Chapter 119

Two days later.

Selvi submitted the report with a gaunt face. Although he was a day late, he had managed to organize that vast amount of information.

See, he gets it done when I tell him to.

“Good work, Selvi.”

“Thank you. May I go to sleep now?”

“Get some good rest.”

Selvi then switched places with Cavaldi.

Cavaldi, realizing it was now his turn, had a long face.

“Duke Cavaldi. It is time to decide our course of action. I need your help, Your Highness.”

“What kind of help do you need?”

“I need your political insight, Your Highness.”

Cavaldi was from Apennia. He was even a duke.

This meant he was the perfect person to be an advisor in Ratio, which had become the eye of the storm.

“But Bishop Ceras is also like that, isn’t she? I could just ask her.”

“That's true, but I’m concerned that she might have a biased view towards the Holy See.”

“You need an objective perspective, is that it? But is it really something to worry about? In my opinion, just showing them your fist should be enough to make them surrender.”

“You have to do that depending on the situation. You can't just do it recklessly.”

Although the Pope had designated Florence as the main enemy, they couldn’t just charge straight into Florence.

This was because more countries than expected supported Elance over Pope Astro.

Although the cause of all this was not entirely due to Pope Astro's lack of popularity.

Whether they had succumbed to Elance's military power or followed its political interests, the fact that they were on Elance's side did not change.

If they were to poke them in the wrong way, it was clear that pro-Elance factions would pop out from all sides like a stirred-up hornet's nest.

“Honestly, I’m not saying this because I politically support His Holiness the Pope. But they’re all small countries, aren’t they? Would they dare to oppose His Holiness?”

“They say that many a little makes a mickle. We can’t just look down on them.”

If you considered them one by one, of course they would be no match for the Black Company.

But if everyone rushed to take a bite out of the long supply line, would it be possible to maintain the front line?

Or if they united and opposed Ratio, could they handle it?

My answer was ‘no.’

Therefore, my conclusion was that it was impossible to attack Florence until the political force known as the pro-Elance faction was dismantled.

“That’s not what I meant. I meant that they wouldn’t want to meet His Holiness on the battlefield.”

“…”

“His Holiness is a bit. You know? He has an aggressive personality.”

“I understand without you saying… I also don’t want to see His Holiness on the battlefield.”

I didn't want to see the sight of the Warlord Pope personally riding a horse and jumping into the middle of the enemy camp while I was alive.

Of course, Pope Astro would be very refreshed, but I didn't think I could handle it.

Likewise, I didn't want to fight against Pope Astro either.

A cute-looking warmongering forest elf girl laughing maniacally and charging with a giant two-handed axe?

That was a sight that should not exist in this world. The moment you saw such a sight, you would have to run away to save your life.

Cavaldi, who seemed to have had the same thought, also had a pale expression.

“For that reason, we must resolve the problem through diplomatic means as much as possible.”

“I will do my best to help you. But how on earth are you going to do it? Is there any way?”

“Of course. Just trust me.”

“…Judging by your expression, I can tell you’re plotting something evil.”

Why did he have so little faith in people?

“Evil? I’m dedicating myself to the peace of Apennia.”

“I see it's that expression you had when you visited me in prison. I was swayed by you back then and switched sides, wasn't I?”

“And things turned out well, didn’t they? Is there a problem?”

“Yes, yes. Let’s just say that. So, are you going to tell me how you’re going to solve it now?”

I told Cavaldi an old story.

Once upon a time, in a certain desert, a man claiming to be a prophet went on a door-to-door sales pitch with a sword in one hand and a book in the other.

The customers were so moved by his passion that he hit the jackpot wherever he went, so the prophet started a business in his own name and became the chairman.

Then, a neighbor who was impressed by the chairman diligently developed the door-to-door sales strategy and achieved great success.

Its name was the birth of the ‘Empire on which the sun never sets,’ infamous for its imperialism and divide-and-rule policy.

Cavaldi, who heard this moving story, instead of learning a lesson, just went off on a tangent.

“In the end, isn't it important to wield a sword?”

“No. It means that you can’t solve everything with violence.”

He kept missing the point.

“Let's let the people of Apennia know which side is more beneficial. So that they can willingly switch sides.”

And if they still sided with Elance after that?

They would have to be beaten until they changed their minds.

In the first place, that’s why Pope Astro hired a mercenary company.

I handed Cavaldi the report that Selvi had prepared.

The report, painstakingly prepared by Selvi, clearly divided the countries that could be bought and those that couldn't, the countries that would be good to bring to our side and those that were unnecessary, and estimated the expenses involved in the process.

This was the report that would determine the future of the Black Company and its grand strategy.

“We have vast funds given to us by the Pope. Just imagine what limitless things we can do with that.”

“…That’s really thrilling.”

Cavaldi smiled.

A month after the promise with the Pope had passed.

I set out from Ratio.

***

The second summer I greeted in this world.

I marched through central Apennia under the banner of the Holy See.

However, as is usually the case with armies, the march was not a pleasant one.

“Cough. Cough. I’m going to die from the fine dust at this rate.”

“Then why are you opening your mouth when the dust is flying?”

“What can I do if it comes in on its own? Should I not breathe?”

“…?”

The summer climate of Apennia was dry and hot, so it was hard to say that it was good for marching even with empty words.

Moreover, thousands of people were marching at the same time. When such a mass moves, the earth naturally interacts with it.

Thanks to that, whenever we moved, the dust on the roadside rose up in a white cloud, making my eyes feel dry and my coughs burst out even if I just stood still.

