Chapter 337: I’ll Handle It for You (1)
Dominic, who had regained his senses and rose to his feet, then dismissed all his subordinates and bowed his head to Ghislain.
“I will trust you.”
“You don’t seem to.”
“No, I do trust you.”
“If you really trusted me, you wouldn’t say that.”
“…….”
Truthfully, he still harbored a sliver of doubt. But there was something oddly familiar about Ghislain; he resembled the portrait, and his abilities were undeniable.
Dominic himself was skilled enough to be considered a mid-tier knight. Even though he had deliberately consumed alcohol and pretended to be drunk, it was not an easy feat to knock him out with a single punch.
Especially rare was the crimson-hued mana technique Ghislain used. That alone strongly indicated he might truly be the Fenris Count.
So Dominic repeated himself.
“I trust you!”
“……Fine. That’s something that can be gradually proven. Anyway, I came here for a reason.”
“Is it for a commission?”
“No, I came because I needed something.”
“And that would be?”
“You.”
Dominic blushed slightly at the unexpected words.
“Although I am a devoted admirer of yours, Count, saying something so sudden… I’m not prepared for such a thing yet….”
“……You seem to have misunderstood. I’m here to bring the Drake Mercenary Corps under my command.”
“What? Us?”
Dominic’s eyes widened in shock, his misconceptions swiftly replaced with incredulity.
Even for a noble, it was a bold statement. Mercenaries, by nature, valued their freedom above all. That was why they chose the life of a mercenary over becoming a soldier.
Yet Ghislain openly declared his intent to take over the mercenary corps one that, including its subsidiaries, boasted thousands of members and was the largest in the kingdom.
‘Even the Marquis of Roderick didn’t go this far.’
The Marquis of Roderick, aware that directly absorbing a mercenary corps was unfeasible, had resorted to taking the families of Dominic and the corps’ leaders hostage.
It had taken years of careful planning, fabricating charges, and gradually capturing them one by one to establish the current situation.
Only someone with the immense power and resources of the Marquis of Roderick could manage such a feat.
Although mercenaries were generally vulnerable to political schemes, no one short of the Marquis of Roderick dared to restrain them.
In light of this, Ghislain’s statement seemed utterly insane.
It was then Dominic nodded to himself. Such madness was not common in the kingdom.
‘I believe him. This man is definitely the Fenris Count.’
Dominic became certain that the person before him was indeed the Fenris Count. His eyes suddenly sparkled with admiration.
Ghislain, uncomfortable under Dominic’s overwhelming gaze, turned his head slightly and continued.
“I don’t like beating around the bush or testing others, so I’ll get straight to the point. Work under me. I’ll let the mercenary corps maintain its structure and provide you with the kingdom’s best treatment.”
“Why… us?”
“Obviously, to use you in wars and other work. What else would I want mercenaries for? You’re the largest in the West, aren’t you? One of the kingdom’s top mercenary corps. That’s why I’m telling you to join our Fenris Mercenary Corps.”
Ghislain’s tone was straightforward and honest. Dominic had never met a noble who spoke so directly.
‘Fenris Mercenary Corps?’
He hadn’t heard of a mercenary corps being established in Fenris yet, but he could guess Ghislain’s intentions.
The Count of Fenris was renowned for his involvement in various ventures.
Even if all the mercenary corps in the North combined their forces, they couldn’t compare to the Drake Mercenary Corps. Absorbing them was undoubtedly the fastest way to expand his influence.
‘To be with him….’
Dominic’s heart raced a little. After all, he was already doing dirty work under someone else’s command.
While people praised the Drake Mercenary Corps as the best in the West, the reality was grim and sordid.
In such a situation, being invited by someone he admired was a dream come true. Furthermore, Ghislain was known for offering exceptional rewards. He would surely provide unparalleled treatment.
‘I want to go.’
If not for his current predicament, Dominic might have refused. But now, there was likely no one in the world who wanted to join Ghislain more than him.
To work with a hero one idolized was every follower’s dream.
‘But it’s impossible for someone like me right now.’
Dominic smiled bitterly and shook his head.
“Thank you for the offer, but it’s not possible. We have our circumstances….”
“I know.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re being held hostage by the Marquis of Roderick, aren’t you?”
“How… how do you know that?”
