Chapter 50
Chapter 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Burn the Enemy's Supplies First (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Captain Dalton's declaration that plundering was permitted drew a thunderous cheer from everyone in our mercenary corps.
"Fuck yeah! Let's go grab a massive haul!"
"You idiot, everything you snag is going straight to the captain anyway. He'll divvy it up based on merits, so why the hell are you getting all hyped up?"
"Still, when this war wraps up, we'll pocket an extra 4 or 5 silver coins in bonus pay, right? You dumbass. That's enough for a shitload of pussy!"
Baker poked my shoulder with his finger, his eyes sparkling eagerly.
'What a transparently simple bastard.'
"Even if you bust your ass scavenging, it all goes into the corps funds anyway. Why are you making such a fuss?"
"Aw, come on. We're mercenaries. Honestly, sneaking a gold ring or a few coins—Captain Dalton won't even notice, right?"
I couldn't help but smirk at that.
It wasn't complete bullshit, but asking so blatantly in the middle of a plunder...
Fuck, it was like screaming he'd grab anything he could get his hands on. What a bonehead.
'Still, the guy's been holding his own since shedding his rookie skin...'
I smacked Baker's head with a hand infused with Aura.
"Ugh."
"You idiot, get caught hiding that shit and you'll lose a hand. Don't you know?"
"......You think I'd say that for real?"
I rubbed my forehead and said,
"Judging by your antics, it sure sounded like it. Anyway, take the guys and grab weapons, armor, valuables only. The heavy stuff we can't carry anyway."
Baker puckered his lips like a duck, and when I pretended to smack him, he bolted like a shot.
Seeing that, I sighed in disbelief.
"Hiding it means it's not a crime, so why advertise it like that?"
I glanced around.
The rookies were rummaging through the enemy merchant wagons, figuring they'd have the most lucrative goods.
"Whoa, fuck. These merchant bastards are hauling armor and weapons too. Like snails carrying their whole damn shops on their backs."
The more experienced ones were thoroughly looting the enemy knights' corpses.
"Argh, why don't these knight pricks carry even one coin pouch? Fuckin' idiots. No wonder the Montmartre guys get called snails."
I sneered inwardly at them.
'Idiots, wasting their time.'
The wagons the camp followers rode had decent stuff, but they were so big that anything you took stood out, making it impossible to skim.
The knights wore their armor and weapons since they needed them for battle, but real valuables were too cumbersome to carry personally.
Why didn't these idiots get that?
Meanwhile, Senior Karin was looting a corpse that looked like a knight's squire...
Looking closely, she wasn't showing it on her face, but her ears were twitching as she focused intently.
I snuck up and prodded her shoulder.
Spotting me, she winked with her left eye and pressed a finger to her lips.
"Martin, take this and pretend you saw nothing. It's a pouch with five gold coins the squire was carrying."
Refusing in this situation would sour things...
I pocketed it discreetly, then lifted one corner of my mouth in a grin and asked,
"What'd you snag, Senior?"
Karin shook her head and tugged my collar.
"A ring with a big ruby and a necklace studded with sapphires and emeralds. Looks like the knight he served dumped the necklace and ring on his squire because they got in the way during fights."
The corps banned personal looting not just to hoard cash, but to prevent fights over 'I found it first' claims.
But if Senior found it solo...
'Not a crime if you don't get caught.'
"Lucky break. Guessed you hit big when you shelled out five golds to buy my silence."
Karin shrugged.
"Go on. Grab your share."
"Heh, I'll let this one slide. But you owe me a drink later."
"You took the money, you're an accomplice now, Platoon Leader Martin."
As I scoured for my own big score, I spotted a horse saddled with an emblem-embossed saddle from that Leblanc prick's gear.
'Fuck, jackpot?'
No proof, but to me, that horse looked like a walking treasure chest.
Horses cost a fortune already, and with all those pouches dangling from the saddle, something killer had to be in there.
Knights and horses were inseparable, making the saddle perfect for stashing valuables outside bedtime...
"Mouth's watering already, fuck."
I approached Leblanc's horse right away.
To avoid drawing eyes if it spooked, I slowly stroked its neck and mane to calm it.
Once its snorting quieted, I dove into the saddle pouches without delay.
"Ah, if I find even one elixir, I'd die happy."
Such ridiculous fortune wouldn't happen in real life...
With a brief, solemn prayer to Deus, I rummaged the left saddle pouch.
I let out a soft whistle, quiet enough not to carry.
"Fancy knight saddlebags are stacked. Dozens of gold coins, rings and necklaces loaded with gems..."
I cherry-picked the valuable, compact items and slipped them into my pouch.
Since it was shady business, I kept vigilant watch for anyone nearby.
If it was some low-rank punk, I'd shut them up with rank or a bribe.
Everyone was pilfering on the sly, and I'd done it plenty in games, but doing it for real had my heart pounding like mad.
"......"
I opened another pouch next.
As I did, a chill like winter wind hit my face from inside.
Feeling that aura, I nearly whooped in joy.
Only one thing emitted such energy: the elixir I'd been hunting forever.
'This strong vibe means it's no ordinary one.'
I hadn't eaten tons of elixirs, but only an idiot would miss this.
"Ha, thanks, you pompous-ass Leblanc."
Fishing inside, I pulled out a griffon-leather pouch as expected.
Carefully unwrapping the double-sealed elixir revealed a massive plant root shaped like a human.
'Mandrake, top-grade one brimming with chill energy...'
I itched to devour it right there, but chowing down and meditating would scream 'thief' to everyone.
I suppressed the urge, tucking it safely into my leather pouch.
"......Gonna hit that 'wall' soon. Save it for then."
Good now, but best for breaking Expert wall later.
Forcing down my twitching lip, I joined the veterans in pretending we'd found jack shit.
Captain Dalton smirked at us.
"Wear or carry the armor as best you can, same for weapons. Gold, jewels, valuables—you haul 'em yourselves, got it?"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Good. Fuckin' A, you all busted ass hard. Gag the baron and surviving knights, drag 'em as is. Tie up the whores and junk, leave 'em. Torch all the food and leftovers here."
The bigwigs would notice no supplies in days and come hunting.
We'd be back at the Linepalz camp by then.
"Hurry back, fuckers. Tonight, this captain's buying—drink till your noses twist!"
Vice Captain Heinz chimed in.
"Last time the viscount covered drinks and it fizzled, but if it happens again, we'll pick your pockets the next day for sure!"
The whole corps burst out laughing, clutching our guts.
"Vice Captain, I'm downing 5L of beer alone."
"Captain Dalton, this time I'm looting a whole camp follower wagon solo. Don't stop me."
"Feast on the captain's dime is the absolute best. Fuck, even if we croak, we'll gorge on booze and meat first."
Our White Beard Mercenary Corps returned to camp without a hitch, leaving the enemy's food and supplies in flames.
And like any company, office, or civil service outfit, successfully pulling off the tough op earned us a heavier, more critical mission.
Strictly speaking, we'd been support so far, not main force...
This time, even if at the tail end, we'd take the hammer role in the main unit.