The only fortunate thing was that the marching distance was not long.

“We’re almost there. Just bear with it a little longer.”

“Finally?”

Theo pointed ahead.

A city could be seen in the distance.

It was Aranova, a city several tens of kilometers north of Ratio.

Aranova was a small city that did not elect a mayor but was directly run by a group of local influential people called the Chapter.

When an army of several thousand approached, the Chapter of Aranova, instead of resisting, quickly opened its gates and welcomed the Black Company.

“Welcome. The Chapter of Aranova will welcome the Pope’s army.”

“It is an honor to meet the renowned Duke Gryph in person. Your Excellency, I am Giordano, the new chairman of the Chapter.”

The chairman and other members of the Chapter all came out to the front of the city gate and waved welcome placards.

As a sign of surrender, the chairman of the Chapter bowed and offered the keys to the city. I accepted the keys.

“I thank the Chapter of Aranova for its wise decision. I will keep these keys on behalf of His Holiness the Pope. I will remember your hospitality.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I wish to speak with the chairman, so everyone else, please withdraw.”

The people of the Chapter of Aranova seemed to have a lot to say, but they quietly withdrew when the mercenaries glared at them.

They seemed afraid that if they displeased me, the city would be burned down. Well. Do I look like I would do such a barbaric thing?

The reason I chose Aranova as the first target of attack was to publicize the Holy See’s diplomatic policy.

「If you surrender peacefully, nothing will happen. But if you dare to resist, you won't even be able to find your bones.」

That was why Aranova was chosen as the first demonstration target. Its military strength was poor and it had a strong pro-Pope tendency, so there were few variables, making it the perfect opponent for the Holy See to publicize externally.

Of course, I didn't just act on that belief alone.

Giordano, left alone, let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew. I was really worried until the very end that something might happen to Your Excellency.”

“That’s why I brought so many troops.”

“You never know, right? Some crazy person might rush to stab Your Excellency while shouting, ‘Long live Elance!’ If that had happened, the enraged mercenaries would have burned the city down.”

Giordano shivered as he imagined the scene.

Certainly, if an assassination attempt had occurred, the mercenaries would have swept through Aranova like a swarm of locusts.

However.

“My bodyguard is competent and would not have let that happen. Rest assured.”

“Yes. I have heard stories about Your Excellency’s bodyguard often. A Snow Elf, rare in Apennia.”

Theo, who had been grinning at my compliment, quickly put on a solemn expression when Giordano glanced at him. Like a middle schooler who wants to look cool to others. Geez.

Anyway, as you can see, Giordano and I were already acquainted.

While the mercenary company was training the Ratio army, I wasn't just playing around either.

Behind the scenes, I was diligently extending my tentacles to the cities and countries around Ratio.

— You need the Pope.

— Won't you switch sides when I’m being nice?

— Elance above Sierra! The Pope above Elance!

— Elance is far, and the Pope is near.

— I’m going to lead my troops and blow your heads off right now!

And at the same time, I put a box full of gold coins in the hands of influential people.

Then, people all came to their senses and began to face the reality of Apennia.

— The only one who can protect Apennia is not a foreign tyrant, but only the Pope and his mercenary company!

— Are you kidding? Have you forgotten that the mercenary commander is also a foreigner?

— Shut up! You’re an Elance spy!

Giordano, the chairman of Aranova, was one of the first to awaken.

Giordano contacted me, saying he would willingly surrender for the peace of Aranova, and I accepted his sincerity and decided to reorganize the ruling system of Aranova.

That was why the former chairman was suddenly kicked out and Giordano was newly elected as chairman.

What if he just takes the money and betrays me?

No need to worry.

Even if he had the thought of betrayal, the sight of the army I would lead would make that thought disappear completely.

Soldiers are experts in plunder, destruction, and arson.

It's not for nothing that they're called the dogs of war.

Just allowing them to plunder would make everyone kneel and beg for their lives.

In the first place, I didn't send gifts to those who couldn't be reasoned with, so there was no need to worry about them taking the money and running.

The countries that were already prepared to fight were already increasing their armaments and hiring mercenaries.

Thanks to that, Selvi and Cavaldi were diligently worn down by the backroom dealings.

I would like to express my condolences here to those who dedicated themselves to the mercenary company.

“By the way, Your Excellency, have you heard that rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“About Viterbo.”

Viterbo was a city further north from Aranova. It was also one of our future destinations.

I looked at him with a gaze that said to tell me the story quickly without wasting time.

Giordano flinched and quickly shared the latest information he had obtained.

“It seems they intend to fight on without surrendering. They have summoned their army and requested support from the surrounding areas. Of course, I don’t know if any country will respond to that request.”

“Thank you for the good information, Chairman Giordano. I will be careful.”

Giordano left with a face that looked like he was either disappointed that he couldn't surprise me or disappointed that he couldn't get my sincerity.

Well, should I be surprised by something like that?

I thought we would have to fight at some point. I just didn't know it would be Viterbo.

Theo evaluated Giordano.

“That man is quite greedy too. To think he’s trying to get more out of this.”

“Greed is a good thing.”

“Is it?”

“It means there’s a possibility to negotiate with anything. People with no greed are scarier. Because there are no options.”

In that respect, Giordano was an easy opponent to deal with. Because his desires were honest. If you know what someone wants, it's easy to negotiate. On the other hand, Viterbo was not honest.

“I need to find out if their intention to fight is a bluff to raise their price or if they’re serious.”