I was a knight in the Middle Ages

Chapter 522 People of the Homeland (Page 12)

Meanwhile, at the Ashenvale camp, Alpha stood atop a high platform, inspecting the newly arrived knights.

Their clothes were disheveled, but their eyes were burning, like a pack of wolves long confined in a cage, finally smelling the scent of freedom.

“You were once called ‘outcasts,’ kicked out of the knighthood, and trampled underfoot by nobles.” Alpha’s voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears.

"But today, I tell you—the name of a knight lies not in bloodline, but in the sword and the heart! From this day forward, you are members of the 'Holy Flame.' Your swords will be wielded for the weak; your shields will stand for the innocent!"

"Holy Flame! Holy Flame!" Thousands of people roared in unison, their voices shattering the morning mist.

On a distant hill, a cloaked figure silently watched all of this.

He held a secret letter engraved with the Hashim family crest in his hand and muttered to himself, "My lord, the 'fire' you requested has been lit. Next... is to guide it to burn where it should burn."

In the holy city, undercurrents have become a whirlpool.

The nobles began to form secret alliances, and factional struggles within the temple intensified.

Meanwhile, the Empire's spies have already quietly infiltrated Ashenvale.

Everyone knows that this knightly order composed of commoners is no longer just a clamor on the fringes, but the first crack that is about to tear apart the old order.

Alpha, standing at the eye of the storm, had a slight smile on its face.

"Ray, are you sure you want to continue recruiting knights?" Inside the luxurious auction room of the auction house, velvet curtains shut out the noise from the outside world.

Bedor lay half-reclined on the soft sofa, one arm casually wrapped around the gorgeous human bunny girl beside him, his fingers stroking her furry ears.

Bedor squinted at the ever-growing roster before him, his voice tinged with barely concealed anxiety. "His Holiness the Pope had high hopes for you and specifically granted you a quota of five thousand men, but we've already recruited seven thousand. This completely exceeds the budget, and can even be considered a blatant defiance of the Empire's military orders! What if the higher-ups blame us..."

Alpha leaned back on the single sofa opposite him, looking languid.

It was as if the "violation" that Beethoven spoke of, which was enough to lead to his demise, was nothing more than a trivial numbers game in his eyes.

Alpha picked up his glass, gently swirling the crimson liquid, a confident smile playing on his lips.

“Don’t worry,” Alpha’s voice was deep and steady, carrying a strange soothing power.

“I will send Zahir with half of the knights to the east of the Holy City. I have received news that the war between the Empire and Tsarist Russia is raging in Georgia, which is an excellent opportunity for us.”

“But wouldn’t that just add military merit to those high-ranking nobles?” Upon hearing this, Bedor’s eyes flashed with resentment and unwillingness.

He has now completely lost faith in those imperial nobles who only exploit their allies.

"Military merits?" Alpha chuckled, a cold glint in his eyes. "That depends on whose orders these knights ultimately take."

Alpha's tone was calm, yet it contained an undeniable air of dominance and ambition.

Bedor paused for a moment, then seemed to understand something, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and his original worries miraculously dissipated.

“Since you know what you're doing, then let’s do it your way!” Bedor slapped his thigh, in high spirits.

He leaned closer to Alpha, winking suggestively at him. "But I heard the final trial for paladins begins tomorrow. Tonight... are you sure you can handle it?"

Bedo looked Alpha up and down, as if to confirm whether this candidate who was about to participate in the sacred trial still had the energy to cope with the "intense exercise" that was about to begin.

“It’s nothing,” Alpha said with a slurred laugh, picking up a grape from the table and popping it into his mouth.

"The more women there are, the crazier the scene becomes, and the more restless the 'power' within me becomes. You don't understand, for me, this is another form of 'accumulating power.' Only by fully releasing it at night will I have more energy for tomorrow's battle."

Alpha aims to portray itself in front of everyone as a madman who is addicted to alcohol and women, indulging in debauchery, yet possessing boundless energy.

Only in this way will those self-proclaimed nobles and high-ranking officials of the Papacy lower their guard and think that he is nothing more than a useful but brainless knife, thus giving them an opportunity to take advantage of him.

"Good! That's awesome! I love that kind of spirit!" Bedor laughed heartily, his eyes full of knowing understanding. "I'll make sure you're satisfied tonight! I'll definitely give you your best!"

Bedo snapped his fingers and began to list them off as if they were his own treasures: "I've picked out three 'goods' that meet your requirements this time. Two of them are noble sisters from a distant Eastern power. I heard that there's war going on there right now, and the family was fleeing by ship when they encountered a storm, their ship was damaged, and they were eventually 'rescued' by an imperial patrol ship..."

Beethoven deliberately emphasized the word "rescue," the subtext of which is self-evident.

Alpha sneered inwardly.

He didn't believe that the so-called "humanitarian aid" from these Western nobles was mostly "spoils of war" left behind after they took advantage of the chaos and committed murder.

However, at this moment, Alpha seemed unconcerned about the women's origins; he only cared about whether they could become part of his disguise.

Once Alpha becomes powerful enough, it will go to its own spiritual realm to change the fate of the nation, even if it fails.

"Anything else?" Alpha asked casually.

