Chapter 114 : The Mercenary Bureau’s First Request (28)
Chapter 114: The Mercenary Bureau’s First Request (28)
In the past, Shatien's background was that of an insignificant mercenary, but things were different now.
Through the educational system he learned from his master Joachim and the relationships he had built with high-ranking individuals, Shatien had studied diligently, and finally, those fruits were beginning to shine.
‘He must have been underestimating me quite a bit.’
Shatien smiled bitterly while looking at the utterly flustered Branch Manager Aubigne.
A knight of mercenary origin who had suddenly gained fame.
It was clear that Aubigne had thought Shatien would be easily manipulated and act as a mouthpiece if he simply praised his fame and coddled him.
A person of ordinary birth might have behaved that way. At this point, it was a time when one might delude themselves into thinking they had achieved great success and put a bit of strength into their neck.
Of course, Shatien was not like that at all.
“Why? Can you not do it?”
“A-Ah, no. It is not that....”
Branch Manager Aubigne sweated profusely and glanced at Marhen.
Since they belonged to the same guild, he thought she would help him somehow, but Marhen was merely staring at him with the cold eyes characteristic of the cat-beast-kin.
In fact, she went even further.
“Do not look at me like that, Branch Manager Aubigne. In the first place, the guild's position was to be hostile toward the rebels. Rather, I find it questionable. Why have you been quiet within the rebel territory until now? Did you perhaps embezzle the guild's assets at will and cooperate with the rebels?”
“S-Surely not! How could that be. No. Absolutely not, Lady.”
“I think you should be making excuses to Sir Shatien, not me.”
“Ah...!”
Only then did Branch Manager Aubigne realize his mistake and hurriedly looked at Shatien. His shallow tricks had all been exposed. It was a situation where he could be thoroughly hated.
“Ah. It is fine, Branch Manager Aubigne.”
However, Shatien chuckled and soothed him.
His master had always told him to use the carrot and the stick exquisitely when handling people. In Shatien's view, now was the time to use the carrot.
“The rebels suddenly occupied the city, so how could Branch Manager Aubigne have held out? Rather, did you not go under them and endure the humiliation to protect the guild's assets?”
“That is correct! Lady. I am strictly managing the guild's assets so those bastards cannot dare to use them.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes! Yes! It is absolutely true. Since you will be able to verify it once you enter the castle anyway, why would I lie. I never harbored any disloyal thoughts.”
“Hnng. Fine. I shall believe you.”
It truly felt like he had traveled between heaven and hell.
‘Kgh.... I shall never forget this grace, Sir Shatien.’
Branch Manager Aubigne sent a grateful gaze and expressed his thanks to Shatien.
“In any case, the reason I said that was for you to show a certain, firm determination, Branch Manager Aubigne. Viscount Ragnarsson has no choice but to doubt the true intentions of the Council.”
“Doubt, you say...?”
“Think about it. You stayed still until now, and only now that it looks like you will lose, you surrender? What would he think. Wouldn't he see it as impudent? Of course, I'm sure you had considered that to some extent. Hmm.”
“A-Ahem.”
Well, that was why he had tried to push Shatien forward as a shield, but since that plan had returned to zero, it was meaningless now.
“Furthermore....”
Shatien then pointed out the part they had overlooked.
“An approach like this only gives Viscount Ragnarsson more reason to be suspicious.”
“Pardon...? Suspicious?”
“How could he know if this proposal is a trap intended to cause massive military damage? Based on what would he trust you?”
“Ah-!”
Shoot.
Perhaps because they had only approached things from a political perspective, the Council had failed to consider such a combat-oriented viewpoint. Branch Manager Aubigne realized what mistake he had made.
“H-He might have been even more enraged, thinking it was a trap. Especially elven nobles....”
“Correct. Correct. They are very combative. If a proposal like this comes in and Viscount Ragnarsson refuses, he will be pointed at as a coward. Whether he accepts or refuses, it is bad for him, Branch Manager Aubigne.”
In short, they had approached with a massive miscalculation.
Even if that young mercenary had accepted and proposed it, the aftermath would have been extremely difficult to handle. In the first place.
