Chapter 92

A neighbor is a term that refers to the person living next door, the person living downstairs, the person living upstairs, and so on.

However, just as noise between floors is easily heard when close together, the neighboring Pescara and Messina had traditionally been on bad terms.

And being on bad terms with a neighboring country also meant they had waged wars so numerous they were recorded multiple times in history books.

If it weren't for the money problems, Pescara and Messina would never have joined forces against Fasa.

But seeing Rene get beaten to a pulp by Rhom evoked a sense of sympathy even in Luca.

Rhom had crushed Rene as if twisting a child's arm.

Compared to a proper knight who had rolled in the mud, the young master of a prestigious family was no match.

Realizing this fact, Rene's spirits were completely dampened.

Luca approached Rene to console him and spoke.

“I'm sorry about what happened earlier.”

As he said this, Luca offered a gentle smile.

Hearing the kind words, Rene's eyes widened.

“You bastard, are you mocking me now?”

Luca's face hardened at the aggression Rene displayed.

Luca had overlooked how sensitively an adolescent boy's feelings would take the recent defeat.

That was precisely the problem.

One should never approach a wounded animal.

Being beaten in front of others had shattered Rene's pride, and he was ashamed of being laughed at by others. (Though in reality, no one had laughed.)

When Luca spoke to him and even smiled at such a moment, Rene perceived it as mockery.

“What are you looking at? Is this funny?”

Rene's decision might have been because Luca seemed like an easy target, or because he didn't like Luca's handsome appearance.

Or perhaps it was because Rhom hadn't broken his spirit enough.

However, Luca was not as soft as he looked.

By the time Rene said, "What are you looking at," Luca had already clenched his fists.

The Orso family was also a prestigious family of Pescara.

They did not simply back down after being insulted for no reason.

The Orso family had not taught Luca to do so.

Thwack!

“You Messina pig!”

“Ack! A Pescara bastard is hitting people!”

***

I listened to the screams coming from the training ground as I sipped the coffee Theo poured for me.

God must have blessed caffeine when He created this world.

“Sweet.”

“The screams?”

What kind of talk is that, Theo.

“What do you take me for? I was talking about the coffee. And I'm not that cruel of a person.”

“I don't know who would agree with that, but fine, take a look at this.”

“What's this?”

I scanned the paper Theo handed me.

“It's a list of the people who have joined the mercenary company this time. I thought you should take a look.”

“Well, what could be so special about it?”

Honestly, wondering what great figures could possibly be there, I casually flipped the first page of the document, and my eyes immediately widened.

“Huh? Look at this?”

“What is it?”

“There are a few names I know.”

Theo, who leaned in from the side, read the names I pointed to.

“Luca Orso. Rene Calaci? Do you think these guys will be alright? Have you met them before?”

“I've heard their names.”

“Where?”

“Around.”

“Ugh, why do you have so many secrets?”

Because you wouldn't believe me even if I told you.

Who would believe me if I said I had the soul of a modern person?

I'd just be treated like a madman.

Instead of making excuses, I marked the names on the list with red ink.

It was like hitting a medium jackpot on something I hadn't expected much from.

Unless I was mistaken, these were definitely characters who appeared in Warlord Saga.

Of course, that didn't mean they were incredibly high-performing characters.

In user evaluations, they were B- rank at best?

Then why were they important?

Because they were the right kind of talent for our mercenary company, which was weak in the mid-tier.

Due to the developers' tricks, it was impossible to fill all companion slots with aces even in the game, and it wasn't possible for one ace to handle the work of a hundred people alone.

Now that the game had become reality, it was even more so.

Besides, in our company, most members, aside from Eleonor or Selvi Murray, didn't even appear in the game.

But even Ishmael and Rhom showed they could perform well if given the opportunity.

So, my expectation for these two was that since they appeared in the game, I could hope for more potential from them than from others.

“If we use these guys well, we won't have to worry about a shortage of people in the future.”

“You've never even met them, yet you have such a high opinion of them. Did you perhaps take a bribe behind my back?”

