When the group reached the Giant Stone Pile in the wilderness, the sky, which had been clear for over ten days, began to snow heavily again. That night, everyone had to rest in the Giant Stone Pile. Fortunately, they had loaded a good amount of firewood onto the carriage when they left Valley Wood Fort, otherwise they would have had to huddle in thin felt blankets to endure the cold night.

The group sat around the bonfire. Odo handed Art a wooden bowl filled with half a bowl of thin wheat porridge. Art took the bowl, looked at it, and asked, "Why is it so watery?"

Odo tapped the deep copper pot hanging over the fire and replied to Art, "My Lord, we don't have much grain. We don't know if we'll have any success collecting provisions this time. We need to conserve our food so we don't go hungry later."

"That's right, My Lord. Do you think we'll be able to collect provisions this time? It's not easy to get money and grain from those Sirs. I remember one time our County's tax collector came to the village to collect taxes for the Court, and the Sir, with his Soldiers, knocked out a few of his front teeth on the spot. Then the tax collector scurried away like a wild dog—" Kazak deeply understood the arrogance and unreasonableness of the Sirs.

Art ignored their words. He didn't know if he could extract provisions from the granaries and purses of those Lords this time, but he had to try. And even if he couldn't collect provisions, he could still purchase grain in various rural areas, which would be much more cost-effective than buying high-priced grain in Tinietz City. Additionally, this collection of Patrol Team provisions across the entire Tinietz County was also to ascertain the overall situation of the County, especially regarding the understanding of bandit groups and vagrants. If Art and his group were on their own, they wouldn't even be able to find a trace of the bandits and vagrants.

After sheltering from the wind and snow in the Giant Stone Pile for a night, Art led his group east in the carriage as soon as the snow stopped at noon the next day. They were going to visit Andermatt Fortress first, which was the easternmost and most remote town-fort in Tinietz County and the border of the southeastern mountains of Burgundy County.

The group, driving a four-wheeled carriage, spent another day and a half to reach their first stop, Andermatt Fortress.

Andermatt Fortress is a military fort at the foot of the Bore Mountain Range in southeastern Tinietz, near the Swabia Grand Duchy. Baron Antayas of Burgundy County guards the border here. Andermatt Fortress is small and dilapidated. Since its construction two hundred years ago to defend against mountain barbarians, it has never been expanded or thoroughly repaired. Andermatt Fortress is enclosed by a stone-based wooden circular wall, approximately fifteen feet high and four hundred fifty feet in circumference. Inside the fort, there is a three-story stone house and about twenty thatched wooden houses, as well as a small chapel staffed by only one elderly priest. Outside the fort walls are some low, thatched shacks and a small market. The entire Andermatt Fortress and its surrounding residents combined number less than one hundred fifty people, with only fifteen permanent guards stationed in the fort. The territory under Andermatt Fortress's jurisdiction includes three fief villages and seven or eight scattered manors and other small settlements. Normally, this nearly thirty thousand acre land is protected and guarded by Baron Antayas and one of his Internal Affairs Knights with fifteen Soldiers. As for the villages and settlements, apart from a few Knights barely capable of fighting, the combat effectiveness of the temporarily conscripted farmers is almost negligible, as they are more suited to holding plows than wielding iron spears in battle.

When Art and his group appeared in their carriage about a mile west of Andermatt Fortress, the fort's alarm bell began to clang incessantly.

After a long time, a rider with three or four spear-wielding guards in worn winter clothes emerged from the military fort and approached the group.

The rider reined in his horse and observed from a distance for a while. Seeing that the newcomers had no obvious ill intent, he then led his subordinates closer to Art and his group.

The rider raised his short spear, pointed it at Art and his group, and said, "Sirs, please stop. If you take another step forward, you will be considered an infringement on the Baron's territory."

Art motioned for those beside him to relax, then loudly told the rider, "I am the Patrol Officer of the Southern Border of Tinietz, personally appointed by the Court Minister of Public Security. I am here by order of the Court to collect provisions for the Patrol Team throughout Tinietz."

The rider muttered to himself. He had never heard of the position of Patrol Officer of the Southern Border, but looking at the attire, appearance, and standard weapons of the group before him, he dared not treat them too lightly. So, he apologized and ordered a subordinate to return to the fort to summon the old priest.

After a good while, the elderly priest, walking with difficulty, arrived outside the city, supported by a guard.

"God be with you, Sir. May I ask if you have documentation?" The old priest, having learned the identity of the newcomers from the guard, politely asked Art.

Art took out two parchments from his In arms. One was a letter of appointment from the Court, and the other was an authorization from Viscount Pierre, in his capacity as County Magistrate of Tinietz County, permitting Art to collect public security taxes throughout the County's jurisdiction. However, it was clear that Viscount Pierre had not sent these documents to all parts of the jurisdiction in a timely manner, at least Andermatt Fortress had not yet received them.

The elderly priest took the two parchments, squinted, and examined them carefully for a long time, then meticulously identified the sealed areas before nodding to the rider.

Having confirmed the identity of the visitors, the rider cleared the way and invited the group into the military fort's stone house.

