Infuriated, the king’s large face reddened, eyes widened, and moustache flared.

Snow almost fell face to palm. This one standing beside her is a genius of eloquence with few equal. The way he said he gave each drake a punch is obviously aimed at the king. An open threat, by this oppressive air if not from his words.

“Your majesty, I can attest to his words,” the housekeeper spoke up, his interruption was timely.

After much effort on Lufter’s part to force his temper down, the king said, “Since the young lord can so easily tame the creatures, I believe handing us some drakes to reimburse the damages from the mayhem you caused is fair.”

Snow shot Tommy with a look. The latter visibly shrunk.

He could stare down an army of foes, but not last a second under Snow’s gaze. It wasn’t like she is terrifying. Yep, it’s just to let her have her time.

Totally.

Tommy secretly wiped the sweat off his brows.

Snow smiled at Lufter Pendragon; a friendly gesture that caused the lad next to her to shiver. With approval, of course.

“Your majesty is wise indeed. But I fear that when I was on my way to the castle, I had a terrible fall.”

“Oh, my dear girl. We do hope you were not injured by the fall?”

“I’m afraid that I may be well, but I broke my emperor jades. The value… I’d say is worth no less than the drakes.”

Tommy quipped, “Five hundred and twenty.”

Just as he believed, with the missus around, he does not have to worry that the Snowdrifts will be taken advantage of.

Snow nodded, “A value no less than five hundred and twenty drakes. Perhaps your majesty could compensate my losses since I incurred them because of our trade?”

“As… as you mentioned, it was just a fall, I don’t suppose…”

“Your majesty, it was no accident. Hearing your citizens eagerness to persecute my fiancé, I just had to hurry over.”

Lufter fell silent. Snow is a daring negotiator, and frankly, they have got nothing on her.

Most importantly, regardless how confident the king feels about his kingdom, he must admit that they cannot offend a superpower like Snowdrifts.

Lufter Pendragon relented, but his greed is not so easily denied.

“Logres and Snowdrifts are partnering up, yet today’s incident is unfavourable to our harmony in the future. Especially, how other countries will look at us. Perhaps asking for all five hundred and twenty drakes is a bit much on our part, but just a hundred should make things right and appease the people, wouldn’t you say?”

Lufter believes that with a hundred drakes, he can discover the way to tame more. After all, these creatures are highly intelligent, and could share much more than one would suppose, despite not being able to speak the human tongue.

Snow nodded, much to the surprise of Tommy. She relented? So easily? Imposssssible!

“I did not come today about the first test, after all, Tommy had completed it perfectly. Instead, my main task today is to deliver the swords for our trade. Would your majesty like to test the weapon your soldiers will be using?”

Hearing that Snow is here bringing the Star Runes weapons, the king was like an extra-sized child receiving his mail-order parcel on Christmas morning.

Lufter quickly send for some knights and metal blocks to do the test.

Meanwhile, when Snow mentioned the soldiers, Tommy was reminded to ask for them. The housekeeper had spoken on this matter but was ignored.

He did not want to let the issue pass without reaching a conclusion. His men had developed a reliance on him, but reversely, he trusted them. These brothers, he already decided to bring them back, away from this place.

It is not for the sake of securing the knowledge of the Bagua formation. Yes, the value of the battle array is immense, but these soldiers are barely trained to use it. The Bagua formation works by having stratagems within a stratagem that can achieve superior defensive position on the battlefield.

This is what makes it fluidly changes according to the situation.

The limited training means that there are many kinds of attacks that the soldiers had yet to learn to handle. How should they stand when facing calvary? What about a rain of arrows?

How should the Bagua formation adapt when surrounded on all sides?

What if they are trapped with their back against the wall, or if the ground they are standing on is wobbly when fighting on ships?

For now, they mastered how to face a frontal drake attack, as well as beat up an inferior force by attacking from multiple fronts.

In other words, they only know the forward and split stratagems that exists within the different patterns of the Bagua.

Handing the soldiers back to Logres is no big loss for the Snowdrifts. But what is unforgivable is the soldiers are not treated like real breathing people. They are mere numbers. Statistics on a chart. These are men that placed their faith and lives in his hands.

If not for the monster dens near Avalon, they will probably be thrown out. Soldiers that are no longer needed by their overlords most frequently become bandits… that is, if they are lucky enough to still have all their limbs. Beggars, if they return from the army handicapped.

The glory and honour they had as warriors become pale and useless when their next meal is uncertain.

The effect of corruption is not merely on people who are directly taken advantaged, but a rottenness that will seep into the very roots of a kingdom, to every corner if not removed quickly.

It is a poison that lets people no longer see others as people. All around are people considered as inferiors who will kneel to those stronger yet themselves trod upon the weak.

This same fate threatens the soldiers that were trained by Tommy, once the king finds out that what they learnt of the Bagua Formation is useless.

“Your majesty,” Tommy said during the time the swords’ test is being prepared, “Would you release the soldiers for my employment? These men had merely been trained for two weeks and there are still much for them to learn.”

The king gave him a frosty look.

Tommy turned his gaze towards Snow.

Snow sighed internally. This guy, couldn’t he pick a better time? Like after the trade when the king is jollier?

