The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 304: Chapter 303: I Am the Raider King (4)



"Wh-what? The Raider King?"

"Wasn't that guy supposed to have run away?"

"What the hell! They said the Head Butler dealt with him!"

The mere mention of the Raider King's name was enough to paralyze the organization's members with fear. The Raider King's exploits were too overwhelming to forget.

Morbin and the organization's executives, who had come down to the first floor, were equally bewildered. Something was clearly amiss.

After a brief moment of thought, Morbin spoke.

"That's it, he's an imposter. He's trying to scare us. With all the executives gathered here, they must be trying to take us out all at once."

He outright refused to believe the real Raider King had shown up. He was convinced that Claude, his ally, wouldn't make such a mistake.

"That guy's a fake! The Raider King has already been driven out! My big brother chased him away!"

Morbin's confident words reinvigorated the members.

They knew all about Claude and Morbin's relationship. They were sworn brothers, even having bathed together just yesterday, or so the rumor went.

"Kill him!"

At Morbin's shout, the members rushed toward Ghislain.

Ghislain casually struck the closest charging member with the back of his hand. Thwack!

Crash!

The man flew straight through the wall and out of sight.

"?"

Everyone froze in place. Sending someone flying with a mere flick of the wrist wasn't something just anyone could do.

This was proof that the person before them lived in an entirely different world.

Whether he was truly the Raider King or not, they had no hope of handling him.

Breaking the heavy silence, Morbin spoke with a trembling voice.

"Who... who are you?"

"I told you, I'm the Raider King."

"I-I heard you left the estate!"

"I came back."

Morbin stammered in response to Ghislain's calm reply.

"Y-you... do you even know who I am, and what you're doing here?"

"I know. You're a junkie."

"I-I have the Head Butler behind me! Didn't you know that? If you didn't, leave now. I'm the sworn brother of the Head Butler, his brother!"

Recalling his backing seemed to boost Morbin's confidence, and his words became smoother.

"Yesterday, huh? I had dinner with him! Bathed with him! Did everything together, you bastard! So if you don't want to die, leave now!"

Ghislain couldn't even respond. Mistaking his silence for fear, Morbin began spitting as he spoke.

"If you leave now, I'll let this slide. If you need a business site, I'll give you a decent one. Let's call it even. There's no point in us fighting, is there?"

Shhh.

Ignoring Morbin, Ghislain took a step forward. Terrified, Morbin shouted to his executives.

"S-stop him! Hold that bastard off! I'll go call the Head Butler and bring the knights!"

But neither the executives nor the members could move. Who could possibly face such a monster?

Desperate, Morbin pleaded.

"You idiots! If that bastard is the real Raider King, we're all dead anyway! Don't you know he kills everyone he catches?"

Though he didn't kill everyone, he came close enough that the rumors were widespread. Steeled by their leader's words, the members' eyes began to light up with determination.

If they were going to die anyway, it was better to at least swing their swords once. If they could hold out, Morbin would return with knights.

The members all drew their weapons. A few of the executives pushed Morbin toward a secret passage.

"Boss! Go to the Head Butler now! We'll hold the line here!"

"Ugh! Thank you! I'll definitely bring the knights back!"

It was a heartwarming scene. Tears streaming down his face, Morbin sprinted toward the

secret passage.

All the while, Ghislain simply watched with a bored expression.

The remaining executives shouted to the members.

"Attack!"

"Raaah!"

As the members charged, the knights behind Ghislain finally stepped forward.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

"Argh!"

"You scum!"

"Our boss will avenge us!"

Raised in the underworld, the members attacked with all their grit. But every casual strike from the knights sent their comrades crashing down like flies. It didn't take long for fear to

grip them again.

"Ugh... monsters..."

"There's no way we can win..."

"How are we supposed to fight against things like this..."

The criminals' grit and loyalty ended there. They began dropping their weapons, kneeling one

by one.

"Please spare us!"

"We were just following orders!"

"I'm actually a good person!"

With the members surrendering en masse, the executives had no choice but to follow suit.

They too dropped to their knees.

"Morbin's the real bad guy!"

"I was forced into this!"

"I swear I'll live an honest life from now on!"

Everyone surrendered to the Raider King. Ghislain nodded in satisfaction.

"Take everything here and send these people 'there.""

At Ghislain's command, the knights began incapacitating the members.

Thwack!

With each blow, the members fell unconscious immediately.

Thus, the leaders of Desmond's underworld were taken out in one fell swoop.

"Huff, huff, huff."

Despite the collapse of his organization, Morbin hadn't lost hope. He ran as if his life

depended on it.

His destination was none other than the lord's castle, where the Head Butler, Claude, resided.

"Stop!"

When the guards at the gate stopped him, Morbin collapsed to the ground, shouting.

"The Head Butler! Call the Head Butler immediately!"

"What? You think you can just meet the Head Butler because you feel like it?"

