Unknown Knight

The city defense forces arrived quickly and took the only remaining killer away for interrogation.

In the prison of the City Lord's Mansion, after a round of professional ancient torture, the only remaining killer quickly confessed. It turned out that the financial backer behind the assassination was Chief Atis who was far away in a corner of the continent. Aix had never heard of this Chief Atis before. It was said that he was a great noble of the Sarand Emirate. No matter how hard Aix racked his brains, he couldn't figure out how he had offended such a person.

Later, it was Manid's analysis that gave Aix a clue. It turned out that Chief Attis was the lord of the city of Barie in the Sarand Emirate. Manid had been there for business. It was a large oasis with rich resources, producing mineral salt, spices, dates, painted pottery and other products.

The largest industry among them is mineral salt. This mineral salt has another name, that is, rose salt, which is famous in the aristocratic circles throughout the continent. It is sold for as high as 6 or 7 silver coins per bag. It is said that this salt has a delicate taste, mellow flavor, and pink color, which is very similar to the color of pink roses, hence the name rose salt. It is said that it also has medical effects. I don’t know if it is true or not. It makes Aix feel that Chief Attis should also be a marketing expert.

It is obvious that this is a real ancient version of "Who Moved My Cheese?". The snow salt, which cost 4 or 5 silver coins per bag, had a significant impact on Chief Attis's rose salt business. So after some investigation and finding out the reason, he decided to kill Aix.

The key point that made Aix angry was that Chief Attis only used 200 silver coins to bribe the three killers, and the remaining 100 would be paid after the task was completed. After all, I am a lord with nearly a thousand subjects, and I am sending beggars away with such a small reward! Aix was furious.

Then there was the workshop owner, Prius. He must have noticed something, so he spoke out to remind him. However, Axe had no experience in this area and did not understand the meaning of his words. It was not easy to talk about such things casually. After all, there was a gap in their status. Axe could not blame him too much. Moreover, based on his ability to observe people, Axe decided to make friends with him in the future.

Later, even the city lord Marquis Kleis, who was out of the city to inspect the territory, rushed back on horseback after hearing the news. Originally, Aix did not want to disturb Lord Kleis this time. Marquis Kleis was a highly respected man. He was the old master Wen of Swadia and the only one of the three marquises of the Kingdom of Swadia who was still in power. He firmly controlled the core area of ​​the continent for the kingdom.

As a junior, it would be impolite for Aix to visit without any reason. But now he did not expect that he would have to meet him because of this matter.

The Marquis of Claire was not only a man of high moral character, but also a wise man. After all, Aix was stabbed in his territory. As nobles of the same country, this matter could be a big deal or a small one, and it could easily cause misunderstandings from others. Moreover, as far as he knew, the new Earl of Aix was also a person valued by King Harlaus, so he insisted on hosting a banquet for Aix and his caravan, and Aix had no choice but to accept the invitation.

In the evening, in the banquet hall of the city lord's mansion, the city lord, Marquis Claude, held a sumptuous banquet for Aix. Also seated were Marquis Claude's son, Earl Dale William, as well as several core members of the caravan and the two who had rescued him today. The man named Niza insisted on leaving, and Aix winked at Fatis, who finally managed to keep him.

The other members of the caravan were also arranged by Marquis Claude to eat and rest in the barracks of the City Lord's Mansion. The caravan's trucks and pack horses were also brought into the City Lord's Mansion for care. It can be said that everything was taken care of and the arrangements were clear.

As Aix was injured, he only drank a few sips of wine and said he wanted to go to the guest room to rest. At this time, the Niza stood up at an inopportune time and stopped him, saying:

"Sir, I've drunk the wine and you've thanked me. Can you let me go?"

Aix sighed and said:

"Did I do anything disrespectful? That made my brother want to leave me so much?"

"Your Excellency is too kind. I came here from the Kugit Khanate this time because I came to visit your country's famous 'Sunuo Shanren'. I have admired him for a long time, and I think the song 'Sunuo Shanren' that is being sung in the tavern now is crude and cannot promote his reputation. I want to ask him about his deeds in person, and then write a real 'Sunuo Shanren' for him and spread his reputation throughout the continent. So I dare not stay here. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."

