Chapter 337
Chapter 337: I’ll Handle It. (1)
Dominic came to his senses and bowed his head to Ghislaine after dismissing all his followers.
“I believe you.”
“It doesn’t sound like you do.”
“No, I really do believe you.”
“If you really believed, you wouldn’t say such things.”
“……”
Honestly, there was still a bit of doubt lingering. But there was something oddly similar to a portrait, and his skills were undeniable.
He himself was a skilled knight at the intermediate level. Although he was intentionally drunk, knocking someone out with a single punch wasn’t easy.
Especially, the mana circulation method that emitted a red glow was rare. So it was highly likely that he was indeed Count Penris.
He spoke again.
“I believe you!”
“……Alright, that’s all well and good, and I need to show you things in due time… but there’s a reason I came here.”
“Is it for a commission?”
“No, I came because I need something.”
“What is it?”
“You.”
At that, Dominic’s face reddened slightly as he replied.
“I’m a fervent admirer of the Count, but if you say it so suddenly… I’m not quite ready for that level of commitment yet…”
“……I think you’re misunderstanding something. I came to bring the Drake Mercenary Group under my command.”
“What? Us?”
Dominic, shaking off his misunderstanding, was completely taken aback.
No matter how noble, that was not something one could say lightly. Mercenaries essentially sought freedom. Thus, they preferred being mercenaries over soldiers.
But to openly say he wanted to swallow up a mercenary group like that? That included their subordinate groups, amounting to thousands, making them the largest mercenary group in the kingdom!
‘Even the House of Marquis Roderick didn’t speak like this.’
The House of Marquis Roderick knew they couldn’t directly absorb a mercenary group, so they took Dominic and his fellow executives’ families as hostages.
It took a long time to cleverly lay the groundwork and capture them one by one to finally create the current situation.
Such a move was only possible by the powerful House of Marquis Roderick.
Mercenaries were relatively weak when it came to politics and schemes, so they eventually fell victim, but no one else could dare bind them unless they were on the level of the Marquis.
In that respect, what Ghislaine said was something only a madman would say.
Only then did Dominic nod. Such a madman was rare in the kingdom.
‘I believe it. You must really be Count Penris.’
Dominic was certain that the person before him was indeed Count Penris. His eyes suddenly sparkled with determination.
Ghislaine, slightly avoiding that intense gaze, continued.
“I have no hobby of beating around the bush, so let’s get straight to the point. Work under me. I’ll allow you to keep the mercenary group intact and give you the best treatment in the kingdom.”
“Why…… us?”
“Of course, to use you in war and also for work. Is there anything else to do with mercenaries? You’re the largest in the west, right? One of the most notable mercenary groups in the kingdom. So, I’m saying you should join us under the Penris Mercenary Group.”
Direct and straightforward. Dominic had never met a noble who spoke so bluntly.
‘The Penris Mercenary Group, huh?’
He hadn’t heard news about a mercenary group being established in Penris yet. But he could guess the intentions behind it.
It was well-known that Count Penris dabbled in all kinds of businesses.
Even if you gathered all the mercenary groups in the north, they couldn’t compare to them. Thus, rapidly expanding by absorbing the Drake Mercenary Group was indeed a fast track.
‘I would be alongside this person…’
Dominic’s heart skipped a beat. After all, he was already engaged in dirty work under someone else’s command.
People praised them as the best mercenary group in the west, but the reality was indeed ugly and miserable.
In such a situation, the person he admired was asking him to join. Moreover, that person was known for rewarding well. He would undoubtedly provide exceptional treatment.
‘I want to go.’
Had he not been living a life like Martin’s dog, he might have turned it down. But right now, there wouldn’t be anyone who wanted to join Ghislaine more than Dominic.
Joining with the admired hero was a dream for all followers.
‘But for me, it’s an impossible dream right now.’
Dominic shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.
“Thank you for the offer, but I can’t. We have our own circumstances…”
“I know.”
“What?”
“You have hostages captured by the House of Marquis Roderick, right?”
“H-how do you know that?”
The House of Marquis Roderick had kept the fact that they had the leash on the Drake Mercenary Group thoroughly hidden. They didn’t want to create unnecessary commotion.
