𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 (3)
The rogue was quick to assess the situation. He wasn’t just some ignorant bumpkin who had wandered into the forest, but a mercenary turned rogue, so it was only natural. Even seeing this sight now, if he didn’t realize it, he was an asshole.
“The punitive force. . . There was no news about the punitive force. . .?”
The local feudal lord around here was lazy and dull, so he didn’t even care about the gang of rogues that had appeared near this town. Besides, he didn’t have many soldiers either.
If he had hired this level of elite force, there would surely have been rumors. . .
“You don’t seem to realize your rudeness. Where is your captain?”
“C-Captain? We’re just poor folks who fled to the forest because it was hard to make a living. . .”
Seeing the rogue trying to talk his way out, Johan shook his head.
“I gave you a chance, yet you spout nonsense. Gerdolf. You’ll have to prove your skill.”
“Yes.”
Gerdolf walked forward. He had been following Suetlg quite peacefully and quietly, but he hadn’t been able to change Gerdolf’s true nature.
It seemed the rogues had sensed what kind of being Gerdolf was. They instinctively shuddered.
The gag was removed and another suppressed scream burst out. Before long, the rogues had spilled everything they knew. As he wiped the blood splattered on his face, Gerdolf said,
“It’s over, Count.”
“Well done, Sir Gerdolf. Your skills are as excellent as ever.”
“Thank you.”
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Completely surrounds the surroundings, rains arrows and bolts, and then wields swords mercilessly at those standing.
It was a short battle but intense. After a storm of iron passed by, there were less than five rogues left breathing hard.
“Damn, f*ck, crazy. . .!”
The rogue captain who was caught was quicker than his subordinates. Lying to an opponent who would not back down until he got the answer he wanted was crazy.
As the rogue captain babbled in a panic, Johan’s face stiffened.
“From Mairene City. . .?”
“It’s become a headache.”
Mairene City had a lot of gold. That meant it could hire a lot of mercenaries. If such a city joined hands with the emperor, it would be a headache.
“Isn’t Mairene City a free city in its own right? What’s so unsatisfactory?”
“Isn’t every free city have different circumstances? Mairene City has been close to the empire from the past. I suspect they must have been promised rights within the empire. . .”
Johan understood what Suetlg meant. Cities originally banded together to escape interference from their former feudal lords, but once they reached a certain size, the story changed. They attempt to interfere within the empire, believing in their own power.
Especially the free cities around here found it difficult to escape the sphere of influence of the Holy Empire. Even if they actually enjoy freedom, they could not completely break free.
“Do you think they were promised a title?”
“That’s possible. A duchy instead of one of the hundred kingdoms. . .”
No matter how the emperor had lost his fangs, he was still the emperor, and the rights he held were respected. The imperial titles guaranteed by the emperor were worthwhile.
From the past, the people of Mairene had frequent conflicts with their surroundings and wanted to establish themselves as the dominant power in the region. To them, the Order must have felt like an annoying competitor.
Taking advantage of the emperor’s unfortunate situation to seize rights within the empire, while at the same time striking down their competitor. It was a worthwhile plan.
“Don’t make such a serious face. The situation is not that worrying, I tell you.”
But as Suetlg said, now that they found out in advance, there was no need to be so afraid. The other side was strong, but this side was not weak either.
Mairene City may be prosperous, but Johan was not inferior in terms of gold either. He did not have as abundant sources of income as a city, but the amount of gold he had accumulated here and there was tremendous. If things went badly, he could hire more at any time.
Besides, the Order must have quite a bit of assets too. . .
“You’re right. Clearly the current situation is lucky.”
The people of Mairene probably don’t even know why they were exposed now. Putting together the information leaked from the imperial side, to the information spilled by a rogue, the outline of the matter could barely be seen.
Johan felt a little sympathy for the person who had worked hard preparing. Making plans from above, leaks from the side, leaks from below, what’s the point?
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Adviko who rules over the city of Mairene. If you trace back his family line, mercenaries came out.
It was not uncommon for mercenary captains who protect the city to increase their power and fame and become new nobles sitting in the magistrate’s seat. Adviko’s ancestors did the same.
However, after a few generations, the bloodline was closer to a noble than a mercenary. Nevertheless, Adviko often relied on his mercenary origins to gain the trust of mercenary captains.
“This fight shouldn’t be prolonged.”
“I know.”
Adviko said to the gathered mercenary captains. Wars were best when they were short if you were the employer, even if they were better when they were long when you were hired.
‘𝘕𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦.’
The hired mercenaries prioritized their own safety over great political purpose. No matter how much he told them to end it quickly, they wouldn’t listen.
“You know what it means to attack the fiefdom of the clergy.”
“I’ve killed priests before. What’s new?”
“If we install a new Pope, our sins will be washed away, right?”
The mercenary captains were not very afraid. Regardless of their faith, they could destroy icons and set fire to holy places for gold.
“Listen to the end. If this gets prolonged, reinforcements may come from elsewhere. You don’t want to fight other mercenaries, do you?”
At Adviko’s words, the mercenaries nodded their heads. What they wanted was easy plunder, not a fight with other hired mercenaries.
“Don’t have silly thoughts and focus on plunder. Don’t even think about becoming a feudal lord after capturing a town.”
One of the mercenary captains flinched. By his attitude, it seemed he had such thoughts.
