Chapter 140: Entangled
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 140: Entangled
“Hurry with the preparations!”
The Coastal City Alliance must have sent word the moment Bochum was captured, so Duke Signir was likely rushing his army back by now.
As the man closest to the throne of the northern continent, his forces were the strongest of any single power in the region.
This meant I would be in serious trouble if his reinforcements arrived before I captured the last major city of the Coastal City Alliance.
The worst-case scenario would be Duke Signir showing up while I was in the middle of attacking that final city.
If I were to be surrounded, caught between the Alliance, who would be eager to repay me twofold for what I'd done, and Duke Signir, whose forces outnumbered mine by more than double, I would not escape with my life.
Conversely, if I arrived first and captured the last major city, the story would change completely.
With the existing allied forces, which included named characters, and now a new rival in Count Dresden, Duke Signir couldn't afford to suffer a major loss by attacking me. Doing so would mean eliminating himself from the competition for the northern throne with his own hands.
I have to get to Wolfenheimer first.
Furthermore, if I captured the final major city, the Coastal City Alliance would have no choice but to raise the white flag. They knew this as well.
“I, McCurley, pay my respects to Baron Allen Tobalts, the Undefeated Knight and ruler who has conquered the south of the western continent.”
An envoy from Wolfenheimer, the last major city, arrived just as our preparations for departure were nearly complete.
Considering the distance between the two cities, it meant they had dispatched him the moment they heard of Saifran’s fall.
Now that the fire was at their feet, they could no longer afford their previous leisurely pace.
I sat in my chair and looked down at McCurley, who was kneeling with his head bowed. He looked for all the world like an envoy of surrender.
“Do you know me?”
McCurley cautiously raised his head.
“How could the Alliance, a union of merchants, not know of a baron whose fame resounds across the four seas?”
Judging by his reference to me as the ruler of the south, it seemed he had a vague idea of my relationships with my women as well.
So, a merchant is a merchant, is that it?
In any case, now that they had a proper measure of me, it seemed I could no longer count on catching them off guard by exploiting their ignorance.
“So, what brings you to me?”
“First, please accept this gift. We can talk after that; it will not be too late.”
McCurley glanced at the attendants he had brought with him. They were holding large chests, which they now set down and opened.
Inside, gold, silver, and jewels were piled up like mountains. The amount was so vast that even the Archbishop, who was attending to his duties beside me, was astonished.
“Hah. With that much wealth, you could relieve all the poor in the cities of the Alliance…”
Of course, he didn't mean it in a good way. Facing the Archbishop’s disapproving gaze, McCurley simply smiled.
“Are you not Archbishop Raceni? His Holiness the Pope is greatly disappointed. What business have you interfering in a parish that is not your own? He has commanded you to come to the Holy Land at once and explain your reasons.”
“Disappointed… Is it not the Lord, looking down from heaven, who is truly disappointed by the sight of his shepherds, who should follow His will, coveting wealth, turning a blind eye to injustice, and tarnishing the faith?”
“…I have only relayed his words.”
“Even if you claim you were merely following orders as a pawn of the devil, it does not absolve you of your sin. You too should repent if you wish to enter heaven.”
In an age where religion was a part of life, being told you were going to hell was not something one could easily dismiss, especially when the words came from an archbishop renowned for his piety.
“Hhem.”
McCurley’s face soured as if he’d bitten into something foul. He was deeply regretting his decision to act familiar.
“So, what is the price for this immense fortune?”
I intervened before the Archbishop could launch into a full sermon, and McCurley let out a sigh of relief.
“This is not a gift that asks for a price.”
“No price? Then it’s a present… Interesting. Does the Alliance give presents to its enemies?”
“Enemies? Our Alliance has never once thought of you as an enemy, my lord. Nor is there any need for us to be.”
After a slight pause to ensure he had my full attention, McCurley finally revealed his true purpose.
“I have a proposal that will benefit both sides.”
“Speak.”
“If you guarantee the Coastal City Alliance its autonomy, we will pay you taxes.”
I knew from his excessively humble posture that he would make a dull proposal, but this was even worse than I had imagined.
“So, you want me to stop attacking the Coastal City Alliance in exchange for a pittance?”
