Chapter 45: New Companions

Nobles and Their Domains

The lords of these domains were typically feudal nobles with hereditary titles, such as dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons. These titles were passed down through generations. In most countries, both titles and lands were inherited by the eldest son. However, those who were not the eldest or did not have titles could earn the title of knight by serving in the king's army and could also acquire some land. Hence, the knightly class became the foundation of feudal rule. Later on, some individuals without titles could engage in commerce and industry, donating money to the royal family to purchase a knighthood, which gave rise to a new class of nobility.

Domains were divided into several types.

Hereditary noble lands were often referred to as "fiefs."

Fiefs were an effective incentive used by founding emperors to reward loyal ministers. Within these fiefs, nobles wielded absolute power.

Besides fiefs, there were manors.

Manors were typically noble territories not designated by the king, often acquired through legal or illegal means. In these manors, the nobility's power did not equate to the law.

For various reasons, many nobles preferred to purchase manors abroad.

A Tale of Continental Development and Feudal Rivalries

With the aid of the Snow Wolf Cavalry, the return journey was smooth.

The wind had shifted from south to north, almost as if the citizens of Snowfield City were bidding farewell to a plague.

Upon emerging from the icy forest, the moonlight was waning. Ahead lay the dark silhouette of the empire's frontier outpost. A few seasoned imperial soldiers escorted Lin Yushang forward for a brief negotiation, and the outpost gates opened.

This was the first time Amy and Big Green Mountain had left the Hami Kingdom. As they crossed into the Empire's border, they could hardly believe they were in another country. The two young men betted jokingly whether the land of the Empire was the same as that of the Hami Kingdom. The loser would have to share a bed with Green'er that night.

In the end, Amy, clutching a blanket, cursed under his breath and squeezed in with Green'er. Thrilled to have company, Green'er eagerly burrowed into Amy's embrace, soon emitting snore-like thunder from Amy's belly.

That night, Lin Yushang and Shaluo visited the camp hospital to check on the severely injured envoy, the Empire's Deputy Foreign Minister. His condition had improved significantly, though the doctor advised against travel. The harsh winter of the Ice Continent could eradicate any infection-prone bacteria, so it was suggested he stay until the following summer. Lin Yushang and Shaluo encouraged him to relax, as the mission was accomplished and the doctor's advice was sound. The Deputy Minister had served under Lin Yushang's father for two decades, acting as his chief strategist. Brought back unconscious to the border troops, he had been worried about Lin Yushang's venture into the Hami Kingdom alone. Seeing them return safely, he breathed a sigh of relief. With elite border troops escorting them back, he could recuperate without worry.

At dawn, 500 escorting Snow Wolf Cavalry departed the frontier outpost, returning to the Hami Kingdom. The Empire's Border Cavalry Battalion took over the escort duties. Several veteran soldiers who had accompanied them to the Hami Kingdom also requested to escort Amy's group to the Empire's northern federation capital, the Ice Fortress. Upon learning that Amy was the son of the former battalion commander, the current commander personally visited Amy and readily agreed to their request.

Over the past twenty days, Amy had formed a deep bond with these veterans. He enjoyed hearing stories about his father, especially how his father, once a guide, defeated 24 Imperial Academy officers in three days to become the Glacier Battalion Commander. He particularly encouraged the veterans to recount negative rumors about Captain Chi Hanfeng, meticulously recording them, reportedly to erect a monument and chronicle for Mr. Chi Hanfeng.

Ultimately, four imperial soldiers were confirmed to accompany them to the Ice Fortress: Mo Ye, former personal guard of Leike Haber and now second battalion leader of the Glacier Battalion; Wu Lanf, current third squad leader of the second battalion; Balbus, current second squad leader of the third battalion; and Long, a soldier in the Glacier Battalion Engineer Corps.

The escort of 200 cavalry was quite extraordinary; typically, within the Empire, even a count's escort would not exceed around 100 warriors. This was a generous treatment granted by the Black Knights to the envoy group.

As the cavalry prepared to depart, a rush of hurried footsteps echoed from the direction of the border outpost. Someone was calling out Amy and Big Green Mountain's names.

A dwarf appeared, breathless and running from the outpost.

