Chapter 85 : Sauerland Mercenary Bureau (2)
Chapter 85: Sauerland Mercenary Bureau (2)
“Baron Garten might stab us in the back at any moment. Captain! Or rather, Baron. His greed is well known in the mercenary world, is it not?”
“Tsk. So what do you suggest? If an enemy attacks, we have to join forces. Are you saying we should treat them as enemies? Could we even drive them out if we made them our enemies?”
Baron Mordo spoke with a frown at the protests of the Centurions.
“I’m sure Count Bellua would be delighted if we fought among ourselves. Is Garten not also a legitimate ruler recognized by the Count? Yet you want to strike them while ignoring Count Bellua?”
“...That is.”
“Right. It wouldn't matter to you if a problem erupted since you have nothing to lose. But when trouble breaks out, I am the one who has to clean it up.”
Baron Mordo growled as he looked at the flustered Centurions.
Lately, there were those whose heads were getting a bit too big, so it was necessary to accurately show the difference between himself and them. He had to keep them firmly suppressed.
“If a problem occurs in the future, even by some chance, I shall have every single one of you whipped. This applies to everyone, regardless of rank. Do not think of starting unnecessary fights or being hostile. Understood?”
“Y-Yes. We understand.”
“We did not mean it with that intention. Captain Mordo... or rather, Baron.”
At the overbearing words, or rather commands, the Centurions all bowed their heads. Although he had softened much recently, Baron Mordo was still a mercenary captain.
“Hmm, good.”
Once the resistance, which was not quite a resistance, was suppressed, Baron Mordo nodded to himself.
“Then, before you leave, let us have a meeting among ourselves. Everyone, sit down.”
“......?”
“A meeting?”
Shatien shot a glance at Centurion Jacri, but even he seemed unaware of the content. There was a slight trace of bewilderment in Centurion Jacri’s eyes as they met his.
Ultimately, only Baron Mordo knew what this was about.
Fortunately, Baron Mordo did not keep them in suspense and opened his mouth immediately.
“As you all know, it is difficult to maintain a mercenary company of our current size now that our taxation rights have been cut in half.”
“Hmm....”
“Th-Then....”
The atmosphere froze again at Baron Mordo’s words. No one had expected that what they had only feared might happen would actually break out like this.
“Yet I cannot reduce the mercenaries’ wages to the level of common soldiers.... Therefore, I intend to reduce the size of the mercenary company. I truly do not want to do this, but I have no choice. Centurions, what do you think?”
“......!”
The Centurions could not speak and just stared with wide eyes, looking around at one another.
How could they accept hearing that he was going to blow them away right now? It was a situation where dissatisfaction was bound to arise. If Baron Mordo had not spoken so harshly earlier, discord would have erupted immediately.
“Ah. Do not misunderstand.”
As if sensing the atmosphere, Baron Mordo hurriedly continued.
“Your positions shall remain. It is simply that the number of the mercenary company, which has become excessively bloated, is being reduced.”
“Aha.”
“Ahem. If that is the case....”
The Centurions let out sighs of relief, but their hearts were not entirely at ease. These were their subordinates. They were comrades and subordinates who had fought together in successive bloody battles. Yet they were being told to cast out nearly half of the mercenaries who had gone through such hardships.
No matter how much it was a relationship bound by money, there was bound to be a bond.
‘Still, well....’
‘Actually, this is not Baron Mordo’s fault, is it?’
‘Indeed, this happened because of that Garten bastard. Yes, yes.’
In truth, the problem was exactly with Garten, who had absurdly received this fief from Count Bellua.
However, no one thought that way. He was an object too difficult to dare challenge.
At any rate, while they were sweating with anxiety, Shatien, who had been listening silently, opened his mouth.
“Baron Mordo. Are you saying that you could maintain the mercenary company at its current size if only the funding were resolved?”
At that moment, the gazes of not only Baron Mordo but also the Centurions turned toward Shatien. Since he always provided a clear answer, they had no choice but to listen intently.
“Do you mean to say you will spend your own money to maintain it? I know you have earned much lately, but that is impossible.”
“Ah, I know. I tried supplying a few times and found that money just disappears in chunks.”
“Then why does a person who knows that say such a thing? You do not need to overexert yourself. I mean it.”
Baron Mordo was well aware of Shatien’s devotion to the mercenary company. That was why he tried to keep giving him opportunities and a position, was it not? Shatien watched the reactions around him and slowly continued.
“I know. I appreciate that. However, I am saying this because there is a way.”
“A way?”
“Yes. It is to dispatch the mercenaries to other places.”
“So you mean to send them far away? To tell them to come back after earning money?”
“Yes. Now that we have a base, we can use this place as headquarters, train the personnel, and dispatch them to any region where a request comes in.”
At those words, Baron Mordo shook his head skeptically.
“Sir Shatien. I find it difficult to agree this time. I am now a noble who rules this land. If I, such a man, dispatch mercenaries to places entangled in various complex political relationships, what would they think?”
“I am aware of that point as well. Therefore, we shall make the mercenary company entirely independent so that it does not become a political issue.”
“......?”
The gathering was momentarily stirred.
“What does that mean?”
“Yeah. I do not understand it at all.”
“Shatien. Isn't that... isn't that just wordplay? The nobles will not be fools.”
Only Centurion Jacri was watching him somewhat calmly and cautiously.
‘Well, everyone is indeed negative. Since it must be a bit vague to understand....’