While there were rumors, any discussions quickly subsided due to the Marquis’s maneuvering.
At first, the mercenary group tried to spread the rumors but only ended up losing even more hostages without any results. That’s why they also couldn’t speak up.
For someone like Count Penris, living in a different region, to know these secrets? Dominic was dumbfounded, unable to even imagine how this could be.
Ghislaine grinned and said, “I know everything. So you don’t need to hide it.”
Ghislaine had burned the west in his previous life and fought against the Drake Mercenary Group. With each castle he captured, he learned of the deceptions and corruption nobles engaged in.
The information that the Drake Mercenary Group was bound by the House of Marquis Roderick due to family matters was also something he garnered during that time.
Dominic sighed as he looked at the complicated expression on Ghislaine’s face.
“I’ve heard the rumors, but as written in the annals, your information network is impressive. You have a lot of mysterious knowledge…”
“Oh, does it mention that?”
“Actually, it says I mostly took risks or just pushed through and ended up getting lucky.”
“Who wrote that…”
He knew who the culprit was, but he still felt the need to confirm. In any case, Ghislaine continued with a confident expression.
“I’ll resolve that issue for you.”
“Do you mean you, Count?”
“Yeah, if I rescue the hostages, then there’s no need to be tied to the House of Marquis Roderick anymore, right?”
“Well… that’s true but…”
Dominic couldn’t respond hastily. Rescuing the hostages was something they desired more than anything.
However, he couldn’t help but think about the possibility of the hostages getting endangered in the process. That was why they hadn’t even dared to attempt a rescue.
Ghislaine knew what Dominic was worrying about.
“I know you’re scared. But all I can say is to trust me. If you do as I say, you’ll be able to rescue the hostages.”
“……”
“What’s certain is that at this rate, both you and the hostages will die.”
That statement wasn’t wrong. Martin’s actions were becoming increasingly violent. At this rate, they would soon have enemies all around.
Moreover, rumors said that the relations between the Duke Faction and the Crown Prince Faction were growing tense. A dreadful atmosphere was spreading, hinting that civil war could erupt at any moment.
If a civil war did break out, they would undoubtedly be used as shields by the marquis.
Dying in combat was the mercenaries’ fate, but dying as tools treated by enemies was an exceedingly miserable end.
Even with these thoughts, Dominic struggled to make a decision.
“Can I consult my executives… and get back to you?”
“No. If rumors get out, I might fail too.”
“I can’t just decide alone…”
“Decide now.”
Ghislaine’s insistence was unexpected. He thought she liked being assertive, but this was a whole new level of uncompromising boldness.
As Dominic found himself helplessly caught in indecision, Ghislaine spoke firmly.
“If you refuse, I’ll leave. But I assure you, your mercenary group and hostages will definitely die.”
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“No, I’m stating a fact. If you don’t align with me now, you’ll soon meet me as an enemy on the battlefield.”
Dominic was left speechless by those words.
Indeed, Count Penris had grown stronger by cutting down the Duke Faction nobles. It wouldn’t be strange for the Duke Faction to pick a fight and start a war at any moment.
The territory of Marquis Roderick was a transportation hub and close to the capital. If a civil war broke out, the Crown Prince Faction would target this place first.
The East was effectively under the Crown Prince Faction’s domain and the South was the stronghold of the Duke Faction.
If Count Penris extended his reach after conquering the North, it was safe to assume he would aim for the West first.
“I…”
Dominic couldn’t finish his sentence. He simply couldn’t voice his thoughts.
Ghislaine, looking as if this was really the last chance, said, “Decide now.”
“I…”
“Decide now.”
“I, I…”
“Make the decision quickly.”
“……”
He was being subtly persistent. It seemed Penris was someone who wouldn’t back down once he made a decision; he needed to obtain what he wanted by any means necessary.
Dominic, after biting his lip several times, finally closed his eyes tightly.
“……I’ll give it a try.”
His head hurt so much. He wanted to trust the person before him. So he just spoke as his heart urged him.
Ghislaine grinned and said, “Well done. Isn’t it refreshing?”
“It seems so.”
Dominic also forced a smile.
He had endured his insides rotting away day by day, all the while making excuses about not knowing what to do.
