"Probably in about ten days," Charlie said. "The kingdom will be hosting a party. There will be a grand tournament... and Giuliano will be attending. We're worried someone might attack during the tournament."
"Actually, the idea of assassination isn't so bad. After all, it's a taboo, and no one would resort to such a low-level strategy. The only thing I'm afraid of is someone openly challenging me. If it's that kind of challenge..."
He looked at Thomas. "It's hard to say no, Giuliano."
"So what do I need to do?"
"You and he are master and disciple. I hope you can accompany him and serve as his halberd bearer."
"Ji Ji Lang?" This term was not common, but Thomas knew that a Ji Ji Lang was a position that combined the functions of an attendant and a guard.
This wasn't just any attendant. It probably meant a personal bodyguard who also served as a personal secretary.
A step further than ordinary followers.
The relationship between ordinary followers is probably like that between Thomas and Louis, and their relationship can be understood as a simplified version of master and apprentice.
Thomas had an obligation to educate Louis, and Louis had an obligation to obey Thomas's orders. However, Louis was not bound by the "once a teacher, always a father" rule. After becoming a full knight, the two became equals. Even before becoming a knight, Louis certainly could not "beat someone to death without mercy."
If Thomas had a daughter but no son, there was a chance he could marry Louis into the family business...
Of course, Thomas had no wife or children. In fact, as a member of the Order of the Knights-General, he should not have any children, unless he privatized the Order and turned it into an orthodox hereditary monarch.
The relationship between the spear-bearing man and the halberd-holder is not that of a master and a disciple. If we have to describe it, it is a kinship.
A position that can only be held by someone who is completely trusted, or even only by blood relatives.
One of the characteristics is that if the master wants to participate in the battle, the spear-bearer must also join in.
Generally speaking, soldiers are matched against soldiers, generals are matched against generals, masters are matched against masters, and halberd-bearers are matched against halberd-bearers.
But if the opponent does not have a halberd bearer, Thomas can go up first and fight alone, while Giuliano can stay safely in the back.
It is very similar to the "proxy" system often seen in duels.
Ordinary men would duel on their own, but the elderly, weak, women, children, or religious figures who were unable to fight could choose a proxy to fight on their behalf.
Giuliano was a secular lord, young and strong, and had no way of finding an agent.
The halberd-bearing man can be considered a variant agent.
No wonder this magician came to me...Thomas thought.
But then again, if it was to help Giuliano, Thomas didn't object.
"Okay." Thomas agreed immediately. "But... I have one condition."
"what do you want?"
"I got a few things and need the master to help me identify and deal with them." Thomas said.
"Things?" Charlie raised his eyebrows.
A few minutes later, Thomas brought Charlie to his residence.
Two items and a recipe were placed in front of Charlie.
The recipe was a drug recipe taken from the village.
Although it was a recipe given by the God of Plague, Thomas felt that compared with the others, this might be the most valuable.
Of course, we have to make sure that this thing has no side effects.
Charlie picked up the metal bar first.
As a magician, he could also feel the magic contained in it.
"This is a magical device." He pondered for a moment. "I've heard of this kind of magical item. It should have a catalytic effect, speeding up the combination or separation of potions."
"It's a very common magical tool. Magicians who delve into magic potions will almost always try to obtain one. Although common, its effects are extremely potent... No magician would refuse such a precious gift. It can easily fetch between 8,000 and 10,000 florins. If a magician urgently needs it, the price can be increased by 30%."
As expected! Thomas sighed to himself.
Special items for magic experiments.
Unfortunately, although Thomas is a spellcaster, he is not a true magician.
He used magic as a tool and never thought of considering it as an art form to study and explore in depth.
"As for this bottle..." Charlie put down the metal rod and picked up the bottle. "I can only say it's hard to judge. Can you open it?"
"All I can say is, the liquid inside this thing could be dangerous," Thomas said. "Opening it requires thorough preparation."
