Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 509 - 288

Losa looked at the envoy being carried away on a stretcher and frowned as he asked Raymond, who was still sitting in the corner, "Lord Tiberias, if I hadn’t returned, would you have just watched, as the Hungarian King’s envoy was beaten to death in the Crusaders’ camp?"

Duke Raymond lifted his hand to stroke his beard and said lightly, "I don’t possess the Marquis’ esteemed prestige to make a group of drunkards stop. Your Guard doesn’t heed my orders."

Ha—

Losa chuckled softly, "Is Lord Tiberias also hoping to watch a joke?"

"Who makes us all on the same boat?"

Raymond indifferently pointed at the wine glass on the table, "Have a sip, Bordeaux’s wine, your father’s favorite. Though he was a stubborn lunatic, his taste was not bad."

Duke Raymond wanted to secure the title of the Duke of Cyrenaica for his son. As Losa’s important supporter and main patron, he worried about the dilution of his shares.

Once those ravenous European Monarchs arrive and buy in, even if there’s still a share for him in the post-war allocation—the price he would pay is far greater than cooperating with Losa.

"I will soon dispatch supplies, the Knight Order, and the donations from various churches to your camp, ensuring their timely delivery. You should depart soon."

Losa shook his head, "No need to rush; the European kings won’t arrive that fast."

Since departing, the European Monarchs had been "preparing" the Crusaders, but were mostly distracted by the Western Kingdoms’ war against Sicily, and there was the notorious slow mobilization of the feudal system. To say the Crusaders led by European Monarchs could arrive within a month was simply a Heavenly reverie.

Raymond shook his head, "That’s true, but since your debut, you’ve likely never engaged in a siege battle. A war dragging on for months is not impossible. Moreover, Safudin might divert the Nile River."

"No, Safudin won’t do that."

Losa was confident, "We are currently holding a naval advantage, so how much delay could diverting the Nile River realistically cause our forces? At worst, we’ll just attack from the sea. If Safudin dares such a move, the forces against him will grow even stronger."

"It seems you already have contingencies for potential challenges."

Raymond was thoughtful.

No wonder Losa was called a master strategist; his foresight was indeed impressive.

"My second son will lead a cavalry to serve under your command tomorrow night. He’s a brave knight—though this decision has made my eldest son quite dissatisfied, as he also wishes to serve under the ’Holy Spear Guardian.’"

"I’m honored to be the patron of your noble son, Duke."

The two exchanged smiles, each raised their glass, and drank the sweet wine.

At this moment, they seemed rather like friends.

But Losa was well aware that they were merely temporary partners; the old fox had many schemes, ones that he might have orchestrated or fomented secretly.

The Regent King, who had controlled the Jerusalem situation for over a decade, already wielded influence in the Holy Land like the Divine Tree of New Habsburg, with roots pervasive in every corner.

"Continue enjoying the song and dance, Duke. I must discipline those troublesome drunkards."

"I think they did nothing wrong."

"Anyone else I cannot constrain, but in my camp, my soldiers must follow military orders!"

"Kurs!"

He stood, calling loudly, "What’s the punishment for unauthorized brawling in the camp?"

Kurs, who was already beside Losa unbeknownst to anyone, solemnly replied, "Ten lashes, or double if the brawl was alcohol-induced."

As soon as the words were spoken, the knights and nobles around changed their expressions.

Losa frowned, "Then why are they still standing there? Call the Axe Guard to arrest everyone involved in the brawl and make them pay the price!"

Raymond was somewhat taken aback, thinking, are you serious?

Some nobles were thoughtful, watching intently. Was this the unique training method of Marquis Losa? Clearly defined rewards and punishments... it sounded simple, but they couldn’t replicate it. They didn’t have Losa’s esteemed reputation.

In the scene, there was dead silence.

The minstrel’s melodious voice seemed choked, not daring to breathe. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Raymond at this moment truly understood the terrifying prestige the youthful Marquis, enveloped in Holy Light, possessed—enough to make even him, accustomed to seeing storms, feel a sense of awe and fear.

"Sir, please punish me. I was the first to strike, and it was I who shouted ’kill this son of a bitch.’"

Derum stepped out, looking slightly apprehensive.

This era’s whippings were not trivial; a weaker constitution could lead to being beaten to death or dying from infection post-injury; the probability wasn’t small.

Losa looked at the young knight, expressionless, "Since we’ve caught the instigator, the rest can have their whipping reduced by ten blows. Today’s banquet, with drinking permitted in the military, allows the rest ten more reduced. Only this one, thirty blows."

Derum’s face turned pale.

Some knights wanted to plead for Derum, but facing Losa’s piercing gaze, they dared not step forward.

Abdullah, standing behind Losa, winked at the fearful Derum, indicating he was on the right path.

"After receiving the lashes, join the Winged Cavalry Camp."

"But I haven’t learned the basics of knighthood."

"No, you’ve mastered them."

Losa smiled as he pointed to his own head, "Here, think carefully, and you’ll discover you’ve received the Heavenly Father’s blessing."

The Imperial Knight’s title, although unlike a camp, couldn’t be bought, yet the skills were complete. As Imperial Knights, they inherently mastered the Six Arts of the Knight—swordsmanship, hunting, riding skill, swimming, playing chess, and poetry recitation.

During the Hundred Years’ War phase of Imperial Knights, already part of the late Middle Ages, a knight’s required qualities were far higher than now. Rogue knights, who roamed the countryside on a thin horse, wearing tattered chain armor, were already like...

...

The envoy showed a cold smile.

"Feeling the urgency now? The more urgent, the better!"

He would not believe, hastily dispatched

Unless, he truly was

But how could that be possible?

But merely a witchcraft trick; he could deceive these Frankish rogue knights, but he couldn’t deceive...

In Hungary, wizards were not uncommon,