Chapter 87 : The Mercenary Bureau's First Request (1)
Chapter 87: The Mercenary Bureau's First Request (1)
-Swish.
Baron Mordo quickly skimmed the letter.
Then he let out a faint sigh.
“Hmm….”
In his eyes, which he slowly closed and then opened, there was a mix of bewilderment and faint excitement.
“It is exactly as Sir Ragnarsson said. The Margrave of Rostingia has formally requested a dispatch of mercenaries. Shatien. A whopping 500 men.”
“……!?”
The eyes of the Centurions widened significantly.
The scale of the dispatch was beyond expectations, but there was an even greater meaning behind it.
“Congratulations, Baron. You have unexpectedly gained the recognition of a great noble.”
Centurion Jacri said so while bowing his head.
A formal request from the Margrave of Rostingia.
This was an endorsement from an Elector of the Holy Empire, a King who ruled the northern elves, and a great Count who had been granted the right to rule the Lowlands by the Kingdom of Ellang.
No one would dare to argue about the existence of the Mercenary Bureau in the future.
The weight of the name given by the Margrave of Rostingia was that immense.
‘So it turns out like this.’
Baron Mordo smiled bitterly and looked over the letter he had read once more. He wondered if there was anything he had missed.
However, the contents of the letter remained the same.
And what that meant was….
‘Another opportunity has arrived.’
Although the growth rate was a bit fast, it wasn't a bad thing.
In fact, he had intended to take a breath and build up strength after obtaining the territory, but since the situation was like this, his mind changed.
Motivation to move a bit more actively had been created.
“Since things have turned out this way, I cannot hold you back. It seems the Margrave is in quite a hurry. It looks best to depart immediately.”
Captain Mordo cast his gaze toward the Centurions.
“Sir Shatien is obviously prepared… are there any other Centurions among you who will volunteer for the dispatch?”
“…….”
The lips of the Centurions didn't part easily.
‘Well… it wouldn't be bad to go.’
‘But this place is a bit more comfortable and cozy….’
It was their first break in a long time.
Furthermore, this place was in the south of the continent.
The territory stretched out as a plain and sat by a river, making water abundant.
In short, it was a good place to let one's mind relax.
Already, several Centurions were thinking about settling down.
Thoughts like those of a third son in an ordinary household, thinking it would be quite nice to lay down weapons and farm.
Baron Mordo, having read their thoughts, showed signs of disappointment.
“You all acted as if you couldn't live without the Mercenary Bureau… but it seems you were all just talk. Tsk.”
The embarrassed Centurions fidgeted and apologized.
“N-No, Baron Mordo.”
“That's right. It's just that it feels like we'd be picking up a fork at a table Sir Shatien already set.”
“Ahem. That's right. Doesn't it feel a bit cheeky? Right?”
At the consistent excuses, Baron Mordo sighed and waved his hand.
“Fine. Then, I will send two Centurias under Sir Shatien first. The pikemen and the halberdier units. Any objections?”
“Surely there is no one here who would object, Baron Mordo.”
Centurion Jacri scanned the crowd with a fierce glare.
He looked ready to show the power of a strict whip if anyone dared to oppose.
“…….”
“There are none.”
“It is rather a wise choice. As for me, Jenga, I think there is no person more suited for this than Sir Shatien. Hehe. Captain. No, Baron Mordo.”
Most agreed without saying a word, while someone else offered very extreme flattery.
Baron Mordo felt a headache coming on from how the situation had unfolded.
“From now on, call me the Chief in these meetings. It will be more comfortable.”
“Understood, Chief.”
Only then did the Centurions let out sighs of relief and speak.
It seemed things had passed over well somehow.
* * *
With the final departure looming, the forges of Sauerland worked day and night.
Branch Manager Marhen, who moved quickly, was already busy selling goods to the mercenaries.
They say business is a battle of time and place…. And those words were exactly right.
Shatien, watching from the side, could only marvel.
