Chapter 86 : Sauerland Mercenary Bureau (3)
Chapter 86: Sauerland Mercenary Bureau (3)
The northern peasant rebellion.
In fact, this wasn't a simple peasant uprising.
It wasn't even confined to the northern region.
The rebellion that started in the north was a massive and complex war.
It grew as fallen nobles who'd been pushed out of their regions, wandering knights chasing wealth, and eventually great lords harboring resentment toward the Empire joined forces.
Of course, behind the scenes....
‘There was that man, Balud.’
The hero of the northern peasants.
With the emergence of Balud, the great tactician, the peasant rebel army, which had been helplessly defeated at first, soon gained immense victories and received support from influential figures.
Of course, he was eventually defeated, captured, and beheaded, but before then, he'd caused tremendous damage throughout the Empire, spanning from the north to the southeast.
‘It would be good if he keeps moving steadily.’
Only then would the cost-benefit analysis balance out.
If he was caught too easily, the effort of dispatching mercenaries wouldn't be worthwhile.
This was a business, after all.
Shatien, in particular, was deeply concerned about the future that kept changing after his reincarnation.
He hoped everything would proceed smoothly without any major issues.
That was Shatien's wish.
-Neigh!
As soon as Baron Mordo's permission was granted, Shatien sent a messenger to the north.
The messenger, carrying the letter from the Chief of the Mercenary Bureau, traveled day and night to reach Ragnarsson.
‘Surely, he won't refuse, will he?’
Since everything was proceeding smoothly, Shatien couldn't help but have such thoughts. You know how it is? When things go well without a hitch, you start worrying for no reason.
That was Shatien right now.
In fact, hiring mercenaries, especially a large-scale unit at the level of the Black Raven Mercenary Company, cost a lot of money, didn't it?
The Margrave of Rostingia, feeling the burden, might not hire them. Of course, this was in a way meaningless. It was worrying too far ahead.
‘First, I must quickly obtain the supplies needed for the war. There's more than one or two things to prepare. Let's not worry about useless things.’
Thinking so, Shatien came up with a way to receive the necessary goods. The merchant guild. It was Marhen, the branch manager of the Loren branch. Shatien immediately sat at his desk and picked up parchment and a pen.
-Scratch, scratch.
‘…Thus, the Mercenary Bureau has been established. Since we'll soon be going on an expedition, your help is desperately needed.’
He sent the letter to the Free City of Loren with a fancy seal pressed upon it.
Considering their past relationship, Branch Manager Marhen probably wouldn't reject this proposal.
Thinking so, Shatien showed a satisfied smile.
‘Good. Good.’
Now, all that remained was to train the mercenaries while leisurely waiting for the supplies.
Since he'd requested war supplies for about 200 people, he thought it would take roughly a month.
During that remaining period, he intended to push the new recruits hard to make them elite soldiers.
However, two weeks later.
Branch Manager Marhen appeared leading a large-scale merchant caravan. It wasn't just for 200 people; it was at a level that could handle the supplies for the Black Raven Mercenary Company led by Baron Mordo, and even the Garten Mercenary Company.
“What were you thinking, requesting so much?”
“Um….”
Shatien was at a loss for words at Baron Mordo's question. He can say for certain that he didn't request such an absurd number. Branch Manager Marhen brought it all of her own accord.
* * *
Shatien met Branch Manager Marhen at the entrance.
“It's been a while, Marhen. Have you been well?”
“Of course! In fact, since I haven't worked much lately, I feel like I'm gaining weight on my sides. Nyahanghang!”
Shatien laughed awkwardly at the sight of Branch Manager Marhen speaking while wagging her tail as if somewhat dissatisfied. Wasn't this a very cute protest? It was understandable since there'd been no contact for a while despite their promise to provide work.
“Ahem. It wasn't my intention. The situation wasn't smooth....”
“Hnng. A man who gives long-winded explanations isn't attractive, Sir Shatien.”