“What do you take me for. It's a gut feeling. I just have a feeling about them.”

“Come on. If you've got something good, share it.”

“There's nothing!”

Just then, a loud noise came from the training ground.

The sound of someone fighting.

The sound of someone trying to stop it.

Shouts, and so on.

Considering the considerable distance from the training ground to the office, it seemed a major brawl had broken out.

“Hmm, surely Rhom hasn't caused trouble already? I told him that a fatal accident must never, ever happen. It hasn't even been a few hours since they joined?”

“Should I go and beat them up a little?”

“No. I'll go and check myself.”

If Rhom was to be scolded, I should be the one to do it.

I quickly grabbed my coat and rushed outside.

Finding the source of the problem wasn't difficult.

I just had to find the place where a lot of people were gathered.

When I appeared, the scene of the incident froze over.

It meant that both the mercenaries in charge of training and the new recruits were watching me cautiously.

Among them, I spotted Rhom trying to sneak away and pointed my finger at him.

By the power of the mercenary captain, Rhom froze like a stone.

“Rhom, who the hell are the ones causing trouble on the very first day?”

“I'm sorry.”

“That's not what I want to hear. What is it?”

“Well, the culprits are trainee Luca Orso and trainee Rene Calaci. A fight suddenly broke out.”

“What?!”

Of all people, it had to be them?

As their names were called, two young men with bruised faces stepped forward timidly.

At least they weren't acting up in front of the captain, and as expected, I felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if I knew who they were the moment I saw them.

“Damn it, what a bunch of unnecessarily hot-blooded guys.”

“They're at that age.”

“I wasn't like that.”

“I'm sure you were.”

Theo, who remembered this body's delinquent past, muttered skeptically.

I ignored him.

Asking why they fought here wouldn't be important.

They might not have liked the way they looked at each other, or they might not have liked each other's appearance.

But come to think of it, that was quite possible.

Even in Warlord Saga, the fates of Luca Orso and Rene Calaci were very different.

As long as Pescara didn't fall, Luca often became the leader or dictator of Pescara in the latter half of the game.

On the other hand, Rene, perhaps due to the many ups and downs in his life, left his country and often served as a knight commander or mercenary captain of another nation in the later stages.

I didn't know why such a big difference occurred when both came from prestigious family backgrounds.

There must have been a good reason for their fates to diverge.

Judging solely from the information at hand, it was clear that the two of them were not compatible.

Theo whispered from behind.

“It seems some troublemakers have joined us. Should I go beat them up a little?”

“That's enough. This is not for you to handle.”

“Aww.”

“And if you hit them, they'll die…”

I stopped whispering and looked at the mercenaries who resembled frightened ostriches.

This was also a kind of ordeal.

If I couldn't solve this, I wouldn't be able to gain the trust of my subordinates.

After racking my brain for a while, I made a decision like an adult.

“As punishment, have those two clean the latrines for a month. They'll probably become friends while doing it!”

***

Leon thought he had dealt with and solved the problem like an adult, but as is often the case with adult solutions, Leon's decision overlooked many things.

Especially the fact that children have their own ways.

(Since they were young men who had just passed their sixteenth birthday and had their coming-of-age ceremony, they could be called kids by Leon's modern standards.)

“Hey, kill that one!”

“No, don't kill him, just beat him up!”

“Waaaaah!”

It is difficult for neighbors to live in harmony.

The closer they are, the more clearly they see each other's flaws.

Although they had allied by chance this time, Pescara and Messina were traditional rivals.

Moreover, they were blaming each other for the defeat in the recent war.

As a result, what seemed like a minor clash between Luca and Rene began to develop into a brawl with the pride of Pescara and Messina at stake.

Every training session, one trainee after another would end up with a black eye or be carried off to the infirmary.

The people from Urdino and Fasa at least stayed back, but that fact did not bring peace to Leon's mind and body.

“Don't you think Pescara will win today?”

“Rene is stronger than Luca, but it's about time he won.”

“Hey, hey, the captain is here.”