Dwarves came in many types, but all were natural strongmen and warriors feared by their adversaries. In human territories, two types were commonly seen: mountain dwarves and forest dwarves.

Mountain dwarves were renowned master craftsmen; most of the world's legendary weapons were forged by them. They typically resided in mineral-rich mountains, collaborating with gnomes to mine resources. Discovering rare metals or other precious materials often led to the creation of peerless weapons. The mountain dwarves' favored weapon was the blacksmith's hammer; a unit of hammer-wielding mountain dwarves was a nightmare for any heavily armored warrior or knight.

Forest dwarves also had innate talent in weapon crafting, though slightly less than their mountain counterparts. Standing between 1.2 and 1.4 meters tall, forest dwarves excelled with axes, wielding blades often 50 centimeters long, with some fierce warriors brandishing axe blades up to a meter. Forest dwarves were practically born warriors.

Dwarves could generally live up to 200 years, though this wasn't their maximum lifespan. Most dwarves reached this age despite severe injuries or seemingly incurable diseases, which rarely felled their mountain-like sturdy bodies.

The dwarf before them was unmistakably a forest dwarf, carrying a massive battle axe with a blade at least 80 centimeters in diameter. As he ran, the axe's blade caught the morning sun, emitting a blue glow—a hue only achievable by adding a rare mineral, amethyst, to the weapon, making it priceless. He wore a beast-head helmet, likely fashioned from a large feline, perhaps a tiger or some large leopard. Dwarves had a unique custom: upon reaching 200, male dwarves would undergo a coming-of-age ritual, requiring them to hunt a beast bare-handed and present it to the chief, who would then craft a beast-head helmet. Successfully hunting a large feline indicated a particularly distinguished coming-of-age ceremony, as few dwarves managed to single-handedly slay such creatures on their first attempt.

The helmet pressed down his thick brown hair, and his face was blanketed with a rugged beard, giving it a larger appearance. With narrowed eyes, he wore a tunic and pants made from tropical forest hemp, fastened with a wide leather belt studded with brass rivets.

He seemed to have been running for a long time, with sweat evaporating into a mist above his head.

Despite his short stature, the dwarf ran swiftly.

Amy dismounted, as did Big Green Mountain from the sled. They exchanged a glance, each reading confusion in the other's eyes.

"Are you Brother Amy and Brother Big Green Mountain?" the dwarf asked as he approached.

"Yes, and you are?" Amy replied hesitantly.

"My uncle is Locke." Although the dwarf's speech was somewhat unclear, he revealed his background with a single sentence and produced a letter from his pocket, penned unmistakably by Old Locke.

The dwarf turned out to be Old Locke's nephew, the youngest son of the current Silver Snow Wolf Mercenary Group leader: Horns. Having just completed his coming-of-age ceremony, he sought his father and uncle, only to find that they were reluctant to keep him in the mercenary group for fear of spoiling him. They had recalled the small mercenary group that had departed the previous day, hastily processed his mercenary registration, and promptly sent him off in pursuit.

Dwarves were typically straightforward, and upon hearing his uncle speak of a capable young leader and sharing Amy's story, Horns eagerly agreed. Old Locke gave him a magical image of Big Green Mountain and Amy, along with their direction. Horns then followed the Dragon's Tooth Mountain road to catch up.

"How old are you?" Amy had some understanding of dwarves and was curious about this "younger brother."

"I just had my coming-of-age ceremony; I'm still young, only 200," Horns replied.

The group burst into laughter, including Amy and Big Green Mountain, while the two girls laughed so hard they doubled over. The surrounding knights joined in the laughter.

As Amy shook his head, chuckling, Green'er jumped over, licking Amy's face with its large tongue, prompting even more laughter.

With this humorous interlude, particularly the antics of the village-raised young dwarf, the journey was filled with joy. On that day, the small mercenary group gained a third member: G-rank mercenary Horns.

The journey from the border outpost to the Ice Fortress took three days.

Three days later, the envoy group arrived at the Ice Fortress.