When the guards mocked him, Morbin screamed desperately.

"You fools! I'm the Head Butler's brother! His sworn brother!"

"...Oh."

The guards had heard the rumors. Claude was said to have sworn brotherhood with a crime

boss.

Despite how absurd it sounded, Morbin was screaming loud enough to make ignoring him impossible. One of the guards reluctantly went to report to Claude.

"What? That bastard's here? Why?"

Claude was shocked. If people found out Morbin had come to the castle, it'd be a disaster!

'Did the lord miss him during the sweep?'

Regardless, Claude couldn't leave things as they were. He waved his hand dismissively.

"Kick him out. He's dead anyway."

"We tried, but he refuses to leave. He says he'll expose your secrets if we drive him out."

"That bastard's lost his mind!"

The usually composed Claude jumped to his feet, fuming as he stormed out.

When Claude arrived with a large number of soldiers, Morbin greeted him warmly.

"Brother! Help me! The Raider King is-"

"Arrest that bastard! Now!"

"Brother?"

"You wretch! How dare you come here! You criminal scum!"

Claude's voice boomed with authority. The commotion drew soldiers and servants to gather

around, curious about the scene.

Growing increasingly frantic, Claude yelled furiously.

"Drag that bastard to the dungeon immediately!"

The soldiers seized Morbin, who finally realized Claude intended to discard him.

With his face twisted in rage, Morbin shouted like a demon.

"You bastard! How much bribe money have I given you? How can you do this to me?"

"What? When did I ever take bribes? I've never done that! I'm upright and honest!"

"I have proof! I kept all the ledgers! My men will spread them!"

"Shut up! Those are all fake! I never took anything!"

The Head Butler of an estate and a criminal boss brawling in public was a ridiculous sight.

Wendy, watching nearby, rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

Morbin had no intention of dying alone. He shouted for all to hear.

"What do you mean, you've never done that? When we went to war, you sent soldiers to help

us! And in return, you took jewels from me every week! How can you even call yourself human? You think I'd die alone?"

Though he shouted confidently, the crowd's reaction was indifferent. Morbin looked around

in confusion.

'What's going on? Do they trust the Head Butler that much? Do they really think he's upright and

honest?'

But upon closer inspection, that wasn't it. The crowd's expressions seemed to say, "Why state

the obvious?" 'What the hell? Isn't this guy the Head Butler? Isn't that wrong?'

How could someone build a reputation like that? Why had the lord kept him alive this long?

Morbin couldn't understand.

When Claude saw that the crowd wasn't reacting, he sighed in relief and said. "Hmph, as if people would believe such lies! Take him away already!" Defeated, Morbin was dragged off. Secrets and leverage weren't effective when everyone

already knew them.

He had lived like a frog in a well, unaware of the world beyond. Living in hiding, he remained ignorant of the workings of the world, oblivious to the fact that he was already marked. Thus, the numerous criminal organizations in Desmond's territory were wiped out in one swift move. Most of their members, unaware of what was happening, were dragged off to the Labor Assault Corps' special training camps.

The residents of the territory had no idea what was going on. They were simply relieved that

the people who had tormented them had disappeared.

With the majority of criminals gone, incidents and accidents decreased significantly. As the residents received ample supplies of food, they began to regain stability. "Doesn't it feel like security's gotten better lately? Must be because so many soldiers have

come over."

"I heard our lord is actually a good person. He doesn't recklessly arrest residents and even shares food with us."

"See? You can't trust rumors. Where else can you find a lord like ours these days?" "But what's the deal with the Head Butler? I heard he took so many bribes from the criminals.

Still, at least he doesn't bother us residents. I suppose we should be grateful for that."

Praise for Ghislain grew, while evaluations of Claude plummeted.

With the Labor Assault Corps replenished and public sentiment quickly stabilizing, Ghislain

couldn't hide his satisfaction. Stabilizing occupied territories was his top priority. Having completed one important task, he gathered his retainers and said.

"Now, let's move on to the next matter."

***

When news of Ghislain's victory in the war reached the capital, the atmosphere brightened

significantly. The nobles who had invested in Ghislain's endeavors and the pro-royalist nobles alike were pleased.

Their victory had reversed the tide that had been tilting in favor of the Duchy. However, the high-ranking nobles of the pro-royalist faction couldn't celebrate Ghislain's

victory wholeheartedly.

"That... damn duck managed all that? What? Mounted archers? A 6th-circle mage? The

North's finest sword? Are you sure you've got the facts straight?"

The kingdom's Commander-in-Chief, Marquis Maurice Macquarie, asked Viscount Clifton, commander of the Third Corps, the same question repeatedly.

Each time, Viscount Clifton, his expression unwavering, answered.

"Yes, it is certain. The Northern Army's commander possesses power befitting his position.

Fenris is now the strongest in the North."

Marquis Maurice and the pro-royalist nobles were left speechless.