At the word “pittance,” a slight furrow appeared on McCurley’s brow, though like the seasoned merchant he was, he quickly managed his expression and smiled.
“It will be to your benefit as well, my lord.”
“Explain.”
“Every person has their role. Making money is the role of a merchant. For decades, our Alliance has contemplated how to make more money and has accumulated know-how. I can assure you, it will be more profitable to leave the operations to us than to manage them yourself.”
McCurley wasn't wrong. Even with my memories as a modern person, how could I compare to merchants who had direct experience and a proven track record?
If all I wanted was money, I would have eagerly accepted his offer.
“The problem is that the ‘know-how’ you speak of means collusion and monopoly.”
“Would you care to explain what problem that poses?”
The harmful effects of collusion and monopolies only began to be highlighted after modern industrialization. It was natural for McCurley to look like he didn't understand.
“Collusion and monopolies hinder the development of commerce.”
The birth of powerful, centralized nations was always preceded by the development of commerce.
“Our Alliance will serve as an excellent counterexample.”
“Do not equate the Alliance with commerce. The Alliance is but a very small part of it.”
McCurley did not look convinced. He seemed to take my words as an excuse to refuse. I clicked my tongue.
“Another reason I must refuse your offer is that I cannot trust the Alliance.”
The Coastal City Alliance was an arrogant bunch. The fact that they had joined forces with the Pope to eliminate the heirs to the throne one by one was proof that they saw even kings as beneath them.
In the future that would no longer come to pass, when they were cornered by a named character, they had resisted to the very end, unable to let go of their greed.
For those same people to make an offer that was tantamount to surrender when they still had one major city left? It meant they were up to something.
I had a good idea of what it was.
“We will offer the heirs of the Alliance as hostages.”
Unaware of my thoughts, McCurley did his utmost to persuade me. The only problem was that his efforts were based on deceit.
“Are mere merchants trying to imitate nobles?”
Only nobles were bound by the system of primogeniture. Merchants chose their successors based on ability.
In other words, the “heirs” McCurley mentioned were replaceable children with no real value as hostages.
Someone confined to the world of nobility might have accepted the offer at face value. The man was trying to deceive me by exploiting the difference in perception between nobles and merchants.
McCurley hastily tried to defend himself.
“But for merchants to send away an heir they have raised for so long is a great loss for them as well!”
“Even so, they do not hold the same value as noble hostages. An envoy who comes to me and tries to deceive me? Your true intentions are suspect.”
“It is a misunderstanding!”
I shook my head, silencing him.
“I will make a proposal. I will guarantee freedom of commercial activity and grant the families of the Alliance a ten-year exemption from taxes. So, surrender.”
Any ordinary merchant would have signed the contract without even reading it properly. The problem was that the Alliance was no ordinary group of merchants.
Their main sources of income were tariffs and the monopolization of and collusion on goods essential for major sea voyages. Very few of them engaged in direct trade themselves.
In other words, there was no way they would accept an offer of freedom and tax exemption.
The reason I made the offer, knowing this, was simple. If they accepted it, it would be proof that the Alliance’s scheme was just as I suspected.
Unaware of this, McCurley smiled.
“I thank you for your generosity, my lord. I will return and convey your words. I assure you, everyone in the Alliance will be delighted.”
“Did you not come with full authority? I thought as much when you offered the heirs of the Alliance as hostages.”
“It is true that my authority is great enough to decide most matters on my own. However, we were lacking and failed to anticipate your lordship’s magnanimity. Regrettably, consultation is necessary. Of course, this is merely a formality, so you need not worry.”
His words flowed like a river. That only made me more certain. I played along with a straight face.
“Is there any need to borrow your tongue? I will be departing soon, so let us go together. If what you say is true, will the Alliance not throw open its gates and welcome me?”
As I shifted in my seat as if to leave immediately, McCurley’s poker face cracked.
“B-But there are procedures…! Also, because it is an Alliance, it is difficult for everyone to be of one mind! A sudden meeting could create unwanted misunderstandings!”
That was all the confirmation I needed. McCurley and the Coastal City Alliance were trying to tie my feet.
“Duke Signir must be close, then?”
