Volume Two: The Iron-Blooded Baron Chapter 115: Thieves from the Sea (Part I)

Belion had initially flatly refused the invitation to drink and dine today. However, having signed the contract, received the down payment, and accepted the valuable gift from Sir Torre, he felt obliged to comply when Sir Torre brought up the idea of a banquet once more. Despite his intense reluctance, he softened his stance for the sake of the money and the gift; after all, one must strive to satisfy the client’s requests.

And so, another grand banquet was held that night. Amidst the fine wine and food, guests sang and danced while they feasted. Gamgee, in high spirits, hugged Belion and exclaimed, "My good brother, look, another joyous evening!"

Belion nodded in agreement, though he felt deeply miserable inside. While the beer and wine were not particularly high in alcohol, drinking them as if they were water was something no one could endure. He decided to find a way to produce distilled spirits; once he did, a few glasses would be enough to leave them all flushed and red-faced.

Just as Belion was secretly contemplating the process of distillation, the doors to the Lord’s Hall were suddenly thrown open, and a disheveled man covered in blood stumbled inside.

The arrival of this jarring figure shattered the festive atmosphere. Everyone stopped what they were doing and fell silent, watching him with curiosity as he gasped for air.

The man, panting heavily, addressed Sir Torre: "My Lord, it is terrible! Hundreds of pirate ships have entered Yansvik Bay. The Toba pirates have not only surrounded Yansvik City but have also split their forces to pillage throughout Yansvik Province and Terra Province.

"I was fortunate enough to run fast, or I would have been captured. Many merchants and commoners who spent the night outside the city were slaughtered. They are brutal beyond measure; they kill everyone they see, sparing neither women nor children. I only escaped by pretending to be dead, then I seized a horse and rode for my life to return here."

"Ah!" The guests erupted in collective gasps. It was completely unexpected; no one could have imagined that the Toba pirates would organize such a massive force to sail north for plunder.

Belion felt a chill run through him. His suspicions were confirmed: the Toba pirates who had occupied Maple Manor were merely an advance guard, sent to test the strength of the Brik people's northern military. Once they discovered that the northern Briks, despite their reputation for being warlike, were actually weak in combat, they had naturally launched a full-scale invasion.

Although the North was not as wealthy as the South, it had long been free from pirate raids, making its defenses complacent. Consequently, there was more loot to be seized. The southern Briks, having dealt with these pirates for a long time, had developed mature defensive strategies; extracting grain and wealth from them was no longer an easy task.

As Belion considered this, he suddenly recalled the Valundians crossing the Blue Mountains to raid the eastern borders of the Brik territory. His eyes narrowed—this was undoubtedly a conspiracy!

The Valundians were attacking from the east, and the Toba pirates from the west, forming a pincer movement on the Brik North. Since the primary military strength of the Brik people was concentrated in the North, if these northern lords were severely crippled by a two-front war, the Brik North would likely be handed over to the invaders, and the Valundians would rule the region.

Furthermore, Belion was certain that the southern faction of lords was involved. The Valundians and Toba Island were far apart and had little opportunity for contact, whereas the southern lords frequently fought the Toba pirates, engaged in prisoner exchanges, and maintained close proximity and trade relations.

Moreover, these southern faction representatives held a weak position at court. If Count Loire, the Minister of War, were to become the Grand Vizier, their prospects would surely worsen.

They had the motive, the channels, and the resources to incite the Toba pirates to strike north. Even if the pirates failed to crush the northern armies, simply forcing them into the misery of a two-front war would allow the southern faction to regain control of the court, making it easy to manipulate the northern nobles.

Thinking this, Belion was grateful for his own foresight. The soldiers he had trained through the system were now capable of holding their own in battle.

War was detestable, but chaos was truly a ladder to advancement. Besides, since he could not stop the current chaos, he would seize the opportunity to grow stronger, which would also be a way to honor the sincere Lady Jessis.

Having quickly reasoned this out, Belion rose to take his leave while Sir Torre was still stunned. He ordered the officers of Norlanden to gather the soldiers and return to camp immediately, with plans to set out for Norlanden at first light.

Before leaving, he said to Sir Torre, "Sir Torre, I suggest you reinforce the walls of Sis Town and take fire-prevention measures. With so many pirates arriving at once, they will surely sail up the Carl River to plunder. The wealthy settlements along both banks will be hard-pressed to escape."

With that, Belion departed. Gamgee and the rest of their party also took their leave, as Belion had already issued the command to pack up and prepare for departure, including Gamgee’s caravan guards.

With this development, the banquet naturally came to an end. Guests left one after another. Sir Torre called the messenger over to question him further, then sent him away to confer with his subordinates on how to defend against the pirate attack.

At a Vulcanite monastery outside Yansvik City, a bare-chested pirate with a long, blood-stained beard pulled his battle-axe from a monk's chest. He flicked the blood off the blade, looked down at the monk with a contemptuous sneer, and entered the monastery’s main hall.