The strongest in the North? The boy they had initially dismissed as a fledgling had grown so

quickly. It was hard to believe.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Of course, there was Rayfold, comparable to Desmond, but the pro-royalist nobles hadn't

paid much attention to him.

They were confident that with a woman, Amelia, as the lord, Rayfold territory would collapse

sooner rather than later.

They believed Amelia's victory over the Northern Allied Army wasn't due to her strategic

brilliance, but rather because Rayfold's forces were inherently strong and the Northern lords were incompetent. Maurice finally spoke with difficulty.

"Are we... doing the right thing? That damn duck is the strongest in the North... is this right?"

They had supported him, but they hadn't intended for him to grow this much. He had grown

too large. He had always been difficult to control, and now, as a great lord, he would be even to manage.

harder

'What if he turns against us?'

Maurice bit his lip anxiously.

Another noble, still skeptical, laughed and said.

"Didn't the Perdium Army and the Royal Army assist him? He probably won because of that.

There's no way he could have won on his own."

No one responded to that statement.

It wasn't entirely wrong. However, Viscount Clifton's report on Ghislain's achievements

suggested a level of ability far beyond what could be explained by mere assistance. What if the massive force he had recruited had been fully trained?

If that were the case, Ghislain could have crushed Count Desmond without any external

support. In other words, Fenris truly deserved to be called the strongest in the North.

Marquis Branford wore a complicated expression.

'Haha, to think he actually won.'

As always, the man had managed to surprise everyone.

Like the others, Marquis Branford found it hard to believe. But with someone who had

participated directly in the war speaking with such confidence, how could he not believe it?

'I'll have to re-examine the information we've received before.' There had been many rumors he'd dismissed as nonsense. Perhaps they were all true.

Still, he felt a sense of satisfaction. Watching someone he had supported rise so quickly was gratifying as a guardian.

At that moment, Marquis Maurice, his expression grim, spoke to Marquis Branford.

"Don't you think he's growing too fast? Shouldn't we suppress him now?" The other nobles nodded in agreement, adding their voices.

"He's growing far too quickly. We wanted Count Fenris to keep the North in check, not

dominate it."

"Hasn't he always been a cocky brat? The more he grows, the harder he'll be to control."

"Marquis, wouldn't it be better to stop supporting him and redirect him to better serve the pro-royalist cause?"

Marquis Branford's eyebrows twitched. He had been feeling pleased, but these comments felt like cold water poured over his head.

Though Ghislain's achievements were remarkable, one could argue that he had only defeated

Count Desmond.

The Duchy and its subordinate lords still remained strong, yet here they were, already

starting internal disputes. How pathetic.

In a firm voice, Branford spoke.

"Absolutely not. Do not touch Count Fenris."

"...."

"Count Fenris will be a great asset in our fight against the Duchy. Do not forget that our true

enemy is the Duchy."

His tone was so resolute that the nobles fell silent.

Of course, Marquis Branford had his own concerns. An ally that couldn't be controlled could

be more dangerous than an enemy.

But turning on Ghislain now would only benefit the Duchy.

"Do not lose sight of our goal. Any issues with Count Fenris can be dealt with after the Duchy

has been defeated."

The pro-royalist nobles reluctantly nodded. Maurice, however, thought differently.

"Tsk, haven't we been suppressing the civil war without Count Fenris? He's only caused more trouble

for us with his antics. Maybe, after some time, Branford's opinion will change.'

After finishing his business at the royal palace, Marquis Branford returned home and

summoned his butler.

"Release Count Forwood."

With Ghislain victorious in the war, there was no need to continue detaining the duke faction

nobles in the capital.

Count Forwood, dragged out looking disheveled, let out a resigned laugh.

"Seeing as I'm being released, it seems Count Fenris has won." "Return home, Count. Let us hope such unpleasant incidents don't happen again."

At Branford's words, Count Forwood spoke in a defeated tone.

"You've made a mistake. Supporting Count Fenris was a mistake."

"What do you mean?"

Count Forwood, as if he had nothing left to lose, replied.

"With Count Desmond gone, a civil war is inevitable." "Everyone knows the Duchy aims for the throne. We've been suppressing the civil war

ourselves."

"No, no. You don't understand yet."

Branford frowned at the Count's cryptic tone.

"What are you trying to say?"

"It's not the pro-royalist faction suppressing the civil war, but Viscount Josef of the Duchy."

"Viscount Josef?"

Known as the "Crippled Devil," how could such a ruthless man be suppressing a civil war?

With a weary smile, Count Forwood explained.

"He is a rational man. We wanted to shed as little blood as possible. It was Viscount Josef who

persuaded the duke to agree to that."

""

"Have you forgotten what the duke is like?"

|| ||

"Now the kingdom will be bathed in blood."

Count Forwood lowered his head, as though he genuinely regretted what was to come. [T/L: Please support me and read 385 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans]