Ulfric clearly felt the change in people's attitudes towards him in the village; taking off the collar around his neck meant that he had become a recognized freeman.
Moreover, his feat of driving away Fenrir, who was devouring the sun in the sky, had already spread throughout the entire territory.
People now knew that Hrofr had a warrior who dared to confront the terrifying giant wolf.
"Wolf Bane Ulfric."
The old man Vesaide, who was bending over and farming in the fields, straightened his body and waved to Ulfric in greeting.
"I'm not a the wolf bane; I haven't even killed a single wolf," Ulfric looked around.
At this moment, there was only the old man in the field; the other slaves seemed to have been sent to the forest.
"A brave man who can fight against the giant wolf in the sky deserves the title of the wolf bane."
Vesaide, however, wiped his dark face, blackened by labor, with his dirty sleeve.
Wrinkles covered his forehead, but his eyes still held a cunning look, and the smile at the corner of his mouth made Ulfric feel that Vesaide knew all about his trick.
"Heh heh, that was all thanks to the prophet's miraculous seeds," Ulfric chuckled awkwardly.
He wasn't sure if the old man Vesaide truly understood that a solar eclipse was just a natural phenomenon, and he couldn't help but feel nervous.
If Vesaide told everyone everything, he would definitely be chopped into pieces by the angry Vikings.
"That's right, the prophet's gifts always come with magical spells, but when I was young, I sailed west in a longship.
We encountered a hurricane at sea, and many companions died, unable to land on England like Nagra.
Instead, we drifted to other places.
Just when my remaining companion and I thought we were going to die, we encountered something even worse," Vesaide said to Ulfric with a smile.
"What was worse?" Although Ulfric knew Vesaide was deliberately teasing him, he still cooperated and asked.
"The sun in the sky suddenly disappeared, and the dark sea was like entering the underworld," Vesaide seemed to be lost in his memories, his Vicissitudes voice seemingly piercing through time.
"Will you tell others?" Ulfric frowned and said to Vesaide.
It was obvious that the young Vesaide had also experienced a solar eclipse, so he knew very well that it was not Fenrir devouring the sun at all, and even if left alone, the sun would naturally return to normal.
"I'm old, and there are many things I can't remember clearly anymore," Vesaide, however, smiled at Ulfric.
He patted Ulfric's cheek with his rough hand, then hobbled and turned to return to the fields to continue working.
"Vesaide, have you been to many places?" Ulfric pursed his lips.
He felt that the identity of this old slave might not be simple.
Those who could sail longships were Vikings, and if they survived, they would at least be famous Viking warriors.
But Vesaide was a slave in this remote and poor village, which was truly strange.
"Yes, I have," Vesaide showed a reminiscent expression, but quickly scratched his hair with his hand and indifferently began to tinker with the farm tools in his hand.
"I'll find a way to save you," Ulfric said to Vesaide, then turned and left.
Vesaide was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected Ulfric to make such a promise to him.
When the sun was at its highest point, Lord Hrofr gathered the freemen in his lord's longhouse.
He seemed to have very important news to announce to everyone.
As dull horn sounds rang out one after another, the freemen began to gather in twos and threes towards the lord's longhouse.
"Why did the Lord summon us?"
"Has something happened?"
The freemen conversed curiously, unsure what news Hrofr was going to announce.
"Quiet, the Lord has something to say."
A norse warriors holding a spear stepped forward and knocked his heavy round shield against the ground.
The sound of the wooden shield colliding made everyone quiet down.
The Vikings' round shields were made of thick birch and oak, painted with blue and white colors.
When fighting, they could hold it up with one hand to block arrows and stones.
In collective combat, warriors stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a shield wall with their shields, advancing together to push back and defeat the enemy.
Warriors in the rear attacked with javelins and bows, like hiding in a moving fortress.
Hrofr walked in from the side door.
He stood majestically before the Lord's throne, his gaze sweeping over the puzzled faces of the crowd.
Among them, he saw the newly joined Ulfric and the Viking warrior Vargarr, but he didn't linger and began to speak loudly.
"People of Vestergoteland, I have gathered you here today for the future of the territory," Hrofr raised his arm and gestured to the crowd as he spoke.
"That's right, that's right," all the freemen nodded, as if they had a premonition of something.
"Lord, winter is coming, but we haven't stored enough food and supplies."
