From a hired knight to a master of Game of Thrones

"Gerald, watch your words."

Rodney also lowered his voice and shook his head, saying:

"We can talk about this over a few drinks at my mansion sometime. It's better to be cautious when you're out in public."

Gerald nodded, glanced at the arena where Don Quixote had once again defeated a free knight, and chuckled:

"This Sir Don Quixote's strength is probably no less than that of those powerful knights who have long enjoyed a great reputation in White Harbor City."

Rodney was very pleased with Don Quixote's performance.

They were able to hire a skilled free knight to protect their caravan.

Even before he set off, he already had a premonition that this trip to Huangzhongtun would go relatively smoothly.

At least there won't be any danger along the way.

Lord Stark, the Protector of the North, was quite strict with raiders and bandit knights within his territory.

They also paid close attention to it.

Therefore, at most, loose gangs of a dozen or so people can be found in the North.

Judging from the strength of Sir Don Quixote in front of him, a loose team of more than ten people, they are not a formidable enemy!

Thinking about all this, Rodney smiled and said:

"Gerald, I heard you recently opened up a trade route over Widow's Hope?"

Widowslook is located on a peninsula at the easternmost tip of the North, nestled between Bitten Bay and Trembling Sea.

It is a strategic castle on the eastern coast of the North, and the residence of the Flint family.

It is also the throat that guards the passage between Biting Bay and Trembling Sea.

It is the most important trading target and watchtower in the northeast coastal direction of Baigang.

Upon hearing this, Gerrard nodded and then chuckled, saying:

"Rodney, you're really well-informed. You've probably been keeping track of my situation all along!"

Rodney smiled and said:

"For us businessmen, information is both our greatest asset and our greatest enemy!"

"If I didn't constantly keep track of everything happening in White Harbor City, I'd probably be chewed up and swallowed whole by now!"

"Rodney, you're still as cautious as ever!" Gerald chuckled as well, lowering his voice as he said:

"Yes, the seafood, seal skins, sea salt, and furs are cheaper in Widowsview."

"There is a shortage of food, ironware, and cloth over there. I plan to travel back and forth between Widow's Lookout and White Harbor to trade these and make a small profit."

"Oh right, and dark beer too, that should make us more money."

White Harbor's strong dark beer is known for its robust and rich flavor.

In particular, their core product, black stout, is sold as far as Braavos and the port of Iban.

It is one of the few local wines from the North that can be circulated across the ocean.

With its caramelized malt, full body, rich foam, and long finish, it is a perfect match for the harsh climate of the North.

Blackstone represents the highest level of winemaking in the North.

Rodney pointed to Don Quixote, who was now fighting three of the four remaining Free Knights in the arena, and laughed:

"Then you might consider Sir Don Quixote."

"Actually, I just had this idea," Gerrard admitted.

"Then you'll have to keep a close eye on him for me this time."

"While I would like to hire highly skilled free knights, I would prefer to hire free knights who keep their promises and are trustworthy."

Rodney laughed:

"I will, don't worry!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Time flies by too quickly.

At least for the free knights who were being defeated one by one by Don Quixote in the arena, this was the case.

Not long after.

Only one free knight remained before Don Quixote.

He held the leather-bound longsword at an angle, his breathing as steady as if the fierce battles just moments before were nothing more than a morning stroll.

The chainmail was splattered with mud and had many shallow dents from blunt force trauma.

Although it was a bit of a mess.

But at first glance, it gives people a sense of composure and experience.

The last knight's hand, gripping the hilt of his sword, trembled slightly.

Looking at his opponent who had won one victory after another, the knight hesitated to draw his sword first.

The onlookers, including the local residents and mercenaries, gradually quieted down, and even the shouts about winning and losing the bets faded away.

They know that too.

The final winner is about to be determined!

This made the onlookers tense and restrained.

They were fully prepared for the cheers and shouts that were about to erupt.

The first competition event—the sprint—did not satisfy the spectators, or rather, they were somewhat dissatisfied.

But this second melee was quite exciting.

Many viewers were so engrossed in watching that they didn't want to lose focus in the slightest!

Don Quixote glanced at the free knight opposite him who had suddenly switched from offense to defense and was hesitant to attack, and said:

"If you don't act now, you won't have another chance!"

"Damn it, don't underestimate me!"

Before the words were even finished, the last knight in the arena gritted his teeth and charged forward, his leather-bound longsword slashing horizontally with brute force.

Don Quixote flicked his wrist, and his leather-bound longsword struck the spine of his opponent's sword with pinpoint accuracy.

With a muffled clang, the opponent's leather-bound longsword instantly veered off course.

He then glided sideways to avoid the blunt force, and thrust his sword tip in, striking the opponent's shoulder armor in a vital spot.

When Don Quixote was dealing with the third free knight, he was too caught up in the chaos to continue his horse and seriously injure the other free knights, so he had to dismount.

Not long after he dismounted, the last free rider still on horseback was also forced to dismount and flee.

This marks the beginning of the second stage of the chaotic martial arts competition – foot combat!

This is usually the main part of a melee-style martial arts competition.

The horseback melee is usually just a warm-up, eliminating those riders who lack horse control skills.

The knight groaned, lost his balance, staggered a few steps, and fell heavily to his knees, his weapon slipping from his hand and rolling far away.

Don Quixote sheathed his sword, bowed slightly, and gave his fallen opponent a clean and crisp knightly salute.

After doing all this, he slowly raised his eyes and scanned the noisy crowd around him.

Cheers, shouts, and screams from several daring women filled the air.

In an instant, they surged in from all directions from the makeshift arena on the outskirts of White Harbor, almost overturning the muddy ground.

Some people were shouting the winner's name, while others were celebrating wildly after betting correctly.

At this moment, the old referee also slowly called out:

"We won! The ultimate winner has been decided!"

"He is none other than Sir Don Quixote of the Bloodhand Mercenary Group!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Rodney's private mansion.

Rodney looked at Don Quixote and smiled with satisfaction:

"Sir Don Quixote, I am willing to employ four members of your Bloodhand Mercenary Group!"

Rodney finished speaking.

"The employment tasks have been updated." Don Quixote's consciousness stirred slightly:

[Employer: Rodney]

[Mission: Protect fishmonger Rodney's caravan as it safely arrives at Abandoned Hill and returns safely to White Harbor.]

【award:

276 Golden Dragons (Unclaimable)

Nightmare Bone (Unclaimable)

"Is it because this time there are two rewards because this employment task is a one-time event, instead of the previous two long-term tasks that were paid daily or monthly?"

"So the rewards are even more generous?"

Don Quixote secretly wondered.

……

PS: (Please recommend and read this!)