Chapter 29: The Thief's News

"I don't know how to thank you," Daren said to Arthur, sitting on the cart.

Santaga's death was already a thing of yesterday; after giving his wife's remains a River Burial, Daren's mental state had clearly improved a great deal.

Ever since leaving that battlefield, Daren had been expressing his gratitude.

Arthur, riding his horse, looked at him, "It's nothing, it's what I should have done."

At this moment, he was feeling incredibly pleased with himself.

The feeling of being needed was truly good.

This feeling was even more delightful to him than obtaining three thousand Gold Dragons.

Because he had no concrete concept of Gold Dragons, but he had heard plenty of Daren's thanks.

Yesterday, under the mediation of Edmure, Janos finally made some concessions.

After receiving the three thousand Gold Dragons brought by the Tully family's fast ship and rowers, the Count of Stone Hedge happily released Brynden.

With this, Raventree Hall now owed the Tully family over four thousand Gold Dragons.

Even for a great house with thousands of soldiers, this was a heavy blow to their foundations.

After counting the money, the Bracken side left, leaving the Tully family and House Blackwood to settle their own accounts.

After traveling a distance on the road, they boarded the dozens of merchant ships waiting there.

While on the water, Count Janos and Arthur settled their mutual debts and cleared them in one go.

The final death toll of Bracken soldiers was three hundred and seventy, and Arthur paid the same amount in Gold Dragons for this.

As for the Raventree Hall side, six hundred and sixty-three people had died.

Due to the hot weather and humid climate, many of the soldiers on both sides who were severely wounded did not survive.

Given that it was impossible to count exactly how many souls had perished under Arthur's hammer, the Count, based on his soldiers' impressions, determined that Arthur had killed exactly three hundred enemies.

Thus, three hundred of the Gold Dragons he had just handed out came back to him.

As for the matter of compensating House Blackwood, with someone as thick-skinned as Janos, it was never executed at all.

Because Raventree Hall had lost far more people than Stone Hedge; if the situation were reversed, Janos would certainly have made Tytos fully compensate for his losses.

Of course, Arthur's promise to give the original five hundred soldiers three Silver Stags each was also honored.

Those who were alive received it on the spot, and for those who had fallen in battle, it was given to the Count collectively.

As the lord of Stone Hedge, he would handle the pension work well.

During the time on the ship, the Uncle Count showered Arthur with all sorts of concern, acting so well that they truly seemed like close uncle and nephew.

Of course, Arthur also cooperated actively.

When they parted ways, Janos also took the initiative to offer to lend Arthur one hundred men to prevent any sudden retaliation from House Blackwood.

Arthur accepted it with peace of mind.

These one hundred men were all elites wearing Iron Plate Armor, exactly what he needed.

The price for this was that Arthur needed to provide their lodging and food; he didn't even need to pay their wages.

One hundred elite Riverlands Soldiers, plus the original thirty-five ordinary soldiers, as well as the peasant soldiers that could be conscripted, were enough to guard a few villages.

And the Count stated that if House Blackwood really launched a large-scale retaliation, he would send troops to assist.

Now Arthur had completely lost his worries and could safely build his own territory.

Since the soldiers lent to Arthur were all on the large ships, and the ferry at Riverbank Village was too small, the two sides separated at a large ferry not far from Arthur's territory.

After going ashore, Arthur rode his horse, and the rest walked.

As for Daren's cart, Arthur, seeing that he hadn't eaten properly for the past few days and fearing he would faint from walking for too long, had "borrowed" one from a nearby village.

The conversation just now was Daren expressing his gratitude.

The journey was tiring; even riding a horse, Arthur felt a trace of fatigue.

Therefore, when he saw the small castle appear before his eyes, he actually felt a sense of returning home.

Once I get home, I must have a good sleep.

Hui Pao An Bo, seeing the Bracken banner of a gold shield and red stallion, brought people out to welcome him.

"Find a way to settle these people; they are honored guests and will be staying here for a long time," Arthur pointed to the one hundred elite warriors behind him and gave the order.

"As you command, I will have the villagers set up camp on the hill to the north."

Arthur nodded, agreeing with An Bo's suggestion, and then rode back to the home castle.

An Bo would handle the rest.

He was a competent Steward.

……

Home castle, Great Hall.

"Are you sure? Cyril's son actually dares to show up?"

Arthur asked this villager.

Cyril was the servant who had stolen Arthur's savings of seven hundred Gold Dragons; previously, Arthur had guessed that he had done this precisely for his gambling-addicted son.

"My lord, I am very sure. He grew up with me; even if he turned to ash, I would recognize him," the villager was extremely certain.

Arthur was a bit skeptical, "Since your relationship with him is so good, having grown up together, why come to inform on him to me?"

The villager opened his arms, as if baring his chest.

"My lord, ever since hearing that you offended great houses like House Tully and House Blackwood for the sake of Daren, my neighbors and I have deeply believed that you are a lord worth following."

"For such a Brave and Justice-minded lord, what is reporting a petty, thieving childhood playmate?"

Arthur was very satisfied with these words, "Then tell me specifically about his tracks?"

The villager then recounted in detail.

It turned out that Cyril's son, Yuehan, did not appear in the village openly, but had snuck back in the middle of the night and was seen by him while he was out squatting.

The villager guessed that Yuehan must have come to retrieve something.

Afterwards, under the cover of night, the villager quietly followed Yuehan out of the village and confirmed that he had run toward the north.

The north, that is the territory of Blackwood.

They have always had a bad relationship with Bracken, and they had a big fight just a few days ago, so it is only logical that Cyril would hide there.

"Very good, you did a great job," Arthur affirmed the villager's actions, "If I find Cyril because of your lead, regardless of whether I recover my property or not, you will receive a reward of ten Silver Stags."

Hearing this, the villager was also very happy; he bowed and left the hall.

Amber came in and reported to Arthur: "My lord, it seems your bounty has been effective."

The bounty he spoke of was the one Arthur had issued in order to find Cyril.

After stabilizing, besides developing the territory, the most urgent matter was to recover those seven hundred Gold Dragons.

After all, it was a sum of money.

But to ensure that others would not strike first for the seven hundred Gold Dragons, Arthur only mentioned that he had lost a bit of property.

Finally, two days later, he received the news he wanted.

【Task: Find Cyril and his useless son】

Looking at the blue light screen, Arthur felt it was time to do something.

PS: Seeking recommendation votes and monthly tickets.

A Game of Thrones joke every day:

Sansa Stark introduced her family members to Cersei: "I have four brothers."

"Wouldn't that make you incredibly happy?" Cersei said with envy.

(End of chapter)