“H-How did you—!?”
“But you figured I’d still be faster, so your plan was to stall for time with sweet talk and treasure?”
“...!”
McCurley was speechless. I stood up, grabbed his shoulders, and forced him to his feet. Then, I personally brushed the dust from his clothes and whispered.
“McCurley, I applaud your courage. To take on such a dangerous mission, knowing your head would fly if you were caught? Very bold. Truly bold.”
“N-No—!”
McCurley struggled to break free from my grasp. But how could a mere merchant accomplish what even a knight could not?
“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you right away. Of course not! How could I treat poorly the man who gave me the crucial information that Duke Signir is near, but will likely arrive later than me!”
I stared directly into McCurley’s deathly pale face and trembling eyes as I continued.
“McCurley. You will stay by my side and see exactly how I act on that information. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.”
Leaving McCurley frozen like a statue, his mouth agape, I left the office. Before the day was over, we marched out.
To move quickly, we took minimal supplies. Thanks to that, we encountered a contingent of troops when we were about halfway to our destination.
“My lord! They’re setting fires!”
The endless golden wheat fields were ablaze. The fields, nourished by the blood and sweat of farmers, were all too easily turning to ash and crumbling away.
“It’s the Alliance bastards! Get them!”
The men who spotted us fled like colts with their tails on fire. But the blaze they had set was already growing uncontrollably.
Forced to order a detour, I looked at McCurley, the end of the rope around his neck tied to my saddle.
“So you weren’t just relying on your envoy, were you?”
This was a scorched earth tactic. It was obvious that the towns and villages on the road to Wolfenheimer would be nothing but dust as well.
McCurley, who had been practically dragged along on the ground, laughed, his face a mess of dirt and grime.
“Give up now! You brought few supplies, so by the time you reach Wolfenheimer, you’ll have nothing to eat! Your defeat will be a foregone conclusion!”
The Alliance’s schemes didn't end there. Before long, a messenger arrived from Saifran. He was sent by the Archbishop.
“The supply ships were attacked at sea! It was a surprise attack by the Coastal City Alliance!”
The grim news was that we had lost our supply fleet, which had been operating along the coastline for fast and plentiful resupply, to a surprise attack by the Alliance.
Faced with the fear of true collapse, the Alliance had begun to commit its full strength.
Unable to use the sea, the speed of our resupply slowed to a crawl, with no telling when it would arrive. We now had only a week’s worth of food left.
This was our situation when we were exactly one week away from Wolfenheimer.
“Hmph. Accept my proposal, even now. Then everyone can have a happy ending!” McCurley shouted, his spirits lifted. Hearing his words, even the mercenaries began to show signs of unrest. Still on my horse, I turned to them and yelled.
“You can all feel how our enemies are doing everything in their power to stop our advance! That means they fear us! Why!? Because they know that when we arrive, they will be defeated!”
Did the strength stat affect one’s voice? My voice boomed like thunder. Feeling their gazes turn to me one by one, I raised my voice even louder.
“They are trembling in fear, praying that we stop here! If we turn back now, they will rejoice! Are you going to meekly do as they wish?”
“No, sir—!”
The face of a mercenary who had shouted out involuntarily turned bright red. But he had no need to be ashamed. He was the first, and soon the other mercenaries began to raise their voices one by one.
“No, sir! No, sir! No, sir!”
When fourteen hundred soldiers spoke as one, the world shook as if from an earthquake.
It lasted only a moment. When I raised my hand, they fell silent as if nothing had happened. Instead, they looked up at me with eyes burning with passion.
I grinned.
“You know that I have never been defeated! You also know that I captured two of the great cities the Alliance boasts of without taking any significant losses! Once is a coincidence, but twice is inevitable! The third will be no different! Therefore, you shall not doubt!”
“Waaah—!”
The troops cheered in unison. The signs of unrest had completely vanished. I turned my horse toward Wolfenheimer and spoke to McCurley.
“Did you not know that a starving beast is all the more ferocious? Your Alliance will soon learn that it has just pulled the lion’s whiskers.”
We came face to face with the walls of Wolfenheimer on the afternoon of the third day after that. We had advanced four days ahead of schedule.