Hannoic War
Courage is not Smart (part 21)

"Even the biggest fool in the world can be smarter than he laughs at"

tywin Lannister

Courage is not smart

"Young master" , The mouthpiece of the hall guard soldiers bowed all the way to Vesius.

Wale and Taivarr followed along with some of his veteran bodyguards.

He entered the bronze sword palace.

The palace used by the ministers and the Victa special kounsil to live in the capital.

His father had already arranged and rearranged everything when he first became the minister of war.

He remembers his childhood days when he often heard people say.

"The ghostly dragon took the lead by attaching its claws to Victa."

These words are still heard in his ears even more often now.

He walked down the hallway with many doors in sight and then he saw the face of someone he knew.

"Knight of Ballis" , Vesius calls him.

"Young master" , said Ballis bowed politely.

"Where is Father?" ' said Vesius.

"In the young master, he was working in the room" said Ballis, stepping aside slightly and showing the door, "want to enter the young master?" he asked.

"Yes" ,Vesius Marshals.

Then Ballis opened the door.

His father, Toran Garius, sat in his chair, and his desk contained hundreds of papers.

He had not seen his old hard face for a long time.

The face that bears everything on its own.

He led his family away from the fall, the result being that only Vesius was now left of his family.

He had also helped Victa out of many crises and rebellions.

If without him Victa wouldn't be able to get through it and the republic would have long since been destroyed.

It brought Victa one of the economic heydays where there was peace for 15 years.

At that time new cities were built everywhere.

At that time farmers can be very safe in harvesting their crops.

The Port of Victa was the most crowded in all the other governments.

What he got after all was only the hatred and envy of the senate and hundreds of assassins searching his head.

Only then was he exiled as a general to the northern black Mountains to fight the Dwarves.

"What are you waiting for? Come in" ' said Toran with a loud voice.

Unconsciously Vesius had pondered for quite a long time.Vesius swallowed his saliva and immediately walked into the room. His terrifying aura did not change.

"All of you don't have to go in, this time I just want to talk to my son" Toran said.

Taivarr and Wale and the other Vesius soldiers could only get away from the front door.

Vesius entered and then the door was closed.

"You don't seem to think of my letter I gave you to come to the capital immediately as a direct order" ' Ucap Toran looked at him with a frightening look.

"I'm sorry father, there are meetings with other nobles on the border and the military campaign must continue" Vesius said.

"Military campaign? Huh! 30,000 Dalmatians led by Robert Raimmel were trapped in the black mountains due to Vespasian guerrilla traps. While the 12,000 Dalmatians led by Cerdwyn Garuman last time my spies said that he was still living in the city of Aulius waiting for an opportunity. While 8,000 troops led by Cellus Garuman were defeated by you 2 months ago. Even so you should have been able to go home since 3 weeks ago" ''Toran said looking at Vesius with a sharp look.

Vesius remained silent.

"The only military campaign you said was that you risked your life slaughtering bandits on the border and I gave you 1 month to go back to the capital but you wasted that time" Toran continued.

"So? Why did you call me here?" asked Vesius.

*Trekk*

The sound of the chair shifted as Toran stood up.

And then he opened a number of drawers on his desk.

Some drawers he opened and then he found something he was looking for.

A small crate he brought to the table in front of Vesius.

Then Toran clapped his hands and removed some of the dust and his hands.

"So did you bring Cellus Garuman's head from the battle? Or are you holding him?" said Toran.

"He ran away with his subordinates, all I could catch was his leg being cut off by one of my soldiers" Vesius said.

"Legs? Was it your soldiers who brought it to you?" said Toran while trying to open the small casket with the key.

"Yes" ,Vesius Marshals.

*Fuohhh*

Toran then blew the keyhole of the small crate.

"So did you give your soldiers a gift?" said Toran.

"It's only 80 coins" Vesius said.

"You are too kind to your soldiers, the money we can use for other things" Toran said.

Then Toran inserted the key and the sound of scraping iron sounded

"They deserve it" Vesius said, staring at the small chest, "many of them have served us for years on small salaries, especially some farm children."

