From Mercenary to King

Chapter 110: The Mercenary Bureau’s First Request (24)

“Are you aware that those are... quite serious words? Branch Manager Marhen?”

Shatien spoke cautiously, looking left and right for fear that someone might overhear.

Someone was playing tricks.

What did this signify?

The noble currently leading the subjugation of the rebels was Viscount Ragnarsson, the most likely successor to the Rostingia Margrave, who was said to be in critical condition.

It meant someone intended to tarnish the Viscount's reputation and bring down his prestige.

For what reason?

“I know. It would look like pointing out that there's a succession struggle for the Rostingia Margrave, wouldn't it?”

“You knew that and yet you spoke so freely?”

Shatien said that because he was dumbfounded. This woman was truly fearless. However, Branch Manager Marhen seemed unconcerned.

“Oh, come now. Sir Shatien is already in a position where he has to choose. Haven't you already earned too much merit in the North? On top of that, Viscount Ragnarsson likes Shatien. How would the person keeping an eye on Viscount Ragnarsson view Sir Shatien? As just a part of an independent mercenary company? Or as one of Viscount Ragnarsson's factions?”

“Hmm.... So you're saying that I, too, can no longer easily escape the gaps of this political struggle. Branch Manager Marhen.”

“Now we're finally communicating! Hehe.”

Branch Manager Marhen laughed brightly, her tail swaying. She turned her gaze toward the fields for a moment and continued slowly.

“The North is barren and desolate. Resources are inevitably scarce, and the strong are always worshipped. A person of Sir Shatien's skill is an attractive asset, at least in the North. It might be hard to lead the game, but there's no need to be dragged around by them either.”

“So my decisions are mine to make. I should do them myself according to my own interests, right?”

“Exactly. I'll say it again, Sir Shatien is a person of that much value.”

He had come only with the intention of raising the reputation of the Mercenary Bureau. But Branch Manager Marhen's words opened up a new perspective for Shatien.

A glimpse into the life of nobles, so to speak.

If Branch Manager Marhen hadn't spoken, Shatien himself might have spent his time short sightedly doing only his given missions like an ordinary mercenary.

“It was something I hadn't even thought of. I should prepare in advance from now on. Thank you, Branch Manager Marhen.”

“Don't mention it. Just say the word. If needed, I'll pass along information about the various nobles and knight families.”

Even if they were just words, they were appreciated. Shatien expressed his gratitude to Branch Manager Marhen once more.

“But if it's not a bother, may I ask a question as well? I am truly grateful, but... why are you being so kind to me, Branch Manager Marhen?”

“Nya-nyang!?! K-Kind, you say. Nyang!”

“?”

Then, Branch Manager Marhen let out a scream unique to the cat beastkin and waved her hands dismissively.

“Phew... I'm calm now. So, why am I being kind, you ask?”

“Uh, well. Yes....”

“This is too much, hnnng.”

“A-Ahem. What do you mean by that? Haha....”

As Branch Manager Marhen suddenly leaned in close, Shatien stepped back slightly and laughed awkwardly.

“Weren't we a team? I've thought so ever since we first met in the Free City of Loren. Hng... was I the only one who thought so?”

“No! That's right, a team! We agreed to grow while helping each other. It's just that it seemed like I received more from you than I gave. Ahem.”

“It might look that way right now. But you know, right? I'm a merchant. I know how to read people. Soon... Sir Shatien will become a very important person, and I'm just investing in advance. Hehe.”

“I suppose. Especially since this matter is happening in the North, the guild's home ground, I'll help as much as I can so I can assist the guild's interests in the process.”

“As expected! You understand what I want quite well.”

Well, he felt that he would form a close relationship with the guild because of this, but there was nothing bad about it. At least merchant groups were relatively free from the political relations of nobles, so there wouldn't be any big restrictions.

“Phew. So, who do you think is the culprit of this scheme? Branch Manager Marhen?”

“Hng. Well. Honestly, the suspicious people don't immediately come to mind. But....”

“But?”

Branch Manager Marhen approached and said with a wide smile.

“Someone who wants to show a dramatic appearance will surely appear. Just like us?”

“Huh?”

Just like us?

He wondered what kind of nonsense that was, but Shatien soon understood and laughed loudly.

“Hahaha. I suppose so. A savior! But it looks like we're going to snatch that role away, doesn't it?”

“That's why it's interesting. They might gnash their teeth while looking at Sir Shatien.”

“This is trouble. I should be careful. Hahaha.”

What would happen if someone brought in a massive amount of supplies while everyone was starving because the logistics were a mess?

It would create a dramatic contrast with Viscount Ragnarsson, who was failing to do his job, and that noble would immediately become a savior. Though it looked like he would be the one replacing that role instead.

Seriously....

The situation was rolling along in an oddly chaotic way. Good grief.

* * *

The atmosphere at the Holsten station for the rebel subjugation wasn't very good.

It was because they hadn't received steady supplies, unlike the original logistics plan. Thanks to that, as the blockade dragged on, the ones suffering more were the subjugation forces.

Now even the nobles were at a point where they were being rationed for some items.

This was because only less than half of the scheduled supplies were being provided, which was woefully insufficient.

As a result, nobles who couldn't take it anymore were using their private funds to hire individual merchants, but even this was slowly reaching its limit.

“Isn't there a problem with this?”

“Tell me about it. There were no such problems when that person was doing it before.”

Whenever nobles gathered, they were prone to whispering like this.

