From a hired knight to a master of Game of Thrones

The martial arts tournament in Baigang lasted for five days.

There are horseback spear fighting competitions, group melee competitions, archery competitions, and individual melee competitions.

Don Quixote also won the archery competition and the individual melee combat competition.

In the group melee, he led two members of the Bloodhand Mercenary Group to defeat five knight groups under the command of lords, and emerged victorious.

This made Don Quixote's name and the Blood Hand Mercenary Group's name firmly remembered and cheered by the vast majority of people in White Harbor.

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.

On the high viewing platform.

Earl Wiman Mandler of White Harbor sat on a huge stone chair, his massive body almost filling the entire seat.

He was wearing a blue-green velvet robe.

The robe was adorned with many mermaid patterns embroidered in gold thread.

He wore a heavy gold chain around his waist, from which hung many keys.

Those should be the keys to the warehouses, fortresses, and vaults of White Harbor.

His fingers were so fat they looked like sausages, and the fat on his cheeks and chin drooped down, forming several layers of wrinkles.

His pale blue eyes appeared unusually small due to the ample fat pressing against his face.

His breathing was heavy and slow, as if each breath required tremendous effort.

The lord, over sixty years old, too obese to ride a horse in battle, and known as "the fat man who can't ride a horse," spoke in a soft, deep voice:

"Marlon, Willis, Maester Theomer, what do you think of Sir Don Quixote?"

Sir Marlon thought for a moment and commented:

"He is an excellent knight, both in skill and courage."

"I'm sure I'm no weaker than those renowned knights of the Seven Kingdoms."

He also participated in the soon-to-be-concluded tournament, though he was defeated by Don Quixote.

They lost in all four events: spear fighting, team melee, archery, and individual melee.

However, having actually fought Don Quixote, he was able to better appreciate Don Quixote's strength.

They're no longer on the same level.

Willis commented succinctly:

"Father, Sir Don Quixote is a good man, and he knows his manners."

Born into the Lannister family of Lannister Port, Maester Theomer Lannister, originally named Theomer Lannister, was a chubby man with a ruddy face, thin lips, and blond curly hair.

His gaze remained fixed on the large number of civilians around the arena who were cheering wildly for Don Quixote.

Upon hearing Earl Weymann's question, he quickly replied:

"He's not some high-ranking, renowned knight; the common people seem to have already hailed him as a hero!"

Count Weyman's gaze was fixed on the frantically shouting commoners, while he glanced at Don Quixote chatting with noble ladies and women, lost in thought.

It took him a while to say:

"I intend to make him a knight of the Mandalay family and reward him with a piece of land."

Upon hearing this, the people around Earl Wyman immediately fell silent.

It is extremely rare for someone of non-noble birth to receive a fief.

Because fiefdoms can be inherited.

From then on, knights with fiefs could sleep in their own castles, eat bread from their own estates, and have their own land and people.

For a mercenary knight, there is no greater honor than receiving a fief.

Therefore, it generally requires special favor from the lord.

For example, only those who have made great contributions on the battlefield or saved lives are likely to be awarded a title.

Sir Marlon hesitated:

"My lord, isn't this reward a bit too much?"

Earl Wyman looked at Maester Theomer and said:

"Scholar, tell them what the messages from the ravens sent by the Citadel last time foreshadowed."

"A letter came from the Citadel saying that the days are getting shorter and summer will soon be over!" Maester Theomer said immediately.

Earl Wiman then slowly said:

"Seven summers have passed since then, and the eighth one will soon be here."

"It's a long summer."

"And after the long summer comes an even longer winter!"

Earl Wiemann's words were filled with worry, and he quickly added:

"Winter in the North is not so easy to get through."

"Moreover, although the North appears to be at peace, the Bolton family, the Three Sisters Islands, and the Iron Islands are not forces that will continue to develop steadily."

"We've been peaceful for too long. Those guys might get restless. The Seven family's fate is already a warning to us."

