The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations - Chapter 300

Chapter 300: I Am the Plunder King (1)

“Hey! No, stop! You scoundrels!”

In the dead of night, an old man clung to the leg of a burly man wearing a mask, pleading desperately.

“Damn it! Get off me, will you?”

Thud!

“Ugh!”

The man kicked the old man aside, then began rummaging through the house, grabbing whatever he could find.

“Ugh, nothing much here. Well, I guess it’s because he’s an old man living alone. Still, there’s plenty of food—looks like he just got his rations. Hey, have you picked out the next house yet?”

Turning back, the man asked, and a few others nodded as they responded.

“Yes, we’ve selected a good one. Let’s hurry.”

“Alright, let’s move quickly. In times like these, we need to rake in as much as we can.”

The man chuckled as he spoke. These men were low-ranking members of the Dark Lions, one of the criminal organizations active in Desmond.

Though the name sounded grand, their main activity was robbery—and there was a reason for that.

“Heh heh, didn’t that crazy Chief Overseer flood the area with food? If we gather it all and sell it to merchant guilds in other territories, we’ll make a fortune.”

Criminal organizations dabble in various illicit activities—selling harmful substances, usury, scams, extortion disguised as protection fees, and smuggling prohibited goods.

But lately, in the Desmond region, robbery and theft were all the rage. With the occupying forces distributing vast amounts of food, stealing it was an easy way to make money.

Since Harold’s gamble had drained most of the troops guarding the vast territory, criminals exploited the gaps.

“Hurry up, move! They say more soldiers are being deployed, patrolling everywhere. Let’s gather as much as we can before it’s too late.”

Criminal organizations frantically looted and pillaged within their respective areas, knowing this was a limited-time opportunity to profit from chaos.

As the robbers prepared to leave, the old man sprang to his feet and shouted.

“You bastards! How do you expect me to live if you take everything? Give it back right now!”

The old man lunged at them, but the man kicked him again.

“Ugh!”

“Hey, we’re trying to leave peacefully, but you just don’t get it, huh? Can’t you see the situation? I figured you wouldn’t live much longer anyway, so I was letting you off easy. Want me to just kill you now? Haven’t you heard how many people have been dying these days?”

The man pulled out a knife and waved it in front of the old man’s eyes. Seeing the man’s bloodshot eyes, the old man gasped.

“Ugh… ugh…”

Having lived a long life, the old man could tell just by looking—these men were real killers.

Finally realizing the danger, the old man shrank back in fear. The man spat on the ground and stood up.

“Go ahead, report us if you dare. You don’t even know who we are, so good luck trying to catch us. Heh heh heh.”

The man laughed as if he found the whole situation amusing. Exploiting the security void and running rampant like this was a source of genuine enjoyment for him.

After laughing to their hearts’ content, the robbers left the old man behind and moved on to their next target.

But on their way, they encountered another group, also wearing masks.

“Huh? What the hell? Who are these guys?”

The man tilted his head in confusion. While robbery was popular these days, criminal groups generally stuck to their designated territories to avoid conflicts.

After all, infighting among organizations would result in significant losses when profits were ripe.

“There are quite a few of them. Where are you heading? Hey, who are you people?”

The group of about forty masked individuals simply stared at the robbers. Finally, the one at the front stepped forward and asked a question.

“Are you robbers?”

“Where are you from? Don’t you know this is our turf?”

“Robbers, huh?”

“What the hell? Are you trying to start something? I’m asking where you’re from!”

The man shouted loudly. Though they were only ten in number, this was their territory, and the criminal organizations had agreed to avoid open conflicts for now, so there was no reason to feel intimidated.

However, the newcomers didn’t seem inclined to let things slide. One of them suddenly drew a hand axe from his belt and strode forward.

“W-What? Are you breaking the pact? That’s a hand axe… are you with the Blood Axe Gang? You’re making a big mis—”

Thud!

Before he could finish speaking, the axe-wielding man struck him, splitting his head open. The robber collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

The man who swung the axe spoke in a dry voice.

“I am the Plunder King. And these are the Forty Thieves behind me.”

It was Ghislain, disguised as the Plunder King, on his way to dismantle a criminal organization when he encountered the robbers.

The robbers trembled, stepping back as their hands shook uncontrollably.

“W-What’s going on? What are you saying? We have a pact, remember? Are you declaring war on us?”

“War? Against little rookies like you? Leave one alive. Kill the rest.”

When Ghislain waved his hand with an air of indifference, the Forty Thieves—or rather, the knights in disguise—sprang into action.

