Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Siege of Griffino Castle (3)
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Baron Spiegelmann immediately dragged me to his office.
Once the door closed behind us, he approached with a savage intensity, as if he were about to grab me by the collar, and unleashed a torrent of abuse.
"You bastard, you filthy bastard! I heard the Reich Empire pigs have a hobby of eating sausages out their asses, but all you know how to spew from your mouth is shit even dirtier than excrement. You filthy bastard, a devil worse than any heretic."
If I'd heard that in any other situation, it would have been enough to draw my sword and challenge him to a duel, but I wasn't angry in the slightest.
In fact, hearing such words from the enemy was the highest commendation a commander could receive—it even put me in a good mood.
"Thanks for the praise. I'll have to brag to my family after today's parley. By the way, could you write down what you just said?"
"Do you get off on being insulted by another man? Who would've thought Jaeger Battalion Commander was a homosexual dirtier than any heretic."
"Looks can be deceiving—I've got four wives because I love women that much. But every academy teaches that getting cursed at by a cornered enemy is the greatest compliment. Doesn't that mean you've just admitted you're so backed into a corner you can't do anything but curse me? It's glory for your house."
Spiegelmann's face flushed red with rage at my words, turning crimson as if it might burst into flames.
I ignored him, shrugged, and spoke with a menacing edge.
"I'm here to demand the unconditional surrender of Griffino Castle's mayor—you. Care to surrender?"
"How could I, as head of the honorable Spiegelmann Baron family sworn to Grand Duke Warsaw, surrender to an enemy nation? And thanks to your blunder, every serf and citizen in this castle truly hates the Reich Empire now. So, Jaeger Battalion Commander, once you leave, if I just fan their hatred toward your empire, we can fight again."
As he said, if I stoked the fury of the people who'd lost everything to the Reich Empire, the morale of every able-bodied fighter in this castle would recover.
Common sense dictated how many would believe an enemy who'd burned all they owned when they shouted, "Surrender and we'll let you live."
A little prodding, and their thoughts would shift like this:
'If we're dying anyway, might as well drag at least one Reich Empire bastard with us to the afterlife.'
If every soldier and citizen in this castle fought with that resolve, our forces would suffer massive losses—it was obvious.
And judging by the baron's eyes, expression, posture, and voice right now, he seemed truly prepared to die here...
Threatening a man resolved to die with "surrender or die" wouldn't work a bit. Time for a different approach.
"Threatening to kill someone who's already made up his mind to die is pointless. Fine, let's change the subject a bit. Mayor Spiegelmann, you already know Grand Duke Warsaw discarded Griffino Castle and all its people like pawns."
"He didn't discard us. We're simply following His Highness's orders to defend the castle for the grand duchy’s victory. Though the best outcome would be you withdrawing on your own."
"Serving that pigheaded grand duke even after knowing you've been abandoned—you're insane. But what do you have left if you die like that?"
In truth, such a question was meaningless to a noble staking his life.
Because nobles, born into their status, were rigorously trained from birth to live for honor over life.
There were plenty who'd rather hang themselves than live a dishonorable, wretched existence.
"Honor remains."
So to sway a man like this, I just had to shatter that honor.
"Dying for the one who abandoned you might look noble on the surface, but it's really just a dog's death. Plus, that bribery ledger we seized didn't have your name, but with all the corruption among your officials here in Griffino... If I were the grand duke, I wouldn't trust you either. How little must he trust you to leave a whole division under your influence stuck here on the western coast, praying you'd die defending it? If he thought anything of you, he'd have ordered you and all your soldiers and families to join the main army."
As an administrator, he'd grasp the logic in my words.
If the grand duke had considered Baron Spiegelmann's position even slightly, he'd have pulled him and everyone from Griffino to gather more troops for a counteroffensive.
Until now, he'd averted his eyes due to that noble sense of honor and duty.
But now, with the devil Peter Jaeger tempting him—"Wouldn't it be unjust to get purged by the enemy like this?"—he must be going mad.
"But what's the result? Even without proof of your guilt, with so many rotten officials under you, the grand duke views you with prejudice as corrupt too. And now you'll die defending this massive castle with nearly 150,000 citizens. Honor remains, but what about your family? Pity them. Can you still die for the grand duke in this situation?"
My words must have rung true—his emotions visibly wavered.
Then, as if ready to draw his sword and strike me down right there, he glared and shouted.
"...You heretic Satan spawn!"
From the way he spat that curse, it seemed I'd stirred the emotions he'd unconsciously buried, igniting his rage.
Now, even this man was starting to feel the terror of death he'd desperately suppressed.
That outburst was his attempt to cover it up.
"I'll give you a chance."
Spiegelmann's ears perked up at my words.
"Open the gates now, and I'll spare you and your entire family. The citizens can all return to their daily lives alive. And as expeditionary force commander, I'll use every authority I have to ensure this city rebuilds as quickly as possible."
"..."
"For reference, one of my wives is an imperial princess. Another father-in-law is the Imperial Army Marshal. If I petition, you'll get a pension and live comfortably with your wife for opening the gates—merit for surrendering. If you have a son, he'll have equal opportunity with other nobles for the Imperial Academy or an administrative post."
With my sole authority as expeditionary force commander, saving Spiegelmann and his family was easy.
Securing Griffino Castle intact would let us use it as a supply base for the Warsaw campaign.
Our rear supply units would pour resources into rebuilding around here for future operations.
And with a little effort on a petition?
Spiegelmann would get a pension for handing over a city of over 150,000 bloodlessly, plus formal baronial title and lands elsewhere.
Because that's what he deserved, even without my recommendation.
"Plus, you'll earn honor to bestow on your entire Spiegelmann family—even after your current lord, Grand Duke Warsaw, is dead and buried. The form might differ, but isn't it better to enjoy honor alive than die for it? Your citizens would agree."
At that, Spiegelmann looked at me with the eyes of a man who'd given up everything.
"I'll open the gates immediately."
"Let's go together."
We headed out, and Baron Spiegelmann went around the castle proclaiming to everyone, "Better to seek salvation from the Reich Empire than die like dogs."
Once the sole mental pillar, Spiegelmann, broke, the gates opened far sooner than expected.
Then I took Spiegelmann, Laura, and Anya into his office.
"You know this, but since you're on our side now, wouldn't it be best for your house's future to help the empire as much as possible?"
Spiegelmann replied in a voice full of doubt.
"Yes."
"Then write some letters—say, a few hundred. You know what kind."
"...Instead of getting innocently purged by that mad grand duke, come to the Reich Empire and enjoy a peaceful retirement like me?"
They say once a man breaks, it gets easier every time after.
But to think just dozens of minutes ago he'd been loyal, and now he'd readily write letters that could fatally wound Grand Duke Warsaw.
Looking at his face as I thought that, it was clear: betrayal and disappointment toward the grand duke.
No, more like intense rage at being discarded innocently—not broken, but awakened to the truth.
"Stamp them with my seal and yours, and send to the grand duke's forces."
The grand duke had already purged so gleefully that no corrupt officers would flip to us out of fear from this.
But now, paranoid from the ledger I sent, he'd be suspicious of everything...
He'd suppress it during the current battles, but after the war, he might cope with defeat by blaming "traitors."
That would throw the grand duchy military into chaos, securing our empire's future.