The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations - Chapter 269

Chapter 269 – It’ll Get Faster Soon. (2)

The estate was constantly recruiting soldiers. This time, they had even issued a large-scale recruitment notice. However, the pace of troop increase was slower than expected.

It was due to the way the estate’s residents viewed the military.

“Isn’t our estate already well-stocked with soldiers?”

“Life’s comfortable without being a soldier.”

“Why risk going to dangerous places?”

Working diligently earned them high wages, and the cost of food was unbelievably cheap compared to other regions.

In the past, daily necessities had been in short supply. However, that was no longer the case. Numerous merchant guilds came to trade for food, flooding the market with goods.

Of course, they weren’t living as luxuriously as the nobles or wealthy, but for those who had lived in extreme poverty, their current circumstances were more than satisfactory.

Additionally, all criminals were rounded up and placed in the “Labor Assault Team,” improving the estate’s overall safety.

The estate continued to thrive. Consequently, there was plenty of work available. Many people worked just enough to earn sufficient money and then took breaks until their funds ran out before working again.

The problem was that everyone had grown content with this state of affairs.

“I heard the pay for soldiers is good.”

“Yeah, but it’s tough work. I’m fine with this. Just think about how things used to be.”

“Exactly. My house is clean and nice, and I’m not starving. Why bother wanting more? We’ll just get drafted anyway if war breaks out.”

With this prevailing attitude, even though the estate was vast and heavily populated, the recruitment of soldiers couldn’t proceed swiftly.

Claude was deeply troubled. Considering the upcoming wars, a much larger military force was essential. However, the slow pace of recruitment left him frustrated.

“Damn it… people don’t understand the gravity of the situation. We need to fight Desmond, the ducal families, and even Raypold. We’re surrounded by enemies!”

The estate’s residents had no awareness of political circumstances. They didn’t even know who their future opponents would be.

At least everyone now knew that Ghislain belonged to the Royal Faction, a fact Claude had loudly and repeatedly publicized.

The notion that the royal family was an ally also played a role in reducing public anxiety.

Claude leveraged his authority as Chief Overseer to aggressively promote benefits for soldiers.

[Fenris Estate Army Recruitment! Exemption from taxes during service! Free provision of full-plate armor and the latest weapons!]

The promotional leaflet featured an illustration of Claude pointing straight ahead with his finger.

[Brave warriors! Enlist to defend the glory of the estate!]

[Let’s march to the battlefield together! Glory and rewards await you!]

[Join now, and the war begins with you!]

The additional benefit of tax exemption led to a noticeable increase in enlistment. However, it was still far from reaching Ghislain’s target.

Their goal was to gather at least 10,000 soldiers, but at this rate, even years of recruitment wouldn’t suffice.

Claude approached Ghislain to discuss the matter.

“It seems we’ll have to resort to some degree of forced conscription.”

“Before that, get rid of those promotional leaflets with your face on them. Every time I see them, I feel secondhand embarrassment.”

“…Understood.”

“The mandatory military training is proceeding well, right?”

“Yes, there shouldn’t be any major issues. Everyone has been expecting it, anyway.”

Typically, the estate’s residents received a few days of basic military training annually in preparation for potential conscription.

This practice was no different from other estates, and in Fenris Estate, residents had already undergone a certain level of training.

To make this system more structured, Ghislain had established proper training centers throughout the region.

Still, this was only the minimum preparation. To actually wage war, a much larger force of properly trained soldiers was needed. A solution had to be found.

After pondering for a moment, Ghislain flashed a sly smile and spoke to Claude.

“Isn’t this all because people have grown too complacent since life’s become easier? They don’t even know who we’re fighting.”

“That’s true. At least food and shelter aren’t concerns anymore.”

“But they’re not living like the wealthier commoners in other estates, are they? Life still has its inconveniences.”

“Having lived in such deprivation, most of them seem satisfied with the current state. As long as nothing gets taken from them, they’re happy. Many of them used to be oppressed peasants or impoverished commoners.”

“Exactly. That’s why we need to shake things up. If they’re comfortable because nothing’s being taken, we need to start taking things.”

“…Are you planning to become a tyrant now? Honestly, it does suit you. It’s impressive how you’ve held back so far— Ow!”