When there was a fight, you couldn't leave out betting.

Those who didn't participate in the brawl were naturally placing bets.

Leon, who had appeared behind them at some point, stared at the gamblers with dead eyes.

The members who were betting quickly overturned the board, but it was already too late.

Theo had appeared with the military police.

“Theo, write down the names of every single person here without exception.”

“Understood.”

“And Sir Eleonor, what is a person who should be controlling her subordinates doing here?”

“I was merely recording a daily event…”

“……”

Eleonor, who was bold enough to talk back to the Duke of Aquitaine, couldn't even make an excuse under Leon's indifferent gaze.

Everyone said that the number one in the mercenary company's hierarchy was the approval documents, second was Eleonor, and Leon was just third, but that was just a joke.

A joke is not the truth.

‘He's serious. If I talk back here, he'll get really angry.’

People naturally expect to be relied on by others in relationships, even without saying a word.

Leon's gaze, devoid of such expectation, instinctively set off alarm bells in Eleonor's brain.

“Sir Eleonor, did I ask for much?”

“I'm sorry.”

“A high-ranking officer should be helping to control the unit, not participating in gambling?”

“I'm sorry.”

“...Let's talk about this later. For today, you may go back up.”

“Yes, sir.”

Eleonor quickly gathered her subordinates and fled into the headquarters as if escaping.

In the meantime, the military police suppressed the brawl.

They beat down the troublemaking fighters with clubs.

The military police were very accustomed to this kind of work.

Because mercenaries getting drunk and fighting in pubs was a daily occurrence.

Leon let out a deep sigh.

“I don't know if this is some back-alley pub or the mercenary headquarters. It's a real disgrace to the company.”

“I'm sorry.”

“What do you have to be sorry for. This is all my karma.”

Theo kept his mouth firmly shut.

Leon was the supreme commander of the mercenary company.

Of course, Leon was not without responsibility for things turning out this way.

But if he said, 'Yes, it is your fault,' here, a real life-or-death struggle could ensue.

Of course, if they really fought, Theo would win…

“Was I too lenient? Was it impossible to proceed with both at the same time?”

Theo felt a chill run down his spine as he heard Leon's sudden muttering.

A cold anger had surfaced on Leon's face.

The demeanor of a ruler, forged through numerous incidents, was now beginning to appear in Leon as well.

That appearance reminded Theo of the traces of someone familiar.

Theo couldn't help but see that person superimposed on Leon.

‘The young master is indeed of imperial blood.’

Although everyone considered him friendly, Leon was the captain of the mercenary company.

It was unknown what would happen if Leon became aware of his power and wielded it in earnest.

Instinctively feeling a sense of crisis at Leon's new side, Theo urgently came to his senses and made an excuse.

“It's just that the people of Apennia are too passionate. People here are known for that one thing, aren't they.”

“Still, this isn't the way to do it, really.”

Leon's insides were boiling.

The slowdown in personnel recruitment would hinder progress on the next plan.

But he couldn't ignore it and carry on with internal problems.

It was a problem that had to be resolved here and now.

“The old guys and the young guys are all the same, I can't stand to look at them. These guys are causing trouble because life is too easy for them! At least they could have fought where I couldn't see them! Doing this out in the open? I can't just let this go.”

“Have you thought of any good solution?”

“I have to fix their mentality first. Even if it means working overtime because of delayed work, this won't do. If I don't improve their constitution now, it will hold me back for a long time.”

“Huck.”

Theo was dismayed at the sudden declaration of overtime, but Leon had no more patience left.

Leon brought out his final solution.

“From this moment on, the mercenary company will switch to a 24-hour intensive training week. If this place feels like heaven, I'll turn it into hell.”

In the movies, the only moment earthlings, who waged war amongst themselves daily, united was when a powerful alien invaded.

To make the young men of Pescara and Messina reconcile, they needed a common enemy of that caliber.

And in Leon's mind, the angry senior mercenaries who didn't want to work overtime seemed more than sufficient to become that common enemy.