The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 378

“What are you doing?”

Ghislain squirmed uncomfortably as Morris hugged him tightly. But Morris wasn’t about to let go and grabbed both of Ghislain’s arms firmly again.

“You brat… This black sorcerer… I thought you were just a lucky fool, but now… you’ve grown so much, become a Master, and even brought these gifts…”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Thank you! You brat!”

Morris, tears of gratitude welling up, hugged Ghislain again.

The other nobles simply clicked their tongues and rolled their eyes at the sight.

Morris was a straightforward man. He had never hidden his emotions in his life. If he liked something, he said so; if he hated it, he let it be known.

Now, feeling immensely pleased, Morris kept holding on to Ghislain until Marquis Branford stepped forward and pushed him aside.

“Are you sure you’re okay giving away this much?”

“What do you mean, this much?”

“…You don’t think this is a lot?”

The goods before them looked as though they cost several years’ worth of income for an average estate. For the kingdom’s army, it was enough to sustain operations for over a year.

And then, Ghislain said something even more astonishing.

“This is just the first batch. I have two more shipments planned. It was too much to bring all at once.”

At this, the nobles of the Crown Prince’s faction felt their heads spinning.

The sheer quantity of the first batch was staggering enough, yet Ghislain was claiming there were two more just like it.

The total was easily dozens of times more than what they had ever provided him in support.

“You’re seriously saying you’ll send this much support two more times?”

“Yes.”

To Ghislain, these were merely excess supplies, things that would otherwise go to waste if left unused. He was simply pretending to be generous while offloading the surplus to boost the Crown Prince’s forces.

The better equipped they were to fight the ducal faction, the more effectively they could hold them off.

“Unbelievable…”

Marquis Branford could say no more. The other nobles swallowed nervously, busy marveling at the sheer scale of the gifts.

How much wealth has Fenris accumulated?

If this is just one shipment, it could fund an entire war.

Even skimming a little off the top could make someone immensely rich…

The nobles already knew that Fenris had become the wealthiest domain in the North. But they hadn’t realized just how wealthy.

Seeing Ghislain casually handing out resources they couldn’t even dream of, it became clear he had reached a level of affluence beyond their comprehension.

Ghislain glanced at the nobles and spoke.

“Marquis, I’ll leave the distribution to you. Ensure no one diverts any of it for personal gain. Everything must be used for the war effort.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll see to it personally,” replied Marquis Branford firmly.

The nobles clicked their tongues in disappointment. Under Branford’s strict supervision, any attempts at skimming off supplies would likely end in disgrace—and bankruptcy.

With the situation somewhat settled, Ghislain gestured to his soldiers. They brought forth a suit of armor from one of the wagons.

Initially, the nobles paid it little mind. But as the soldiers carried it with surprising ease, they began to sense something unusual.

What’s going on? Are those soldiers unusually strong? How can they carry armor that lightly?

Marquis Branford, too, noticed and asked, “What is this? It looks like ordinary armor.”

“It’s a new type of armor we developed. Distribute it among the knights of the Crown Prince’s faction. It has the strength of steel but weighs less than half as much.”

“What?”

Marquis Branford, startled, took the armor and found it so light that even someone untrained in swordsmanship like himself could lift it with ease.

As he inspected it closely, Ghislain suggested, “Why don’t you test it here?”

Branford nodded and signaled a knight standing nearby.

“Test it.”

Without hesitation, the knight drew his sword and struck the armor.

Clang!

The armor absorbed the blow effortlessly, the recoil confirming its durability. The knight lowered his head respectfully.

“It’s as strong as steel.”

“Incredible!”

Marquis Branford exclaimed in astonishment, and the other nobles quickly gathered to examine the armor.

“This is unbelievable! Armor this light?”

“When did they develop something like this?”

“And they’re just giving it away?”

The nobles bombarded Ghislain with questions, their minds reeling. Ghislain merely nodded and replied, “I’ve brought about a thousand suits. While it won’t cover everyone, it should be enough for the knights of the leading nobles.”

For a moment, no one could speak.

The armor was a treasure, no less. Its light weight would allow knights to conserve stamina and mana while also increasing their mobility.

It would even improve the endurance and speed of their horses. This armor alone could change the course of battles.

And Ghislain was handing out a thousand of them.

The nobles stared at him as if he’d gone mad.

Has that miser finally lost it?

He’s giving away treasures like this?

Why? What’s his angle?

Armor like this was practically the lifeblood of an estate’s military strength. There was little benefit in giving it away so freely.

Though the nobles couldn’t understand Ghislain’s actions, he remained completely unbothered.

It’s just leftovers anyway.

Even Fenris’s patrol guards were fully equipped with galvanium armor. The knights of Fenris, meanwhile, wore magical armor reinforced with rune stones.

For Fenris, this armor was hardly a treasure.

Still, Ghislain wasn’t about to let the opportunity for some theatrics go to waste.

“We must stand united against the ducal faction, mustn’t we? I’ve never been one to hoard such things.”

Clenching his fist, he continued firmly, “For victory, I’m ready to share everything I have. I despise keeping things for myself.”

Claude would have fainted on the spot had he heard this. But the nobles, unaware of Ghislain’s true nature, were moved.

“Ohhh!”

Some even had tears in their eyes.

We underestimated Count Fenris!

To think he’s such a noble and generous man!

I’m ashamed for even thinking about skimming the supplies!

The nobles were reminded of the time Ghislain had been called a saint in Porisco during his earlier exploits in the capital. They had mocked the notion then, but now it seemed plausible.

Even Morris, overcome with emotion, hugged Ghislain again.

“You brat! You duck brat! You’ve truly grown up well!”

“Why do you keep doing this?”

