Seven days after the defense of Jushi Town, Felix returned from reporting the battle situation and results to Viscount Pierre, the County Magistrate of Tinietz County, with his retinue, as Ron, who usually served as a messenger, was injured and returned to the valley to recuperate.
Accompanying him were several county officials and Soldiers who came to verify the military achievements, and of course, some commendation materials and weapons and armaments given to Art by Viscount Pierre in the name of the County Magistrate.
After Felix arrived in Tinietz, he boasted profusely, claiming that Court Guard Knight and Patrol Officer Art led his army to defeat hundreds of bandits, beheading nearly a hundred fierce bandits, with the Big Boss of the bandits decapitated, and all other bandits also beheaded.
Such stories were a mix of truth and falsehood, and since Felix indeed brought back many bandit heads, the news of the great victory in the county's bandit suppression spread wider and wider.
Initially, some people did not believe in repelling hundreds and beheading nearly a hundred, but soon after, bandit heads were displayed on both sides of the road for dozens of miles on the southern trade route, which caused the entire Tinietz County to erupt.
In the military tent, Felix was spouting excitedly, describing the scene of the county residents cheering loudly when he extensively publicized the bandit suppression battle in Tinietz County City.
"Brother-in-law, this time your reputation has spread throughout Tinietz County.
The county residents all call you 'The Decapitator,' and Viscount Pierre even said he would report Tinietz's bandit suppression achievements to the Besançon Court.
By then, your name might spread throughout the Earl."
For Tinietz County, which had been ravaged by bandits, being able to defeat hundreds of bandits and behead nearly a hundred bandit Soldiers was indeed a remarkable achievement, but such an achievement had to be verified by the county before daring to report it to the Court.
If military achievements were falsely reported, it would not be a small matter.
Therefore, after receiving Art's victory report, Viscount Pierre immediately selected a county official and several Soldiers to head south to verify the military achievements.
Art rubbed his hands and instructed Felix, "Go tell Odo to prepare some delicious food and wine for the county officials who came to inspect.
Let them eat and drink their fill before taking them to inspect the battlefield and count the heads."
At noon, Odo ordered his men to prepare a lavish table of food and wine for the county officials and Soldiers who came to verify the military achievements.
When the officials and Soldiers were half-drunk, Odo handed a few small silver coins to the leading official.
The official in charge of verification took his men to glance at the blood-soaked battlefield outside the camp and then asked a few people about battle details.
The military achievement verification task was completed in less than an hour.
After all, the bandit heads on the trade route were there, with two heads every mile, making it easy to count.
In the afternoon, the well-fed and well-drunk county official who verified the achievements refused Odo's enthusiastic offer to stay overnight and left Jushi Town with the conclusion that the achievements were true.
What awaited Art would be the commendation from the Court after Tinietz reported it.
And the reputation of "The Decapitator" Art also spread wider and wider in the county.
"The Decapitator!
I think it's more like he'll be decapitated himself.
What's so great about scaring away a few bandit ruffians who are not much stronger than serfs?"
In the Wincheston Manor mansion south of Tinietz County City, Dean, the new owner of the Manor and a Court Guard Knight, paced back and forth in the Lord's office.
Old Dean, a lean big merchant in a silk robe, sat quietly behind the desk in the room, lost in thought with his eyes closed.
Seeing his father unmoved, Dean continued to agitate, "Father, don't you agree, that Bastard was just lucky."
Old Dean opened his eyes and gently scolded, "You're in your twenties, yet still so impatient.
Sit down."
Dean drooped his head and sat down obediently.
After a while, Old Dean's voice rang out, "Did you send someone to inquire about that merchant caravan? Is there any news?"
"News has come back.
Our people saw that merchant caravan in the west.
They haven't engaged in southern goods trade much since we seized their goods in Besançon.
After the people we bribed attacked their caravan last time, those cowardly Bastards didn't even dare to use the Tinietz trade route anymore.
Now, it is said they are helping that old man Sap Galvin transport goods," Dean replied with disdain.
He felt that after the lessons in Besançon and Birch Forest, Art's merchant caravan had completely given up.
But Old Dean, the big merchant, having navigated the business world for many years, was shrewd and knew that in the face of such enormous profits, his opponent would definitely not give up so easily.
Behind the calm, turbulent waves must be hidden.
"Do you think the opponent has given up?" Old Dean asked.
Dean was full of confidence, "What else can they do?
How much ability can a Bastard of humble origin have?"
Old Dean saw his son speaking and acting without much thought, and anger surged within him, scolding, "Foolish!
Do you really think that Art has given in and surrendered?
Can't you use your brain?
Why would he, at great cost, pursue and eliminate bandits and vagrants along the southern trade route all the way north recently?
Just by looking at what he did in the south, you know his ambitions are not small.
Haven't you noticed that southern goods merchants coming to Tinietz have almost ceased recently?
And recently, our merchant caravans have been heavily taxed when passing through the southern border.
Do you think he just wants to extort our money and vent his anger?"
"The cessation of southern goods merchants is because the bandits have been too rampant recently, and those black-robed dogs are fighting everywhere.
Who would dare to carry valuable southern goods on the southern trade route?
Moreover, that Bastard's merchant caravan has never dealt in southern goods again, and now they don't even dare to use the Tinietz trade route.
Isn't this already a sign of surrender to us?" Dean was unconvinced.
"That's them clenching their fists!
Once he clears both sides of the southern trade route, he will definitely resume southern goods trade.
What's more, he has now become Sap Galvin's son-in-law.
Although that weakling Galvin will not interfere in the eastern southern goods trade, don't forget Galvin is immensely wealthy.
Once that wild wolf gets Galvin's funding, we will have to pay an even greater price!"
"Dean, remember this, never underestimate your opponent!
And your opponent is not of humble origin; he is the son of a Baron!"
"The son of a deposed Baron ~" Dean mumbled softly.
"A deposed Baron is still a Baron!" Old Dean's anger grew even more as he saw his son still looking down on people at this moment.
Seeing that his father was about to get angry, Dean quickly changed the subject and asked, "Then what should we do now?"
Old Dean also felt his temper was too strong, took a breath to calm down, and said, "First, our merchant caravans buying goods in the south must increase the number of guards.
Who knows when that fellow might dare to swallow our caravan.
If there are more people, he will at least be more wary.
At the same time, I will also recruit more guards to station at Wincheston Manor to prevent him from having ill intentions towards Wincheston Manor again; he has done this before.
Second, I will continue to contact guilds in various northern regions to isolate that merchant caravan.
Even if he can transport goods to the Northland, I will make sure he has no place to sell them.
Third, you must continue to have those people raised by Laine Manor keep a close eye on that Bastard.
Once his caravan passes through the Tinietz road, they are to be intercepted and killed without exception."