sanil has an unparalleled advantage. The current emperor was enthroned with the support of Grand Duke Sanil and lasted for thirty years without falling. It can be seen that its strength is strong.

  The three paid their respective gate taxes and passed through the high gateway into Sanier City.

  Clean and tidy stone road, bustling streets, and endless merchant teams. The unprecedented prosperity of Tabriz City deeply attracted the lively Astra. On her way to the tavern, she couldn't stop looking around, glancing at the jewelry store on the left and the weapon shop on the right. Joanie felt embarrassed walking with her, this is like a country bumpkin entering a grand garden, girl, can you be more reserved?

  The wine shop is not far from the city gate.

  Three people sat down in a tavern after booking a room, and a voice that was all too familiar rang out again: "Gentlemen, what a coincidence."

  Damn it! Joanie really wants to slam the table and scold. What is this kid, a street performer or a pickpocket? How can he stick so close behind them without making a sound?

  "Ah, it's Mr. Eral! What a coincidence! You're really going in the same direction as us!" Astriel exclaimed with feigned surprise. Odin and Annie's story wasn't over yet, and she couldn't get enough of the handsome guy.

  Jony still had a hungry expression on his face, while Ailar acted as if he hadn't seen it.

  Audra was getting impatient with the handsome young man who kept appearing and disappearing around him. As a former mercenary, he had a strong sense of crisis awareness. What did this kid want, always getting close to him and his group?

  As for the question of "what he wants to do", Johnny already has his own answer. This scumbag is smiling and being overly polite, making it clear that he's after Astrid! Looking at Astrid listening intently with her hands clasped together, Johnny feels heartbroken. What a good innocent girl, how did she get deceived by this pretty boy...

  "Excuse me for interrupting you, Mr. Ailar," Odara said, "but what do you want by following us?"

  A'ral was taken aback, then smiled and said: "I'm also heading north, we're on the same road anyway."

  "Then tell me where you want to go and we'll take a different road."

  "Eh...?" Eral's face turned a bit unsightly, he thought for a moment, then turned back to gaze at Aisre, "Actually, it was for you..."

  "Halt!" Odara interrupted him impatiently, "You said that last time, did you think I'd believe it?"

  Aiyar felt a bit embarrassed: "You see, I told the truth, but you don't believe me. Is it really hard to understand that I'm moved by such a beautiful girl?"

  Audrey didn't say anything, just looked at him.

  Ailar bravely met his gaze.

  Joni and Astrid watched from the side as the two people's eyes met. Joni suddenly felt that the scene in front of him seemed to have a somewhat BL-like feeling. He looked at Astrid.

  Fortunately, she is not an otaku girl, he thought.

  Seeing Ailar didn't back down, Odara found it somewhat uninteresting to stare at him like that. So he took a more direct approach: "Do you dare swear an oath to Odin?"

  "This is what I dare not." Eral said lightly, then raised his right hand, "I, Eral Heirnrich, swear to the great Odin that... well, I'll tell you the fact."

  For true believers of God, this move is really ruthless.

  Ailar's experience is also a good story. As a somewhat famous bard, he wandered around the south of the Second Empire of Velsa. He performed in taverns, he performed at the manors of lords, and he performed on the streets. Like all charming bards, he also performed on the beds of those noblewomen, sometimes before and sometimes after.

  When you do too many things, it's easy to get into trouble. If Odala goes to the Mercenary Alliance to accept a mission at this time, she can see a lucrative all-level mission with an exquisite portrait attached - undoubtedly, the person in the portrait is Ailuer.

  "So I wanted to go back to Osadin to avoid the storm, but it's really not safe for one person to travel alone, so I followed behind you guys. I thought, all of you are kind and good people, seeing a familiar face being attacked, definitely won't just stand by and do nothing, right?"

  I might just help them chop you up! thought Johnny.

  Estelle's face was shocked, as if sighing at the fall of this handsome young man. Anyway, Joanie saw such an expression and felt very happy in her heart.

  Audrey had no good impression of this kind of lecherous guy, his face had already cooled down: "I think things are clear now, sorry, you're not welcome here."

