Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Ditto (3)
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The news that the White Mercenary Corps would soon be holding a meeting with the mercenaries sent a wave of excitement through Rzhev.
Whenever mercenaries gathered in twos and threes, all they could talk about was Adma and the Demonic Realm; the sights they had seen there were just that shocking.
“My god. The road was literally paved with monster corpses.”
“And that's not all. The Demonic Realm—the Demonic Realm itself—was purified! To think I'd live to see the day I'd set foot in there. Ha...!”
Tipsy mercenaries gathered in taverns, downing their drinks and eagerly chattering about the scenes they had witnessed.
If only one person had said it, it would have been hard to believe, but when dozens of mercenaries who had been to Adma told the same story, there was no choice but to accept it.
“Incredible. Truly incredible. To think they took down that many monsters.”
“Still, it must be thanks to the Lord of Rzhev's strength. He has soldiers and knights, after all.”
“Didn't the Holy Kingdom and Rzhev officially acknowledge it, though? They said the White Mercenary Corps' help was crucial. It means they weren't just carried along for the ride.”
“That's not all. Have you spoken to the soldiers? They can't stop talking about that mercenary, Kratos. They say Rzhev would've been finished without him.”
The talk was dominated by the mercenary corps, and especially by Kratos.
Everyone in Rzhev spoke his name without prompting. Some even went so far as to call him the savior of Rzhev.
It was understandable, given he had already played a pivotal role twice during Rzhev's moments of crisis.
Moreover, the most significant part was that Kratos's name wasn't just on the lips of the people of Rzhev.
“Besides, they say that mercenary Kratos was the one who purified the Demonic Realm this time.”
“A mere mercenary? Is that even possible?”
“The Holy Kingdom said it themselves. They said the purification was his ability. That the same mercenary, Kratos, also purified Granok's demonic energy.”
“Damn, that's insane. The White Mercenary Corps really hit the jackpot. No wonder they're claiming ownership of the Demonic Realm.”
It was the Holy Kingdom that had pushed Kratos's name and the purification of the Demonic Realm to the forefront.
They had kept it hidden until now, wary of the Empire, but it was no longer something they could or should hide.
They had to use everything at their disposal to pull the tide in their favor.
“Kratos...”
Of course, a few mercenaries quietly repeated the name that kept popping up everywhere.
Even if they didn't know about him saving Rzhev, the fact that he purified the Demonic Realm was something they absolutely had to verify.
***
A large hall buzzed with the murmur of countless mercenaries who had flocked to Rzhev.
Even after limiting attendance to only those mercenaries with some decision-making power due to the small venue, their numbers still reached the hundreds.
The commanders of the White Mercenary Corps were seated on a large dais, but the empty seats were glaringly obvious compared to before.
Of the twelve commanders, only four were seated on the dais.
Betrayed, or dead.
And in the row just below the dais sat the representatives of the mercenary corps most friendly to the White Mercenary Corps.
These were the mercenaries who had rushed to Rzhev and joined hands with the White Mercenary Corps at the first news that Iscario had sided with the Empire, betrayed them, and killed his comrades, even before confirming anything about Adma.
Amidst this, Kratos also kept his ears open, trying to catch as many conversations as possible. Even in such a clamor, mercenaries would always speak their minds, and a great deal of information could be gleaned from it.
Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn't bad. The demonstration had clearly been a success.
Countless monsters, the ruined Adma, and the purified Demonic Realm.
There were more than enough elements to make the mercenaries' eyes widen.
*Thud—*
The seated members stomped their feet. As the chaotic hall fell silent, Glen Pendley entered with a solemn expression.
“Thank you all for coming.”
No introduction was necessary.
“Many rumors are already circulating, and I believe you are all well aware of the situation.”
No flowery words were needed.
“Iscario is an enemy of the White Mercenary Corps, as is the Empire. We have reached a point where we can never coexist.”
All that was needed was to express their hostility plainly and firmly. No words could embellish or sugarcoat the current situation.
“And from this day forward, the White Mercenary Corps' base of operations will be the Demonic Realm, in accordance with the rights granted to us by the Holy Kingdom and Rzhev.”
The quiet hall began to buzz again. The matter of the Demonic Realm had been nothing more than baseless rumors until now.
For those words to come from someone of Glen's standing was, in effect, a confirmation.
“Can you prove you can establish a base in the Demonic Realm? There's a rumor a rookie mercenary purified the place. We need something we can believe.”
Someone's retort cut through the noise.
“The Holy Kingdom has no complaints about the White Mercenary Corps setting up in the Demonic Realm. On the contrary, we'd beg them to stay. I say this in the name of the Holy Kingdom. It is also a direct order from His Holiness.”
At that, Gleb, who had been standing quietly in a corner dressed in the formal attire of the Holy Kingdom, spoke calmly.
His uniform bore insignia that roughly indicated his rank, and the mercenaries who recognized it had no choice but to fall silent.
Besides, the weight carried by the words "His Holiness" was not to be taken lightly.
“The same goes for Rzhev. The White Mercenary Corps are friends and comrades to Rzhev, and we wholeheartedly entrust our backs to them. If they establish themselves in the Demonic Realm, Rzhev too can wield its blade without reservation.”
A knight, acting as the lord's proxy, stepped before the mercenaries and spoke. Krain Rzhev could not attend such a gathering himself, so sending a knight was the next best thing.
A gesture of utmost courtesy.
“We will stand with the White Mercenary Corps. As you already know.”
Then, the mercenaries seated in the row below the dais rose from their seats, ascended to the stage, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the commanders of the White Mercenary Corps.
