Chapter 67: The Strategist (Explanation at the End of the Chapter)

“Sir, the spoils have been mostly tallied. When do you plan to deal with them?” Ricardo followed at Leo’s side. “It’s better to settle this quickly, otherwise the soldiers might start fighting among themselves…”

“We’ll talk about that later.”

Leo waved his hand, signaling Ricardo to say no more.

Ricardo sighed faintly and tactfully stepped aside. The knights following behind Leo also stopped, watching as he walked into the tower.

Click, click, click…

Each cold footstep echoed within the tower. Leo glanced around the castle once more; the chill and gloom of the tower made it an unwelcoming place.

Gregory trailed after Leo, almost like a personal attendant.

When Leo stopped before a wooden door, he seemed to sense a tense, shallow breath from the other side.

“You do it,” he said, stepping back.

Gregory nodded, stepped forward, and pulled the door open.

At that instant, Gregory saw his mother. Maria was no longer the dignified lady; instead, she looked as if she had just finished weeping.

The moment she saw her son, Maria rushed forward and embraced him tightly.

“My Gregory… Thank heavens, dear Holy Virgin, you’re unharmed.” Maria’s words trembled. “You’re truly my good child.”

As Maria and Gregory shared this tender reunion, Leo simply stood aside and watched.

Clearly, Maria was deeply moved.

Gregory, however, did not quite share her sentiment. He returned her embrace out of courtesy, patting her back.

After a while, Gregory’s impatience became obvious. He disentangled himself from his mother’s arms, exchanged a few perfunctory words, and headed upstairs to his room on the third floor.

Now only Leo and Maria remained.

“Maria.”

Leo extended both hands, placing his arms over hers. The dried blood on his leather bracers still had a hint of tackiness.

Maria’s hands flinched briefly. Then she looked up at Leo, studying him.

“Congratulations.”

It was as if she had made up her mind. She ignored the bloodstains and personally began to unfasten Leo’s bracers.

“I’ve long heard you’re an exceptional warrior. I suppose I still can’t match your experience,” Maria said. “I was terrified the moment I saw so many enemies.”

“Hmm.” Leo arched an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He understood Maria well.

Everything she did was ultimately for Gregory’s sake. To survive, she would attach herself to whomever was strongest and always take the most cautious path. As for foresight, she had none at all.

The ways of the weak to protect themselves are always the same.

“I’ll send for the servants to prepare a place for you to rest… and I’ll attend to you myself.”

As she spoke, Maria rose on tiptoe.

Just as she was about to kiss Leo’s cheek, he stopped her and shook his head.

“You really are a weathercock—whichever way the wind blows, that’s where you lean.” Leo pinched Maria’s cheek.

Maria said nothing, but wrapped her arms around Leo’s neck.

“No more nonsense. Have the servants bring hot water. I want a bath. And make sure the door is closed—no one is to disturb me.”

“Very well, I’ll see to it at once.”

Only once Leo had finished did Maria leave the room.

In the now-empty chamber, Leo finally had a chance to sit down. He placed his dagger on the cabinet, stripped off his outer garments and tossed them onto a stool for Maria to collect later.

Leo closed his eyes, and after a long silence, the system, dormant until now, reappeared.

[New Quest Triggered]

[Gaeta Vendetta]

[Objective: Seize control of Gaeta and capture Count Richard of Capua.]

[Reward: 1000 Prestige, 1000 Piety, 1000 Marks in gold]

Such a paltry reward…

As Leo lamented, he suddenly thought he’d misread something.

He opened his eyes, rubbed them, then closed them again to focus on the system’s message. That’s when he noticed the last two words.

Gold!

“Oh, God—dear God—”

Adjusting to local custom, Leo opened his eyes and crossed himself.

A thousand marks in gold—what did that mean? With that sum, Leo could raise an army or even simply buy enough to seize all the lands around Rome.

For once, this wretched system was being generous.

Of course, knowing the system’s nature, the money wouldn’t just fall from the sky—it would surely come from some unfortunate soul.

Now Leo had every reason to continue his southern campaign.

“Sir.”

A voice roused Leo from his thoughts. Two maids brought a wooden tub and set it before him. Behind them, a great kettle sent up clouds of steam.

Maria, holding a white towel, had changed into a light, sheer robe and stood waiting at his side.

“Would you like the water hotter?” one maid asked, lifting the kettle.

“Hotter,” Leo replied, rising and undoing his belt. As one maid poured the water, the other came over to help him out of his clothes and carried them away.

Soon, the two maids finished their work. Before leaving, they closed the door, leaving Leo and Maria alone.

Leo lay back in the tub, resting against its edge, as Maria approached again. She set the towel on a small stool, knelt beside him, and allowed him to toy with her hair.

“What are you planning to do next?” Maria’s tone was sweet, even a bit sultry, but with that single question Leo understood.

She was afraid.

Maria worried that once Leo finished his business here, he would simply abandon her and her son to fend for themselves.

Such things were all too common in the Middle Ages. After all, the standards of these people were as bad, if not worse, than the worst in later times.

“What’s next? I’m not sure.”

Leo decided to tease her.

“I might return to Tuscany. The Duchess is still waiting for me there. The Count of Capua has already been driven off—he can do as he likes. I don’t care about the papacy either.”

“Really?” Maria’s voice was urgent, but after blurting it out, she caught herself and tried to regain composure. “What if he attacks again?”

“Hmm…” Leo stroked his chin, feigning deep thought and dragging out the sound.

“Leo, you and the papacy are now mortal enemies, aren’t you? Do you think Hildebrand will let you go? Or Peter Damian? The Tusculani family will support you. By then, you might even try claiming Saint Peter’s inheritance.”

At the end, Maria circled around her words. By “Saint Peter’s inheritance,” she clearly meant the papacy itself.

Leo closed his eyes, pretending to enjoy the bath, but in truth he had already opened the system interface.

War against Gaeta was inevitable. In that case, he might as well start preparing now.

[Life Focus]

[Are you sure you want to select Life Focus: Military Leader?]

[Life Focus: Military Leader unlocked]

[New Quest Triggered]

[A Work for the Ages]

[Objective: Before December 1067, complete a military treatise. Its form may be a drill manual, a work on logistics or military engineering, or related subject matter as judged by the system.]

[Reward: 500 Prestige, 6 Church Knights, 1 Military Expert]

Another quest from the system.

But Leo didn’t mind. He figured he’d have plenty of time for these tasks.

He submerged his head, soaking his long hair, then lifted it, slicked his hair back, and wiped the water from his face.

“So, Leo, have you decided?” Maria asked, timidly, fearing to anger him.

“I have.”

Leo turned to her and said, “Send for a barber. I want my hair cut short. There are too many battles ahead—I won’t have time to bother with it.”

“Yes!” Maria seemed instantly revitalized. Ignoring her nearly transparent robe, she dashed out at once.

Leo listened to her shouts echoing down the corridor and breathed a long sigh of relief.

Could Maria really believe she had him in the palm of her hand?