Chapter 35 Key Personnel eting
The key personnel eting was convened imdiately after returning to Marquis Hoover's territory.
Jursi Mozak expressed regret at the rejection of the recruitnt proposal but did not pursue it further, the Grima rcenary Company departed on their own path promising future etings, and the envoy group entered the main castle praising the hard work of the Mountain Rabbit.
Accordingly, Commander Royce imdiately convened a eting.
"Looking at how no news about territorial wars has been heard so far, we can assu there's no conflict between Duke Saitz and Marquis Hoover. But we don't have the luxury of taking a break."
"So it's war after all?"
"Yes, Gregor. The Niboria Empire will co down."
Inside the room stood Vice-Captain Marik and Gregor, Zahira and Basim, Hadiya and others - those with special abilities in their respective fields.
Essentially, the executive-level figures of the ‘Mountain Rabbit'.
For Calix, this was a novel experience.
Not because it was his first ti participating in such a eting. Rather, it was because he had co to realize that each of the rcenaries before him had their own life purposes, and they were with ‘Mountain Rabbit’ to achieve those goals.
Even though he was acquainted with everyone except Vice-Captain Marik, they looked strangely different to him now.
"Then we don't have much ti. Ah, since our cook comrade has co in for the first ti, an explanation would be necessary."
"I'll explain that. Calix, large rcenary companies like us don't participate in the beginning of wars. Of course, the commission fees are ridiculously large. But why do the nobles pay that much money? The answer is because it's 'money they don't have to pay'"
"Money they don't have to pay... aning they're lives are destined to die anyway?"
"As expected, you're smart."
However, Hadiya rattled off information about the chanics of rcenary activities. She said they must always keep the Niboria Empire's invasion in mind during the transition to autumn.
"In the early stages, it's beco a kind of formula to gather conscripted soldiers and low-level rcenaries blinded by money to hold out. Then doesn't the northern part of the kingdom beco a ss? That place is a ss even without war."
"Yeah, I've heard that many tis and know it well. I've experienced it directly, too."
"Right. Once war breaks out, the nobles will flee in all directions as if they've been waiting for it, and the imperial army will slowly march south while plundering. What they want isn't territory but food. After that, a front line will form at a point between the central and northern regions. And that's when the 'real' fighting begins. After gathering the core rcenary companies within the kingdom, we have to hold out until support troops arrive from the rcenary kingdom of Gardia, the Elvra Holy Empire, or the Latia Republic."
This was equally novel. In the storybooks he had read at the Marquis Ashapel's house during his childhood, the opposite content was written.
'The Niboria Empire was described as being on the side of justice, while conversely, other nations were portrayed as envying them.'
This was true for a total of seven kingdoms and empires, including Gardia in the continental southeast, the Elvra Holy Empire in the northeast, and the island nation Latia Republic in the southwest.
But it turned out they were temporarily joining hands to sohow block the Niboria Empire.
"This is why fertile lands are no good. It's best to establish a base in the mountains like Biale."
"Basim, Biale dug tunnels and hid. That's why they're always starving."
"Who's starving! We trade. Everyone's going crazy trying to get Biale-made equipnt, but craftsn have their own way of life. This is why humans are...!"
"Yes, yes. Anyway, Calix. For the reasons ntioned earlier, the ti when the Mountain Rabbit is summoned to the north is at the earliest the beginning of winter. Until then, we have to coordinate timing while taking on other missions."
Seureu-reuk.
Just then, a bundle of papers slides in front of him.
Mission proposals.
However, before reading these, there was one thing he wanted to ask.
"But do we have to participate in the war? If it's mandatory conscription, we'd have to consider travel ti too."
"There's nothing mandatory. We could temporarily cross the border to avoid it. But we're not a small-scale rcenary company, right? To make a living, to take care of what each of us needs to take care of, we have to take reasonable risks. Just taking trivial requests is aningless. Above all, going to war doesn't necessarily put you in mortal danger."
It was an unnecessary question.
For the Mountain Rabbit, choosing the safe path was aningless. Even Calix himself was the sa. If he participated in the war, he would surely be able to gather information about the Marquis Ashapel's house.
Basa-rak.
Accordingly, his eyes naturally scan the mission proposals.
