The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations - Chapter 271
Chapter 271 – He’s Already Made a Move? (1)
At the meeting of the Royal Faction nobles, the topic of Ghislain came up. Ever since the kingdom’s road construction project had started, Ghislain had become the hottest subject in the capital.
It was no wonder his name was brought up at every meeting.
Marquis Maurice McQuarrie, the Supreme Commander of the Kingdom’s Army, frowned as he addressed the Marquis of Branford.
“He’s mobilizing a large force already?”
“Yes, indeed. I hear it’s to the point where his entire estate is in an uproar.”
“Hah, that duckling must’ve gotten scared after going after Count Cabaldi. Well, I suppose it’s only natural, considering he messed with one of the Ducal Faction’s nobles.”
“The problem is, he’s gathering far too many troops.”
Although the exact numbers hadn’t been reported, there were rumors that at least several thousand armed soldiers were being assembled.
Given Ghislain’s history of causing significant trouble, the Marquis of Branford couldn’t help but pay extra attention to the rumors.
Maurice nodded in agreement before continuing.
“Hmm… well, he’s an unpredictable guy. Isn’t it possible he’s gathering forces to strike somewhere? We’ve barely managed to recover from the drought, and if he stirs up trouble again, it’ll be a nightmare.”
“For now, it seems he’s taking precautions after attacking Count Cabaldi and alienating the Ducal Faction. Count Desmond is also gathering troops.”
At Branford’s words, Maurice smirked mockingly.
“At the end of the day, he’s just a mere northern lord. Unless the Ducal families start a civil war, there’s nothing someone like Desmond can accomplish on his own.”
The other Royal Faction nobles nodded in agreement.
Unless the Kingdom’s army was stationed far away, it wouldn’t matter. Thanks to the Marquis of Branford’s foresight, Count Desmond was under constant surveillance by forces stationed near his estate. This left Count Desmond effectively shackled.
The Marquis of Branford was well aware of this and agreed with the assessment. No matter how influential Desmond was in the north, he couldn’t act recklessly without the Ducal families’ support or direct orders.
However, even if war wasn’t imminent, the fact that Desmond was assembling troops carried significant implications.
‘Tsk, Desmond mobilizing his army must mean that civil war is drawing closer.’
The Royal Faction nobles always operated this way. Even though they had been consistently suppressed by the Ducal families, they started to show arrogance again once the pressure eased, thanks to Baron Fenris.
After all, they clung to the justification and legitimacy of upholding the royal family.
In any case, if the Ducal families initiated a civil war, it would be considered a rebellion.
Letting out a sigh, the Marquis of Branford spoke up again.
“Some of the Second Legion’s forces are currently assisting local lords with road construction, correct?”
Maurice nodded.
“I gave that order myself. It’s better to get it done quickly. The northern brats are so poor they can’t even manage the work properly.”
“Recall all of them immediately.”
“Why?”
“The Second Legion’s presence there is to monitor the north and protect Baron Fenris.”
At the Marquis of Branford’s indifferent response, Maurice’s scowl deepened.
“Why the hell are you so concerned about that duckling? Since when did he become so important to us?”
“If civil war breaks out, Baron Fenris will be the first target in the north. Maintaining the Second Legion’s strength is critical to fending off the combined forces of Desmond and the Ducal Faction’s nobles.”
“You’re already worrying about the incoming civil war! The Ducal families are staying quiet because they’re still recovering from the drought! If they start a civil war now, it’ll be mutual destruction. Do you really think they’re stupid enough to do that? All those threats of theirs are nothing but bluffing!”
“Other lords and the Kingdom’s army are also preparing their forces for a potential civil war. You never know when the Ducal families might draw their swords. The road construction has already frayed the nerves of their aligned nobles.”
“Fine, I understand the need for preparation. But why are we only protecting him? If we keep shielding that guy and giving in to all his demands, it’s no wonder he’s getting more arrogant!”
Maurice’s frustration exploded as he shouted. His outburst earned nods of agreement from the other nobles.
Even the usually impartial Marquis of Branford had shown an excessive tendency to favor Ghislain, which had naturally started to breed discontent.
For now, the Marquis of Branford’s authority remained strong, so the complaints were only whispered behind closed doors. However, if Ghislain caused more trouble or failed even once, the Marquis’s position would likely be jeopardized.
Despite the tension, the Marquis of Branford maintained his calm demeanor as he responded.
“I’ve made myself clear. Do as I’ve instructed.”
“Ugh…”
Maurice couldn’t hide his displeasure as his lips twitched several times. He simply couldn’t understand why the Marquis of Branford was so fixated on that brat.
As much as he hated it, ignoring the Marquis’s request wasn’t an option. After all, Branford was the leader of the Royal Faction and held authority that surpassed even his own.
“Don’t forget my words: once the Ducal families are brought down, I’ll cut off that bastard’s head myself. You’d best not stop me when that time comes.”
“When the time comes, I’ll pretend I don’t know anything.”
“Hmph!”
Maurice, having once again resorted to an empty threat, stormed out of the room with a bitter expression, as if he had just swallowed a bug.