"...Please forgive my lack of knowledge," Charlie finally gave up. "If I don't open it, I'm afraid I can't identify it. It's not just me. I guess 99% of spellcasters in this world can't identify it without opening it. Even great magicians are the same! What's the danger?"
really……
"This bottle was probably carefully crafted by a wizard specializing in plague. I'm not sure if it contains... some kind of incurable and extremely dangerous magical disease!"
"I understand. Then I'll try to create a magic circle that can block the surrounding area. But this can't be done hastily." Charlie nodded. Obviously, he agreed with Thomas's caution.
He put down the bottle and picked up the last recipe.
"What is this?" He looked it up and down.
"It's a recipe for a magical potion. It's said that the powder made from it can be used as a drug, making people unconscious for a short period of time. I don't know if it has any hidden effects."
"Hidden effect? This thing can still... okay," Charlie said. "This formula is quite interesting."
"What's interesting?"
"The various medicinal herbs mentioned above are very common locally... only these two are slightly less common, mainly because they are seasonal... I can say with certainty that this combination of medicines will not produce any toxins. And I highly doubt its efficacy... Honestly, if it really has the effect of a drug as you say, I would be very surprised."
"why?"
"Because based on the magical theory I understand, this formula is completely unfeasible. Not even theoretically!"
"...Well, let's assume it works."
"But judging by the prescription, I can only say that this potion shouldn't have any side effects. It's not toxic, nor will it produce a curse, let alone a disease. It should just cause a simple coma, paralysis, and weakness. And if you don't inhale this potion continuously, it will probably wear off in about a day. You'll return to normal."
Chapter 34: Halberd Wielder 4
"Master, I'm not questioning you... but are you sure? Do you want me to get some finished product to take a look?"
"No need. To be honest, just the fact that it has a drug-like effect is beyond the scope of magical theory. If it is also poisonous, can cast a curse, and spread disease, then I don't need to practice magic at all and can just go home and hug my child!"
Seeing that the other party was risking his professional honor, Thomas had to believe it.
It seems that this recipe is really fine.
This should be a recipe made by the God of Plague and Poison, so even the villagers can teach it.
But as a modern man, Thomas immediately understood the extraordinary nature of this recipe.
As a magical drug, or an anesthetic, it was more effective than any drug Thomas had ever heard of in his previous life.
It can even be used very conveniently in combat.
Put the powder in an open small bag and throw it out to sprinkle.
The raw materials are cheap and the preparation method is not complicated. Even villagers without education and equipment can easily make it.
This kind of thing is much stronger than those poisons!
Complex and dangerous poisons are truly worthless because they are difficult to use, cannot be used frequently, and cannot be promoted.
This simple, cheap and effective drug is the good stuff.
Of course, only Thomas, who has truly experienced the industrialized and information-based society, can understand this kind of thing.
Even God doesn’t understand!
After Charlie left, Thomas put a few things away.
"The spear-bearer?" he whispered to himself.
It seems that Giuliano is having a hard time!
It seems to be flourishing, but in fact there are hidden undercurrents.
This is normal. After all, in the eyes of some people, Giuliano is "unworthy of his position"!
A mere mercenary leader, with only a few hundred men, actually occupied such a rich territory.
No one thought that this territory could be occupied at the beginning, so it didn't matter.
Instead, it can be used as bait to attract foreign mercenaries to serve as cannon fodder and consume the Star-Moon Cultists.
Now it turns out that there was a big leak here...
Then some people will get restless, jealous, or unhappy.
Just like Thomas captured Smyrna, if he did not have the endorsement of his teacher, the Pope, he would not have been able to occupy Smyrna firmly.
Giuliano, you just lack someone to endorse you!
For Thomas, accompanying Giuliano to that knight's conference was not entirely without scruples.
After all, he had lived with the Knights Templar for a long time, and he believed that many of them knew him.
It would be bad if someone recognized me.
Although there were no serious consequences, it at least completely disrupted his plans.
But Thomas just frowned and immediately came up with a plan.
