My Players Are So Fierce-Chapter 421

Chapter 421: Carpe Holiday – Pride and Prejudice

The closer Colonel Frayzer got to the Crimson Citadel, the more unsettled his thoughts became.

This mixed state of anticipation, anxiety and unease came from multiple sources. Besides the surprise he had prepared for his junior schoolmate Miriam and his anticipation of seeing her pleased expression, the Colonel also saw many disturbing scenes on his way to the heart of Transia.

First was the large number of Gnoll and Kobold laborers constructing roads in the wilderness of Transia under the direction of local foremen and supervisors.

The scene was quite grand.

Although there was no steam equipment to assist, the Colonel could still see through the carriage window those prison-clothed Gnoll laborers following complex procedures to pile different materials onto the already prepared roadbed, while the human workers beside them mixed things the Colonel had never seen before with shovels.

Under the foreman’s direction, they would pour gray “slurry” into wooden frames on the compacted roadbed, and after just a few dozen minutes the road surface would take on a peculiar dark gray color.

The Colonel had specifically sent someone to inquire and was told this was a “secret art” of the “Stonemason Guild”, supposedly an innovative idea from their alchemists. Using this substance called “cement” for road construction could keep the road surface quite solid and even.

Apart from requiring regular maintenance and adding “alchemical substances” during production, this thing had almost no shortcomings.

Over the past period, they had been using this convenient and quick method to build small roads between farms according to the blueprints, and now they were constructing the “North Straight Road” from Crimson Citadel to Seicob territory.

According to those foremen who gathered excitedly with their lunch boxes, the master craftsman Old Chen from the Stonemason Guild had already planned out a transportation artery that would cross all of Transia.

They even planned to build several permanent bridges over the Kadman River.

Obtaining this information made Colonel Frayzer make another note in his ever-present diary. He knew that during his absence, that Governor Murphy had not relaxed in developing the territory.

Although Transia was still quite barren now, he and his administrators clearly already had a complete set of plans in mind and were putting them into practice.

This road that had just begun construction was merely one of the foundations in this plan.

It’s really hard to imagine.

Frayzer sat in the speeding carriage, feeling how smooth it was after the carriage got onto the “cement road” leading to Crimson Citadel, which was much better than the bumpy feeling on uneven ground.

Perhaps we should find a way to obtain the “cement secret art” formula from the Stonemason Guild, he thought, this would definitely be good business.

If given to the Carpe family to operate, within 5 years this thing would be popularized on every road in the entire Goldflower Kingdom, and King Louis would certainly be delighted by such a change.

This was his first thought.

But as the carriage approached the increasingly prosperous “Treasure Bay”, what Frayzer saw and heard during the rest stop opened his eyes even wider.

This wasn’t just because he lost 50 gold coins in just 20 minutes at Life Is Pretty Good’s casino, but more because he saw some things hidden beneath the diverse gambling implements and what could be called perfect service.

The Colonel even saw merchants from North Wind Fort coming from thousands of kilometers away just to experience the operating model of this “money pit” that had recently become very popular in Nordtov.

More embarrassingly, the Colonel met three guild heads subordinate to the Carpe family here, who after three straight days and nights of extravagant gambling had lost everything and were planning to walk back to East Prussia.

Although the three guild heads unanimously answered that they were just “investigating the project” when faced with stern questioning from the family young master, their sorry state couldn’t fool Frayzer’s eyes.

Damn!

These Transians really have methods!

Actually using such a vicious way to tempt and corrupt the proud hearts of the Goldflower people, and just from 20 minutes of experience the Colonel could understand what a terrifying number the daily cash flow of this casino, which was currently expanding its third phase project, must be.

This had definitely already become Governor Murphy’s “money bag”.

If the vampires spread this decadent “way of making money”, then in a short time, Murphy would no longer feel pressure about finances. Most importantly, locals were not allowed to enter here.

So, was the money the governor used to build roads and infrastructure all squeezed from these gamblers who came because of its reputation?

Tsk, truly a cunning method befitting a vampire’s identity.

“You three! I’ll let it go this time, but if you dare come again you can forget about continuing to serve the family.”

Outside the casino in Treasure Bay, Colonel Frayzer sternly rebuked the three guild heads before him who were old enough to be his father but were now being scolded like grandsons.

He threw out a bag of coins and said somewhat shamefully:

“Take this money and get out of here, remember to write an investigation report when you get back, to be submitted to my father in my name. The report must detail what you saw and heard in Treasure Bay, as well as your understanding of the new casino’s operating model.

I believe father will see the business opportunity in it.”

“Yes, young master!”

The three heads had originally thought being caught red-handed on this trip meant their careers were definitely finished, but unexpectedly there was a turning point and they grabbed onto this final lifeline.

So they began eloquently and excessively praising their young and promising young master, unfortunately the Colonel couldn’t stay too long.