Normally, they would have simply observed the situation, but the atmosphere in the hall was unusual.
Dissenting voices could be heard from somewhere, and some looked confused.
Even though the situation didn't call for it at all.
“Then who is the captain of the White Mercenary Corps now? I heard Mike Hoare is missing and Peri Batoni is in a coma.”
A tone full of provocation. It seemed this was no ordinary mercenary.
Whether their goal was to extract information or something else, it was clear from the way they voiced opposition even as mercenaries below the dais showed their support.
They had orchestrated this situation knowing this would happen. To show them, whether it was Iscario or the Empire.
Furthermore, anyone who lingered in the Demonic Realm instead of returning immediately was being monitored from the shadows.
The likelihood of them being actual spies for the Empire was high.
“That is correct. I am merely one of the commanders of the White Mercenary Corps.”
Glen Pendley let out a smirk, as if he had been expecting that question.
*Caw—*
“Ditto.”
From the back of the hall, Ditto flew in as a bird, let out a burp, then settled on a head and curled into a ball.
*Screech—*
The hall doors opened. As someone entered with a leisurely stride and spoke, the hall fell silent, all eyes turning to the newcomer.
“When the White Mercenary Corps is without a captain, the vice-captain naturally acts in his stead. It's astonishing to find a mercenary who doesn't know that about our corps.”
On the dais, Glen took a step back.
“Or are we being underestimated? Over something so trivial? The White Mercenary Corps?”
Looking much gaunter, Peri Batoni ascended the stairs, met Glen's eyes, and nodded.
“The White Mercenary Corps will establish itself in the Demonic Realm, purify it, and fight the monsters. Externally, we will deal with those damn bastards.”
However, he continued speaking, his eyes still blazing as he glared down at the mercenaries below the dais.
He even wore a faint smile. *Good. The timing was perfect.*
“Those who will stand with us, stay. Those mercenaries who are likely to turn tail and run from the coming fight, you may leave. The White Mercenary Corps intends to form an alliance with the Holy Kingdom and Rzhev to face the Empire.”
A person's position lends weight to their words.
People often consider what kind of person someone is, but more often, they look at their position and the influence they wield.
As Peri Batoni stood on the dais, the mercenaries began to murmur.
“Why is he... awake...?”
Someone started to speak, then hastily shut their mouth. *I'll definitely remember that one.*
Using the word 'why' implies denial. It was a word uttered instinctively, born from the belief that he couldn't possibly have woken up.
“So the rumors weren't true?”
“They said he was in a coma after being attacked by the Empire...”
Because Peri Batoni, who was said to be comatose, had walked out perfectly fine. Of course, he looked quite worn out, but whether he had been unconscious or not made a significant difference in itself.
In that sense, Peri Batoni's appearance on this dais was undeniably impactful.
“I didn't realize there were still idiots among mercenaries who believe baseless rumors.”
As if to announce his well-being, Peri Batoni straightened his back and met the eyes of the mercenaries below with a menacing glare.
“Especially the words of that bastard Iscario, who stabs his comrades in the back while holding hands with the Empire.”
Someone's faint sneer could be heard. Yes, perhaps it was laughable that the White Mercenary Corps, who always went on about family, had been betrayed like this.
But that didn't mean the White Mercenary Corps was going anywhere. And they would prosper even more.
No, to be precise, I will make it so. The plan is already fully formed in my head.
The Empire is enough of something I created falling to ruin.
I will never let that bastard Iscario get away with this. He must pay the price.
The sin of betraying comrades, of betraying family, deserves to be paid for with death.
“How could we have known that the Emperor, who calls himself a god, was using demonic energy behind our backs? Or that Iscario was working with them to stab his comrades in the back.”
At Kratos's low murmur, the mercenaries erupted in disbelief. Indeed, who would believe such a thing?
That the Emperor, a man who called himself a god, was messing around with demonic energy behind the scenes.
Of course, it wasn't that such rumors hadn't circulated, but it was still hard to believe. Most thought they were just baseless whispers.
However, Kratos's words just now were not spoken lightly. His voice was filled with rage.
“Demonic energy? The Empire? No way!”
“The Empire would never do that!”
“Can you take responsibility for those words!”
Just as the mercenaries' shouts reached their peak.
“There's no one here who wouldn't recognize Ivan Pons, I assume.”
At a gesture from Kratos, the hall doors flew open, and the corpse of Ivan Pons was thrown inside.
Its appearance was grotesquely transformed, and the demonic energy of rage still seeped from its body, but it was unmistakably Ivan Pons.
“That's definitely Ivan Pons.”
“I've seen that armor from a distance before.”
“My god... The Commander-in-Chief of the Empire?”
Though his face was hard to recognize, the armor and weapon he wore were unmistakable.
Seeing the corpse and its demonic energy, the priests of the Holy Kingdom grimaced, as if recalling the battle of that day, and began to emit holy power.
As if they would not tolerate a single shred of demonic energy.
“So it was true? What in the world...”
And his horrifying state was, to anyone's eyes, clearly one corrupted by demonic energy.
“The Empire's Commander-in-Chief... corrupted by demonic energy. How is this...”
The mercenaries' expressions grew grave, as if they couldn't believe it, but what could they do? The evidence was right there before their eyes.
Besides, the accusation of being corrupted by demonic energy was not one to be made lightly, especially with priests from the Holy Kingdom present.
Weren't they, too, silently nodding in agreement, lending weight to the White Mercenary Corps' words?
“Decide. Will you stand with us? Or will you stand with those minions of the devil?”
Peri Batoni roared at the mercenaries.
It was the moment of choice.