When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

“I reckon Thousand River Valley is doomed!”

The morning mist on the banks of the Nauan River had yet to dissipate, but the Saint Lazo Market in Summerleaf City was already packed with a bustling crowd.

Amidst the rows of merchant stalls, this critical voice was particularly jarring.

The originally lively street fell silent for a moment.

Standing in front of his meat stall with its faded canvas awning, the butcher Giovanni realized he had spoken too loudly and quickly retreated behind his counter.

Unfortunately, the watchman on patrol at the street corner had already approached.

“Don't go spouting nonsense, or the River Rats will come and smash up your shop.” The grim-faced watchman rapped his iron rod against the meat stall counter, making a "thump thump" sound.

The butcher, who had been speaking, shrank his neck: “Yes, yes.”

But as the watchman turned to leave, the butcher spat a thick wad of phlegm in their direction: “The dog duke's lackeys!”

“Giovanni, old brother, are you alright?” A vendor selling cabbages next door poked his head out from behind his stall.

“I'm fine, I'm fine…” Giovanni waved his hand, “They're probably just afraid of another Oranber incident, so they don't dare do anything.”

“That King Ginigis, he's actually brought us some fairness.”

“That's right, hahaha.”

With a straight face, Giovanni quickly returned to his position: “What can I get for you two?”

“Give us two pounds of blood sausage and three pounds of pork leg, the fatty kind.” The young man's heavy Hottam accent instantly brought a smile to Giovanni's face.

“No problem, are you back from the frontier?”

“Yes, just got back.”

“Then you must miss the sausage from home, hahaha.”

As he spoke, Giovanni turned to get the sausage, while the middle-aged man behind the young man asked with dissatisfaction: “Why didn't you let me speak?”

“Old Rafer, your mountain accent is too obvious, these Hottam County people hate mountain people the most.”

Old Rafer's tone was faintly resentful: “Damn it, they can live so well because of us fighting to the death on the frontier, what are they so proud of?”

“After all, you've seen the result of the Gravel Plains War…” Kaler patted the mountain giant on the shoulder, “There's no way around it.”

After being angry, Old Rafer was also helpless.

Just listen to the surrounding discussions.

“Useless things…”

“I heard that Iron Gate Town has been occupied.”

“I heard that several fortresses have surrendered, if I had known this, why would I have paid taxes?”

“When the Laians come, there will be fairness.”

“Isn't Prince Condé also a Laian?”

“What do you know? Prince Condé is from the Golden Finch Dynasty, and he's an enemy of our Blue Bee royal family, otherwise why would he treat us so badly?”

“The king still loves us.”

“Just learned the mountain accent, now I have to learn the Laian accent.”

“You're still learning the Laian accent? I'm already learning Frankish!”

In August, people were still singing praises of the Despot Duke.

In September, the wind started to change.

Now in October, with the war bonds collapsing, riots breaking out, and the Laians invading, those praises have all turned into curses.

Since the fall of Iron Gate Town five days ago, the Laian army has begun to sweep the surrounding fortresses along the border.

If it weren't for the Royal Guard Captain Rafer's steady and methodical approach, choosing to prioritize attacking the surrounding fortresses to prevent being cut off, Summerleaf City would probably already be under siege.

But Old Rafer had to admit that the Guard Captain's judgment was quite correct.

Because Melia's initial plan was to use Summerleaf City as bait.

She herself would lead elite troops to raid the rear, using the fortresses to lock the Laian's retreat, and cooperate with the Hohn Salvation Army to close the door and beat the dog.

It was just a pity that Rafer had obviously investigated Melia's command style and decided to consolidate his position first.

There was no choice but to change the original plan and enter Summerleaf City first.

As for Old Rafer and the other soldiers, Melia gave them a few days off before making her decision.

Now the casinos, taverns, and brothels around Summerleaf City are full of soldiers returning from the frontier.

It must be said that Melia did not shorten the debts of the creditors, but she never shortened the salaries of the soldiers.

Not only were they paid in full, but those who fought bravely even made a small bonus.

Kaler and Old Rafer discussed and decided to pool some money, buy some meat, and give everyone a treat.

It's good to be alive, but if you die, at least die a full ghost.

