Chapter 204: Those on the Run (3)

Chapter 204: Those on the Run (3)

If mercenaries had come to the town, they would be sprawled out drunkenly drinking beer by now.

Whether experienced or not, whether they had a lot of money or little, it would be the same. Wouldn’t those who wandered long distances all think the same?

“It would be easier to talk if you’re pleasantly drunk. Did you say you were at the ‘Drunken Giant’ inn?”

“Yes.”

“The food the master there serves is pretty good. It will make for good conversation. Follow me. I want to meet the mercenary captain.”

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“How are you going to deal with the aftermath?”

“It’s the present now, even if I get hanged later. When will I ever tell the count that I ran an errand for him?”

“What a crazy b*stard.”

The veteran mercenaries were inside, and the new recruits were outside. It was a visible custom everywhere. The first floor of the ‘Drunken Giant’ inn was bustling with newly arrived mercenaries. Some who couldn’t find seats were sitting outside in the yard, drinking.

The local mercenaries who would have normally picked fights with these foreign newcomers didn’t dare approach them either, reluctantly leaving with frustrated expressions on their faces. There were simply too many of them.

“Indeed. They look decent.”

You didn’t need to be an outstanding mercenary yourself to recognize one. Experienced merchants were also good at identifying outstanding mercenaries.

From their conduct and atmosphere, equipment and weapons. . . they could make a comprehensive judgment at a glance.

“Shall we go in right away?”

“Oh people. You’re still so clumsy about work.”

Hearing the words of the young employee at the trading firm, Lucchese clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“You can’t just barge in and accost the mercenary captain if you’re an outstanding merchant. Don’t rush. Watch me and learn well.”

“Yes, sir. I understand.”

Lucchese looked around at the mercenaries sitting in the yard. Among the mercenaries, those with the least experience and most junior tended to be tight on cash.

As such, they were also easier to curry favor with. They would tear up at even a small act of goodwill.

“Hey. Here’s some silver. Go get enough drinks for all the mercenaries here.”

“Understood. Mr. Lucchese.”

As his servant went inside to fetch drinks, Lucchese slowly approached the mercenaries.

‘Quite the large build too.’

Lucchese took note of a mercenary sitting with his back turned. Based on how the other mercenaries were watching him, this man seemed to be their captain.

With a physique like that, it made sense.

“Ahem. You there.”

“?”

Johan, who was eating the stew in the wooden bowl, turned his head at the sudden call. A merchant was calling him.

Judging by his clothes, he clearly had quite a status in the town. And that pattern. . .?

‘A member of the Katana Merchant Guild?’

Johan was confused as he had not grasped the situation yet. But he was not as confused as Lucchese. No matter how he looked, the person in front of him was. . .

‘Count Yeats?’

Lucchese had seen Johan riding a horse from afar when he visited Coolia County before, and he had heard about the count’s appearance several times.

The Katana Merchant Guild had quite a close relationship with Johan. Even after Johan became a count, he gave the guild a lot of convenience. It was a consideration based on their connection.

For the guild, it was like money falling into their hands for no reason. From their perspective, they had embezzled a fortune.

So Lucchese also respected Count Yeats. As a knight, he appreciated his abilities, but merchants tend to like people who fill their pockets anyway.

‘. . .But why is His Excellency here?’

Lucchese just gulped, not knowing what to say. No matter how he looked, it seemed to be Count Yeats, but Count Yeats wouldn’t be sitting here eating stew with mercenaries. Yet no matter how he looked, it really seemed to be Count Yeats. . .

It was Johan who saved the confused Lucchese. Seeing that the other person recognized his face, Johan sighed and said,

“Sit down. It’s probably who you think it is.”

“Ah. . . B-But why would such an esteemed person be in a place like this. . .?”

The mercenaries murmured at Lucchese’s tangled words. The merchant seemed crazy.

“There are some circumstances.”

Johan briefly explained the situation. Hearing that, Lucchese was surprised.

“What?! How did we not notice?!”

“If you try to capture him so crudely, even a one-eyed man would recognize him!”

A nearby mercenary cried out in disbelief. The knight stared at Johan in astonishment.

“Even though you’re a Count, why are you chasing us in that state?!”

“Well. . . isn’t it shameful for you to be running away looking like that?”

Johan’s words had hit the mark, as the knight’s face turned red.

“We had no choice!”

“Surrender. I promise you’ll be treated honorably according to tradition.”

“. . .Very well.”

With the pursuit hot on his heels, the knight had no reason to stubbornly resist. He threw down his weapon dejectedly.

“The b*stards are getting away!”

“!”

Hearing the shout from behind, Johan turned to look. Johan asked the knight,

“Can you tell me what happened?”

“Adviko-gong and the wizard are staying elsewhere. It seems they fled when they heard the commotion.”

If Uterman had been there, he would have strangled with his own hands any knight who so openly gave away vital information. But the knight respected Johan as a fellow knight who had fairly claimed victory, and treated him with honor.

“Damn. What a pointless hassle.”

“Will you pursue them?”

“First let’s capture the knights here, then chase after them. Rushing into a pursuit may lead to foolish mistakes.”

Johan captured the remaining knights and squires. They looked at Johan dressed as a mercenary with bewilderment.

What kind of vicious count is this?

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“It seems we’re being pursued. Shouldn’t we surrender?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. At most some mercenary scums might be chasing us. We were ambushed in the town but here outside we should have enough strength to win, no?”

At Uterman’s words, the knights reluctantly nodded. Though few in number, there were no knights so weak as to lose to some mercenary riffraffs.

It was a blessing that they had stayed separately in different places. Thanks to that they were able to grab their belongings and slip out of the town when the commotion happened.

But morale was at rock bottom. As Uterman flatly rejected the proposal, the knights secretly approached Adviko.

“Adviko-nim. What do you think about surrendering and paying ransom?”

“Hmm. . .”

It was rare among the nobles who jumped into battle to not have been captured even once. Surrender and paying ransom was common practice.

Unless under special circumstances, there was no reason to fight to the death. It was better to surrender honorably and pay the ransom.

Originally, Adviko might have also not fled so shamefully and would have proudly fled only to be captured and simply surrendered and paid the ransom.

But now was not a good time. With the dangerous situation, even going straight back to the city to sort things out was risky. And being held hostage by the count would blow his family apart.

But as the pursuit closed in just below his chin, Adviko’s mind also began to waver.

Maybe it would be better to just surrender?

“You go check if there’s still pursuit. You go ahead and check for any possible ambush.”

“More nonsense??”

Uterman gestured at Sir Kruger. He was the knight who was most strongly loyal among the knights, practically Uterman’s bodyguard. As Sir Kruger walked over, the squires yelled urgently.

“We’ll go check and come back!”

The squires moved forward, cursing at the bad-tempered wizard. There was absolutely no sign of people around the narrow mountain path.

“Nothing there?”

“Nothing. But what’s this?”

The squires were puzzled to see the path blocked by some huge boulders. They wondered if some rogues had put them there but rogues wouldn’t block the path so crudely.

“Move them. If you see it, you’ll be damned.”

“Was there a rockslide or something. . .?”

“It’s too neat for that. . .”