Inside, pirates were hauling out gilded statues, plates, and the monks' strongboxes. Others dragged corpses out, cursing in the New Garl language as if these murdered monks had committed some great crime.

Off to the side, in the monks' dormitory, the cries of women and the rough, violent shouting of pirates could be heard. It appeared that these damned pirates were abusing the poor Brik women.

Once the hall was mostly cleared, three pirates clad in striped armor entered, surrounded by their men.

"Ha! We have emptied the temple of the false god and humiliated his followers. Surely the Great Sea God will grant us even more favor," the oldest of the three, with graying hair, declared generously.

"Indeed, Count Riego," the man to his left nodded in agreement, adding, "These cattle who worship a false god are truly pathetic. It seems their god has no power at all."

"Hahaha!" The man to the right of the one called Count Riego laughed heartily. "Count Zaram is right. Only by worshipping the true god can one gain power and remain invincible."

The three looked at each other and laughed in unison. After a moment, Count Riego said, "Count Kaled, Count Zaram, we shall stay here tonight and have a good drink. Tomorrow, we split into three groups. Count Kaled, you head upstream and turn the banks of the Carl River upside down; Count Zaram, you go straight north to Terra Province, burn and pillage, and teach those heretics a lesson. I will surround Yansvik City to ensure those inside do not interfere with our work, and I will wait here for your good news."

"Oh, and if you find any good treasures or beautiful women, do not forget your brother. It would be a shame to waste the meal I am treating you to today."

Upon hearing Count Riego, Counts Kaled and Zaram laughed loudly. Zaram said with a smirk, "My good brother, I hear Count Grie's wife and daughter are quite beautiful. Why not just storm the city, kill that man Grie, and take both mother and daughter for yourself?"

Riego kicked him playfully and laughed, "Get out of here. If I could storm the city, I wouldn't need you two to go plundering elsewhere. That said, your suggestion is disgusting—but if you really bring them to me, I wouldn't refuse."

"Oh, so Big Brother Riego has such peculiar tastes. It seems I must pay attention to that on my end and bring you a big surprise," Kaled joked as well.

As the three were laughing, a young pirate entered to inform them that the banquet was ready, and they exited the hall.

Back in Yansvik City, at the residence of Count Grie, a breathless Prill was describing the tragic scenes she had witnessed outside the city to Lady Jessis.

"My Lady, you have no idea. The pirates are truly savage. They are slaughtering the caravans and commoners outside the city walls. When my parents and I were running toward the city gates, I looked back and saw a pirate cut off a man's head and hold it up, howling. They feel like beasts, not men."

"When I came in just now, I met Sir Sandiman. He said the sights from the city walls were equally horrific, especially how these heretic-worshipping pirates are disemboweling the monks they catch and hanging them on wooden frames for the crows to peck at. It is too much!" Prill told Jessis, trembling with fear.

When the pirates raided, Prill and her parents were staying at a small farm in a village outside the city. Her brother had moved into Yansvik City after getting married, but her parents still worked the farm. Prill visited them every few days.

This time, she was unlucky enough to encounter the Toba pirate raid. Fortunately, the villagers were alert; seeing the fires at the bay, they sent riders to investigate. Upon learning of the massive pirate arrival, they packed their belongings and fled to Yansvik City for refuge.

Because Prill’s family had few valuables at the farm and they all knew how to ride, they quickly saddled their horses and fled. They were lucky to have escaped so quickly; the pirates descended on the village shortly after they left, and those who did not get away became victims of the pirates' blades.

Jessis was frightened by Prill’s description. She murmured, "How terrifying. Are there many pirates? I must find my father quickly. What if Yansvik City cannot hold?"

Seeing her mistress so distressed, Prill tried to comfort her: "My Lady, do not worry. I heard Sir Sandiman say there are only three or four thousand pirates, and they seem to be splitting their forces. It looks like they are only here to plunder and likely will not attack the city."

"Yes, yes," Lady Jessis nodded, then suddenly asked, "The pirates shouldn't be able to reach the Direct-Administered County, should they?"

"Ah! The Direct-Administered County?" Prill paused at her mistress’s question, then giggled, "Oh, my! You are trapped in the city yourself, yet you are already worrying about your lover's safety. This Sir Belion is truly a lucky man."

Lady Jessis rolled her eyes and laughed, "You dead girl, you only know how to tease me. Do that again, and I’ll tear your mouth apart."

"Oh, my Lady, if you tear my mouth apart, who will deliver messages to your sweetheart for you in the future?" Prill feigned an aggrieved expression.

Lady Jessis waved her hand dismissively. "I want to see my father and see what he thinks of these pirates who have suddenly descended upon us."

"My Lady, I don't think that's possible now. When I met Sir Sandiman, he told me that the Count has summoned all the nobles and knights except those responsible for the city garrison to discuss countermeasures. He is very busy right now," Prill warned.

Jessis frowned, but soon relaxed and smiled, saying, "There is no use in us worrying. Fighting is a man's business; we should just try not to get in their way."