Chapter 160
Chapter 160: Isn’t It Better to Strike First? (2)
“Look at this? Anyway, people these days have no faith, no faith at all.”
Ghislaine clicked her tongue at the lukewarm reactions around her and continued.
“I have never… lost a single battle in any war I commanded.”
That was quite an arrogant statement. No renowned commander would dare say such a thing.
But Ghislaine had no shame at all. Ever since earning the title of Mercenary King, she had never lost a battle.
She may have lost her life in the last war, but that was null and void since she had returned to the past.
At Ghislaine’s confident declaration, Belinda covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled softly.
“Oh, our young master is so cute. Just fought in a single war and… Well, since he won, it’s not technically a lie.”
Others shared similar thoughts. With a record of 1 win and 0 losses, it wasn’t a lie, after all.
It’s quite bothersome, but Ghislaine’s official war win rate was 100%.
Noticing what was going on in people’s minds, Ghislaine smacked her lips.
‘Ah, this is real. I have a perfect record, and they don’t believe me.’
Claude glanced at Ghislaine with pity before speaking up.
“I’ve heard that the Lord has some experience in fighting. But you’re not planning to charge in alone, are you? There aren’t even a thousand combat-ready people among the immigrants.”
Even if thousands had come, excluding the elderly and children, the number of those who could actually fight was quite small.
The thousand Claude mentioned was only an estimate at best.
“Even if we turned them all into soldiers, without proper training, they would just be a rabble. How can we go to war with such troops?”
“True, no matter how strong I am, it would be a bit tough with such forces. There’s no way we would lose, but… it’s unnecessary to incur many casualties.”
“Yes, that’s what I mean. So, let’s postpone war until next time…”
“No, no. I’ll find more troops myself, and we can make our current forces as strong as thousands, right?”
This nonsense made Claude’s heart sink. If that were possible, why were other lords so obsessed with increasing their military strength?
Especially in a time like this, even with diligent training, there were limits to how strong they could get.
Just as Claude was about to voice his objections, Ghislaine’s nonchalant voice echoed first.
“I’ll establish the Knight Order of Penris.”
The assembled retainers blinked, doubting if they had heard correctly.
To create a knight order without a single knight? That was the most original nonsense they had ever heard.
What is a knight?
A type of combat weapon that can turn the tide of battle.
The number and skill of knights on each side often determined the outcome of wars.
Many knights were needed to form an order.
Thus, a ‘knight order’ was a means to showcase the power of a territory and a symbol of military strength.
So when Ghislaine suddenly spouted something about a knight order while discussing war preparations, everyone was understandably taken aback.
‘Wait, does she think just gathering anyone together makes a knight order?’
‘Surely, you have to at least be able to handle mana to be recognized as a knight. How many of us have that skill? The Lord should know this, right?’
Knight orders usually operated in great territories governed by counts or higher. Most territories didn’t have knight orders.
Typically, only a few knights served their lord. This was even more true in baron territories.
Knights were high-level forces, and money didn’t easily buy them, nor was maintaining that force inexpensive.
Naturally, there wasn’t even a formally knighted individual in Penris.
Claude couldn’t conceal his disbelief.
“How can you create a knight order without any knights?”
“So, we’re going to create some now. We will make all the mercenaries and newcomers into knights. Of course, we’ll only rehire those mercenaries who want to be knights and have to knight them too.”
“You’ll… make knights?”
“Yes, I can do it in two months.”
‘Knights aren’t just bread made in a bakery…’
How could those who didn’t even know how to use mana become knights in just two months?
“No, but even the lowest tier knights need to handle mana to be recognized… Wait, don’t tell me?”
Claude recalled the Mana Convergence Circle that had cost an arm and a leg to create.
At that time, it had been used to produce monster grain, but it was initially meant for training knights.
Ghislaine nodded as if she had just realized something.
“We can forcibly teach them to handle mana. It’s climbing to higher levels that’s difficult; we can definitely get them to the lowest tier quickly. I’m even thinking of teaching the Mana Circulation Method myself.”
“No way!”
Belinda’s sharp voice cut off Ghislaine’s statement.
