Farewell to Baron Goffrey.
It is already late.
The four are preparing to return to the manor.
In the sky, stars are dotted, and the deep blue sky seems very close to the ground, the stars almost within reach.
No wonder people say this is the place closest to God.
Even at dusk, the temperature in the Holy Land remains high, the ground absorbing a large amount of heat during the day, like a hot griddle, baking people's soles.
"Prajna, are those your kinsmen?"
Furinjira pointed at the side of the road, a merchant fleet with high bun crowns, black hair, and eyes.
Prajna didn't bother to answer her.
She belongs to the Ghost Race, how could she have kinsmen in the human world?
Losa explained to Furinjira: "They are Song people, merchants from the Eastern Empire——similar to the Flame Summer Empire in your world."
He carefully observed this merchant fleet.
They had burly guards wearing Zha Armor and Leather Armor, servants in short, tight clothing, congregating around a few men in luxurious red silk garments.
They frowned tightly, discussing something.
Losa listened closely for a while, but found the surrounding environment noisy, coupled with the heavy accent of these Song people, he really couldn't discern what they were saying.
The official language of the Song people should be Kaifeng dialect, but it is quite different from the Kaifeng dialect of future generations, if listened closely, it might still be barely distinguishable.
But listened from afar, it's truly like chickens talking to ducks.
"Forget it, let's go."
Losa nudged the horse lightly, and the group brushed past the Song merchant fleet.
Now, encountering the Song people couldn't bring him much benefit.
Perhaps by relying on his understanding of Song Empire's history, coupled with language advantage, he could more easily gain their trust.
But at most, he could access a channel to buy slightly cheaper silk, they couldn't offer Losa more benefits.
For instance, the papermaking technique is long spread, if merely improved, it might not require others' assistance.
As for printing, he already knows it.
The compass, he knows the principles, and currently he hasn't organized a Merchant Fleet, with no need to explore the New Continent.
As for gunpowder... not to mention the power of gunpowder in this era is uncertain, these merchants surely wouldn't know the formula of gunpowder.
Losa at least knows, 1 saltpeter 2 sulfur 3 charcoal, although knowing this is meaningless because these are molecular ratios, not weight ratios.
He doesn't belong to this era, and his foreigner's face destined he can't return to the Song Country, to be a pillar of Zhao's kingdom.
Just don't know, whether the Tatar Iron Cavalry, like the Whip of God in history, will still arrive as scheduled.
According to the history of his world, the Tatar Iron Cavalry's western expedition should be a few decades later, right?
Lost in thought, ahead, a team of cavalry galloped by.
The attendant at the front of the team waving a red-bottomed Jerusalem Cross Banner, holding an Oval Shield, loudly shouting for pedestrians to make way.
They surrounded a noblewoman riding a white horse, wearing an Arab Headscarf, her face covered with black gauze, galloping forward.
"It's Princess Sibilla!"
On the road, people with insight quickly recognized the badge, Princess Sibilla is not only a princess but also a Lady with territories.
The Jaffa Port passed by earlier, is one of her territories.
So she is Baldwin IV's sister!
Previously in the great hall she seemed to have little presence.
Losa just had this thought.
At this moment, the veil on her cheek suddenly fluttered in the wind, Losa instinctively caught it in his hand.
In a fleeting moment, he saw Princess Sibilla's delicate brows and facial features.
Yet she did not stop, continued to gallop away, only leaving a scent of fragrance.
"Tsk, the move is quite deliberate."
Furinjira snorted lightly: "Losa, she seems to have some interest in you, did you meet this princess in the palace today?"
"Met, but I didn't pay much attention."
Losa handed the veil in his hand to Hans beside him: "Keep it well for that lady, return it for me next time we meet."
"How do you feel?"
Furinjira's face was filled with smiles, but Losa knew very well, her eyes already revealed strong dissatisfaction.
According to her nature, now she probably already thought about how to turn Princess Sibilla into a mummy, right?
Prajna's gaze remained as calm as water, just glanced at him lightly, then continued forward riding on.
Losa shook his head: "Far from you and Prajna, really not so good, and also a widow who has given birth, I can't have thoughts about her."
Actually, still very beautiful.
It's just that the daily interaction with Furinjira and Prajna has raised his standards too high.
Unless it's the Empress of the Eastern Empire, Ragaya, so it's both beautiful and able to bring a dowry of an empire, otherwise he's not eating this soft rice.
Moreover, the reason this princess is in demand is because she has a son with her ex-husband, who is the first heir after Baldwin IV's death.
But what if Baldwin IV doesn't die?
Losa is quite sure, if he really draws a five or six-star Medical Attendant, it's not impossible to truly cure leprosy.
Actually, he has a way now.
It's just asking Furinjira to give him an Initial Embrace.