Everyone burst into laughter after hearing his words. Marquis Claude smiled and said to Niza:

"My dear friend, do you know the name of the 'good man Sunuo' you mentioned, and where he lives?"

Niza shook his head and said:

"I also heard about the good man's deeds from my colleagues. He didn't know his name either. He only knew that he was doing business in Sunuo. As a businessman, he gave up everything he had for the sake of the unrelated disaster victims and saved countless lives. I believe that everyone in Sunuo City knows the good man's name. I will find out once I go to Sunuo City and ask around."

After hearing his words, Marquis Claude laughed again and said to him:

"Why bother looking for him so hard? Isn't the 'good man Sunuo' you are looking for Lord Aix? Why don't you come and meet him?"

Everyone burst into laughter again following Marquis Claude's words. Niza then realized that the kind man he had come all the way to find was right in front of him. It was really a coincidence. This made him, who loved pursuing poetic mood, speechless for a moment.

"Uh-oh, uh-oh." After two unconscious sighs, Niza finally reacted, stepped forward, touched his chest, bowed deeply, and said:

"Please accept my sincere respect, Lord Aix. Your kindness deserves everyone's respect!"

Aix hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, and said embarrassedly:

"No, no, I just did what I could. It's not as serious as you say."

"You are wrong, sir. In this dark and chaotic world, everyone is only concerned about themselves. The strong take pride in enslaving the weak, the wicked take pleasure in bullying the good, and those in power, for their own selfish interests, do not hesitate to start wars, causing great suffering to the people. The poor and weak are left with no clothes to cover their bodies and no food to fill their stomachs, and their entire families die tragically in the wilderness.

I once looked up to the sky and shouted, asking why it had come to this, but the sky remained silent and all I saw was endless darkness.

Before this, I had been completely disappointed and disheartened, so I carried my beloved Dongbula and wandered around the countries, indulging myself in the mountains and rivers, and forgetting about love between men and women. I kept wandering aimlessly like this, just hoping that one day, I really couldn't walk anymore and could die in a strange place without any worries.

After I heard about the good deeds of the adults in Sunuo, I did not take it seriously at first, thinking that it was another person who was seeking fame and fortune and fooling the world. Until I heard that the adults continued to provide porridge for more than half a month after the war, and even on the last day divided the remaining food equally among all the victims, just so that they could return to their hometown alive, then I believed that this was a true act of kindness.

Sir, you may not know that your good deed is like a lamp in the dark night, bringing a ray of light to this dark and chaotic world. Although you may think that you have only done something within your ability, the significance of this matter to this dark world is that it is a bright lamp that can point the way. It is one of the few lights that can be seen by people living in darkness.

That's why I came all the way to see you. I want to write your deeds into a real poem called "Sunuo Shanren" and spread it in every corner of this continent. Even if this poem can only bring people a glimmer of hope for life or a glimmer of warmth in their hearts, my trip will not be in vain."

The impassioned words moved everyone present, and some even shed tears.

Aix looked at the troubadour named Niza in front of him with moist eyes. He knew that he was a born good man. Some people said that human nature is evil. It is undeniable that humans are higher animals. It’s just that some people follow their nature while others pursue light.

There are many such born good people in history, like Nuwa, Prometheus, Jesus, Sakyamuni, the pre-Qin philosophers, the sages who worry about the world before they enjoy themselves, the teacher whose family is full of loyal heroes and whose bloodline is almost lost, and the revolutionary martyrs who hold up the explosive bag with one hand, block the machine gun hole with their flesh and blood, and remain unmoved despite being burned by fire.

Some of them are glorious, some are unknown, some are remarkable, and some are ordinary. They all use their lives to practice the kindness in their hearts, and use the kindness in their hearts to push the heavy wheel of history, moving slowly forward step by step.

They are like the stars in the sky of history, leading people in the long ocean of night, sailing step by step from primitive barbarism and ignorance to modern prosperity and civilization.

The man in front of him was a born good man. No, in some ways, he was a saint. Although there were many such people in later generations, in this era, in Aix's eyes, he was as dazzling as a pearl in a dark room. How could Aix bear to miss him? So he calmed down and said to him:

"Can't you follow me and do what we can together to help this troubled world?"

Axe's words stunned Niza for a moment. He stared at Axe, and after a moment, as if he had made a great decision, with a "clang" sound, he suddenly pulled out his scimitar and put it on Axe's shoulder.

