Matthew scanned the surroundings and smiled:
"Unsafe is good. You two come with me later. We'll see if there are any capable people in this village."
Harwin stopped chewing, frowning.
"You want to recruit?"
Matthew retrieved his longsword from the cart and replied as he walked:
"Naturally. We need to recruit."
Walking to the lead cart, he patted his goods, selected his crossbow, and loaded a bolt.
"If we don't recruit, what can the four of us do? Walking in the wilderness is dangerous enough as it is."
Morty tied the reins and clapped his hands in agreement:
"Right you are. If we can get suitable people to join, the benefits outweigh the risks. Only, I'm afraid we don't have enough money."
Matthew patted the bundle on his back and grinned:
"I brought some money for deposits. Once we reach Sow's Horn and sell the goods on the cart, it will be more than enough."
Harwin and Morty exchanged glances and nodded.
Dale stood aside like air; no one asked for his opinion.
He felt utterly humiliated.
Little Fish walked up to him and tugged on his pant leg.
"Lord Dale, let's go to the tavern first and get some food."
Dale looked down at Little Fish with a look of disdain, stepped away to shake him off, and walked silently toward the tavern.
Little Fish nearly fell, staring at Dale in confusion.
Overnight, this person had changed.
Ser Harwin helped him up, looked at Dale's retreating back, and snorted lightly:
"Don't mind him. That guy is a useless fool with no sense."
Little Fish looked up at Harwin, feeling flattered and surprised.
Why did everyone around him change?
The ones who were bad to him became nice, and the ones who were nice became mean.
Matthew walked over, patted the dust off him, winked, and smiled:
"Not hurt, are you?"
Little Fish shook his head blankly.
Matthew ruffled his hair and said to Morty and Harwin:
"Let's go inside, eat something, and then get to work."
Morty was starving. He strode forward, threw his arm around Harwin's shoulder, and shouted:
"Let's go, let's go! I'm starving to death."
Ser Harwin shook off his arm in disgust and walked ahead.
Morty chuckled and chased after him.
Matthew tilted his head slightly, facing the light, his eyes narrowing into sharp blades.
Watching the scattered group walk further away, his urgency to recruit grew stronger.
He had to seize complete control before Ser Harwin and Morty figured out their own paths.
Thinking this, Matthew walked to the back.
Reaching Morty's cart, he tapped the Night's Watch boy lying there.
"Stop pretending. Get up and watch the cart. I'll bring you some food later."
The boy didn't move, but his eyelids and ears twitched uncontrollably.
Matthew started to draw his sword.
Hearing the sound, the boy didn't dare pretend anymore.
"I'll watch the horses! I'll watch them carefully!"
He opened his eyes and shouted quickly.
Matthew didn't fully draw the sword. Seeing the boy was scared, he let the blade slide back into the scabbard with a clack and smiled:
"Good. That Night's Watchman named Yoren is still alive, but he's in bad shape. I plan to take him to Sow's Horn for treatment. You can accompany him."
The stick was given; now for the carrot.
Hearing Yoren wasn't dead, the Night's Watch boy got excited instantly.
"Where is he?"
"The cart in front."
Matthew pointed.
"Remember to guard the carts and the goods well. Saving him depends on them."
With that, he took Little Fish and walked forward.
The morning light was harsh, forcibly stretching the shadows on the dirt road and merging them together.
As the tavern door swallowed the upper halves of their shadows, Little Fish stopped.
Matthew walked a few steps, felt something was wrong, and glanced back.
"What's wrong?"
Little Fish pouted, looking a bit aggrieved. Seeing no one nearby, he whispered:
"Why did Dale and Harwin change their attitude toward me?"
Matthew looked down at him, curled his lip, then pointed at himself and explained:
"Harwin and Morty are like people without heads right now—just hands and feet. I can temporarily act as their head and show them the way. Dale is the opposite."
Little Fish was smart and understood immediately.
