Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

On the walls of Alandler City.

The new Double-headed Eagle Banner is fluttering.

The Farmer Soldiers, armored and armed, are led by the Imperial Knights, forming orderly queues while patrolling the city walls and streets.

For now, Losa has no plans to send these Farmer Soldiers back to the fields of Hebron.

They are to undergo a new round of military training in Alandler, even relocating their families to settle down.

Patrol Officer Ulm reported to Losa: "Sir, the wealthy merchants and landowners of Alandler are clamoring to see you and pledge their loyalty to you."

Losa smirked: "They want me to protect their properties."

"Tell them there's no need to pledge allegiance to me, but they must maintain the military supplies of the entire city over the coming period. Should food or water become scarce, I'll send people to take from their homes."

Losa has always held little goodwill toward these local magnates.

They are like the gentry class of the Eastern lands, consuming the most while paying the least taxes, as only they have the means to evade them.

The so-called wealth of the people, all hidden in the hands of these "people."

"Once I have sent people to clean up the land and distributed the rightful fields to the 'Converts', Alandler will truly be under my control."

Losa leaned against the Lord's throne cushioned with silk, contemplating quietly.

Jeanne entered the castle, saying: "Sir, the messenger sent by Zane is waiting outside."

"This Zane seems determined to negotiate peace—so brazen during provocations, but as submissive as a chicken after a beating."

Losa frowned.

This was already the third wave of messengers sent by Zane, showing his genuine intention to seek peace.

The messenger, clothed in a white robe, entered and respectfully presented the gift box: "Count, I bring a box of exquisite seven-gilled eels and a bottle of rare fermented grape juice from my master, the esteemed Zain Aladdin."

"Ha."

Losa picked up the food box, seeing inside a dozen entangled eels with quite abstract appearances.

Seven-gilled eels are a noble delicacy; Albion's Henry I was said to have died from diarrhea because of his love for this dish.

Jeanne took the food box down: "I'll cook it for you."

"Why doesn't Zane come to meet me himself, does he lack even this much courage?"

Losa's expression turned cold, his long-standing power, coupled with his Dragon Bloodline, suddenly imparted a chillingly intense sense of fear in the messenger.

"Count, your authority is so high that anyone witnessing it would surely show signs of awe."

The messenger said sincerely.

"Count, please name a price; as vassals, we shouldn't ruin the peace treaty established by King Baldwin and King Saladin over a mere woman."

Losa raised a finger: "Tariq is a talent, worth three hundred Suludes, you have no objection to this, right?"

The messenger thought briefly, then agreed: "No problem, sir."

Losa continued: "Additionally, you must return Lady Eleanor of Languedoc to me; she is a pure maiden, and I am well aware that you have surely tainted her chastity. Therefore, a further compensation of five hundred Suludes will be required."

The messenger slightly opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

"No, this is extortion!"

"Count, how can you lie with a straight face, claiming this promiscuous lady is a chaste maiden? To my knowledge, she got involved with your vassal Reynard years ago!"

Losa raised an eyebrow: "Yes, you can consider this as extortion."

"Go back and tell your master, once war is ignited, it's not easily extinguished. Alandler City is now my military post, from where I can dispatch troops anytime to raid your villages, or lead them into Eira Port while your master sleeps."

"If he refuses, I'll wait here for him to assemble his troops and face me in battle."

Seeing the indifferent expression on Losa, the messenger couldn't help but feel overwhelmed: "Alright, sir, we're willing to pay this 'chastity fee'. Moreover, my master is willing to offer a thousand Suludes to regain control of Alandler City, as long as you withdraw your troops; Lady Eleanor and the wealth will be delivered."

"Alandler City is my territory; I won't consider handing it back to the Heretics."

Losa said firmly.

In truth, Zain Aladdin's proposal is quite generous; if it wasn't for occupying Alandler City, a complete plunder combined with the thousand Suludes as compensation would indeed fill one's coffers.

"It seems your sincerity for peace is quite limited. Were all your receptions merely a mockery of us?"

The messenger's face suddenly calmed down.

He realized Losa never intended to negotiate sincerely from the start.

"Because I'm trustworthy, once words are spoken, they won't be easily taken back."

Losa stared at the messenger, whose face appeared somewhat twisted from anger: "At the very least, Zain Aladdin is not worthy of being deceived by lies."

The messenger said solemnly: "In that case, we only need to redeem Lord Tariq, right?"

"Exchange hostages, tomorrow you bring Lady Eleanor, and I'll return Tariq."

"Agreed."

The messenger gave a perfunctory bow and withdrew.

Jeanne, beside him, inquired: "Aren't you afraid they'll prepare in advance?"

"There can be a thousand days as a thief, but no one can guard against a thousand days of thievery," Losa replied.

Alandler is like a blade piercing the throat of Eira Port.

As long as this city remains in Losa's hands, Eira Port will never be safe.

Zain Aladdin must either rally troops from all sides to besiege and conquer Alandler City.

Or endure the constant risk of being beheaded by the sword of Damocles hanging above.

Losa does not believe he can endure the latter; ultimately, this isn't some sinister scheme but a grand strategy.

He simply has no choice.

"These seven-gilled eels are really plump, Prajna says she'll cook them, they've been sent to the kitchen now."

Jeanne licked her lips, slightly excited: "This is my first time tasting Miss Prajna's cooking."

Losa asked with some doubt: "Do these ugly, alien-like creatures taste so good?"

Jeanne replied earnestly: "Of course, this is one of the most popular dishes in the medieval court! A lord who cannot afford seven-gilled eels is a pauper."