Chapter 14 is blackmail
It's evening.

Dusk is passing and night is approaching.

In the soldiers' camp in the open space in front of the castle, the hanging stove above the fire was bubbling, and crystal clear pieces of meat were rolling in the red thick soup inside.

Along with the rising white mist, the rich aroma of meat gushed out and filled the camp.

The tempting aroma awakens the sleeping white bread.

She was lying in Rhodes' arms, staring at the hanging stove, sticking out her tongue impatiently.

"You two are the same kind, right? Isn't it a little inappropriate for you to drool?" Rhodes pinched its dog nose.

It pushed me away unhappily and continued to look at the meat in the pot with anticipation.

Well, when it comes to eating, they are very active, their courage grows instantly, and they even dare to protest.

Rhodes flicked its forehead, then put it aside and let White Bread run around the hanging oven on its own.

He himself came to the gate of the camp, where Noah and Holmes were waiting.

Behind him were fully armed soldiers, ready for battle.

"It's about time." Rhodes looked up at the sky.

In order to prevent any trouble from happening to the rogue knight Peggy, Viscount Dennis would certainly have arranged spies in the village, and I think they have already reported the situation here.

A moment later, a reconnaissance knight's squire came on horseback to report.

"Sir, there is a cavalry squad rushing towards us one kilometer away!"

"Cavalry, mount your horses, infantry, form up, follow me!"

Rhodes mounted his horse and headed towards the village gate, followed closely by the soldiers who were already ready.

On the road at the entrance of the village, rows of barricades had already been erected by Rhodes.

As the soldiers arrived, Rosa's shield and spear formation was formed in the rear. He calmly looked at the cavalry rushing in the distance.

Knight Joseph, who was charging at the front, saw that the other side was well prepared and his face darkened.

He gripped the lance tightly in his hand, and was trying to determine whether the neatly arranged shield and spear formation was genuine or just for show, when he suddenly noticed the knight in the front.

Rod was not wearing a helmet. Joseph, who noticed him, changed his expression instantly and immediately pulled the reins.

"Everyone, stop charging! Stop right now!"

Joseph yelled loudly, his expression as disgusted as if a bunch of flies were stuffed in his mouth.

Shiny blonde hair, emerald blue eyes, and that pretty face that you can't forget after just one look.

Rod Rossdale!

Joseph cursed in his heart.

Why is it this damn Gardener Knight!

If I bury him here, the Duke will bury his entire family in the soil as fertilizer in a few days, damn it!

The cavalry squad, which had been charging bravely, was forced to stop in a chaos of flying mud.

A few unlucky guys were thrown to the ground because of the sudden stop order and were limping back to their horses, lowering their heads in shame and daring to see people.

"Long time no see, Sir Joseph." Seeing the cavalry stop charging, Rhodes smiled and rode closer.

"Knight Rhodes, I'm really surprised to see you here." After shaking off the dust on his body, Joseph took off his helmet and a smile spread across his face.

The two men jumped off their horses and hugged each other enthusiastically to express their happiness.

However, when they turned around, Rhodes rolled his eyes and Joseph's face was full of gloom.

"I heard that you were going to the North to participate in land development. I didn't expect to meet you here."

After getting back on his horse, Joseph calmed down and said, "You should have informed me so that I could be prepared to entertain you."

"The Ice Valley of your Dennis family is not on my route. It's a pleasant surprise to meet you here." Rhodes said with a smile. The two of them greeted each other as if the charge that almost led to a fight had never happened.

After a while, Rhodes asked the soldier to come forward and hand over a wooden box.

"Since we've met, I just happen to have a gift for you."

Joseph took it and opened it, and found that it contained a scroll recording the smuggling transaction. His expression relaxed.

It seems that I had some prejudices before. This gardener knight is quite aristocratic.

"What a great gift! I should have invited you to have a drink with my family earlier. My father just collected the top-quality basil wine from Helen Winery."

"No need to drink, I need financial support."

Rhode didn't bother to be polite with him. "My father is watching my trip to the North. In order to fulfill his expectations, I need the help of the Dennis family."

Joseph looked at the wooden box, thought for a while, and then said, "I can sponsor 10 gold coins on behalf of my family to express our friendship."

"50 gold coins."

"This is impossible!" Joseph was stunned and could hardly believe his ears.

How dare this bastard open his mouth, does he think he is robbing?

No, Joseph suddenly realized, damn, this guy is robbing him!
If Rod had threatened him with the scroll for money, Joseph wouldn't have cared.

The water of grain smuggling is unfathomable, and the deepest part is related to this guy. In the end, the other party will only get himself into disgrace.

But the scroll was returned intact to the Dennis family.

Now the problem came to him.

If he gave too little money and made the other party unhappy, this guy would tell the duke about what happened here and add fuel to the fire and make fun of him.

His children behaved like aristocrats, but were treated coldly by the Dennis family, which would inevitably lower the family's reputation in the eyes of the duke.

This was unacceptable to Joseph, the eldest son of the family.

"15 gold coins, this is my bottom line." For the sake of his family's reputation, Joseph could only accept the fact that he was robbed.

"45 gold coins. As a viscount and nobleman, could you please stop bargaining with me like a merchant?"

Stimulated by Rhode's contemptuous eyes, Joseph couldn't help but growl:
"Asshole, you are blackmailing me. You have no aristocratic elegance at all!"

He took back his previous words, this bastard is a robber!

Seeing Rhodes' expression of "Who are you talking about?", Joseph remembered that the other party must have discovered the letter on the rogue knight and must be aware of the actual situation of the village attack.

This made him fall silent, and after a while he finally gave in and said:

"30 gold coins, no more. I can also let you take the serfs of the village and allow you to recruit some of the residents."

Rhode saw that this was indeed his bottom line, so he did not continue to press him and nodded happily: "Give my regards to Viscount Dennis."

“Yes, may the light of Heavenly Father illuminate your pioneering path!”

After shaking hands with Rhodes and saying goodbye, Joseph smiled and blessed him.

Although he knew that the other party might be cursing him in his heart, Rhodes didn't care at all.

This brother came all the way here to give him money, and he couldn't thank him enough.

On the other side, after saying goodbye to Rhodes, Joseph walked back to the team with a dark face, and suddenly noticed a guy who was brought over and was trembling.

"Sir." Bill's facial muscles were twisted with fear, and he forced a smile. "You,"

Before he could finish his words, a long sword chopped off his head.

"Go and kill the rest of the people in this beast's family, and spread the news that they are colluding with the rogue knights, so that the bastard won't come to blackmail me again!"

Leaving his body behind, Joseph ordered his men, cursing.

(End of this chapter)