Nathan finished speaking, stealing a glance at the youthful lord whose face was somewhat childish, and his heart was quite shaken.
Before, there were rumors in the army that the young monarch was just a useless playboy.
But now, after close contact, he inexplicably felt a sense of crisis from Rod!
He should know, he was a battle-hardened warrior!
And he was facing just a five-year-old child.
But could it be that His Majesty was injured? Why were his eyes covered by a black cloth….
But even so, the captain felt as if his entire being was being seen through, a sense of unease.
Just standing in front of the young lord, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, the pressure so great that he felt like he was having trouble breathing.
Rod thought about this for a moment.
“Retbart? You.......were a noble?”
Rod’s words broke the stagnant atmosphere.
Nathan subconsciously relaxed, quickly bowing his head and revealing his origins without reservation.
“I am from the Retbart family, a branch of the Asra Kingdom. To call it noble is a stretch, it was just at a mid-level in the small place.”
“Because the ministers of the Asra Kingdom continued to eliminate their opponents within the country, my family was also implicated and shattered.”
At this point, Nathan's eyes dimmed, and his right hand clenched the long spear angrily.
Rita frowned slightly and stretched out her left hand, protecting Rod with her silver arm armor that shimmered with light.
Nathan, as if not noticing, continued to narrate.
“I fled with my family, and we finally escaped the assassins of the ministers in the land of strife. Just as we were about to be ambushed by bandits, the late king saved us.”
His voice gradually became excited, filled with gratitude.
“The late king didn't doubt or reject me because of my origins, and he entrusted me with a heavy responsibility. From that moment on, I decided to swear to protect this country to the death!”
Rod carefully observed and confirmed that he wasn't lying, so his tone softened.
“How many troops can the country control now?”
Nathan was taken aback and hesitantly replied.
“Three thousand......”
Rod furrowed his brows slightly.
“I want those who are loyal to me.”
Nathan quickly corrected himself, bowing his head in shame.
“One hundred and fifty men, all veterans who followed the late king in battle.”
Rod raised his eyebrows in surprise, muttering to himself.
“One hundred and fifty men… that’s more than I expected.”
Rod turned to Rita and nodded.
Rita took out a money bag and handed it to Nathan.
Nathan was terrified and didn’t dare accept it.
“Your Majesty, this is….”
Rod smiled and reached out, originally intending to pat Nathan on the shoulder, but he realized he wasn’t tall enough. He could only pat Nathan on the shoulder instead.
The maid beside him let out a barely audible chuckle.
“.......”
Rod secretly decided to deal with her when they got back.
He looked at Nathan with sincerity.
“Don’t be nervous, this is the salary you deserve for your loyalty. However, I need you to do something.”
Upon hearing this, Nathan immediately understood, took a deep breath, and declared with courage.
“Your Majesty, as long as it is your order, whether it is a mountain of swords or a sea of fire, this subordinate will have no fear!”
Nathan believed that it was time to repay his favor.
He didn’t feel anything amiss, only a slight worry about his children back home.
But when he saw that enormous bag of gold coins, he secretly thought to himself.
This ridiculously extravagant sum of money is enough to create another nobleman!
The royal family must have depleted their resources to come up with this sum, and they can only make do with the bare minimum.
The late king saved my life, and the young lord is so gracious to me.
What do I have to worry about?!
Rod was satisfied with Nathan's loyalty, but he couldn't help feeling a little regretful.
Because Nathan's loyalty did not trigger a system prompt, it seemed that only those with names in the original work were eligible to be "collected.”
“Don’t be nervous, I want you to dismiss those wavering thousands of soldiers, Liliya will give you enough gold coins.”
“I need you to pay them their past salaries in full, and give them double the severance pay. Send them out of the city.”
Rod paused, wiped away non-existent tears with the back of his hand, and sighed with heartfelt sincerity.
“It’s not their fault that they are wavering, after all, the country cannot provide them with a stable future.”
“But they have served the country, as a king, I will pay for their future, even if it means spending all my resources!”
Nathan was immediately anxious to persuade him, but Rod motioned for him to be patient, because the big thing was yet to come.
“After you do all this, tonight, except for the soldiers on guard duty, gather all the veterans who are loyal to me at the training ground. They don’t need to wear armor.”
“I will personally make up for all the salaries they owe, and double their salaries! Then we’ll start recruiting again, those who are willing to follow me will be welcomed.”
“Even if I have to live on the streets, I can’t let the soldiers who are loyal to me go hungry!”
“As for the details of recruitment… I will let Rita tell you.”
Nathan was speechless after hearing this.
This is ridiculous.......
This kind of foolish act is simply courting death!
Even a drunk adventurer would laugh at Rod’s incompetence as a monarch after hearing this.
But why......
Why is a burning fire of loyalty to the monarch rising within me!
The nobles of this world are only rotten and more rotten!
There has never been a king who values them, these soldiers, so much!
Even if it was just a pretense, no one has ever spoken like this before.
But Nathan doesn’t think the young lord is acting, after all, he is just a five-year-old child!
Yes, the young lord’s words are sincere, he is a benevolent monarch bestowed by heaven!
I must serve him and protect him!