But in truth, he knew. If things continued like this, both the Drake Mercenary Group and his family would die.
Knowing that, he wanted to delay that dreadful moment but ended up doing nothing.
In the end, he didn’t even know who he wished would lead him.
If he was destined to die anyway, he would at least struggle to the end.
With his decision made, Dominic looked at Ghislaine with fierce determination.
“What should I do?”
“I like that look in your eyes. Prepare everything I mention as quickly as possible. And… let’s visit the place where your family is held.”
“Understood.”
Ghislaine donned a robe with Dominic and surveyed the area around Martin’s mansion.
This was one of the largest cities in the west. And Martin occupied the mayor’s seat thanks to his father, Marquis Roderick.
The mansion he resided in was closer to a small fortress. Ghislaine laughed as he looked at Martin’s mansion.
“What a coward he is.”
Around the huge building were several smaller ones, creating a rather large estate. A tall fence surrounded it like castle walls.
No, calling it a mere fence was an understatement—it was more like a castle wall.
Watchtowers were erected in various places, and soldiers stood guard on the walls with piercing gazes.
It was possible because, besides Martin’s private soldiers, the city’s guards stationed at the estate as well.
Moreover, the garrison of the city’s defense forces was also established near this mansion.
“How many are there?”
“I know there are about 500 soldiers inside the mansion. The nearby stationed city defense forces total around a thousand. The number of knights isn’t precisely determined; many knights come and go as Marquis’s forces are dispatched.”
“What kind of mansion has a standing army?”
Ghislaine clicked his tongue. Previously, he saw Baron Austin with over 500 troops when rescuing Claude.
Yet here was a mere mayor commanding a force surpassing that of an ordinary baron. It must take an outrageous amount of money to achieve that.
There was a reason why the House of Marquis Roderick was known as the overlord of the West.
Dominic also forced a wry smile.
“Guess he must have committed a lot of sins.”
“True, he’s infamous for his cruelty. He must protect himself like this since he never knows when he might be stabbed in the back.”
They needed to deal him a blow now. After carefully surveying the mansion’s surroundings, Ghislaine asked.
“Of course, you’ve got the blueprints of that mansion, right?”
“Yes, we’ve been planning to rescue our families for a while now. But we never found the courage to enter.”
“Even if we could sneak in, getting out would be the problem. We’d need to bring out many commoners.”
“That’s right. Going in openly would be too much. The guards would swarm before we even get to rescue the families. We also don’t know which building they are staying in.”
Whatever method they attempted, ultimately, they would have to engage in combat to locate their families.
Dominic had no confidence that the Drake Mercenary Group could breach all of the mansion’s defenses to rescue their families.
Had they been dealing with another noble, they might have tried something by force. However, the opponent was the son of a grand lord known as the strongest in the west.
Even if they succeeded in rescuing the hostages, it was obvious they would end up dead at the hands of Marquis Roderick. Hence, they couldn’t dare consider any approach.
Ghislaine nodded, as if understanding everything, and asked again.
“Is there a building owned by a mercenary group in the city?”
“Yes, quite a few. We also engage in various activities.”
“Let’s take a look around.”
Ghislaine followed Dominic’s lead and checked the buildings owned by the mercenary group. After surveying several locations, he chose one and said.
“Let’s use this place as the base of our operation. Clear out everything inside and set up defenses so that no one can enter from the outside.”
“Hmm… can you tell me what you’re thinking?”
“I think this would be a good place to infiltrate.”
The building Ghislaine picked was neither too far nor too close to Martin’s mansion.
It was in a relatively quiet area, with a long road leading out of the city, facilitating a swift escape.
Originally, it was a building used to store various items, serving as a warehouse.
Looking utterly perplexed, Dominic asked again.
“Infiltrate? How would we infiltrate from here? And where do you think the hostages are?”
Then Ghislaine unfolded the mansion’s blueprints and pointed to a building with his finger.
“The hostages are here.”
It was the building closest to the central mansion. Dominic was curious how Ghislaine knew that.
“Are you sure? We asked soldiers we recruited but they said they had no idea.”
Then Ghislaine grinned.
“Trust me, it’s certain.”
He had a deep understanding of the estate’s secrets.