"We are Garius, the high nobility, why do you care about the farmers?" Toran said.

Toran then managed to open the small chest.

Looks red badget lying on the whi.

It looks like the red gadget is in the form of a sword and has a safety pin to wear.

Note:Badget Minister of War

The red gadget only has 2 diVicta.

Made with silver iron mixed with red diamond pomegranate.

Badget minister of war, badget that only the minister of war can wear.

His father was wearing this gadget.

"This is the badget that you will wear while I'm going to go to war" Toran said.

"You're going to go to war? You want to.." - Speak Vesius then briefly stopped.

"The plan of the Geralda uprising is clear and as long as the uprising takes place, you will lead in the capital in my name while I'm in the battle field leading as a general" ,Toran said as he sat back down and took a glass of wine to drink.

"Yes about the rebellion of Geralda I have heard but.." - Vesius.

"Oh you know? Then what's your problem?" said Toran.

"But why me? Why not Taivarr or someone more deserving and trusting?" said Vesius.

"You think I have someone I trust right now in the Senate? You're all that's left of my family" ' said Toran, then walked up to pick up a small bottle of ink, "you're my son, you're the one I trust the most right now and I won't let go of being silly with an arrow or a sword on the battlefield" ' he said as he walked back in his chair.

"Death on the battlefield is not a silly death" Vesius said in a heavy tone because he was annoyed to hear what his father said.

Vesius looked at his father with a sharp look

"As much as you look at it but die still die" Toran said loudly, "I don't want you to die that fast and I don't want you to wear this gadget that fast anyway" ,said Toran who then took the red gadget and put it back.

"So.?" , said Vesius.

"I want you to get married" Toran said.

"What's? Married?" ,Read Vesius.

"We can prevent Geralda's rebellion by marrying you to one of the powerful nobles of those who planned the revolt" Toran said.

"De-with whom?" , said Vesius.

"Daughter of the Hasral family" Toran said.

"How old is he?" ' said Vesius.

"Enough to be impregnated" ,Toran said.

"At least can you let me marry someone I want" Vesius said.

"What do you want? Don't joke around in front of me, you're 29 and it's time for you to get married" Toran said.

Then Toran sat back down and wrote a letter with his quill pen.

"Your uncle is dead, all your brothers are dead, your mother is dead a long time ago, and I may die soon, you must have children so that our family can continue" ,Tortoran said while writing a letter.

Vesius was angry and upset, he did not want to marry a daughter he did not know, he wanted to find his own wife...

Then Toran pressed the small bell on his desk.

*Ting*Ting*

The bell rang out and then Ballis opened the door.

At the door he stood.

"What's the matter sir?" 'Ask Ballis to his master Toran.

"Give this to the sender of the letter and tell him that this letter is addressed to the lord of the duke of Kyrah of the Hasral family" ' said Toran while pointing a letter to Ballis.

Ballis then enters and retrieves the letter and walks the aisle to hand it over to the sender of the letter.

The door then closed again.

Vesius just shook his hand.

He wants to fight his father but he can't...

"So you know the Hasral family who tried to rebel?" said Vesius.

"Well, why?" said Toran.

"So why did you marry me to one of their daughters?" said Vesius.

"Yes, that way you will secure the southwest Victa for us while making our family stronger" Toran said.

Toran then drank another glass of wine.

"the 24,000 troops of the Hasral family combined their entire strength in the southwestern region of the Victa not to mention the thousands of troops from other families loyal to the Hasral family in the southwest" Toran said.

"The southwestern Victa people are disloyal to the Hasral family they are loyal to the Vehan family and all the Vehan family have been dead since decades ago from being slaughtered by us" Vesius said.

"Have you heard the rumors that circulated a dozen years ago?!" , ' said Toran in a voice that was quite loud.

It seems Toran is tired of arguing with his son. Vesius fell silent and swallowed his saliva.

"You don't care about gossip, but gossip sometimes has a little thread of truth in it" Toran said.