But Furinjira wouldn't possibly be willing, this clean-loving girl, would have to be PUA to such an extent, to humble herself, to suck a leper's blood, then inject her precious blood.
Losa would not make such a request either.
No matter how much Baldwin IV valued him in the future, he could not make such a decision.
Because he despised the idea of sacrificing others for one's own benefit the most.
Seemingly satisfied with Losa's reaction, the sound indicating increased intimacy rang out again. However, just as Losa suspected, there was still a threshold he hadn't crossed, and the intimacy remained in the indifferent range.
Do I really have to be in a life-and-death crisis again?
I want to play with magic too!
Losa walked to the front of the group and glanced back at Prajna.
The two gazed at each other for a long time.
Only then did Prajna ask mildly, "What's the matter?"
Losa's lips curled up slightly without speaking—if it weren't for the system prompt for increased intimacy, I would have really thought you didn't care at all.
Losa hesitated for a moment but still asked, "Prajna, what do you think? Does Princess Sibilla really have feelings for me?"
Prajna shook her head, "I can't see through people's hearts, it's not my area of expertise, perhaps Furin can manage it."
Furinjira said wryly, "The fool still has some insight, I can indeed sense it, the smell of a lustful harlot, I'm all too familiar with it."
Losa showed a worried expression, "This princess is at the center of Jerusalem's current chaos, it would be best not to provoke her."
Princess Sibilla could only choose her husband from the King's Faction, the Noble Faction, or the Empress Faction.
Originally, Sibilla should choose Guy of the Empress Faction as her husband, after all, Sibilla was also a member of the Empress Faction.
Moreover, although Guy of Lusignan was just a Gaul Knight without succession rights, he was the brother of Amalric, the chief Minister of Military and Political Affairs of Jerusalem.
Losa really couldn't understand why Sibilla would want to provoke him?
Even if she wanted to ally with the King's Faction, she should go find Belian.
He was just a newcomer.
Seemingly seeing through Losa's mind, Furinjira smiled and said, "But when love comes, nothing can stop it, you'd better be careful."
"I will." Losa nodded in deep agreement.
The King's Faction was in decline, even with the support of the Ibelin Family, if he wanted to marry Sibilla and become the Regent King, he would certainly face numerous challenges.
Not to mention, he didn't want to marry Sibilla at all.
"Belian is a good choice, Hans, please make another trip, give this veil to Lord Belian, and ask him to pass it on to Her Highness Sibilla."
The Ibelin Family was Losa's most important political ally. If he could seize this opportunity, it would be beneficial for him as well.
Hans showed a look of helplessness.
He glanced at the two legendary and epic-level figures, sighed inwardly, "Master, you really brought me along just to do the legwork and errands for you, didn't you?"
The group returned to the manor.
Tonight, Losa unusually showed generosity, treating all the leader's people to a feast.
Roast whole lamb, wine, bread, fruits, vegetables, butter, all supplied without limit.
During the long sea voyage, many among the leader's people had developed feelings for each other. With the influence of alcohol, they danced along with the rhythm.
Tver was somewhat dejected.
Among the leader's people, there were seven men and six women, and he was the odd one out, with no one liking him.
...
The bonfire illuminated faces of joy.
Losa sat by the bonfire, smiling as he watched this scene.
Yet he felt a sense of melancholy deep inside.
Would these lively smiling faces turn into indistinguishable corpses lying in pools of blood in the next battle?
He stood up, unwilling to watch any longer.
He who cannot be stern cannot lead; sometimes he felt that he was not suited to be a Commander-in-Chief.
He patted Tver on the shoulder, "Train well, women will come in due time. By then, I'll host the wedding for you."
"Master... I..."
All day he had endured ridicule from his fellow villagers, and the girl he loved disdained his cowardice, which had long left him with too much grief.
Now, comforted by Losa, he immediately burst into tears.
"Don't cry, what do you look like behaving like this."
Losa's tone became more severe, solemnly saying, "Persist on the path you want to take, whether it's farming or joining the army to fight. Once you choose, don't regret it."
Tver sniffled hard, speaking in a sobbing tone, "Master, I've made up my mind: in the future, I'll take up arms to defend your honor and dignity. I won't disgrace you anymore."
"I believe in you."
Losa stood up and walked towards the small building.
Furinjira sat in the darkness on the tree branch, silently observing the scene, with an indescribable expression.
Prajna continued to stand by the window, gazing out at unknown distances, but whenever her gaze occasionally swept over, it would always pause on Losa.
…
It was night.
Various suppressed sounds of breathing emanated from the manor.
It was clearly midsummer, yet there was a breath of spring in the air.
In the room, Furinjira's voice filled with charm echoed, "Master, if you want."
"You can come over to me."
Losa looked at the cool gaze of Prajna and painfully covered his own head.