Ghislaine looked surprised.
“Oh, wow. Why?”
“You’re trying to teach the House of Perdium’s Mana Circulation Method!”
As far as she knew, the mana circulation method Ghislaine had learned was only from the House of Perdium.
House circulation methods were not to be leaked carelessly; that was common sense in this era.
But Ghislaine brushed it off nonchalantly.
“That’s what I’m thinking. What’s wrong with that? To make knights, we obviously need the mana circulation method.”
“But that’s the family vision! Why do you think it’s called a vision?”
The mana circulation method could only be learned by family members or those authorized by the head of the family. It couldn’t be leaked to others.
The mana circulation method was indeed a means of maintaining the family and territory’s military strength and power.
However, Ghislaine wasn’t interested in unnecessary honor or power.
With a crisis looming, if they held back for those reasons and everyone ended up dead, it would all be for nothing.
“If we need the family vision, we should use it all. We need to create a strong force right away!”
“Still, that circulation method belongs to the House of Perdium! You shouldn’t leak it carelessly!”
“It’s already leaking little by little through the collateral line or personally trained disciples. There’s no point in being overly cautious… Besides, not all knights today are nobles. Didn’t they steal from some family circulation methods?”
“That’s different! That was just a few!”
Occasionally, circulation methods were transferred between master and student in mage towers, and talented individuals would also receive the knowledge under oath of loyalty and secrecy from commoners.
Even with strict confidentiality, over time, information would inevitably leak.
But Ghislaine’s blatant distribution was a completely different matter.
“Who in their right mind would reveal the family’s vision to hundreds of people at the same time?”
“Here.”
“……”
Belinda was left speechless by Ghislaine’s brazen attitude and let out a sigh of despair.
“I was worried as a child because he was so petty, but has he become too big for his britches now?”
In her confusion, Belinda’s eyes fell on one person.
It was Fergus, who always seemed to be there but didn’t draw attention, shadowing Ghislaine.
Fergus’s official title was the Lord’s Guard Knight.
Of course, the actual guarding duties were handled by someone else, but Fergus was treated as a dignitary in the territory.
In the first place, nobody could treat him lightly.
Who would dare provoke the one whom the Lord would personally tend to with mana every day for his health?
Even now, Fergus was the only one seated next to Ghislaine in the grand hall.
Belinda quickly made a request for support from Fergus.
Having long served the House of Perdium, he would surely oppose it.
“Sir! Please talk some sense into the young master! He’s about to carelessly distribute the family’s circulation method!”
But Fergus brutally betrayed Belinda’s expectations.
“Ah ha, our young master can do whatever he wants.”
Fergus simply beamed at whatever Ghislaine chose to do.
Seeing Ghislaine take charge as the lord and gathering people for meetings for the territory looked lovely to him.
The sight made Belinda realize.
“Uh-oh! That looks like a grandfather doting on his late-blooming grandson! We’re at a point where he’d find it cute even if the young master plucked his beard!”
Naturally, Fergus also opposed the idea of going to war.
“However, young master, we should think more carefully about war. It’s a dangerous undertaking.”
Ghislaine turned her gaze elsewhere and nodded dismissively.
Seeing this, Fergus shook his head, as if resigned.
Having watched her since childhood, he knew when Ghislaine was in this kind of mood, she wouldn’t listen to anything.
With Fergus’s support, Ghislaine puffed up her chest with even more confidence.
Belinda tried to counter with another line of reasoning.
“Let’s say we get secret oaths and teach them. Learning it won’t be easy, right? At the very least, it would take years to train, so how can we teach them how to handle mana in just two months?”
That was sound logic. Unfortunately, the mana circulation method was not something that could be easily learned just because you taught it.
Mana affects everyone, and everyone carries at least a tiny amount, but feeling and controlling it requires talent and effort.
However, Ghislaine claimed everything would be fine.
“Don’t worry. I can improve it. Just like how I forced Vanessa to learn it.”
“You plan to forcefully improve the mana circulation method?”
“Yes. My father and the knights of Perdium will also learn what I’ve improved. The original mana circulation method from the House of Perdium will be discarded. It’s not that great anyway. Sorry to the ancestors.”