He soon got back on the road to Crimson Citadel, and in the carriage, his traveling companion, Major Ron, General Soros’s youngest son, was smilingly counting the gold coins in a small money bag.

“Say, you’re not short of this much, are you?”

Colonel Frayzer rubbed his brow somewhat helplessly and said:

“This is too undignified, put it away.”

“You don’t understand, Frayzer. It’s not that I’m short of this much, but these are all won by my luck!”

Major Ron laughed and said:

“Unlike you who lost 50 gold coins in 20 minutes on the slot machines, I won back everything you lost in just two hands of bridge with the northerners. These Transian barbarians really know what they’re doing when it comes to entertainment.

Their casino is really interesting.

I have a feeling my service life in Transia won’t be as boring as I imagined.”

“Take it easy.”

The Colonel warned:

“Your old man is strict in military discipline. If he finds out you’ve been indulging in whoring and gambling outside, the outcome waiting for you when you get home might not be too good.”

“Are you stupid?”

In private, Major Ron and Colonel Frayzer had a very good relationship. Facing Frayzer’s warning, Ron winked and said:

“Who do you think I learned these card skills from?

This is called family inheritance, understand?

When my father was still a grunt, he was known as the ‘Gambling King’ in his unit. Even the money for him to marry my mother was saved from the gambling table. This is what he likes to brag about most when he’s drunk, second only to his glorious military career achievements.

Among his several sons, I’m the one who takes after him most in this aspect.

However, Frayzer, I think I understand now where your previous vigilance about Transia came from.”

The Major in the carriage played with the shining gold coins in his hand, squinting his brown eyes, and said:

“The Transians are not only wild and fierce in battle, this kind of reckless madness is also being directed by first-rate cunning. Just from the unique operating model and perfect service of this casino, you can see that the wisdom of certain people among the Transians far exceeds our expectations.

They want to rebuild a country on these ruins.

Ah, I finally understand why the Marshal cares so much about this vampire governor. Although I haven’t met him yet, he’s really completely different from other vampires.”

“When you truly meet him, you’ll understand this more deeply. His appearance is like a woman, but his inner self is far more profound than most men on this continent.”

Frayzer leaned back in his seat, looking out the window.

He saw Crimson Citadel in the distance, completely different from the miserable ruins in his memory. He could see some very properly planned buildings faintly visible in his view.

It was an architectural style completely different from other parts of the continent.

Square and straight with little curved aesthetic beauty to be seen, yet they stood there, neat and orderly like a well-disciplined army ready for battle.

The changes here were too great!

They even made Colonel Frayzer, a “modern youth” who had experienced the civilization of the Halflings, feel somewhat at a loss.

And when they passed by the “Newbie Village” subordinate to the Torrent Knights, upon seeing the excellently planned and orderly architectural style of the newbie village, as well as those villagers doing militia training on the threshing ground being loudly berated by fierce instructors, this feeling became even more apparent.

“Why are they training while carrying wooden sticks?”

Major Ron said in surprise:

“Are they practicing pike formation tactics? But it doesn’t look quite right, why are the formations so scattered, there’s no discipline to speak of at all.”

“Those aren’t pikemen! Ron, heavens, does your brain only work when playing cards with northerners?”

Frayzer wrote in his notebook while saying:

“Those are musketeers, they just haven’t been issued muskets yet. This is the most standard skirmish line tactics, truly unbelievable. They’ve already surpassed the northerners’ rigid volley fire in this aspect. Still think the Transians are easy to defeat?

You saw with your own eyes 60-year-old elderly and teenagers in their teens all training, and they have no complaints about it. You can see it in these people’s eyes.

They crawled back to the world of the living from disaster and have gained what they have now under Murphy’s leadership.

They’re even living better than before the disaster, so there’s no need to doubt their confidence in defending their homeland. Whoever wants to take what they have now will have to face the counterattack of an entire fierce Transia.

The Gnolls are already yesterday’s news after being defeated by them. Those monsters that would terrify weak soldiers elsewhere can only work as whipped slaves in today’s Transia.

So who will be the next to try to conquer this place? Who will be the next to taste bitter defeat at the hands of these barbarians?”

The Colonel in the carriage heaved a long sigh.

He didn’t understand a term called “Spartan society”, but without doubt, he had already gotten the answer he wanted from what he’d seen along this journey.

“The best time to defeat them is now!”

Major Ron had also lost his joy at winning money, and said in a low voice:

“Give them some more time, give them some more manpower, and Transia will rise at a speed beyond our imagination. The people on this land have nothing left to lose, so they fear nothing.

However, with the Black Plague at hand, any attack on Transia would invite opposition from the entire continent, and might even trigger direct intervention from the Blood Pact Knights and Lord Payne.

Damn!

How can this vampire be so lucky!

What will Transia develop into after the Black Plague? I can hardly imagine.”