"As for the South, the news I received tells me that the South is not so peaceful either. There has been chaos in many places, although it is not big, but I am very worried."

After pausing for a moment, Count Weyman glanced at Don Quixote and continued:

"With the long winter approaching, we need manpower, reliable manpower! Reliable manpower to maintain stability around White Harbor!"

"I've had people inquire about Don Quixote these past few days."

"Although the Blood Hand Mercenary Group he founded was not long ago, it has already gained the trust of many merchants."

"These people are capable and trustworthy; they're exactly the kind of manpower we need in White Harbor!"

At this point, he suddenly smiled:

"Besides, this fiefdom in the north is nothing compared to the fiefdom in the south."

"There is still enough land around Baigang. Taking advantage of this martial arts tournament, it won't have much of an impact to reward a few pieces."

"Well, in that case, the champion's prize money can be a bit less. Seven thousand gold coins is still a bit too much for the champions of all four events."

Since Count Wiemann has put his words to this point, it seems he has already made up his mind.

No one else had any further opinions.

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 bugle sounded again, and the entire stadium fell silent.

Earl Wiman slowly rose from the platform, his voice surprisingly loud:

Sir Don Quixote!

"You have earned the respect of all knights and commoners in this tournament."

"You have not only proven your martial arts skills, but also your courage and spirit."

"As the champion of the four competitions, you will receive a total of five thousand golden dragons!"

Upon hearing this, most of the people who were unaware of the truth immediately began to discuss it amongst themselves.

The champion of the long spear duel was a golden dragon.

The champion of the group melee competition was a golden dragon with two thousand gold pieces.

The archery champion will receive a thousand gold dragons.

The champion of the solo melee martial arts competition is a golden dragon with two thousand pieces of gold.

This is something that the authorities in Baigang have already widely publicized.

Did Earl Wyman change his mind because he saw Sir Don Quixote win four tournaments by himself and couldn't bear to part with the seven thousand golden dragons?

Thinking about this, many people frowned.

Just then, Count Weyman's voice rang out again:

"In addition, I will grant you a fiefdom."

"Grey Hill Village, and the surrounding lands and estates."

"It will always belong to you and your heirs."

"You will become my vassal, swear allegiance to me, and fight for me."

Hearing this, everyone in the room was incredulous, thinking they were hallucinating.

But soon, these people realized what was happening and burst into cheers.

Don Quixote was also astonished.

Count Weyman gazes at Don Quixote:

"I need a knight of oath, Sir Don Quixote. Will you swear allegiance to me?"

At this point, even if Don Quixote wanted to refuse, it would be difficult.

That would not only anger Wiman Mandler and the Mandler family, but would also severely damage the reputation and credibility he had built up during his time in White Harbor.

Moreover, from then on, it was difficult for any lord to appoint him as a knight of oath.

Although the identity of the Oath Knight was dispensable to Don Quixote.

But there is still a possibility that he may find it difficult to find employment again, at least not in the North.

If the Mandalay family had gone too far, Don Quixote would have had a very difficult time finding an employer even in the south.

He would then have no choice but to leave Westeros and travel to the other three continents of the Ice and Fire world.

However, if one accepts the investiture and becomes a knight of the Mandalay family, becoming a vassal of Wiman Mandalay.

He will have his own people, his own castle, his own manor, and his own land.

Furthermore, they could legally and without regard to anything, train militias and build private armed forces within their fiefdoms.

Whether it's good or bad depends on the choice.

Many thoughts flashed by and then vanished.

"I do, Count Wiemann," Don Quixote said hastily.

"I will always be loyal to you and your family, and protect your land and honor."

He went from a wandering hired knight to a sworn knight with his own fief.

This was something Old Valentine had always dreamed of, and something many hired knights had spent their entire lives hoping for.

Thinking of this, Don Quixote sighed inwardly.

……

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