Each One's Conditions
In exchange for housing the mercenaries and war mages in Manrmursk, the emperor had guaranteed thirty percent of their employment costs. If Byeon Gyeongbaek had told Seolhwa first, Seolhwa would have understood. After all, Manrmursk was unequivocally Byeon Gyeongbaek's territory, so negotiating with the emperor over it was entirely his right.
But there was a difference between being told and being caught off guard. And now, Byeon Gyeongbaek of Manrmursk was paying a heavy price for it.
“A semi-permanent lease and exclusive rights to the Purified Water? Hey, come on now. While I do apologize for not bringing it up sooner, asking for the entirety of Petergorsk in exchange is a bit much, don't you think?”
"It's not just for me. It's for you, Lord Byeon Gyeongbaek, and for Manrmursk as well."
"You're getting bolder these days—shameless, even. Fine, let's hear it. How is it in my interest to just hand over my land without proper compensation?"
"You must already know what I'll do with these assembled mercenaries."
Byeon Gyeongbaek, his expression urging her to continue since he'd heard the rumors, took a sip of water.
“Unless they have somehow grown wings and can fly, they will inevitably have to deploy from Petergorsk and rely on that port for all their resupply needs as well, right?”
"Are you insane? What resupply? It's a one-and-done deployment. Why would they come back?"
"Do you really think the emperor and the Sachsen Duke won't make an issue of that?"
"What?"
"Like it or not, these are mercenaries we're housing in Manrmursk first and foremost. Even if it's for show, they need to operate out of Manrmursk as a base."
"And what about attacking the Sachsen roads with mercenaries? Won't they complain about that?"
"Exactly."
The more the serpent whispered, the hazier Byeon Gyeongbaek's reason grew. But the serpent never rushed. It simply waited for its prey, blinded by clouded judgment, to offer its own neck.
"By then, they'll pin the blame not on the mercenaries or Manrmursk itself, but on you—on Suhwa Romanov?"
Just like right now. Seolhwa replied with an angelic smile.
"Precisely. Once the roads are severed and the road guards start dropping, the Sachsen won't be foolish enough to obsess over where the mercenaries deployed from. Even if someone raises the question, no one will listen."
"Pretty words. Fine, I'll concede the lease. But why demand exclusive Purified Water rights? Planning to go into business now? Do you even grasp how many tangled interests are wrapped up in this venture?"
"It's not exclusive rights for me. It's bait to lure the war mages. Most of them..."
"Ah, enough! You're just gonna drone on about how right you are anyway, right? I've got one condition."
"What is it?"
"For ten years, don't adjust the purchase and sale price of Manrmursk Purified Water by more than ten percent from the average market rate. Don't let the existing players come bitching to my castle over this."
"Of course. If you wish, we can add a clause about pricing to the contract."
"Handle that with the staff. Don't bother me with details like that."
As if washing his hands of any further entanglement, Byeon Gyeongbaek of Manrmursk waved dismissively and left the port office.
"Is it all drafted?"
"Well, Baron Seolhwa... it's a bit tricky."
The hesitant administrative officer, as if some complication had arisen, began to explain. Aside from a tiny fraction, the mercenaries and war mages were demanding additional conditions in their contracts. After weeding out the trivial or absurd requests, they boiled down to three main types.
The first was...
"So, to sum it up... you're asking for guaranteed citizenship? For yourselves and your families."
"Yes."
“I am afraid I cannot grant you citizenship for either Petergorsk or Manrmursk—please accept my sincerest apologies for that. Now, remind me, what was your name again?”
"Killian."
"Right, Killian. I can't grant that condition right now."
"Then mercenaries like me, with families back home, won't sign."
"I'm not saying I won't grant it at all. Just not right now."
Mercenaries were wanderers by nature. They might linger in one city if commissions kept coming, but most chased high-paying jobs or flocked to hotspots of conflict, trading their prowess for gold. No city truly welcomed them. Living like they had no tomorrow—unsure when death might strike—they haunted taverns and brothels like pests.
But there was an exception: mercenaries who settled down with families. The moment one became a husband or father, dreams of tomorrow took root. Anchored by family, they blended into society bit by bit.
Killian was now demanding land where he could live with his family from Seolhwa.
"What does that mean?"
"It's nothing to brag about, but I have no territory right now. Promising citizenship would just be a lie to buy time."
"So..."
"Through this war, I'll reclaim my land. Then we can talk about your condition again, Killian."
"Not 'I'll grant it,' but 'we'll talk'?"
"Only a fool of a mercenary promises tomorrow's work today..."
Killian's eyes wavered in the silence. Could he trust the man before him? But if not, what other choice did he have?
"They'd die tomorrow anyway. Fine, Baron Seolhwa. Mercenaries with families will accept the contract."
The serpent, satisfied, offered Killian a handshake. Knowing it was a poisoned chalice, Killian still grasped the hand.
As Killian left to sign, another mercenary entered. If the previous one had represented those with families, this one...
