Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Muddy Water
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As the number of mercenaries grew, discussions on how to manage them were taking place even in River Village.
"The number of mercenaries who have entered River Village is 392. And it's still increasing rapidly."
"Good."
"Master, the situation isn't entirely positive. There have been countless cases of mercenaries staging rebellions."
Russell's concerns were understandable.
But it wasn't something to worry about just yet.
"The ones gathering now are from the Innocent Mercenary Corps or Kaiman's acquaintances."
"But..."
"I'm the Frontier Heir, and I have over a thousand slave soldiers under my command."
Russell said no more and moved on to the next topic.
"There's another issue."
"What is it?"
"The referral system."
"What's wrong with it?"
"The mercenaries are abusing the referral system."
A group of mercenaries had come in, referring each other.
"It's fine. As long as they come..."
"But, Heir."
"And the referral system isn't just for bringing in people."
The referral system gave 10% of the reward to the referrer.
And the rewards were paid out by the West River Mercenary Guild.
"So that's why you made it so they receive it directly."
"Exactly."
Even to claim the subsidy, they had no choice but to stay on Monster Island.
The more the mercenaries got tangled up in the referral system, the more they would be tied to this place.
"If there are no other matters, let's end it here."
"Understood."
"Understood."
His subordinates left the room.
A moment later, he headed out as well.
To visit the mercenary guild.
Unlike before, the mercenary guild was bustling with people.
They sat in groups at tables, engaged in various conversations.
He passed through them and went up to the upper floor.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
"It's me. Elwin."
The door opened, revealing the new branch manager, Kaiman.
"How did you come all the way here, Heir?"
The one-armed mercenary Kaiman.
Despite missing an arm, he didn't look weak at all.
Of course, he wasn't weak in reality either.
He was an A-rank mercenary, a senior Sword Expert.
"I have one concern."
"A concern? What is it?"
"The mercenaries won't cause any trouble, will they?"
He had told his subordinates it was fine,
but there was still something bothering him.
Unlike slaves, mercenaries weren't affected by his skills.
"There are about 400 mercenaries active now, but it's nothing to worry about."
The mercenaries gathered here all knew each other, or were just one connection apart.
That's why Kaiman said the chance of trouble was low.
"I think so too, but... please keep a close eye on them, Mr. Kaiman."
"Don't worry about that. I don't want them causing problems either."
For now, this was all he could do.
He didn't have the means to directly control the mercenaries himself.
'For now, leave it to Kaiman and figure out my own countermeasures.'
As he finished his business and stood to leave,
Kaiman spoke up.
"I have a request as well."
He sat back down, his butt sticking to the chair again.
"What is it?"
"Take in retired mercenaries."
It wasn't a simple matter.
He leaned back deeply into the chair.
After organizing his thoughts for a moment, he spoke.
"Can they farm?"
"No experience, but if ordered, they can do it."
Not the answer he wanted.
Why did mercenaries 'retire'?
The main reasons were two: injuries or age.
Harsh as it might sound,
the injured or the elderly weren't ideal additions to the community.
Perhaps because his contemplation dragged on,
Kaiman began persuading him actively.
"Think about it. If you treat retired mercenaries well, the active ones will feel even more secure."
They might not be suitable as new residents,
but could he use them efficiently?
He raised his gaze to meet Kaiman's.
"Bring them. I'll provide jobs suited to their situations."
Kaiman's face lit up.
"Thank you truly. I thought you'd accept it, Heir Elwin."
Kaiman, Aine, and even the Innocent Mercenary Corps.
They all seemed to trust in his goodwill.
But he wasn't that kind-hearted.
The reason for accepting retired mercenaries was economic.
'Put senior mercenaries into mercenary training and slave soldier drills... the rest into suitable jobs. Plus, it's not like Earth where elder care eats up a huge budget.'
The mutually satisfying conversation ended.
"Then I'll be..."
As he tried to stand, the branch manager's office door opened this time.
"Dad!"
Aine shouted loudly as she entered.
"Oh... ah. Sir Elwin is here too."
Aine greeted him and hesitated at the door.
"Sit over here. What brings you?"
Kaiman pointed to an empty chair, and Aine sat there.
She glanced at him before explaining why she came.
"They told me to finish supervising and return."
"Already?"
Kaiman's face darkened.
He seemed reluctant to part with his daughter.
Aine felt the same.
"No issues so far, and since Father was appointed branch manager, they want me back early."
"That's a shame."
Listening to the father-daughter conversation,
he sensed an opportunity.
An opportunity to appoint talent.
"Ahem, you both look regretful."
The father and daughter turned to him simultaneously.
"I have a good idea. Would you like to hear it?"
The supervisor dispatched from the central mercenary guild, Aine.
She had known about mercenaries since childhood.
As an adult, she worked at the mercenary guild.
At 20 years old, she had five years in the industry.