The Marquis of Roderick had gone to great lengths to conceal the fact that he held the families of the Drake Mercenary Corps as hostages. He didn’t want unnecessary trouble arising from the situation.
Although rumors occasionally surfaced, they were swiftly suppressed by the Marquis’ machinations.
The mercenary corps had initially tried to spread the word themselves, but it only resulted in more hostages being killed. In the end, they had no choice but to remain silent.
For Ghislain, living in an entirely different region, to know about this secret left Dominic speechless, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly.
Ghislain grinned and spoke.
“I know everything. So, there’s no need to hide it.”
Ghislain had, in his previous life, set the West ablaze and fought against the Drake Mercenary Corps. During the conquest of castles, he had come across secret documents revealing the treachery and corruption of the nobility.
It was from these documents that he had learned that the Drake Mercenary Corps was leashed to the Marquis of Roderick through the use of hostages.
Dominic, who had been watching Ghislain with a complicated expression, let out a sigh.
“I’ve heard the rumors, but your information-gathering abilities are truly remarkable, as the chronicles say. They mention you possess mysterious knowledge….”
“Oh, they wrote that about me?”
“Well, they also wrote that most of it was guesswork or brute force, and that you just happened to get lucky.”
“Who the hell wrote that….”
Although Ghislain had a good idea who the culprit was, he felt it was worth confirming later. For now, he continued with a confident expression.
“I’ll solve that problem for you.”
“You, my lord?”
“Yes. If I rescue the hostages, you won’t have to be tied to the Marquis of Roderick anymore, right?”
“Well… that’s true, but….”
Dominic hesitated to respond. Rescuing the hostages was a desperate wish for them more than anyone else.
But the thought of the potential danger to the hostages during such an operation couldn’t be ignored. That fear was precisely why they had been unable to make an attempt themselves.
Ghislain understood exactly what Dominic was worried about.
“I know you’re scared. But all I can say is, trust me. If you follow my instructions, you’ll be able to rescue the hostages.”
“…….”
“What’s certain is that if things continue like this, both you and the hostages will die.”
Dominic couldn’t deny the truth of those words. Martin’s actions were becoming increasingly reckless. If this continued, they would soon be surrounded by enemies on all sides.
There were also rumors that the tensions between the Ducal Faction and the Royal Faction were worsening by the day. A civil war seemed to be looming ever closer.
If war did break out, they would undoubtedly be used as expendable pawns by the Marquis’ family.
Though dying in battle was the fate of mercenaries, dying as tools for one’s enemies was a truly miserable end.
Even as these thoughts swirled in his mind, Dominic found it difficult to make a decision.
“May I consult with my officers first and then give you an answer?”
“No. If word of this leaks out, I could fail too.”
“But I can’t decide on my own….”
“Decide.”
Ghislain’s reputation for being unyielding was well-known, but Dominic hadn’t expected him to be this relentless. How could such a critical decision be made by one person alone?
As Dominic wavered, unsure of what to do, Ghislain spoke with finality.
“If you refuse, I’ll leave. But know that your mercenary corps and your hostages will inevitably die.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“No. I’m simply stating facts. If you don’t take my hand now, the next time we meet will be as enemies on the battlefield.”
Dominic was at a loss for words.
The Count of Fenris had risen by cutting down the heads of Ducal Faction nobles. It wouldn’t be surprising if war broke out due to their provocations.
The Marquis of Roderick’s territory was a critical transportation hub, close to the capital. If civil war broke out, the Royal Faction would strike there first.
The East was essentially under Royal Faction control, while the South was the stronghold of the Ducal Faction.
If the Count of Fenris, who had consolidated the North, moved forward, it was obvious that the West would be his first target.
“I….”
Dominic trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. The words wouldn’t come.
Ghislain, as if this were the final chance, spoke decisively.
“Decide.”
“I….”
“Decide.”
“I, I….”
“Hurry up and decide.”
“…….”
Ghislain was nothing if not persistent. True to his reputation, he seemed unwilling to give up once he’d made up his mind.
Dominic bit his lips several times before finally closing his eyes tightly.
“…I’ll do it.”
His head was pounding. Yet, deep down, he wanted to believe in the man before him. So he simply decided to follow his heart.
Ghislain grinned broadly.
“Well done. Doesn’t that feel like a weight’s been lifted?”
“…I suppose so.”
Dominic let out a hollow laugh.
