Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

The most frustrating thing about life is knowing that something is wrong, but being able to watch it happen helplessly.

Because of your own insignificance and the fact that your superiors have already made their decision, they are too arrogant to listen to your "honest advice."

Clément, the second-in-command of the Chamber of Commerce, felt the same way.

Despite having already informed the head steward Urban and the Troskii City Hall executive officer Serlushi that Big Mouth John was a formidable fighter, not someone ordinary guards could handle, Serlushi stubbornly decided to send the security team to suppress the bandits. They didn't even know Big Mouth John's exact hiding place.

The village of Serush has issued a municipal proclamation, levying a temporary bandit-suppression tax on all 500 villagers. Commoners will each pay 1 groshin. Wealthy individuals such as tavern owners, carpenters, herbalists, tailors, butchers, and farmers will each pay 10 groshins. The Troskii Merchant Guild will sponsor the guard's operation with 100 groshins.

The wealthy paid their taxes first, followed by the common people. Once all the taxes were collected, they would form a 20-man guard team and set off to suppress the bandits.

Based on the speed of tax collection and mobilization in Troski village, it would take at least five days to get people out of the village.

The bandit suppression mission was issued in the morning, and Peter received the specific details in the afternoon.

At that moment, he arrived at the village of Takhov on a leisurely black horse.

昨天打劫特罗斯基商会得到了4匹拉车的驮马和1匹骑行马。彼得将3匹驮马交给木工组用以拖拽木材，1匹驮马交给战斗组用于驮运战斗物资，剩下的1匹骑行马就由彼得作为代步。

After all, Peter claimed to be a "knight," so how could he not even have a horse?

Peter, who was provided with a horse, was in a dilemma because he really couldn't ride a horse.

But this didn't stump the clever and resourceful Peter. He looked at his experience points at level 5 (430/500), and realized he was only 70 points away from leveling up.

So he sent a combat team to scout the movements of the "Index Finger Ulcer" bandit gang, while he went to the blacksmith's shop in Takhov village to pick up the ironware he had ordered. Then he led his horse out of the mountains alone, practicing riding along the way, shakily honing his skills until he reached riding level 1. He then found a wolf den, donned heavy armor, and stormed in, killing four wolves and successfully leveling up to level 6 (510/1000), gaining 5 free attribute points, 5 skill points, and 1 talent point.

Attribute points should still be prioritized for Strength and Agility, increasing Strength from 27 to 30 and Agility from 20 to 22. Strength has reached the theoretical human limit of 30 points, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he's as strong as an ox.

Skill points are allocated to riding skills, progressing from lv1 to lv6.

The talent you unlocked is a blue one called "Animal Affinity". Animal Affinity: Your kind nature exudes an aura that makes birds and beasts willing to approach and cooperate with your actions.

With such talent, coupled with his level 6 riding skills, when Peter rode his black horse leisurely into the village of Takhov, everyone had to exclaim, "What a handsome knight!" He was a completely different person from his first arrival, walking in a shabby manner. Another flaw in Peter's "knight" identity was removed.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Latovan."

"Good afternoon, Sir Knight."

Upon seeing Peter on horseback, the blacksmith quickly bowed and, before Peter could ask any questions, brought out all the items ordered six days earlier.

Twenty logging axes, twenty hoes, and twenty shovels, worth a total of 180 Groshens. Including the 90 Groshens deposit already paid, Peter still owes 90 Groshens as the final payment.

"Excellent craftsmanship, excellent blade. Mr. Latovan's skills are indeed well-deserved."

After inspecting the goods, Peter readily handed over a money bag. Latovan counted the silver coins in the bag one by one and nodded in satisfaction.

Payment was settled in full. Both parties were very satisfied.

"Mr. Latovan, do you have time to take on another order?"

There are currently no blacksmiths at Peter's camp, so many things can only be made here.

Latovan waved his hands repeatedly in refusal, saying, "God, please spare me! I've been working late into the night for a long time now. The order for the lord's chains and shackles in the castle isn't finished yet, and the steward and servants have already come to urge me on several times. If it's not finished soon, the fireplace might be forcibly extinguished."

Peter feigned regret and said, "Alright, alright, we're friends, and I would never put a friend in a difficult position. I'm just curious, these are just some shackles and instruments of torture. Couldn't the blacksmith Ossina in the castle have forged them himself, and why did you have to do it?"

"You don't understand. Chains and shackles are inherently difficult to make, especially since they need to be adjusted to the correct size for each individual. And within the castle, the demand for these things is enormous; how can one blacksmith possibly be enough?"

Latovan winked mysteriously at Peter.

"A huge demand? How huge?"

Peter was still somewhat puzzled.

"We receive new orders every year, more than the number of axes and knives in the castle."

Latovan shrugged, noticing the blacksmith's apprentice also craning his neck to eavesdrop, and immediately changed the subject, saying, "We shouldn't be too curious about the affairs of the nobles in the castle, or we'll get our lives. By the way, have you heard? The notorious bandit Big Mouth John from the Crossroads has switched to selling medicine? But he's messed with the wrong person. This morning, Lord Therlush, the city magistrate, ordered the collection of a bandit-suppression tax, preparing to besiege Big Mouth John."

