Time Travel? Rebirth? I Win This Time!

The war was over, but life had to go on.

Mike Bai sat in the study of his manor, carefully going over the account books. After finishing, he let out a satisfied sigh. In many ways, Saladin could be considered one of his benefactors. The Battle of Mongissa had earned him over 25,000 gold coins, and the Battle at the Yabo River had been even more lucrative, with spoils and prisoners beyond count.

Though Mike Bai's prisoners had been taken by the kingdom in exchange for the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, he hadn't walked away empty-handed. They'd compensated him with 4,000 gold coins.

And after learning the reason for his release, the Grand Master had mysteriously told Mike Bai that there was an even bigger gift in store.

As for expenses, because Mike Bai had used few troops in the defense of the castle, with minimal casualties, his major costs were for two pieces of wood and gunpowder. After tallying it up, Mike Bai realized he had made at least 12,000 more gold coins.

With that thought, he felt no more pain in his legs. If Saladin were to die right now, Mike Bai would gladly offer him a couple of incense sticks.

"Ah, I almost forgot. Uncle said he'd bring a guest today. I wonder who it is," Mike Bai thought, quickly leaving the study. He went to the front gate to greet the visitors.

Sure enough, three riders were slowly approaching, and one of them was Otto.

"Uncle Otto, welcome back!"

But Otto tilted his head, signaling Mike Bai to look to the side.

"Mike Bai, you promised to treat me to something delicious!" An apple flew through the air, and Mike Bai caught it, looking up to see none other than King Baldwin, wrapped up tightly from head to toe.

"Your Majesty King Baldwin, what brings you here?" Mike Bai was pleasantly surprised. Baldwin, due to his health issues, rarely left the palace, so it was a shock to see him at Mike Bai's manor.

"What? No welcome?" Baldwin joked. He wasn't wearing his signature silver mask, just a simple cloth wrapped around his face, but Mike Bai could still see the smile on his face.

"Of course, you're most welcome," Mike Bai said, taking the reins of Baldwin's horse and leading the way.

"May I ask, who is this with you?" Mike Bai asked, eyeing another rider, who was also covered up.

"This is Sibylla, Baldwin's sister," the rider revealed herself confidently, pulling back her veil. The princess had a sharp, angular face with deep-set features, but what stood out most were her long green eyes, which gave her smile an almost hypnotic allure.

"My apologies, Your Highness!" Mike Bai, fortunately, wasn't fazed by her beauty, thanks to his experiences in his previous life, which had exposed him to all kinds of women. He avoided being overly dazzled. But the knights around him were not so composed.

When it came to beautiful women, people's reactions varied. For instance, Patrick, the handsome knight, was surprised but quickly recovered, giving a charming smile that softened his features as he basked in the bright sunlight, almost as if surrounded by blooming pink flowers.

Meanwhile, William was completely stunned, mouth agape as if a pig could fit in it, eyes wide as saucers, making sounds that could only be described as inarticulate. He looked like a big baby.

Mike Bai couldn't stand William's gawking, so he kicked him lightly in the rear. "Stop gawking! Go tell the kitchen to prepare more food!"

William snapped out of his stupor and left reluctantly.

Sibylla burst into hearty laughter, her silver jewelry clinking and ringing like bells, causing the knights to be momentarily captivated.

"Ah-hem!" Mike Bai cleared his throat and reminded everyone to keep moving.

Baldwin took in the sights of Mike Bai's bustling manor. Even though his vision was blurry due to leprosy, he could hear the sounds of the windmill turning, the rhythmic pounding of the textile mill, and the clang of the blacksmith's hammer. All these noises spoke to the prosperity of the manor. But what surprised him most was hearing the young voices of children reading.

"Mike Bai, did you hire a priest to run a school here?" Baldwin asked curiously.

"Not exactly a school, just a tutor to teach them some basic knowledge," Mike Bai replied nonchalantly. He didn't think much of it, since, in his eyes, it wasn't much of a school—barely any books, a far cry from the poor private schools in the East.

Just then, a horde of children rushed out as class ended but quickly stopped when they saw Mike Bai and his guests, immediately bowing to them.

Baldwin looked at the children, most of whom were of Sassanid descent—Saracen children—while a small number were Latin children Mike Bai had rescued.

"You've allowed them to go to school too?" Baldwin seemed incredulous.

"In the East, there's a saying: 'Education should not discriminate,'" Mike Bai answered calmly. Even though educating Saracens had attracted criticism, this was one of the few benefits of this wicked age—it was Mike Bai's land, and he could do what he pleased.

"But the tuition must be expensive," Baldwin remarked, aware that in this era, every sheet of paper was made from sheepskin, every page handwritten by a few scholars, and every book was a priceless heirloom.

"More meaningful than useless finery or carriages," Mike Bai said, his tone firm even though the cost of the books still stung.

"I've heard Baron Windmill is incredibly wealthy, but today I see it's true," Baldwin teased with a smile.

A group of women, who had just finished boiling milk, quickly placed their clay pots down and bowed to Mike Bai and his guests.

As they passed, Mike Bai, using his rudimentary Sassanid, asked one of the women, "Is Dogo behaving well lately?"

The woman smiled and nodded, replying in broken French, "Thank you for your concern, Lord. Dogo is very well. He always talks about how grateful he is for the opportunity to go to school."

Though the pronunciation was strange, Mike Bai understood, smiling and waving them off.

Baldwin had watched all this in silence, and now, he suddenly fell into a thoughtful silence.

When they reached the dining hall, Baldwin took his seat at the main table and surveyed the surroundings. The hall was adequately furnished, but compared to Mike Bai's income, it was far from impressive.

Baldwin remained silent until the servants brought out the dishes and placed a plate of oval-shaped clay lumps in front of him. He looked at them in confusion.

"What is this?" Baldwin asked.

Mike Bai grinned and pulled out a small knife, tapping it against the lump. Instantly, a delicious aroma filled the air. When he peeled away the clay, a roasted chicken wrapped in palm leaves emerged.

The chicken was tender and crispy, marinated in a special sauce that made the golden skin burst with flavor, filled with various spices.

"This is incredible!" Baldwin praised, nearly finishing the chicken in the blink of an eye. "The rumors were true—your manor really does have the best chefs."

Mike Bai had initially thought of warning Baldwin about overindulging, but after a moment's hesitation, he sighed. "Go ahead, eat and drink your fill."

When the meal was over, Baldwin dismissed the others, leaving Mike Bai alone in the hall.

Baldwin fixed a piercing gaze on Mike Bai, making him feel uneasy.

"Mike Bai, you're truly a remarkable person," Baldwin said. "Let me get straight to the point. Would you consider marrying my sister, Sibylla?"

Mike Bai's eyes widened in shock, and his mind raced.

"You think of me as a friend, and now you want me to marry your sister?!"