Then Toran stood up to pick up the pot of wine on his desk and poured it down.

"You already know, don't you?" asked Toran to his son Vesius, "if Kyrah Hasral married a lowly nobleman who didn't even have land a few years ago she said she married out of love not because it strengthened her family."

"Well, why?" said Vesius.

Then Vesius found something.

When his gaze met that of his father Toran, he immediately understood.

"Who is the name of the lowly nobleman?" asked Vesius.

"Jayne Manstown" ,Jawab Toran, "he said he was one of the members of the Manstown family."

"Manstown... to be honest I never heard of it. But if my estimation is correct.." - Vesius.

Vesius found it even though it was only an estimate. Toran simply fell silent and continued to write the last few documents.

Vesius then looked at the window looking at the sight of the blood red sunset.

"That's very possible" , said Vesius in a flat voice.

"Yes, we should have known it a long time ago and killed him" Toran said.

Then Toran put the wine glass back on his desk.

"But we let them breed" Toran said.

Vesius looked at his father.

"Yes, we should know that Jayne Manstown was the last to have King Geralda's blood, the blood of the Vehan family. That means the children also inherit the claim and the blood.." - Vesius looked at the blood red sunset in the window.

"His sons have a claim to the throne of king Geralda." - Vesius continued.

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"Kyrah Hasral" ,Jawab Hasteinn while opening her water-filled skin bag.

"Good, that means you don't forget your nobility even if you keep hanging out with ordinary people" Glent said.

"Foolishly speaking, is it that easy to forget who your parents are when you play with someone lower than your parents?" said Hasteinn, drinking water from his water bag.

"Who's your mother's name?" asked Glent.

"Of stop doing that, I don't like to insult your parents" Hasteinn said.

"Who's your mother?" asked Glent to repeat the question.

"Jayne Manstown" ,Jawab Hasteinn.

"Good, when we get home, your father doesn't get you out of the Hasral family because you forget who you are" Glent said.

"Based on the son of a bitch, as if you were praying that I would be kicked out of my family." - ' said Hasteinn.

Then the sound of footsteps could be heard from far away.

The sound of the feet of these shoes Hasteinn seemed familiar.

The sound of dancer shoes.

Then a black leg was seen in front of him.

As Hasteinn looked up he saw Cyara standing in front of him.

Cyara stood with a red face.

"Ka.kakak.kakak Hasteinn.thank you for protecting me ta-tadi dibar.." , said Cyara with a stammer.

Within minutes Cyara and Hasteinn were silent.

Cyara's face is turning red.

"Yes.sama-sama" ,Jawab Hasteinn smiled.

Hasteinn's face was also flushed but not too red.

Hasteinn could hide his shame and happiness.

Cyara then quickly walked over.

He could trip.

And looked back but he could continue walking in his group.

"Sister Hasteinn!! Brother Glent!! Thank you!" cried the other dancers.

"Yaaa!!" ,Jawab Glent shouted as he waved his hand at them.

Hasteinn smiled and sat down.

Glent stood up and then removed the street dust.

After which Glent extended his hand to Hasteinn

"Oi come on" said Glent to Hasteinn

Hasteinn smiled and took Glent's helping hand.

He then stood up.

"Let's go home to the castle, let's hope tonight we don't get scolded by Boen" Hasteinn said.

Glent smiled as well.

"Yes.." , said Glent.

They then walked to the front of the gate and saw several soldiers guard the city and the old man sitting there joking.

"Oi Hasteinn? You don't have a song I can make for me?" said a singer sitting with a guitar in his hand calling them both.

"I don't have" said Hasteinn.

"Damn it, I don't have any money, but if you have I can use it to get money at the royal party" the singer said.

"Because you're Ceryd, why don't you make your own songs? You have a good voice" Glent said.

"I have a good voice to sing Glent but no brain to make it" said the singer called Ceryd.

"Sometimes come back here and make a song for me" Ceryd said.

"She's calm" said Hasteinn, who then walked away from the singer.

Then when they got to the front of the gate he approached the group of guard soldiers and the old man who was chatting.