The other nobles cautiously followed Maurice, stealing glances at each other as they did so.
They were grappling with one thought: Whose side should we align with?
‘It seems Branford is losing his judgment as he gets older.’
‘Even if a civil war breaks out, the Kingdom’s army is supposed to protect us. Why are they protecting him?’
‘Could it be that he’s seriously grooming that brat as his political successor?’
Many of the other Royal Faction nobles shared Maurice’s dissatisfaction. Ghislain was receiving excessive benefits and preferential treatment, which only served to intensify their grievances.
If the Ducal families truly initiated a civil war, Ghislain should be used as a sacrificial pawn. There was no need to waste resources helping him.
‘If a civil war really breaks out, the Kingdom’s army should focus on pressuring the Ducal families instead of wasting troops protecting one estate. They’d be better off targeting one of the weaker nobles aligned with the Ducal faction.’
‘We’ve been building his influence in the north so far, but if war breaks out, abandoning him and supporting other lords would be more advantageous.’
‘The Kingdom’s army is our last line of defense. It’s too valuable to waste on someone like him.’
The Royal Faction nobles largely shared this sentiment. Though Branford’s authority kept them in line for now, their growing discontent was bound to lead to trouble eventually.
The Marquis of Branford was fully aware of this. Left alone in the room, he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.
“Exhausting.”
Dealing with the Ducal families was already a daunting challenge, but the lack of unity within the Royal Faction made it even worse.
Despite Ghislain’s repeated demonstrations of his abilities, the younger nobles envied and resented his growing reputation, while the older ones dismissed him as a poor and incompetent northern brat.
Even as the times were changing, the outdated mindset of the Royal Faction nobles made any issue involving Ghislain incredibly difficult to resolve.
Of course, some of this stemmed from the trouble Ghislain had caused repeatedly.
“If a civil war breaks out, we’ll only fall apart piece by piece.”
The Marquis of Branford was convinced that civil war was inevitable. However, most of the Royal Faction nobles remained under the delusion that they could simply continue their tug-of-war with the Ducal families.
They mistakenly believed that the strength of the nobles aligned with the royal family was sufficient to hold their ground. Such arrogance was the hallmark of the nobles who pursued elegance in their political games.
“Disasters always strike when fools are allowed to run rampant.”
There was no way Branford could let the kingdom fall into the hands of wolves. For now, he had no choice but to continue forcing his will upon the nobles with his authority.
How long that would work, he wasn’t sure.
Suddenly, Ghislain’s face flashed in Branford’s mind.
A man who was always unpredictable, always causing trouble, yet somehow delivering unexpectedly brilliant results.
“A fascinating man.”
Perhaps, the one person no one could predict might just be the kingdom’s last remaining hope.
Not even Branford himself, nor the Ducal families, could fully grasp or anticipate Ghislain’s actions.
“Yes, if I’m going to back someone, it should be someone like him.”
The powerful weapon he had cultivated to confront the Ducal families, a young lord in the north who was rapidly consolidating power.
That was Ghislain Ferdium.
At some point, a faint smile crept across the Marquis of Branford’s lips.
Harold, the lord of Desmond’s estate, questioned his adjutant standing before him.
“He’s mobilizing a large force already?”
“Yes, sir. It’s obvious to anyone that he’s openly preparing for war. It’s estimated that his forces number at least 5,000.”
Currently, information from the Fenris Estate wasn’t being properly transmitted to other territories. Suspicious individuals were either hauled off to the “Labor Assault Team,” or any information leaving the estate was meticulously manipulated.
Still, with such large-scale movements, it was impossible to completely block information leaks.
After listening to the adjutant’s report, Harold nodded slightly.
“Well, he’s not entirely stupid. He may be reckless and brazen, but still…”
Harold’s expression was different from before. He wasn’t angry, nor did he appear baffled by Ghislain’s actions. Instead, his face reflected deep contemplation, as though he was suppressing the emotions swirling inside him.
After nodding to himself a few times, Harold turned back to his adjutant.
“How are our preparations coming along?”
“We’ve gathered all of the estate’s resources. I doubt we can muster any more.”
Harold nodded a few more times, his expression one of indifference, as though nothing mattered anymore.
“The losses are significant.”
To assassinate Ghislain, he had secretly built up a merchant guild, baiting him with an immense amount of resources. Luring a lord into a trap hadn’t been too difficult.
But the assassination attempt had failed. As a result, the guild was dismantled, and all the resources were gone without a trace.
The fallout didn’t end there. With the guild’s dissolution, every other entity tied to it also faced ruin. Harold had accepted all these losses to kill Ghislain, but the mission had ended in failure. The damage wasn’t something he could easily recover from.
In the end, Harold had no choice but to resort to his final option.
He would use force to eliminate Ghislain.
“What’s the status of the Second Legion watching us?”
“Currently, half of their forces are deployed to assist Royal Faction territories with road construction.”
“They think little of us, don’t they?”