Nevertheless, this is her man, who will help him if she doesn’t?

“Your majesty, Tommy is right. The soldiers are far from well-trained and the Bagua formation is complicated. If you intend to have them teach your other soldiers about the formation, not only do you have to worry if they have the right information, but the Snowdrifts will also not allow our combat array to be leaked. And learning parts of it will only limit their battle capacity instead. They are taught how to face a brood of drakes but if they cannot handle arrow fire, the things they learnt cannot be used on the battlefield.”

The king quickly reconsidered. Every point that Snow said was like a bucket of cold water, dousing the flames of greed in him. Indeed, he could not look at Snow and Tommy as young citizens of Avalon, but ambassadors of a foreign state, yet he kept overlooking this fact because of their deceiving youth.

The Snowdrifts is a group of adolescents that none of the other kings and emperors could deal with, across Gaia. God only knows how many countries had tried to take advantage of them… and failed.

This time, of course, is no exception.

The trade was very successful. The king, impressed by incredible workmanship of the Star Runes weapons happily released the soldiers and even took up the housekeeper’s suggestion to give them stipends.

…..

At the courtyard of the Pendragon castle, the soldiers anxiously waited for their commander to return. They know how Logres operates. The subordinates risk their lives, but the rewards are given to the leaders. This time as well, the king will definitely ask for everything they gained during the hunt.

The wait was quiet but unsettled. The warriors nervously clenched their fists and gritted their teeth. This is not a battlefield they can fight on, but whether they can become a part of the Snowdrifts all depends on this.

A shadow hurled through the main castle gate and charged into the courtyard. At this moment, the tension reached a new high. These men were just fighting for their lives in the wilderness and the sudden intrusion almost made them draw their blades.

“DAAARLING!”

A single word almost destroyed the troops’ formation. Even facing against drakes could not make their coordination chaotic, but this unexpected howling almost made them fall over.

One of the soldiers was quickly shoved out by his buddies. Everyone could see the unnatural expression on his face and his lips slightly twitching.

Meanwhile, a young maiden with eyes beaming with tears crashed into his embrace sobbing with relief.

“Y… you returned… I was so frightened.”

She suddenly pushed herself out of his arms and started punching him in the chest, venting all the stress pent up these days.

Behind the couple, the soldiers struggled to stifle their laughter.

One of his buddies turned to another and pounded at the person’s chest plate with his fists.

Of course, he did not forget to lift a heel and pretend cry.

The struggle became real. Choking sound came from all around the courtyard as warriors tried not to break this beautiful moment for the young couple. Someone threw a punch at the mimic.

*Ooof*

They quickly recovered. They are professionals who will not laugh no matter the circumstances… unless they can’t.

“Bwahahaha!”

Roaring laughter suddenly burst out and the pair turned bright red.

“So, you are the sucker wrapped around the little wrench’s finger?”

A sharp voice cut across the courtyard like a poisonous blade. This interruption earned the fury of all the soldiers but when they saw the person who spoke, they cleverly became quiet.

The person is the crooked nose maid. As one of Princess Luftie’s handmaids, her station is naturally above these soldiers. In fact, if she wiggles her tongue to the ears of any minister, most likely they will be willing to do her a favour.

In return, if she would put in a good word to the princess, there might be unexpected returns.

No one dared say anything and that made the crooked nose maid leer openly at them.

She was in the middle of enjoying her small victory over these plebians when a soft girlish voice interrupted, “Whose horse broke out of the stables?”

The people looked around for the animal.

“Would somebody please bring the stableboy before this long-nose creature bite someone? I have never seen a horse as vicious looking.”

The princess’ handmaid howled like a banshee as she pushed through the soldiers looking for the person who called her a loose horse.

When she cut her way across the men to the other side, she came face to face with Tommy, Snow, and … the wizened housekeeper.

Her pupils constricted with fear.

She did not pay attention to the young man and woman next to the housekeeper because of their age. Even if she looked carefully, she would not recognise them.

Yet, the elder gentleman is someone that all the house servants will know. After all, he manages the whole castle of servants.

The handmaid stiffened and lowered her head. She dared not confront guests that is led around by the housekeeper.

Snow smiled, “Is the stable boy coming?”

“We will send for him at once,” an unbelievable reply came.

Everyone stared but none spoke, even the handmaid herself can only watch with eyes widened with shock.

She will be brought away by the stable boy…? For what? To be kept in a stable?

Snow nodded approvingly. Her next words were like chilling ice poured down the handmaid’s back.

“Make sure to rein your horses carefully this time and don’t let them run loose again.”

Moments later. The unhappy crooked-nose handmaid found herself holding rein straps and standing in the stables.

“A… whole month? Here?!”

The stable boy scratched his head and nodded bewilderedly.

The miserable woman felt shaken… much like tossed salad living in a topsy-turvy world.

Seeing her turn unresponsive, the lad turned to leave but suddenly stopped. With a strange look on his face, he jabbered, “You gotta put the bit mouthpiece, uhh… in your mouth. M… ma’am.”

She was like a corpse struck by lightning. Repeatedly.

“Ma’am? Y… your bit?”

The defeated handmaid looked at the reins in her hands and fainted.