He thought that was what it took to be called a merchant.
Regardless, Shatien headed toward the forge, where business was in full swing, to leave a greeting for Branch Manager Marhen before leaving.
“Hey! Merchant lady. This is a bit much, isn't it? Where do you get off overcharging like this!! Do you see me as a pushover?”
“Well? Of course it's expensive. It's the price of your life. Why not buy something cheap and get your head pierced through. Heh.”
“That….”
As soon as Branch Manager Marhen established her dominance, the Centurion who was trying to argue suddenly became a mute who had eaten honey.
He had been suppressed by her confident aura.
“…Damn it. Even so, this is a rip-off. It's too much. It's far too expensive even compared to Loren. Did the price of my life double in the meantime? Hehe.”
“That's because back there, there are workshops that make this gear… but here in the middle of nowhere, it takes a long time to bring such equipment in, doesn't it? The costs for transportation and for mer. cen. aries. like you, Mr. Centurion, who struggled to escort them, are all melted into the price.”
Ah, she was indeed strong.
Branch Manager Marhen was definitely a powerhouse. How could she crush someone with her words like that? Wasn't it a bit awkward for a 'mercenary' like the Centurion to argue against that?
“S-Still, it's used… this price is a bit….”
“Nyan-nyan. Uuuused? Are you saying this helmet, newly repaired by the craftsmen of the Free City of Loren, is used? My, my, you're a person in big trouble. If they heard that, they might be so indignant they'll never sell a helmet again you know?”
“Ahem. That's not it….”
“Oh, never mind. Do you think you're the only one looking for this, Mr. Centurion? Despite how it looks, it's quite popular because people believe it's a helmet that has protected a life for years.”
Surprisingly, mercenaries were weak to superstitions.
Perhaps because they were always close to death, they sought out things like lucky charms.
They believed that if they held it, luck would dwell within them and help them overcome a crisis of death, or something like that.
Anyway, this Centurion was also a person possessed by such superstitions.
“I-Is that so?”
“Of course. Ah! And you've heard the saying that luck must be bought at its full price, haven't you?”
“Well… certainly luck is, ahem.”
In the end, the 5th Centurion opened his wallet. As expected, there is no business that can stand against luck.
Of course, Miles, who was watching this forced sale(?) scene, let out an exclamation of admiration.
“Wow. Shatien. That lady. No, the branch manager is no joke, is she? She just played with him. Ahahaha.”
“Shh. Shh. She'll hear you, Miles.”
Shatien wondered why this man was speaking such insulting words so loudly. Shatien sighed, calmed Miles down, and immediately headed toward Branch Manager Marhen.
“Thanks to you finding the goods well, we can leave right away.”
“I merely handled the delivery. I'm glad it was helpful. Hehe.”
Branch Manager Marhen was smiling very brightly. She looked particularly happy as she filled her pockets with gold coins.
“Then, please take good care of the supply for the remaining mercenaries.”
There was no need for Branch Manager Marhen's guild to provide support all the way to the north.
Not only would there surely be sutlers accompanying the Margrave of Rostingia, but isn't the northern region the very headquarters of the guild Branch Manager Marhen belongs to?
‘Still, rather than having a complete stranger go and make requests, hmm… it would be better to have some kind of connection, right?’
In the north, wasn't he a complete outsider? The mercenaries were the same. On top of that, since it was boiling with rebellion, obtaining supplies itself might be difficult.
After all, their influence was within the regions below the central area.
‘I suppose I'll have to ask.’
Thinking so, Shatien looked at Branch Manager Marhen. Then, Branch Manager Marhen perked up her ears and asked.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No. Ahem. It's not that, I was wondering if it might be possible to get… a letter of recommendation.”
“A letter of recommendation?”
If he had a letter of recommendation from Marhen, the branch manager of the Free City of Loren, wouldn't he be able to receive fairly decent help from the merchant guilds in the north?
No, he didn't even need help. It would be enough to pay the full price and receive adequate supplies.
