"Haha! Seguimi, avrai pane e vin! Reinhardt, come with me, there’ll be bread and wine!..."

"Höllenhund! After sheep with you? Who are you? And you brought these royal hounds to block me?!..."

"...? Didn’t I just say? I, the famous Don Christopher Columbus, Castilian Admiral!..."

In February, the climate in Barcelona was pleasant, with green mountains stretching north toward the Pyrenees. The estates and farmland of the nobility spread across the countryside, and water wheels and mills turned gently along the river. Shepherds of Aragon, with their sheepdogs, drove flocks of Aragonese sheep, kicking up a layer of dust in the distance. These hardy, cold-resistant sheep had good meat, produced milk and wool. Among them, the dairy sheep were famous delicacies on the Peninsula!

However, as the shepherd turned around the mountain path and saw nearly two hundred German mercenaries in the distance, with their flamboyant armor flags, he shivered instantly. He looked intently in fear, and seeing the large cavalry troop carrying the Castile castle flag, his knees went weak, and even his toes stopped responding.

"Holy Mother! Murderous thugs meeting bone-crunching bandits...Quick! Run! My sheep, hurry!"

"Awoo awoo!..."

The shepherd shivered and turned around, the sheepdogs howling. The distant flock was quickly turned around and driven back. The captain of the royal cavalry, Alvaro, raised an eyebrow, looked north, and gave a quiet order. Then, a seasoned royal cavalryman spurred his horse, ignoring the tense and alert Shenluo Mercenaries with their raised spears, bows, and crossbows, and galloped directly toward the shepherd.

"Da da da..."

"Ah! Hon... Honorable knight, sir!..."

The royal cavalryman galloped swiftly and then stopped abruptly, showcasing incredible riding skills. The dust raised by the horse’s hooves covered the shepherd’s head and face, causing him to kneel in terror on the muddy ground.

"In the name of the Castilian Royal Family, we require military provisions! Ten, twenty... Leave these twenty-four sheep! Here, this is your payment!"

"Ah? This... This money?... Sir..."

The shepherd crawled a few steps and repeatedly counted the purse thrown by the "knight sir," finding only 8 silver coins and 20 copper coins. Transporting twenty-four sheep to the outskirts market of Barcelona could fetch at least 40 silver coins! However, nervously raising his head to argue, he saw the "knight sir" resting his hand on his sword hilt, a sneer at his lips staring at him.

"What? Too little?..."

"Merciful Queen protects you, foolish Aragonese shepherd! If it weren’t for us today, taking your sheep to the market, meeting this lousy group of mercenaries, you’d not only lose your sheep but your life too!"

"Ah! Yes... Yes... Praise the Queen, praise you, brave and mighty Castilian knight, sir!..."

"Ha! If the Queen hadn’t taught us mercy, hum... grovel with your dog, take the money, and get lost! Get lost!"

"...Yes! Yes!..."

The shepherd turned and fled, the sheepdog tucking its tail, not daring another bark. The distant voices were only Columbus’s curses and Mercenary Captain Reinhardt’s rebuttals.

"Cazzo! Bastard, bullshit! Reinhardt, you don’t remember me? It’s me, Columbus! The great navigator to Khitan! Three years ago, near Granada in the south, we met! You even wanted to rob me then, but were eventually charmed by me, admiringly leaving! We even agreed then, that when I returned from the east, you’d follow me!"

"What nonsense? Navigator to Khitan? Granada?... Oh! You’re that idiot trembling on a mule...Schweinehund! Mistkerl! Charmed by you? When did we agree I would follow you?... Wait! You’ve become a Castilian noble? You...did you really go to the Atlantic, found Khitan, and came back?"

"Hahaha! Of course! I, the greatest Great Navigator Columbus, accepted the invitation of Queen Isabella and led the Castilla Navy deep into the Atlantic Ocean, discovering India and Cipangu! And Khitan is just to the west of Cipangu!..."

"Haha! Oh, just Lord, how the gold in this world shines so brightly! Even King Joao II of Portugal envied my unparalleled talents, envied my discoveries that shook the Catholic World, and imprisoned me for two years..."

"And the great and holy Queen Isabella, to reward me for discovering Cipangu Indian and to commend my unyielding spirit in prison, promoted me to Castilian Court Baron, appointing me as Commander-in-chief of the Castilian Expeditionary Army!... I shall command a vast fleet of 20 Caravels and Clark Sailing Ships, leading an expeditionary army of 1500 men, to the Cipangu Indian Islands in the Atlantic, conquering those ignorant natives of the East for the Castilian Royal Family!..."

