Chapter 13: Lloyd
After four months, when the goat caravan invited Derek to escort them once again, he readily agreed. Manager Vincent proactively added a gold coin to the commission, which was quite generous. He even turned a blind eye to Derek smuggling a few personal items.
Since they were familiar with each other and the route, the journey went smoothly. There were no signs of bandits; perhaps their previous defeat had caused the gang to disband. This deep mountain area, untouched by noble forces, couldn't sustain a large population.
When they finally reached the last mountain village, Derek became more serious. According to custom, the caravan would stay there for two days. Derek was hopeful; he hoped he hadn't misjudged the situation.
Manager Vincent, remembering the previous incident, teased him, "Don't get your hopes up too high. I bet that mountain man won't show up."
Although they made money off the mountain folks, Vincent looked down on these poor and combative people. Derek didn't argue. If the other party broke their promise, it would just be a minor inconvenience. But he believed they wouldn't; his eyes were good at judging people.
On the first day, there was no sign of the person they were waiting for. On the second day, the entire day passed without a trace. Derek felt a bit disappointed. Seeing this, Vincent secretly shook his head, thinking that young people needed to learn some hard lessons.
Of course, he wouldn't go over and make things worse at this moment; it was better to let the young man lick his wounds and feel the harshness of the world alone.
Derek stood outside the camp, knowing that the caravan was about to leave. There were more mountain folks coming and going, many from other villages. Had he really misjudged?
Derek wavered a bit. The nobles of this world looked down on the mountain folks, but he didn't. He felt that the other party had a heroic spirit. "Heroic spirit" was a neutral term. Such people might break the law, make mistakes, or even commit crimes, but they generally wouldn't break their promises easily.
Perhaps it was just a lesson to learn! Derek shook his head, not holding out much hope. Just as he was about to turn away, someone suddenly called out from behind, "Derek, I'm here."
Derek quickly turned around, just in time to see a few figures running towards him, carrying something on their backs. His face lit up with a smile, not for the ten wild boar hides, but because the other party had kept their promise.
In no time, the mountain man Wood ran up to Derek. Derek noticed that Wood took a half step back, and the others instinctively stood behind him. Suddenly, a familiar face emerged from the group.
Derek remembered clearly that this was the guy who had charged at the front, getting several holes punched in him. He hadn't expected him to still be alive.
A few bundles of wild boar hides were thrown on the ground, making a dull sound.
"Feng, this is what I owe you. Wood never lie."
Derek didn't even glance at the hides on the ground, despite their considerable value.
"Indeed, a man of his word. A true man," Derek praised loudly. Wood puffed out his chest, no longer resembling the pleading figure from before. This was more like a real man.
Across from them, the mountain dweller Lloyd had been observing Derek the whole time. He was curious about the man who had been willing to provide medicine on credit, especially since he seemed to ignore the valuable hides on the ground. This didn't seem like typical noble knight behavior.
Originally intending only to fulfill his promise, Lloyd suddenly had another idea.
"Feng, thank you for your trust. Do you dare come with me? I'd like to treat you to a drink."
This invitation was unexpected.
Wood couldn't help but shout, "Bro!"
Although he disliked outsiders, he had taken a liking to Derek and thought his brother might be luring him out to rob and kill him.
After a moment of surprise, Derek realized this could be an opportunity. Gaining trust can sometimes be very simple, and sometimes very difficult. Refusing might mean losing an excellent chance. The man didn't seem foolish, so he probably wouldn't do anything stupid.
Most importantly… Derek touched the sword at his waist and smiled confidently.
"Why not! But please wait a moment."
Derek beckoned to Simon, who had been watching from a distance. The knight's squire had been very alert, keeping an eye on the situation ever since he saw a group of people approach Derek.
"My lord, what are your orders?" Simon stared at Lloyd, his strong body exuding intense intimidation. He had become even more powerful compared to four months ago.
"Call someone to take these things away, and bring what I brought with me."
