boyutpedia Chapter 4 Tiberius's Reasoning
Chapter 4 Tiberius's Reasoning
"Who told you we were going to war with the Valantis?" Jules' first reaction wasn't to ask Tiberius why he helped Lisandro find his daughter Serafina, nor why this matter concerned the annihilation of the White Legion. Instead, he coldly asked Tiberius how he knew that the Kingdom of the Three Daughters was going to war with Valantis.
This employment contract with Lisandra is indeed related to the war between the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and Valantis. However, Jules has only told a few trusted confidants within his legions about this; others are unaware of it yet…
Then, Jules turned to Vito, his face ashen, and asked, "You told him?"
This is the only possibility.
Vito shook his head like a rattle-drum.
"This kid figured it out himself; I didn't say a word."
"Vito didn't tell me about Valantis; it was the services Lord Lisandro provided that hinted at everything."
Tiberius pointed to Jules's purple silk robe, which was decorated with gold thread at the cuffs and hem.
"Uncle, look at the services Lisandra is providing us: slaves adorned in gold and silver, magnificent mansions, exquisitely prepared cuisine, and oh, free access to the Rogal family's infamous erotic garden, the 'Perfume Garden'..."
"And, if I'm not mistaken, the first commission he paid to the White Army in this contract was at least three times, maybe even four times, the usual amount!"
"My dear uncle," Tiberius forced a bitter smile. "Why would those women in the perfume gardens spread their legs for Vito for free? Is it because Vito is handsome enough? What do they want from him? His yellow teeth? Or his ability to write bad poetry? And those slaves who serve us, judging from their clothes and accessories, they seem more like masters than we are."
"Aside from the invasion of Volantis, I really can't think of anything else that would make him invest so much money in us. Is the Kingdom of the Three Daughters planning an expedition to Westeros?" He chuckled. "If that's the case, my advice is to run. After all, everyone is equal before dragonfire."
Jules raised his eyebrows.
Jules knew his nephew Tiberius well: he loved heroic tales, was reckless and belligerent, and although the battle with the Iron People had killed an unfortunate fellow, it may have fueled his reckless temper.
But Jules was quite surprised that he had just concluded that war against Valantis was based solely on his analysis of the current situation.
Did Tiemin's oar strike make him smarter? Or did the old woman in the Seven Gods give him wisdom?
but……
Jules glanced at Vito sideways.
Vito and he had been partners for a long time, and he knew Vito's personality very well: talkative, not very smart, and lecherous, but loyal enough, and he had his own insights into training soldiers.
[Vito… he's probably been tricked into telling the truth by this brat!] Jules thought to himself. [He just doesn't even know it himself.]
"Tiberius, your analysis has impressed me, but what does his daughter's disappearance have to do with the impending war in Valentis?" Jules frowned, his dark eyebrows almost tangled together. "You're saying our legion will be wiped out? Are you exaggerating?"
"If you've listened to too many bards' chivalrous hymns and are now hoping for a hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress story, then I'll whack you on the head with my oar—to bring you back to your senses!"
"I've seen plenty of brats like you. You kill someone and think you're a warrior..."
"Uncle, I know you think I acted impulsively by saying I wanted to save Lissandra's daughter," Tiberius said, looking directly into Jules' eyes. "But please listen to my analysis before you decide."
"Of course we can refuse Lisandro, after all, our contract with him doesn't include a clause about finding his missing daughter. While it's morally wrong of us not to help, no one can accuse us of upholding the contract. Besides, in the upcoming battle between the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and the Valantis, he needs the White Legion's strength to protect his slaves, plantations, and property, as well as to gain glory and wealth, thereby gaining prestige within the Governor's Council. Theoretically, he wouldn't dare to easily touch us."
"So what? What does this have to do with us going to rescue his daughter?" Jules asked in a deep voice. "Of course I know all that, you don't need to remind me, Tiberius. What I want to hear is why we'll be wiped out if we don't go to rescue his daughter! Give me your reasons!"
Tippi took a deep breath.
"Lisandro is a smart and rational person, but how many people can maintain their wisdom and rationality when faced with the disappearance of a blood relative? What I worry about is his possible resentment."
"In Westeros, many nobles disliked their daughters and allowed them to be sold like commodities in the castles and marketplaces of their various vassals. If their daughters went missing, it was merely a 'pity'."
"But this is Essos, and the atmosphere here is different from Westeros. And it's obvious that Lisandro loves his daughter very much, otherwise he wouldn't have come here in person to humbly beg you to save her."
"More than actually finding his daughter, what he really needs now is an attitude, a hope. A hope that his daughter might come back, even if he himself knows it's just self-deception. And your title 'Keeper of Faith' is the perfect reassurance, after all, you've always strictly fulfilled your contracts with your employers."
