𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐞 (1)
“Yes. I don’t care about that.”
Marco seemed truly indifferent. The honor of a knight had buried many feelings of guilt. Even if it meant fighting against his own father’s family.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. . .’
Johan looked at Marco with pity.
From what he had felt while living together, Marquis Crucho didn’t like Marco as much as he thought.
Or, to be more precise, he didn’t care.
It wasn’t that there was nothing for an illegitimate child with no rights. Even illegitimate children who received the love of their parents got something. Stephen is a case in point, although the circumstances are a bit different.
However, Marco had not received any contact from either the Alguto family or the Marquis Crucho family. It meant they had no intention of paying the ransom.
Would Marquis Crucho be proud if such a discarded child fought on the opposite side to protect his honor as a knight?
It was more likely that he would be greatly offended.
“But Sir, the marquis is a great commander. If you meet him on the battlefield, even you might not be able to guarantee victory. You should be careful.”
Johan clicked his tongue at Marco’s continued respect for Marquis Crucho.
“Isn’t the marquis currently in the Empire? He must be too busy with the west and south.”
“Couldn’t he come by ship?”
“Well, that’s possible.”
Marco was taken aback by Johan’s easy acknowledgment.
“Are you okay with that?”
“Hmm. I think it will be fine.”
From Marco’s perspective, Johan’s attitude was incomprehensible.
For him, war meant leading a dozen knights and their dozens of servants into battle, showing bravery against visible enemies.
Knights believed in the battle itself and didn’t make an effort to understand the political aspects of war. In fact, they didn’t even think it was necessary.
So Johan’s attitude was bound to be incomprehensible.
But Johan was different. While the envoy of the order was visiting Count Coolia’s territory, Johan really prepared thoroughly.
He sent people to the Katana Merchant Guild, issued permits to merchants, collected money, and used that money to stock up on supplies. He mobilized all possible connections to grasp the situation around the peninsula.
The fog of war clears as preparation accumulates.
Johan, having integrated information from various sources like dukes, counts, priests, merchants, and moneylenders, was somewhat confident.
‘𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘺.’
The people on Count Coolia’s side were complacent, and the Emperor’s faction nobles to the southwest also lacked accurate situation awareness.
Strike like lightning and finish it.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
̇ȧ̇𝔴𝙚𝚋s𝚝𝙤ʀɪ𝔢ṡ.𝔠𝚘𝔪
Johan’s first order was to divide the mercenary captains into two groups and send them to different places.
The land immediately southwest of Count Coolia’s domain was the fiefdom of the Emperor and his nobles.
One group to the north, and one to the east. Plunder as you wish!
The mercenary captains asked with a puzzled expression.
“Wasn’t it the order of the order to conquer the Count Coolia territory?”
“Indeed. But if we conquer Count Coolia territory like this, wouldn’t your share be too small?”
At Johan’s words, the mercenary captains hesitated. Indeed, they had received almost a year’s salary in advance from the order’s immense wealth, but the original mercenary job also had a significant part of earnings from local gains.
However, being a mercenary did not always mean plundering. They took into account the employer’s perspective, and if it seemed likely they would be employed by that side later, they restrained themselves accordingly.
Currently, they were on their way down, following the order’s command. They couldn’t just plunder as they pleased.
“If we split, you will have to conquer the Count’s territory with about two thousand troops. . .”
“I am fully confident. God is looking after me.”
‘𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦.’
It would have sounded like nonsense if anyone else said it, but there was a persuasive power in the young knight’s actions that made such statements believable.
“As a knight, if I can’t look after my subordinates’ share, it would be embarrassing. I will take responsibility, so one group go north and the other around to the east.”
“. . .!”
Honestly, the mercenary captains couldn’t help but be tempted. Even those grumbling and expressing dissatisfaction swallowed their saliva.
The feeling that the bitterness of losing the position of supreme commander was completely melting away!
“. . .T-Thank you.”
“If you say so, we will follow the command.”
Originally, these mercenary captains, although paid, did not perfectly obey orders. They could refuse unreasonable commands.
But there was no reason to refuse this order.
Who would refuse to go down to a land flowing with milk and honey and plunder to their heart’s content?
‘𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯.’
Gurelic, who was watching from the side, shook his head. As he observed, the young knight’s true ability was not his martial prowess.
It was his skill in manipulating people. Those who let their guard down against that young face were quickly taken in.
“Will you be alright?”
“Which part are you worried about?”
“The part where you have to conquer the Count’s territory with about two thousand troops. . . Of course, the Count’s forces are insignificant, but it could become troublesome if the vassal knights start gathering. Plus, you have to conquer their large and small castles. . .”
“Ah. You seem to be misunderstanding something.”
“?”