“Ho. Sir Shatien certainly has different thoughts. You're right. You won't have any ties in the north. My… I should have thought of it beforehand, I'm sorry.”
“Oh, don't say you're sorry. Not at all.”
“We agreed to be together, didn't we? Heh. I should obviously look out for the interests of 'my person'.”
‘Hmm, I feel like there was a strange emphasis put in there?’
It was probably an illusion. Shatien didn't bother to ask. Branch Manager Marhen, looking very pleased for some reason, wrote diligently on a piece of parchment and even pressed her seal upon it.
“Make sure to stop by the Free City of Loren on your way. You'll be able to obtain useful information. Ah! And….”
Branch Manager Marhen glanced at Miles and signaled to Shatien. It was a gesture asking if she could tell a secret story here.
Shatien chuckled at the action and nodded his head.
“It's fine. You can trust Miles.”
“Huh? What. I'm Shatien's right arm. The right arm! Right? Shatien? Hehe.”
“Something like that. A comrade who has shared life and death with me.”
“Oh my? Then I'm sorry, aren't I? I thought he was just another Centurion until now. Hoho.”
“…Dammit!”
Miles, who was caught off guard, pouted. Because it was clear she had done that intentionally.
“So, what is it you want to say?”
“Hmm. Watch out for the Garten Mercenary Company. They purchased a large amount of goods from us. As for me…. I'm a merchant, so I sold them, but I feel uneasy for some reason.”
“What kind of goods did they buy for you to say that?”
“This and that. Military supplies. Supplies needed for an expedition.”
“……?”
“According to reliable rumors, they are heading north. Having received a request from someone. but since they are keeping it strictly hidden, there's no telling what they'll do.”
Shatien chuckled.
‘This works out well.’
He hoped to see the Garten Mercenary Company on the same battlefield.
And ideally, as enemies.
* * *
“Moving out!!”
“Waaaaaah! Let's go, let's go!”
The two Centurias led by Shatien headed north with a loud shout.
The pikemen and halberdiers, who had finished grueling training, had very high discipline.
Since they had undergone a series of high-intensity training sessions where 30 percent of the applicants dropped out, the pride among those who survived pierced the sky.
They took pride in being the elite of the unit.
This could become a problem later if it grew too strong, but at least not right now.
Shatien actively utilized their pride, and that plan worked perfectly.
Discipline and morale.
And skill—all three were maintained evenly.
“Hmmmmm…. This is too boring.”
Miles said so as if it weren't fun, watching the bandits who were startled and fleeing after seeing the mercenary unit's march.
“…. What do you mean by that. There is nothing worse than fighting needlessly, Miles.”
“Hey! Still, it's too boring. Don't you think so?”
“Kik-kik-kik!”
“See, even our monkey says so. Probably the unit members do too? Don't they?”
“Ha-!”
“…….”
It felt like all the mercenaries had become Miles Junior after the grueling training. They felt not just belligerent, but as if their brains had become hot-blooded.
Anyway, whether thinking so or not, the mercenary unit moved north very quickly.
Quickly enough to arrive at the Free City of Loren not long after starting the march.
‘I didn't think I'd be coming back….’
He felt a fresh set of emotions.
Hoping to see him, he went looking for his master, Joachim, but he was nowhere to be found.
According to what he heard, he had left abruptly, saying he had found a new path of the sword.
It was a pity.
Therefore, Shatien went straight into the guild building.
He needed to obtain proper information.
Specifically, he desperately needed a map of the north.
Since the Black Raven Mercenary Company had no information about the north, they didn't even have a proper map.
All they had was something crude.
Anyway, thinking so, when he met an official of the guild.
“My goodness! Sir Shatien. We have a big problem.”
“?”
For some reason, the expression of the guild official was not good at all.
“The north is a living hell! Right now. Something happened suddenly, and some cities were captured and burned down!”
“???????”
And Shatien, listening to that, also had a look that turned just as bad.