Belinda unconsciously pinched her forehead.
“Oh, I’m going to lose my mind. That doesn’t make any sense!”
Belinda understood Ghislaine’s point. It was true that in the face of death, one couldn’t be concerned about laws or honor.
But this was a matter of possibility. To expect hundreds of people to handle mana like knights within two months?
Such a thing had never happened throughout history.
Moreover, Ghislaine intended to belittle the long-established mana circulation method of a family that had guarded the northern front for years and actually improve it.
Not only to improve it but to create a knockoff and then dispose of the original!
“Are you serious about completely overhauling the mana circulation method? Because that could spell disaster! Only a tremendous genius can do that!”
Why do you think all the founders of famous mana circulation methods are legendary geniuses or heroes?
Mana circulation methods are training techniques that have been perfected over dozens or even hundreds of years, and no one can touch them lightly without being that kind of genius.
If you practiced the wrong method, you could end up crippled or dead.
“Why? Didn’t they call me a genius multiple times when I was young?”
“That was when you…!”
Belinda nearly spoke out loudly but halted abruptly. She couldn’t say that in front of everyone.
“That was just an exaggeration to boost your confidence the first time you didn’t pee your pants!”
Seeing Belinda worrying, Ghislaine shrugged.
“You don’t need to be worried at all.”
In her past life, he was one of the seven strongest on the continent.
He had transcended humanity and had reformed countless mana circulation methods and passed them on to his subordinates.
“Don’t worry. You know I helped Vanessa feel mana too. I can improve it well. Don’t you trust me?”
With her tone full of confidence, Belinda was almost persuaded.
‘Well, the mana circulation method of the young master… it does have similarities, but it’s definitely different from the House of Perdium’s version.’
As she deliberated on whether to trust him, Belinda suddenly snapped back to reality and shook her head vigorously.
Bad boys are always saying, “Don’t you trust me?”
“This is completely different, you know?”
Vanessa was just missing mana; she was a genius who had trained for years in a mage tower.
Teaching mercenaries who knew nothing about mana was a completely different situation.
‘It’s true that the young master excels in mana control and has special talents, but… this time, it really doesn’t make sense. He’s getting carried away because he’s high on his recent successes!’
The notion that they could produce knights in two months was absurd!
If that were possible, the House of Perdium would have seized the kingdom before Ghislaine was even born.
Hearing the conversation between the two, Claude jumped in quickly.
“My Lord, think it through. We’re currently in an extremely urgent situation with a lot to do. You brought up the idea of war with Count Desmond first, right?”
“And?”
“Preparing for war and developing the territory will cost a huge amount of money, right?”
“Absolutely. It would barely cover everything I’ve earned and will earn!”
“But doesn’t it make sense to use those expensive runestones on the Mana Convergence Circle? If we can’t produce knights in two months, we’ll be wasting both time and money!”
Claude raised his voice desperately.
He recognized the results the lord had shown thus far and acknowledged the mysterious knowledge he possessed.
So, couldn’t he be trusted just this once more?
‘What a joke! One mistake and we’re all dead!’
Who would easily agree to such a nonsensical proposal when their lives were at stake?
Even if they prepared meticulously without wasting a single cent, would they be able to hold their ground in a war?
The opponent was Count Desmond, who was vying for the strongest position in the North.
Claude could not possibly support Ghislaine’s plan that might throw away months worth of resources and a large sum of money.
“If we fail, things will get even more dangerous! Can’t we prepare logically for once?”
Others looked at Ghislaine with anxious eyes, as if agreeing with Claude’s shout.
But Ghislaine merely shrugged dismissively.
“I can do it, can’t I? That’s logical to me. Have you ever seen me spout nonsense? That’s not who I am.”
At that moment, everyone’s gaze shifted to Ghislaine, and a profound silence fell upon the room.
If asked who was the best at nonsense in this territory, undoubtedly, it would be the lord.
Fortunately, the outcomes had turned out well; nevertheless, the fact that it was nonsense remained unchanged.
Feeling the weight of everyone’s gaze, Ghislaine muttered again.
“Unbelievable.”