Servants in the fort brought Art and his group some bread and pea and meat stew. The group sat in the dim and dilapidated Lord's Hall, ravenously devouring the food on the wooden plates.

The rider, who had been patrolling outside the fort, entered from the doorway. As he unbuckled the short sword from his belt, he said to Art and his group, "Patrol Officer, My Lord, I am Sir Drude, Baron Antayas's Internal Affairs Knight. Unfortunately, the Baron went to the southern mountains yesterday."

"Noble Sir Drude, thank you for your hospitality, but I must personally discuss the next matter with the Baron. May I ask how I can find the Baron?" Art was a commoner official without a noble title. To receive courteous treatment here, he had to show the Knight before him sufficient respect.

Sir Drude also showed his humility and deference, politely saying, "The Baron should return tomorrow, My Lord. You can wait with peace of mind. I will prepare a guest room for you tonight, but there are not many rooms in the military fort, so your Soldiers will have to make do in the granary for one night."

"Many thanks."

That night, Art and his group, who had endured hunger and cold in the wilderness for two days, slept soundly in Andermatt Fortress.

.........

It wasn't until noon the next day that Baron Antayas returned to Andermatt Fortress with seven or eight Soldiers and a dozen or so farmers with their families.

When he learned that someone claiming to be the Court's Southern Border Patrol Officer had arrived at the fort, Baron Antayas was filled with doubt. In these past years, apart from the annual tax season when people from Tinietz County would come to collect taxes, this remote and peaceful border region had not seen strangers for a long time, let alone some Patrol Officer appointed by the Court. Could it be that his actions had been exposed?

Upon first seeing Art and his group, Baron Antayas felt they possessed a certain fierce and brave aura, but upon hearing that Art was merely a commoner official without a noble title, Baron Antayas's attitude became much colder. When Art explained that the purpose of his visit was to collect provisions, Baron Antayas's expression worsened, and from his look, he was just short of drawing his sword.

After explaining his purpose and emphasizing the role of the Patrol Team, Art still tried to persuade the seemingly amiable Baron, "Respected Baron, My Lord, I know that the territory within Andermatt Fortress is mostly barren mountain land, but compared to money and grain, isn't the stability of your territory even more important?" Art stared into the Baron's eyes as he spoke.

Antaias still looked dismissive, calmly saying, "Patrol Officer, My Lord, I think the public security of my territory doesn't need a shadowless Patrol Team to maintain it, does it?"

"Is that so? Then who are those people you brought back today? I guess they are all people who have lost their homes to mountain bandits, right? I will never deny your courage and fighting ability, but do you think that with just a dozen guards in Andermatt Fortress and twenty or thirty temporarily conscripted farmers, you can drive those vagrants and bandits back into the Bore Mountain area?"

Art did not wait for Antaias to answer. He lowered his head, looking at the horn cup he was twirling, and spoke softly and slowly, "Also, your Ars堡 in Tinietz County was seized by a group of mountain bandits before autumn, wasn't it? That's one of your knight's fiefs. I wonder if the Sir from Ars堡 village escaped. If you don't quickly reclaim Ars堡 from the mountain bandits and rescue that poor Sir, I'm afraid the Marquis and the Court will have to send other nobles to garrison Andermatt and guard the border."

Antaias's heart sank. He had not reported the news of Ars堡 being occupied by mountain bandits to the Court, because such a loss of territory was enough to cost him his title. For the past six months, he had repeatedly conscripted farmers from his territory to form an army to retake Ars堡, but apart from a few knights and their squires, and more than a dozen fort guards under his command who barely had any combat power, the dozens of conscripted farmers were scattered by the fierce mountain bandits as soon as they engaged in battle. After several such attempts, he failed to retake Ars堡, and instead, many of his people died in battle.

"The Marquis already knows about Ars堡?" The Baron's tone held a hint of panic.

Art took a sip of wine and said, "If the Marquis knew, would you still be sitting here so calmly? However, if you cannot retake Ars堡 quickly, the Marquis will know sooner or later. I guess at that time, the Court will definitely send troops to help you."

"Hmph, I'll retake Ars堡 by next summer at the latest." Antaias clenched the wine cup in his hand.

Art stood up and paced over to Antaias. He said, "Of course you can take it back, but if a friendly and powerful army can assist you without the Court's knowledge, perhaps you can retake Ars堡 faster."

"Are you talking about your Patrol Team? Just those few people?" The Baron turned his head to look at Odo and the others sitting at the other end of the long table.

"Including those few elites," Art did not directly answer Antaias's question.

"How many people can you bring?" Baron Antaias asked, staring into Art's eyes.

"Before the end of next spring, I can bring more than ten well-trained elite Soldiers to assist in the Suppression; as for how many more, that depends on you."

Antaias understood the implication of Art's words and asked, "Oh, tell me, what are your conditions?"

"Sir, I told you the Court asked me to form a Patrol Team to maintain public security in the southern border, but the Court only gave me a broken piece of parchment and sent me here."

"Why should I believe that you will bring elite troops to assist in the Suppression after taking my money and grain?"