Sometimes there were those among the mercenary captains who dreamed of becoming the feudal lord of the place they occupied. It wasn’t impossible. After all, a fiefdom only needed people to rule over and the force to maintain it.
But now there was no time to waste on such frivolous things.
“If you betray me, I swear to God that I will thoroughly take revenge. Remember my words.”
“. . .I understand.”
“You must also keep your promise to lead the army yourself, My Lord.”
First, the hired mercenaries and rogue gangs would loot and riot all over the fiefdom, throwing the whole territory into chaos.
When the confused people there lost their minds, Adviko’s main force would attack the clergy like lightning, capture the Pope, and install a new Pope.
If Adviko’s main force leading the vanguard did not arrive here, the mercenaries who had set off as the advance troops would be in considerable trouble. What good would it do to fill their pockets if they couldn’t get out?
“Don’t worry. Why would I deceive you after paying you expensive gold?”
Rather than meaningless words, Adviko appealed to the mercenaries’ greed. His words seemed to convince the mercenaries.
“Go! When this fight is over, your pockets will be filled with gold. Some of you who have achieved merit may even become nobles with titles!”
The mercenary captains departed one by one. Divided into tens and hundreds, they would cause havoc as they wandered around.
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“Indeed a good spot.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean to plunder. You fool. How many merchants coming up the path wouldn’t there be?”
“Ah, there they are! As expected, you are brilliant.”
“Yes. Those merchants over there. . . uh. . .”
“Why do you hesitate?”
“They are centaurs! Why are those crazy horse b*stards over there!”
The nimble centaurs swept the surroundings and suppressed the unfortunate gangs of rogues.
The rogues, who the feudal lords thought wouldn’t be able to respond properly, were ambushed properly and annihilated.
“String up the corpses.”
“Thank you, thank you! Count!”
The townspeople came out and shed tears. They had only heard rumors, never expecting Count Yeats would actually come.
When a merchant from the next town over said ‘𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴,’ it seemed unbelievable, but it was true.
Centaur knights did seem a bit strange, but still. . .
“The rogues’ skills are quite good, Your Excellency.”
“They wouldn’t hire just anyone from the city. Don’t underestimate them too much since they have mercenary backgrounds.”
Achladda nodded. While most rogues would scream and try to flee when ambushed, some fierce ones among them would charge recklessly. They were those with the blood of warriors flowing in their veins.
Of course, even they could not withstand the baptism of arrows.
‘𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘣.’
Suppressing gangs of rogues was almost like doing chores. What’s more annoying was that they could easily disguise themselves and hide.
It was best to move around as quickly as possible and eradicate them before the news spread.
‘𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭?’
While the gangs of rogues did not openly attack towns, it wouldn’t be strange if they did someday. If something happened, the knights would become a great force.
Not long after he had that thought, a messenger came running from afar. Covered in wounds and dust, the messenger ran past Johan’s troops without even recognizing them.
“Catch him. It seems something has happened.”
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Oragon was one of the poor knights of Count Yeats who participated in Johan’s expedition this time.
In fact, it was poor, but Oragon was in the wealthy class compared to all knights. First of all, he had a small town as his fiefdom, and he had proper weapons.
But with that income alone, he couldn’t afford the knight’s expenses. Money went out just by breathing as a knight. Let alone taking care of the people under him.
In the meantime, the newly appeared Count Yeats was an opportunity among opportunities. Starting with the fact that he himself was a young knight, he had been shaking the surroundings by establishing all kinds of achievements and honors.
Apart from such admiration, just looking at the realistic conditions, Count Yeats was exceptional. There was no one around who piled up so much gold and called knights. If it wasn’t Count Yeats, he’d have to go up north and be a mercenary.
‘𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵.’
It was basic to receive money in return for service. To get more than that, he had to show something. He had to earn the admiration of the count by establishing outstanding exploits and dedicating his honor.
Looking at the knights around the count now, they were really diverse.
Ability, not blood or power of the family!
If I can show that ability. . .
“A group of rogues is coming to town!”
“Impudent guys. Get ready to fight!”
Oragon went out in front of the town armed and ready to fight. Oragon’s followers and servants also armed themselves and stood together.
The townspeople cheered at the sight. To the eyes of those who did not know well, the appearance of Oragon and his subordinates was reassurance itself.
“Master. The rogue guys are quite well equipped. . .”
“I wonder where they got dressed up. Aim the catapults!”
Although the subordinates were slightly discouraged by the ostentatious appearance of what looked like dozens of mercenaries, Oragon did not care. Anyway, this number was enough to be overturned in defense. The opponent was just a ragtag group.
“. . .?!”
Oragon was surprised to see the mercenaries holding shields standing in front and charging in an orderly manner. The discipline was better than he thought.
What was more surprising was next.
“Our captain said to fight one-on-one to determine the winner and loser.”
“. . .what did you say?”
“Didn’t you hear already?”
Oragon was angry at the sight of the mercenary giggling.
How dare!
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“No way he lost, right?”
While moving with the messenger, Johan asked.
“The victory or defeat was not decided in one fight, so they fought three times. . . In the third fight, the other guy cowardly shot an arrow and was seriously injured. . .”
Johan clicked his tongue. He wondered if it would happen, but really to fall for such a trick!
“He was enduring inside the town.”
“I see. By the way, the opponent is a knight?”
“Yes. He said he was a knight from the empire. . .”