The first request was... A proposal from Marquis Hoover. A mission to visit the capital with a negotiation team to be sent to Duke Saitz.
Everyone was frowning, so there seed to be no need to lead the opposition.
"Commander, let's skip this one. We've wiped enough shit for them. Being swayed by the nobles' pressure ends here."
"I think the sa. I think now is the ti to step back from a distance."
"I also agree with Basim and Zahira's opinions."
Therefore, the first proposal was imdiately discarded.
And after that, a couple more requests t the sa fate. So were because the commission fees weren't sufficient, and so were problematic because they were conversely too excessive.
"This is a scam, right?"
"Probably. The commission fee is too high for guarding a mine. We don't mind dangerous work, but we shouldn't take requests that seem to hide their contents."
"Mm-hmm."
The scraps of paper flutter by. The format was that Royce would explain each request in order, and Calix would nod to indicate that there were no problems.
At the end, only two requests remained.
"One of the final candidates is a caravan escort. The commission fee is 8 gold. From southwest to east. Even though the travel period is long, it should roughly coincide with the war conscription timing."
"Which trading company?"
"Golden Toad."
"Paynt won't be a problem then."
"When have we ever had problems not getting paid? The problem is when the client has neither money nor goods."
"That's true."
The other one was-
「Mission Proposal/ From: Astria Kingdom, Star Haven, rcenary Guild Central Branch.
To: rcenary Company ‘Mountain Rabbit’.
Client: Erianka, Count Erchi Mission
Na: Southwest Erianka 'Night Rift' Investigation and Cause Elimination Minimum
Mission Performance Qualification: ?? rcenary company of '4 knots' or higher
[Mission Summary]
Recently, an 'anomalous phenonon' has occurred in Erianka, a southwestern border region. This phenonon, called the 'Night Rift' was initially considered a simple natural disaster, but over ti, village residents began disappearing for no reason, and even soldiers and rcenaries investigating the area went missing. Count Erchi had already organized a subjugation force to respond, but the operation failed with 2 out of 8 knights killed and 3 severely wounded and forced to retreat. Accordingly, the royal court regards the current situation not as a simple natural phenonon but as an act by an evil entity that crossed over from the Shadow Lands, and requests the deploynt of the highest-grade rcenary companies to resolve this. [Objectives]
1.Investigate the cause of the 'Night Rift' and identify the true nature of the anomalous phenonon.
2.Confirm the survival of missing soldiers and rcenaries, and rescue them if possible.
3.Remove the cause generating the anomalous phenonon or seal the rift. [Detailed Guidelines]
1.Investigation Areas
2.Southwest border area of Erianka: The epicenter where the rift first occurred and nearby villages
3.'Night Rift' occurrence points: Areas where resident disappearances were concentrated
4.Subjugation force missing locations: Movent routes of soldiers and rcenaries last seen
[Risk Factors]
1.Unidentified disappearance incidents: People who set foot in the area are disappearing without a trace as if 'their very existence vanished’.
2.Possibility of unidentified entity appearances: According to witness testimonies, 'sothing born from darkness' appeared in areas where rifts occurred.
3.Magical influence: Near rift occurrence points,the
magical flow is unstable, and knights showed abnormal symptoms in their neural accelerators after contact.
Investigation thods and Action Guidelines
1.Confirm the cause of the rift: Investigation needed to determine if it's a natural phenonon or contamination originating from the Shadow Lands.
2.Confirm the survival possibility of residents and soldiers: There's a possibility that the missing people still exist sowhere in that area. If you discover entities related to anomalous phenona, please quickly isolate and eliminate them. If the rift cannot be closed, we urge you to explore sealing possibilities. [Compensation]
Base amount: 120 gold coins
Additional compensation: ??
Additional paynt of '50 gold coins' if the rift is completely eliminated. ??
Additional paynt of '3 silver coins' per survivor rescued from missing soldiers and residents. ??
If detailed evidence related to the Shadow Lands is provided, additional compensation negotiations will be conducted with the Elvra Holy Empire side. … … …
[Precautions]
1.High-risk mission: With existing subjugation forces having been defeated, there's a possibility that the rcenary company's forces could also suffer considerable damage.