After so many years in both orders… I may not have much else, but I have no shortage of weapons and armor. Among them are many different types of helmets that cover the face.
Besides, he hasn't forgotten the makeup techniques he learned from Ross!
……
Kingdom of Jerusalem, Transjordan Territory, Monterey Castle.
Two figures were standing at the highest point of the castle.
A man stood on the edge of the city wall, looking down at the ground beneath his feet.
The other person was behind him, his body slightly bent, maintaining the posture of bowing and saluting.
"Sir, we have received clear intelligence that Baron Giuliano will be attending the gathering..."
"Did that lowly mercenary really do that?" the man in front asked without turning around. "I thought he was so cunning!"
"He couldn't refuse such an opportunity. Only at such gatherings could he get his name heard by the higher-ups," the person behind him explained. "Otherwise, he'd just be an insignificant name on a scroll, with no one caring whether he lived or died!"
"Ha..." The man couldn't help but laugh. "What a pity... I was worried he'd use illness as an excuse to not go. As long as he's willing to go, it's fine! But, with that lowly Blood's behavior, he's definitely going to be on guard, right?"
"Yes, it is said that he found himself a halberd bearer."
"Halberd-bearer?" The man standing by the city wall turned around. He was a middle-aged man wearing simple armor, a cross hanging on his chest, blond hair, blue eyes, and a long beard. He had a broad, lion-like muzzle and an impressive face. "Where are you from?"
"From what I know, he should be a former student of his..."
"Student? He was a coach?"
"It seems so. But it could also be just a fabricated rumor."
"That's quite fitting for a pariah..." said the man with the lion-like face. "What's the student's name?"
"I heard his name is Aragorn, and he seems to be from Russia?"
"I've never heard of that name..."
"Do you want me to send someone to investigate the origins of this Aragorn?"
"No, that's not necessary. Whatever Aragorn's origins... he's just an elite warrior." The man with the lion-like face sneered. "Can that lowly fellow find a protector of the country?"
……
Starting from the small town, moving forward all the way.
Thomas had a vague idea that the Holy Land should be a vast, flat wilderness. But judging from the scenery as he walked along, this place was actually mostly mountainous.
The whole team walked in the winding ravines all day long.
He hadn't taken this route before. While he had some understanding of the Holy Land's economy and military, he had little understanding of its ecological environment. He could only say that this place, well, had quite a bit of greenery.
Although there are not forests everywhere, there is no shortage of shrubs and grasslands.
In other words, the ecological environment of this place is much better than Thomas expected.
As the shadows lengthened beneath the setting sun, Giuliano reined in his horse on a gentle slope amidst the hills. A stream flowed gently here, bordered by lush grass. He ordered camp, and a dozen tents of varying sizes and shapes were erected. The tent in the center of the camp, clad in silk, brocade, cotton, linen, and canvas, flew a brightly colored banner. It bore the standard of Giuliano's family.
A lion standing on two legs, sword raised. This emblem seemed familiar, likely from a prominent family.
You'll Also Like
-
Milk Baby Helped Me Become a Super Rich Mom
Chapter 132 6 hours ago -
The spoiled girl who travels through the book relies on rough men to survive
Chapter 927 6 hours ago -
After traveling through the book, I was pampered by the Imperial Master!
Chapter 260 6 hours ago -
Zhe Furong: After being widowed and reborn, she was pampered by a treacherous minister
Chapter 269 6 hours ago -
Reborn as the beautiful and cool lady
Chapter 634 6 hours ago -
Super Rich: A real millionaire earns hundreds of billions a day, I’m so envious
Chapter 159 6 hours ago -
After the live broadcast made the wealthy family cry, the fake daughter was ruined
Chapter 484 6 hours ago -
Live broadcast to save the villain: The whole network is watching me fall in love
Chapter 91 6 hours ago -
Going to ancient times with a sign-in system: Stepmothers are not to be trifled with
Chapter 231 6 hours ago -
Rebirth in the 1980s: Remarrying the Old Wang Next Door
Chapter 249 6 hours ago