Derek didn't stop Simon's hostility; it was also a form of deterrence, demonstrating his own strength.
Sure enough, upon seeing Derek's subordinate, everyone's expressions became more serious, evidently recalling unpleasant memories.
Derek pretended not to notice and turned with a smile, "You don't mind if I bring an attendant, do you?"
"What difference does it make if it's one person or two?" Lloyd nodded. If this man had the courage to come with him, then he could be a friend. Simon quickly called people to remove the furs and, before Manager Vincent could react, brought out the private goods. Simon walked over carrying a wooden box. Ignoring their curious looks, Derek actively urged, "Let's go!" Lloyd silently nodded to his men and then led the way.
The caravan wasn't exactly stationed inside the stockade, just on a relatively flat area outside the gate. Lloyd's group's camp was also not close by; having rushed here, they wouldn't return overnight. They had found a place nearby to set up camp. Three simple skin tents, with a bonfire already burning in the middle. Seeing Lloyd return, five or six people emerged sporadically. Derek observed silently. This small group now had about ten people. In the mountains, this wasn't considered weak. Among the mountain people, some formed bandit groups of a fifty or so, while others might be just a single family surviving alone.
Mountain survival was difficult; if it weren't for being unable to live elsewhere, no one would want to stay here long. So for Lloyd to gather a dozen or so strong men was quite capable, and this probably wasn't even all his manpower. After all, they weren't going out to work, so there was no need to bring everyone. Seeing Derek, those guarding the camp didn't seem to recognize him. However, their eyes were unfriendly, obviously seeing him as a fat sheep to slaughter. Lloyd remained silent, as if he really intended to lure Derek here to kill him. For lawless mountain folk, killing him to vent their anger didn't seem impossible. Simon already had one hand on his sword, ready to strike at a moment's notice. In contrast, Derek appeared unconcerned, laughing heartily as he found a place to sit.
"Let's sit and talk." Looking at him, one might think he was in his own home. Lloyd gestured to stop his restless men and sat down across from Derek without hesitation. "Aren't you afraid?"
"Afraid? Why should I be afraid?" Derek retorted with a hearty laugh.
Lloyd remained silent, but one of the mountain men couldn't hold back.
"Outsider, don't be so arrogant. Believe it or not, I could kill you right now."
Derek didn't respond, but Simon threw the box on the ground and drew his sword with lightning speed.
In the next moment, the sword rang out.
Swoosh!
The longsword was thrust in front of the man's animal skin shoes, barely grazing the front edge and sinking into the soil beneath.
The strength, the speed, the precision.
All the mountain men inhaled sharply, unable to believe their eyes.
They had heard of formidable figures who could wrestle tigers and run faster than elk, but they had never seen such skill in real life.
"Don't mistake me for one of those corrupt nobles. Although there are many bad apples among the nobility, there are also true heroes. It is your honor to meet me, Feng Derek."
Derek sat there, matching Simon's display, as steady as a mountain.
Lloyd's face darkened, clearly uncomfortable. Even his hidden contempt disappeared without a trace.
In this world, some fear authority, some worship wealth, and some are afraid of death. But everyone respects strength.
Here, Derek was the embodiment of strength.
Lloyd lowered his head, not even noticing that his commanding presence had diminished significantly.
"I apologize. Outsiders have never been kind to us, so… I'm sorry. My name is Lloyd, and I would like to consider you a friend."
Derek, not wanting to appear overly domineering, gestured to Simon: "Open my gift and show it to Chief Lloyd."
Simon first approached the provocative mountain man. The man, stunned by the sword, was still frozen in place. Simon unceremoniously retrieved his sword, turned back proudly, and then pried open the box.
Layers of sawdust wrapped the contents inside. Simon peeled them away, revealing the items wrapped in oiled paper. He took them out one by one, and seeing no reaction from Derek, he opened them directly.
A longsword was revealed, its metallic surface gleaming in the firelight.
