A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

Standing on the tower, Rufus’s expression changed in an instant.

A mutiny in Robert’s army should have been good news, but it was anything but now that he was the target.

He recognized the young nobleman leading the mutiny. It was Robert of Belem, son of his father’s Minister of State Affairs, Roger of Montgomery—the most infamous villain in Bayeux.

If his brother Robert lost control of the army, and it fell into the hands of Belem, his own fate would be grim indeed should Belem’s forces breach the Tower of London.

Just then, a WHOOSH cut through the air, followed by a low cry of pain.

A crossbow arrow struck Earl Fitz in the shoulder.

The unexpected arrow drew the attention of everyone present.

Even Robert, who was being ”escorted” away by several knights, was startled.

Eric’s eyes narrowed, but before he could find the culprit, the ”culprit” made himself known.

It was a wail of pain, followed by the sound of familiar curses.

Not far away, Odo, the Earl of Kent, was viciously kicking a Genoese Crossbowman. The crossbowman could only curl into a ball on the ground, taking the blows as he shielded his head with his hands.

”Who told you to act on your own initiative?! You arrogant fool! You dare ambush a noble Earl?! Don’t you know the Earl of Hereford is Duke Robert’s cousin?! You actually tried to kill him! You lowlife! Who gave you the nerve?!

Speak! Are you a spy sent by the other side?!”

Odo kept kicking the Genoese Crossbowman as he ranted.

The surrounding knights and other mercenaries were suspicious of Odo’s words, but not knowing the true situation, they didn’t know what to say.

”I...”

The Genoese Crossbowman seemed to want to say something, but before the words could leave his throat, a longsword pierced it. Bright red blood sprayed out, spattering the cheek of a nearby knight.

The Genoese Crossbowman’s life was over.

Odo pulled his longsword from the Genoese Crossbowman’s neck, wiping the blood from the blade with his fingers.

Just then, Odo’s and Eric’s gazes met. Odo looked away with disdain, completely unconcerned.

Although it was a despicable act, Odo’s unauthorized move added fuel to the fire of Eric’s plan.

This made Rufus begin to believe that his brother, Robert, had truly lost control of his army—that it was genuinely starting to mutiny.

Rufus, on the tower, hauled Earl Fitz up and threw him to the guards behind, motioning for them to take the Earl back to the dungeons.

”Damn it...”

Rufus gritted his teeth, looking down at the teeming army below the tower.

Breaking Robert’s siege with his own forces was now all but impossible. The Tower of London housed sixty knights at most, along with about three hundred infantrymen.

Robert’s side, however, had at least a thousand knights, and, within sight alone, upwards of three thousand mercenaries.

But even with such a vast disparity in forces, the situation was not entirely hopeless.

After all, England was still his and his father’s home turf. No matter how large his brother Robert’s army was, they were ultimately just rebels, like rootless duckweed. The longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for Robert.

As long as Robert hadn’t captured both him and his father, the war would not be over, and they would not be the losers.

Therefore, he would never consider surrender.

Rufus could console himself with these thoughts, but the guards of the Tower of London could not afford the same comfort.

Because of Rufus’s status, capture for him meant imprisonment at worst. But the guards would not be so fortunate, especially since most of them were not knights.

The conventions of war protected knights and nobility, not common soldiers like them.

The guards were far more panicked about the current military situation than Rufus.

He was just about to head down the tower stairs.

”With such overwhelming odds, we...” a guard muttered to himself.

”What are you trying to say? I can’t hear you. Speak louder.”

Rufus stared directly at the guard.

His sharp gaze instantly forced the guard’s words back down his throat. The guard shrank back and lowered his head.

Suddenly, Rufus laughed. He placed both hands on the guard’s shoulders, trying to make his tone more amiable.

”Relax, I don’t mean to chastise you. We are in this together. In a way, we are all brothers. You can tell me whatever is on your mind.”

”I... I... I have n-nothing...” the guard stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.

”I remember those who are good to me. I remember those who are bad to me even more clearly. And I remember those who play both sides most clearly of all! I do not wish to be a cruel man, for that would be to defy the will of God.

But when it comes to traitors, not even King David would show them mercy.

I, son of the great Conqueror William and rightful heir to the Kingdom of England, would rather suffer the fires of Hell in the next life than fail to deliver justice upon him in this one.

I promise you, that traitor’s end will be more wretched than that of Judas, who betrayed Jesus only to have his own bowels burst open!”

Rufus snorted, then turned and entered the tower’s stairwell.

Once his figure disappeared, the remaining guards breathed a collective sigh of relief.

However, before they could return to their posts, a somewhat unfamiliar knight emerged from the stairwell.

In an instant, the guard who had spoken moments before collapsed to the ground, warm blood splashing onto their cheeks. Before the other guards could react, the knight tossed each of them a money bag.

Each bag contained ten shillings—a sum equal to two months of their salary.

”A spy has been discovered within the Tower of London garrison. Effective immediately, all guards are to maintain high alert and supervise one another. If anyone is found speaking recklessly and shaking the morale of the troops, the one who discovers him shall report it to the Knight Commander. After judgment, the offender may be executed on the spot. The discoverer will be granted all of the executed man’s property, and his wife and relatives will become the discoverer’s slaves.

If the offense is severe, His Highness may bestow an additional reward of one pound of silver upon the discoverer.”

Having said this, the knight picked up the corpse of the guard he had just slain and hurled it from the tower.

”And let me remind you of one more thing. Ten years ago, King William conquered this kingdom in less than a year. He has crushed every rebellion and enemy attack with ease. He has fought in countless wars against overwhelming odds, and the final victor has always been him.

Prince Robert now controls a mere handful of cities. Back in the day, the Danes occupied all of York and Northumbria, yet what was the result? The Danes were sent scurrying back home.

And I shall remind you, King William, like Prince William, despises traitors above all else.”