"An anti-bandit tax? A crackdown? Is the information accurate?"

Peter hadn't expected the Troski Chamber of Commerce to react so strongly.

"My cousin's wife's family is from Troski village, and the tax collectors there have already started coming to collect taxes. Do you think the news is true?"

The blacksmith, Latovan, made a solemn vow.

Peter feigned ignorance and said, "But before, groups of bandits would roam the territory, openly robbing civilians on the road. Some even set up tents in the woods outside the village, and they all pretended not to see it. Why are they suddenly so assertive this time?"

"You haven't been in Troski long enough, Lord Peter. Bandits are like crops in a field; you can't go to the field every day to harvest the wheat seedlings. You have to let it grow for a season or two. Only when the wheat is ripe can you harvest it and fill the granary. Suppressing bandits requires collecting a bandit suppression tax. The rich pay first, and the commoners follow. After the taxes are collected, the rich get their money back in full, and the commoners get their money split 30/70. The spoils of war after suppressing bandits are another large income, but they all go to the executor. This happens every six months. You'll understand once you've been here longer."

"No wonder bandits roam freely here without any control. But this time they suddenly became tough. It turns out that John the Big Mouth's raid on the merchant guild was just a pretext for them to send troops."

"That's right. When bandit suppression becomes a profitable business, bandits will never be eradicated. This time will probably be the same as before; after they've looted a batch, they'll proactively declare victory and report back to the castle, waiting for the next harvest. Now, the executor, Therlush, is the richest man in Troski Village and even wants to arrange a marriage with Sir Semi's family. Guess how he made his fortune? With a weekly salary of 2 Groschen?"

Latova scoffed repeatedly.

"I see, I've learned something new."

Peter, having made up his mind, was about to leave when Latovan called him back. Avoiding the apprentice, Latovan whispered, "I heard from the people of Semi Village that there are priests selling cheap potions, even on credit. Those who buy on credit must sing the praises of Knight Peter Griffin. Yesterday, Lord Bai's caravan came to buy goods from me and mentioned that Big Mouth John had given him a batch of potions. So you must have some connection with Big Mouth John, right?"

No, brother, how come you, a blacksmith, are playing a deduction game?

"good."

Peter readily admitted that he used to be fearless on foot, but now that he had a horse, who could stop him?

Latovan muttered under his breath, "I know, I knew it. John the Big Mouth is a bastard. How could he suddenly change into some 'benevolent big mouth'? There must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes. I can guess it, and some others certainly can too. So you'd better be careful in the future."

"Thank you, I will."

Peter blinked; the old blacksmith was surprisingly a good person.

"Ahem," Latovan leaned closer, his voice even softer, and said, "That potion, you made it, didn't you? I bought a bottle from Master Bai, and it works very well. You must have other potions too, right?"

"Yes, there is. What do you want?"

"That medicine, do you have it?"

"Which one?"

"Ahem, a medicine called 'Deer Blood'," Latovan said, his face flushed. "A friend of mine has been feeling weak lately, and he heard from another friend that a 'Deer Blood' potion could help him regain his virility. But the apothecary in Trossky says that this potion requires the heart's blood of a stag and a long whip, and since hunting stags illegally results in being strangled, it's very difficult to make, and a bottle costs 80 groschen. I think he's lying to me—no, I mean, he's lying to my friend! So I wanted to ask on his behalf, is the 'Deer Blood' potion really effective? Could the price be lowered?"

The name "Deer's Blood" is quite misleading, a clever use of knowledge monopoly. The actual ingredients are oils, St. John's wort, dandelion, and comfrey. Because the potion's effect is to enhance male stamina and virility, and because comfrey, when boiled, produces a blood-like color, it was named "Deer's Blood."

There's no need to risk being strangled to secretly hunt deer, let alone use deer heart blood and long whips.

Of course, Peter, as the beneficiary, didn't want to reveal this trade secret, so he nodded and said, "It really works. I can sell it to you for 60 Grossens, and I can even give you a buy-one-get-one-free offer as a token of my appreciation for your friendship."

"That's great. My friend will be so happy to hear this. Money is no object, you know, people are just willing to spend money on certain things."

Latovan rubbed his hands together happily and said, "How long will it take to receive the goods? My friend can't wait."

"Soon, my friend. I'll bring you the goods next time I come. May your friend get what he wants soon."

Peter bowed to him before leaving the blacksmith shop under Latovan's eager gaze.

He hadn't gone far from the village when he saw two thin boys herding a flock of sheep toward him.

The two boys also saw Peter on horseback and quickly stopped, bowing to him and saying, "Good afternoon, Lord Peter."

Good afternoon, you two. Do you know me?

Peter bowed to greet them, carefully examining the two men. He seemed to recognize them, but couldn't quite place who they were.

The two boys quickly replied, "We are Vasek and Mikhal from Troski village, Pavlena's childhood playmates. You scolded us before, but generously gave us a silver coin to help us through this difficult time."

"Oh, it's you guys. How have you been? What brings you to Takhov village?"

Peter remembered, and asked with a smile.

"It's not good. We have nothing left, and we can only work as laborers to earn a little money to buy food for our mother and sister."

Vasek and Mikhal shook their heads. "But we didn't become robbers again. Thank you for your teachings and help."