dmims Chapter 176 Temporary Employment
Chapter 176 Temporary Employment
Chapter 176 Temporary Hire (Wishing everyone a prosperous Year of the Snake)
Since the road began to climb upwards, Harriet has felt dizzy and disoriented all day long.
Even the horse under her arm was breathing more heavily than before.
This is altitude sickness; it turns out that Kexi grew up experiencing this kind of reaction.
Keshi said that most people living on the plateau are aloof and solitary. If even air is scarce, then aloofness is probably the only way to survive.
But I want to be a highlander from now on, Harriet thought, I must adapt to this environment as soon as possible.
As they passed the stone bridge tower, Harriet and Jarl were subjected to a rigorous interrogation by the lord.
But Jarl was experienced, and he used clever words to get through it.
Is this what Mr. Mosley wanted me to learn?
But conversation and communication skills are indeed an important skill, so Harriet kept Jarl's behavior firmly in mind.
After passing Shiqiaobao, the two traveled west for a distance before turning north.
Only after reaching the banks of the Zhenyuan River did they begin their journey upstream along the river.
Finally, they arrived at Moonstone Fortress.
Before visiting the castle, Jarl gave the following instructions:
"Intelligence is the most valuable strategic asset, but few people recognize its value. Listen, you can only entrust intelligence to those who are truly worthy of your trust."
Jarl meant that Harriet should not reveal anything about Cathy until the most crucial moment.
Even if Jarl didn't say anything, Harriet wouldn't easily tell anyone else about Cassie.
However, she might tell the guard that this is what Jarl wanted to tell Harriet.
The more people who know about Cassie, the greater the chance that the enemy will discover her.
But Harriet was actually more curious as to why Jarl would tell her these things when he was just there to collect the bounty.
Furthermore, Jarl inquired about Harriet's extraordinary abilities along the way.
Based on his own experience, he guided Harriet on when and how to use which force, and even practiced with her.
He clearly didn't need to do these things, but when Harriet asked him why, he replied:
"So that you won't hold me back."
But Harriet knew that this was by no means his only reason.
Harriet vaguely felt that the real reason must be related to Casey.
So Harriet took the opportunity to ask Jarl what his attitude was towards Cassie:
"I don't dislike him."
Not disliked—Harriet felt that this was already a very high compliment for someone with brown braids.
Kathy is indeed a good guy. He always puts others first, so it's no wonder that many people are willing to do things for him.
Aside from sometimes acting willful in front of me, Harriet thought, it was more like she was being affectionate.
But doesn't this prove that I am also special to him?
Cathy—...my Cathy.
Harriet suddenly remembered that Cathy was almost fifteen.
She really wished she could get back quickly and spend Cathy's first birthday with her since they met.
Therefore, she must complete the task well.
Jarl led her toward the city gate, but the guards quickly stopped them.
In his capacity as the vice-commander of the Unswearing Knights, he requested an audience with the Earl of Moonstone Castle.
The gatekeeper went to report and received a reply shortly afterward:
"Come with me, Count Zeman wishes to see you."
Soon, the two entered the castle together.
This was Harriet's first time entering the castle, and she looked around at everything with amazement.
Jarre said, "Nobles often pay great attention to etiquette."
Harriet immediately realized that Jar was reminding her that she had lost her composure.
Mr. Mosley was right; this trip with Jarle did indeed allow her to quickly realize her shortcomings and improve upon them.
Harriet immediately averted her gaze and curiosity, focusing her attention on the mission.
The two were led into a tall and spacious audience hall.
The windows were covered by thick curtains, but the room was bright.
But there were no lights on inside. Looking up, I realized where the light source was coming from.
Kathy had told Harriet that there are more things in the world that emit light than just flames; luminescent potions can release light of various colors.
Moonstone Fortress produces a mineral called Moonstone, which is also a luminous item.
It emits a pale yellow light, like moonlight, hence the name moonstone.
The moonstone hanging from the ceiling of the hall is like a night sky filled with the moon.
