HCB Chapter 661 A Good Job
Chapter 661 A Good Job
Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats broke the silence of the camp, and a well-dressed man rode straight up to Griffith.
He reached into his robes and pulled out a neatly folded document, speaking with undisguised arrogance:
"I am Count Yuris's messenger. The Count has something important to tell you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he reined in his horse, leaned back slightly, and looked down at Griffith with obvious contempt in his eyes. He was clearly waiting for Griffith to kneel down and pay his respects, listening to his next words with the utmost deference.
In his view, he was carrying the orders of the king's younger brother and also the leader of the White Dragon Knights, Count Yuris. Even when facing the mercenary leader, such courtesy was only natural.
"You tell me."
However, Griffith did not do as he wished.
Without bending over or showing any obsequiousness, he simply uttered the words calmly, then stood upright, meeting the messenger's gaze with composure. He made no attempt to bow, but simply waited quietly for the messenger's response.
That composure seemed to completely disregard the messenger's arrogance.
This scene instantly enraged the messenger, whose face darkened.
He considered himself a close confidant of Count Yuris, running errands for the nobleman. Wherever he went, officials and gentry alike treated him with utmost respect, fearing any slight.
But this person in front of me, who is just the leader of a mercenary group, is so ungrateful that he doesn't even bother to observe basic etiquette.
In his view, this was undoubtedly a blatant humiliation and a disregard for Count Yuris.
The messenger immediately rebuked him angrily:
"How dare you! You dare not bow to me? Don't you know I am here to deliver a message for Lord Yuris?"
His voice suddenly rose, tinged with anger, as if he wanted to vent all his dissatisfaction.
Upon seeing this, the mercenaries of the Hawk Band were immediately enraged. They stepped forward, their eyes flashing with intense hostility as they glared at the messenger.
"Who do you think you are, daring to speak to our commander like that!"
"He's just a messenger, why is he putting on such airs!"
"If you dare to spout nonsense again, don't blame us for being impolite!"
Angry shouts rose and fell, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. The mercenaries instinctively put their hands on the weapons at their waists, ready to act at Griffith's command.
Griffiths, however, remained unusually calm. He slowly raised his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.
This simple action carried a calm and powerful force, instantly silencing the restless mercenaries who all turned their gazes away, awaiting their leader's decision.
Then, Griffith knelt on one knee, leaned slightly forward, and performed a standard greeting, neither overly humble nor perfunctory, his movements fluid and restrained.
"That's pretty much it."
Seeing that Griffith had finally yielded, the messenger's face showed a hint of smugness, and he slowly nodded, as if he were bestowing a favor upon him.
He cleared his throat and slowly relayed Count Yuris's orders, his tone slightly inflected:
"His Majesty King John of Heldran is about to visit the Kingdom of Midland. This is a major event in the diplomatic relations between our two countries, and there is no room for error. Lord Yuris has specifically ordered you to lead the Eagle Band, along with several other mercenary groups, to be responsible for the security of a caravan route. This route is of utmost importance and must be kept absolutely safe."
"If the convoy stops in the area under your responsibility, you will also be fully responsible for collecting all the supplies needed by the convoy, from food and water to fodder, and you must prepare them in advance without any delays."
After saying this, the messenger paused, his gaze sweeping over Griffith's calm face, and then slowly added:
"Commander Griffith, this is an amazing job! Far from the bloodshed of the battlefield, without having to risk your life in a fight, you can complete the mission safely and peacefully."
"Moreover, you will receive a generous advance payment from above. Be sure to thank Lord Yuris properly; not everyone gets such an opportunity."
Griffith remained kneeling, his voice calm and unwavering, utterly devoid of emotion:
"Yes, sir."
The messenger watched with satisfaction at his submissive demeanor, then glanced at the mercenary behind him who was still glaring angrily, thinking disdainfully:
These rude mercenaries dare to glare at the people around the nobles?
They are truly ignorant and arrogant, nothing more than a bunch of people who depend on others for their own benefit.
Without another word, he handed the document to Griffith, then spurred his horse, flicked the whip, and galloped away, disappearing quickly into the distance.
Only after the messenger had completely disappeared did Griffith slowly stand up, take the document, unfold it, and scan the words with a deep gaze. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, turned around, gave a few instructions to the mercenaries beside him, and began to arrange the recruitment work for the mercenary group.
A few days later, Griffith rode to a high hill with a wide view of the road below, making it the best spot to observe the caravan's movements.
Not far below the hill, there is a wide and flat stone road. The road surface has become very smooth from years of being trodden by carriages and horses, and it is wide enough to accommodate several carriages side by side.
At this time, both sides of the road were already set up, with a soldier from the Eagle Band standing guard every few meters.
Their expressions were serious, their eyes scanning their surroundings warily, not missing a single rustling sound, their muscles tense, ready to deal with any possible emergencies.
"Each team leader, following the designated plan, led their team members to carefully patrol the surrounding area."
"It is strictly forbidden for any unauthorized personnel to appear within two miles on either side of the road. If any suspicious persons are found, they shall be detained and interrogated immediately. No dangerous factors shall be allowed to approach the convoy route."
"understand!"
The team leaders responded in unison, and then each led their team members to quickly split into different squads and disperse to the areas on both sides of the road to conduct a thorough patrol, leaving only the sound of their orderly footsteps fading into the distance.
After the team members left, Griffith stood alone atop the hill, his posture as upright as a pine tree.
He made no unnecessary movements, simply standing quietly, gazing at the boundless blue sky in the distance, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
"If I had stayed with Blackwatch, what would my situation be now?"
Griffiths looked at the eagle circling in the distant sky and sighed inwardly. Although he had indeed achieved a lot after leaving Blackwatch and creating the Band of the Hawk, he deeply understood the hardships and sacrifices he had gone through.
If he had stayed with Blackwatch, he might have followed the established path, becoming a Blackwatch officer, and after his contract expired, he could have been promoted to centurion. After retiring, he could have moved to Helderland to find a quiet place to spend the rest of his life.