Thwack! Thud!

“Arghhh!”

The robbers were dispatched in an instant, their bodies twisted or their heads crushed. None of them, who hadn’t even mastered mana, could withstand a single attack from the knights.

“P-Please, spare me!”

The sole surviving robber collapsed to his knees, rubbing his hands together desperately. His mind was in chaos—he couldn’t even register how his companions had been killed.

Ghislain crouched beside him and asked,

“Which group are you from?”

“W-We’re part of the Dark Lions.”

“Pfft!”

Ghislain couldn’t help but laugh at the grandiose name. Then, as if nothing had happened, he cleared his throat.

“Ahem. I was on my way to deal with another group, but… there was an organization like yours, huh?”

He tilted his head thoughtfully.

When Harold had been alive, he had documented most of the criminal organizations in the area, but the information wasn’t flawless. Old organizations dissolved or merged, and new ones formed to fill the void.

Organizations that operated discreetly and paid their taxes were easier to track, but those that evaded taxes and got wiped out, or splintered off from power struggles, left scant records behind.

Additionally, organizations that sprang up during the recent security vacuum were even harder to identify.

Though this wasn’t part of his original plan, Ghislain figured it made sense to deal with them now. After all, he intended to root out all criminals. With a nod, he continued.

“Well, this works out. Lead the way.”

“W-What?”

“I said, take me to your hideout.”

“O-Okay!”

The robber scrambled to his feet, wide-eyed. He had been certain he was going to die, yet here he was, alive.

‘There are plenty of people at the hideout, including the officers, who are strong fighters,’ he thought. The robber was confident that his superiors could handle this group and kill them.

He led Ghislain and the Forty Thieves to a large building.

“Hm, what’s this place?”

It was a sizeable ink and dye workshop that had been noted in the territory’s facility reports—a legitimate business, at least on the surface.

“Well, well. These guys are clever, running a respectable front while raking in money through shady means.”

This was why eliminating petty criminals never seemed to put an end to organized crime.

The higher-ups lived within the bounds of the law, delegating risky tasks to underlings while continuing their illicit operations.

They even bribed and built connections to ensure an escape route if they ever got caught.

“No wonder it’s hard to root them out. Most of the common folk probably don’t even know this place is run by criminals.”

If the lord raided this place without evidence, rumors would quickly spread that he was framing innocent people and abusing his power.

On the other hand, gathering the necessary evidence to deal with them legally would take too much time and effort.

It was far simpler and more satisfying to beat them down and throw them into the Labor Assault Team.

Creak…

As they opened the door and entered, they found a group of burly men gathered inside.

“Who are you? We’re closed right now. Come back tomorrow,” said a muscular man with a surprisingly polite smile. This man was the leader of the Dark Lions.

However, his expression changed as he noticed something strange about the visitors.

“What’s this? Who are you people, and why are you all wearing masks?”

“I am the Plunder King,” Ghislain declared.

“What?”

The robber who had been captured earlier shouted, “Boss! They’re from the Blood Axe Gang! They’ve come to attack us!”

That single sentence set the room ablaze. Every member of the Dark Lions grabbed a weapon and prepared for battle.

Ghislain watched calmly before murmuring,

“I told you, I’m the Plunder King.”

“Attack!”

At their leader’s shout, the Dark Lions charged in unison. Ghislain, unfazed, gestured to his knights.

“Wipe them out. Leave the boss alive.”

Boom!

“What?”

The leader, who had been charging forward with his men, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Everyone else was gone.

Turning around slowly, he saw his subordinates sprawled across the room, bloodied and broken against the walls.

Clack, clack, clack…

His teeth chattered as he trembled, raising his hands cautiously.

‘T-This is real. They’re the real deal, people who operate in the shadows.’

These weren’t just another run-of-the-mill gang—they were clearly a proper assassination squad or a team from a powerful guild.

“W-What brings you here to… to see us?” the leader stammered.

Ghislain smirked. “Let’s have a little chat.”

“Y-Yes, of course! Would you like me to prepare tea?”

“No need. Just sit.”

The area around was smeared with blood, but Ghislain sat calmly in a chair. The boss didn’t even dare to sit beside him and knelt on the floor.

As Ghislain quietly observed him, he opened his mouth to speak.

“List the locations of all the organizations you know.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Despite being the head of a crime syndicate himself, the man knew better than to argue in this situation. He understood all too well that resistance would only bring him pain.

After all, loyalty and blood ties in a criminal organization were nothing more than hollow pretenses.