Columbus, riding on his horse, laughed out loud, extremely pleased. For Columbus, there was nothing more satisfying in life than to flaunt his awe-inspiring achievements in front of old acquaintances who once looked down on him, effectively slapping back at the contempt he’d endured over the past decades! At this moment, he was brimming with confidence, proudly recounting his maritime accomplishments, enjoying unparalleled gratification. His reason for bringing the Royal Cavalry a long way to conscript the other party was at least half for such satisfaction!

"Hahaha! Reinhardt, how about it, surprised? Chi nasce povero può morire ricco! Those born poor can also die rich! If you follow me, accept the Queen’s conscription order, and join the Castilian Expeditionary Army... The glory and status I have today will also be yours in the future!..."

Saying that, Columbus pulled out an exquisite sheepskin scroll from his bosom and proudly tossed it to Mercenary Captain Reinhardt.

"Catch! The Queen’s conscription order!"

"Ach, nein! Das gibt’s doch nicht! No, this can’t be!!..."

Reinhardt stared, mouth agape, incredulously unfolding the sheepskin scroll. His first glance was at the end of the scroll where he indeed saw Queen Isabella’s signature, stamped with the Castilian Royal Family’s seal. Then, he read it thoroughly again, and it truly was a "conscription document of the Castilian Royal Family," or rather, a "mercenary contract renewal."

As a participant in the Holy War of the Moorish Kingdom, his mercenary group’s contract at the time did indeed include a clause granting the "Kingdom of Castile a right of first conscription." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Of course, those paper agreements were pure nonsense! The Kingdom of Castile still owes piles of contract salaries to mercenary groups, merely delaying payment! Could the mercenaries find grounds to reason with the Royal Army? It was nothing more than finding chances to raid more, kill for wealth, and make up their salaries... For mercenaries, these so-called mercenary agreements were just documents for fighting wars on behalf of employers, gaining looting permission.

"Zum Donnerwetter! Damn it, curse it! The Kingdom of Castile is dirt poor, having disbanded rest of its mercenary groups after the Holy War... Why in hell would the Royal Cavalry come after our German Mercenary Group?..."

"Höllenhund! I understand now! It must be this hell-riding dog, that donkey-faced Columbus! It’s him who brought these Royal Cavalry here to capture me! Had I known, I would have cut him down with a great sword back then! Who in hell wants to go to the Atlantic, or some expedition to Cipangu Indian! Am I stupid? Once you’re on the ship, lost at sea, your life is no longer yours... The Almighty won’t protect us Shenluo Mercenaries, and the Castilians will only use us as cannon fodder..."

Reinhardt’s expression was grim as he swept his eyes over Columbus, sitting on horseback, gritting his teeth with hatred. He also glanced at those cold-faced Royal Cavalry, veterans of countless battles, each clad in solid breastplates, wielding charging spears, clearly not to be trifled with. If these two cavalry units launched a charge, his German Mercenary Group would be obliterated.

"Damn it!..."

Reinhardt had to grit his teeth, lowering his head to repeatedly scrutinize the "conscription document," hoping to find a loophole. Alas, even the most notoriously unreasonable Shenluo Mercenary Group today had to attempt reasoning with this group of Royal Cavalry...

"Ach, Gott! The date, the date on this mercenary document!..."

Reinhardt checked it twice, then suddenly raised the "mercenary document." His face instantly lit up with joy, pointing at the date written on the document, he shouted aggressively.

"Witness Lord! The date on this Castilian mercenary document is delayed! Our German Mercenary Group has already been hired by Duke Louis of Orleans in advance!..."

Saying that, Reinhardt also pulled out a sheepskin scroll of a "mercenary document" from his bosom, unfolding it before the shocked Columbus.

"The Duke of Orleans, of the Kingdom of France, employed us half a month ago to partake in the French King’s Italian War! The formidable French King, victorious in every battle, has already led ’a hundred thousand’ troops, capturing all of Northern Italy, lightning-conquering Lombardy, Asti, Genoa, Florence, Raballo, Livorno, and Pisa!... Even the Vatican had to bow down, allowing the French Army into Rome... And now, the French King’s army is about to conquer the final Sicily!"

"Witness Lord! This is a contract document signed by Duke Louis! Our German Mercenary Group has already signed, joining the French side, aiding the most robust and formidable French King in suppressing the conquered Northern Italy City States!..."