As the northern capital of Amy's Empire, the Ice Fortress was a significant rest stop on the return journey. Most imperial border soldiers hailed from here, including Mo Ye, Wu Lanf, and Balbus, who lived in the city's western part. They invited Amy and Big Green Mountain to visit, piquing the interest of the two girls and the young dwarf, leading a lively group to the west of the city.

Just outside the city gates was a large residential area, starkly different from the neatly arranged houses within the city. The homes varied greatly in size and condition, with some quite beautiful and others mere dilapidated thatched huts. Mo Ye, Wu Lanf, and Balbus's homes were in good condition, with Balbus having a particularly adorable three-year-old daughter. After visiting these homes, Mo Ye, Wu Lanf, and Balbus conferred and suggested to Amy that they visit the orphans of their fallen comrades if he had no other plans.

"Oh, were those fallen soldiers comrades of my father?" Amy inquired casually.

"Yes, and some were lost during the last task at the Wishing Tower," Mo Ye replied somberly.

"Then I'd like to visit them too," Amy said softly.

As they ventured further, the houses became smaller, and the roads narrower. From shattered windows, small heads peeked out, curious children with yellowed faces watching the soldiers. One boy exclaimed, "My dad used to be like them; he was amazing."

The eyes of the veterans turned red, and Lin Yushang and Shaluo, moved, had moist eyes. Amy and Big Green Mountain bit their lips tightly.

The group paused before a shabby hut, where Mo Ye gently called out, "Little Bean, Little Bean."

A boy of about ten emerged, smiling at the veterans. "Hello, Uncle Mo, Uncle Wu Lanf, Uncle 8284."

"Where's your mother?" Mo Ye asked, crouching to embrace the boy named Little Bean.

"She's out working," Little Bean replied, reaching for Mo Ye's sword with an envious look.

"Winter is approaching fast. Didn't your mother mention fixing the house? How will you survive the cold?" Wu Lanf asked, worriedly eyeing the roof that seemed ready to be torn off by the wind.

"Mom said: 'Every year is hard, yet we get through it; every year is tough, yet we endure. Once I grow up, things will be better.'"

Everyone's eyes stung with emotion.

"Uncle Mo, are there many in this situation?" Amy asked, surveying the vast expanse of dilapidated homes.

"Yes, many. Just outside the west gate of the northern capital, there are about 200 families like this," Mo Ye replied with a heavy voice.

"Uncle Mo, I made a bet with a wealthy noble in Snowfield City, and he lost a manor in the Ice Fortress to me. His property shouldn't be too shabby, but I wonder if it's large enough to accommodate these widows and orphans," Amy quietly consulted Mo Ye.

"That would be wonderful," Mo Ye said, visibly pleased. "For these widows and orphans, winter is the hardest time. They can squeeze in somehow. Ah—" Mo Ye and the other veterans sighed deeply. "Every year, people freeze to death."

"Little brother, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Amy asked, patting the boy's cheek.

"I want to be a brave warrior like my dad," the boy replied with childlike innocence.

"I have another idea. Do you think it's feasible?" Amy pondered aloud. "If these children continue like this, they won't have a bright future. Big Green Mountain and I have about 30,000 gold coins. Could you help me? I want to establish a small mercenary group headquarters on that manor, making these children and their families our members. I plan to arrange for them to learn various skills, whether they wish to become warriors, mages, or merchants."

"That's a good plan," Big Green Mountain chimed in, "We can share the training curriculum Master gave us with them. We can work harder outside to earn more money, ensuring they won't go hungry."

"Fool, with Uncle Chi's training, they could earn a living just by chopping wood," Amy smiled, patting Big Green Mountain's head. "If it's a manor, there should be plenty of land, so food won't be an issue. Plus, since we're an A-rank mercenary group, they can be A-rank reserve warriors, and they could start taking on simple tasks once they're older. They might earn more than us."

Lin Yushang's eyes crinkled with laughter. "Amy, you're too modest. If they earn more than you, what will the rest of the world do?"

Barbas, usually quiet, suddenly spoke up. "Amy, if you're serious about this, I'll leave the military to join your mercenary group and spend the next few years educating these children."

None present imagined that this impromptu idea would, 510 years later, make these children, once struggling on the brink of survival, the core members of the world-renowned Little Mercenary Group.

A new chapter of history began to unfold here.