Wulfrik's fingertips tapped lightly against his sword hilt: "What about our casualties?"
"Three dead, two seriously wounded, five lightly wounded."
Wagner's voice grew somber: "Ross and Martin died protecting the flank..."
"And young Gavin—he was the first to charge into the enemy lines..."
Though the combat strength difference between the bandits and the guard company was huge, as the saying goes, "many ants can kill an elephant."
Even elite forces would inevitably suffer some losses when outnumbered.
Moreover, since they'd come out on inspection rather than for battle, these guard knights weren't wearing plate armor but lighter mail.
Otherwise, with the bandits' equipment, they would have had difficulty causing much damage to the knights.
Wulfrik closed his eyes as three familiar faces appeared in his mind—Ross, that big guy who always grinned stupidly; Martin with his superb archery who loved to boast; and Gavin, just eighteen, who'd only passed his knight examination last month.
He took a deep breath: "Send the fallen's remains back to their families. Send the seriously wounded back to the castle and have Butler Wilson arrange for the best physicians."
Wagner was about to carry out the order when Wulfrik added: "Pass along my command: fifty gold coins compensation for each fallen warrior, twenty for the seriously wounded, five for the lightly wounded, and two for each participant."
Wagner's head snapped up, his eyebrows shooting high.
Fifty gold coins equaled five years' wages for an ordinary knight—enough for a family to live very comfortably for ten years.
Such compensation standards were unheard of in the Klan Kingdom—usually, families of fallen knights getting ten gold coins was considered exceptional generosity from a lord.
"Young master, this... might this be..." Wagner hesitated.
"Too generous?" A bitter smile crossed Wulfrik's lips.
"Wagner, do you know how much grain one gold coin can buy?"
"Reporting, young master: about... a thousand pounds of flour?"
"Correct."
"Fifty gold coins can keep a family fed for thirty years."
"These knights died for Sowerbright—their families deserve the best care."
He turned to Wagner, his gaze sharp as an eagle's: "Remember, loyalty shouldn't come cheap."
One gold coin could be exchanged for a hundred silver coins, while one silver coin could be exchanged for a hundred copper coins.
At current prices in Sowerbright territory, about ten copper coins could buy a pound of flour.
If spent carefully, one gold coin would be enough for an ordinary family of four for a year.
And fifty gold coins would ensure these fallen warriors' families would never want for anything for the rest of their lives.
As guard knights of the Sowerbright family, fighting for the Sowerbrights was their mission.
Even paying with their lives was expected—it was their duty, predetermined from the day they swore loyalty.
Previously, compensation for each fallen warrior never exceeded ten gold coins, but Wulfrik had just raised this standard fivefold.
This approach would not only boost morale but also let the territory's people feel their lord's care and justice, further consolidating the Sowerbright family's reputation and standing.
When Wagner conveyed this order to the knights, the battlefield suddenly fell silent for a moment.
Then, a young knight covered in blood suddenly knelt on one knee, thrusting his bloodied sword into the earth: "For Young Master Wulfrik! For the glory of the Sowerbright family!"
His voice trembled with excitement.
"For Young Master Wulfrik!"
...
Dozens of knights shouted in unison, the clash of metal armor thundering like thunder.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long, like an invincible legion.
Wulfrik quietly observed all this, calculating deeper strategies in his mind.
As a transmigrator, he understood better than anyone the principle that "those who win hearts win the world."
These gold coins would not only buy the knights' loyalty but also, through their word of mouth, establish the image of a benevolent lord throughout the territory.
...
"Bring that bandit leader over," Wulfrik suddenly said, his gaze turning cold.
More important than winning hearts right now was uncovering the truth behind these bandits' unusual behavior.
Hans was roughly dragged over by two knights. His leather armor had been stripped away, revealing a torso covered in scars.
This bandit leader in his forties was missing half his right ear and had a centipede-like scar across his left cheek.
When the knights forced him to kneel before Wulfrik, those murky eyes flickered with cunning and fear.
"Hans, right?"
Wulfrik used his sword sheath to lift the man's chin: "Tell me, why come down from the mountains during harvest season? Why specifically capture able-bodied men?"
His voice was soft, yet it made Hans tremble all over.
Wulfrik quietly watched Hans, waiting for his answer.
Hans's gaze flickered uncertainly, sweat sliding down his forehead.
"My... my lord..."
Hans licked his cracked lips: "We were just... just short on food..."
"Slap!"
Wulfrik suddenly backhanded him, drawing blood from Hans's mouth.
"Lies!" he shouted sternly.
"The grain you stole wouldn't feed twenty people, yet you captured thirty-seven able-bodied workers!"
Wulfrik leaned in closer, his shadow enveloping Hans.
"Last chance. Tell the truth, or I'll hand you over to those knights who just lost their comrades."
Hans trembled all over, fear flashing in his eyes.
Hans's gaze swept over the surrounding knights glaring at him menacingly, especially those staring with hatred—probably friends of the fallen.
He swallowed hard and suddenly lowered his voice: "My lord... if I tell you... can I live?"
Wulfrik narrowed his eyes: "That depends on whether your information is worth a life."
Hans took a deep breath, his voice barely audible: "We discovered an iron mine... in the northern foothills of Black Mountain..."
Wulfrik's pupils suddenly contracted.
An iron mine!
The strategic resource the south most lacked!
The Sowerbright family spent tens of thousands of gold coins annually purchasing iron ore from other territories—this expense accounted for nearly twenty percent of the family's financial income.
If they could discover a new mineral source within their territory...
"Continue."
Wulfrik's voice remained calm, but his grip on his sword had tightened slightly.
"The... the chief said we needed manpower for mining... so we..."
Hans's voice grew smaller and smaller.
"My lord, spare my life! This was all the chief's idea!"
It was now approaching noon. Wulfrik pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned to Wagner: "Captain Wagner, which is our nearest family garrison?"
Wagner thought for a moment: "The Fourth Infantry Regiment. Their base is in Maple Town, about twenty kilometers from here."
"Send two of our fastest riders to Maple Town. Have the Fourth Infantry Regiment come here fully armed at all speed."
"Also send men to escort these prisoners back to Argentum Eagle Castle, and have some mining officials brought from the castle," Wulfrik decisively ordered.
Wagner left to carry out the orders.
Wulfrik turned back to Hans, dangerous light flickering in his eyes: "Want to live?"
Hans shuddered all over, his eyes full of desire for survival, nodding repeatedly: "Yes, I want to live, my lord."
Wulfrik sneered, his sword tip pressing down slightly, forcing Hans closer to the ground: "Good. Then you'd better cooperate with me fully."
"Tell me everything about where you discovered the iron mine, your numbers, your camp situation, and all the information about this so-called chief of yours."
"Remember, don't try any tricks, or your head won't stay attached."