For years, he had endured the constant gnawing of his conscience, all while pretending to himself that he didn’t know what to do.
But the truth was, he’d always known. If things continued as they were, both the Drake Mercenary Corps and their families would meet their demise.
Knowing that, he had hesitated, only trying to delay the inevitable.
Perhaps he had been waiting for someone to guide him all along.
If he was destined to die, then he would struggle until the very end.
With newfound resolve, Dominic asked with determined eyes.
“What must I do?”
“I like that look in your eyes. First, prepare everything I ask for as quickly as possible. Then… let’s visit the place where your families are being held.”
“Understood.”
Ghislain, draped in a robe alongside Dominic, surveyed the area around Martin’s estate.
This was one of the largest cities in the west, and Martin had secured the position of mayor thanks to his father, Marquis Roderick.
The mansion where Martin resided resembled a small fortress. Looking at it, Ghislain chuckled.
“What a cowardly bastard.”
At its center was a massive building, surrounded by several smaller structures a vast estate indeed. A tall wall encircled the grounds like a castle fortification.
No, it wasn’t merely like a castle wall it was a castle wall.
Watchtowers stood at intervals, and soldiers patrolled the walls with sharp, watchful eyes.
This level of security was possible not only because of Martin’s private forces but also due to the city’s garrison stationed within the estate.
Additionally, the base of the city’s defense forces was located nearby.
“How many are there?” Ghislain asked.
“Roughly 500 soldiers are stationed inside the estate. The nearby city garrison numbers around a thousand. As for the knights, it’s hard to estimate since many are dispatched from and return to Marquis Roderick’s household.”
“A mansion with a stationed army? Ridiculous.”
Ghislain clicked his tongue. He had seen Baron Austern maintain about 500 troops when rescuing Claude in the past.
But here was a mere mayor boasting a force surpassing that of a typical baron. Such extravagance was only possible with vast wealth.
It was no wonder Marquis Roderick’s family was called the dominant power of the west.
Dominic let out a self-deprecating laugh. “It’s probably because he’s guilty of so much.”
“Well, he’s notorious for being vicious. He must be paranoid about getting stabbed one day and fortifies himself like that.”
It was time to teach that man a lesson. After thoroughly examining the estate’s perimeter, Ghislain asked, “You’ve obtained the estate’s blueprints, of course?”
“Yes, we have. We’ve been planning to rescue our families for a long time. But we couldn’t bring ourselves to act.”
“You could sneak in, but the problem would be getting out, right? Especially when you’d have to lead out a group of civilians.”
“Exactly. Entering through the front would be suicidal. The defense forces would swarm us before we could even locate our families. And we never figured out which building they’re being held in.”
Whatever method they chose, finding their families would inevitably lead to combat.
The Drake Mercenary Corps had no confidence in breaking through all the estate’s defenses to rescue the hostages.
Had the adversary been another noble, they might have tried brute force. However, their opponent was none other than the son of the west’s strongest lord.
Even if they succeeded in the rescue, death at the hands of Marquis Roderick’s household was certain. That fear had paralyzed any decisive action.
Ghislain nodded in understanding before asking, “Do you have any buildings owned by the mercenary corps in this city?”
“Yes, several. We’ve got our hands in all sorts of things.”
“Let’s take a look around.”
Following Dominic’s lead, Ghislain inspected the mercenary corps’ properties in the city. After visiting several, he pointed to one and said, “Let’s use this as our base of operations for now. Clear out the interior and set up defenses to keep outsiders away.”
“Hmm… May I ask what you’re planning?”
“This spot is ideal for infiltration.”
The building Ghislain selected wasn’t too close or too far from Martin’s estate.
The surroundings were somewhat quiet, and a road stretched directly to the outskirts, providing a quick escape route.
Originally a warehouse for storing various goods, it was well-suited for their needs.
Dominic, still perplexed, asked again, “Infiltration? How do you plan to infiltrate from here? And how do you even know where the hostages are?”
Ghislain unfolded the estate’s blueprint and pointed to a specific building.
“The hostages are here.”
It was the building closest to the central mansion. Dominic was curious how Ghislain knew this.
“Are you sure? Even the soldiers we bribed said they had no idea.”
Ghislain grinned slyly. “Trust me, I’m sure.”
He knew the secrets of that estate far too well.