"We can't wait any longer; if we miss the opportunity, the old and the children will suffer."
The norsemen of Vestergoteland began to clamor, their eyes filled with longing and worry, and the women were even more agitated.
"What are they going to do?" Ulfric asked curiously.
"Raid, the Lord has finally decided to raid," Angr appeared behind him, her arms crossed, and whispered.
She carried a pleasant floral scent, a smell that Ulfric found very familiar.
"Raid, is it plundering?" Ulfric came back to his senses.
The famous Viking raids were the main theme of this era, and of course, the fundamental reason for their formation was poverty.
"That's right, we are going to conduct a large-scale raid before winter comes, a raid!" Hrofr raised his head, spread his arms, and the exquisite large bronze buckles and golden pendants on his body reflected light.
The luxurious white otter fur and vibrant clothes further highlighted the Lord's prestige.
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh~~."
Incited by the Lord, the norsemen excitedly raised their fists, their inner bloodthirsty desires constantly growing.
"So where will we raid?" Angr asked loudly from the crowd, and this question was what others wanted to know as well, so everyone gradually quieted down and looked at Lord Hrofr.
"Hmm," Hrofr stroked his braided beard.
He seemed to have anticipated that someone would ask this question.
He had always been reluctant to discuss this target, but now it was different.
So he pressed his hand down and then said, "We will raid Gotland Island and plunder it."
"What, Gotland Island?"
"Isn't that also Norse territory?"
"It's Visby Earl's territory."
But when Hrofr announced the destination, everyone hesitated.
They knew that Gotland Island, also inhabited by norsemen, was not so easy to deal with, and Visby Earl was also a cruel Lord.
"What, are you afraid? If you're afraid, are you still Vikings?" Hrofr swept a disdainful glance at the crowd, displeased with their silence.
"Why raid there, and not even the Finns across the sea?" Angr frowned and said to Hrofr with dissatisfaction.
"Because I received intelligence that Gotland Island has been doing well in recent years, and Visby Earl has plundered a lot of silver coins from distant lands," Hrofr patiently explained to Angr and others.
Although Vikings might seem barbaric and unreasonable to other peoples, they were actually very particular about law and democracy internally.
"This reason is enough," Angr nodded in satisfaction.
In her opinion, as long as it benefited the village's development, it was enough.
"But Visby Earl is not to be trifled with."
But some people still hesitated.
This Earl had quite a reputation, and it was said that he had once followed Bigger iron bone Bjorn to attack England.
"We are Vikings, fighting for all honor, and even if we are killed, we should enter Valhalla with weapons in hand!" Angr mercilessly mocked the other's weakness, and her mockery made others laugh.
"That's right, with me joining, there's no need to fear Visby Earl!" Vargarr shouted loudly, raising his arm to show off his muscles, but it seemed to have no effect.
"Everyone, don't be afraid! Don't we have Wolf Bane Ulfric? He is a warrior who dares to face Fenrir.
I have already spread the news, and many people will come to converge soon, all eager to fight under Wolf Bane Ulfric!" Hrofr strode down from the platform.
He walked straight to Ulfric, grabbed Ulfric's shoulder, and spoke loudly to the crowd.
"Oh oh oh, that's right, we have Wolf Bane Ulfric, he is blessed by Odin!"
"In that case, a Visby Earl is nothing!"
"Great! I've long been annoyed by the norsemen on Gotland Island!"
"Rob them! Bring back the silver coins from the south!"
At this, the norsemen of Vestergoteland could no longer hold back.
They clamored loudly, their voices almost tearing off the roof, wishing they could immediately pick up their axes and rush to Gotland Island to bring back the women and money.
"Very good, after the feast, we will choose living sacrifices and let the great Wolf Bane Ulfric do it himself to pray to Odin for victory and glory."
Hrofr nodded in satisfaction, his hanging heart finally relieved.
Although he was the Lord, he could not force everyone to participate in a difficult raid, but Ulfric's unexpected appearance enabled him to smoothly advance the plan, and he secretly thanked the blessings of the gods in his heart.
"Living sacrifice?" Ulfric was a little surprised.
He remembered that Vikings indeed had the custom of sacrificing living people to Odin.
Rollo the Walker, Duke of Normandy, once executed three hundred captives and offered them to Odin, but Ulfric hadn't expected to have to do it himself.