“And another one is a purebred bunny girl that was just captured from the Enchanted Forest.” Bedor lowered his voice, with a hint of mystery and mockery.

"But this girl is a bit special. She's naturally electrified. Even after drinking the strongest sleeping pills, her body will still release a weak current. Those guys who try to take advantage of her get shocked badly. Nobody dares to touch her, so she's very cheap. I wonder if you, Lei, dare to touch her?"

"Electrified?" Alpha raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest finally appearing in his eyes. "That's interesting. Electrified things are more fun; I like challenges."

"Good! You've got guts!" Bedor gave a thumbs up. "Then I'll buy all three of them for you!"

“Okay,” Alpha nodded in satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over the bunny girl in Beddo’s arms before turning to the door. “I want all three. I want to test the electrified one to see if it’s as powerful as the rumors say.”

"Great!" Bedor laughed and immediately began making arrangements.

“Oh, right,” Bedor added as if he had just remembered something, just as his men were making the arrangements.

“Three days from now, there will be an even more exciting auction here. I heard that a pure-blooded male elf will be appearing, and his appearance is simply a masterpiece of God, more beautiful than any of the women present. Ray, are you... interested in him?” Bedor asked with a hint of probing and joking.

"A male elf?" Alpha's face darkened instantly, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

Alpha leaned back instinctively, as if he had heard something filthy. "Forget it, I'm not interested in men. Those androgynous things are disgusting to look at."

He appeared extremely resistant, and his tone was curt.

However, in a corner unseen by Bedo, Alpha's fingertips paused slightly.

Male elf? Or in three days? Alpha noted this information down.

Alpha is still wearing the Elf Ring. Regardless of whether he can be saved, we should at least try to help him.

Just as Bedor finalized his purchase of the electrified bunny girl, the atmosphere in the auction house suddenly became somewhat strange.

The originally orderly auction was disrupted when a violent commotion erupted from the next area, followed by the sounds of breaking glass and a fight.

"Looks like someone's got no sense and dares to mess with us." Alpha seemed indifferent.

Alpha's gaze remained fixed on the bunny girl covered in a burlap sack that the waiter had just brought over, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"Don't worry, you know the power behind the auction house. They'll handle this little thing." Bedor shrugged nonchalantly.

His hands continued to roam over the woman in his arms, enjoying the tenderness of the moment.

However, the riots did not subside; instead, they escalated, with the sounds of fighting growing closer and closer, even alarming the VIPs who were conducting the auction.

The ongoing auction of the Oriental Sisters was forced to stop, and the scene descended into chaos.

"Looks like there won't be any good show tonight." Alpha slowly stood up, placing his wine glass on the table with a crisp sound.

"Sir Bedor, just a moment!" Just then, an auctioneer, covered in sweat and pale-faced, stumbled in, his voice urgent. "The item you bid on is on its way!"

Before the words were finished, two slender, trembling Eastern girls were roughly pushed in by two burly men.

They were thinly dressed, their faces still wet with tears, and they knelt on the ground trembling like two frightened fawns.

"Given Sir Bedouin's outstanding reputation, these two transactions can proceed with the goods first, and the payment will be settled at the next transaction!" The auctioneer spoke rapidly, his eyes filled with panic.

Clearly, the situation outside was out of control, and he just wanted to get rid of this big shot as soon as possible.

“Alright, let’s leave first.” Alpha glanced indifferently at the two girls on the ground, then looked at the bunny girl covered by a burlap sack, through which a wisp of blue electricity could occasionally be seen, and nodded slightly.

Bedor immediately understood and waved his hand: "Let's go!"

Bedor didn't even glance at the two Eastern girls, and directly "shoved" them, along with the special bunny girl, into Alpha's hands.

Alpha did not refuse. He looked at the three different "gifts" in his arms, and his smile deepened.

Judging from the auction house's unusual actions, the chaos outside is probably aimed at these "special auction items".

And he, Alpha, openly and honestly accepted all this trouble...

"Lord Lei, that Eastern man, Zhang Yuantian, came to see you this afternoon and is still waiting outside." Fanxing walked gracefully to Alpha's side, squatted down, and skillfully helped him change into comfortable slippers, her movements gentle and respectful.

Fanxing merely glanced at the three women Alpha brought back with her clear, large eyes, without saying anything more.

She was a clever and sensible maid who knew her place and wouldn't make a fuss about such things.

Moreover, Alpha never mistreated her, giving her far more respect and care than an ordinary maid deserved.

"Oh? I almost forgot about him. Let him come over!" Alpha suddenly remembered that there was such a person.

Alpha waved, signaling Star to go and bring the people.

As Alpha watched the star turn and leave, a slight thought stirred within him.

Alpha didn't notice that when the two Eastern sisters saw Zhang Yuantian, a hint of undisguised surprise and shock flashed in their eyes.

It wasn't just the joy of seeing a fellow villager; there seemed to be something else mixed in.

"Take them to wash up. Remember, act like the lady of the house. Don't be timid or hesitant. Don't do anything yourself," Alpha called out to Fanxing and whispered a word of advice.

"Yes, sir." Fanxing felt a warmth in her heart.

The slight annoyance and disappointment that had arisen from Alpha bringing back a newcomer vanished instantly.