From a hired knight to a master of Game of Thrones

Chapter 2 The System Finally Arrived

The tavern was noisy and chaotic, filled with smoky air and bursts of profanity and laughter.

Many mercenaries in leather armor gathered in a corner to gamble with dice, the clinking of copper coins making a crisp and loud sound.

Several ordinary people sat by the bar, sipping their ale from ceramic cups.

Don Quixote's gaze swept across the crowd and quickly landed on a figure in the left corner.

Mrs. Vera is nearly fifty years old and has fully entered old age; she no longer possesses the charm she had seven years ago.

She was wearing a clean linen dress and sat quietly in the corner drinking.

Don Quixote walked over.

Madame Vera looked up and saw Don Quixote standing in front of her.

She paused for a moment, then smiled and said:

"Hey, isn't this our little Don Quixote?"

"Where's your old knight? Why didn't he come in for a drink with you?"

Don Quixote paused for a moment, then sighed:

"He's gone. I've buried him in the wolf forest."

Mrs. Vera paused for a long time while pouring the wine, her smile vanished, and she sighed as well:

"Old Valentine... he's a tough nut to crack."

"If I remember correctly, he should be in his sixties."

"How many people can live to this age? He's had enough in his life."

After a long silence, Mrs. Vera continued:

"How did he die?"

Don Quixote smiled wryly:

"Catching a cold can lead to a life-threatening illness."

Mrs. Vera nodded, then suddenly raised her glass and downed the ale in one gulp.

"Cough cough."

Madame Vera coughed a few times to calm herself before looking up at Don Quixote and saying:

"Little Don Quixote, have you come here today to have a drink?"

Don Quixote shook his head.

After hesitating for a moment, he took a deep breath and said directly:

"Madam, I would like to ask you if there are any ways to make a living."

"I'm all alone now, and I have to find a way out for myself."

"Madam, it doesn't need to be anything fancy, just enough to make a living is fine."

Lady Vera raised an eyebrow and sized him up, her gaze settling on his tattered chainmail and the longsword at his waist:

"Do you want to follow in old Valentine's footsteps and become a hired knight?"

"Yes, madam," Don Quixote admitted.

Mrs. Vera shook her head, not very optimistic:

"But you haven't even had a formal investiture ceremony. What lord would hire you?"

Don Quixote said helplessly:

"But all I know right now are some knight skills, nothing else."

"Actually, I don't recommend you become a hired knight."

Madame Vera scrutinized Don Quixote for a long time before shaking her head and saying:

"With your skinny arms and legs, you're really not suited for those dangerous jobs."

After a moment of silence, Mrs. Vera suddenly said:

"If you don't mind, you can work at my Iron Axe Tavern for a while."

Don Quixote was taken aback, but his eyes quickly lit up.

He was completely bewildered at that moment.

He can accept any job as long as it's not too outrageous.

Although working as a servant in the Iron Axe Tavern did not align with his long-held ideal of riding the world on horseback, a dream that had not yet faded away.

But it's still acceptable.

After all, finding a job in this world is not easy.

Of course, as a low-level worker, it's difficult to find a suitable job in any world.

Don Quixote hurriedly said:

"Not at all, thank you, Madam!"

Mrs. Vera nodded and said earnestly:

"Don't worry, you are, after all, old Valentine's squire, and have studied knightly skills for many years."

"I won't make you do those chores, you'll just help me look after the place every day."

"Alas, I'm old now, and my health isn't what it used to be. I can't come to the tavern as often as I used to."

"Initially, I'll give you 10 copper coins a day and provide you with two meals. After that, it will depend on your performance."

"If you can keep the place in check, we might consider giving you more bronze points."

Just then, a cold, mechanical voice rang out in Don Quixote's mind without warning:

[Ding! Detection indicates the host has been hired, meeting the activation requirements for the Knight Mission System. System binding is now complete!]

Don Quixote froze on the spot, his eyes wide open.

system?

Goldfinger?

Holy crap! He had that too!

He suppressed his overwhelming joy, his body even trembling slightly.

Having read so many novels in his past life, he knew all too well what this thing meant.

This will be his greatest asset in surviving and even rising to prominence in this brutal Game of Thrones world!

At that moment, the confusion in his heart vanished completely.

He—Don Quixote—was no longer afraid of anything, no longer timid and hesitant!

When Madame Vera saw that Don Quixote hadn't said anything for a while, she assumed he was dissatisfied with the pay and frowned slightly.

But the thought of old Valentine eased my brow a little.

Mrs. Vera said calmly:

"13 copper coins a day, no more than that."

Upon hearing this, Don Quixote snapped out of his daze.

He knew that Mrs. Vera had misunderstood him.

He suppressed his trembling excitement, tried to calm his tone, and immediately said:

"Thank you, Madam. I will certainly do my best!"

Mrs. Vera nodded, and as she poured the wine, she said:

When can you come over?

"Madam, I can do it right now!" Don Quixote laughed.

After taking a sip of her drink, Mrs. Vera stood up and said as she walked:

"Come with me, and I'll introduce you to the other people at the Iron Axe Tavern so you can get to know each other."

"Yes, madam."

Don Quixote quickly followed.

…………

In front of the bar.

Mrs. Vera approached.

A sturdy middle-aged man was wiping a ceramic cup. Upon seeing her, he nodded quickly.

"lady."

"This is Don Quixote, a knight's squire."

Madame Vera pointed to Don Quixote behind her:

"From now on, he'll be in charge of running the place for me. You should tell him the rules of the tavern."

The man glanced at Don Quixote, then looked at the thin young man in front of him, his eyes showing obvious surprise, but he didn't say anything.

He nodded to Don Quixote and said directly:

"My name is Ronan Fletcher, you can just call yourself Ronan."

"I'm the bartender here. The rules at Iron Axe Tavern are simple: don't let drunks smash things, don't let customers skip out on their bills, and if anyone causes trouble, either kick them out or..."

He pointed to the iron bar under the bar and grinned menacingly:

"Knock him out and throw him out."

Don Quixote: "Understood."

Then, Mrs. Vera led him to the kitchen.

The cook was an elderly woman named Nadine Henderson.

Then there was a errand boy, Cole Henderson.

Don Quixote spoke briefly with the two men and learned that such a person existed.

He then returned to the main hall and stood at the bar, observing the entire Iron Axe Tavern.

The daytime passed quickly.

The patrons in the tavern all seemed to be acquaintances, and no one was causing trouble.

Don Quixote had dinner at the Iron Axe Tavern.

Three pieces of black bread and a small dish of cured meat.