Not long after, a man wearing a wool coat sat down.
Although it was summer, the plateau was still far from warm, so this person's cold-weather clothing did not seem out of place.
He was clearly the master of Moonstone Castle, Count Morgan of the Zeman family.
Count Morgan leaned against the stone seat, his right elbow resting on the armrest and supporting his cheekbone.
He asked in a lazy tone, "You are the vice-commander of the Unswearing Knights?"
Jarl didn't even bow: "It's me."
Count Morgan's face instantly showed displeasure:
"He's just a vice-captain of a mercenary group, but the highlands don't need mercenaries. This high plateau has zero tolerance for criminals, excellent public security, and no need to hire mercenaries. So what kind of trouble are you trying to cause here?"
Jarl ignored Morgan's sarcasm and replied:
"I'm here to collect the bounty."
"Ha! I don't recall ever issuing a bounty."
“I also think you don’t,” Jarl said, “so the lord I was looking for at first wasn’t you, but I was asked to come to you first, so I made this extra trip.”
"Then go find someone willing to give you a reward. I have no interest in mercenaries," Count Morgan said impatiently.
"Since you have said so, I will head to Gray Domain City now."
After saying that, Jarl was about to take Harriet away.
"Wait!" Count Morgan's shout suddenly came from behind.
When Harriet turned around, she found that Count Morgan had already stood up excitedly.
"Gray City? Who is the person you want to collect the bounty from?"
Jarl sneered, "Didn't you say there were no targets for the bounty?"
"If the target is suitable, I'm willing to pay the bounty," Morgan said. "Answer me, who did you capture?"
Instead of answering directly, Jarl scanned the other people in the hall with his eyes.
Morgan seemed to understand immediately: "Everyone, get out."
A moment later, only Count Morgan and an old man standing next to him remained in the audience hall.
The main hall doors were also closed.
Morgan said, "Now I can speak. This is my herald, and he is absolutely trustworthy."
Jarl then took out a badge and handed it forward.
The herald officer then came down and took it from Morgan.
Morgan glanced at the badge once, then his eyes widened, and he asked in a strange tone:
"Where did this badge come from?"
Jar said, "Beccas Byrne."
This name was given to Jar by Mr. Mosley.
"But he's already dead."
"I know," Jarl replied, "but the badge does seem to have originated from him, and you should be able to understand what it represents, right?"
"Since Sir Pegasus is willing to hand over this badge, it means that he is a trustworthy friend."
Jar said, "The question is, do you even know what trust is?"
"This land is called the Lines Plateau, and I am naturally a vassal of the Lines family. Although my loyalty may be temporarily concealed behind my sleeve, it has never wavered."
Morgan squinted and said with a serious expression,
"Who exactly is this person you want to collect the bounty from?"
"A boy."
Upon hearing this answer, Morgan even stood up excitedly:
"What's his name?"
"If you're willing to pay the bounty, I'll tell you," Jarl said, "The Unsworn Knights always put the mission first."
How much money do you want?
"One thousand gold coins."
"A thousand gold coins? That's no small sum!"
Jarl calmly replied, "But that boy is absolutely worth that much money."
Morgan paused for a moment before answering:
"I need to confirm his name first, and besides, I don't know his current situation."
“If you give me your opinion, I’ll tell you his name,” Jar said. “As for his condition, this girl can explain it.”
"If my identity is correct, I would be willing to pay even a thousand gold coins."
Jarl replied, "Cathy Lines!"
"Oh my God—"
Morgan couldn't help but sigh, and finally turned his attention to Harriet.
"And you, young lady, who are you?"
Yes, that's who I am.
Harriet thought carefully about how to introduce herself.
Then she remembered what Cathy had said to her the night before they parted.
So she straightened her back, making her appear even taller:
"I am his fiancée."
Morgan was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, but quickly recovered and asked seriously:
"What's your name?"
Harriet Lavigne.
"Lavillenie? I must be ignorant. May I ask which country your father was knighted from?"
