𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐞 (3)
Johan turned his head back again.
As he looked back, the remaining soldiers screamed and scattered in all directions. Even though the captains tried hard to call them back, it was of no use.
After that, Johan’s soldiers could be seen surging forward like a tide. Iselia sighed and threw down her sword. It felt like the situation was already over.
“. . .I surrender. Please, grant me honorable mercy.”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
𝘢𝘸𝔢ʙṡ̇𝚝𝙤𝔯i̇̇𝔢𝕤.𝐜𝐨𝕞
It took less than two hours to seize Karis Castle. Lower nobles trying to flee were captured and imprisoned, and once the flag was changed, the cleanup was almost finished.
Johan sat in the castle’s audience chamber, surveying those gathered.
In principle, Johan was not sitting here as the count. He was a judge and commander sent by the order.
Knowing this, the relatives of the Asada family couldn’t help but be pleased.
How could they not favor the foreigner who would dirty his hands instead of theirs and then leave?
‘𝘏𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘐𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.’
‘𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘐𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘰!’
However, instead of scolding or insulting Iselia, Johan focused on other tasks.
He was occupied with seemingly trivial things like checking the fiefdom’s ledger, gathering maps, and talking with the castle’s officials like the scribe, treasurer, and slave administrator.
“Galen of the Asada family wishes to see you.”
“Tell him to wait, I’m busy.”
Indeed, Johan was busy.
Although it would have been easier to just seize the fiefdom by force, Johan was trying to acquire it more elegantly. This required a lot of work.
“I knew you could do it. No, I should call you Your Grace now. . .”
The envoy from the republic was the first to arrive at the castle. They spoke of the situation in the southwest and praised Johan’s martial skills.
“When will the port be available for use?”
“I’ll grant permission within half a year. Don’t worry.”
The envoys’ faces brightened at Johan’s firm response. They hadn’t expected things to go this smoothly.
They had been prepared to participate in the war, but Johan ended the fight like a bolt of lightning. They couldn’t be more grateful.
“But the towns nearby have relatively small ports for their location. What do you plan to do about that?”
“If you grant permission, our engineers will come and build anew. We will be using it, so it’s only right that we do so.”
In cities with frequent trade, there were special areas for foreigners, usually protected by rights but also financed by them, as was the custom.
“Oh. . .”
Johan hesitated.
He had been considering how to cut ties as soon as the expedition was over, but that comment made him think differently.
‘𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺.’
After all, he hadn’t fully absorbed the count’s territory yet, so there was no need to cut ties just yet. Johan thought this and nodded.
“Sir!”
“!”
Galen, pushing aside the soldiers trying to restrain him, burst into the audience chamber and then hesitated. There were several unfamiliar faces inside, apparently from the republic.
“Uh. . .”
“What is this rudeness?”
Johan spoke coldly. At his icy words, Galen felt a chill down his spine.
“I have something to tell you, Sir, so I took the liberty of coming here despite the rudeness.”
“Whoever you are, why are you so rude?”
The republic’s envoy spoke with apparent displeasure. It seemed inappropriate for a lower noble without a title to intrude like this.
“Take him away and imprison him.”
Once Galen regained his senses after his outburst, he became compliant. The soldiers grabbed him and dragged him out. The republic’s envoy clicked his tongue and then spoke.
“If you’re going to punish that man, please let me know. I will testify.”
“I appreciate that.”
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ᴀ𝙬𝐞𝚋𝙨𝐭𝐨𝘳𝐢𝕖𝘴.𝘤𝔬𝔪
After confining Galen, other relatives came and were bothersome. Johan was gradually losing his patience and wondered whether to start by killing these guys first.
‘𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦. . .’
Once the negotiations were over, everything could be dealt with. Johan endured that way.
“How is it?”
“For an elf, she’s tall and looks tough, doesn’t seem like a good opponent.”
“. . .No. I mean, not about appearance, but the negotiation.”
“Ah. Were you talking about that? That should be fine if you just say something.”
“Are you sure you observed properly?”
Suetlg made a face as if he was wronged. He came to see the imprisoned acting count, only to hear such words.
“Why ask if you won’t believe?”
“I can’t believe that someone who could withstand the relatives’ uproar would readily enter negotiations.”
“Hmm. . .”
Suetlg stroked his beard and chose his words. Then he said,
“Don’t you think they got scared thinking you’re a madman running amok?”
“. . . . . .”
Caenerna started giggling beside them. Johan had nothing to say. Caenerna stopped laughing and opened her mouth.
“It’s probably because of her child. That’s what the relatives do too. Use the daughter to threaten.”
The first advice from the relatives led by Galen was to use the daughter. They said if threatened with her, he would admit guilt and willingly undergo trial.
“They should be more worried about themselves.”
“That’s right. By the way, would it help to have someone intimidating by your side, Johan?”
“If needed, I’ll call. Seems like I can manage alone.”
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𝙖𝘸𝔢ḃ̇𝕤ᴛ𝔬𝚛𝕚𝔢𝘴.𝔠𝔬ᴍ