Chapter 72

The deepest part of the barracks is primarily where the highest commander resides and serves as an office.

For that reason, it is the most thoroughly controlled area within the barracks, making it difficult to extract ‘confidential’ information due to various security measures.

Thus, it is not uncommon for counts to place small but expensive luxury beds in the commander’s room for secret rendezvous with their lovers.

The thorough control means that only the duty soldiers and officers on duty in the commander’s office know what occurs inside.

As I stepped deeper into the barracks where the commander resided, there sat, as expected, a “man in his sixties with piercing eyes” at the desk in the office.

The sight of the duke dressed in the finest coat made of red velvet fabric, more expensive than silk, embroidered with golden thread featuring his family crest, exuded an overwhelming sense of authority.

I thought that if Ela were to see the duke sitting here, she might cover her face with my back in fear, unable to avert her eyes.

Behind him stood a man in a white velvet coat embroidered with silver thread and wearing a rapier adorned with gold embroidery, also in his sixties.

The pressure emanated from these two was similar to the feeling I had when facing dozens of knights riding horses during the Battle of Stuttgart against the Schwabin.

I momentarily recoiled, but since these were men who would ensure I suffered a fatal blow if I flinched,

I straightened my posture and bowed respectfully, kneeling on one knee, neither groveling nor overdoing it.

“I, SIEL von Croilet, humbly greet Your Excellency, Duke Brussels. I am honored that you regard me so favorably; it will bring glory to my family for generations.”

After hearing my greeting, the duke laughed for about thirty seconds while holding his belly and then said,

“Enough of that, Count Croilet. The white reaper of the battlefield who drove back 1800 knights with 2000 infantry does not need to bow to an old man like me. You wouldn’t even consider it, would you?”

However, you intend to reprimand me to shake my mental composure into negotiating, thinking that I wouldn’t initially bow.

Even though I was soon to be approved for the title of ‘count’, my status as a mere baron would lead to severe consequences if I committed any insult before Your Excellency.

Thus, I smiled and sincerely praised the duke to gain leverage in the negotiation.

“I believe our military conscription and training methods have spread widely, but besides Your Excellency, no one has truly implemented them. You have even devised a ‘baptism’ for soldiers to instill ‘honor and responsibility’ when they enlist, and you provide them with weapons and armor using contract funds. Therefore, I assure you that your army will undoubtedly play the most significant role in the forthcoming succession war for the throne. Hence, to survive, a humble count like me must seek your grace.”

Everything I said was true.

Honestly, if I could stabilize the entire Count Nante territory, I could make a splash, ally with a successor, and enter the war to achieve victory…

But our Nante is too far from Elysium, the capital and imperial city of Elaline, to participate alone.

Thus, among the participants of the ‘Great Game’ that is the succession war, it is already a foregone conclusion that Duke Brussels, possessing the largest power and the capacity to train the most elite troops, would emerge victorious.

Upon hearing my words, the duke pondered for a moment and then spoke, his expression filled with curiosity.

No, he was already aware, and with a smile suggesting he’d chew me up if I couldn’t answer properly, he asked,

“Is that so? According to Baron Wilhelm, who secretly observed the war with Schwabin in Stuttgart, your infantry is said to be the strongest in all of Europa?”

“Even if it’s the strongest, I do not intend to aim for the regency of His Imperial Majesty. Naturally, I won’t participate in the war for the emperor’s ascension. The reason is… Your Excellency knows, doesn’t you?”

After hearing this, the duke laughed and replied,

“Even so, I find it hard to believe! Wilhelm said we have about 3000 knights, and if you were to clash with them in a place like Stuttgart, your 5000 infantry would certainly be defeated.”

“Your Excellency, no matter how keen Baron Wilhelm’s eyes might be, that is…”

In response to my rebuttal, the duke dismissed it with a wave as if it was a trivial matter.

“Wilhelm is a swordmaster recognized through the bloodied sword of Franche. There’s no way he could mispredict the ‘outcome of armed conflict.'”

I found myself at a loss for words to counter that.

Though this world lacks magical powers, the title of ‘swordmaster’ exists, and those possessing it are acknowledged as the greatest knights in terms of martial prowess, regardless of social standing.

Indeed, a swordmaster is capable of fighting three knights and winning, even when outnumbered.

Against common peasant soldiers, exaggerating slightly, a swordmaster could win even when facing 100 to 1.

Of course, without armor, it would be tough even at 10 to 1.

But with armor, even 100 to 1 wouldn’t penetrate their defense in the slightest.

Thus, to rebut a swordmaster’s assurances regarding ‘armed conflict’ without basis would earn one the moniker of ‘Schwabin.’

“I was too humble.”

“You’ve grasped it well. The person from whom I learned how to build this infantry is you. When I said I was going to fight that pig, I was so worried you might win that I sent a ‘spy’ to gather information. The insights gathered by the spy, who joined as a rookie about a month later, form the basis of this unit. Maybe that’s why there’s quite a bit lacking.”

I thought the duke had seen the structure of this infantry and learned how I gathered and trained the soldiers.

I never expected that building such a large unit system would come from merely piecing together the highly fragmentary information from a rookie spy.

Is this how our time’s duke operates? Damn, it makes my heart swell.

I feel so wronged that I might want to break a gravestone in the Schwabin cemetery once more; if I had only served under this man, I could have lived comfortably!!

The duke seemed to truly enjoy my expression of frustration, speaking with the brightest smile I had ever seen.

“Oh, and that fellow you’ve been inquiring about was the spy who had joined as a rookie. He performed so well that I have now promoted him to Captain Hundred based on his capabilities. If he achieves merit in the next battle, I’ll see to it he becomes a knight; I’ve even secured a territory for him. Keep this a secret from him.”

