Chapter 158: I’ll Take Care of It. (4)
People were working hard like this because they didn’t know that a war could break out.
If they found out now that they would have to fight the Great Lord Count Desmond, they would throw everything away and run for the hills.
But once they settled into the stability of having their own homes, their responses would be different.
‘At that point, they’ll want to protect their property. No other territory would treat them as well as our Lord does. They’ll have no choice but to fight to defend Penris Territory… Surely, that can’t be what they’re aiming for?’
Ghislaine hadn’t started this with any ulterior motives. She was just doing it because it was necessary for the development of the territory.
However, those actions unexpectedly led to some good results.
Claude looked at Ghislaine with a mix of admiration and suspicion, then voiced his concerns.
“Well, we’ve solved the timber issue for now, but… in a few months, we’ll have a similar problem again. Other materials are running low too.”
“But we have enough for the current work. We can fetch more later. What else are we running low on besides timber?”
“Obviously iron. It’s needed everywhere. Right now, we’re using most of it to make military weapons since preparing for war is urgent… but the amount set aside for the residents’ daily necessities and buildings is already running low.”
“It seems securing iron ore is going to be tough, right?”
“Yes, even if we have the money, iron ore is hard to come by. Most of the supply distributed in the North is controlled by Count Cabaldy…”
Ghislaine nodded a few times and muttered.
“Right, I need to start preparing for the next step.”
“Next step? What kind of preparation? I’m already busy getting things ready as it is!”
Claude gasped in surprise, and Ghislaine shrugged it off casually.
“If it’s not there, we need to get it. Especially iron, as it’s an essential resource for war.”
“Timber was brought from Perdium, but how are you going to get iron ore? There are no iron mines there.”
“Don’t worry, I have a plan. I’ll tell you soon.”
“Oh, a plan… Sure, I suppose.”
Claude nodded while not hiding his exasperation.
Ghislaine always had a plan, but the issue was that those plans, from an outsider’s perspective, often seemed bizarre and nonsensical.
‘Please let this not be a life-threatening plan this time. I hope our Lord can be more sensible.’
Claude fervently prayed to the Goddess in his heart.
*
While the territory was running busily, the followers from Ghislaine’s past life began to arrive one by one.
Mercenaries, soldiers, butchers, executioners, hunters… they came from all sorts of professions and specialties.
Those who were struggling and doing tough jobs readily accepted Claude’s employment offer.
Not good. The ones who had done rough work gladly accepted Claude’s employment offer.
It was strange for them not to go when the Lord promised good compensation and a stable job.
Claude, while skimming through the list of newcomers, casually asked Ghislaine.
“Not everything you provided was accurate, but still, a lot was spot on. How did you know about these people’s locations and personal details? They all don’t even know who the Lord is.”
Claude was genuinely curious. How could a noble young master living in the countryside possibly know different butchers from other kingdoms?
However, no matter how many times Claude asked, Ghislaine never gave a clear answer.
“Well, I just happened to find out.”
Honestly admitting he knew them from his previous life wouldn’t be believed anyway, so Ghislaine always brushed it off ambiguously.
No wonder Claude’s suspicion deepened.
What was even weirder was how Ghislaine was genuinely pleased whenever those people came.
It was as if he was seeing a long-lost friend.
The same went for welcoming the newly arrived people this time.
“You’re here! So happy to see you! I missed you!”
The newcomers looked bewildered at the Lord’s overwhelming hospitality.
It was true they had come with a certain level of expectation due to the good conditions, but it was shocking for them that a lord would be this happy to see them.
Every time Ghislaine saw the reluctant reactions from the people, he smiled as if it was all expected.
‘They’ll be taken aback, but I can’t help being so happy.’
In the previous life, they had become close by crossing paths repeatedly; now, they were total strangers.
But when had Ghislaine ever cared about other people’s opinions? He expressed his joy unabashedly, rationalizing that good things are good.
Claude, who had been looking at him with a look of contempt as if watching a madman, spoke.
