Chapter 260

Chapter 260 - Squatting (3)

"Count Morad told me to convey his regrets that he cannot advance togAAether. The cavalry of Grozja Khanate has really arrived in Goldford."

Goldford is the breadbasket at the border of Roman's west and north. While it's still unconfirmed if they are targeting the west, if they make a wrong move, the vassals' territories are at risk of burning.

"Still, they aren't completely withdrawing from the allied fOrces, right?"

"They will deviate from the southern main battlefield, but they probably intend to attack Emperor's faction fOrces as close to the west as possible. If the danger is resolved, they will join the south just like that."

Valda handed over a torn envelope with those words.

"Count Morad sent it to you."

- You may read the diplomatic letters that come to me first continuously.

- Your thought is an honor, but this is the inherent right of the head of the family.

Even if lords shared flesh as spouses, they did not share their intrinsic lordly authority. Tearing the seal of a letter sent addressed to the lord is one of them. Depending on the situation, it was treated as heavily as the right to adjudicate within the territory.

- Are we in a relationship to argue over intrinsic rights?

- Your perception of spouses seems too heavy.

Despite her words, Valda could not hide her joy.

- Wife, management partner, magician, advisor, chess teacher. The reasons overflow, so feel free to tear them open as much as you want. That way, the family runs smoothly even when I'm away.

- ...What's with chess teacher?

The contents of the letter were filled with various diplomatic rhetoric, but the important ones were two sentences.

First, that he was taking a step back inevitably to protect his territory from the evil barbarian tribes.

Second, if they ended up fighting the barbarian army, he hoped for support as an ally.

"Will you help?"

"As I said before, not at all."

Eugene cut it sharply.

In terms of strength, his army is unrivaled compared to any army of this era. Only the degree of casualties at the end of the battle changes, victory itself is fixed.

However, he had absolutely no thought of fighting the nomads' 3000 cavalry. That is like playing tag where casualties occur every time they chase.

"The Morad family's army has potential. It seems they prepared people to fight alongside even without us, so do not worry too much."

"You mean the Centaur tribes."

Count Morad's letter earnestly appealed to how much chance of winning there was if they fought. Since no one would consume their troops on a difficult-to-win battle.

And the card the Count prepared was the Centaurs. A tragic warrior race pushed all the way to Roman after losing the power struggle with the northeastern nomadic tribes.

To the Centaurs aiming for restoration to their homeland, the Grozja Khanate is an enemy and competitor they must defeat.

"A showdown between Centaurs and human nomadic tribes. There must be many nobles who'd want to pay to watch."

Mentor Godfrey undervalued Centaurs as an army, but that's when fighting alone. The story is different if allied with a powerful sedentary fOrce. It would be a quite exciting showdown.

* * *

"That is Hesed. A Free City whose primary businesses are slave trading and prostitution."

Mercenary captain Jackal pointed to a flashy city visible from afar. He is the leader of the mercenaries who followed from Bonyard, and he had been inside Hesed before.

Perhaps having already confirmed the invading army coming, the city closed its gates, and there was no one traveling outside. It seemed they also scraped up all supplies and brought them inside.

"Indeed fitting for a city of pleasure."

Eugene saw some buildings towering in the city. Truly a city whose main sources of income are slave trading and prostitution. There are extraordinary large statues erected on the roofs. They were naked women striking obscene poses.

"Due to the city's nature, mercenaries frequently visit. WhAAether coming to sell captured prisoners or after earning big to spend a vacation in the city."

For reference, among the prisoners sold off as slaves like this, former mercenary captains are also included. Waiting for an ending of taking a knife cut isn't the only thing if you mismanage the mercenary group and your subordinates' dissatisfaction hits its peak, right?

"They must have connections with strong mercenary groups to that extent too?"

"Yes. Countless mercenary captains scramble wanting to receive defense commissions there."

"Do they pay that much?"

"The pay is average, but they treat you very hospitably. Even a lowly mercenary captain can taste the feeling of becoming a Caliph of the Eastern Empire."

Several flags were hung above the city's main gates. The flag symbolizing Hesed in the very center, and next to it, the flag of the mercenary group currently contracted and stationed.

"Sir Knight. That is the Mad Dog Mercenaries."

Rex, who recognized the flag, said.

"A name that seems to have incredible grit."

"The original name was Faithful Dog Mercenaries. The founder was a pretty famous wandering knight, so it was named to mean keeping loyalty to the employer."

"How did the name change?"

"Because he operated it too knightly, subordinates who accumulated dissatisfaction stabbed him in the back."

"My."

"Afterwards, one of the centurions was elected, promising more plunder to his subordinates. And changed the name to Fierce Dog."

"By any chance, did that guy take a knife too? Since the name changed one more time."

Rex nodded his head.