"Good sword!"
To the mountain people, any weapon is valuable, and this sword looks particularly impressive.
This is indeed Derek's work. Not only have Little Tru and his team significantly improved their craftsmanship, but Derek also had the sword specially polished. Given the quality of the workmanship, the sword's packaging, and overall appearance, it's worth at least ten silver coins each, and if relations aren't good, it might not even be for sale.
Although Lloyd is somewhat stronger than the average mountain dweller, his perspective is still limited. When Simon lined up five swords in a row, the heavy breathing was almost palpable. Lloyd's gaze was fixed on the swords, unable to move away. Even though he knew Derek had no hidden agenda, he found himself unable to refuse.
After a long pause, he managed to control his urge to seize the swords.
"Sir Derek, what is the meaning of this?"
You see, with a combination of incentives and intimidation, even heroes must bow down.
"Making friends. I, Derek, may not be generous in all things, but I am absolutely generous to friends."
Lloyd couldn't help but nod; this level of generosity was evident.
"Yes, making friends. From now on, you are my friend, Lloyd. If you encounter difficulties, mention my name. It still holds some weight in the mountains."
Lloyd was about to boast a little but reconsidered when he remembered Derek's impressive combat skills, deciding against it.
What does Derek want?
The fur trade? No, without proper backing, that's not sustainable. Even if he wanted to pursue it, it would be a lower priority, and it would need Baron Ferreira's involvement.
What Derek wants are only two things: land and people.
Can a mountain dweller or bandit provide these? Legally, certainly not. But Derek doesn't need things to be legal. In an era when all resources are controlled by great nobles and the royal family, one either joins them or forges a new path.
The former isn't an option for Derek right now. The latter might be possible.
He didn't rush to reveal his true intentions. With these gifts exchanged, future interactions would be much smoother. They set up a rabbit roast, and Lloyd also brought out some provisions. During the meal, Lloyd tentatively asked a few questions, thinking Derek might be interested in the fur trade. However, Derek declined.
Derek invited Lloyd to take a walk, and Lloyd quickly understood the implication. The two walked for a while, moving away from the camp.
Lloyd's expression grew serious. He knew Derek was about to make a request, but he was unsure if he could meet it.
"Lloyd, how is your raiding business going?"
Derek had anticipated that his identity would be uncovered, so his expression remained unchanged.
"Just barely making ends meet. This place isn't a major trade route, so we only target small merchants. Goods are expensive in the mountains, so we barely manage to cover the costs."
Derek chuckled. "Barely covering costs I can believe, and it's normal for goods to be expensive in the mountains. But there should be more than just small merchants here, right?"
Derek was well-versed in the ways of nobles and officials. All trading caravans were about relationship business. Without connections, it was nearly impossible to get by. Nobles and officials didn't need threats; they had one method: setting up checkpoints and taxing.
The kingdom's law was ten percent taxation. At every checkpoint, merchants had to pay. Nobles and officials often set up their own checkpoints, doubling the cost of goods with each checkpoint they pass. In such circumstances, making a profit was nearly impossible.
But merchants had their own ways. Small and large traders traversed mountain paths, using secret routes that were core assets for their businesses. There were indeed lucrative opportunities in the mountains, but they were beyond reach for Lloyd's current operations.
Derek's comments left Lloyd silent.
"Here's a suggestion: why not try to expand and strengthen your operation? After all, these caravans won't venture deep into the wilderness to trouble you. If you want to offload goods at lower prices, many merchants would be interested. I can provide you with weapons. I can even help with formal soldier training. What do you think?"
Lloyd looked up, shocked, and blurted out, "You want to recruit me?"
"No, this is just mutual assistance between friends. If you're willing to step out and recruit some people, I'd be happy to pay for them. If you buy weapons from me, I'll benefit as well. The training is a testament to our friendship. Though we've just met, I believe our mutual interests will strengthen our bond. What do you think?"
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