Claude rubbed his forehead with a sulky expression after being hit by Ghislain’s mana. He felt wronged, considering he hadn’t even said anything untrue.

Ghislain, watching Claude’s reaction, continued speaking.

“Forcibly drafting people and confiscating their resources will inevitably lower morale. Our estate’s army must always maintain high morale to ensure they’re fully committed to training.”

“Then how are you planning to raise tension?”

“I have my methods. First, start spreading some unsettling rumors.”

If the problem was life being too comfortable, the solution was to introduce some problems.

Ghislain grinned with that same sly smile.

***
“Have you heard? Count Desmond is planning to invade here soon.”

“Isn’t that the estate hailed as the strongest in the North?”

“They’ve already sent out reconnaissance units near our estate.”

Recently, the estate’s residents couldn’t gather without whispering anxiously among themselves. The topic of their hushed conversations was a rumor that the northern powerhouse, Count Desmond, was preparing to attack.

The estate’s key figures had long been aware of the possibility, but the general population had been too focused on the estate’s development to notice.

Part of the reason for this ignorance was that the leadership had deliberately kept the news quiet to stabilize the estate’s atmosphere following its occupation.

Even when whispers of war occasionally surfaced, most dismissed them as baseless rumors. For the residents, securing their immediate survival had taken precedence.

However, upon hearing that war was imminent, they could no longer afford to be complacent.

“Isn’t our lord affiliated with the Royal Faction? Didn’t the royal family promise to protect us?”

“But Count Desmond is part of the Ducal Faction. Don’t you know the duke is stronger? He’s incredibly famous.”

“What nonsense! The king is the strongest! That’s why he’s the king! Don’t you know what a king is, you ignorant fool?”

“What did you say, you illiterate idiot? Who are you calling ignorant?”

As anxiety grew, arguments among residents became more frequent. Still, many tried to assuage their fears by recalling Ghislain’s past achievements.

“Our lord is supposed to be an exceptional fighter, right? He should be able to defend us.”

“That’s true. Didn’t our lord easily defeat Count Cabaldi and seize this land?”

“Hold on. Count Desmond is on a whole other level compared to Count Cabaldi. There’s a reason he’s called the strongest in the North.”

Opinions among the residents began to diverge. Some were convinced they would lose if a fight broke out, while others blindly trusted their lord to defend them. The debates showed no signs of ending.

Nonetheless, most people still believed things would turn out fine.

Humans tend to be this way—peace makes the threat of war feel unreal.

This was why Lowell, the intelligence officer, worked tirelessly to fan the flames of these rumors. He didn’t stop agitating the populace, fueling their unease.

In the past, the leadership had hidden the truth to provide reassurance. Now, the approach has changed—they intentionally spread the news to stir up the lax population.

“They say Desmond’s reconnaissance units have already been spotted near the estate!”

“There’s already been one skirmish! The lord barely managed to drive them back!”

“That’s not even the real issue! They say northern lords are forming an alliance to take this land!”

In truth, some northern lords were organizing a coalition. However, their target was not Fenris Estate but another region.

Lowell blended lies with facts, intentionally distorting the story and spreading exaggerated rumors.

The residents grew increasingly uneasy. They were well aware that estates as prosperous as Fenris were rare.

Fear and tension steadily mounted among the populace.

“I don’t want to go back to the days when everything was taken from us. We have to protect what’s ours.”

“I’m sick of starving. If another lord takes over, we’ll be back to that again.”

“I was just a laborer anyway. I might as well enlist as a soldier now.”

Able-bodied and sturdy men began to volunteer for military service.

Although this drained many workers from construction projects, the estate’s large population made it easy to recruit replacements.

In Fenris Estate, if laborers were ever in short supply, even soldiers could be mobilized for construction work. It wasn’t an issue at all.

While the number of enlistees significantly increased, Ghislain still wasn’t satisfied.

There were still many residents hesitating to commit.

“We don’t all need to go, right?”

“Yeah, it’s too dangerous if a real war breaks out.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just wait and get conscripted if necessary?”

It was inevitable that some would hope others would fight and sacrifice in their place.

This wasn’t something to criticize. Volunteering was a remarkable act, but refraining from doing so didn’t make someone bad.

However, when the estate failed, those who hadn’t prepared would have to fend for themselves.

Then, as if to spur the hesitant residents into action, new rumors began to spread.