"The 3rd one to become the boss is a proper lunatic. But both the guy and his subordinates definitely possess skills. Any decent mercenary group is reluctant to make enemies out of them."

"Why are those guys just milling around here? Treatment is treatment, but in the end, isn't a mercenary about money? If their skills are certain, they should be aiming for a proper jackpot during the civil war."

"Not only a highly cruel disposition, they ran away immediately when the battle became disadvantageous last year. The noble who was their employer back then properly suffered an unexpected calamity."

"A kind of self-reflection period, then."

If some time passes, there probably won't be a big hindrance in receiving work again. Because the expectations for mercenaries are extremely low in the first place.

- Did you hope for romance from a whore?

Even if a mercenary group smashes your foot and you complain, all that returns is mockery. Saying you are a retard for leaving your back to sellswords.

"Is there no way to bribe people like that?"

Homi, who was listening, asked. Having heavily the characteristic of Eugene's shadow and escort warrior, she had recently started giving somewhat strategic opinions. Since she couldn't stay as just a squire forever.

"Homi. That will be hard. Behind castle walls, everyone turns brave and full of loyalty. The city's executives aren't fools either, so they probably considered that."

The Mad Dog Mercenaries striking their employer in the back was in the plains. Because if you can't escape in time, it's the end.

"I have to try negotiating first."

A siege is an even more repulsive matter than fighting a nomadic tribe's cavalry. If it could be resolved through conversation, nothing could be better.

When Homi approached holding the Mayer family's flag, a man draped in flashy ornaments appeared. He dependably swept a glance over the heavily armed mercenaries lined up on the walls.

"Listen! People of Hesed! May..."

Kaaak! Twaet!

A falling glob of phlegm cut off Homi's clear voice in one stroke.

"We are loyal to the noble and mighty Emperor! We don't even want to share words with rebels, so get lost!"

The other party had absolutely no thought of negotiating.

"Good job."

"...Yes."

Eugene patted the drooping Homi's shoulder as she returned.

"Free Cities usually maintain a line even if they pick a side. They don't give their loyalty to the point of giving out their liver and gallbladder like this. It seems they were definitely promised quite a lot of concessions."

"Because the moment business in the shadows receives the protection of public power, profitability explodes."

Eugene also agreed with Valda's words. Because both of them were things they experienced while running Haven City. Any stronghold above a certain size invariably develops shadow factions.

Eugene's couple also knew it was impossible to exterminate them all. No matter how much you hollow them out, they bloom anew like mold. It was better to rather pick a suitable guy and control them by backing them up.

- We will appropriately turn a blind eye to other things, but drugs are a no.

- Of course. Besides flour, sugar, and salt, if I see any guy trading white powder, I will cut off his limbs and sink him in the Thames River.

- Oh...

Organizations receiving the patronage of those in power crush competing organizations in a single breath and grow rapidly.

Meanwhile, the man on the walls of Hesed bellowed loudly.

"We have food to endure for 1 year and patience beyond that! We even sent a request for support to His Majesty the Emperor, so if you don't wanna suffer hardships, withdraw quickly!"

Contrary to his outward bravado, he seemed very reluctant to fight Eugene's army inside.

The people of Hesed are merchants of the shadows. Due to the rights promised by the Emperor, they can't straddle the fence with the Noble's faction, but they have no intention of fighting like loyal subjects.

Like that, the story transitioned to a siege.

* * *

"There was a reason they called it a fortress city."

Hesed was a place boasting considerable defense even compared to other cities Eugene had seen.

"When a mercenary group that captured nobles feels burdened to deal with that family, they hand them over here. The city takes a brokerage fee and sells them back to the family instead."

"Distribution always makes money, right? Amongst all that, you must have gotten on the bad side of this family and that family?"

At Valda's words, Eugene understood why the city was built so sturdily.

"Prestigious noble families dragging their armies here had happened multiple times. Saying that calling a ransom too high or yielding to mere slave traders is a humiliation. However, Hesed overcame all of them."

The castle's sturdiness isn't just to protect their bodies. It's essentially also one business tool for ransom trades.

Having failed negotiations, Eugene's army established a siege line in front of the castle.

"Now, how do we drop that?"

Hesed isn't built on highlands, but it borders Rein River. Moreover, it's a place where several tributaries meet, so wide water like a lake wraps around seven tenths of the city.

The front side has towering and solid walls, and rivers flow within the city too. Ships can go in and out, making external supply and rescue requests possible even if land routes are blocked. There was a reason they blocked all attacks so far.

"But why is there no moat? If they added a moat, it would be a perfect impregnability."

"They use the river streams flowing inside the city for sewage treatment as well."

Jackal, who knows Hesed well, answered.

"What does that have to do with it?"

