Our Family Has Fallen-Chapter 824 - 476: Bastia’s Military Forces

"She is a woman brought by the Eagle Flock. She has nowhere else to go, and I hope, my Lord, you can keep her here." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Laura naturally couldn't say that the woman was presented as a gift; she herself felt a bit embarrassed.

Because she realized this man was somewhat different from the nobility she was familiar with, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what was odd.

So she spoke more tactfully, and these few lines were squeezed out with much effort from the not-so-cultured Laura.

"Oh, I see. Then there's no problem." Lance roughly understood the woman's situation and immediately lost interest, turning back to continue towards the study, "Tell me more about Bastia."

Laura didn't know much, especially about high-level affairs, which were out of her reach.

Within the Eagle Flock, she was more of a tool, not the one drawing the bow. She wasn't even considered the bow; she was merely the arrow shot out.

However, her growth coincided with Bastia's rise, so through her, one could glimpse the secrets behind that rise.

Similar to Ovando City, Bastia emerged as a power after Hamlet's decline.

From the power structure of the territory, the Earl has four Barons under his command, along with over a hundred Knights.

Unlike the cavalry of Alvin's Order of Knights, these hundred Knights had their own fief, although a Knight's domain was merely the size of a village, and the village's manager was essentially the village chief.

Nonetheless, these "village chiefs" were the backbone of the territory, and the Earl relied on them to control it.

Similarly, the Church held an extraordinary position within the territory. Church members were deeply involved in the towns below, and the tithes to be collected couldn't be absent; even the Earl had to show respect to the Bishop.

From Lance's perspective, Bastia seemed to be a very traditional feudal noble territory, with a co-governance of nobility and church.

In terms of the army, as they often collaborated with the Eagle Flock, Laura was fairly familiar with it.

Bastia had three Knight Orders, each fully staffed with fifty men. These one hundred and fifty might be called Knights, but more accurately, they were cavalry.

As for those Knights, they were conceivably nobility and often accompanied by one or two Retainers, and they would don armor and mount horses during wartime, considered as fighting force.

Thus, the tally was 100 Knights + 100 Retainers + 150 cavalry = 350 cavalry.

Regarding infantry, the standing army was merely three thousand.

Since there was no open warfare, maintaining an army had large expenses, and recruiting strong men was more common; those equipped with their own weapons and food were the better soldiers.

However, with Bastia's population of over ten thousand, mobilizing several thousand young men during wartime was quite normal.

Currently, Bastia had just over three hundred Knights and three thousand infantry.

In Lance's memory, wars involving thousands of cavalry and tens of thousands of infantry seemed farcical by comparison.

But in reality, Bastia's power in the Northern Borderlands of the Empire was formidable; otherwise, it could not suppress the Mountain Barbarian Tribe and become one of the Empire's six legendary forces.

If Bastia didn't control the Empire and the mountain's throat, using it to earn fortunes, they probably couldn't sustain such an army.

Aside from this, the Earl's private army included the Eagle Flock—a surrendered Barbarian Tribe—and a spy merchant group adept at disguise, as well as providing Sanctuary to Transcendents similar to the Flame Warlock.

These hidden powers should not be underestimated; if Lance were not included, Hamlet truly had nothing presentable in front of Bastia.

No wonder they dared to let a mere fifty-man Knight Order attempt to annex Hamlet.

But to Lance, all of this seemed laughable.

If they dare to invade, they shall be utterly defeated!

"Tell me about the Baron's daughter. What happened along the way?"

"She's a very peculiar person..."

Laura also found herself unable to figure out Margaret.

Why would someone abandon the life of a noble lady to engage in such activities?

However, Margaret's "glorious" deeds spread widely, even someone like her, who doesn't pay much attention to these matters, had heard of them.

Lance couldn't help but laugh upon hearing about the hunting farce.

This person is quite interesting...

In the hall, the two of them focused on their bowls of thin porridge, finishing a bowl in a few gulps.

The warm porridge going down felt like a pair of warm hands soothing the tangled, twitching intestines, and the feeling of a full stomach was truly wonderful, revitalizing them completely.

Yet, clearly, one bowl wasn't enough; humanity's primal greed was stirred, and they desired more.

Susan watched the two, seemingly already understanding their intentions, and continued to ladle porridge into their bowls from the pot.

"Don't worry, there's more."

Without saying anything, they simply continued drinking their second bowl...

But after they finished the third bowl, Susan did not continue to feed them, instead taking the pot away.

"You can't eat anymore. You've been hungry for so long, and suddenly eating this much will overwhelm your body. Rest for a bit, give your body time to recover."

"Is there more?"

When a person has been hungry for several days and then faces food, never doubt the hunger of the body.

The black-haired woman held her bowl, looking at Susan, clearly preferring to risk overeating rather than face hunger again.

Having followed Lance for so long and having dealt with refugees, Susan naturally learned the common sense from the Lord, and knew exactly what the refugees needed most.