Chapter 110
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: My Value Is What I Make (2)
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Three months later, in the Medici Republic, at the palace in Piedmont City.
The moment Captain Dalton, Vice Captain Heinz, and I arrived here, we were summoned to a banquet.
Since the Medici Republic was famous across the continent for its wealth, this banquet they had properly prepared would surely feature plenty of fine wines and expensive delicacies, right?
To think that just three years after possessing this body in this world, I'd be receiving treatment like this... My fate sure had turned around.
'And just a few days ago, Lucia finally became my woman too, so now I have two beautiful girls—like flowers in both hands...'
This was the badass life in a fantasy game that I'd always dreamed of.
As I was lost in those thoughts for a moment, Vice Captain Heinz, standing beside me, shrugged and spoke up.
"Captain Dalton, our treatment has really improved compared to before. Don't you think? Before Martin joined us, we were just extras in minor territorial skirmishes or wars."
"Damn right. I never imagined my fate would change like this in just three years. Hell, just last month, some count from Rhinepalz even sent me a letter offering a senior knight commission."
"Whoa, you've really hit the jackpot."
I couldn't bring myself to join that conversation.
If a guy who'd turned down a barony offer from Marchioness Estelle chimed in, it might sound like I was rubbing it in Dalton's face.
"Martin, speaking of which, are you looking forward to this banquet?"
At that, I gave a wry smile and shrugged.
"Honestly, I am looking forward to it. But I'm worried that once we go in there, some asshole will try to psych us out to test us."
"What's the big deal? As long as we don't throw down gauntlets, slap faces, or start punching, we're good. And we're here already. Keep your wits about you."
As we stepped inside the doors, we were greeted by a scene so luxurious it made me wonder if these people were really mercenaries.
This was a formal occasion, so the mercenaries weren't dressed in noble finery adorned with gold thread or jewels.
They were all sharply dressed in silk suits, the food was artfully presented—not just tasty but visually stunning,
and the room was filled with oriental rugs, expensive-looking furniture, and paintings everywhere.
I stood there, mouth agape, muttering to myself at the sight.
"...These Medici bastards must have money rotting away. Or has our value risen so much that we're getting this kind of reception?"
As I stood there dazed, Dalton slapped me on the back.
It used to hurt like hell back then—like I was gonna die—but now it was just a slight sting.
"What are you spacing out for? Grab a drink here, greet folks, and mingle."
Dalton immediately beckoned a nearby maid, took some wine from her, and handed it to me and the vice captain.
"Piedmont wines have some surprisingly good ones. Down it in one go."
I took a sip of the wine, and my mouth filled with a slight tartness, bitterness, and a deep aroma.
Tasty.
Maybe occasionally I could bring Lucia and Karin here, sip some wine like this, and set the mood?
Neither Karin nor Lucia were the type to crave luxury, but when it was just the three of us, they really appreciated moments like this.
As I was lost in thought, a man approached us.
He had the distinct air of a real noble, not a mercenary captain, so I was caught off guard for a second.
"I'm Alberto Piedmont, captain of the Brown Shark Mercenary Corps, which mainly operates in the Medici Republic. It's an honor to meet you."
Dalton greeted him on our behalf.
"I'm Dalton von Prime, captain of the White Beard Mercenary Corps."
"Oh, were you originally a senior knight?"
"I had to leave the count's family I served before."
"Mercenaries don't pry into each other's pasts, so I apologize for unintentionally digging."
All the mercenary captains I'd seen so far used blunt speech and rough language rather than polite tones...
This cultured exchange felt awkward.
"No need to apologize, Captain Piedmont. I brought it up myself."
"I see. Well, I need to greet the other mercenary corps now, so I'll take my leave. If we get the chance later, I'll bring some fine wine and visit personally—we could have a deeper talk then."
Piedmont said that and vanished from in front of us.
We ended up having short chats with about three or four other mercenary captains and officers.
That's when I spotted one guy swaggering toward us provocatively.
"You don't seem like a mercenary corps based in the Medici Republic. I don't recognize you, so which corps are you from?"
He was tapping his foot impatiently, glaring at us...
He clearly didn't have a good impression of our White Beard Mercenary Corps.
Dalton responded politely enough to his rude question.
"We're the White Beard Mercenary Corps, mainly active in the Rhinepalz Empire. I'm the captain, Dalton von Prime."
"Rhinepalz Empire? My ears must be going bad—I don't hear much outside the Medici Republic. But you must have made some name for yourselves..."
The guy smirked at Dalton.
"I wonder how well you'll perform among the corps here. Sorry if it sounds like boasting, but every corps invited to this banquet is recognized as top-tier in the Medici Republic."
Top-tier mercenary corps were like 'national team' athletes in terms of skill.
And the second-tier corps we'd been playing in until now were like 'national team candidates'—not hopeless, but there was a clear gap in ability.
Naturally, that led to huge differences in treatment and status.
"Our Red Rose Mercenary Corps alone has six Expert-level knights and seven mid-tier mages. We've got a long history and solid trust, and the same goes for the others."
Nods and murmurs of agreement came from around the room.
"Not like those nobodies who rolled in from who-knows-where."
"Never even heard of them..."
"And the Red Roses just clawed their way to top-tier and they're already throwing their weight around."
As the atmosphere turned against us, I signaled Dalton and smirked.
Ignoring that, the guy kept going.
"But I'm not sure about you all."
As he turned to leave without even introducing himself, I grabbed his shoulder.
"No need to worry about that. Though it seems the Red Rose Mercenary Corps doesn't know."
Even when mercenary corps weren't fighting each other, they were macho groups competing for achievements in joint ops,
so guys like this often probed and tested rivals.
'And if we back down here, even with our skills, we could end up sidelined, scratching our asses in the corner.'
No matter where you go, mishandling a challenge like this leads to your abilities being undervalued.
And the way to handle it was simple.
"No worries at all. Before coming to the Medici Republic, our White Beard Mercenary Corps proved our worth plenty in Rhinepalz."
He turned to me with a mocking tone.
"Mind if I ask for specifics on your exploits?"
"Not long ago, in the war between Montmartre and the Rhinepalz Empire, we joined as allies of the imperial army. There, we ambushed and annihilated a 5,000-strong Montmartre force with just 2,000 men, and under Marchioness Estelle's command, we captured the Montmartre commander leading 15,000 troops."
No matter how top-tier a mercenary corps was—with national team status and skills—even they couldn't easily defeat 2.5 times their number or capture an enemy commander.
'Brag about achievements like this, and even they'll have to acknowledge us.'
"I've only been a mercenary for a little over three years, but from what I know, mercenaries speak through results, not history or how many knights or mages they have."
The guy who'd been about to retort trembled with rage.
He'd started the mind game but lost the war of words—frustrated but speechless.
"I think that's plenty to prove our value. Can you acknowledge us now?"
He let out a sigh like it was ridiculous.
"Fine, if that's the case, you're acknowledged. It was just jarring to see an unknown corps at a top-tier only invite."
It stung that he played it cool like some poser geek, but what could we do?
Showing our abilities through results was the right move—starting a fight just for catharsis would've been pointless.
"Looking forward to working with you."
...... You started the mind games, so now open your eyes wide and see just how great we are.