Laughter and jokes are heard.

"Oi this is the boy who was in the bar, Verrick!" said the Grandfather while pointing at Hasteinn.

"Oi boy! Here!" said one of the soldiers to call Hasteinn.

Hasteinn and Glent then approached the group.

The group laughed and smiled happily at Hasteinn.

"Hehehehe, this is the child who protects his beloved woman nih***!" said the Grandfather holding Hasteinn tightly.

"Eh?" said Hasteinn confusedly.

"A lot of people talk about your courage" said one of the guards.

"Yes! Don't forget let me give you some advice, son.do it slowly the first time you do it with him..hahahaha!" said the old man, holding Hasteinn's shoulder tightly, it was obvious that Grandpa was drunk.

"You were very brave in the bar" said one of the guard soldiers.

"It's not like we don't have seeds that do that" said one of the grandparents.

"Hahahahaha!" , Laugh at everything except Hasteinn who was quite confused.

"Yes they're right, I think you're the only one with the seeds to do that" Glent said, patting Hasteinn on the shoulder.

"You were brave, too" said Hasteinn's grandfather.

"Hm?" said Glent.

"You were protecting him earlier" said one of the guard soldiers.

"Yes, 6 against 2, I wonder if I fought in the bar" said the grandfather.

"Sadly I had a schedule to watch the city walls, so I couldn't go to the bar. If I knew there was an exciting incident like that in the bar, I truant the watch" said one of the guard soldiers.

"Yes we missed a good incident" said one of the guard soldiers.

"Eat it, to the bar every day." ' said one of the old geezers over a beer.

"Oi want a drink first? Come here!" said one of the old grandfathers.

"Sorry, I want to go home, my pig has not eaten" Hasteinn lied.

"Ohhhh.you kept a pig turned out.ohh well.go away, your baby will also run away from his cage in the middle of the night" said one of the city guards.

Hasteinn had his own indetity when he came out of his castle. He pretended to be an orphan pig farmer who knew to read.

"Oi'm your friend? Where are you going?" said the old man.

"I would go to my father's place to help him make weapons for the lord of the Hasral nobility" Glent said.

Glent no, he wasn't very good at lying and was aware of it so he chose to stick with his senses.

"Ohh, son of a noble servant.definitely your father's life is good because he was given money every day by the nobility" said one of the city's guard soldiers.

"Yes your father lives for a weapon for one noble person directly given dozens of coin bags while my father made hundreds of swords at most only get 70 coins a day" said one of the city's guard soldiers another.

"Hahahahaha" ,laughter the group heard that.

"Not to mention the noble servant ironman is usually given a house in the castle" said one of the guard soldiers while drinking wine.

Hasteinn and Glent just smiled. They like to talk to people like them.

Then one of the soldiers looked back. Seen a grandfather who was aloof from behind them.

"Oi Grandpa! Let's drink here! Do not from earlier rally because it is insulted" said the soldier who turned his head.

The aloof grandfather only drank wine slowly regardless of their calling or speech.

"Oi Grelarr! Let's drink! You're so boring!" said one of the old geezers.

"Have he not wanted to be disturbed" said one of the soldiers.

"Every day he does so, his own nature also makes him insulted every day" said one of the guard soldiers.

"You also follow him insulting him fucking every day" said one of the soldiers.

"Why is he?" asked Hasteinn.

"You saw him in the bar, didn't you? He was a Tyronia war veteran but was insulted every day" said one of the old geezers to Hasteinn's question.

"Why?" ' said Hasteinn curiously.

"Because he fell in love with Garius" said one of the soldiers.

"Pfff.." , the soldiers' little laugh.

"You guys! Respect him for being stupid" said the old man.

"Yes! Why are you laughing?" said one of the soldiers.

"You're also laughing stupidly" said one of the city's guards.

"Here you go, I answer your question, son" said the old man, "he has a debt of gratitude to Vesius Garius, and if he hears anyone make jokes am Garius, he is usually angry" ,said the old grandfather.