And what was even more impressive was....
‘The fact that he calmly thought and analyzed this. This knight of mercenary origin.’
-Gulp.
At this point, Branch Manager Aubigne had no choice but to lower his posture even further.
A merchant makes money by listening to the advice of one who shows wisdom. And Branch Manager Aubigne was an excellent merchant.
“Please... give me your insight. I will follow anything.”
* * *
“Hmmmm.”
“?”
“Hmmmmmmmm....”
“??”
Shatien was flustered.
It was because Branch Manager Marhen was staring at him with her characteristic cat-beast-kin eyes, as if she found him very suspicious.
“Um... what’s the matter? Branch Manager Marhen?”
“I was wondering if you were really the Sir Shatien I know. Hmm. I don't think you were like this at first?”
As she leaned in close and sniffed him, it was quite awkward.
“Now, now. Is it right for a grown lady to behave like this. Please step back a little.”
“S-Sorry. I just wondered if some old noble had suddenly entered your body. Heehee.”
Goodness. This meddlesome Branch Manager was something else.
Shatien looked at Marhen and clicked his tongue.
“By the way, Lady?”
“Nyahat?!”
“What is this 'Lady' business? The look in Branch Manager Aubigne's eyes was unusual.”
“Nyahahaha.”
Marhen laughed awkwardly at the direct question. She had not intended to hide it, but somehow she had not found the time to talk about it.
“Well... you can tell, right?”
“Yes. I can tell. It seems you are... a member of the guild family?”
“Correct. I am the daughter of the Patriarch who leads the guild. Hoho. Even so, I am just one of many children.”
She waved her hand and spoke humbly, but Shatien could not help but be surprised.
The merchant guild was a force with enormous power, capable of meeting with major nobles or even kings.
To think he had become acquainted with the successor of such a powerful person. It could only be seen as a stroke of great luck.
“Do not look at me like that. Again, I am just one of many successors. Of course, thanks to the guild's structure, there is no system where the eldest son inherits everything like in general noble families, but my rank is quite low. You can tell by the fact that I came all the way out to the central region to pioneer markets, right?”
“Oh my. Of course. I shall serve you well, Lady Marhen.”
“Nyah! I told you not to do that!”
Shatien chuckled while watching Branch Manager Marhen shout. It was more fun to tease her than he thought.
“Hmph. Anyway, thank you.”
“For what?”
“You basically gave all the credit to the guild, did you not?”
“Ah-! That.”
Shatien smirked at Marhen's words.
Giving the credit.
That was right.
In this advice, Shatien had decided not to have even a single bit of greed for himself. He had simply constructed a scheme led by the guild and the Council.
If it continued this way, the guild and the Council would not be seen as turncoats who watched the situation and then betrayed, but as primary contributors to the subjugation of the rebels who willingly resisted the defiance.
And Shatien, who arranged it all, would have no visible role.
“Was there a need to do that?”
“Well I have already gained quite a lot. Gaining more credit here would only invite jealousy from those around me. Credit is better the more it is shared. Especially if you give it away. The beneficiaries will not forget it. Just like Branch Manager Marhen is doing now. Haha. Surely you are not going to keep it all for yourself?”
“Surely not. Look forward to it. I shall fill it up and repay you.”
“Excellent. Haha.”
Watching this young knight of mercenary origin laugh boldly, Branch Manager Marhen realized her choice was correct.
What mercenary, no, what knight would know how to restrain themselves from coveting honor?
‘He is certainly a person who will become great.’
And he was also someone who would be helpful in achieving her own dreams.
Gently wagging her lucky tail, Branch Manager Marhen thought so.
This man....
She really must not let him go.
-Flinch.
‘Hmm, why did I just get a slight chill?’
The feeling as if someone had placed a claim on him? Shatien cringed at the startling sensation.
“Ahem. Anyway, I have done everything I can do. Now, what remains is the action of Branch Manager Aubigne of the guild.”
“He will do well. Surely, if he cannot do it after the stage has been set that much... he should just go and die.”
Branch Manager Marhen said this while emitting a cold aura.
In fact, the person Shatien used while talking about this plan was....