“Oh dear. I brought it up only to get scolded.”
Only then did Branch Manager Marhen laugh heartily.
“By the way…. You probably came here because you're curious why I brought so many goods, right?”
“That's correct. The volume we requested isn't at this level.... Are you planning to establish a branch here or something?”
“Oh my? How did you know?”
Well, how would he know? In the past, when a similar organization called the Mercenary Bureau was created on the continent, the merchant guild was the first to approach, so that was what he thought. Fortunately, Shatien's thought seemed to hit the mark.
“Is that right?”
“Yes! It's amazing. I was already thinking of setting up a guild branch here. Of course… a branch led by me. Hoho.”
Oh dear. She seemed to like it quite a bit. Thinking of operating a branch she led herself.
“A merchant has a gut feeling. I'm sure of it. Soon, mercenary companies from all over the continent will register and operate here.”
“Hmm. What do you trust to be so certain?”
“Well… of course, it's my gut! If I say that, you'll think it's strange, right? Heh. First, it's the existence of Captain Mordo, no, the Baron, and Count Bellua behind him. Who would dare to make a disrespectful judgment about the Mercenary Bureau in this territory? Since it's located at a transportation hub in the central part of the continent, it's even better for spreading in all directions. On top of that, war has never ceased across the continent for the last hundred years. Whether small or large, wars are happening somewhere constantly....”
“Finding a reliable mercenary is like picking a star from the sky.”
“Hehe! You finally understand my words!”
“You mustn't forget that it was I who suggested this in the first place, Branch Manager Marhen.”
“Nya, nyan! That's right, wasn't it?”
He couldn't help but laugh at her surprised reaction as if it were something new. Was it an action that didn't quite match Branch Manager Marhen's usual appearance?
Regardless, Branch Manager Marhen seemed to be dreaming of a rosy future. And that future was surprisingly almost accurate. A great war would rage for the next 20 years. Small lords would lose their power, and the strength of mercenaries and merchants who held military force and money would rise.
This investment right now was, in a way, a very good action to seize future leadership.
‘Her insight is truly excellent.’
Shatien looked over the ordered supplies with admiration.
From trivial things like firewood to warm the body and beef jerky to important things like armor.
All the supplies he'd specifically requested had arrived properly.
Of course, the quality went without saying.
“By the way, what are you going to use this for? Hmm. Dead slimes. Ugh.”
Branch Manager Marhen perked up her ears and expressed her disgust at that unpleasant texture. As expected, a cat is a cat. He heard they hate watery feelings.
“I plan to split them into small pieces and supply them to the members. Isn't the north much colder than here?”
Hadn't he experienced it well when he was being trained by his master in the past? That dead slimes become scorching hot if the conditions are right. If placed in wooden pieces and held in the bosom, the insulation effect would be excellent.
Having heard the explanation, Branch Manager Marhen nodded her head lightly.
“Nyahang. That's a good idea. Except for this terrible texture, that is.”
“Hahaha.”
Seeing her shake her hands quickly like a real cat, Shatien burst out laughing despite himself.
‘By the way, winter is truly scary….’
When recalling past experiences, nothing made a mercenary's life more miserable than the winter cold. Since that pain came back vividly, Shatien had no intention of neglecting his members' abilities dropping due to shivering in the cold.
As he was about to turn away after paying the agreed price, Branch Manager Marhen suddenly whispered.
“By any chance… this Mercenary Bureau. Is this the only office?”
“For now, yes. We'll expand later, but it hasn't been long since it was established.”
“Hmm. It might be more inconvenient than you think for lords to request mercenaries from here every time. Don't you think such things are a battle against time?”
He was already aware of it to some extent.
But since it was a newly started Mercenary Bureau, he couldn't build such a large-scale organizational network.
Even the number of mercenaries was only about a thousand, wasn't it?
“Do you have a way?”
