In autumn, the eastern mountains of Storm Point are full of harvest scenes. After more than a year of war, the Arabel people are finally able to return to their homes and work hard to farm in the hope of obtaining a bumper harvest.
There are layers of red leaves, floating light, and the earth is pregnant with golden waves of wheat. The regent, Alice Serre, and Ms. Raul jointly announced that all taxes for the common people of Arabelle will be exempted. This shows that the people of Arabelle can finally live a good life this year.
The year is good.
Wearing a long robe, Aaron concealed his appearance under a hood. Like an unrelated passerby, he slowly observed the post-war recovery in this area.
The result is quite gratifying. Although after the war, a lot of land was awarded to the meritorious soldiers under her command by Ms. Raul, but for now, these soldiers who have received land rewards have devoted their energy to the public security war.
and reconstruction, this brought prosperity, and people worked hard to farm in the hope of having enough to eat in the future.
This also made Aaron think about his own governance strategy.
Unlike Son of God Bane, Aaron is actually not that interested in governing. For him, the greatest role of a fiefdom is to climb the Chaos Technology Tree, rather than to build any utopia.
As a person personally chosen by the Four Gods of Chaos, trying to build a utopia is simply a joke from hell.
And whether it is in the previous life, the 40K universe or the country, most attempts to establish a utopia have ended in failure. In the information given to him, Elminster once mentioned his story in Myth Drannor, the Shadow Valley
The great sage once said: Although most of the elven families these days are upright and kind-hearted people, with average quality and cultural level several levels higher than that of humans, they are inevitably involved in various political disputes because
His own family interests and personal interests conflict with each other.
But Aaron had read the personal biography novel "Elminster in Comando" before when he had nothing to do in Sousal.
He thought to himself, how upright and kind are these sun elves?
If Elminster initially entered Komando disguised as him through his soul gem in order to fulfill the last wish of a Sun Elf, and was later found to be hunted down by his family members, then it would be understandable.
After being received by King Crown, he was awarded the title of "Friend of the Elves". As a result, all the nobles in Komandor wanted him dead, which showed that the elves were not so kind and upright.
He was assassinated on the street, at a banquet, during a tryst, and while wandering around.
Even an elf noble would like to see Elminster die.
Reading the biographical novel, Aaron almost thought that the place where Elminster stayed was the drow city of Menzoberranzan instead of the sun elf's Komandor.
In the face of endless malice, what Elminster did was to tolerate, understand, and communicate as much as possible to try to resolve conflicts. Even if his life was in danger and he was forced to fight back, the great sage tried not to be direct.
He hurt others, and many of the elves who died under his hands were either to blame or because they used overly powerful magic and died due to rebound or accidental injuries.
When reading this novel, Aaron felt very aggrieved. Faced with endless malice and slander, Elminster did not use his magic to kill, but used his kindness, wit, and bravery to resolve it.
The elves' inherent prejudice against humans eventually led to the establishment of Myth Drannor.
The glorious era of the "City of Singing" began.
This does not meet the standards of Shuangwen.
But this may be the reason why Mystra chose Elminster to be the elect and let him carry out this task.
Aaron was thinking about this question as he strolled along the river. In the distance, the magnificent but dilapidated city of Arabelle was undergoing vigorous reconstruction. A large number of outsiders gathered here to participate in the reconstruction, looking for opportunities to get ahead, and missed the war.
, the mercenaries still have some opportunities for security battles to earn enough gold and silver.
Heading west from Sunset Lead, we crossed the hot Arabelle, visited Ms. Raul at home, entered the foothills of the Cape Storm Mountains, crossed the newly cultivated farmland, and saw a newly built small village in front of us.
Aaron put away the Dark Moon Sword and brushed the blood on the blade. He had just finished a battle and solved two ogres that were blocking the road. This reminded him of his experience when he had just awakened.
Aaron Salian could only be dragged along the ground by the ogre's hair, and now this kind of cheap head doesn't even interest Aaron much anymore.
The small village is obviously newly built, with 17 or 18 mud houses, a small Taimora chapel, a tavern, and simple wooden walls making up the entire life of the residents.
Several orc heads are hung at the entrance of the village to warn outsiders.
Aaron was about to give the ogre head in his hand to the village to hang on the gate, but he soon noticed the situation inside the village - several mercenaries were confronting several male villagers, faintly visible in the distance.
Shouts and curses can be heard.
