154: Chapter 92 Together_3 154: Chapter 92 Together_3 Returning to the first-floor hall of the residence, the two once again met Leon and Kovis, who had just finished their three-day ordeal.
“It’s good you’re both at home,” Leon said, greeting his companions after taking a sip of the cool boiled water a servant had brought him.
Did Baron Eriv agree to recall our able-bodied men from the fortress?” Azeryan asked about the most pressing matter at hand.
“Don’t worry, Lord Eriv not only released the men from Longka and Platon, but he also awarded me with five hundred gold crowns as a bounty.
We won’t have to worry about money for a while,” Leon indicated the small chest filled with gold coins to his friends with a smile.
He then informed Azeryan of the gains from his journey, one by one.
In total, eighty-six armed civilians were recalled from the Eastern Fortress.
Thirty-seven came from Longka, twenty of whom were skilled archers.
Forty-nine came from Platon, and what’s more, eight soldiers from wealthy families in the territory knew how to ride.
Now, the Urian Bows and warhorses of the territory could be put to use.
Together with the sixty or so able-bodied youths from Selva today, the three territories could form a force of around one hundred and forty people in total.
Speaking of which, Leon asked Lena to bring over three more chairs and let his standing friends sit down.
They began discussing with Azeryan right there in the hall.
The six excellent Urian Battle Bows in the warehouse, Leon would give to the finest hunters among the Longka Archers; as for the remaining archers, he would buy some Orland Longbows to equip them later.
But to be honest, even the Orland Military Longbows he had seen on the frontlines seemed to Leon to be nothing more than sticks with strings attached, crude in craftsmanship and a complete waste of such fine wood.
Compared to the Urian Recurve Bows of the Kantadar Cavalry, there was a gigantic difference in materials, craftsmanship, and actual combat effectiveness.
The soldiers of Dawson’s Kantadar Cavalry might have been despicable people, but the weapons they wielded were indeed exquisite.
As for the surplus cavalry armor after outfitting the Heavy Cavalry, Leon planned to spend some money to have Brian the Blacksmith repair a damaged Chest Armor, combining it with spare parts to assemble another set.
He would select ten relatively experienced veterans from the territory, who had seen battle and blood, to wear ten complete suits of armor.
The remaining Light Infantry was somewhat shabbier, as Leon could not afford to provide Chain Armor to every lightly armored foot soldier.
As an alternative, he could only buy more shields.
In this manner, the newly established territorial force under his command, aside from including himself and two others, would consist of a Heavy Cavalry Squad of nine men fully equipped with warhorses.
It would be made up of ten Heavy Infantry, twenty archers, and one hundred and ten Light Infantry equipped with Spear, Shield, and some Chain Armor.
After arranging for Azeryan to purchase Longbows, Shields, and other military equipment, Leon revealed his next itinerary, “After resting for a night, I need to be on the road again tomorrow.
Without proof, I must safely cross the Nightmare Forest once more to demonstrate the truth to Baron Eriv.”
“Cross the Nightmare Forest?” Olivia asked in confusion next to Leon.
“Yes, I had to leave in haste the day before yesterday, and I forgot to tell you, I escaped back by crossing through the Nightmare Forest again, but the Cursed Land there has dissipated.
Now, besides being filled with Undead, it’s just an ordinary piece of land.”
Leon briefly explained to Olivia and also reminded the young lady not to mention this to anyone.
“So, you just got back, and you’re leaving again?” Olivia’s voice couldn’t help but sound a bit forlorn.
Seeing the girl’s disappointment, Leon felt unexpectedly apologetic, “Uh, I do need to make one more trip, but it’s not too far away, I should be back in a few days at most.”
Listening to their conversation, Kovis, standing off to the side, couldn’t help but cross his arms and look amusedly at the two, then glanced at his Lord.
The youth watched as the simple girl named Olivia’s face visibly darkened…
He chuckled quietly to himself, suddenly understanding.
“My Lord, didn’t you say that Miss Olivia is quite skilled in martial arts?
Then why not take her along for this trip.
The Nightmare Forest is no longer a Cursed Land, and if ordinary Undead and animals can’t even stop you or me, I don’t think they’ll pose much of a threat to Miss Olivia, who you speak so highly of.
Moreover, Lord Balfe will be accompanying us with his Cavalry.”
Upon hearing Kovis’s words, Olivia’s head shot up, her eyes looking at him with surprise.
The golden hair upon the young lady’s head seemed to regain its bright luster.
“Right, since the Cursed Land no longer exists, and it’s not far, take me with you.
I want to help out too,” the girl’s eyes were filled with hopeful expectation as she looked at Leon.
Leon looked into Olivia’s sparkling eyes and couldn’t help but say helplessly, “This journey indeed poses no threat to you, and I would be delighted to have your company if you have no objections.
But will Uncle Bryan agree?
After all, unlike you, I still can’t tell your father about the Nightmare Forest…”
Hearing her stubborn old father mentioned, Olivia bit her lower lip, her brows furrowing as she hesitated.
How could she convince her father?
Especially when he had even suggested something in the past couple of days…
The girl struggled internally for a moment.
But thinking of yesterday’s inexplicable argument, she suddenly felt a bit angry with her father.
An unwarranted rebellious feeling surged within her.
If she couldn’t change her father’s mind, this might be her last opportunity to have an adventure with Leon and the others.
Olivia closed her eyes and made a decision in her heart.
She, who had never lied to anyone…
Would tell a little white lie tonight~!