A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

”Who is Ansebel?”

Robert looked blankly at Arno and Belem beside him. Both shook their heads, equally confused.

”It’s normal for the Norman Nobility not to know my name. After the war ten years ago, King William marginalized me. My family comes from the North Sea, and my father served the great Lord of the North Sea, Emperor Canute.”

Ansebel took off his citizen’s cap, revealing gray-white hair. Beneath where the cap had been, a long, narrow scar snaked across his forehead, quite conspicuous.

”How did you recognize me, unknown Cultivator? Besides the citizens of Luton City, very few people on Britain Island can identify me now.”

”It was just a guess. But verifying that guess wasn’t difficult, so I was fortunate enough to give it a try.”

Eric shrugged.

”Arno called you the citizen representative, and you’re wearing the insignia of the wool merchants’ guild. You should be a wool merchant, but you don’t smell of wool in the slightest. I’ve dealt with wool merchants before. Even the most successful ones carry that scent.

”You have a long, narrow callus in the web of your palm. The guard of a Viking Sword is unique, and those who use one for many years develop such a callus from it. And you just so happen to speak Danish.

”Some Anglo-Saxons also speak Danish, but the only Anglo-Saxon noble left is the Earl of Northampton. Given your age, I really couldn’t think of anyone more likely than Ansebel.

”Of course, up to that point, it was still just a guess. So I wrote a letter and gave it to the castle’s garrison. And then, they actually surrendered. Clearly, those soldiers had no desire to fight at all. They thought we had reached some sort of agreement with you, and that the condition of our deal was their elimination.

”The earth around this castle is all fresh. It’s only been tamped once, so it was obviously just recently completed. A fortress like this can be easily taken by tunneling. Holing up in such a castle is a very unwise move.

”And as the one who proposed attacking this castle, and as the representative of Luton City, you failed to warn Arno that the castle was newly built...”

Before Eric could finish, Arno interjected, ”He said the castle had no food and that we should just besiege it for a few days. He offered to provide supplies for free, and even various services from the city. I figured, since we weren’t doing anything else anyway...”

”Clearly, he wanted to slow us down. If he had enough time, he would have contacted your father to lead an army to encircle and destroy us,” Eric continued.

”Using his own castle and soldiers to attract our attention? That’s absurd,” Robert cut in.

’Would a Dane be so loyal to my father?’

”No, it’s not his castle or his soldiers. Your father sent men to build the castle, and the garrison was also sent by your father to watch over and restrain him. The middle-aged man leading the garrison was probably the Sheriff your father appointed.

”Your father despises the English and is wary of the Danish. The Danish dealt him a humiliating defeat in the north just a few years ago.

”He would never fully trust a high-ranking noble of Danish descent, especially when that noble is the former mayor of London City,” Eric said, looking at him with a faint smile.

”You are wise, unknown Cultivator. The Church today is a mess, filled with ignorant Priests. You, however, are like a breath of fresh air, giving me a tiny sliver of faith in this corrupt institution.”

Ansebel didn’t look at Eric. He busied himself with straightening his sleeves, seeming to pay no mind to Eric’s words.

Robert was about to order the Knights beside him to seize Ansebel, but Eric stopped him.

Robert actually hated having his orders interrupted, but in light of what happened last time, he decided to work on this flaw. So, he didn’t speak or question Eric.

”Your lord’s objectives and your current actions are not aligned, are they?”

”Was that also a guess?” Ansebel’s expression changed slightly as he raised his head to look at Eric.

”Of course.” This time, it was Eric who looked away.

”Indeed. I have defied my lord’s wishes. My lord hoped I would provide assistance to Duke Robert. No offense, Duke Robert, I know many of the Nobility support you, but a good number of them also hold the opposite view.

”Therefore, I felt my lord’s decision was too hasty. I saw no need to gamble what little property I have left on it. It seemed better to curry favor with your father, just like the Earl of Northampton.”

Ansebel glanced at the Earl of Northampton, who was standing behind Robert.

Because Robert was afraid the Earl of Northampton would run his mouth, he had kept him captive. The Earl’s forces were mainly in his other fief, Northumbria, which was too far away. Since he had few troops in his Northampton Earl’s Domain, Robert had no need for him to go back and rally soldiers.

”However, it now seems that with this unknown Cultivator’s assistance, it might not be so difficult for Duke Robert to seize the throne. If you don’t mind, I can offer you my help.”

”So your lord is...”

Robert was getting a little dizzy from the long, riddle-filled conversation between Eric and Ansebel.

”The last descendant of the Wessex family, grandnephew of King Hardicanute and King Edward, His Highness Prince Edgar. He hopes to earn Duke Robert’s friendship in exchange. Of course, my help is not all he offers.

”If you are interested, he is willing to lead the armies of Scotland on a swift march south into England, unite with the various English rebel forces in places like Northumbria, Mercia, and Wales, and strike directly at London to aid you.”

Ansebel looked at Robert and gave him a slight bow.

”Wait, I’m a bit confused. You’re saying this Prince from a former dynasty wants to conquer England for me? What does he want?”

”Duke Robert need not worry. Prince Edgar has no intention of competing with you for the throne. He only hopes that you will promise to grant him the traditional core territories of Wessex after you become King, and he will serve you as your Vassal.”

”This...”

Robert looked at Eric, who was beside him.

”What’s the harm in trying? The more allies, the better, right? Besides, the Barons of Wessex don’t support you, and Edgar is only asking for the core territories of Wessex. Once you’re on the throne, everything can be reconsidered.”

Seeing Robert’s hesitation, Ansebel added, ”To atone for my previous actions, I am willing to personally offer you some help. I have an inside man in London City who could prove useful.”

”An inside man?”

”Yes. After all, the mayorship of London is a hereditary position in my family. Your father couldn’t have driven all the Danish and English out of London.”