"What do you want to do? You are robbers!" an older male villager shouted at the door holding a pitchfork.
"Robbers? You people actually have the nerve to call us robbers?" The leading mercenary was nearly two meters tall. He smiled, holding a scimitar in his hand and holding it on the handle: "I beheaded and soaked in blood.
, I don’t know how many people have been killed among the orcs, and I have worked hard to take this place back from the orcs. If it weren’t for us, would you people have houses to live in today? Farms? You are living a good life now.
We all paid for it with our lives!"
"Why, it's just a matter of borrowing a few gold coins and some grain, why do you have to push back and forth? Are the people of Cormyr such immoral and conscienceless bastards?"
After speaking, these mercenaries took off their weapons, with their scabbards attached, and slapped them hard on the wooden wall: "Do you think we are blind about the abundant grain harvest outside Ta Ma Land? Half of our harvest is clearly included!
"
After saying that, the mercenaries will force their way in.
The leader of the mercenaries gave a bad laugh, pointed to the earthen house inside, and cursed at the leader: "You don't have any money, right? It's okay, it must be hidden on your woman's body, or on your daughter's body, and
Let me test and verify that you really have no money, then I will let you go and find another home!"
"Hahahahahahahaha~" Several mercenaries burst into bursts of laughter, while the villagers' faces were ashen.
In desperation, they had no choice but to spend money to eliminate the disaster. If there was a fight, how could the villagers be the opponents of the mercenaries?
Just when the villagers signaled everyone to collect some money and send these scoundrels away, a commotion suddenly appeared in the air, followed by the roar of the wind sweeping across the earth, and a rolling vortex descended with the clear autumn sky, turning into
The roaring wind blast blew several mercenaries away in the blink of an eye, causing them to rise off the ground fully armed and turn into trapeze artists!
"Wow ah ah~"
"What a strong wind!"
Several mercenaries were blown up four to five meters high and then fell to the ground, turning into a pile of mud and screaming.
"Where the hell is the wind coming from!" The tall mercenary led by the leader tried to get up. He grabbed the handle of the knife and unsheathed the scimitar. With a clang, an incredible scene stunned him.
The scimitar turned into clay and shattered!
Impossible, this is a machete made of fine steel that I paid a lot of money for.
Is it broken?
"What are you making such a fuss about?" Aaron's cold voice sounded. He lifted his hood, pointed at his chest and said in a deep voice, "Don't you want to inspect the goods? Come here, inspect them as you like.
"
Hearing Aaron's voice, several mercenaries were obviously stunned for a moment, and seeing his appearance, the mercenary leader's whole body began to tremble.
Trembling violently.
Is it Aaron, Lord "Kingmaker" Aaron?!
He, didn't he go to the territory? Why did he come here?
The mercenaries recognized Aaron because they had actually participated in the Battle of Arabelle.
Pa~ His legs went weak, and the mercenary leader knelt in front of Aaron, trembling: "Your Majesty the King Supporter, we... have mercy on you, have mercy on you, we just, just want to borrow some money! Brothers, we have no money to use, we must not be hungry.
My belly."
"You borrowed it and you don't intend to pay it back?" Aaron said coldly, his voice seemed to be filled with terror from the abyss, which made the mercenaries shudder: "If men can't borrow it, they will attack their wives and their daughters.
Can you borrow it from me?"
The mercenaries were already kneeling and kowtowing, their whole bodies trembling with fear.
The person in front of me is Aaron, Aaron Salian, the leader of the Five Heroes of Arabelle, who was killed in the blood sea of Arabelle's corpse!
His name can stop orc children from crying at night! Because that battle was really brutal and brutal.
The few mercenaries couldn't think of any resistance, so they just begged to be spared for the sake of fighting the orcs together.
Aaron stared at the kneeling mercenaries, his brows furrowed.
After Arabelle was pacified, a large number of meritorious soldiers were granted land. Even if they were not granted land, Ms. Raul tried her best to invite them to stay and settle.
This is both a reward and Ms. Raul's "strategy". The Harper has her eyes on the pockets of these soldiers.
As we all know, for the Battle of Arabelle, Ms. Raul emptied all her savings, emptied the treasure troves of the major temples in Suzal, and used hundreds of thousands of real money to recapture this important city.
But the money did not disappear out of thin air. Except for weapons and food, most of it flowed into the pockets of the soldiers. As long as the soldiers survived, they would get a large commission plus a bounty. Then these soldiers stayed here to settle.