  Ailar struggled: "What if I pay you? Hire you to escort me back to Ocedin?"

  Audra shook her head: "No way, I won't take on this kind of business. As an Osadinian, you should know how Osadin's descendants feel about your kind of loser."

  Of course I know, even if I didn't, I could tell from the two words "defeated generation".

  "Ai Lar sighed: 'Can't you bear to see a compatriot die in a foreign land like this?'"

  "If it were a compatriot, I wouldn't have the heart; but for a traitor? I'd be delighted." Odara nodded.

  Ailar lowered his head, seemingly brewing something. Then, he raised his head and looked into Odara's eyes: "I think you should protect me."

  Odala was startled by his confidence: "Why?"

  Ailar said slowly: "Actually, I am not just an ordinary traveling poet."

  Jony heard this and felt like he had seen this scene before. Where was it...

  "I am the second son of the Kingdom of Osedin's royal family, Heinrich. My father is General Albert Heinrich, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army." Eral said with a sigh of relief, leaning back and looking at O'dara.

  It's really familiar. As Joanie exclaimed that this person's identity is not simple, she felt more and more that the scene was familiar, as if many TV dramas had this plot.

  Audrey listened to Ailer's words, not surprised at all, which made Ailer a little flustered. Audrey looked at Ailer and asked curiously: "Northern Army Commander? Isn't it Marshal Spenser Friedrich? When did you switch?"

  Ailaer's heart was bleeding. How long had this middle-aged man been away from Osaetin?

  "Five years ago." he replied.

  "Oh dear, I've been away from home for too long." Odala sounded a bit melancholic, then looked at Eral with great interest, "So, you're the General's second son?"

  "Not bad," Eral said with some pride.

  "And you think I should protect you just because you're a big shot's kid?" Odara continued, with a hint of a wicked grin.

  "Yes." Eral's confidence wasn't as strong as it was a moment ago.

  "What if I refuse? What will be the consequences?" Odara still smiled.

  Ailar listened to Odara and, not being foolish, he already knew that the person in front of him couldn't be intimidated by his father's status, but some things once done had to be seen through: "If you agree, when we arrive at Osedin my father will naturally reward you; if you refuse and I encounter some danger, my father might... have some displeasure."

  Joni looked at Odara after hearing Ailar say that. He wanted to make his own suggestion, but thinking of Odara's serious words that day, he didn't dare speak up and could only look on like that.

  What he meant was, let's get rid of him? It has to be admitted that Johnny still had some antagonism towards such arrogant and powerful people, although he used to be a rich man himself.

  Audrey first chuckled and then laughed more and more, as if she had heard some funny joke.

  After a long time, under the puzzled gaze of three people, Odala slowly withdrew his smile: "You stinky brat, listen up. Don't think I'm some country bumpkin who's afraid of noble titles; nor do you think I'm some poor devil who's blinded by rewards. If Heinrich Marshal knew his son had become such a ridiculous minstrel, how do you think he'd react?"

  Odala seemed to know everything, and Ailar dared not speak again.

  "Heinrich's second son, a son without inheritance rights, a young man who left Osadin to cause trouble in the south, a northerner who has strayed from Odin's teachings. Hmph. What do you think will happen if you really return to your father?"

  Aila's cold sweat came down.

  "Besides, I left Ossetia over a decade ago and don't know if the Northern Army Commander's affairs are still normal. When you heard the surname Ludwig the other day, didn't you think of anything?"

  Ailar thought for a moment, then suddenly raised his head and stared at Odara, his eyes somewhat terrified.

  "It's fine as long as you understand in your heart. Don't worry, since you're a child of the Heinrich family, I'll definitely protect you. However..." Odara smiled and pointed at Aestria, "From now on, don't bother her again, got it? If so, I might consider helping you cover things up."

  "I understand, thank you, Mr. Ludwig."

  Joni and Astrid listened to the two people's conversation with some inexplicable confusion, but in the end they were clear about two things: first, Elar would never again try to curry favor with Astrid; second, he would follow Joni.

  But what exactly happened? Joanie glanced at Odara. This familiar guy seemed to be more than he appeared.