The boss of the Dark Lions wrote down the locations of all the organizations he knew, even going the extra mile to include the number of members and the names of their leaders, as if he were documenting the killers of his family.

Ghislain accepted the list, nodding in satisfaction.

“Looks like we’ll be paying all of them a visit.”

Some of the names were familiar, while others were new. As expected, criminals knew their own kind best.

All that remained was to follow the trail and wipe them out entirely.

“Hey, you two.”

“Yes, sir!”

The boss and a remaining bandit shouted in unison.

Ghislain looked at them and spoke.

“As the Plunder King, I’ve never left my enemies alive. So, you’ll have to die.”

“Please, spare us!”

“Well, if you do survive, make sure to pay for your sins diligently.”

Thud!

With a casual wave of his hand, Ghislain knocked both men unconscious.

A masked knight hoisted the two men over his shoulders and moved swiftly. The knight carried them to the nearest military barracks and tossed them inside.

A group of soldiers ran up and dragged the unconscious men away.

In front of the barracks hung a large signboard.

[Labor Assault Team – Special Education Center No. 5]

Thus, the Plunder King and the Forty Thieves roamed every night, eliminating criminal organizations. By dawn, bodies would be found scattered throughout the land, causing an uproar among the estate’s residents.

“Is there some kind of serial killer on the loose?”

“No, they say all those guys were criminals. It’s some kind of turf war between gangs.”

“Whoa! So, a war has broken out between crime organizations?”

“Exactly! Apparently, there’s this guy called the Plunder King who’s trying to unite the underworld of this estate!”

“Oh dear, I hope this doesn’t spill over to us. Things are already so chaotic after the war…”

“I heard the new lord issued a stern warning. Anyone who harms the residents will face severe consequences. That’s why the soldiers are patrolling more frequently and tightening security.”

“Well, that’s a relief, I suppose…”

Lowell, the intelligence officer, diligently spread false rumors, making it seem like a battle between rival criminal organizations.

As a result, suspicions and fears did not fall upon Ghislain. While unease lingered among the people, the increased military patrols quickly quelled their anxiety.

After all, human nature dictates that people quickly forget matters as long as they aren’t personally affected.

By eradicating the crime syndicates swiftly, public attention would soon dissipate.

—

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Argh! You demon!”

“So, you’re the Plunder King!”

“You won’t get away with this!”

As organizations were dismantled one by one, some banded together in desperation. However, they stood no chance against the Plunder King and his Forty Thieves.

Half of them would die each night, while the rest were dragged off to various Labor Assault Teams – Special Education Centers.

“You damn bastard! How can you be so cruel? We’re people too! Do you really need to hog everything for yourself?”

A gang leader screamed in frustration, but Ghislain calmly decapitated him and replied.

“You’re not people. And yes, I prefer taking everything for myself.”

The criminal organizations were vanishing at an alarming rate, yet progress wasn’t as swift as Ghislain had hoped.

The Desmond Estate was vast, and the aftermath of the war had given rise to a staggering number of criminal groups.

As the Plunder King’s exploits became more widely known, many of the remaining organizations began to hide. Some relocated their hideouts, while others drastically reduced their activities.

Frustrated by this, Ghislain rubbed his forehead.

“Damn these pests…”

Letting them remain dormant wasn’t an option. Given the chance, they’d crawl back out to commit crimes again.

In reality, eliminating all criminals was impossible. The world was filled with lunatics who cared little for consequences, and such individuals would continue to appear as long as humanity existed.

Still, Ghislain was determined to ensure that no criminal could even breathe freely as long as he governed the estate.

“Looks like I’ll need to change my approach.”

He needed to locate and annihilate them swiftly. It would be ideal if they banded together again and attacked, just like before.

After pondering for a moment, Ghislain summoned Claude.

“You’re going to take the lead on this.”

“Me? Doing what, exactly?”

“You’ve got a bad reputation, right? Bribes, gambling… Basically, a lot of dirt.”

“…And?”

Claude tilted his head, his expression annoyed. Somehow, his notoriety had spread even to this remote estate.

He had hoped for a fresh start here, but that dream was now shattered.

However, Ghislain wore a meaningful smile, as if he saw the situation as an opportunity.

“You’re going to meet with the criminal organizations. Take some bribes and pretend to offer them protection. Try to gather as many of them as you can.”

“…”

“You can handle this, right? You’re good at these kinds of things.”

Ghislain spoke with confidence. After all, no one was better suited for this role than Claude, the official infamous as the most corrupt administrator in the estate.