The Mamluk leader exclaimed angrily, "Even if we took out all the money and belongings we have, it's impossible to come up with that amount."

"Firstly, you are so valiant and battle-hardened, how can you be compared to ordinary slaves? Using a noble's price is just right. But the issue is, the opening price of one thousand dinars would allow you to leave empty-handed—now it's obvious you won't hand over your weapons, equipment, supplies, and mounts, because it's impossible for you to walk out of the Kingdom of Jerusalem on foot."

The Mamluk leader was dumbfounded.

Someone whispered, "Sir, I think he makes a lot of sense, we're no less brave than those nobles."

The leader cursed at him and continued to shout, "No, don't use this nonsense to fool us, we are just slaves, not nobles, we shouldn't bear such a high ransom."

Losa was unwavering, "Expensive? No! It's a reasonable price. If I hadn't reached an agreement with your master, I would have killed you all on the battlefield, and by then, everything on you would become my spoils of war!"

The Mamluk leader shouted furiously, "If we continue to fight, you will also suffer great losses, it's not a favor you're doing us!"

Losa replied coldly, "You have already disobeyed Prince Zahir's orders, I generously agreed to your request, yet you keep pushing the limits, unwilling to pay even a single coin, you are tarnishing your master's reputation, putting him in a position of breaking oaths made with the holy fire and King Saladin's honor."

"Think about it, what would Prince Zahir think of you disloyal 'Mamluks' when he returns?"

These words completely shattered the Mamluks' psychological defenses.

They talked in low voices for a while.

Moments later, the leader shouted, "We really don't have that much money, nor can we give up armor, weapons, and mounts, it would be no different from entering your prisoner camp, if you want to break your oath, we have no means of countering it."

This time, his tone softened considerably.

Losa frowned, contemplating that ten thousand Suludes was indeed an astronomical number, so he said, "Then eight thousand, that's the lowest figure, if any lower, you can bear the sin of 'disobeying your master's wishes and tarnishing your master's reputation'."

The Mamluks discussed again, and the leader shouted, "Alright, we will gather the money before sunset and bring it to your camp, but I warn you, you must ensure the safety of our master, otherwise we will spare no cost in launching a deadly charge on your camp!"

"No problem!"

Losa readily agreed.

War, though brutal, is indeed the quickest way to earn money.

Eight thousand Suludes gold coins, equivalent to a hundred years' worth of Jorgelisburg's tax revenue if raised through taxation.

Taking that money back to Great Germania and finding the right contacts, buying a fief of an Earl's Domain wouldn't be difficult.

...

By evening, the Mamluks indeed sent a team into the Knight Order's camp.

They unloaded heavy wooden chests from the camels' backs and carried them into Losa's tent.

Upon opening, they were filled with gold and silver utensils, coins, and gems, many items couldn't be valued, and if sold on the system marketplace, they probably wouldn't exchange for eight thousand gold coins.

But that's because the system marketplace is dark, not considering the "artistic added value."

If slowly selling those gems and gold and silver utensils, rather than just taking their precious metal value, exchanging for eight thousand Suludes gold coins would be more than enough.

The Mamluks kept their promise, and Losa naturally reciprocated, generously agreeing to their request to see their master.

Moreover, Losa ordered the spread of news about accepting recaptured spoils, so that those soldiers and knights would bring inconvenient-to-carry spoils to a tent to exchange for coins.

Losa returned to the system marketplace, exchanging them for gold and silver coins with his portrait, taking a tenth of "fire tax" and giving it to them.

Losa wasn't after that bit of "fire tax," it was purely because carrying these miscellaneous items would greatly slow down the Knight Order's march.

Additionally, increasing the circulation of these gold and silver coins with his portrait also greatly enhanced his reputation.

When all was done, the sky had completely darkened.

Hans entered the tent and smiled, "Sir, do you know, the soldiers of the Knight Order have given you a nickname in private."

Losa was intrigued, "What nickname? The Stingy One?"

The system marketplace is indeed dark, and Losa worried that the prices he offered might cause discontent among soldiers and knights, but if he knew the prices the accompanying merchants offered, he surely wouldn't have thought that way.

"Of course not, one is Losa the Generous, and the other is Losa the Brave!"

Losa was somewhat surprised, "Ha, that's quite unexpected."

In the Middle Ages, the nicknames of lords were not all compliments.

For example, Bald Charles, Stuttering Louis, and Fat Amalric (the former king of Jerusalem).

More neutral ones were Longshanks Edward and Redbeard Frederick.

Losa being known as "The Brave" and "The Generous" was enough proof that his reputation within the Knight Order had reached a new height.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.