Chapter 110: The General Says "No"

"It is quite clear that my time as a Major General of the Sixth Legion has come to an end. Dammit, now that the battle is lost, is the Military Department trying to make me the scapegoat? They won't just drag me back to the capital and dump me in some godforsaken corner with a meaningless title, will they?" Ruhr muttered, his expression laced with worry.

Xia Ya had no answers for the Rabbit General's anxieties, nor could he be of any real help.

Originally, the two had planned to travel to the Imperial Capital at a leisurely pace, treating the journey as a sightseeing tour. But with the Military Department’s orders demanding Ruhr reach the capital within fifteen days, that leisurely stroll was out of the question.

The Byzantine Empire was vast. Traveling from Danzel City on the border to the capital usually required hard riding; even then, fifteen days was a tight squeeze. Any unforeseen delays, such as road collapses or blockades, would only make things worse.

After consulting each other, they decided to part ways.

Ruhr had to pick up the pace. Disobeying military orders was no trivial matter, and the Rabbit General was currently so tormented by the Military Department’s mandate that he dared not risk any further delay.

Xia Ya, however, suspected that the fellow simply didn't want to continue traveling with him, lest people mistake him for a mere lackey.

After clarifying some travel details—such as the transit documents issued by the Military Department—Ruhr didn't bother offering advice on bandits or highwaymen. Given that Xia Ya had come out of Wildfire Town—a thief? Don't make him laugh! If Xia Ya didn't rob others, they should consider themselves lucky.

Once the arrangements were made, they parted ways at the next small town. The fat man and his cavalry escort hurried off.

Xia Ya wasn't worried about the fat man missing his deadline—with the Rabbit’s reputation and his knack for running, he should be fine.

With money in his pocket and dressed in fine clothes, Xia Ya began his own leisurely journey.

He, Duoduo, and Soyte clearly looked like men from the Byzantine military. To any onlooker, they appeared to be high-ranking officers, perhaps even legion generals. At every inn they stayed at, they were treated like royalty.

This was the first time in his life Xia Ya experienced the taste of power. Back in Wildfire Town, or even in the army, he had thought the pinnacle of enjoyment was a piece of roasted meat and a few jugs of strong liquor at every meal, followed by a sound sleep wrapped in a sheepskin blanket—that, he thought, was a happy life.

But on this trip, whenever they reached a small town, the guards at the gate would straighten their backs and stand at attention the moment they saw Xia Ya’s party. Even when Xia Ya proactively produced his transit documents, the guards would receive them with both hands and a respectful bow. In some places, he didn't even need to show his papers; he could just ride straight through the gates, and the soldiers would stand aside and salute without a word.

Everywhere he went, he chose the finest inns. He spent money like water—but the problem was, after passing through only two towns, he found he couldn't spend a single coin!

It turned out that whenever a "big shot" like him passed through, the local mayors, town guards, and garrison commanders would receive news immediately. The transit documents were vaguely worded, mentioning only that they were from the theater headquarters, heading to the capital, Osgiliath, for an official report. Seeing Xia Ya’s bearing and the quality of his horses, everyone assumed he was a scion of some powerful military family from the capital. How could they not treat such a person with the utmost hospitality?

While it wasn't necessarily blatant bootlicking, in official circles, failing to host such a person could lead to rumors and unintended offense. So, the local heads of the military and civil administration adopted a "better safe than sorry" attitude, allowing this bumpkin to enjoy the high life.

Every time he checked into an inn, local officials would immediately pay for all his expenses, explicitly forbidding the staff from taking a single coin from the "honored guest." When Xia Ya departed, local leaders would even dispatch a cavalry escort to accompany them for a stretch of the road.

The Byzantine Empire’s militia system was pervasive. Dispatching a squad of militia to serve as an escort—even if this big shot looked like a warrior, who knew if he was actually capable? Many of those military clans were full of incompetent dunderheads. If they only had two attendants and happened to run into some blind, foolish bandits, and a single hair on this gentleman’s head was harmed, wouldn't that cause endless trouble?

With people to receive him at every stop and escorts to see him off, Xia Ya felt truly imposing, genuinely savoring the life of a grandee.

His attendant, Duoduo, chuckled to himself, thinking that if these people knew this "big shot" was actually just a rankless cavalry captain, they would surely regret their generosity with a vengeance.

Xia Ya hadn't enjoyed such treatment before, and now that he was, he couldn't help but feel a bit light-headed. Dammit, this was what it meant to really live!

