Chapter 260 - 207: Only Believe What You See (Part 3)

"Their labor built Pisa. If they turn their backs on us, then we’ll be the ones with nothing. That’s what Great-Grandfather wrote in the family precepts! Bastard!" Rolando roared.

"It doesn’t matter. Soon, Pisa will belong entirely to the Lanfranchi. Our father reached an agreement with the Emperor long ago. The Emperor is about to cross the Alps, and his army will destroy every stumbling block that stands in the way of the Lanfranchi family!

Especially that Simone Scalas. I’ll have the Emperor’s soldiers tear his mouth to shreds!" Giacomo said, looking exceptionally smug.

"Bullshit! Once that army enters the city, they’re bound to burn, kill, and plunder! Giacomo! You liar! You traitor! You’ve brought shame upon the Lanfranchi family!"

"Don’t be a fool, Rolando. One has to learn to assess the situation.

When Great-Grandfather arrived in Pisa, he was a penniless pauper. He could only survive by using flowery, fanciful words to win sympathy, just so he wouldn’t be chased back to some noble’s farm and become a serf with nothing to his name.

It was a strategy! A tactic! Rolando.

You should know this. ’City air makes you free.’ A serf only has to live in a city for a year and a day, and by custom, he becomes a freeman.

Hahahahaha! When will you understand? When you’re rich, you can’t afford to be a completely good man!

The Lanfranchi family has done more than enough for Pisa. Now, it’s time for them to repay the Lanfranchi!" Giacomo burst into wild laughter, his expression turning manic.

...

After assigning tasks to Belem and Otto, Eric wasn’t in a hurry to go back and rest.

Eric waited for a long while outside the Pisa Church before Belem finally appeared.

Only, Belem wasn’t in good shape; his face was bruised and swollen.

"What happened? Were there complications?" Eric asked.

"We ran into a slight complication." Belem coughed a couple of times, trying to ease the awkwardness, and avoided a direct answer.

Eric glanced at the knight in civilian dress standing beside Belem. The knight looked at Belem, then back at Eric, and shrugged. "A little while ago at the Lanfranchi Mansion, the Count said that all Italians were spineless cowards.

He said he could handle it all by himself, that he would take on ten of them."

"So how did it end? You didn’t bring a single one back? Let them all go?" Eric asked, seeing no prisoners had been brought back.

"As if. You think they could offend Earl Norman and just get away?" Belem coughed twice and put his hands on his hips, trying to look more imposing. He then clapped the knight beside him on the shoulder, signaling for him to continue the story.

"Uh... the Count sent them all to the nearest bathhouse. He found a woman with gonorrhea for each of them and made them stay with them until dawn," the knight replied.

"You’re a real piece of work," Eric said, patting Belem’s shoulder, at a loss for words. "Where’s Otto? Didn’t he come back with you guys?"

"He wanted to observe the situation a bit longer, so he’ll be back later. By the way, I have to ask... does it really need to be this complicated? Why not just wipe out the Lanfranchi and be done with it? Isn’t that Simone Scalas more than willing to be our vassal? Can’t we just use him?" Belem had been wanting to ask this for a while.

"He wouldn’t be *our* vassal. He’d be the Marchioness’s vassal," Eric said, looking at Belem.

"You mean... Ah, Eric. I should have known..." Belem started to laugh.

"In politics, appearances are more important than the truth," Eric said quietly.

"Alright, alright, you always have your reasons; I’m not going to press it. But I heard from Otto... that there was some friction between you two at Canossa a few days ago. Something about a woman? That you called out Miss Osborn’s name in bed?

And that you really pissed off our great Marchioness?" Belem teased.

"Don’t listen to his nonsense. It wasn’t that serious." Eric waved his hands dismissively and started to beat a hasty retreat.

"’What do you mean, not that serious?’" Belem immediately sidled up to Eric. "’She’s not letting you in her bed for a few days?’"

"Are you kidding? I’d like to see her try. She wouldn’t dare defy the duties prescribed by God," Eric said, puffing out his chest.