The weather slowly began to turn hot, as early summer quietly arrived.
However, the mood of the military and civilians in Provence, Osta War Zone, was icy cold.
The year-long stalemate between Provence and Lombardy had become increasingly passive with the secret involvement of the Swabia Grand Duchy in the eastern South Land.
A week ago, Swabia suddenly announced its support for Lombardy's attack on Provence.
Originally, the war between Provence and Lombardy was merely a territorial dispute between two Grand Duchies.
Now, Swabia, separated by hundreds of miles of mountains, declared war on Provence, marking the beginning of a major shift in Southern Europe.
Given the situation, the Burgundy Grand Duchy, to prevent Swabia and Lombardy from becoming too powerful, instructed its subordinate Burgundy County to send troops into the eastern border region to deter and contain Swabia, preventing a large-scale southward and westward advance of the Swabia army.
The already tense eastern border of Burgundy County began to see sporadic skirmishes.
These engagements were nominally autonomous actions by border lords, but everyone could see that Burgundy was intentionally probing and provoking Swabia.
Of the two thousand troops initially mobilized by Burgundy County across its four provinces and twenty-one counties, all remaining forces were deployed to the eastern border region, apart from those garrisoned in various strongholds and castles.
At this time, the Marquis's Court of Burgundy County in Besançon was continuing to mobilize all available military forces to respond to the large-scale warfare that could erupt at any moment.
When the order for another troop levy reached Tinietz City, Viscount Pierre's head almost exploded.
According to the Court's order, the entire Tinietz County had to recruit no less than fifty Soldiers, bringing their own weapons, food, and all necessary equipment, to assemble in Besançon within two months.
The Court would provide short-term training to the newly recruited Soldiers before deploying them to the eastern front, where war might break out.
In the Tignes Lord's Hall office, Baron Ambrus Vaz, a major estate owner from outside Tinietz City, was loudly complaining to Viscount Pierre: "My Lord, we simply cannot fulfill the Court's order.
If it were just fifty laborers, it would be fine, but where are we to find fifty armed Soldiers now?
Last time the Court levied troops, I even sent out my Internal Affairs Knight.
As a Baron, I now have fewer than thirty Soldiers at hand, and a group of peasant Soldiers from my other territories have also been successively conscripted."
Viscount Pierre was also irritated by Ambrus's clamor and sternly rebuked him: "What are you complaining about?
Half of my nearly two hundred garrison Soldiers, which I painstakingly accumulated, were drawn away last time.
Did I say a single word of objection?
I called you here to discuss solutions, not to listen to your complaints."
Baron Ambrus slightly calmed his emotions and said to Viscount Pierre, who was sitting in an armchair: "My Lord, Tinietz County is not your territory, and the city's garrison is not your private army.
We do not have true authority here.
The various village forts throughout the county are scattered fiefs of various Earls and Viscounts.
Let us abandon this task soon and return to the Court.
Being an estate owner is not very interesting; it would be better to return to the Court and serve as a close aide to the Marquis."
"I still want to return to the Court, but I have been in Tinietz County for three years without any achievements.
How can I have the face to return to the Marquis's side?
Recently, bandits have been rampant in the county, and there is unrest everywhere.
Who would be willing to take over this mess in Tinietz?
Are we to ask the Marquis to personally come to Tinietz to take charge?!"
Viscount Pierre thought of this and angrily threw the silver goblet in his hand to the floor.
Ambrus quickly stepped forward, picked up the goblet, and placed it back on the table, comforting him: "My Lord, the rampant bandits in the county are not your fault; they are caused by those refugees fleeing north from Provence.
Besides, isn't there a Patrol Officer maintaining order in the county now?
I heard that Antaias successfully recaptured Ars Fort with the help of this fellow.
Presumably, with this fellow around, the county's public order might stabilize a little."
The unintentional mention of "Patrol Team" instantly brightened the minds of the two men in the office, and a flexible solution emerged.
"You might not believe it, but I followed my Lord south to fight simply for two meals of gruel a day."
In the evening, at the caravan camp, Odo was gathering the Soldiers who had finished dinner around a bonfire and began to give a motivational speech.
Recently, there had been signs of fear among the Patrol Team Soldiers about moving south.
As the Patrol Team's Deputy Captain and military judge, Odo, at Art's instruction, had taken on the task of stabilizing the Soldiers' morale.
"At Lucerne, a few of us were ostracized by the guild, and we were on the verge of starvation.
It was my Lord who brought us south and gave us a way to live.
Now, in just over half a year, I have experienced three battles, one raid, and was even chased by bandits in the forest for an entire afternoon.
If I said I wasn't afraid of death, that would be a damn lie, but fear is fear, yet every time I face the enemy's blades, I always dare to draw my sword and fight for my life.
You ask me why? Because this world is such a mess.
Where God's holy light does not reach, you must carve out a dawn for yourself…"
The Soldiers gathered around the bonfire began to make scattered responses.
Spencer, who was washing deep buckets and copper pots in the makeshift "kitchen" nearby, pursed his lips and muttered softly: "Saying all this is just to incite everyone to risk their lives, isn't it?
It's all damn empty talk.
Why not just say 'we'll give you money, food, and promotions'?
He has to be long-winded like a scribe~"
No sooner had Spencer's muttering stopped than Odo's voice rang out again: "All that just now was empty talk to boost morale.
Let me say something practical.
All of us are refugees who fled north because of war, or low-born people begging for survival like slaves.