Originally, Viscount Ragnarsson was not in charge of logistics. The supplies for the Rostingia Margrave were the responsibility of his uncle, Sir Nortin.

But for some reason, Viscount Ragnarsson had taken responsibility even for the supplies starting from this subjugation, and eventually made such a situation occur.

“Hmm.... But isn't he originally someone who isn't good at this kind of thing?”

“I suppose. Well, everyone predicted it. Haha.”

Of course, they felt dissatisfaction, but it hadn't yet led to an outcry against Viscount Ragnarsson.

“If Viscount Ragnarsson, who is a great warrior, was good at this too, wouldn't that make no sense? A warrior has a warrior's path.”

“I suppose that's true.”

“Shouldn't Viscount Ragnarsson just handle the battle? Actually, I wonder if the problem is the sabotage by those under him.”

In fact, to elf nobles, these kinds of tasks were not for honorable warriors.

Wasn't their duty to stand at the front, lead the warriors, and command glorious battles?

Therefore, the dissatisfaction with the supply issue was not yet fierce.

The overwhelming martial prowess Viscount Ragnarsson had shown so far was suppressing that dissatisfaction.

Of course, even taking that into account, the atmosphere was gradually turning sour.

This was something Viscount Ragnarsson was experiencing firsthand.

Even if the nobles and knights were in a mood to endure to some extent, the soldiers under them were not like that at all.

Whenever Viscount Ragnarsson inspected the units, he frequently saw soldiers who were full of dissatisfaction with the poor supply situation.

‘Hmm.... This is not good.’

Thanks to that, Viscount Ragnarsson felt a sense of helplessness for the first time in a while.

Something.... the feeling that he had become incompetent?

No matter how much an elf knight valued battle, Viscount Ragnarsson was not a fool who didn't know the importance of logistics.

He tried to make the supply lines smooth by any means, but for some reason, it wasn't working properly. It was a situation that made him want to go mad.

‘If things go on like this, the siege might really.... fail.’

An ominous feeling crept into Viscount Ragnarsson's heart.

The foreboding that he might have to negotiate with those insolent rebels.

He was already worried because his father, the Rostingia Margrave, was said to be in critical condition, and he feared his influence would weaken.

‘I have to use some kind of move....’

But how?

There were few supplies left to conduct a siege right away, and yet the defenses of Holsten Castle were too excellent to fight while blockading for a long time.

It was a truly bleak situation.

If only the supply problem were handled, everything would be solved. He knew the answer yet couldn't handle it, so he felt only a parched thirst.

But at that moment.

“Woooooah!”

Suddenly, a loud shout echoed through the camp. An atmosphere he had experienced once before.

“Could it be?”

Viscount Ragnarsson looked up toward the source of the commotion with unconscious expectation.

And there.

“It's supplies!!”

“Supplies have come in!”

“Ohhhh, dammit. Finally, the supplies are here. Now I won't have to eat bread mixed with shitty sawdust!”

Shatien and the guild's merchant procession were seen entering the camp leading a massive amount of logistics.

And he saw the sight of soldiers cheering at the scene.

Yes.

The problem he had been agonizing over so much was solved. And once again, through Shatien!

* * *

“Bwahahahaha! Shatien! It's you, as expected. There's no knight but you who always solves my problems.”

“Solving them, you say. That's a praise too generous, Viscount Ragnarsson.”

“Generous praise, my foot! Haven't you just solved the problem of our unit again? To think it's this much logistics!”

The supplies Branch Manager Marhen brought in were beyond imagination. It was enough to hold out for more than three weeks. At this rate, if they steadily filled the remaining supply lines, they could comfortably manage a schedule for about a month.

It was a level where they could set up a proper siege network and attempt a siege toward Holsten.

It was a very important turning point that would bring a change to the stagnant battle situation.

“No. Thanks to you, all my worries have truly vanished. Now I can plan properly again. Those bastards in Holsten will also change their minds after seeing the supplies that just came in.”

Viscount Ragnarsson was fired up. He looked ready to attempt a siege right away. Seeing that, Shatien hurriedly continued.

“Viscount Ragnarsson. There is a story I must tell you.”

“Hmm? A story?”

“Yes. While moving this time, I confirmed information regarding the gathering of rebel forces in the rear.”

“What?!”

Rebels in the rear all of a sudden.

If he meant the peasant rebels, hadn't they all fizzled out and scattered after Waldheim was executed?

But at Shatien's subsequent words, Viscount Ragnarsson had no choice but to stiffen his face.

“You're saying a man named Balud has appeared and he has gathered all the peasant rebel forces in the rear?”

“Yes. He is said to have united the bandit groups as well and tied them into a single army.”

“Ha... how on earth?”

He had doubts about the method, but he didn't bother to dig into that.

What was important now was that a major force that would threaten their rear had emerged again.

Even a hostile force that had occupied the Emperor's supply warehouse base.

“Is that certain?”

“I've sent a messenger for now. They will bring information soon. However, considering the situation, it's highly likely to be true.”

“That's not good.”

If so, there was nothing to be gained by dragging things out. If they didn't quickly capture Holsten Castle in front, it was obvious they would be attacked from both front and back.

“The damage will be great.”

“But you must do it. Holsten Castle probably doesn't know the situation outside yet.”

“I suppose. Since we've been cutting off everything delivered inside.”

In that case, it had to be handled quickly before they found out. And there was only one answer to that.

The. Siege. War.

“Good! Call a meeting.”

Viscount Ragnarsson shouted so. His worry was deep, but his decision was as fast as lightning.