"You don't have to trust me. In fact, you have no better choice. If you cannot retake Ars堡 before the Marquis learns of this bad news, the money and grain you save today will only give the noble who replaces you a period of prosperous good life. Moreover, if you want to secretly invite other lords from the surrounding areas to bring troops to assist in the Suppression, you will have to pay a greater price than me."

Baron Antaias gently tapped the wine cup with his finger, thought for a moment, and replied, "I have to admit your vicious words have moved me. Let me think about it."

Ultimately, Art collected one thousand eight hundred pounds of wheat and one thousand two hundred fenny in military pay from Baron Antaias's territory, but he only took one-third of what Baron Antaias promised. The remaining portion would only be delivered when Art arrived at Andermatt Fortress with no less than twelve elite Soldiers before the end of next spring.

Additionally, Baron Antaias agreed that if Ars堡 could be retaken, he would provide one-fourth of the mountain bandits' money and supplies as Art's reward.

After agreeing on the terms of military assistance, Art and his companions left Andermatt Fortress that afternoon, driving their carriages laden with the collected provisions and military pay.

Ron looked back at Baron Antaias, who was standing at the fort gate, watching them leave, and couldn't help but express his joy, laughing, "My Lord, this isn't difficult at all! We collected so much provisions and military pay at our first stop."

Art picked up his water skin and took a gulp of clear water, then looked at Ron and said, "Ron, you think too simply. Do you think Baron Antaias is a fool? He already saw that you are not well-trained elite Soldiers. He gave us some provisions and military pay just to shut me up. He doesn't want the Court to know about his loss of Ars堡 too soon."

Odo leaned close to Art, tilting his head and asking, "But he didn't seem to be perfunctory when he was negotiating with you?"

"That's because he knows I will truly help him clear out the mountain bandits."

"Ah, then we need to train quickly, otherwise, we won't win just by relying on our clothes if a real fight breaks out," Odo said to the others after hearing Art's plan.

...

As Art had predicted, in the following days, Art and his companions encountered obstacles everywhere in their mission to collect grain and military pay.

Apart from Andermatt Fortress, no other large villages in the entire Tinietz County were occupied by bandits or robbers. As for the small settlements frequently harassed by robbers and bandits, either their safety was ignored, or they were impoverished serfs from whom not a single grain of food could be squeezed. These places yearned for someone to help them suppress the bandits, but they couldn't produce a single coin or grain. Art didn't even go to Laine Manor, located between Tinietz and Wood Fort, because he knew it was impossible to get any advantage from Baron Bazel, and Art had no good feelings for that place.

Art exhausted himself talking, even bringing up the Court Minister of Public Security and Bishop Olov Hannes, but in the end, he only managed to collect less than eight hundred pounds of moldy miscellaneous grains and three hundred fenny in military pay from the remaining villages and settlements.

After seven or eight days of traveling throughout the county, apart from establishing some informants in various villages and settlements to collect intelligence on bandits and gathering general information about the robbers and bandits within the territory, the mission to collect provisions and military pay yielded very little. Art had no choice but to take down his tiger skin banner and peacefully engage in business with the lord and gentry.

The terrain of Tinietz County was more mountainous and rugged than the northern lands, but it had not experienced war in recent years, and the grain harvested from the fertile plains in the mountains was considered a good harvest. Although farmers struggled to make ends meet year after year, the granaries of the lord and the gentry, both big and small, were never short of grain waiting to go moldy. In recent years, due to the continuous warfare in Provence, the north-south trade routes were cut off, and the grain merchants from the south stopped purchasing grain everywhere, so the granaries of the lord and the gentry had accumulated a large amount of grain.

Art and his companions haggled everywhere, buying eight thousand pounds of unhulled wheat at a price of roughly one fenny for six pounds. This price was more than half cheaper than the current market price in Tinietz, but slightly higher than the prices that cunning grain merchants used to pay when purchasing from various places.

As a condition for the high-priced purchase, Art required the lords and gentry to be responsible for transporting the grain to the edge of the dense forest north of Wood Fort. At this time of year, the robbers and bandits had also quieted down, and Art promised to lead Soldiers to escort the grain transport team and pay a certain reward, so the lords and gentry gladly agreed.

On this trip, Art and his group traveled through all the towns, villages, and manor settlements in southern Tinietz, raising only one thousand four hundred pounds of various new and old grains and seven hundred fenny in military pay. Therefore, he had to spend one thousand seven hundred fenny to purchase a large batch of grain and a small amount of salt, cooking utensils, and other necessities. This grain would certainly not be enough to last until the reclamation land yielded a harvest, and Art's remaining fenny wasn't even enough to buy enough wheat seeds for spring plowing. He was worried... Thinking about these things, Art felt an even greater pressure on his shoulders.

On the thirteenth day of their trip to raise provisions and military pay, just as the stored grain in Wood Fort was about to run out, Art and his four companions, along with a group of carters, arrived at the edge of the dense forest north of Wood Fort, escorting seven or eight ox carts and horse carts. When Ron rode back to tell Cooper to organize farmers to transport the grain from the edge of the dense forest, Lawrence had already selected seven or eight farmers to accompany them north to purchase grain.