Eliminating threats during war wasn’t just about clearing out the enemies directly threatening us.
It also included the unpredictable and uncontrollable allies.
I knew very well that these could be the first to be dealt with, perhaps even before the enemy.
Especially knowing what kind of trouble they could stir up later made it an inevitable matter.
However, I realized that there was no need for us to suffer losses in order to do so.
Given my foresight into the upcoming developments…
Thinking of the easiest and most effective way to deal with troublesome allies was not a difficult task at all.
*
Finally, having escaped the Palatinate region, Commander Mansfeld and Christian’s army were able to rest.
After weeks of exerting themselves, wreaking havoc across the Palatinate, they were reveling in the joy of their victory in what had effectively concluded as a ‘war.’
The camp was filled with lavish feasts made from the plundered food, as barrels of alcohol were piled up, while soldiers and their followers indulged in eating and drinking, thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere.
However, at this very moment…
Separated from the festive mood of the banquet were the two individuals who could be said to be the real heroes of this war.
Mansfeld and Christian found themselves facing an issue they needed to address before fully enjoying their victory.
That issue was regarding a person captured by the soldiers who had ambushed the enemy’s supplies.
“Is this person the Archbishop?”
“Yes, that’s correct. We found her while burning their supplies as per the Commander’s orders.”
“We figured she might be useful, so we brought her along without any issues.”
Of course, in the process of bringing her this far, she had resisted several times, resulting in her receiving a few kicks and punches.
However, such light treatment was entirely normal when dealing with prisoners, and there was no real problem with it.
If we had dismembered her or abused her, it would have been a different story, but rarely would one complain about such minor beatings.
Thus, after hearing the report, Mansfeld slowly nodded his head and spoke to his subordinates.
“Good job. Capturing an archbishop is essentially the same as taking a lord from a region. We should reward you handsomely.”
“Th-thank you, Commander!”
The reward, however, was a tiny fraction compared to the enormous spoils gathered from this war, so Mansfeld decided to generously reward them this time around.
Soon after the rewarded soldiers left the barracks…
Mansfeld and Christian, standing beside him, began a brief interrogation of the captured archbishop.
“So, you are Archbishop Maxim Cafeo of Milano, are you? You certainly look quite young compared to what I’ve heard.”
“Y-yes. I am Maxim.”
At Mansfeld’s words, Maxim lowered her head and spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
Her demeanor was 180 degrees different from when she was barking at the soldiers just moments before, showing an uncharacteristically submissive attitude.
Of course, this was a perfectly natural reaction based on Maxim’s instinct to be strong against the weak and weak against the strong.
Regardless of her status as a prisoner, the man before her, Mansfeld, was the leader of this mercenary group.
Thus, treating him with utmost respect was only natural, for he held her life in his hands.
With the submissive Archbishop before him, Mansfeld asked with a somewhat indifferent tone.
“So, what brings the distant Archbishop of Milano into this battlefield? With paladins no less.”
“It’s because the Emperor’s decree was issued, and as a clergyman, I had to obey. I was tasked with guarding the supplies, and usually participated in strategy meetings with General Tilly’s commanders.”
“…Strategy meetings, huh? What reason do you have to share that with me now?”
Maxim, who had been rambling on about things he hadn’t even asked, caused Mansfeld to raise an eyebrow at her overly cooperative attitude, prompting her to reply as if it were obvious.
“Well, isn’t it only natural? My life now solely depends on you, Commander Mansfeld. Putting up any half-hearted resistance would just prolong my suffering. It’s natural to cooperate with you to survive.”
“Hmm…”
From Maxim’s words, Mansfeld recognized that she was rather spineless beyond her title as an archbishop, yet he could also see that she was somewhat sharp-witted.
In simpler terms, she was a typical sycophant who quickly picked up on the situation.
There was a reason she had risen to the position of archbishop at such a young age.
“Then, does that mean you’re willing to answer the questions I want to ask? Like the information from the Emperor’s side that you overheard while being at General Tilly’s side?”
“Yes, of course. Feel free to ask anything. I will tell you everything without a single lie. But…”
“But?”
Maxim slightly withdrew her previous politeness and spoke to Mansfeld with a voice that suggested her firm resolve.
“As long as I cooperate, Commander Mansfeld, please ensure my safety. If you can promise that, I will divulge all the facts.”
“Well, that’s not a difficult request. Consider it done.”
“Thank you. Then…”
With the basic conditions agreed upon, Archbishop Maxim swiftly began to disclose all that she knew, following Mansfeld’s inquiry.
As she revealed the internal circumstances of the current Emperor’s army, a smile crept onto Mansfeld’s lips, while he internally mocked Maxim, who was willingly spilling all this information.
A typical scoundrel willing to trade away the lives of her subordinates for her own survival.
Although he wasn’t the type to be as selfish as an employer, he made it clear he would definitely protect the lives of his own subordinates, easily recognizing that Maxim was even worse than he.
‘In this rotten church, individuals like her thrive. Well, our heretic forces aren’t in any better situation either…’
Selling indulgences was just the start, and acts of embezzlement and corruption ran rampant among the church’s powers.
While some voices for reform emerged among those who recognized the severity of the situation, they were still a minority.
The mainstream pope and his close aides remained oblivious, wallowing in luxury and debauchery.
However… to ask whether the heretic forces were any better was, frankly, a question Mansfeld could only answer with a resounding ‘not really.’
They still referred to themselves as heretics…
Essentially, they had no real strength as they remained outsiders to the mainstream faction.
Their corruption ran deep, but unlike the church, which operated under the authority of the pope, the heretic religions each had different leaders and voices, preventing them from uniting easily.
While they put on a façade of gathering under the banner of ‘religious freedom’ for the time being… the so-called ‘unity from legitimacy’ still couldn’t match the church’s powers.
Knowing this atmosphere, the leaders of the heretic sects tightened their regulations to bolster their unity while simultaneously carrying out acts of violence, sending numerous people to the gallows or branding upstanding individuals as demons, engaging in atrocities comparable to the church’s.
‘Well, whatever the case, it’s irrelevant to me. I just need to make money wherever there’s war.’
Thinking that, Mansfeld gave the order to treat Archbishop Maxim generously for cooperating.
Right after Maxim was sent off, Christian, who had been watching the situation unfold, began to approach Mansfeld with a devilish grin.
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