“Viscount Norten is already desperate to exert influence.... How pathetic would he be if he cannot even use that.”
That was right.
Viscount Norten.
Shatien had willingly utilized Viscount Norten in this plan.
“But how on earth did you think to do that? Viscount Norten will not refuse, but... still, the first meeting was....”
“It was not good. Heh. But that is why I did it.”
“?”
Shatien smiled and replied to Marhen, who tilted her head as if she could not understand.
“Is there a reason a bad beginning must be bad until the end? We are strangers anyway, so there is no need to be hostile.”
“Oh...?”
“I always believe that an enemy can become a friend. No, they were not even enemies to begin with. Haha.”
A powerful figure who shared the power of the Rostingia Marcher Lord. Was there a need to become enemies? He was not even a vassal of Viscount Ragnarsson.
Just a passing mercenary.
Meaning he did not need to pick a side.
If so, it meant Shatien could also be useful to Viscount Norten.
Shatien hoped that Viscount Norten would recognize this intention of his.
* * *
“This is damnable! Father. This makes no sense.”
Originally, there was a grand plan for this matter.
A grand plan to destroy Ragnarsson's reputation through repeated supply errors and subjugation failures, and eventually for himself to appear like a savior and lead this battlefield.
But this had been shaken by a mere knight, no, a knight of mercenary origin.
“We must deal with that arrogant brat. For a commoner like him to ruin our work!”
Thanks to this, Viscount Norten's first son, Ardoman, was furious.
He was even more enraged because he knew how much effort had been put into this matter.
Of course, while looking at his eldest son, Viscount Norten's expression was infinitely cold.
“Deal with him?”
“Yes! Just say the word. I will send someone to teach him a lesson.”
“......”
“He is just of mercenary origin anyway, right? No one will say anything if we handle him.”
“......”
“His reputation has risen recently anyway, so there will be many who are jealous. Where does an outsider dare to act so arrogantly. I will show him the spirit of the North properly. Just leave it to—”
“Oh, really? So our son is confident, is that it?”
By this point, he should have noticed something. But Ardoman did not have such wits.
“That is right. I will take the knights under my command and pick a fight. If we swarm him and beat him, who would know?”
“Heh... so you will take those lowlifes who are barely even knights and teach him a lesson?”
“Pardon...?”
“Do you even know what his nickname is? Do you know how he built his reputation? He is a legendary knight who has already defeated several of the Emperor's knights. His achievements were witnessed clearly by the elven knights who were with him. Yet you think someone like you can teach such a knight a lesson?!”
“T-That’s....”
“Silence! I am not here to listen to such nonsense!”
In the end, Ardoman could not say a word and lowered his head deeply. Viscount Norten only sighed inwardly at the sight.
‘There are no people. No people at all.’
He was using his own bloodline for important matters, but Ardoman was still unable to distinguish fire from water and only cared about his own temper.
The knight of mercenary origin, Shatien?
Of course, he was impudent.
But what was the importance of handling someone like that in the current situation? The deed was already done, and another strategy was needed to settle the matter.
Not thinking of getting revenge for what had passed.
‘If things go on like this, forever.... I will have to remain under Ragnarsson.’
And that would continue through the generations.
How horrific a thing that was.
Viscount Norten wanted to stand on his own. No longer as a vassal of the Rostingia Marcher Lord, but as a proud family.
‘If things go on like this, the castle will fall.... and Ragnarsson will completely become the successor.’
His elder brother was already at death's door. If he suddenly died, everything would go to ruin.
He needed to stop the castle from falling or somehow claim that achievement for himself.
But how?
‘Hehe... should I even join hands with that rebel? Balud?’
Was it not an absurd situation?
To think he would be pushed so far as to have to make such a cruel and base choice.
But while he was contemplating.
“Excuse me... a guest has arrived.”
“A guest?”
“Yes. A messenger from the... Council of the castle, they say.”
“?”
It was a very out-of-the-blue story.
And the words that followed were even more out-of-the-blue.
“O Honorable Excellency Viscount Norten. I have come to make a proposal after hearing the advice of Sir Shatien.”
“????????????”