A feeling of inferiority welled up in Harriet's heart, but she maintained a calm facade.
"My father was not a nobleman."
Morgan's face instantly flashed with disdain: "So you're a commoner? Humph! With your lowly blood, you dare to call yourself the Duke's fiancée!"
Harriet wanted to lower her head deeply and escape the other person's gaze.
But she knew that once she lowered her head, it wouldn't be so easy to raise it again.
Mr. Mosley told her that she had to be brave for Cathy.
It seems now is the time, she said with the courage to give up everything:
"I am the wife chosen by Kathy, and I have no need for his subjects to criticize me."
"He is the Duke of the Plateau, and as his subject, I have an obligation to offer advice."
“But your duke has made his choice, and I will become the wife of the Duke of the Highlands,” Harriet said. “You should kneel before me, not humiliate me. Don’t you realize that your actions are also degrading to your title?”
After Harriet finished speaking, she felt her heart pounding.
She wasn't sure if what she said was appropriate, nor did she know how Count Morgan would react to her words.
She suddenly felt a lack of oxygen, and a dizzy feeling rushed to her head.
"Damn altitude sickness," Harriet cursed inwardly. "Why did you have to come at this time?"
Harriet felt powerless; she was almost collapsing from exhaustion and could fall at any moment.
Just then, she suddenly felt a support.
She turned her head slightly and saw that Jar had taken a step toward her and quietly reached out to support her back.
Then, Jar whispered something in her ear:
"That kid has a good eye."
Is this a confirmation of my abilities? Harriet wondered uncertainly, meaning my answer just now was correct?
But there's one thing Harriet is certain of.
Jarl with the brown braids wasn't as annoying as she had initially thought.
Harriet couldn't even tell whether he was a good person or a bad person.
Thanks to Jarl's support and encouragement, Harriet's feeling of exhaustion lessened considerably.
She turned her attention back to the stone seat, and Morgan Zeman said:
"My apologies for my rudeness. Please allow me to retract my earlier statement. In any case, you were the one who ultimately came into contact with the Duke. So, Miss Harriet, how is Cathy?"
"You look great," Harriet replied.
"If that's the case, why would a mercenary bring you along and use Cassie's identity to ask me for a bounty?"
Upon hearing this, Jarl recounted to Count Morgan what had happened in the library that day.
After listening, Morgan couldn't help but exclaim:
"After the Duke left, he must have gone through many hardships. Since Sir Robert was not by his side, it means he also sacrificed himself—? Alas, he was an honest and good man. God is sometimes really unfair to the people."
Jar said, "Now that you know the whole story, you should pay me the reward so I can leave in time."
“I will pay you the bounty,” Morgan said, “but not now.”
Jia Ermei: "What do you mean?"
"I need you to do something for me," said Count Zeman. "After you have done it, I will give you a thousand gold coins in full."
"Hmph!" Jarl sneered. "The Unsworn Knights aren't the kind of orders you can just order around. I'm here to collect my bounty."
"I'm not here to be at your beck and call. If you're unwilling to pay, I will seek help from the Zorc family myself."
"Then you will definitely not be able to leave this castle," Morgan said, squinting.
"You can give it a try—"
Harriet noticed that Jar reached for his axe.
Harriet was torn; if war really broke out, who should she side with?
She seemed to be on the same side as Jarl, but she felt that Morgan was more like Kathy's friend.
"There's no point in us fighting," Morgan suddenly sighed and shook his head. "I don't want to try unless absolutely necessary. How about this: since you're a mercenary, I'll hire you to do something for me. That way, it won't be considered a condition of the bounty."
After a moment's thought, Jarfu asked:
"What do you want me to do for you?"
"The atmosphere on the plateau has eased somewhat compared to last year, but it is still tense, so there are many things I cannot do directly."
"And since you are not from the plateau, your actions on the plateau are less likely to arouse suspicion, and at least will not easily implicate the forces on the plateau."
"I need you to go to a place for me and confirm some things."
Jarl asked, "Where?"
"White Forest City".