Why did this duke, who I thought would be prestigious, steal the rightful promotion and treatment based on my achievements?

At this rate, he’s likely to establish a medal patterned after his own territory when he creates one. It’s maddening.

So, I just laughed it off.

“I never imagined that a nobleman like Your Excellency would use my methods… Truly.”

“If there is something good, one should learn. Initially, it annoyed me to learn from a young fellow in his early twenties, but as I watched and analyzed you, I lost that thought. Don’t you think so, Jack?”

Hearing this, the man standing behind the duke responded with a smile.

“Indeed, I still recall Your Excellency lamenting, ‘Why did Deus have to birth me in this world and let that Croilet fellow be born as well?’”

“Let’s drop that topic… It’s an embarrassing memory. I never expected to shout that at over sixty, and for you to hear it of all people…”

“Well, we are alike in that we were both lowborn; when we were younger, it was scary to face a pay cut, but now it is nothing. It’s been over twenty years since Your Excellency last paid me, hasn’t it?”

“……”

Typically, I would have laughed and relaxed at the sight of high-ranking nobles engaging in banter.

It is truly amusing to see middle-aged gentlemen in their sixties — especially a duke far above me and a count — bickering like high school students at that age.

Some strange individuals might even find such a sight cute…

However, during a meeting involving ‘nobles of count rank or higher,’ relaxing my guard could earn me a title far worse than simple folly.

Because the moment I let my guard down, those cunning counts and dukes would surely take advantage by performing a surprise attack when I was least suspecting.

So, I looked at the duo, performing a comedy staged by those malicious political geniuses, with a more serious expression.

The two seemed to notice this reaction as they spoke with a hint of exasperation.

“When I was that age, I would have been easily lured into letting my guard down just from watching such a scene. Truly, a Croilet; you have not been deceived. Look at that face, he’s glaring as if he’s ready to kill someone.”

“I apologize, Your Excellency. Even after hearing your story, I still…”

“It’s no loss to me.”

Just as I suspected…

After all, both Brussels and Hunt need to extract something from me, so they won’t think of ending my life here.

However, in terms of their political acumen, they have more than triple my experience and cunning, and they have double the numbers.

Even more concerning is that they intend to negotiate in the most advantageous position and condition for them when I am at my most flustered.

At this rate, it seems I could relax a bit, but the sinister determination to drain any last speck of dust from me, even at the cost of honor and pride, is annoyingly… the mark of ideal political schemers.

So I thought it would be advantageous to drop the ‘deterrence’ before the negotiation.

Damn, regardless of what negotiation I enter, starting from a position of strength yields the most benefit…

It’s the first time your presence has caused me to abandon the upper hand in a negotiation, Your Excellency…

“I’ll ask straight to the point, Your Excellency. What do you want?”

Upon hearing this, the duke beamed and said,

“Ah, you are human after all. Good, what I desire is simple. Here’s a rough outline of what I’ve prepared. Let’s start the negotiations.”

“I humbly accept, Your Excellency.”

I read the contract with the rough outlines delivered by the duke.

The contents were approximately as follows.

1. The authority over the territories of Nante, held by Count Croilet, along with the subordinate baronies of Helzman and Croilet, is recognized.

2. To this end, the House of Duke Brussels will guarantee negotiations with the imperial family, and upon the recognition of count rank, Count Croilet shall pay a tribute of 10,000 gold coins.

3. The House of Duke Brussels is the patron of the House of Count Croilet and has a duty to protect it.

4. In exchange, the Count Croilet family will provide as much support as required by the duke’s family.

5. In the future, both families will treat each other with faith, and the head of the Count Croilet family will discuss matters of peace for Elaline with the head of the Duke Brussels family at least once every year or every two years.

6. Both parties will adhere to points 1 through 5, and if the head of the Count Croilet family agrees, the House of Duke Brussels will send their daughter to SIEL von Croilet to form a marital alliance to strengthen the bond.

Is this really such a lovingly crafted way of saying that if I don’t want to die, I should come under his command…

But given my current situation, recognizing ‘the territories completely’ and offering recognition of nobility in exchange for 10,000 gold coins is indeed a favorable deal.

Moreover, unless the duke is insane, he would not underestimate me, who will soon command more than 20,000 troops nearly as powerful as knights.

No matter how the situation twists, given that I am in the position of ‘first retainer’ receiving treatment comparable to or higher than that of Count Hunt next to me…

And if I align myself, there is a 100% chance the House of Duke Brussels will elevate ‘a royal family with a claim to the throne’ to emperor…

If luck smiles upon me, the duke will act as regent while I might become the chancellor; it’s not a bad term at all.

After I finished reading the contract, the duke, sporting a smile brighter than the sun, asked me,

“Count Croilet, let’s be honest. If you and I join forces, we can be sure to win the emperor’s succession war. Just training my infantry with your soldiers alone could lead us to dominate every battlefield with over 50,000 elite infantry and around 5,000 knights. After just three years of war, we can install a puppet emperor. Should I become regent then, I shall grant you the position of imperial chancellor. Power, women, wealth… don’t you wish for all of this? Additionally, should I succeed in raising the emperor, I will see to it that your concubine, Ela, becomes a principal wife. In that case, I would receive the daughter of my concubine, but… so, what will you do?”

At that moment, the duke appeared as a devil.

Sweet as sugar, white as snow, his tempting offer resembled a demon tempting Deus from the Bible…

After a brief moment of contemplation, I opened my mouth.

“I…