Pel's voice carried pride: "My Lord, I command a hundred men as if moving my own arm."
Just a centurion, look how smug you are, Green disdained inwardly.
In the previous life's game, he could easily command hundreds of thousands in battle.
Hey, now it's a real-life Age of Empires, it's different.
The perennially chaotic Crab Claw Peninsula is vast and sparsely populated; in terms of war scale, the Crab Claw Peninsula is indeed "rural." Battles here are merely equivalent to group brawls.
They are all guys who haven't seen big scenes; this is a problem.
Someone like Pel, who has fought for half his life and possesses command ability, is, to some extent, truly invincible in this region.
Worth being proud of, understood.
Green revealed a satisfied smile and continued walking with Pel.
Inside Lightly, after a period of strict management, it became clean, and various peculiar smells dissipated.
These subtle changes made Green's steps lighter.
Arrange for the kitchen to add a dish tonight, an occasional incentive.
...
...
A training ground in Whispering City.
More than twenty people were gathered here, each one tall and strong, standing like iron towers.
These were the most elite warriors of the House Clebber, capable of fighting in full plate armor.
The Mountain Barbarians called them Iron Skins.
Upon discovering Green and Pel approaching, everyone stopped their movements and bowed.
Green picked up a training wooden sword from the rack, swung it, and said, "Who wants to spar with me?"
Everyone was quiet, looking at each other.
Green randomly pointed at someone: "Hmm, yes, you."
A person who was initially reserved, as he walked, he relaxed and said very seriously: "Lord, my name is Follard... you might get hurt."
Green chuckled Lightly: "If you hurt me, I'll add a roasted lamb leg to your lunch."
"Fat and dripping with oil."
The burly man swallowed and nodded.
The news of the young lord sparring in the training ground spread through the castle at an incredible speed, and people gathered one after another.
By the time Green took off his outer robe and handed it to a servant, and stood ready again, a large crowd had already gathered, the speed of their convergence being incredibly fast and unreasonable.
"Oh oh oh!"
"Roar roar roar!"
The burly Follard, fueled by the temptation of the roasted lamb leg and the atmosphere of the crowd, was in high spirits.
The burly Follard was quick, but he didn't use his full strength.
The burly Follard had his small wisdom; if he truly injured the Lord, he feared the roasted lamb leg wouldn't taste good. He wanted to make the young, impetuous Lord retreat gracefully, saving face for the Lord.
Facing the burly Follard's downward sword chop, Green effortlessly parried it with a single hand, pushing forward. The burly Follard's body instinctively resisted the sudden force, but he still retreated three steps.
"My warrior, be serious and let me see your true strength."
"Oh roar roar!!"
"Follard, did Old Ken's tavern owner let you stay overnight last night? You're powerless now."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Go die for me!"
"Haha, powerless!"
...
The burly Follard's dark face secretly reddened.
Damn it, what are these bastards talking nonsense about? The Lord's strength is truly great, what do you know?!
The burly Follard stood firm, his hand gripping the sword hilt first loosened slightly, then immediately tightened again, entering the combat state honed in a sea of blades and fire.
Bang! Thud!
Dust rose, then dispersed, and the burly Follard lay on his back, looking utterly defeated.
I really tried my best...
Silence.
Cheers erupted!
Green maintained a reserved smile, gently waving to the crowd, responding to the enthusiasm of his people.
In Whispering City, the long-depressed atmosphere since the passing of Green's mother seemed to dissipate instantly.
No longer gloomy.
Pel was shocked by the strength Green displayed.
Pel's swordsmanship was seasoned, so he could naturally see that Green had not used his full strength and had easily defeated Follard.
Although Follard's swordsmanship was not as good as his own, his body was strong enough. If it were him, he would have to be careful and could only maintain a draw.
The Lord has grown up, becoming stronger and stronger. The House Clebber has great potential.
...
On a wooden platform beside the training ground, Surana and her second daughter Kalaiya stood together, watching Green's receding figure.
"My daughter, Lord Green is very strong. His children will be as sturdy as little calves."
Kalaiya's hair color was the common dark ink of the Crab Claw Peninsula, and as the steward's daughter, her slightly wavy long hair was well-maintained.
Kalaiya's height was close to one meter sixty.
Kalaiya's deep green eyes turned to Surana: "Mother, but... a bastard... I want to marry a valiant knight, not be a mistress who gives birth to bastards."
"Every maiden in Westeros dreams of marrying a valiant knight. But, my poor daughter, your status is not high enough. Wealthy knights will not look at you. Those who will are only down-and-out knights, or widower knights. Can you adapt to a life of poverty? Are you truly willing to serve an old man?"
Kalaiya stubbornly remained silent.
"Mother will not harm you. Love cannot sustain life; it will change."
Kalaiya turned away angrily: "My opinion doesn't matter at all then! Just strip me naked and throw me into the Lord's bedroom!"
"You..."
Surana was always seen as humorless by others, a walking ice sculpture.
All of Surana's tenderness was given to her most beloved daughter—Kalaiya.
Surana watched her sulking, blinked, took a step, and rested her soft chin on Kalaiya's head.
"If only it were that simple, your mother would be relieved."
"Yesterday, I probed, and it seemed I was rejected. I feel that Lord Green didn't fancy you."
Kalaiya broke free from Surana's embrace and met Surana's eyes, checking if she was joking.
I'm the prettiest in our village, Kalaiya thought, with a look of disbelief.
Are you serious?
Surana gazed at her daughter's beauty with satisfaction, reaching out to touch her daughter's cheek.
Skin as white as milk, soft and delicate.
"Your mother is just a steward. She has a place in House Clebber's territory, but her status is not noble. If your appearance were ordinary, mother wouldn't have to worry about this and that."
"As the years pass, you've blossomed like a flower. You will be coveted by various people, for various purposes. Sooner or later, your beauty will become your disaster."
"All of mother's years of experience tell me how cruel this world is. Among all the people mother knows, the only one who won't treat you harshly and can protect you is Lord Green."
Kalaiya's eyes reddened, and she hugged Suranatightly, feeling the familiar scent: "Mother..."
Surana stroked Kalaiya's hair and said: "Perhaps there are better people outside, but mother doesn't want you to leave, and she's even more worried about you being alone. Are you willing to leave mother?"
No, never... Kalaiya shook her head vigorously in Surana's embrace.
"Yesterday I mentioned you to Lord Green, but... Lord Green showed no reaction at all. Last night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep."
Kalaiya grunted dully in Surana's surging embrace.
...
...
Green spent a long afternoon busy in the blacksmith's shop, the carpentry workshop, and various other places. After dinner, he had a long talk with Pel about the Mountain Barbarians.
Finally, the day's work was done. Green relaxed in the hot water of a wooden bathtub.
Exhaling comfortably, Green thought about the most famous spear-woman in the territory he was scheduled to meet tomorrow—Aimu Pa Ruo, who was said to be a very skilled hunter with excellent archery.
Creak.
The sound of the wooden door opening was unusually jarring in the quiet night.
The footsteps were very light, not a familiar sound.
Green's heart stirred, and one hand already reached for the short sword leaning beside the bathtub.
Closer.
Green's dark brown eyes flickered.
The olive-green long dress was made of very thin linen, and the split neckline was very low.
"Forgive my intrusion, Lord Green."
"I am Kalaiya, Steward Surana's daughter."