"Looks like you're done with that guy? Lord Baron. Me and the other mercenaries don't need all that sappy talk about families or citizenship..."
"Then why refuse the contract?"
"It's unfair if they get extra scraps just for signing the same deal. Swords don't have eyes for family men first. Hey, I thought of it myself, but it's still unfair."
"Your name?"
"Brutus."
"Brutus. So what do you want extra?"
"What does a mercenary want more than anything, milord? Gold, obviously. A shit-ton of it!"
Bam! Brutus slammed the desk, his eyes gleaming gold.
Did I ever have that look?
Memories surfaced of his days drifting from the Free Cities, lingering with mercenary bands. He'd groveled like a dog for every extra coin, even rummaging through the asses of the dead for hidden gold.
"Why so quiet? Don't tell me you're short on funds..."
"Twenty percent. After the contract, mercenaries who don't want citizenship get an extra twenty percent of the total contract fee."
"Kya~ Noble lords like you are so generous! Nothing like those piggish merchants haggling over every penny. Classy, real classy. Fine! My crew'll sign whatever. Milord."
The golden ghost, promising tomorrow's riches today, extended his hand first. Seolhwa took it with another satisfied smile.
"I refuse."
"This is troubling. When I took over your contracts from Lord Byeon Gyeongbaek, I did ask if you truly wanted..."
"I know."
The war mage representative, who introduced himself as Sooncheol, spoke up.
"The emperor herded us here like beasts, so we have no real choice. Still, I refuse. Dying on some stranger's battlefield or getting executed by Byeon Gyeongbaek here—same difference."
Perfect. Seolhwa was thoroughly satisfied. Even if she lost mercenaries like Killian or Brutus, she had to secure the war mages. If they were swayed by family ties or blinded by gold, it would be a problem.
That's why Sooncheol's reaction delighted her so much.
"What if there was a reason to fight?"
"What do you mean?"
"Before I answer, I have a question."
As if proceeding with utmost caution. As if he'd agonized over whether to ask. He paused just long enough.
And as the serpent whispered...
Sooncheol's face twisted like he'd been bitten by a venomous fang.
"Why did you become a war mage, Mage Sooncheol?"
Some say the highest glory for a mage is pursuing pure magical truth. And such truth isn't forged in the blood-soaked chaos of battlefields, reeking of iron and screams. To even start, one must devote a lifetime to a magic tower or latch onto a powerful noble or rich merchant for a private lab.
So why did war mages choose to roll in the dirt as mercenaries instead?
The answer was simple.
"Are you really clueless, or do you want me to say it myself: 'I'm a loser who got pushed out of the competition'?"
Pushed out like Sooncheol, desperate for cash, expelled from a tower. Battered by life's storms—but few started out wanting to become walking bundles of kill-spells.
"I know. I was a mercenary too."
"You? A mercenary? But you're clearly a baron..."
"Since we're on the topic, I'll just ask straight: Which magic tower?"
Sooncheol, glaring sharply at Seolhwa, sighed and answered.
"You won't know it. Some backwater noble built it out of vanity—barely qualified as a tower."
"And yet, Sooncheol, you still got pushed out."
Sooncheol's eyes widened.
"Even from a joke of a tower built on a country noble's ego, you couldn't become heir to the tower lord. The only place left for a mage like you to strut was the battlefield."
Absurdity and rage overflowing into silence. Confirming Sooncheol's expression—keep talking—Seolhwa continued.
"No matter how much you jerk off to the idea that you're different from mercenaries blowing yesterday's earnings on booze and whores today, no one will care."
"Because in the end, you're all the same blood-stinking bastards killing for a few gold coins."
"Just waiting to get crushed under the weight of those years one day."
"Listen here!"
Bam!
"That time—the years you earned not from books or parchments, but rolling in the mud, stabbing, fleeing, killing!"
Sooncheol's stunned face cracked in the serpent's eyes.
"Your experience refining magic into murder tools in ways those pampered pigs in warm labs playing with numbers can't even dream of!"
"Mage ethics, pure paths of magic—throw that shit to the dogs. The techniques unique to war mages, blending magic with craft and science!"
"Lend it all to me."
Urgent, but not groveling. Seolhwa, burning cold, extended her hand.
Sooncheol fell silent, entranced. Desire twisted his lips.
"What do you offer in return?"
"Priority purchase rights for Manrmursk Purified Water."
"Ha."
Expectations high, disappointment doubled.
"What use is Purified Water to war mages? We don't have the coin for it."
"Does any mage in the world buy Purified Water with their own money?"
"That's just for tower mages, though..."
Sooncheol's mind spun furiously. Purified Water was essential for magic experiments—practically mandatory. And Manrmursk produced the continent's largest supply.
Priority rights to that, plus this man's words—no one buys Purified Water themselves...
From now on, without war mages, you can't get Manrmursk Purified Water!?
"Every magic tower on the continent will soon be desperate to hire war mages."
The serpent gazed at the lost lamb with its softest, most benevolent smile yet.
Terrifying. Ecstatic. The lamb could only bare its neck.