“You actually call ruling this powder keg and mess that is Transia ‘lucky’?”

Colonel Frayzer closed his notebook, rubbing his aching brow, and said:

“It seems you still know nothing about Governor Murphy’s story. Your conclusion is really too absurd.”

Major Ron also realized the oversight in his words. After several seconds of silence, he asked puzzledly:

“So, how did he do it? Having such a terrible hand yet playing it into what seems like a heavenly start, this is already not simply a matter of luck or skill. Could he be the legendary chosen one?”

Faced with this question, Frayzer was silent for several seconds before sighing and saying:

“I can’t answer you either, because my understanding of him seems not as deep as I imagined, but if you really need an answer, I’ll tell you.

In the local Transian slang, Governor Murphy probably ‘opened a cheat’ I guess.”

“Opened a cheat? What does that mean?”

“It’s their description for ‘cheating’, I don’t really understand the specific meaning either, I learned it from those mountain warrior folk who speak in difficult to understand dialect.

Hmm, speaking of which, they’re a very strange but interesting bunch.

You’ll meet them soon, hopefully you won’t be scared by their weird enthusiasm.”

————————

The Colonel’s carriage arrived at Crimson Citadel near dusk that day, with Governor Murphy and Regent Miriam personally welcoming them, a reception of quite high standard.

Of course, this courtesy came not only from Colonel Frayzer’s military background, but also partly because of the Carpe family.

Whether Murphy was willing to accept it or not, the fact was that the Carpe family had already become the second largest “partner” of today’s Transia after the northern official authorities.

The scale of this banquet was not large.

But the dishes personally prepared by head chef “Star Soul Eagle” leading his “apprentice” chef Shovan were refreshingly novel, making the gluttonous Major Ron eat very satisfyingly.

By then it was late, and out of courtesy, Murphy did not immediately discuss official matters with the two travel-worn military officers who had come from afar, but instead arranged for them to stay at the “Blood Vulture Inn” that had been built in Crimson Citadel just a week ago, planning to formally communicate early the next morning.

However, after Ron went to rest, Frayzer changed into casual clothes and quietly left his room, and several minutes later, accompanied by guards, he knocked on the door of Regent Miriam’s residence.

“You shouldn’t linger long at a lady’s home at such an hour, it would cause trouble for your reputation.”

The Colonel said politely to the weary-looking Miriam in the living room:

“I’ll leave shortly, and I came tonight to tell you some very important information concerning you.”

“Ah?”

Miriam looked at her senior schoolmate in surprise, seeing a strange joy in Frayzer’s eyes that she couldn’t understand, and couldn’t help teasing:

“You’re really interesting, your fiancee is nearby but you come to see me first. Senior, you’re really not being proper.”

“Haha, Becky must be asleep by now.”

Frayzer touched his nose somewhat embarrassedly and said:

“Her knight’s schedule is always very fixed. If I go disturb her now I’ll just get beaten up badly. Speaking of which, it’s shameful but I’ve lost all three fights with Becky.

Well, enough about that.

Take a look at this.”

He took out an exquisite box from his Spirit Bag and placed it before the curious Miriam to open. Under Miriam’s shocked gaze, inside the box was a very familiar ladies’ bracelet.

This made the Regent unconsciously grip the identical style bracelet on her right hand.

“This—”

Miriam already felt something was wrong.

Before her, Frayzer spoke softly with joy and anticipation:

“I found your father, Junior Miriam. You are not the illegitimate daughter of the Morland Village chief, and your mother, as I expected, was also of no ordinary background.

Your true surname is ‘Beverly’.

Your father was a master jeweler serving the royal family, he held the hereditary title of baron and a very rich fief. Regrettably, he died of illness several years ago.

That fief was almost seized by people with ulterior motives.

But don’t worry, I’ve already handled everything for you.

You just need to return to Nantes to inherit everything that should have been yours. I’ve already registered for you at the College of Arms. Once you sign your name, you will inherit your bloodline and titles.

Yes, Miriam.

The feeling I had when I first met you was correct.

You are one of us.”

Faced with Frayzer’s “surprise”, Miriam’s expression was very complex.

She lowered her head so Colonel Frayzer couldn’t see her expression, but the Colonel believed this was just bewilderment from being too excited, so he spoke more gently:

“Don’t worry, and don’t be afraid, I will guide you into this circle, I will teach you to adapt—”

“Get out!”

Miriam’s trembling voice interrupted Colonel Frayzer’s words, making him look at his junior schoolmate in surprise, and then, he saw Miriam raise her head.

Along with the anger that filled that face which he couldn’t understand.

That anger was so real, just like a lioness roaring at her prey:

“I said! Get out! Get out of my home, you filthy person. Frayzer, I never realized that hidden beneath your shell was such a disgusting, decaying soul. Get out! Get out of the Crimson Regent’s home with your arrogance.

You are no longer welcome here.”