“This is the last of it. Out of the 128 people you noted, 92 have accepted to come this far.”
“Isn’t there anyone else who would come?”
“No, there are either those we absolutely couldn’t find or those who refused even after we did.”
“Hmm… I wish we could’ve brought them all.”
“Just this much is a miracle. Those who came this far without ever seeing the Lord’s face must have had a tough situation. How on earth did you only pick such hard-pressed people?”
Claude asked with genuine concern.
Most people would leave their hometowns without hesitation for just a bit of money.
He was curious how Ghislaine knew them, but it was also fascinating how all of them could be in dire straits.
Ghislaine replied nonchalantly.
“Life isn’t easy, so they all lived it risking their lives.”
“Huh?”
“That’s how it is. If no more people are coming, gather everyone. I want to see them once more.”
“Understood.”
Seeing the gathered people, Ghislaine was filled with emotion.
Just having some of them gathered made it feel like he was looking at his old mercenary group from the past.
It felt different from seeing them one by one.
As he watched, an indescribable emotion welled up inside him.
‘To be able to be with you all again…’
Although he was praised as the King of Mercenaries, not all the mercenaries Ghislaine led were loyal and righteous.
Most of them were rough and unruly, fitting the mercenary type.
So, he had put serious thought into compiling the list.
He had narrowed it down from those he remembered to select the final few.
They were the very companions Ghislaine had shared life and death with till the very end, the true ‘companions.’
Pathetic guys who chose loyalty over money, even as death loomed before them.
Those fiery guys who didn’t run away even when faced with danger.
They all ended up dead in the last battle, but…
It was because of them that he could dream of revenge and move forward.
Ghislaine slowly approached them, hugging each one while saying,
“I’m sorry.”
The people were taken aback. Since the Lord first arrived, he’d been acting strangely, gathering everyone and saying things they couldn’t comprehend.
‘Is this territory… alright?’
Regardless of the people’s anxiety, Ghislaine continued to hug each of them tightly, not stopping his apology.
His gratitude was as immense as his guilt.
It wasn’t just because they lost their lives helping him. Death was something one always had to be prepared for when living as a mercenary.
What mattered was how one dies.
‘We had failed.’
The only thing to be sorry about was that, consumed by the desire for revenge, they hastily pushed into war without making sound judgments.
The greatest mercenary group that had terrorized the continent was annihilated due to Ghislaine’s impatience.
‘I’m sorry.’
Their bravery and pride became a laughingstock for the enemies, and Ghislaine’s mercenary band left no honorable traces or names behind.
What remained was just the stigma of being losers and mockery.
Of course, this was not yet reality.
But as the one who led them, he wanted to sincerely apologize to his comrades from those fleeting times.
It was the last apology given as the king of mercenaries.
And it was also a promise not to repeat the same mistake.
‘There won’t be a second defeat.’
Yes, there will be no such failures now.
They would grow stronger at a speed faster than in their previous lives, and their name would be known far and wide.
He would make sure of it.
Seeing the people with dazed expressions, Ghislaine chuckled.
For a moment, emotions surged with memories from the past, but he drew the line at nostalgia.
Quickly organizing his thoughts, Ghislaine talked about what they would need to do moving forward and the benefits they could gain.
“You’ve probably heard all the details already. As promised, I guarantee high pay and will provide you with housing.”
Having lived through hardship, these people wanted stable jobs more than anyone else.
Unlike the immigrants, they were all employed in Penris’s standing army.
Since he promised better treatment than other territories from the very beginning, anticipation was clear on everyone’s faces.
Wrapping up his general explanation, Ghislaine introduced those who would be responsible for them.
“You’ve already met Claude, the Chief Officer, and… this is Gillian. He will be your instructor for training from now on.”
Gillian nodded slightly at Ghislaine’s introduction and scanned the crowd with a swift glance.
‘They all carry the stench of blood.’
He hid his tension and clicked his tongue inwardly.
The people before him had a fundamentally different aura compared to the usual mercenaries.