“Two pounds of blood sausage, three pounds of pork leg, tied up with twine for you.” As he spoke, Giovanni also offered a piece of pork belly, “I'll also give you half a pound of pork jowl, it's delicious grilled.”

Kaler naturally paid cheerfully, and while Giovanni was getting the change, he asked in a low voice: “Just now, I heard you say that Thousand River Valley is doomed, what do you mean?”

Giovanni, who had been bending over, suddenly stood up straight and looked Kaler up and down: “Are you from the Cheka?”

“No.” Kaler naturally shook his head.

Giovanni looked around, bent down, and then took advantage of the opportunity to hand over the meat: “You don't know, do you? The Despot Duke is dead!”

“Dead?!” Kaler's voice suddenly became sharp, impossible, Melia was still giving instructions before he left.

It's only been three days, how could he be dead? Did his condition deteriorate so quickly?

“Shhh, shhh.” Giovanni quickly covered Kaler's mouth, smearing it with grease, “How could it be fake, he died a week ago.”

Kaler was speechless, it was just another rumor.

Old Rafer had long expected it, and just sneered at this moment.

“What are you laughing at? The end of the Thousand River Valley Monarchy has come.” Giovanni patted the counter with dissatisfaction, “Those two usurpers should have returned Thousand River Valley to Laia long ago, causing us to suffer.”

Without Giovanni explaining, Old Rafer and Kaler both knew who those two were referring to.

“It's not that serious, is it?”

“Not serious? How can we fight when they have nine more like Thousand River Valley? We can't fight!”

“But we have to fight in the end.”

“So you brave Hottam County lads have to be careful.” Giovanni said in a low voice, “Sew a Blue Bee flag in advance before going to the battlefield, when the Laians come, you show the flag, at least you can save your life, we're all our own people, don't lose your life for those two.”

After holding it in for a long time, Old Rafer still couldn't help but say: “It's not that bad, without the Despot Duke, aren't there still the Salvation Army and the Great Patriarch?”

Hearing Old Rafer's mountain accent, Giovanni's expression immediately changed: “Oh, right, right, right, your Great Patriarch is invincible, the Salvation Army can fight ten, right? Oh, that's so right!”

Old Rafer was first stunned, then chuckled but didn't argue anymore, just patted Kaler's back and left.

Kaler glanced at the butcher with a complicated expression, and just followed Old Rafer's footsteps with a wry smile.

“I wasted my pork jowl for nothing!” Giovanni continued to spit a thick wad of phlegm at the two men's backs, “The dog duke's lackeys!”

… … … …

“I thought you would refute him.” Kaler caught up with Old Rafer.

“Refute what? What's there to refute?” Old Rafer said gruffly.

“You say, we work so hard fighting on the frontier, is it worth it for these people?” After being treated kindly by the butcher from beginning to end, Kaler was finally filled with a suppressed anger.

Old Rafer shook his head: “What are you thinking about that for? I'm here for the money, if the money is enough, I'll sell my life, that's enough.”

“This is life.”

“My life is cheap, I've lived to this day and made so much money for my family, every second I live is a profit.”

Kaler couldn't say anything.

Carrying the pork and sausage, the two walked along, reaching the dock.

At this time, the waterway was crowded with boats, and as far as the eye could see, they were all citizens and craftsmen fleeing for their lives.

It's just that they can only run upstream, because downstream is the direction the Laians are coming from.

Not only were chains stretched across the river at narrow points, but there were also continuous water gates and shore defense griffin cannons on both banks.

As for outside the city, a large number of residential houses were torn down, and small bunkers and bastion towers with sloping breastworks were also starting to be built.

Refugees and beggars huddled under the trees, feeling the chilly wind of October, and occasionally casting hungry and hateful glances at everyone.

Thinking of Summerleaf City, which had returned to prosperity a year ago, and the thriving Saint Mechanical Court in his memory, Kaler felt extremely uncomfortable.

The two had just arrived at the gate of the camp outside the city and were about to enter the camp when Kaler suddenly felt Old Rafer next to him snap to attention:

“Loyal! Sincere!”

Sitting on his tall horse, the Despot Duke glanced down at the two soldiers carrying pork, nodded, and continued to ride forward.

After Melia left, Kaler and Old Rafer looked at each other, their smiles tinged with bitterness.