Shatien organized his thoughts quickly. It was time to say what he had been thinking ever since he decided he would eventually control the Black Raven Mercenary Company.
“We shall establish a Mercenary Bureau here.”
“A Mercenary Bureau? What is that?”
“It is the first time I have heard of it. Is it something like a merchant company?”
Shatien puffed out his chest and nodded.
“That is right. It is a kind of mercenary guild, like a merchant company. It means turning the Black Raven Mercenary Company, which you have led, into a guild for the region you rule.”
“Then who will rule that Mercenary Bureau?”
“Naturally, it would be the head of the bureau. In this case, would it not be Baron Mordo, who would become the Bureau Chief?”
“Haha. Then what is the difference between that and what we have now? Is it not just the same?”
“No. Is it not that they are hired through the Mercenary Bureau? You simply introduced the mercenary company belonging to the bureau. Even if they lose a war, the responsibility lies with the employer who hired the said company. In a way, the Mercenary Bureau is just an intermediary office that arranges various mercenary companies.”
“And in exchange, we resolve the contract or trust issues of the registered mercenary companies?”
“Exactly.”
Now they seemed to understand properly. Nevertheless, Baron Mordo still looked uneasy.
“What if enemies ignore that and rush in to punish our Mercenary Bureau?”
“In a noble society that values justifications, is there anything as hollow as a movement without justification? And if anything, if you, Baron Mordo, guarantee the rights and trust of the mercenaries belonging to the bureau, the mercenaries will rise up for you. You are creating an interest group for them to gain bargaining power with the nobles.”
“Hmm.... And at the same time, we can steadily dispatch the affiliated mercenaries to gain combat experience and create elite troops, so that would be good.”
Nodding his head, Baron Mordo questioned him again.
“Then who will guard my land?”
“Haha. Why, the Mercenary Bureau will guard it.”
“And I would naturally have to pay money?”
“Of course. If you, Baron Mordo, take the initiative and hire 500 mercenaries belonging to the bureau, who would doubt its neutrality? Even if you act as the Bureau Chief of the Mercenary Bureau.”
It was truly an interesting statement.
No, it was more than interesting, it was attractive content. Was it not a way to own and rule a neutral military group? Of course, since it was just a flimsy cover, there was no guarantee that the surrounding nobles would accept it naively.
However, Baron Mordo liked the structure of the proposal very much.
‘I think the nobles, who look down on mercenaries, might not be very pleased with mercenaries banding together....’
Nevertheless, this was a time when war was in full swing. To the point where securing mercenaries, especially reliable ones, was the primary task of each power, whether they liked it or not. Furthermore.
“It sounds good, Baron!”
“Why not give it a try? Hehe.”
“Is it not just that we gained a headquarters to settle in while keeping the existing way of operating the mercenary company? Our power will grow very great if we manage it properly.”
There was such enthusiastic support from the Centurions under his command. They were pleased with the fact that they did not need to fire their subordinates and that they would possess the appropriate power to keep the Garten Mercenary Company in check. And as even they supported it so strongly, Baron Mordo finally made his decision. Though precarious, this judgment would be of great help in rebuilding a great house in the future.
“Fine. Then, for a start, let us send the mercenaries to a small battlefield as a trial. I shall send them as far away as possible so that no problems arise.”
‘Nice!’
Shatien smiled like crazy inside at those words. He was dying of joy that what he wanted so much had passed.
Encouraged, Shatien intended to suggest the next destination as well.
“In that case, how about the North?”
“The North? The place where those insane, war-hungry elves live?”
“Baron Mordo... it is something that would be a bit sad to hear if our elf friends we made heard it, you know?”
“That Ragnarsson bastard is fine even if he hears such a thing. Anyway, are you saying we should go to that northern region?”
“Yes. Is it not bustling there right now? Furthermore, it is the exact opposite of our base, so no one will say anything.”
Ragnarsson.
The words that he would suppress the rebels as soon as he returned. This was a plan he had devised based on that.
* * *
The Sauerland Mercenary Bureau was established the very next day.
There was nothing systematic yet, and all there was was the name and the seal symbolizing the Mercenary Bureau that Baron Mordo had hurriedly made, but what did it matter?
A good start is half the battle.
Baron Mordo willingly gave up a portion of his barony and provided the best room among the places previously used as barracks to be the office of the Mercenary Bureau.
-Thump, thump, thump.
Shatien personally nailed a wooden plaque to the entrance of the office. From now on, nobles and merchants from each region will visit here to commission mercenary work.
One side of his heart felt proud, as if he had taken one step closer to his plan.
“It is finished. From now on, this is the Sauerland Mercenary Bureau.”
Miles, who was watching with his arms crossed from behind, tilted his head.
“But you know. Won't the suppression of the rebels just end first? It'll take us at least a month to go up there. I heard that the serfs started the rebellion?”
He thought he was asking a bit late. And Miles’ question made some sense in its own way.
“Then we can just look for another place. What are you worried about? What matters is that we moved after receiving a request.”
“Hmm... is that so?”
However, Miles still did not look very keen.
Would it not be a waste of energy if they went all that way for nothing? Even during this period, moving a long distance was not an easy task.
Of course, Shatien’s thoughts were different.
“Do not worry. The war will absolutely not end until we get there.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Believe me. Have I ever lied to you?”
That was right.
The rebellion in the northern region was not an easy matter. The monumental event in the past that he remembered.
It was because of the existence of Balud, the hero of the northern rebels.