Tiberius slowly analyzed the situation with Jules, and Tiberius's demeanor reminded Jules of the young masters in the city-state of Essos who had been trained by debate teachers.
[No, I must be going crazy. Tiberius, that brat, hardly reads any books at all...] Jules thought to himself.
"But that's not a reason for me to gamble with my reputation, Tiberius," Jules retorted.
"His hopes, his love for his daughter, are none of our concern. He offers contracts and gold; I offer my blood and swords, and those of my soldiers. It's fair. And I will not sacrifice my soldiers and honor for something that even the entire Reis cannot resolve!"
"Yes, his hopes are not in our contract. But Uncle, you rejected Lisandro outright, which is tantamount to extinguishing his hopes with your own hands. Out of consideration for his reputation and because he will indeed need us in the future, he cannot be angry with you for the time being," Tiberius retorted.
"But what about after that? Especially after we went to war with the Valantis, our food supplies depended on this great man..." Tiberius made a cutting gesture at this point.
"If he harbors resentment, that's the perfect time for him to strike; he won't need to use knives or guns, just a word to the logistics officers, or have General Rees push us into the meat grinder. For Lord Lisandro, that's not difficult at all!"
"And if he actually brings it up, many people will use our White Legion as a pledge of allegiance to gain power!"
Jules's face darkened.
This was something he hadn't expected, but...
"Nonsense, Tiberius," Vito couldn't help but retort. "He's counting on us to help him kill the Volantis and protect his property. How could he possibly betray us during a war?"
Jules agreed: "What, are you afraid he'll cut off our supplies? He wouldn't dare during wartime! The Governor's Office wouldn't allow it either; that would be treason!"
[We've fallen for their trap!] Tiberius thought to himself.
His proposition that "failure to provide aid would lead to the annihilation of the entire army" is itself a slightly exaggerated, pseudo-proposition designed to draw extreme attention. Its core purpose is to break Jules's fixed mindset and make him realize the enormous potential risks. Now that Vito and Jules are beginning to refute the specific means of retaliation, it precisely shows that they have been drawn into Tiberius's thought process and have begun to seriously consider this possibility.
After all, they've started to argue instead of saying things like, "Tiberius, you're just a brat."
“Uncle, and Vito too.” Tiberius nodded. “You have a point. But even if he didn’t attack us during the war, what about afterward?”
"At that time, he only needs to spread a few rumors in Reis's upper circles—for example, that 'The Keeper of Faith' Jules was heartless and selfish... Uncle, words can be sharper than Valyrian steel. It might only take one banquet to destroy your reputation. Once you lose the reputation of 'The Keeper of Faith,' will those big clients still choose us without hesitation?" Bill paused.
"And it's quite obvious that Rissandra's words carry more... weight in the Kingdom of the Three Daughters than yours."
"Once this happens, it will spread like wildfire, and we will definitely lose orders from major clients in the mercenary market."
At this point, Tiberius gave Jules a deep look at his face, which was covered in cold sweat.
"What is the reason why our White Legion has been able to establish itself in this chaotic land and receive the most lucrative contracts? It's not because we have the largest numbers, nor because we have the best equipment."
Tiberius said in a deep voice, "It's all thanks to you, Jules Maud the 'Keeper'. You always keep your word, and you'll do what you promise, even if it means shedding blood. Those important people don't trust us roughnecks who wield swords; they trust your golden reputation."
Jules's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.
Yes, how could he not have thought of that?
What if Lisang Zhuo holds a grudge?
Even if he considers the bigger picture and doesn't cause them any trouble during the war, what about after the war?
Tiberius glanced at Jules furtively.
Very well, he's sweating profusely.
The reason is simple: a mercenary group with a good reputation can certainly attract big clients, but clients also need a good reputation, otherwise who would risk their lives for you?
"Uncle, I understand how much you value the title of 'Guardian of Faith,' after all, it's the reason for our legion's success. But no matter what, you should accept this order."
"At least, even if you truly fail, wouldn't a 'trustworthy person' who exerted all their efforts but failed to complete the mission of saving the girl be more respectable than a 'hypocritical trustworthy person who cherishes their reputation'? Your reputation won't be damaged by not finding Risang's daughter; instead, it will become even more noble!"
Jules looked at Tiberius in front of him with a complicated expression.
Before this, the Tiberius he knew was a reckless fellow who preferred to use javelins and spears to speak rather than his words.
If he weren't so young, he probably could have fought three duels with Ries's mercenaries in a single day, and then Jules would have found his body in one of Ries's stinking ditches.
but now……
"Very well, Tiberius." Jules gave him a deep look. "You've convinced me. It seems you've truly become a man... May the old woman's wisdom be with you!"
"I'll go tell Lissandra right now that the White Legion and 'The Keeper of Faith' Jules will take on his contract!"
"No, Uncle, not now!" Tiberius quickly stopped Jules.