"He met Vesius Garius?" said Hasteinn.

"Yes" said the old man

Then Hasteinn walked past the group, while Glent followed behind.

"Oi don't talk to him too deeply about Garius!" said the old man, drinking a glass of beer.

Then Hasteinn approached the old veteran's gripe, saw several wounds in his hand and one finger missing.

*It seems true that he once fought Tyronia*, thought Hasteinn in his heart

"May I ask sir?" said Hasteinn

"Hm? Oh, you're the kid who said you were defending his love, huh?" said the veteran grandfather.

"And you're the old man who was insulted in that bar, huh?" Glent said quickly.

"Oi Glent, don't bother first" said Hasteinn who then pushed Glent slightly back.

Glent had to retreat a little backwards.

"So? What are you asking?" said the veteran grandfather.

"Nothing, I was just curious about Vesius Garius, your general" said Hasteinn, "He was famously attacked by Tyronia but then many people doubted him and started calling him a coward" Hasteinn continued.

"So? What are you asking again?" said the old man.

"Who is this Vesius Garius? Whether he's a cowardly general who only knows to hide behind his tent or a brilliant, clever general. I'm asking you because you've met him" Hasteinn said with a sharp look he looked at the veteran grandfather.

"Some people are rarely attracted to Vesius Garius.." - The veteran grandfather smiled, "what is it that interests you?"

"Curiosity.arguably, the reputation of Garius was arguably chaotic and mixed. Therefore I want to know what the real Garius is" Hasteinn said.

"He's a great guy. He can be brave but in just some time, he is careful in his steps. As people say he has big eyes like an owl, staring at every step of the people around him and making steps to catch his prey" said the veteran grandfather.

"You know what's the scariest thing about a general, son? You don't know that he's a smart guy because he's just a bad face, a lot of enemies and generals who underestimate him just because of that" '', ' ' 'cause" ,said the veteran grandfather continued his words while drinking wine.

"Good and cool words, why don't you just be a verse writer huh?" Glent said

"Udah Glent" said Hasteinn as he turned to Glent.

Then Hasteinn returned his gaze to the veteran grandfather.

"I heard you owe a debt of gratitude to the general Vesius Garius, what is it?" Hasteinn asked.

Smiling old man.

"I have 3 kids and a wife, son, before I came home from Tyronia war they just lived in a fucking wooden house that was leaking from the rain every day. But then I got a reward from Lord Vesius just because I prevented one of his captives from escaping" said the veteran's grandfather.

"Thousands of coins she flushed to me, since then I've changed my mind about her. I even saw how skilled his strategy was and saw a real general. When I got home, I managed to build a comfortable house for my family because of the money from the general master" the old man continued.

"You think he's just being insulted now, son? No, the general was insulted 15 years ago just because his ugly body and face insulted him as an inappropriate general, some thought him stupid and only knew to eat" ,said the old grandfather.

"How brilliant is he, huh? He can make a soldier jump up a wall with his brilliant mind?" Glent said insultingly.

"Be quiet, son, what do you know about being insulted continuously by the person you're trying to save?" said the old man powerfully.

Glent could only be silent as he gulped, he could not reply to the old man's words.

"What do you know about feeling considered a lucky and stupid person when in fact you don't?" said the old man.

"But that doesn't change the fact that he likes to hide in his tent, as smart as he is, it doesn't change the fact that he's a coward" Hasteinn said.

The atmosphere became silent for a while, Glent looked at Hasteinn with a smiling face.

The veteran grandfather stood up. Hasteinn and Glent retreated slightly giving the veteran grandfather some room to stand up.

Glent prepared a sword fearing that the grandfather would fight..

But apparently not, the grandfather just stretched his back and then continued talking.

"A coward may be, but a coward is not a fool. People who are afraid of danger are usually smart people" said the veteran grandfather then drank wine from his leather bag.

"While the bravest people in the world are usually the dumbest people in the world, the smartest know the risks and the stupidest don't. That's what makes brave people usually fools" said the veteran grandfather with a strong look in Hasteinn's eyes.