blogombal Chapter 39 Tiberius: No way! My initial thought was to evade military service!
Chapter 39 Tiberius: No way! My initial thought was to evade military service!
Just as Tiberius returned to his tent, he suddenly remembered something.
【No way! My initial thought was to evade military service!】 Tiberius suddenly remembered his initial thought, which gnawed at him like a venomous snake, startling him from his wool blanket.
From the very beginning, my core idea was this: to do everything in my power to stay away from the war with Valantis! That's not a place for humans.
But looking at it now... well, I can only say that it's a far cry from that goal.
Based on my current performance: solving the Bloodwave Cape case, the political deal with Ritsuzo, the money-sharing incident...
Uncle Jules must have been grooming him to be the future successor of the White Army, otherwise he wouldn't have been so earnest instructing him on how to govern such a violent armed organization as the White Army, and even trying to get his elders to accept Tiberius's existence by giving him a share of the money.
"But Uncle, my ultimate goal really is to evade military service!" Tiberius felt a pang of sadness. "I truly appreciate your kindness, but I really can't, and I don't want to, fight!"
Tiberius knew very well that even with the "lightning" buff on his system panel, what would his little tricks amount to on a real, bloody battlefield?
When you're crushed into a two-dimensional world by the wall-like charge of the Valantius heavy cavalry, are you going to say, "I'm a time traveler, you can't kill me"?
Who would want to go to the battlefield? Who would want to participate in a war they don't want and that has nothing to do with them?
Moreover, having transmigrated to the world of Game of Thrones, I haven't interacted with a single famous character from the original books so far, spending all my time interacting with unknown minor characters. As a transmigrator, I've truly failed ten out of ten, if not nine out of ten!
So far, who have I been dealing with? Governor Reese, a spoiled rich kid, a mercenary leader, and a crossbow captain who keeps spouting lewd jokes!
Targaryen, Lannister, Stark... what do these renowned figures have to do with me now?
What am I doing? Grinding reputation in side quests without progressing at all in the main story, huh?
[But this is for the best. I don't have to get involved in such a terrifying event as the Dance of the Dragons. After all, all beings are equal under the dragon's flame, and choosing the wrong side means certain death! Now it seems that as long as I can escape the front lines of Volantis, with my current wealth and future development, and with my knowledge as a transmigrator, I can properly develop my technology, pursue a career as a business tycoon, and then take in a few beautiful maids, train them well, and add them to my harem to become a wealthy man in Rhys. Isn't this better than being a precarious lord in Westeros?] Tippi thought with considerable pleasure.
"Zera, boil water! I want to take a bath!" Tiberius instructed Zera, quite pleased, to have several burly servants boil water.
[I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this decadent... ugh, I mean, this otherworldly landlord life!] Tiberius soaked in the hot water, watching Zera toss herb packets into the bathtub.
"Young Master Tiberius, is the water temperature suitable?" Zera moved a stool over and sat down in front of Tiberius, asking with considerable concern.
"It's just right." Tiberius slowly submerged himself from the neck down in the water, and with the aroma of herbs, he felt relaxed and clear-headed.
"Well, at least by now, the first female slave has been trained, hasn't she?" Tiberius was in a very good mood. He looked at Zera in front of him, but his mind was on other things.
"My lord," Zera asked somewhat timidly.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Tiberius opened his eyes, looking at Zera with a rather confused expression.
"There's a letter, said to be from Lord Lisangzhuo..." Zera held up a letter sealed with wax in both hands.
"Oh..." Tiberius glanced at it only briefly before closing his eyes again, immersing himself once more in the comfort of the warm water. [Probably another boring banquet invitation, or perhaps this shrewd governor has run into some trouble that he needs me to 'analyze' for him.] he thought to himself.
"Don't call him Master Lisandro anymore. He's not your master anymore." As Tiberius got up to take Zera's towel, he suddenly turned around and reminded Zera with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"From now on, you shall call him Lord Tiberius!"
Zera's body trembled almost imperceptibly, then she lowered her head even further and replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz but incredibly clear: "Yes... Lord Tiberius."
【Very good.】Tiberius thought to himself with satisfaction, then wrapped himself in a bathrobe, took a glass of sweet milk with honey, and strolled out of the bathroom.
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Inside the banquet hall of the Rojaer mansion, crystal chandeliers refracted dazzling light, and the air was filled with the mixed aroma of spices, mead, and perfume.
Lisandro Rogár was undoubtedly the star of the evening, moving among the guests and receiving a flood of compliments and congratulations. He kept Tiberius by his side, introducing this "brave and witty young man" to important figures from time to time.
As for the details... they have naturally undergone "limited" artistic processing. Tippill, with his insightful perspective, suggested that the story design should emphasize the "wise guidance" of the governor himself, but should not neglect the "loyal execution" of the White Army.
Tiberius wore a smile appropriate for his age, slightly shy and respectful, and handled the situation with propriety.
"Vito, how are you feeling?" Tiberius asked Vito beside him while Lisandro was dealing with a wealthy sea merchant.
"Tsk... The food is quite good, and the wine is excellent, but there's one thing... These clothes are really uncomfortable!" Vito raised his arm with some distress and pointed to the silk robe he was wearing.
"This silk contraption is truly precious, but it doesn't allow me to move my arms freely!"
"Wearing you silk is such a waste of your talent!" Tiberius rolled his eyes at him. "And don't eat like you just escaped from a famine! If people find out, they'll think the White Legion is perpetually short of pay and bread money!"
"Don't worry, Tiberius!" Vito grinned, picking up a small glass of Mil's pale green fire wine, a gesture that surprisingly possessed a touch of aristocratic "elegance."
"Your uncle and I have attended several of these banquets. I know perfectly well how to satisfy our appetites while also displaying 'etiquette'!" Vito said with considerable pride. "I'm not some country bumpkin mercenary! I'm a seasoned veteran!"
"Oh, by the way, I have something to tell you." Vito squinted at the elegantly dressed, swaying, and jewel-adorned ladies and heiresses at the banquet, and whispered a reminder.
"If any rich girl or lady is interested in your pretty face, be sure to refuse!"
“I know, Vito,” Tiberius said calmly. “It’s trouble, not a fling. If my uncle knew I’d slept with one of Governor Rees’s mistresses or wives, he’d castrate me first.”
"I knew you knew everything! Alright, I'm off, after all, that young master Li Sanluo is here, he's probably looking for you!" Vito shrugged, then went to the meat section to get his food. "This veal steak, mmm, smells delicious~"
Not long after, Lisanro, who found the banquet utterly boring, approached Tiberius. He patted Tiberius on the shoulder, his tone familiar and grateful: "Hey, Tiberius, you're here! Finally, someone to catch my breath! Honestly, this banquet was terribly dull! But again, thank you for saving my sister Serafina!"
He suddenly lowered his head and whispered in Tiberius's ear, "I was thinking of having her come and meet you, young man. It wouldn't hurt to get to know her, especially since you saved her... But my father wouldn't allow it, mainly because, well..." Lisanro winked at Tiberius.
"You know, but there's a 'Governor Morde' in the city of Ries, and tonight you're going to have an 'encounter' with my sister Serafina, who just turned sixteen, in the garden or on the balcony."