Chapter 7: A Few Hundred Gold Dragon—Who Do You Think You're Insulting?

"I don't care who you are. Once you're captured, you stay put."

Steward Hui Pao An Bo was delighted over the capture of twelve fine Changjian and some armor, when he suddenly heard a bandit being so arrogant, so he snapped without even turning his head.

Brynden was about to announce his identity, but saw Roger, also bound not far away, desperately signaling him with his eyes.

But Brynden paid no heed.

He was the eldest son of the esteemed House Blackwood's Count Tytos—when had he ever suffered such indignity?

A nobleman of his stature, defeated by a bunch of peasants, hands bound, and even rebuked by a low-ranking soldier.

"I am Brynden, eldest son of Count Tytos. If you don't want to die, release me at once and offer your apologies."

Roger was utterly speechless at this noble young master who had just announced his own identity.

The Brackens were a hostile house—falling into their hands and still not keeping a low profile? Wasn't this pure foolishness?

Arthur was startled—this young bandit actually claimed to be a count's eldest son.

And from the Blackwood House, not far from here.

Had the world become so harsh that even a count's eldest son had to turn to banditry?

Then he shook his head, casting aside his own unrealistic thoughts.

Suddenly, Arthur realized.

This was almost certainly the count's eldest son.

Because the standardized armor found on the bandits was clearly something only a great noble house could afford to equip.

The difference between armor and weapons is that a blacksmith who can forge a woodcutting axe or a dung fork can also forge weapons like blades and swords, but not armor.

Anywhere, those who play with armor are major powers.

And large quantities of uniformly styled armor—only a regional lord ruling his own territory could possess that.

Although the Game of Thrones world probably has no concept of assembly-line production or tolerances, the great houses' weapon workshops can achieve uniform details.

Standardized armor in the Riverlands—at the very least, only great houses like House Tully of Riverrun, House Frey of The Twins, House Blackwood of Raventree Hall, the main Bracken house of Stone Hedge, and House Mallister of Seagard could equip such things.

Take Arthur's own house, for example—three different types of armor: ten sets purchased from Lannisport in the Westerlands, five sets purchased from King's Landing, and another twenty sets gifted by the main Bracken house.

Otherwise, with Arthur's small domain, it would be impossible to maintain such a high armor rate while also accumulating a "fortune" of seven hundred Gold Dragon.

Realizing something was off, he ordered: "You lot, go search him."

Two soldiers received the order and walked over to frisk him.

"No need to search—he's one of House Blackwood's people," Yule called out to remind them.

"Now that you know my identity, won't you release me?" Brynden shouted.

Arthur's face was full of bewilderment—did this fellow have no sense of life or death?

Being a prisoner and still so arrogant!

Although Westeros has a tradition of not killing captured great nobles, did he really think his noble status was a golden ticket to immunity from death?

Arthur was about to mock this Brynden, when Amber walked up to the lord with a solemn face and whispered:

"Since he really is one of House Blackwood's people, just let him go."

"Are you out of your mind?" Arthur retorted. "These are bandits who invaded my home."

Then he shouted to the soldiers still cleaning up the battlefield: "Hurry up and pack—we're leaving immediately."

Since this place was on Blackwood territory, it was best to leave quickly.

Amber, a bit anxious, urged again: "Their house is powerful—we can't afford to provoke them. Just let him go."

"Even if he really is the count's eldest son, a proper noble like him disguising himself as a bandit to rob my village—that's not right, is it? We're in the right here. There's no reason I should have to let him go with utmost courtesy."

"Then how should we handle him? If mishandled, Count Tytos could use his son's capture as a pretext to attack us," Amber said, looking deeply worried.

Arthur walked over to the horse the soldier had brought over, swung himself into the saddle, then said to Amber: "Then we'll have his count daddy pay to ransom him."

He rubbed his index finger and thumb together. "Without a few hundred Gold Dragon, this Brynden can stay put in our cellar."

By now the soldiers had bound the twelve captives into a Platoon and were driving them on the road.

Brynden happened to be nearby at this moment, and upon hearing Arthur's words, flew into a rage: "You dare insult me with a few hundred Gold Dragon? Do you even understand what being the eldest son of House Blackwood means?"

"What being the eldest son of House Blackwood means is that you're Arthur Bracken's prisoner. What—you think that price is too low?"

Arthur urged his horse forward, keeping pace with this eldest son.

"Not just low—you simply don't regard me as a person. Without an offer of several thousand Gold Dragon, don't even dream of getting my father to ransom me," Brynden fumed.

Arthur was amused—there was actually someone who bargained in the opposite direction.

But on second thought, it made sense.

After all, for nobles like these, face was paramount.

For a powerful count's eldest son like Brynden, he might only be captured once in his entire life.

If he set the price too low, it might genuinely cost the man his face.

If it got out that the esteemed eldest son of House Blackwood was worth only a few hundred Gold Dragon, what would people think?

Had the Riverlands nobles grown so poor they had to compare themselves to The North's nobles?

If mishandled, this could become a lifelong joke for the future Count Brynden.

The group had walked a long distance, yet Brynden was still yelling—one moment demanding to be released, the next demanding the ropes be loosened, and also babbling about how a hundred and fifty soldiers would be upon them any moment, and how his family had three thousand soldiers, more than enough to trample Arthur's house.

In short, he would not settle down.

Arthur ignored him and silently opened his panel.

He had already reached level 2, gaining one attribute point, two skill points, and ten Weapon Proficiency.

The attribute point went again to Strength; the two skill points went to Ironflesh—good for staying alive; and the ten weapon points went again to Two-handed Weapon.

【Baron: Arthur Bracken】

【Level: 2】

【Experience: 679/1200】

【Strength: 16】

【Agility: 10】

【Intelligence: 7】

【Charisma: 9】

【Skills: Ironflesh 2, Power Strike 7, Power Throw 1, Power Draw 1, Weapon Mastery 2, Shield 0, Athletics 0, Riding 3, Horse Archery 0, Looting 0, Trainer 0, Tracking 0, Tactics 1, Pathfinding 0, Spotting 0, Wound Treatment 0, Surgery 0, First Aid 0, Engineering 0, Persuasion 1, Prisoner Management 0, Leadership 3, Trade 0】

【Weapon Proficiency: One-handed Weapon 74, Two-handed Weapon 95, Polearm 77, Archery 31, Crossbow 31, Throwing 31】

Given The Mountain's build, his Strength was probably only around twenty.

As long as Arthur raised his Strength to twenty and Agility to around eighteen, defending himself against The Mountain would be no problem at all.

Along the way, Amber kept feeling uneasy and repeatedly urged Arthur to release Brynden and not provoke Blackwood House.

Arthur didn't listen, but he did order them to pick up the pace.

They'd deal with it once they reached his small castle.

As for the ransom, he'd have to find Bracken House's Jiaodu, Jasen, to step in.

If Arthur went charging in himself like a fool to demand the ransom, he'd likely get cut down by their soldiers, and he wouldn't even be able to hold onto his small castle.

Between Gold Dragon and his own life, Arthur could still tell which mattered more.

Given the feud between the Bracken and Blackwood houses, Count Jasen would probably be glad to see Brynden captured.

Following Brynden's hints, Arthur figured he could squeeze out two or three thousand Gold Dragon this time; after giving half to Count Jasen, he'd still end up with over a thousand in his own hands.

Denar was the real king of the road.

Arthur was happily daydreaming about the money about to land in his lap when he suddenly heard Amber's voice:

"My lord, there are pursuers behind us."

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(End of Chapter)