“We can set up branches in major base cities! That way, they can quickly receive requests and send them to the main office.”
“We've thought about that too, but… you know how it is.”
That was a task for later.
It would be good to do it from now, but he had to move forward while compromising with reality, shouldn't he? Then, Branch Manager Marhen brought up an unexpected topic.
“What are you so worried about? You have us.”
“Pardon? Do you mean… the guild?”
“Yes! Didn't we agree to cooperate with each other? Oh dear…. Was I the only one who thought so? Heh.”
“……!”
Only then did Shatien feel like a lightning bolt had struck his head. Why hadn't I thought of this?
“So…. You mean the Mercenary Bureau's work can be handled through the branches the guild already possesses?”
“Yes. A kind of proxy service? In return, please pay a portion of the commission as a brokerage fee. Hoho.”
Shatien let out a short exclamation of admiration. It was indeed an idea worthy of a merchant sensitive to money. Furthermore, as the Mercenary Bureau's power expanded, the guild would be able to quickly dominate the commercial sphere using that backing.
“I'll suggest it if this task goes well. Oh! This means I'll definitely do it. You know that, right?”
“Heh. Well. A man won't go back on his word. I'll be counting on you, Sir Shatien.”
Somehow, he felt like a tail had wrapped around his leg once, but it must've been his imagination.
Shatien replied with a confident voice not to worry. The Sauerland Mercenary Bureau had only just taken its first step toward growth.
* * *
All preparations for departure were finished.
The response from the north hadn't arrived yet, but he had a gut feeling that it would arrive soon.
‘Hmm, I should report to Baron Mordo.’
Shatien headed to the Lord's manor to report on the progress. However, he encountered an unexpected person there.
“Shatien. No, it's Sir Shatien. It's been a while.”
“Have you been well, Baron Garten?”
The conversation started with light pleasantries, but Shatien felt the current situation wouldn't proceed lightly at all.
Sure enough.
“I heard you led the creation of the Mercenary Bureau?”
Baron Garten cut right in.
“Led… the creation huh. I merely made a suggestion and Baron Mordo granted permission.”
“That's the same thing. Haha.”
Baron Garten stroked his beard while slyly scanning Shatien.
Why did such a guy go under Mordo? It was truly a pity.
Furthermore, even if he tried to recruit him, his loyalty was already so high it seemed impossible.
“Tensions are rising around you because of what you've done.”
“Tension? We're just neutral mercenaries.”
“Hahaha. Don't say such smooth-talking words. Neutral you say. Baron Mordo is behind the Mercenary Bureau, and Count Bellua is behind him, isn't that right? And yet you say neutral.”
“…Baron Garten, aren't you also a vassal who received a title from Count Bellua???”
Baron Garten cleared his throat at the accurate point.
“Ahem. Anyway, stop playing house with that Mercenary Bureau or whatever. Who would make a proposal right now? We're finally gaining peace. The actions of the Mercenary Bureau you led will break the peace of the surroundings. Do you understand? There is no one to hire you right now.”
A snort came out at the useless point and advice.
Who was advising whom?
“Well, won't we know if we wait and see?”
“Tsk, tsk. I'm telling you, that's not it! Why would anyone send someone all the way here to hire when they can get wandering mercenaries around them! If a request comes, I'll eat my hat!”
“Oh-! Is that so?”
Truly, the shout of one who cannot see the times is hollow. Shatien was starting to feel uncomfortable with the current meeting.
Just then.
“Huff, huff! Centurion Shatien!”
A messenger shouted and ran from afar. The one who'd been dispatched to the north before.
A letter was held in that mercenary's hand.
“What's the matter?”
The messenger, catching his breath, spoke.
“Sir Ragnarsson has requested 500 mercenaries. On the condition that Centurion Shatien leads the unit.”
Very boldly.
And.
“W-What the??”
Baron Garten, who was listening beside him, could only widen his eyes as large as lanterns.