Mount & Blade: Rebuilding Rome from Mercenaries

Anna's appearance caused a small commotion.

Tankred felt a headache coming on amidst the mocking glances and whispers of the mercenaries around him.

According to Tankred's common sense, there shouldn't be women in the military camp, especially a young woman with such an awkward background.

"Listen, Anna, this is no joke!" Tankred rubbed his temples, trying to sound stern. "We're going to a battlefield, and we usually stay in rudimentary camps. This isn't a place for a young girl like you. Get in the car right now, and I'll arrange for someone to take you back!"

"Go back? Go back for what?" Anna raised her chin, her eyes filled with unwavering stubbornness. "Stay in Cassignano, waiting for some bandit or nobleman to kidnap me, or for my father to 'arrange' for me to be favored by someone he wants to please? I want to be in charge of my own life this time!"

"And so what if I'm a woman? I'm not a burden. Do those new kids even know the mountain paths? Can they walk in the woods without making a sound? Besides, I know how to distinguish between animal and human tracks, how to read the clouds to predict the weather, and I know the roads around here better than any of them!"

Tancred felt a pang of guilt and was momentarily embarrassed.

Old John, arms crossed, coughed with a laugh and whispered in Tankred's ear:

"Haha, Little Tank Red, it seems you don't know enough about mercenary life. Mercenaries have always brought along some servants, washerwomen, and even some 'family members,' and as long as they are managed properly, it's not too outrageous. Besides, she is indeed a reliable guide, and..."

Old John raised his eyebrows again and said jokingly, "Having a local you know well around is still very valuable!"

Bashir also rushed over at some point and said:

"Sir, that's not all. I just took a walk around the city and found another great business opportunity! There are so many taverns in the city, but the wine they serve is really not very good. I was thinking that maybe we could partner with that old guy in Cassignano to open a small winery in the city, so we could have a monthly income again."

"Besides, sir, you and Miss Anna have a 'very deep' relationship, so it's most suitable for her to take charge of this matter!"

Tankred looked at Anna's unwavering gaze and glanced at the greenhorns who were secretly peeking in their direction.

"Find her a well-fitting old leather armor and cloak, but nothing too conspicuous," Tancred instructed Old John.

Anna's eyes lit up again. The rough linen clothes couldn't conceal her full curves, which rose and fell gently with her rapid breathing. Strands of messy hair clung to her slightly sweaty neck, looking particularly alluring in the sunlight.

Hmph! You're always causing me trouble. I'll teach you a lesson tonight!

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「叮！您完成了一场艰苦的战斗，耐力+2（28→30），长杆兵器熟练度+1（18→19），个人经验+2，当前等级 Lv4（2/100），可分配属性点：1」

"?"

"System, give me some points, increase my constitution!"

"!"

「叮！您又完成了一场艰苦的战斗，耐力+5（30→35），长杆兵器熟练度+1（19→20），个人经验+5，当前等级 Lv4（7/100）」

-----------------

The next morning, a radiant Tancred led Bashir to Aversa's guild hall.

Norman leaders were not good at governing their lands; they often only took the wealth, labor, and military service from their territories, leaving the rest to the local nobles and guilds.

"You want to buy a piece of land to build a brewery?" The guild clerk understood their purpose, pulled out a simple parchment map, and pointed to a mark near the irrigation ditch:

"Very good, Your Excellency the Earl welcomes investment in building a factory. There happens to be a piece of land for sale here, the perfect size for your factory. Most importantly, it's right by the river, perfect for your water supply. To acquire this land, you'll need to pay the guild one hundred silver coins."

100 silver coins! That's expensive?

Tankred frowned.

The spoils from the last bandit camp had already been distributed to the mercenaries for their amusement. Apart from the initial 20 silver coins and the 70 silver coins he received for the previous commission, and after deducting the 35 silver coins he spent on hiring new recruits, he now only had a meager 55 silver coins left.

Bashir stepped forward at the opportune moment and whispered, "Sir, the location here is indeed excellent, but the price..."

The clerk seemed to sense their predicament, glanced at the count's crest on his chest, and tapped the corner of the account book with the quill pen:

"Are you a mercenary registered in the Earl's army? If you don't have cash, the Earl has recently allowed mercenaries to pay in installments. A 20% down payment, with the balance due within six months, and a total interest rate of five percent. This is already exceptionally lenient!"

Tancred and Bashir exchanged a glance. "Twenty silver coins for the down payment, we'll pay!"

He could almost hear the money bag groaning.

「叮！你完成了尚可的交易，谈判能力+1（20→21），个人经验+1，当前等级 Lv4（8/100）」

The formalities were completed quickly. Upon receiving the stamped temporary land deed, Bashir immediately began calculating at the counter:

"Sir, I've estimated that for a brewery of this size, we'll need at least two craftsmen, enough raw materials and tools for the first two months, and an additional investment of about fifty silver coins. If all goes well, we can start producing wine in the third month. At current market prices, we can reliably make a net profit of over twenty silver coins per month!"

Another 50 silver coins? Tankred's vision went black.

However, Bashir disregarded everything and pulled out a piece of parchment covered with numbers, saying to himself:

"Oh, and I have some good news to report, sir! I've already scouted out the best location for the 'barber's tent' you requested. It's right next to the East Gate Market, where mercenaries and merchant caravans will pass by! I knew you were short on funds the other day, so I didn't dare ask you for money. Now that we've bought the land for the factory, can you approve the 40 silver coins you promised me as start-up capital?"

As if afraid Tancredi would deny it, Bashir added, "I guarantee you'll receive your share of the money by this time next month!"

Tankred instantly felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

He silently took out his money pouch, and Bashir shook his head at the few remaining silver coins.

"Oh, sir, is this all the money you have? How about this, just give me 20 silver coins, I'll pay for it myself with my own money first, and it will be deducted from next month's earnings!"

Tancred immediately counted out 5 silver coins, then slapped the rest, along with the bag, into Bashir's hand, afraid he might change his mind.

Bashir skillfully put away his money pouch, and said with a worried expression:

"Sir, this is all the money you have. What about the cost of the brewery's craftsmen, tools, and raw materials..."

Tankred gritted his teeth and whispered:

"We were already planning to find these tools, craftsmen, and raw materials in the village of Cassignano. I'll go find Anna and ask her to help us figure it out. You don't need to worry about these initial investments; I'll go and persuade her!"

Upon hearing this, Bashir's small eyes quickly swept over Tancred's dark circles, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up. "Oh, my great commander, then I wish you good luck tonight! Would you like me to buy you some cloves and cinnamon? I've seen them in our Saracen medical canon; they're said to be quite effective..."

"Mind your own business!" Tankred glared at him, annoyed. "Get the barber's tent up and running as fast as you can, or you'll mess it up!"

"Yes, sir!" Bashir, still wearing a mocking smile, saluted curtly and took his leave.

Watching Bashir's hurried departure, a question suddenly arose in Tankred's mind.

"This Bashir fellow has such a keen sense for mathematics and business, his mannerisms are unlike those of an ordinary slave, and more importantly, he seems to be quite well-read. Just who is he?"

After a long pause, he shook his head, suppressing these doubts for the time being, because there was a more crucial issue at hand—

He's out of money!

"I need to go back to the bulletin board clerk and see if there are any profitable commissions!"