Chapter 83

Chapter 83: I’ll Go Negotiate (2)

Even while fleeing on horseback, Tamos felt like he was losing his mind.

‘How did we fail? With all those troops! Idiots! I told them to just group up and crush them from the start!’

He still couldn’t figure out what had hit them.

No matter how incompetent he was, he was still a lord of an estate.

He had picked up some things here and there, and yet he had never seen or heard of magic like that before.

‘Was there a mage capable of using such magic? No, was that even magic in the first place?’

Everything felt unclear as if covered in a fog.

And it wasn’t just the strange magic.

‘What were those men in black armor? Did Ferdium have such forces?’

They had effortlessly overpowered his soldiers, destroying siege towers with ease.

He had underestimated Ferdium, thinking they were nothing, and now it had backfired on him.

‘Damn it! Damn it! I’m ruined! Ruined!’

He had poured all his finances into this war.

And not only had he lost the war, but he had also lost most of his troops.

His estate was already insignificant, and now, without money or people, he wondered if it could even function properly anymore.

‘I need to reduce the compensation as much as possible.’

This war hadn’t stemmed from a territorial dispute, and at least he had managed to escape, so his life was spared.

Count Ferdium was known for respecting customs and honor.

Moreover, Ferdium was so weak that even managing a single estate was a struggle for them.

If they tried to absorb Digald, they’d choke on it.

They’d likely settle for a reasonable amount of compensation.

‘Damn it, I barely have any money as it is. What should I do?’

He could offer a few nearby baronies and some portion of his tax revenue over a few years, but even that wouldn’t be enough.

In the end, he would have no choice but to squeeze his estate’s people even harder.

‘Those idiotic Desmond bastards. How could they send such a fool as their commander?’

Tamos cursed under his breath and spurred his horse onward.

He needed to return to his estate as quickly as possible. He still wasn’t safe, as he was still within Ferdium’s territory.

Even now, just thinking about that terrifying fire and those men in black armor made his legs feel weak.

“Faster! Hurry up! Run!”

Tamos panted as he urged his horse to keep running without rest.

By the time he arrived at his lord’s castle, his horse collapsed, tongue hanging out.

Everyone was shocked to see the lord return in such a pitiful state, but Tamos didn’t care and immediately started shouting.

“Prepare to negotiate our surrender! Now!”

Startled by the lord’s urgency, no one had time to ask what had happened and scrambled to follow his orders.

They had all seen him lead a massive army, so how in the world did a place like Ferdium stop them?

Even as they prepared for surrender, the people’s eyes were filled with confusion and curiosity.

Not long after, Ghislain arrived at the Digald estate.

“Oh, they’re quite quick to prepare, aren’t they?”

He spotted a white flag hastily raised at the borders of the estate.

No one attempted to stop Ghislain and his party as they rode quickly through.

A group of people holding white flags was already waiting in front of the lord’s castle.

“Take me to the Count.”

The retainers of Digald respectfully guided Ghislain into the lord’s castle.

Tamos sat arrogantly on the high seat in the main hall.

It was his last desperate attempt to preserve his noble pride.

Although he had lost the war, he still harbored disdain for Ferdium.

When Ghislain, accompanied by a group of intimidating armed soldiers, entered, Tamos’ expression became uneasy.

‘Damn, they came fast. Did they pursue me right away?’

Judging by their attire, it was that terrifying black-armored unit.

Ghislain couldn’t hide his sneer as he looked at Tamos sitting there smugly.

It was ridiculous that he was trying to hold onto his pride in this situation.

“Were you preparing to negotiate your surrender?”

“Yes. And who might you be?”

“I am Ghislain Ferdium. I’ve come with full authority granted by my father.”

Though Ghislain’s tone was relatively polite for him, his expression and eyes showed clear contempt for Tamos.

But Tamos didn’t even notice that.

“You are...?”

Ghislain was notorious in the North, infamous for being a delinquent, someone who rivaled his own deceased son, Gilmore.

Even if other estates hadn’t heard the rumors, the neighboring Digald estate had heard plenty.

And now, that troublemaker was here as the representative of the lord? And not only that, he was leading that black-armored force!

“This is Baron Aesang. He supported the war with one hundred soldiers and two knights and personally participated...”

“Kill him.”

