Our Family Has Fallen

No one would object to this. Withdrawing soldiers whose strength far surpassed that of an ordinary person wouldn’t lower the army’s average level. This was because the more mature an army became, the less it relied on heroism and the more it depended on collective strength.

It would even further inspire them to fight bravely, as others also aspired to join this secret unit.

”What’s the name?”

To consolidate an organization’s strength and deepen their sense of identity, the best approach was to give them a unifying bond—a name served this purpose.

Lance detested naming things. After a moment’s thought, he announced a name, one that also encapsulated his aspirations for these members of the Honor Guard.

”Their bodies are as iron, their hearts as steel. The first Honor Guard unit will be named the ’Heart of Steel’.”

Under Lance’s strong initiative, the matter was thus settled.

However, he was exaggerating. In reality, the ’Heart of Steel’ only had a quota of 100 men, and he would first recruit 30.

Those with particularly outstanding abilities, like Barrett, Sobray, and Barin, each possessing unique skills, were essentially guaranteed spots. The remaining positions would be filled by selecting truly brave elites from the entire army.

Boudica, Dismas, and Geralt would take turns serving as their instructors, training them in hand-to-hand combat, muskets, and bladed weapons, while Grendel would prepare Potions to help them unearth their potential.

This was also a benefit of being separate from the regular army. They wouldn’t be bound by rigid rules, allowing them to focus on developing their specific abilities. They would have more room for growth and could ultimately display greater strength.

Lance’s requirement was that these men possess at least Elite strength. Of course, they would receive strong ”support” from the Lord to significantly shorten the time needed to achieve this, as Hamlet couldn’t wait that long.

Hamlet had achieved a resounding victory in this battle, which also dealt their old adversary a significant blow. Yet, Lance could also sense a pressing crisis.

”What about those prisoners? Keeping them is pointless, and we’ll have to assign people to guard them.”

”Exactly. The money wasted on their treatment isn’t trivial, not to mention their food, drink, and other necessities.”

”...”

Everyone’s opinion on the prisoners was unanimous: get rid of them quickly so as not to waste food.

”We’re treating them so we can get a higher price for them. I’ve already factored in those costs,” Lance explained with a smile. ”Besides, they make for good practice subjects.”

He too had visited them in recent days. By treating these people, the medical personnel could accumulate sufficient experience handling all kinds of wounds. After all, who better to practice on than others? Surely not their own men?

Moreover, what was more important was that Hamlet’s forces hadn’t mistreated them; they had even shown a willingness to provide aid.

Once these men returned to Bastia, news of their treatment would inevitably spread. Consequently, when a real battle broke out, Bastia’s soldiers would be more inclined to surrender rather than fight to the death.

To conquer by siege is inferior; to conquer hearts and minds is superior.

However, his men were right. The prisoners needed to be dealt with quickly. Otherwise, keeping them around would be a nuisance, and Gold Coins were far more practical.

”Charge 500 Gold Coins for each Knight. For that Earl’s son, Alvin, ask for 10,000 Gold Coins. As for that Baron, start at 100,000.”

”Ah! One hundred thousand?” They had guessed Lance would set a high price, but they hadn’t expected it to be this high.

”Isn’t five hundred each too much?”

”A Knight’s Domain, even a relatively prosperous one with a population of over a hundred, might only generate 200 to 300 Gold Coins annually. And these are merely knights with titles but no fiefs, members of an Order of Knights. They couldn’t possibly afford such a ransom. That Earl’s son isn’t an heir, so by convention, he’s worth 2,000 to 3,000 Gold Coins at most. A Baron holds more value, but unless he sells his domain, he definitely wouldn’t be able to gather 100,000 Gold Coins quickly.”

As a former Knight himself, Reynard felt it necessary to clarify the rules of the nobility’s system.

But Lance, upon hearing this, didn’t care at all.

”They aren’t the ones paying. Count Bastia won’t be stingy with this sum. As for that Baron, I never intended to let him return. The price for him should be 500,000.”

Alvin could be released because a fool like him should indeed be sent back to cause trouble for the Earl. The Baron, however, was truly capable; if it weren’t for Alvin being a liability, he would never have been captured.

Catching this big fish was a stroke of luck; Lance wouldn’t be foolish enough to release him—that would be needlessly creating problems for himself.

More importantly, the Baron was Alvin’s mentor and the true commander of this Order of Knights. Many of these knights hailed from the Baron’s Domain and were trained by him. Controlling the Baron would offer significant strategic advantages.

”Actually, the focus isn’t on the prisoners, but on Bastia.”

Lance took out the captured Map and unfolded it in front of everyone, even managing a lighthearted joke.

”It seems Count Bastia is very concerned about Hamlet Territory, knowing more about it than I, its Lord, do.”

The others also saw the Map from Bastia. It covered an area extending beyond Bastia’s own borders but primarily depicted Hamlet Territory, with numerous towns and villages within that area clearly marked.

The ability to produce such a Map was enough to demonstrate the depth of their infiltration into Hamlet.

Similarly, everyone could discern Bastia’s covetous desire for Hamlet Territory. Its ambition to conquer Hamlet was unmistakably laid bare the moment the Map was unfurled.