2.Unknown effects of anomalous phenona: It's unclear what effects the Night Rift has on magical power, ntal strength, and physical condition.
3.?? Enhanced preparation needed: Possibility of encountering unverified supernatural entities or evil-tainted monstrous creatures. Please bring along a 3rd tier or higher cleric.
4.Request for swift reporting: If signs of rift expansion are observed, imdiately report to the rcenary Guild Central Branch.
Issue date: Year 353, Sumr, 9th day
Issuer: Star Haven, rcenary Guild Central
Branch Chief Seal: Please confirm the official seal.」**
How should this be evaluated?
It's not only experienced rcenaries who feel danger?
Calix looked around, thinking he could tell the difficulty just from the length of the mission proposal, but surprisingly, the veteran rcenaries had calm expressions.
"Basically, they're telling us to take it. How many 4-knot rcenary companies have clerics?"
"There's also the 'Frost Wolves'?"
"According to what Calix said, we need a 3rd tier or higher cleric, right? Those damn puppies aren't 3rd tier. Where do they think they can be placed at the sa level as Ella?"
At Basim's blunt retort, Zahira rolls her eyes. Even so, she doesn't argue back again. Despite being rcenaries, the reason the 'Mountain Rabbit' is respected everywhere.
This was not only due to their excellent skills and external trust, but also because they were particularly outstanding at defeating 'anomalous phenona'.
"Leader comrade, this worked out well. Originally, saplings must face various storms. That's how they grow strong. It's about ti to experience anomalous phenona."
"And the commission fee is substantial, too. 120 gold coins plus additional compensation of over 50."
"Huh, so altogether we get 100 gold coins?"
"Gregor, it's 170 gold coins."
"100!"
"...Yes, 100."
For Calix, this was a story he couldn't just let pass. Though he had never directly experienced anomalous phenona, what excessive compensation ant was clear.
"But doesn't a high commission fee an it's that dangerous?"
"If there's no cleric, yes. You can't kill monster bastards with just swords."
Conversely, if there's a cleric, the difficulty drops drastically.
That was Zahira's explanation.
"That's why the commission fee is high. Clerics don't move without special reasons. If we didn't have Lady Ella, we wouldn't even look at requests like this. Excluding that part, the detailed conditions aren't bad. We'll be able to receive full support from the lord of that region."
"...I see. If we can receive support like troops, the actual difficulty would be much lower than this."
"Correct."
Calix stares intently at the person in question around that ti. When Priest Ella's eyes t his, she smiled gently.
Though she was originally a person of few words, so there was no chance to get close, it seed a person with unexpectedly great abilities was hiding.
And imdiately after that, Commander Royce summarizes the situation.
"Then it's roughly settled. The pros and cons of both requests are clear. Whether to go for safe but moderate profit, or take certain risks and aim for high profit. Let's decide by vote. Marik?"
"Let's have so real fun for once."
"Gregor?"
"My plate is very sturdy and expensive!"
"Basim?"
"Money, money, money. That damn money. Humans always covet material things!"
"Then the first request?"
"No. I was saying I need money too. Rarely, our minds aligned!"
"……."
There was no need to elaborate on which side the Mountain Rabbit chose.
***
Three weeks later, in Erianka in the kingdom's southwest.
The sun sinks below the horizon as the last rays of light color the mountain ridges. Being a region located on the southwestern border, the dry feeling of the desert disappears and only refreshing air lingers.
It's ti to choose a place to set up camp.
Accordingly, Calix follows Hadiya as if familiar with it. Learning about reconnaissance was still far from over.
"I told you. Calix, that guy is surprisingly decent."
"I know he's skilled, too."
"Skills are one thing, but I'm talking about attitude. He must be tired and want to rest, but he went out to do cleanup work."
"Well, that's true. Even receiving a recruitnt proposal from a noble, he could have beco arrogant..."
Since no one dislikes soone who takes on all the dirty work, the veteran rcenaries praise him with subtle gossip.
At the sa ti.
"Shit... What is that?"
"……."
The person being praised cannot give any answer to Hadiya's curse. On the path toward the lord's castle, corpses are impaled.
They weren't simply killed.
On long poles.
Dozens of people were impaled at regular intervals, hanging in the air.
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