He even lost interest in his favorite roasted meat. He had developed a passion for a Byzantine specialty: high-quality aromatic leaves from the south, each the size of a basin, used to wrap tender pieces of mutton and fish seasoned with fine spices, then slowly steamed in a pot. The fragrance of the leaves permeated the meat, and every bite was an explosion of flavor, paired perfectly with a glass of deep red wine that looked as vibrant as human blood.

When he first learned the price of such a meal, the bumpkin had nearly popped his eyes out of his sockets! Six silver coins for one serving?! Back in the day, six silver coins would have been enough to feed and clothe him for an entire year!

Even the premium feed for his two fine horses was something he, as a humble hunter, could never have afforded.

As the saying goes, when one person gains power, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven. Xia Ya fully embraced the life of a gentleman, and Duoduo and Soyte benefited as well. Not only were they eating and drinking like kings, but Duoduo was finally freed from his menial tasks. He no longer had to brush or feed the horses, wash the bumpkin’s feet, or contribute part of his monthly wages to that sly Soyte—who, in Duoduo's eyes, was just a carbon copy of the bumpkin: seemingly honest but full of cunning.

Come to think of it, out of the three of them, he, the mage, was the biggest fool of all.

However, Duoduo’s good days were coming to an end.

On the tenth day, Xia Ya and his party were escorted by a cavalry unit sent by a local garrison commander to a town that belonged to a baron. The baron’s manor was located in a scenic spot outside the city.

As a nobleman, the baron was somewhat aloof. He didn't come to greet Xia Ya personally, leaving the task to his subordinates.

They followed the same protocol as everyone else, but with one addition.

That night, after enjoying a lavish meal at the inn, the butler sent by the baron quietly made arrangements. The observant butler had noticed that the gentleman had no maidservants among his entourage, which was quite unusual for a big shot. He assumed the man had just come from the army and was simply unaccustomed to such luxuries.

Since he had to please this esteemed guest, it was his duty to provide.

The butler spared no expense. He figured that ordinary, common girls wouldn't catch the eye of such a distinguished general, so he went all out. He used a heavy sum to bring in the most beautiful and popular girl from the city's finest house of pleasure. The butler had inspected her himself: a slender waist, long legs, and a curvaceous figure. Most remarkably, she had a bit of foreign blood, with skin fairer than the average Byzantine woman and rare, amber-colored eyes.

Such a treasure, and he was sending her to this seemingly rough and unrefined general—the butler felt a pang of regret for a moment.

After having the beautiful girl dressed up, he had her sent to Xia Ya’s room.

The exact details of what happened next remained unknown.

However, only a few minutes after the girl entered the room, a terrified scream erupted from the general.

"Ghost!!!"

Then came two sharp thuds. The girl rushed out of the room, wailing. Her once enchanting face was now marred by two bruised, purplish rings around her eyes, making her look exactly like that legendary animal from the far east known as a "panda."

Next, Xia Ya burst out, wearing nothing but a blanket and wielding a fire poker. He was fuming with rage, shouting, "Where is it! Where is it! Where is that ghost that tried to ambush me?!"

The woman had never seen such a scene before. She might not have been a legendary beauty, but in this small place, she was top-tier—even the baron himself had visited her! Seeing this man charging out with a weapon in his hand and murder in his eyes, she screamed in terror. With her face already bruised from two punches, she tumbled down the stairs. By the time she landed, her delicate face was swollen like a pig's head and her arm was fractured. She didn't even wait for help; she scrambled up and fled out of the inn, wailing in panic.

The butler, who had been waiting in the lobby, saw the angry guest rush out and hurried over to inquire.

"Dammit! I had a bit of wine and went to sleep, and the next thing I knew, a pair of hands were touching me! When I opened my eyes, it was some ugly monster! I thought I was having a nightmare and seeing a ghost!" Xia Ya spat, shaking his head vigorously. "Luckily, I reacted fast! The ghost tried to bite me, so I gave her two punches..."

The butler stood in stunned silence.

After the explanation, the situation was clear, but Xia Ya remained indignant. "This is too much! I didn't ask for a woman, but since you arranged it, if she had been decent, I would have accepted... *ahem*, but to send a woman who looks like a ghost—do you take me for a fool?!"

The butler looked miserable. "General, please calm your anger. That girl was truly the most beautiful woman to be found in our city. If I may be so bold, even the most beautiful concubine in the Baron’s household is less striking than she is."

Xia Ya stared at him, his anger suddenly vanishing. He let out a long, sympathetic sigh and patted the butler on the shoulder. "It seems... your Baron has a very difficult life indeed."