"Stop!" "How dare you!" "I'll fight you!"

Fatis, Bandak and the others roared in anger and rushed over, but were stopped by Aix. Even though he was an assassin, he thought it was worth dying in his hands to be able to say such touching words.

Niza was not afraid of the sound of swords being drawn behind him. He raised his head proudly and said:

"Can you always practice the goodness in your heart? What if one day, for your own selfish interests, you bring disaster to the people of the world?"

After hearing what he said, Aix thought for a moment and shook his head.

"I cannot promise to always practice the goodness in my heart. I am a human being, not a god, but I can promise to try my best to practice the goodness in my heart without changing my original intention. If one day, for my own selfish interests, I do not hesitate to bring disaster to the world, please use the scimitar in your hand to cut off my head!"

After hearing his words, Niza was stunned. The arrogance on his face gradually disappeared, and he became very excited. He took back the scimitar and stuck it on the ground in front of him, knelt on one knee and said:

"Please accept me as your subject. I will dedicate my youth and life to your cause. My sword is your sword, and your enemy is my enemy. For justice, for the people, for the mission, I will follow your footsteps and fulfill your original intention!"

After hearing this, Bandak, Fatis, Manide, Desevi, and James, who was stitching up Aix's wound, came to Aix, stuck their weapons into the ground, knelt on one knee, and said:

"Please accept me as your subject. I will dedicate my youth and life to your cause. My sword is your sword, and your enemy is my enemy. For justice, for the people, for the mission, I will follow your footsteps and fulfill your original intention!"

Seeing the people kneeling in front of him, Aix couldn't suppress his excitement. He drew out his elite scimitar and was about to put it on the shoulders of several people, but was interrupted by Marquis Claes's loud shout:

"Wait! A ruler should use a sword. Only a double-edged sword, one edge to cut the enemy and the other to restrain oneself, is the weapon a ruler should use. It can be used to perform a solemn ceremony of enthronement. Everyone, please stand up first. I happen to have a sword here, and I will give it to you. You can also use my fairly respectable hall to hold the enthronement ceremony. What do you think?"

How could Aix not agree after hearing this? He stepped forward to help everyone up. A moment later, Marquis de Chasse took out an ancient sword from the back hall. He looked solemn, and held it in both hands. He solemnly handed it to Aix, who quickly took it with both hands.

This is a broad-bladed two-handed sword. The scabbard is made of ordinary hard leather and looks very old. The sword rest, guard and grip are all made of ordinary brass, which are mottled. It is obviously a sword that has experienced vicissitudes of life. When the sword is pulled open, it is still a broad-bladed sword with double blood grooves. The widest part is about 8cm. This is a heavy sword. Few people use such heavy swords now. There are crooked words engraved on both sides of the sword, one side is "Open up the border with sword", and the other side is "Defend our land bravely".

When Aix read out these eight words, no one else was surprised, except Fatis, who took a deep breath and couldn't help but let out a light "oh". He then closed his lips and lowered his head to try to cover up.

In the whole audience, only Marquis Claude looked at Fatis meaningfully. Everyone else was concentrating on looking at the sword in Aix's hand and didn't pay much attention to his small reaction.

A moment later, with the Marquis of Clays and his son Earl William of Dale on either side as witnesses, Bandak, Fatis, Manide, Desevi, Niza, James and others solemnly knelt on one knee in front of Aix and swore together:

"I sincerely accept you as my Lord, and I will never have other intentions in this life. I will devote my youth and life to your cause. My sword is your sword, and your enemy is my enemy. For justice, for the people, for the mission, I will follow your footsteps and fulfill your original intention!"

After everyone finished swearing in unison, Aix stood up, held the sword upright in front of his chest, and said loudly, "Opening the Frontier with the Sword" facing outward:

"I, Aix, swear on my life and honor that I will always protect your lives and families, I will always guard your land and property, I will always respect your personality and dignity, I will always protect your reputation, advise you on your words and deeds, and practice your original intentions. For justice, for the people, and for the mission, I grant you the power to follow me, and your children and grandchildren, forever!"

After he finished speaking, he placed the swords on the left and right shoulders of these people one by one, completing the entire conferring ceremony.