Money will flow into the market for food, clothing, housing, transportation, and various consumption. Arabelle is a place connected in all directions and has a profound cultural background. With these soldiers spending a lot of money to participate in post-war reconstruction and consumption, naturally, Arabelle's recovery speed is very fast.
So fast.
Regarding this routine, it was Alice Searle who asked Ms. Raul.
It has to be said that the princess's trick was very effective. When Aaron passed by Arabelle, the whole city was under construction. Businessmen from all directions gathered together, forming a virtuous cycle. Relying on this big
With the money sent out and recovered, Arabelle's revival is just around the corner.
However, the soldiers' pockets are not Doraemon's fourth-dimensional pockets after all, and the wealth inside is limited.
Especially the few mercenaries in front of me. The mercenaries themselves have no habit of saving. Money comes and goes quickly. Most of the mercenaries spent half a year in Arabelle and spent seventy-seven percent of the gold and silver in their pockets.
Eighty-eight.
Normally, mercenaries should take on the next mission after spending all their money. However, this group of mercenaries chose to harass the place. Moreover, they did not hurt anyone, they only threatened verbally, and even used the excuse that they had participated in the war.
Threatening the civilians here.
Faced with this situation, how many civilians are really willing to fight to the end?
Over time, the glory of the Battle of Arabelle will be tarnished. When people think of this war, they will think of extortion and arrogant mercenaries, instead of the great achievements of annihilating the orcs and regaining the territory.
Aaron believed that ordinary mercenaries who licked blood all day long would never be able to think of this method.
This method can be said to be extremely vicious, murderous, extremely intentional, extremely dangerous, extremely poisonous, and extremely evil.
"Who taught you to do this?"
Aaron grabbed the mercenary leader by the collar and released a charming human being on him.
Charm success!
"Yes, they are some mercenaries from the north. They said that this is how they can get money." The mercenary leader replied blankly: "They taught many mercenaries to do this, and many of them got money.
"
"Cormyr Northern Soldiers, right?" Aaron then asked, "Do you have any contact with them?"
"Yes, yes..."
"Lead the way! Take me to them, and then I can consider forgiving you."
"yes."
Several mercenaries obediently led Aaron, and Aaron, with the overwhelming gratitude of the people in the village, set off with the help of several mercenaries, heading towards the depths of the Stormhorn Mountains.
There was still some time left for his meeting with Ms. Misty, and he planned to see who had come up with such a vicious plan.
…………
After more than a day of operations, the mercenary leader took Aaron to a secret stronghold in the Stormhorn Mountains.
The stronghold is built halfway up the mountain. It is undoubtedly very time-consuming and energy-consuming to establish such an environment at such a height. This place seems to have a very long history, and you can feel the vicissitudes of the stronghold just by looking at it.
The place is very dilapidated and looks like it has been abandoned for a long time.
"This is it." The mercenary leader whispered.
Looking at Aaron's back, the mercenary leader couldn't think of even the slightest hint of disobedience.
That was Aaron Salian! Kingmaker Aaron Salian! He personally pulled out the head and entire spine of a Ruseko priest on the battlefield!
Who dares to attack him?
"Okay, you can go." Aaron decided to let the mercenaries leave after considering that they didn't hurt anyone: "Next time you don't have any money, just accept the mission obediently! I have already paid you a commission to recover Arabelle.
."
"Yes, yes~"
Several mercenaries ran away in disgrace as if they had been granted amnesty.
Aaron checked the stronghold, and he found several signs of tent camping, a little leftover food, and signs of human activity inside the stronghold.
Although the other party did not leave any traces, Aaron still vaguely guessed the origin of the other party.
Zhentarim!
This group of people started causing trouble again!
It’s not over, right?
Just wait, sooner or later I will lead the Chaos army into your Moon Sea and overwhelm your Zhentil Castle!
Aaron checked around and made sure that no one was nearby before planning to leave. But at this moment, a dragon roar suddenly came from the mountains.
An adult red dragon spread its wings and flew over the mountains of Stormhorn.
There were several riders on the dragon's back, holding war spears, shouting wild and contemptuous language, and driving the red dragon down nearby.
Githyanki?!
Aaron recalled the complete monster manual that Elminster gave him.
Why do these astral raiders appear here?
The place where the red dragon landed was very close to here, and Aaron made a decision quickly.