"Since Hesed is a point where several tributaries meet, the water currents get twisted bizarrely, they say. If they dig a moat, the feces, urine, and all sorts of filth the city discharges will pool in front of the castle and sediment."

"What about blocking both ends and just filling it with water?"

"Because it's a place vulnerable to epidemics even usually. It's inconvenient for trade too."

It seems they tried a lot in the past but withdrew it due to severe side-effects. Rampage, who was listening, stepped forward feeling it was his time.

"How about digging a tunnel? I guarantee that no siege unit in the world is more adept at tunneling than us."

Rampage pointed at the Vertigos resting in one part of the formation.

"Stop! Stop! This much is enough!"

"Ouin! Send one more over here!"

The Dwarves were coaxing the Vertigos with sweet potatoes and making them do trench construction.

To build toilets or set up trenches and wooden palisades to prepare against raids, one must dig the ground first.

The Vertigo roams the battlefield as heavy cavalry during combat, but is working as combat engineers in non-combat situations.

Papapak!

Every time the lethal claws moved, soil piled up with tremendous momentum. Having been born a large beast that digs the ground and eats bulbous plants, they were greatly active in this area.

Once they start breeding and secure sufficient numbers, there were plans to mobilize them for mine development in the New Continent.

"Captain Rampage. There were already armies that tried to dig tunnels, but they all failed. The ground is soft so it digs well, but as you dig, they say water surges up from somewhere."

"Kkeu-eung."

Breaching the castle gate was also impossible.

"It is on a different level from the castle gate of Codon Castle Your Excellency broke. Since that is 100% steel. Do you see those hexagonal holes? They are structures strong against external impact while lowering weight."

Mobilizing catapults or siege towers was difficult since the castle walls were abnormally high and sturdy. Furthermore, the higher the walls went, the more they protruded outwards in a reverse diagonal form.

This potential was possible because they concentrated all defensive power on the front land route. Not digging a moat also made maintenance convenient.

"A frontal attack is a suicidal act. Even if we somehow capture it, the casualties will be severe."

Hind said cautiously.

From Eugene's perspective, considering the Dark Elf refugees and the detained nobles, it's too precious of a prey to give up.

Hind also didn't suggest retreating because he knew that. However, just looking at Hesed's castle walls filled one with frustration.

"Will they know the reason I am trying to strike here?"

"Not completely. The city's wealth and expelling the Emperor's faction fOrces. They'd probably just be thinking about that much."

Rex shook his head.

Just because they are the same race doesn't mean they are tied togAAether by a bond. Especially in cases like Dark Elves where most live as nomadic tribes, the hostility toward each other was even worse. It wasn't for nothing they held Grand Festivals to promote harmony.

The executives of Hesed, who are people of Roman, know that well. Rumors of Eugene protecting the refugees coming to his territory must be gradually spreading. However, if told he would even attempt a siege just for that, everyone would mock it as a crazy thought.

"If they put forward hostages, I suspect they'd hang out the nobles."

"That's fine. What must be given must be given. If those guys have brains, they won't kill them all."

It's impossible to attempt an attack while saving all hostages. Even if there are some sacrifices, he can just defer that much to the sins of the wicked slave traders and mercenaries. The current Eugene had that much authority.

"A frontal assault is indeed a no. Forming a special assault team to scale the walls is the best, but..."

At Eugene's muttering, volunteers stepped forward from all sides.

"Once it becomes night, it seems deep darkness will settle on the castle wall at that corner over there! If you give me just 10 men, I will climb up and open the castle gate without fail!"

"That is a trap. It's a structural design inducing the attacking side to hang onto there. They will deploy defense soldiers paying more attention to there than other places. Did you sleep during siege tactics theory class?"

"Ah, yes. No no, I didn't mean I slept."

Henri, who stepped out ambitiously, was flustered at Hind's words.

Tok tok.

Just then, a finger tapped Eugene's shoulder. His vision turning around was filled completely with purple-dyed fingernails.

"If it's work that must be done under the cover of darkness, it's our specialty."

It was Cassandra.

The Caracal Special FOrces she leads specializes in missions that cannot be handled with orthodox tactics. Moreover, their track record is spectacular.

"We have already dropped Sludge Hold at D'vier Castle. Now we wish to add the name of Hesed to our hunting list."

At her brimming confidence, Rampage said worriedly. Spending time togAAether, hate turning into friendship fermenting was the same for Dwarves.

"Look here. It's different from D'vier Castle built on coastal cliffs. That place is structured such that it's hard to grab onto anything and climb."

"We will climb a much lower and easier place, though?"

The place Cassandra pointed to is the section surrounded by the river water.

"No, seriously?"

"You guys would sink right away, but we float on water."

"Don't joke around!"

Rampage shrieked. While the castle walls touching the river water looked low from the outside, assuming infiltration, it was a far more dangerous route than the front.