“Aaah! No! How dare you, you wretch!”

Without hesitation, the mercenaries dragged him out as soon as the order was given.

There were some who struggled desperately to avoid death, but it was futile.

“My name is Martin. I assisted in military supply work as a commoner...”

“Lock him up.”

As each person was dragged away, all those captured trembled in fear.

Those who ended up in prison had to feel relieved, knowing at least their lives were spared.

It didn’t matter if they were fools or scoundrels, for now, the one who held the power of life and death over them might as well have been the Grim Reaper.

Another man was dragged forward.

The young man with a refined appearance looked quite disheveled and exhausted. Judging by his condition, he seemed like someone who had participated in the war following Tamos.

“My name is Lowell. I was a commoner under the scribe’s office, but served as a strategy officer in this war...”

“A strategy officer?”

Ghislain chuckled.

The war had been entirely carried out by Desmond, so what could Digald’s strategy officer possibly have done? He probably just stayed by Tamos’ side and ran away when things got tough.

Moreover, he had originally been a scribe, so it was unlikely he could fulfill the role of a proper strategy officer.

A strategy officer was typically a position held by knights or military commanders who had specialized in military science.

In any case, since he had participated in the war, Ghislain was about to hand down a fitting judgment.

But just then, Lowell cried out desperately.

“Please spare me! I can be of use to you, my lord!”

“Hmm?”

At the pleading tone, Ghislain looked down at him with interest.

“And how exactly can you be of use?”

Seeing Ghislain’s interest, Lowell quickly seized the opportunity and replied.

“I managed all administrative tasks under the scribe! No one else would work, so I handled nearly everything myself! I know all the strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities of the estate. If you entrust me, I can stabilize things quickly! Isn’t that why you’re sparing some people now, because you’re worried about the estate?”

“Oh?”

Ghislain raised one corner of his mouth. The man seemed rather perceptive, speaking in a way that piqued his curiosity.

But Ghislain shook his head, showing no outward reaction. The situation wasn’t dire enough to warrant keeping him alive.

“Digald is infamous for being poor and chaotic. How would managing such a place be of any help?”

“T-That’s because the lord and his retainers were constantly embezzling and exploiting the land! I managed everything as frugally as I could, and that’s the only reason it even lasted this long!”

“Hmm...”

Ghislain responded with lukewarm interest, but Lowell’s expression grew desperate, as if he was about to cry.

“I was the one who created the laws and systems of the estate! I even studied military science on my own and took over managing the forces instead of the Master of Arms! That’s why the Count took me as his strategy officer! Since it wasn’t our estate’s army, there wasn’t much I could do...”

In other words, he claimed to have managed the estate on his own, and that was why he was dragged to the battlefield as a strategy officer.

If that were true, it would indeed be impressive, but Ghislain couldn’t take his words at face value. He could very well be lying to save his own life.

Ghislain narrowed his eyes and asked.

“Is that all you can do? I like people with a wide range of skills.”

Lowell panicked.

As a commoner, he had already achieved something extraordinary, so what more could they expect from him?

He was confident that even most nobles who had studied extensively couldn’t match his skills.

However, the look on Ghislain’s face suggested that if he delayed his response or said no, he’d be executed immediately.

Without thinking, Lowell blurted out whatever came to his mind.

“I-I heard you obtained a Runestone! You’d need to sell it, right? You’ll need to do business for that, won’t you?”

“Really? Have you done business before?”

In truth, Lowell had never engaged in business.

Even though Tamos had entrusted him with many things, managing money was the one responsibility he had never been given.

Still, Lowell said whatever came to mind in order to survive.

“I-I’m extremely quick with calculations! I’m sure I could be of use!”

Ghislain decided to test him immediately. He posed a ridiculously difficult question that required a calculation normally done with an abacus.

“Then, what’s 750 multiplied by 1,920?”

“230!”

Lowell’s answer came without a moment’s hesitation, leaving Ghislain staring at him with an incredulous expression.

“Not even close, is it?”

“But I was fast, wasn’t I?”

“......”

The hall fell into silence. Lowell bowed his head deeply.

It is over now.

If even nobles were being mercilessly slaughtered, how could a commoner like him hope to keep his life?

But as with all things in life, sometimes there were exceptions.

“...Haha, you’re quite the amusing fellow.”