...Finally, a contract with some real difficulty!
Don Quixote said excitedly:
"If what he says is true, the 2 Silver Stags finder's fee is no problem."
He paused, then added:
"Tom, have that man set a time and place. We'll meet him."
Seeing Don Quixote's interest, Tom breathed a sigh of relief.
Three months had passed, and they had finally found a valuable lead that caught Captain Don Quixote's interest.
It made the three of them feel a little less useless.
Thinking this, Tom hurriedly smiled:
"Captain, I'll head back to the tavern right now. That freelance knight should still be hanging around there."
Don Quixote nodded, then took a Silver Stag from the coin purse on his desk and handed it to Tom, smiling:
"Tom, thanks for your hard work. Go have a good meal!"
Tom didn't stand on ceremony. He grinned, quickly took the Silver Stag, and said:
"Hehe, thanks, Captain!"
Standing beside Don Quixote, Adele watched Tom leave and the door close again.
She turned to look at Don Quixote, who was clearly in a good mood.
Adele took small steps behind Don Quixote and began to gently massage his shoulders, smiling:
"Congratulations, My Lord!"
Don Quixote closed his eyes and enjoyed it for a moment, then suddenly reached back and pulled Adele into his arms.
After a moment of indulgence, he whispered:
"So, how are you going to congratulate me?"
Sensing Don Quixote's excitement, Adele blushed and panted:
"My Lord, have mercy, the door isn't locked tight!"
"It's fine, no one will come in."
"Mmh..."
...
...
...
Adele fell into a deep sleep.
Don Quixote, still full of energy, thought for a moment before getting up and draping a thin fur over his shoulders.
Then he sat back at the desk and picked up a stack of parchment to read.
The parchment was covered in information.
Some of it was details from the original story and plot that occasionally surfaced in his memory.
Some of it was valuable information he had gathered recently.
Of course, he recorded this information in Chinese, which he was already becoming a bit rusty in writing.
He wasn't worried about anyone else reading it and figuring things out.
Just a moment later.
Don Quixote's finger stopped on a particular sheet of parchment:
"Barrowton, also known as Barrow Town.
"Located at the confluence of two rivers flowing south to the Saltspear, on the eastern edge of the Barrowlands of the First Men.
"Bounded by the Rills to the west, White Harbor to the east, the Wolfswood to the north, and the Neck to the south.
"Surrounded by hundreds of ancient First Men barrows. Legend has it that the largest barrow there, the 'Great Barrow,' is the tomb of the 'First King of the First Men' or the 'King of the Giants.'
"There are also cursed folk legends: these First Men barrows drain the life force of usurpers!
"In ancient times, the Barrow Kings fought long wars against the Kings of Winter.
"Eventually, the last Barrow King bent the knee to House Stark.
"His descendants, House Dustin, became vassals of House Stark.
"House Dustin follows the Old Gods. Their sigil is two rusted longaxes crossed with a black crown.
"The current head of the house is Barbrey Dustin, born Barbrey Ryswell, daughter of House Ryswell of the Rills and widow of Willam Dustin.
"She was once offered by her father to Brandon Stark.
"But due to Rickard Stark's ambitions, Brandon Stark was betrothed to Catelyn Tully.
"With no other choice, her father prepared to offer her to Eddard Stark.
"But because of Catelyn Tully again, it fell through, and she eventually married Willam Dustin.
"During Robert's Rebellion, Willam Dustin ignored his new wife's objections and rode to war with Eddard Stark, dying at the Tower of Joy.
"Eddard Stark brought back only Willam Dustin's horse; his bones remain forever in the Red Mountains of Dorne.
"Because of this, Barbrey Dustin harbors a deep hatred for Eddard Stark.
"And for this reason, during the War of the Five Kings, she sent only a small force south with Robb Stark."
After reading through this information repeatedly, Don Quixote folded the stack of parchment and estimated in his mind:
"From White Harbor to Barrowton, it should take about 5 to 6 days on horseback."
————
The next day.
A low-end tavern in White Harbor.
A freelance knight in worn mail sat casually at a wooden table, looking at Don Quixote and smiling:
"I'm Ian. You must be the Captain of that Bloody Hand Mercenary Company Tom talked about."
Don Quixote smiled:
"Greetings, Ser Ian. I am Don Quixote."
Ian was very pleased with Don Quixote's respectful address. His smile widened as he said loudly:
"Ser Don Quixote, although your face looks young.
"Your build tells me you're a knight with good skills. Besides, Tom has been singing your praises.
"Ser Don Quixote, so I trust you!
"Give me 2 Silver Stags now, and we can go find that fish merchant immediately.
"Hehe, don't think I'm being greedy. Without me, you'd never get hired by that merchant!
"I've worked for him quite a few times before he trusted my reputation.
"It's not easy for an ordinary freelance knight to catch the eye of a big merchant like him!"
Don Quixote didn't care how much of Ian's speech was bluster and how much was truth. He said directly:
"No problem. I trust Tom's judgment too."
With that, Don Quixote took two Silver Stags from his purse and tossed them to Ian.
Ian caught them hurriedly, then bit the coins.
He smiled quickly:
"Tom was right, Ser Don Quixote, you are a trustworthy man!
"Let's go. I'll take you to find that fish merchant."
Don Quixote smiled and signaled Tom and the other two to follow.
They hadn't taken more than a few steps.
Ian, walking at the front, suddenly pulled a woman in thin white silk, who was pouring ale for a customer, into his arms.
Ian groped her as he laughed:
"Nova, you little slut, wait for me to make some money and come back to fuck you."
The woman, clearly used to this, cooed:
"Ian, you bastard, you'd better keep your word. Don't let my money flow into some other slut's pocket!"
"Hehehe, I'm going to make a killing this time." Ian laughed proudly:
"I guarantee I can satisfy your appetite."
The customer the woman had been pouring ale for was also a knight in worn mail.
He looked at Ian and sneered:
"Ian, if you die out there, I'll bring the girls you like to your bones and clap for you.
"So you can't rest in peace."
Ian turned his head, spat a large glob of spit onto the ground, and said coldly:
"The man who wants Ian dead hasn't been born in the North yet.
"You coward, you only dare to stay in White Harbor. Hahahaha.
"Who knows how long it's been since you stepped foot outside this city. You've probably forgotten what your own hometown looks like.
"Pah, coward!"
...