Ghislain wriggled out of Morris’s grasp, pushing him away again.

By this time, Marquis Branford, who had managed to compose himself, spoke.

“Let’s go inside and continue this discussion.”

The faction’s soldiers began unloading the wagons, while Ghislain and the nobles returned to the capital.

Though the nobles had planned to interrogate Ghislain about his motives and recent actions, the overwhelming gifts and his stirring words left them unable to do so.

As an awkward silence stretched, Marquis Branford finally broke it.

“We’ll gratefully accept these gifts. They’ll be of great help.”

“You’re too kind. I’ve truly scraped together everything I could from my domain for this. All for the Crown Prince’s cause…”

Ghislain’s theatrical humility was met with repeated, awkward throat-clearing from Branford.

“Ahem, yes. Thank you. But tell me—what were you thinking? Why did things escalate with Marquis Rodrik the way they did?”

This was a time to prepare for the ducal faction’s attacks. The longer they could delay, the better their chances of reinforcing their defenses and consolidating their forces.

At Branford’s question, Ghislain paused, then answered.

“I didn’t like it.”

“What?”

“I didn’t like how someone from the west came to the north and started acting like he owned the place.”

“So you fought him over that?”

“Let’s be clear—I didn’t start the fight. He provoked me first. I merely returned the favor.”

He wasn’t wrong. Marquis Rodrik had been the one to attack first, targeting Ghislain’s trade caravans. Ghislain had simply retaliated.

Still, as a member of the Crown Prince’s faction, his response had been undeniably aggressive.

Marquis Branford was about to criticize his recklessness further when Ghislain spoke first.

"This war would have started sooner or later, regardless of this incident. Waiting idly isn’t a solution. We need to weaken the enemy’s forces while we can," Ghislain declared.

"Weaken the enemy’s forces?" Marquis Branford raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Marquis Rodrik has already lost 20,000 troops because of me, and eight of his vassal territories have been devastated. Those territories won’t recover easily. In the upcoming civil war, they’ll likely be unable to participate."

Ghislain had stripped the territories of their resources so thoroughly that it would take years for them to rebuild. While this would undoubtedly result in harsher exploitation of their serfs, Ghislain couldn’t afford to worry about such consequences right now.

Marquis Branford understood Ghislain’s point but saw the risk. It was like walking a razor’s edge.

"That’s easier said than done. Weakening the enemy’s forces isn’t a simple task. Wasn’t your success this time largely due to luck? And now Marquis Rodrik has officially declared war. His army will soon be on the move."

Ghislain had planned this entire scenario from the moment he recruited the Drake Mercenary Corps, but this was something the Crown Prince’s faction couldn’t have foreseen.

If anyone else attempted to weaken the enemy’s forces recklessly, it could lead to a far larger conflict.

Knowing this, Ghislain chose not to elaborate further. There was no point in debating the matter; that wasn’t what he had come here for.

"If we must fight, it’s better to strike first."

"Strike first?" Branford asked, his tone sharp.

"Yes. Once Marquis Rodrik mobilizes his army, the ducal faction won’t remain idle. If we don’t act, we risk losing Fenris. The Crown Prince’s faction will be forced to engage, and the ducal faction will seize the opportunity."

Ghislain reached into his coat and pulled out several documents, handing them to Marquis Branford.

"What are these?" Branford asked, flipping through the papers.

"They’re dossiers on the ducal faction’s agents operating in the capital and across the territories."

"What?"

Marquis Branford scanned the documents. They listed organizations ranging from prominent merchant guilds to minor, obscure groups.

"Are you saying all these entities are under the ducal faction’s control?"

"Yes. These include armed merchant bands, assassin groups, and intelligence networks. The moment war breaks out, they’ll disrupt the capital and key territories."

Branford’s hand trembled as he read further. Some of the names on the list included groups his own estate had dealings with.

If this information was accurate, the situation was far more dangerous than he had realized. These agents had been operating right under their noses, unnoticed.

"How did you obtain this information?" Branford asked, his gaze narrowing.

"I conducted a discreet investigation."

In truth, the information came from Ghislain’s knowledge of his previous life.

Of course, he didn’t have exhaustive details on all the ducal faction’s operatives—there were likely omissions. But the groups he had identified were significant enough that their elimination would severely impact the ducal faction’s plans.

"Are you certain these groups are connected to the ducal faction? If you’re wrong, this could escalate into an even bigger disaster."

"I’m certain."

"Where’s your evidence?"

"I don’t have any to show you. You’ll have to trust me."

"…"

Marquis Branford and the other nobles exchanged uneasy glances. It was absurd to act on nothing but a list without tangible evidence.

Yet Ghislain had no way of producing proof from his past life. Nor did he have the time to gather fresh evidence.

The ducal faction would complete their preparations and march long before any investigations could be concluded. At this point, debating evidence was a waste of precious time.

With a solemn expression, Ghislain spoke again.

"Marquis, the war has already begun. We must act first."

"Act first?"

"Yes. I’ll handle Marquis Rodrik’s army as it advances on the North. That’s inevitable. But you must address another issue."

Branford’s eyes widened slightly. "You don’t mean…"

Ghislain nodded. "Purge the vermin hiding throughout the capital and the territories. Start immediately."

"You expect me to act without justification? You’re asking me to attack these places without proof?"

"We’re past the point where justification matters."

"Justification… no longer matters?" Branford repeated, his tone incredulous.

Ghislain smirked. "Yes. It’s time to let strength speak for itself."

Everything had been carefully prepared. Fenris could no longer expand rapidly, and the ducal faction had begun openly mobilizing their forces.

Time was running out. The answer was clear.

He needed to start the war on his terms and lead it to his desired outcome.

Because that was the only way…

To prepare for the calamities that were sure to come.