They exuded the scent of wild, starving beasts more than the Mad Hounds.
‘This is going to be tiring.’
To keep these guys in line, there would be countless acts of violence and power struggles in the near future.
Ghislaine went on to introduce others.
“This is Belinda, the Lord’s Butler. She’ll be responsible for your living conditions and convenience, so feel free to tell her if something’s off.”
“Glad to meet you all. Ah, you all look ready for a fight.”
Unlike Gillian, Belinda smiled brightly even when confronted by fierce energies.
For her, there was nothing bad about having more people ready to fight and support Ghislaine.
“And this is Kaor. He’s a mercenary and currently in charge of the territory’s public order.”
Kaor glanced around nonchalantly. It would have been nice if it ended there, but he too felt a familiar vibe like Gillian did.
He looked around. It would have been nice if it ended there, but the problem was that he felt something similar to what Gillian did.
There was no way he would say something nice, especially with his usual jerk of a personality.
“I’m the crazy dog of this town. Don’t cause trouble and keep your eyes down. If you have complaints, come at me anytime. I’ll smash you to pieces!”
At that provocative statement, the atmosphere immediately turned icy.
Gillian shook his head, and Belinda covered her face with one hand in embarrassment.
The assembled crowd had all lived rough lives and tasted both bitter and sweet experiences.
In front of the Lord, they didn’t directly rebel, but they didn’t hide their bad feelings either, raising a fierce spirit.
As the tension crackled in the air, Kaor let out a chuckle.
“This is ridiculous. You want to throw down right now? Sure, when we meet, we have to establish the hierarchy. Bring it on, you bastards. Who wants to go first?”
With a murderous intent, Kaor stepped forward.
In the world of mercenaries, rank is determined solely by strength. Now that Kaor was known to be a mercenary, the others had nothing to fear.
A few hefty, grim-looking guys stepped up and asked Ghislaine.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to fight right after arriving, but… can we give it a try?”
“If you give us the green light, we’ll establish our order.”
“By the way, if I win, will you switch places with that guy?”
With such a brazen response, Kaor grinned fiercely. He had been itching for some action, and this was an excellent setup.
At times like this, it’s crucial to seize the initiative. If he knocks a few of them around, they all will naturally back down.
“Hey, Captain Lord. Anyway, we need some training, right? I’ll make sure to teach them a good lesson. Just leave it to me?”
Kaor’s words ignited the atmosphere even more.
The man who had stepped up first tilted his head slightly and spoke.
“I’m not sure if it’s okay to kill someone right after arriving.”
“Those who don’t know their limits like you usually get taken out first. You know how to use mana, right? I’m not keen on picking on the weak,” Kaor said with a casual tone.
Those who knew how to use mana were mostly knights. And if someone had that kind of skill, they wouldn’t be here.
In other words, he was seizing the initiative.
But his opponent laughed even louder.
“Can’t you fight without mana? You’re a mercenary, right? Then let’s fight with ‘Morian’s Approval’ without mana. I’ll tear you apart right in front of you. If you’re scared, you can run away now.”
“That bastard…”
Kaor’s expression turned sour. Hearing that name brought back painful memories of the beatings he received from Ghislaine.
The two faced each other closely, both oozing murderous intent.
If Ghislaine gave the word, they would draw their swords in an instant.
Watching from the side, Gillian frowned as the tension escalated.
“How dare they do this in front of the Lord…”
No matter how wild they are, leaking murderous intent in front of the Lord is inexcusable.
Ghislaine normally brushed things off, but this was beyond rude.
It was utterly unforgivable. They needed to be dragged to the training grounds to get their manners straightened out.
“You lot follow me right now…”
Just as Gillian was about to step in, Belinda, who had been quiet, suddenly erupted.
“Ughhhh! I can’t take it anymore! Are we a bandit gang or something? Why do we go straight to fighting the moment we meet? At least show some basic courtesy! You pitiful idiots!”
The fury she had been holding back erupted like a flame.
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