Chapter 528: The Hunt
TL: Rui88
Paul woke up very early today. After finishing breakfast, he did not dive into his office as usual, but instead, with the help of his old butler Philip, he put on a handsome hunting suit. Today, he was going hunting.
It was not a whim, but an invitation…an invitation from a family knight, Ferguson.
Ferguson and several other knights had returned to their hometowns to farm after Paul had annihilated the pirates and had not taken up positions in the newly formed army. In subsequent battles, Paul had managed the crises with just the army at his disposal, so he had not summoned them back to service.
But, after all, they had served the Grayman family for generations, so Paul did not want to neglect them. They occasionally exchanged letters and gifts.
In fact, Ferguson had invited his liege lord to be a guest at his manor several times, and Paul had long ago agreed to visit, but he had always been too busy and had never found the time. Last month, Ferguson had invited him again to a large hunt, and he felt he ought to accept, otherwise, it would be improper.
After tidying himself up in front of the mirror, Paul looked at his reflection with novelty.
“Speaking of which, this is my first time going hunting!”
He said with some emotion to the old butler beside him.
“Oh, that’s not quite right. In fact, you went once with your father when you were a child. Perhaps it’s been too long, so you don’t remember clearly.”“Is that so?”
Paul found it incredible. As someone from 21st-century China on Earth, the word “hunting” was very foreign to him. Except for a few despicable poachers, there was not even a formal profession of hunter in the country he had come from at that time.
“Will we encounter any fierce beasts while hunting?”
Paul was a little worried. The world he was in now was not the overdeveloped environment of his previous life. He remembered encountering a fierce beast called a black-spotted tiger in the forest by the roadside a few years ago on his way back to Lakeheart Town after the public trial of the pirates in Port Fran. It was also there that he had met his advisor, Betty Dias, and her female guard.
“Haha, you can rest assured about that.”
Butler Philip adjusted his collar again and smilingly reassured Paul, “During the hunt, the retainers will encircle an entire area and gradually shrink the encirclement, driving the beasts into a small area. Then you can shoot at the animals inside with your bows and crossbows to your heart’s content. That’s why it’s also called a driven hunt. The process is grand and full of people everywhere. When the beasts see it, they have no choice but to flee.”
“Nobles and knights often hold such hunting activities. They serve the same purpose as martial arts tournaments, to hone their military skills.”
Paul took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror. “Alright! Let me see the excitement of it for myself.”
He turned and walked out of the dressing room.
Chief of Staff Schroeder was waiting for him outside. Seeing Paul come out, he bowed to him.
Paul greeted him, “Schroeder, I’m about to leave. It will probably be a week before I return this time. If you have anything to say, say it quickly.”
“There are indeed two procedural matters I need to trouble you with, Lord Grayman.”
Schroeder took out two documents.
“One is the routine training plan for the Lakeheart Town garrison, and the other is the training plan for the Lakeheart Town militia. Both require your signature.”
Paul took them and glanced over them, then placed the documents on a small table by the wall. Butler Philip promptly brought him a pen and ink.
He picked up the pen and signed both documents. “I’ll leave everything here to you, Schroeder. Ah… by the way, the troops are all going to Emden for training, but someone has to stay behind, right? Who is responsible for the militia training this time? Haha, it won’t be our great Chief of Staff, Lord Schroeder, doing it himself, will it?”
Schroeder replied, “It is Lieutenant Burgan, the head of the training department.”
Paul looked back at him. “Lieutenant Burgan? Oh, I remember him. He is a very outstanding officer. I personally presented him with his certificate and award when he graduated from the academy. By the way, I also personally conferred his military rank.”
“Yes, Lieutenant Burgan is one of our best.”
Schroeder strongly agreed with Paul. “He is always full of enthusiasm, active and capable, and never shirks responsibility. Training the militia is a thankless task. Everyone would rather go with the main force to Emden for training. It was Lieutenant Burgan who volunteered to stay behind and take charge of this matter.”
“Then pay more attention to him. He might be of great use in the future.”
“As you command, Lord Grayman.”
After finishing his business, Schroeder took his leave and returned to the staff headquarters.
“Lord Victor and Lady Sertia are already waiting for you in the courtyard.”
As soon as the chief of staff left, a servant reported to Paul.
These two had come to join him; they were to travel to Ferguson’s manor together.
Victor, needless to say, was the captain of Paul’s personal guard. This time, he would lead fifty guards to protect the lord’s safety. Ladi Sertia, on the other hand, had volunteered to come along after hearing that Paul was going hunting. This was quite novel to Paul. Would a girl be interested in hunting? Oh, that was right, she used to be an adventurer.
Of course, having a beautiful woman with him was also a matter of great prestige, especially in front of a group of other gentlemen, so Paul would not refuse Ladi’s request.
Victor wore a breastplate, with a musket on each side of his waist, and also carried a one-handed sword. He was, one could say, fully armed and looked formidable.
Ladi, on the other hand, was dressed in a well-fitting hunting suit. The femininity of the woman and the dashing spirit of the hunting suit blended together perfectly, making Paul’s eyes stare straight.
“You two, let us set off.”
Paul mounted his horse and took a riding crop from an attendant’s hand.
“Yes, Lord Grayman.”
The two responded and also mounted the horses prepared for them.
The horses moved their hooves, stepping on the stone slabs in the courtyard of the lord’s mansion, making a clattering sound.
They came outside the castle, where fifty guards, as fully armed as Victor, escorted them, moving together. In addition to the one-handed muskets at their waists, these guards also had two muskets with shorter barrels than infantry muskets hanging from their horses. These were carbines specially made for shooting on horseback.
Ever since the incident where he was ambushed by wizards, Paul had placed great importance on the firepower configuration of his personal guard. Hmph, if he encountered another un discerning wizard, no matter how powerful their magic was, he would turn them into a sieve at first sight.
“What suitable weapons have you all prepared for yourselves?”
Riding on the main street that ran north-south through Lakeheart Town, Paul asked Victor and Ladi.
“I am using a bow and arrow, my lord,” Victor said, pointing to a bow hanging from his horse.
Ladi, without a word, raised a light crossbow, the weapon she had used during her time in the adventure team.