On December 18, 1458, the winter season once again came to the north of the Stoke Kingdom.

The cold winter wind blew the cold and bitter land, but it could not stop the lively and joyful atmosphere from coming, because in less than half a month it was a glorious festival.

Every citizen living in the Kingdom of Stoke, whether poor or rich, lowly or noble, is preparing to welcome the arrival of the glorious festival of the new year. This is the best farewell to the year that is about to pass, and is also praying that the God of Light can protect them from a good harvest in the coming year.

Irvingdale Town, the former transit farming town, has gradually become a prosperous trading town in nearly two years of change and expansion, attracting countless traders and wandering mercenaries to come and go.

"Hey, Congreve, this... the change in the town of Irvingdale is too great!" In front of the towering and majestic wall, a mercenary in a mail stared blankly at the crowded and bustling city gate in front of him, and said dumbfoundedly.

"I remember, just two years ago...yes, two years ago, when I left here, there were only one of the few leather herb merchants here, and now...."

"Hahaha, Horace, that's you're unlucky." The mercenary man called Congreve turned his head and smiled, and his calloused right hand slammed Horace's shoulder hard.

"Do you remember the Pioneer Knight who just came to Irvingdale's town? The rumors are not reliable, that's a very difficult guy."

"Now the town of Irvingdale can develop to such a scale, all depends on the iron-blooded policy of the pioneering knight. No, it should be said to be Baron Modrian!" Kangriff looked at the row of black knights standing in front of the city gate, and couldn't help swallowing his mouth. The scarlet memories of the past came to my mind again.

"More than a year ago, a vein of fine iron ore was found in the Lentury Mountains, but it attracted the attention of many northern nobles. What would you guess the final outcome?"

The thin Horace rubbed his painful shoulders, looked up at the cold and iron-blooded city guards standing among the battlements, shook his head helplessly, and was forced to cooperate with Congreve's "performance".

"What's the ending!?"

"Hey, of course the ending was Baron Modrian who won. There were rumors that nearly 5,000 people died in the battle outside the town of Irvingdale, and there were also many extraordinary knights and kingdom nobles." Congliff slowed down and whispered near Horace, his tone mixed with a hint of unspeakable fear.

"Well, I know, the ending must be that Baron Modrian won... Wait, you mean that a small war occurred and 5,000 people died... This is impossible... This is within the Kingdom of Stock..." Horace's originally casual expression, and when he heard the words of his partner, he couldn't help but question it loudly. He knew the order and strictness of the laws and regulations of the kingdom.

Kangreve saw the people around him staring at this place with a lively look, his face suddenly changed, he covered Horace's mouth and said in a low growl.

"Damn, Horace, what are you doing, who made you speak so loudly... Get out of here quickly, I don't want to be targeted by the Noxus Empire cavalry."

Accompanied by the rapid footsteps, the two mercenaries accelerated their pace and disappeared into the crowded crowd.

................

In the town of Irvingdale, full of bustling and noisy, the neat and clean blue streets are well connected, and a large number of wandering mercenaries carrying weapons and groups of wandering mercenaries, and from time to time, there are also traders who are constantly looking for business opportunities whispering by.

Not only are human traders, but also other racial traders from countries near the Stoke Kingdom, are also trading in this emerging and prosperous town, adding a thriving flavor.

"Huhuhu~Huhuhu, don't be so scared, Congrive, you said it's a rumor. Will that Baron Modrian still care?" Horace stood in an alley and said gasping. Until now, he still did not believe Congrive's previous words. The laws of the kingdom deeply rooted his soul.

"Rumor? Hey, you bastard assassin, if you hadn't saved my life, I would have abandoned you at the gate of the city and allowed those cold-blooded guys to capture you." Kangriff wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a ferocious look on his face.

"If it was really a rumor, I would be so scared! And think about it, why no northern noble dared to covet this place in such a trading town that was like a gold mine? And those fine iron ore that was transported out every day!"

"Because Baron Modrian's reputation shocked those hypocritical nobles who bullyed the weak and feared the strong, the battle in the town of Irvingdale more than a year ago directly broke their backbone and completely defeated their confidence."

"But, this is within the kingdom. How can a small-scale war occur or a war within one's own internal one!"

Horace was still confused. The memories of two years ago were completely incompatible with the present. He had also heard of the pioneer knight Modrian, who seemed to be the second son of Viscount Scarlet and a very mediocre noble master.

"And, Congreve, why do you know so clearly?"

"Bah!" Kangliff spitted thick phlegm, shrugged his shoulders slightly, and tried to keep his tone as normal as possible.

"Don't you feel the dark tide in the Stoke Kingdom now? You are a well-informed assassin." He looked at his partner who was suddenly bowing his head and his tone trembled slightly, and continued.

"As for why I know, hehe, because I was hired by a dead nobleman to participate in that hellish battle."

"The goddess of luck favored me, I survived by chance and now become a senior mercenary active in the town of Irvingdale!"

The silence atmosphere enveloped the two mercenaries, both of them silently, and the cold law of the strong prey on the weak made them feel powerless.

Click!

The heavy palm slapped Horace's shoulder again, and Congrive's stiff face tugged with a smile, as if he didn't care about the memories of the past, but the humble fear remained deep in his pupils.

"Okay, these are not something we lowly mercenaries can consider."

"Let's go, I'll take you to the town of Irvingdale today. Maybe we can have a free ale."

Looking up slightly, Horace looked at Congrif's tall figure, and smiled again on his silent face. He was also concerned about what the situation in the Kingdom of Stoke was doing. Now he was just a wandering mercenary.

There is wine today and I am drunk today. I am worried tomorrow. I am worried tomorrow. I want to enjoy today's leisure time.

Then, he followed Congreve's pace and visited the town of Irvingdale, which had successfully transformed by the vein of fine iron ore.

Compared with the large cities that Horace once visited and the more prosperous trading cities, there is a sense of order that cannot be clearly explained here.

Yes, a sense of order!

Everyone in the town of Irvingdale, including rebellious and powerful mercenaries, cunning and cheap merchants are following a certain order and dare not step over the line.

"This is an order cast with blood. You must know that when the refined iron ore is traded here, dozens of bloody battles occur every day, and deaths are completely filled with inside and outside the town."

"But everything ended with Baron Modrian's intervention, and the black cavalry under his command slaughtered countless greedy guys who did not abide by the rules and order."

"Even the high-ranking knights, I have seen the heads of those big men being interspersed on the red-bottomed axe-blade flag on the wall."

Kangreve stopped in front of a deep and quiet alley, his face slightly excited.

"Arriving, Horace, this is the most special place in Irvingdale town, and it is also..." Kangreve turned to look at his partner behind him and explained.

"It is also our mercenary's favorite tavern!"
Chapter completed!