From a hired knight to a master of Game of Thrones

A blind spot in the view of a small patch of woodland.

A man with rough, cracked skin and severe frostbite scars on his face looked to the side with a sinister gaze and said in a low voice:

"Boss, should we let this caravan go?"

"Just four trucks, but with so many guards, this shipment must be something special, definitely valuable!"

"If you can take on ten men at once, I wouldn't mind trying to plunder them," the leader, according to Frozen Scar, sneered.

Then he cursed inwardly:

"Damn it, being this cautious is practically driving us crazy!"

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.

The group continued their journey until nightfall before stopping to rest.

They lit a fire for warmth and distributed dry rations.

This region is located on the eastern coast of the North, where temperatures are slightly milder than inland, but it is still affected by the extreme weather of the North.

The sky had darkened into an impenetrable inky black.

Only a few scattered, cold stars hung overhead.

The wind swept across the hills, scattering the warmth of the campfire.

Don Quixote had arranged the shifts well in advance so that he could include every member of the team within the influence of the Nightmare Bone.

He sat on a flat patch of grass.

He appeared to be slowly and deliberately wiping his longsword.

In reality, most of the attention was focused on the various dream storylines.

Mostly disappointing, but there were also some pleasant surprises.

"I wasn't shaved bald."

After a long while, Don Quixote regained his composure and pondered silently:

"Of the twenty-six people, only three were of firm belief, one of whom was from the Silas caravan."

"Fourteen people are not trustworthy, but nine can be used!"

"Of the sixteen people initially selected, only seven can ultimately remain. One person will have unwavering faith, and the remaining six can be recruited!"

"Warren's unwavering conviction surprised me."

"Tom and Shane surprised me too. Hah, they betrayed me so easily!"

The night passed quickly.

The next morning, Don Quixote, with an unreadable expression, gave orders for the Bloodhand mercenaries to orderly guard the four trucks.

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.

Old Town is one of the oldest castles in the North.

Before the Andal invasion, this was the royal residence of the Locke family when they were minor kings.

The inhabitants of the territory primarily worship the Old Gods.

Don Quixote looked up at the ancient castle before him, built by the First Men before the Long Night of the Heroic Age.

The main building is constructed using dark gray stone blocks mined from the eastern coast of the northern region.

The walls are extremely thick, reaching several meters in some places.

It is sufficient to withstand the blizzards and strong winds of the long, harsh winter in the North.

And the bombardment of siege weapons.

The Locke family's key emblem is engraved in several key locations on the wall.

The rest of the walls are plain stone walls.

It fully demonstrates the ruggedness and solemnity of the architecture of our ancestors.

The city wall is dotted with several sturdy, round stone watchtowers.

The tallest main watchtower is called the "Key Tower".

The Locke family's purple-and-white-striped key-and-coat-of-the-crown banner hangs perpetually atop the tower.

The two crossed brass keys on a purple background with white stripes are the coat of arms of the Locke family.

A stern-faced cavalry leader stopped the caravan, talking to Silas while keeping a watchful eye on the Bloodhand Mercenary Group.

Before long, the cavalry leader walked up to Don Quixote.

He wore a thick wool overcoat in purple and white.

The robe features a white vertical stripe running across the front, and a complete cross-key emblem embroidered in copper wire on both the front and back.

Don Quixote glanced at him and heard the cavalry leader say in a cold voice:

"You cannot enter the city. There are some inns nearby. Stay there!"

"Remember! Don't disturb the neighbors!"

Don Quixote nodded and smiled:

"no problem."

The cavalry leader added coldly:

"After sunset, no one may approach within a hundred paces of the city walls."

"If you dare to cause trouble, we will not give you a second chance to speak."

After saying this, the cavalry leader turned and left.

Silas then walked over, looking ashamed, and said:

"Sir Don Quixote, you may have to spend the night outside the city."

"Sir Donald Locke believed that too many people living in the outer city's accommodations for traveling merchants would destabilize the security of the old city."

Don Quixote smiled slowly:

"It's alright, we're used to living here."

Silas breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

His round, chubby face showed undisguised embarrassment, and he apologized again in a low voice:

"Sir Don Quixote, I am truly sorry."

The caravan entered the old city in an orderly fashion.

The Bloodhand Mercenary Group slowly turned around to find a suitable place to stay, eventually stopping outside a simple inn about half a mile west of the old city gate.

It was a two-story low house built of rough stone, with a rusty iron sign hanging at the entrance.

Don Quixote assigned two men to guard the group's mounts outside.

The rest of the people rushed into the cramped, shabby inn.

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.

Two days later.

The outskirts of White Harbor.

...I didn't expect that nothing would happen along the way. I should have known better than to hire the Bloodhand Mercenary Group.

Two golden dragons—that's almost half of his profit from this business trip!

Silas reluctantly handed a bag of coins to Don Quixote.

This is the remaining payment for this employment assignment.

Don Quixote accepted it with a smile:

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Your Excellency Silas."

"It's a pleasure to work with you, Sir Don Quixote," Silas said with a forced smile.

After parting ways with Silas, Don Quixote distributed the earnings from his employment job.

He received 2 gold dragons from Silas, but this trip cost him a whopping 3 gold dragons.

However, considering the system task rewards and the upcoming recruitment of seven usable individuals.

They made a huge profit.

[Employer: Silas]

[Mission: Protect the caravan of fishmonger Silas as it safely arrives in the Old Town and returns safely to White Harbor.]

【award:

206 Golden Dragons (Available to claim)

A large bag of blood apples (available for collection)

"receive!"

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.

The next day.

Don Quixote handed Cole the pre-written recruitment list and the addresses of those people, and instructed him:

"Cole, you and Alden go and call these people over here."

Cole took the list and smiled:

"Sir, are these the new members you plan to recruit for the Bloodhand Mercenary Group?"

Don Quixote nodded and said:

"Yes, I think these people would be useful."

Cole and Alden left quickly.

Not long after.

Don Quixote stood in front of the courtyard, looking at the seven people in front of him.

Zachary, Jeremy...

The names of the seven people flashed through his mind one by one.

Zachary was one of the few who held firm to his beliefs.

They stared at each other for a while.

The seven people in the courtyard showed a hint of anticipation on their faces, as if they had been invited.

Don Quixote told them yesterday.

He will invite those who are truly suitable to join the Bloodhand Mercenary Group today.

Finally, Don Quixote slowly smiled and said:

I believe you are all trustworthy people!

"Therefore, I sincerely invite you to join the Bloodhand Mercenary Group!"

Upon hearing this, the seven people in the courtyard, though having anticipated it, still breathed a sigh of relief.

……

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