Chapter 5: Blood, Gold and War

By the time the last fire was put out and the wounded were tended to, midnight had already fallen over to Stormguard . The remnants of battle still lingered in the air—the faint scent of smoke, the drying blood on the ground—but for now, Stormguard was safe.

Lord Klein, Sir Cedric, and Sir Claude sat together in the castle's dining hall, finally allowing themselves a moment to rest. A few maids stood nearby, serving their meal: fresh bread, milk, lamb meat, fish, and a fine bottle of wine. They all ate with grace, but their appetites were vast, especially Sir Claude's.

It was well known that knights required far more sustenance than ordinary men. Their bodies, honed through rigorous training and imbued with aura, demanded five times the food of a normal person just to function. This immense dietary requirement was one of the greatest barriers preventing commoners from ascending to knighthood. And Sir Claude—who had fought relentlessly in the battle—was consuming even more than usual.

The golden-haired knight tore into his food with impressive speed, polishing off entire platters without hesitation. By the time he reached for another serving, he had already consumed what would have fed twenty men.

Sir Cedric, who had just finished his first serving, set his utensils down and cleared his throat. "Before we discuss the attack itself, my lord, I have assessed the damages from the battle."

Lord Klein gestured for him to continue, his expression turning serious.

"Fortunately, there were no human casualties. Our knights and guards sustained only minor injuries, few sustaining serious injury and are already stable thanks to you my lord, and the civilians were successfully evacuated before the battle escalated. However, the port has taken significant damage. Fifteen buildings were completely destroyed—six warehouses, three taverns, two merchant offices, and four residential homes. An additional nine structures have suffered partial damage."

Klein nodded, his fingers tapping lightly on the wooden table. "And the costs?"

Cedric took a deep breath. "Rebuilding everything will require roughly 2,000 gold coins. The warehouses alone account for nearly half of that, as they stored vital supplies and trade goods. Additionally, we lost several anchored merchant ships, totaling an estimated loss of another 500 gold coins. Repairs for the docks and streets will add another 300 gold."

Sir Claude sighed, crossing his arms.

"That's nearly 3,000 gold coins in damages, my lord."

Klein exhaled through his nose. "A heavy loss indeed. And what of the traders whose warehouses were destroyed?"

Cedric grimaced. "Master Gregor, Lord Avin, and the merchant Isolde suffered the worst losses. Gregor lost a full stock of imported grain, Avin's spice stores were completely burned, and Isolde's textiles were ruined by both fire and seawater. They are demanding compensation, my lord."

Lord Klein leaned back, contemplating. "They've done good business here in Stormguard and have helped maintain trade routes. I won't let them suffer for an attack they had no part in. See to it that they are compensated for their losses." He turned to Cedric. "Pay them fairly from the treasury."

Sir Cedric gave a slow nod, though concern flickered in his eyes. "That will cost another 600 gold at least, my lord."

Sir Claude whistled. "That puts us well over 3,500 gold in total expenses. We're bleeding money."

Klein remained resolute. "It's a necessary loss. Without trade, Stormguard will crumble faster than any pirate attack. Besides, what about our spoils? The pirates weren't empty-handed."

Cedric's lips curled slightly. "That's the good news, my lord. After ransacking their remains, we found a considerable sum. Their ship's treasury held 1,500 gold coins' worth of mixed currency—gold, silver, and bronze coins. Additionally, we secured crates of rare spices, textiles, and illicit goods, valued at another 1,000 gold if sold wisely. Their weapons and armor, though mismatched, could be melted down or repurposed, adding another 300 gold to our assets."

Sir Claude smirked. "So we've recouped almost all of our losses."

Cedric shook his head. "Not quite. With compensation to the traders and the cost of rebuilding, we'll still be short by around 700 gold."

Klein nodded. "Not ideal, but manageable. This will keep us afloat while we rebuild.

However..." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "There's something strange about this attack. The pirates were far too organized for common raiders."

Sir Cedric nodded. "And there's another matter, my lord. Among the spoils, we found something else—several crates of military-grade weapons and armor, far superior to what pirates should have. More concerningly, they bear markings from Count Green's domain."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Sir Claude scowled. "That bastard."

Klein tapped his goblet thoughtfully. "So it was Count Green. The attack was not a mere pirate raid—it was orchestrated."

Sir Cedric leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze never leaving Klein. "It seems our problems do not end with the battle, my lord. If Count Green is moving against us, this was only the beginning."

Klein swirled his wine, his expression unreadable. "Then we must be ready. Stormguard has weathered this storm, but the true war is yet to come."

His gaze hardened. "I want the city's defenses strengthened. Expand the guard force from fifty to one hundred men, and promote twelve of our most talented guards to apprentice knights. They will undergo formal training and eventually be knighted."

Cedric's brows furrowed. "That's a costly move, my lord. Maintaining a guard costs five gold coins per month, and a knight costs twenty-five. Doubling the guards will add an extra 250 gold coins per month, while training twelve new knights will cost another 300 gold. That's 550 gold per month in additional expenses."

Sir Claude exhaled sharply. "That's no small amount."

Klein met Cedric's gaze, unwavering. "We can't afford to be caught unprepared again. The cost is steep, but the price of weakness is far greater. Make it happen."

Cedric sighed but nodded. "As you command, my lord. But we'll need to find a way to replenish our coffers soon.

Otherwise, this war will be fought not with swords, but with an empty treasury."

Sir Claude frowned. "Speaking of which, how much do we have left in the treasury?"

Cedric hesitated before replying, "The official treasury holds only 10,000 gold coins, my lord. Your personal wealth stands at 110,000, but that is separate from the funds used to maintain Stormguard. If we continue at this pace, we'll run dry within months."

Klein exhaled. "Then we'll need to find a way to increase revenue—quickly."