“Raiders! Raiders have appeared!”

“What? Where? How could there be raiders when we have so many soldiers?”

“They say the soldiers are too preoccupied defending against other lords’ armies to protect the estate properly!”

“Several villages have already been razed! People have lost everything, and refugees are lining the roads!”

“What about the local militias? Each village has undergone basic training, right?”

“They say they’ve all been killed or fled! The stationed soldiers were too few and had to retreat!”

Dark rumors began to sweep through the estate, leaving its people shaken.

They had thought the peace would last forever. But that was a delusion. An estate abundant in food and iron was not something others would ignore.

In these times, might dictated right, and anything could be seized by force. Whether by rival nobles or roaming raiders, Fenris Estate was an irresistible prize.

It was clear now—they had to protect what was theirs. The comfort of living under their lord’s protection had made them forget that fact.

Moved by the rumors of raiders, more residents volunteered for the military, causing a significant rise in enlistment. Meanwhile, the so-called raiders were rapidly building a fearsome reputation.

The Infamous Raiders

“Another village was attacked! They say the raiders are rampaging through the estate!”

“How many of them are there? Why can’t they be stopped? What’s the estate army doing?”

“I heard their armed forces exceed 500! Small villages don’t stand a chance! People are fleeing to the nearby fortresses and towns!”

“Where did they even come from? Are they northern bandits banding together?”

“I don’t know! The rumor is that they’re led by someone calling himself the ‘Plunder King of the North!’”

On a low hill overlooking a village, a masked man—self-proclaimed as the “Plunder King of the North”—surveyed the scene.

“This is the village we’re targeting next, right?”

“Yes, my lord… uh, I mean, boss. It’s one of the villages scheduled for resettlement soon.”

“Hey, I told you not to call me ‘my lord.’ Stick to ‘boss.’ What if someone hears? We’re supposed to be bandits, remember?”

“…Understood.”

The so-called Plunder King was none other than Ghislain. Standing beside him was Claude. Together, they led a group of 40 knights in raiding the village.

The “500-man army” was nothing but an exaggerated rumor. To maintain secrecy, they moved in small, elite groups.

The Raid Begins

“See? It’s more realistic this way. Tension only rises when it feels real. You’ve noticed how much more on edge people are lately, right?”

“…Yes.”

‘You’re insane… What kind of lord raids his own estate?’ Claude thought, though he wisely kept his opinion to himself.

Ghislain and his knights rampaged through the village, looting food and supplies. Despite the absurdity of pillaging their own territory, the results were undeniable.

Not a single person died. Whenever the village militia resisted, Ghislain’s group merely knocked them unconscious. That alone was enough to send the rest of the villagers fleeing in panic.

This strategy dovetailed perfectly with Fenris Estate’s ongoing plan to consolidate its villages into larger towns and fortresses. It also accelerated the resettlement process.

They were careful not to burn down homes or destroy valuables entirely, knowing that some residents might return to retrieve their belongings. The entire operation required surprising attention to detail.

“Make sure the resettled villagers get new homes quickly and reimburse them for the food and property they’ve lost.”

“I’ve already instructed the administrators in each region to prioritize this.”

“Good. That’ll ensure they work even harder with renewed determination.”

Since the relocation plan had already accounted for the population, homes were ready to accommodate the displaced villagers. All they had to do was compensate for the lost supplies.

Ironically, the operation boosted morale. Experiencing such upheaval firsthand strengthened the residents’ resolve to protect their estate.

As the villages were destroyed and refugees—genuine ones this time—emerged, the rumors spread with even greater credibility.

A Well-Orchestrated Deception

“All nearby units have been pulled back, right?”

“Yes, they’ve already received orders to retreat. They’re focusing solely on protecting the resettled villagers.”

Units stationed near the villages had been ordered to withdraw without engaging. The soldiers, clueless about the true purpose, scrambled to comply.

Ghislain, now fully embodying the role of the Plunder King, turned to his knights with a question.

“When the savages raided villages before, they kept shouting something. What was it?”

“Uh… something like, ‘Kill the women, and ravage the men….’”

“Let’s not do that.”

“Agreed. Honestly, that’s just embarrassing.”

“Then just yell something random. Let’s go!”

“Waaaahhh!”

The Plunder King and his 40 raiders descended upon another village, their shouts echoing into the night.