Harold let out a bitter laugh. The Kingdom’s army likely believed that as long as they kept watch, Harold wouldn’t dare make a move.
But with only half of their forces remaining, Harold saw an opportunity to crush them quickly.
“What’s the progress of our own troop mobilization?”
“We’ve sent orders to all our vassals to muster their soldiers. Troops are being gathered from all over the region.”
“If that bastard is mobilizing his forces on such a large scale, we’ll need to raise even more. We must overwhelm him and take control of that region.”
“By overwhelming… what exactly do you mean?”
“We won’t need conscripts. Gather an armed force of 30,000.”
“…Thirty thousand, my lord?”
“Yes. Tell the vassals to send every last soldier they have. Not a single one is to be left behind. If they can’t meet the quota, I’ll have their heads. Consolidate all the forces from our outposts and fortresses as well. This is a total mobilization order. Do you understand?”
“Y-yes, my lord.”
The adjutant nodded, cold sweat running down his back.
Due to the region’s poverty, the average standing force in the northern estates was typically only 1,000 to 2,000 soldiers. Even in the largest estates, amassing 3,000 soldiers was a struggle.
Yet Harold was now demanding 30,000. Achieving that number would require pulling in every soldier, even those responsible for local security and governance.
In other words, if he scraped together every last man, Harold could indeed reach 30,000. This capability was what had earned him the title of the strongest lord in the north.
Leaning back in his chair, Harold muttered with his usual expressionless face.
“Amelia’s rebellion ended in a success and that was fortunate.”
If she had failed, he would have faced a significant crisis. Concern over Raypold would have distracted him from fully committing to his war against Ghislain.
Frankly, Harold had underestimated Amelia. He had thought her to be insignificant, but hearing that she single-handedly defeated Yurgen, the greatest swordsman in the north, and seized control of her estate in an instant had genuinely surprised him.
“She’s more competent than I expected. But to think she foolishly let an heir escape… tsk, tsk.”
Harold clicked his tongue as he recalled Daven Raypold’s existence. After all, Amelia was just a woman who had spent most of her time reading books indoors; her limits were clear.
If it weren’t for Ghislain, Harold could have neatly resolved Raypold’s rebellion as well.
“And she’s currently at war with Baron Valois, correct?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Tell her to stop wasting time with that nonsense. The moment I start a war, she’s to immediately join forces with me. I’ll deal with Baron Valois myself.”
“Understood.”
After answering, the adjutant hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking:
“If you initiate a war first… wouldn’t that mean, my lord, that you’re effectively triggering a civil war? Killing Baron Fenris will undoubtedly provoke the Royal Faction. This wasn’t part of the original plan, and we don’t know how the Ducal families might react. We don’t even have a proper justification.”
At his adjutant’s question, Harold closed his eyes briefly.
Ghislain had thrown everything into disarray. Even though Amelia’s rebellion had succeeded, the conflict with Baron Valois had tied up her forces, preventing him from fully leveraging Raypold’s strength.
Meanwhile, Ghislain had secured numerous advantages for himself and was now constructing roads connecting all the Royal Faction territories.
“I can’t let this continue.”
The Ducal families were already furious with Harold for his failures. To be more precise, Viscount Raul Joseph, the brain behind the Ducal faction, was enraged.
Until Ghislain appeared, everything had been progressing exactly as Raul had planned.
“Arrogant bastards.”
Those were Harold’s thoughts about both Ghislain and Raul.
One constantly interfered with his affairs, while the other stood above him, issuing orders.
Rumors had even begun circulating that Raul intended to replace Harold with someone else.
As a powerful northern lord, Harold found this an intolerable humiliation. Failing repeatedly was one thing, but having someone else hold his life in their hands was another matter entirely.
“I don’t care anymore.”
The situation had become so tangled that there was no other choice but to cut through it, no matter the cost. Killing Ghislain was now Harold’s top priority.
This was no longer about following the orders of the Ducal families. As the most powerful lord in the north, it had become a matter of restoring his tarnished honor and pride.
Thus, Harold decided to stop worrying about how the Ducal families might react. He resolved to act based on his own judgment and decisions.
He would kill Ghislain and conquer the north. That would prove his capabilities once again.
Justifications? Civil war? Such things no longer mattered. What was truly important was erasing the disgrace he had suffered.
To fight a madman, he had to become one himself. Even if the Kingdom’s army intervened, Harold wouldn’t hold back.
“After that, I’ll settle things with the Ducal families.”
If the Ducal families still intended to discard him, then he would use force to convince them otherwise.
Even if it meant aligning with the Royal Faction.
Harold had been driven into such a corner that he was even prepared to betray the Ducal families.
Thus, he poured every last ounce of his estate’s strength into a single purpose: killing Ghislain.
Harold opened his eyes once more, his suppressed voice slipping out.
“This war… has nothing to do with the Ducal families’ plans.”
“In that case…”
“This is my plan. This time, I’ll kill that lunatic and erase the disgrace I’ve suffered until now.”
Harold’s eyes glinted with a chilling resolve. The murderous intent radiating from his gaze was enough to make the air around him feel cold.