Chapter 12: Indifferent Neighbors


    Everyone, get in formation! As everyone stood stunned, it was Battalion Commander Bryce who reacted first. You, go and gather all thepanies from the camp.


    The soldiers, thanks to over half a months training, quickly arranged themselves in the usual formation, gripping their weapons tightly.


    Bryce then assigned two people, ordering, Escort the Count back to the castle.


    Thismand snapped the dazed Paul back to reality.


    He loudly refused, No, I want to stay here.


    Bryce didnt have time to persuade him, focusing all his attention on the small boats on theke that looked like pirates.


    The boats on theke gradually slowed down and eventually stopped a considerable distance from the shore. It seemed the pirates had noticed the inds preparedness and knew it was not a good time to attack.


    Thus, a tense standoff began, a suffocating tension slowly spreading among the troops.


    It felt like a century had passed when suddenly Bryce raised his shield in front of Paul. Then, a whoosh was heard. By the light of the moon, they saw an arrow stuck in the ground not far ahead, with a white cloth attached to it.


    Following this, the small boats on the water slowly retreated into the distance.


    Once the suspicious boats hadpletely dispersed, Bryce loudlymanded, Go get that arrow.


    Outrageous! Everyone saw the Count furiously m a piece of cloth covered in tiny writing onto the table.


    It was now confirmed that the suspicious boats were indeed pirates, probably nning to raid the town. Seeing the preparations on shore, they resorted to shooting over a letter with an arrow.


    The letter read: Grayman, youd better be wise. We brothers are a bit short on fundstely, and the poor devils by the sea dont have much money, so wevee to you for a bit of drinking money. Considering youve just lost your father and govern a destend, we wont ask for much. But we do need around ten thousand in silver coins, or a few thousand will do in a pinch. The matter of pigs, cows, and sheep is up to you, but if you disappoint us, dont expect to live in peace. You have one week, and welle to collect. The price weve set is very reasonable. Just recently, we kidnapped someone from the Horn Bay Alliance


    The letter ended abruptly there, likely due tock of space, signed The iparably great, wise, brave, handsome, and all other ttering adjectives (though still insufficient), the Lord of the High Seas  Quik the First.


    After everyone read the letter, they exchanged looks. Battalion Commander Bryce stood up again to volunteer for battle: Our troops are well-trained now and look quite formidable. Theyre well-fed and strong, a significant improvement from thest time we fought pirates. Its time for them to see some action.


    The other officers nodded in agreement.


    Steward Ford objected, I think we should be more cautious. Why not negotiate first? If we can lower their demands and temporarily send them away, it wouldnt be a bad idea.


    Paul, clearly unhappy, felt negotiation was too humiliating. Besides, the recent military training had drained his funds.


    Have there been any responses to the call for help we sent out earlier? he suddenly remembered.


    Hearing this, Steward Fords face showed embarrassment. He instructed his subordinate to bring a thick stack of parchment to Paul, saying, Youd better see for yourself.


    He picked up one letter, My dear nephew Paul, it has been a long time since we corresponded. I am shocked to hear of your fathers passing. However, during these times of rebellion, I must guard my territory and dare not leave. I regret not being able to pay my respects in person The letter reeked of antiquated, pretentious noble rhetoric, full of empty phrases and avoiding a direct response to whether they would help or not. Paul nced over it and tossed it aside.


    Picking up another, it read, To the young heir of the Grayman family, if you agree to be my vassal and swear allegiance to me, dealing with mere pirates will be trivial This was opportunism at its worst. He threw it away.


    Then another, Dear Paul, its just pirates, why worry so much? Once theyve extorted enough money from themoners, theyll leave. Let the strong be strong, let the violent be violent, just guard Lakeheart Town from the castle  This sounded like it came from someone else who had also traveled through time. Discarded.


    Another letter stated, Grayman, what you are doing is inappropriate. As a non-violent person, I advise you to open your doors and tell the pirates, Come with your weapons of destruction, we will give you half our people to kill, and the other half will not submit Such peacemakers were present in every world, it seemed. Discarded.


    Yet another letter read, My dear brother Paul, its not that I dont want to help you. Recently, a damned royal representative came here, threatening and cajoling me. He took all the soldiers from my territory for conscription Paul nced mockingly at Hansel, who was attending the meeting, and threw the letter away.


    These scoundrels, all unwilling to help in a crisis, Paul realized after going through the pile of useless letters why Steward Ford advocated negotiating with the pirates.


    After much consideration, he finally agreed to the officers request to wage war against the pirates.


    Lord Count, gentlemen, first we need to grasp the pirates movements, so we need to disperse the cavalry for reconnaissance, especially along both sides of the Weiss River


    The pirates have just arrived, they couldnt have gone far overnight


    Call back twopanies from the new recruits training camp


    We need to leave some people to defend Lakeheart Town


    Everyone gathered around a medieval-style, disproportionately scaled map of the territory, pointing and discussing the battle n.


    The decision was made to leave the internal security troops and one infantrypany to defend Lakeheart Town. The remaining threepanies would assemble and advance along the Vis River towards the coast, seeking to settle the score with the pirates.


    After finalizing the n and arranging for increased patrols and vignce, everyone dispersed to rest.


    After a night of turmoil, the pirates divine assistance inadvertently confirmed that the Alda territory was indeed inconvenient for deploying troops. This shut up Hansel, who was to stay here for a long time. Without dealing with these brazen pirates who dared attack the lords residence, he couldnt expect a peaceful stay.


    Waking up, Paul received reports that pirate traces had been found. They hadnt gone far, likely looking to raid a nearby unguarded vige.


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