Who knows, one day we might freeze or starve to death in some unknown corner.
But now?
Has anyone here gone hungry?
Has anyone suffered from the cold?
Has anyone's pay been withheld?"
Facing Odo's barrage of questions, the Soldiers all firmly shook their heads in denial.
"That's right.
My Lord provides us with food and drink, pays us, and teaches us combat skills for self-defense and killing.
Why?"
"Why?" Odo asked again.
Everyone listened in silence.
"Because we are willing to risk our lives for our Lord.
No one is afraid of death, but no one wants to live.
Being afraid of death is not shameful, but since you have eaten this military ration and received this military pay, you should be worthy of the master's investment.
If anyone dares to shy away from battle and flee, then the battle-axe in my hand will cut off his head…"
Standing outside the military tent, watching Odo eloquently speaking with the Soldiers by the bonfire, Roen whispered to Art: "My Lord, how can this Elder Brother Odo be so eloquent and articulate~ Is he really from a laborer's background~"
Art did not directly answer Roen's doubt, nor would he tell Roen that he had prompted Odo with these words.
Instead, he smiled and said: "That's why I made him the Deputy Captain of the Patrol Team."
Art changed the subject and asked: "Roen, it's been over half a year.
How many words have you learned from Old Butler?"
Roen smiled and rubbed his head, "My Lord, I have learned a few words, but I always forget them as I learn them~ The words recognize me, but I don't recognize them."
"Hmm, after all, you are not priests or nobles, so asking you to learn writing is indeed a bit much.
However, for your future, try to learn more words.
Who knows, one day you might become a noble."
"My Lord, I don't dare to aspire to be a noble.
I just want to have a small farm someday and be a country squire~"
"Haha, alright, come with me on patrol."
Saying that, he took a torch from beside the military tent and walked towards the sentry post at the edge of the camp.
A day later, the grain caravan successfully reached Kitzby City.
Baron Belian temporarily stored all the grain in the city's military camp.
After arranging the caravan's affairs, Baron Belian came to Art's camp in the open space of the city square.
"Art, here is your commission for today, three hundred fenny."
Saying that, he handed twenty-five small silver shillings to Art.
Art took the silver coins and asked: "My Lord, you must have other matters, this small amount of pay is not worth you delivering it personally."
Baron Belian felt a bit awkward that his thoughts had been guessed, and he chuckled: "I did come to you personally because there are some matters I wish to discuss with you.
You know, my trip north this time was twofold: first, to raise military provisions, which has now been largely accomplished; and second, to recruit a group of Soldiers to accompany me to Kalk Fort, a fortress north of Osta City, to defend against the Lombardy army's attack.
However, I have only managed to recruit less than half of the Soldiers needed so far, which is quite unfavorable."
Art had already guessed what Baron Belian wanted to say and gently interrupted: "My Lord, you wish to continue employing my Patrol Team to fight with you?"
Baron Belian's face relaxed: "Dealing with intelligent people is much simpler."
Art refused directly without hesitation: "My Lord, please forgive my rudeness, but I cannot accept your invitation."
"Why?" Baron Belian had initially thought that someone like Art, who resembled a mercenary or bounty hunter, would not refuse a high salary.
"My Lord, you have also noticed that most of my Patrol Team are new recruits.
They have only recently joined the Patrol Team and are not fit for battle.
They struggle even against a few bandits, let alone facing well-trained and well-equipped armies."
Baron Belian thought Art was just making excuses to raise his price, and he chuckled: "Art, I have already witnessed the combat power of your black-robed Soldiers.
Although they lack some of the killing intent of seasoned veterans, their formations and combat skills are excellent.
If you are willing to go south with me to fight, I am willing to pay you a daily salary of one thousand fenny, with additional rewards if there are spoils of war."
The two discussed for a long time in the military tent, but ultimately, Art still refused Baron Belian's invitation.
Art was not reckless.
He knew that the situation in the Osta War Zone was not optimistic.
He accepted the Baron's employment to escort grain south for three reasons: first, he owed Baron Belian a not-so-small favor, and the Baron had offered a high military fee; second, he wanted to take the Patrol Team south to experience war and temper the Soldiers' courage; third, he wanted to personally observe the southern war situation and personally explore this era.
As for his firm refusal to be hired by Baron Belian to participate in the war, there were also three reasons: first, he knew that the Provence army in the Osta War Zone would surely suffer countless casualties and be at a disadvantage, otherwise Baron Belian would not personally go north to recruit Soldiers and buy grain.
Participating in the war in Osta at this time would be pure suicide.
Art regarded the Patrol Team as the foundation of his rise, and he would never let the Patrol Team fall into peril of annihilation; second, the Patrol Team had only been established for just over half a year.
Although they had experienced some battles, their combat power was still relatively weak, and many veterans and new recruits had joined the Patrol Team precisely to escape the war in Provence.
Even during this southward escort of grain, there were some who planned to flee.
If they were told to participate in the intense Osta War Zone, it would certainly cause instability within the team's morale; third, Art's focus was still on Burgundy County.
According to the rumors that had spread earlier, Burgundy County might face a crisis unseen in decades, and danger always comes with rare opportunities.
Under duress, Baron Belian had no choice but to order a further two-day stay in Kitzby City and personally recruit Soldiers throughout the city and its outskirts.
Art also ordered the Patrol Team to rest briefly in the city and distributed the military rewards from the previous hill battle.