Then he rubbed his chin, narrowed his eyes, and asked:
"So, is Dale a stumbling block for us?"
Matthew looked at him, surprised.
He hadn't expected this kid to get sharper instead of more timid in such a short time.
However, Little Fish pressed on, his tone uncertain:
"Then should we kill him too?"
He looked up and lightly drew a hand across his throat, his expression somewhat confused.
A playful glint flashed in Matthew's eyes. He patted Little Fish's head, thump thump thump.
"Why do you think we should kill Dale?"
Little Fish scratched his head and replied in confusion:
"Isn't that what happened to Ser Imry?"
Matthew laughed silently, stopped, rested his hands naturally on Little Fish's shoulders, squatted down slowly, and looked straight into those clear, round blue eyes.
Little Fish covered his mouth, his eyes darting left and right, embarrassed, feeling like he had said something wrong.
"Kid, I have a mission for you. Do you want it?"
Matthew chuckled, his eyes reflecting Little Fish's flustered look.
Little Fish tilted his head, then nodded repeatedly.
Matthew smiled soundlessly, straightened up, and gently patted his head.
"Good. When you're free, keep an eye on Morty for me. If he tries to run, come tell me."
"Morty?"
Little Fish's eyes went wide. He asked incredulously:
"Not Dale? Why him?"
Matthew put an arm around him and walked forward, explaining leisurely:
"Sometimes a stumbling block isn't necessarily an enemy. Dale has his uses. Just stay out of his way."
Little Fish's small brain felt like mush. He hadn't expected interpersonal relationships to become so complicated.
Seeing he still didn't understand, Matthew said no more.
Knowing too much wasn't good for a child.
Walking into the tavern, the noise doubled.
Farmers, mercenaries, and passing travelers were drinking and making merry. Gray-black tables sat askew, bottles littered the floor, and a stench permeated the air.
Little Fish covered his nose, his face scrunching up like a bitter melon.
Matthew frowned slightly but wasn't surprised. Scanning the messy establishment, he looked for Harwin and Morty.
Moments later, he spotted them in a corner.
Harwin was waving at them.
Matthew immediately pulled Little Fish through the crowd.
Drunks on both sides eyed them maliciously until they saw Matthew's hand resting on the trigger of a loaded crossbow. Then, they quickly looked away.
In their eyes, anyone who dared to do that was a lunatic with a death wish.
One slip, and the arrow would shoot him first.
Matthew was confident. He walked on, his steps getting lighter.
Crossing through the crowd, he sat down next to Harwin, directly opposite Dale.
The three were stunned to see him.
Dale jumped up, looking anxious, and demanded:
"Shouldn't you be watching the carts?"
Looking at their three sour faces, Matthew laughed:
"Don't worry. Someone is watching them."
"How can you let someone else watch our carts?"
Dale was very unhappy. Carrying his sword, he headed for the door.
Matthew couldn't be bothered with him. He shrugged, spread his hands, and asked:
"When is the food coming?"
Morty withdrew his gaze, lay on the table sipping water, and said lazily:
"Still a while."
Matthew nodded, looked at Harwin, tilted his head toward the group of mercenaries behind them, and asked:
"What do you think of them?"
Ser Harwin curled his lip disdainfully:
"A rabble. Even if we recruit them, they'd need training for a long time..."
He said a lot, mostly scornful remarks.
Matthew picked his ear, turned his head, and looked at the gambling circle gathered in the tavern.
His gaze was scrutinizing, jumping from mercenary to mercenary.
Many didn't even have leather armor. As Harwin said, they were trash, with few serious fighters among them.
But that also meant these people had big guts.
Looking further back, a group of drunken farmers was watching the excitement of the gambling table.
Some were squeezing in from the outside, eager to join, shouting constantly.
Seeing this, Matthew couldn't help but grin.
If he wanted to recruit hands, no promotion would be more attractive than picking a fight with mercenaries right now.