And she was good at her job.
Knowledgeable and thorough.
'Emotionally, I feel attached too.'
Aine had a cold personality.
Her expression was always stiff.
But he could read her easily.
She was similar to Alensia, yet more comfortable.
'If I had to put it... like a close college junior.'
Good at work, and they clicked.
No reason not to appoint her.
"Sir Elwin, are you saying I should quit the mercenary guild and manage the village?"
"Not the village exactly, but mercenary-related work. In other words... manage the mercenary district."
The mercenary guild and its annexes were in West River.
So naming it a separate village wasn't appropriate.
Hence, it was called the mercenary district.
Aine didn't answer immediately, alternating glances between Kaiman and him.
She was pondering.
"Remember what you said to me. There's nothing more you can do inside the mercenary guild anyway. The better this place does, the more other guilds will follow suit."
The competition he had mentioned, and that she had too.
If one pulls ahead, others have no choice but to follow.
Or they'd be eliminated.
Aine looked convinced by his persuasion.
"Got it. It was something I agreed with too."
He immediately brought Aine to his office.
"This is the additional construction progress."
"This is the current mercenary status and monster subjugation distribution."
"This is the status of referring and referred mercenaries."
"And this..."
"This too..."
He handed over about a third of the documents on the desk to Aine.
"All these... are my responsibilities?"
"That's right. Your job now."
Aine's expression hardened.
She looked like she'd been tricked.
"Aine."
"Yes, Sir Elwin."
He placed a hand on Aine's shoulder.
"Remember the conversation we had watching the sunset."
"Yes?"
"That determination to make the mercenary guild great."
"..."
"The more the mercenary district develops through your hard work, the more the mercenary guild will grow too. Because of the com-pe-ti-tion."
"...Understood."
Aine turned, picking up the stack of documents up to her face.
He hurriedly opened the office door.
As Aine was about to step out,
"Ah, I forgot. When the retired mercenaries arrive, assign them jobs. Put senior ones into training. The rest handle mercenary district management. Or have them farm."
"That's... my job too, right?"
"As expected, sharp as ever, Aine. Good luck then."
Bang.
He closed the door right after ending the conversation.
It slammed shut loudly from the haste.
"Perfect."
He sat at the office desk.
Seeing the paperwork reduced by a third made his mind feel incredibly light.
**
Sweeper Mercenary Corps.
True to their name, they were a mercenary group that cleaned up all sorts of jobs.
"Captain, that's West River ahead."
"We've arrived."
The Sweeper Mercenary Corps mainly operated along the empire's northern coast.
One person had approached them there.
'Stir up trouble, huh?'
From large monster subjugations to
wars and assassinations.
It was nothing difficult for the Sweepers, who handled all kinds of work.
"Captain, should we go to the mercenary guild like the others?"
"No. Nothing good comes from us showing our faces."
Unlike other mercenaries, the Sweeper Mercenary Corps didn't visit the guild.
Instead, they toured the village, gauging the atmosphere.
'How can we complete the commission?'
The exact request was to disrupt the Heir's work.
Especially, he was gathering mercenaries for some scheme, and they were to stop it.
After circling the village, they arrived at the inn.
"Long journey was tiring, so we'll stay at the inn tonight. But absolutely no removing robes in crowded places."
"Yes, Captain!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The Sweeper Mercenary Corps entered the inn.
"Pretty spacious and nice."
"Full rest tonight."
The members sounded satisfied with the facilities too.
"One deluxe room and the rest in singles according to numbers."
"Thank you for visiting our mercenary inn. Could you show your mercenary tags first?"
They flinched at the staff's words.
Their identities must not be revealed.
In secret.
Without a sound.
Like ghosts.
Complete the request and vanish.
"Mercenary tags? Can't we just stay?"
"I'm sorry. This is for mercenaries only. If you've lost your tag, you can get a new one at the guild up front."
"How about a little extra for the trouble?"
"I'm sorry."
Even offering more money, they were firmly refused.
"Ridiculous. Inns just need to make money. Discriminating guests like this."
The captain glanced around the inn interior.
A good number of mercenaries were drinking at the first-floor restaurant.
The captain instinctively pulled his robe hood lower to hide his face more.
Causing a scene here would expose them immediately.
"Tch. First time seeing an inn like this. We'll go elsewhere."
"Sir, there are no other inns here..."
Ignoring the staff, they left the inn.
And...
"Ha! What kind of village is this? Only one inn?"
"Captain, this is trouble. What do we do?"
"...We'll camp in the forest."
The members' faces stiffened at the captain's words.
But there was no choice.
No one could know the Sweeper Mercenary Corps was here.
"Actually, it's for the best. Might've been someone who recognizes us at the inn. Let's handle this commission cleanly and head back. I'll let you enjoy the continent properly then."
"Understood, Captain."
"Understood, Captain."