CH 39

“Do I have to explain myself?” Gareth asked coldly. 

A bitter taste filled Giggs’ mouth. He knew that a marriage between Gareth and Elena was going to be impossible, but now that Gareth had confirmed this, he couldn’t help but sulk. He even began to feel sorry for Elena.

“We are mercenaries. There’s no such thing as a future for us,” Gareth continued. None of Gareth’s men were married, as they lived a life without a future. Still, Giggs thought Elena was different from others, and had been expecting something. Feelings of resentment continued to wash over him. As far as he knew, Elena was the only woman Gareth had slept with more than once. She was also the only woman he allowed to stay by his side.

“Shine the light,” Gareth ordered as he took a leather map out of his inner pocket and spread it on the ground. It seemed that he was done talking about Elena.

The map he took out was filled with writings made in charcoal. The terrains where Gareth and his men had served as mercenaries until now were marked, as well as their characteristics. Giggs, who could barely read with a stutter, couldn’t help but scratch his head in confusion. Out of everyone, Hansen was the only one who had learned how to read and write properly. Therefore, he had been the one to work as Gareth’s messenger and spy.

Gareth remained silent for a while and took out a piece of charcoal. ‘Why didn’t Logan take over the Townsend estate…?’ he wondered. He carefully examined the numerous places he had been employed at to exterminate noble families, including those involved in territorial disputes. He then drew a line with the piece of charcoal. Soon, he could make out a distinct radial shape on the map.

“Hansen. Can you see this?” Gareth asked as he narrowed his eyes and closely observed the lines.

Hansen also squinted his eyes and traced over the lines with his fingers. ‘It couldn’t be…’ he thought in astonishment.

“Do you know what this means?” Gareth asked. 

“The capital… seems to be growing.” 

“As long as the territorial disputes continue, the capital will continue to grow.” 

Giggs began to think. ‘Wait, that means…? Oh!’ His eyes shined with amazement as he whipped his head towards Gareth. ‘We weren’t just fighting people at random places? And to think our boss was someone who would run anywhere at any time to fight at the risk of his life as long as his conditions were met… There is definitely something about him. He’s really unpredictable, like the wind.’

“The territorial disputes that have been going on for about seven years now must have been hiding this all along. I can’t believe the king was using this as a way to expand the power of the capital… Still, something seems off,” Gareth mumbled.

Giggs scratched his head again and interjected, “It’s strange how the size of the city has changed. It’s not spreading any further south from Logan’s estate, but is expanding horizontally instead. If they needed defense, they would have been better off expanding out in all directions instead of just horizontally, or else, they would need to gain favor from all these other estates.” Giggs then pointed at two estates that the city had not yet reached. Located at the center was Logan’s estate as well as the Townsend estate. “It seems like Logan is blocking the king’s way,” Giggs muttered without much thought.

Knowing how to read and write was different from reading the progression of a war that was soon to happen. Sometimes words that randomly came to mind were the answers that someone was looking for.

“Why would Logan do that?” Gareth asked Giggs. 

“He must want to overthrow the king,” Giggs spat out instinctively once again.

“Logan doesn’t have the brains to do that,” Gareth refuted. 

Giggs put on his thinking cap to try to make sense of this situation, then said, “Logan is the king’s cousin, which means he is definitely siding with the king. Isn’t he just laying down a stepping stone for the king? If the king’s power grows noticeably, the nobles will start to protest. So, Logan is—oh wait, he doesn’t have the brains for that. Agh, so what could it be then?” Giggs gazed at Gareth with vacant eyes after having reached a limit with his thoughts. He was confident in his vast knowledge about Gareth, but it was impossible for him to try to read such complicated things such as this. He didn’t understand why he had to try to read the minds of the royalty and nobles’ transient lives when he was busy protecting himself. He didn’t even want to try to find out. All he wanted to do now was eat some delicious food.

Hansen carefully pointed to a spot on the map and opened his mouth. “I agree with Giggs. This may mean that Logan wants to overthrow the king. He is only a second cousin to the king, after all.”

Gareth crossed his arms and studied the map with bemused eyes. It was impossible for King Halbert to trust someone, as he had taken the throne from Ethan, the true heir to the throne, and his half brother. This was why he was convinced that the king wouldn’t trust his relatives, either. ‘Does that mean Logan is preparing for something?’ Gareth scowled. ‘Logan is a piece of rubbish. He acts strong against the weak and does his best to please those stronger than him. At least, that’s how I’ve only thought of him so far…’

“Should we start viewing Logan differently?” Gareth asked his men.

Elena had told Gareth that Logan constantly started conflicts against the Townsend estate and bullied them. Still, he had never made any decisive attacks on the estate, even when he had the chance to do so. Only a miracle would be able to explain how the weak and poor Townsend estate had survived until now.

“Is he alone, or is someone supporting him?” Gareth asked once again. 

Hansen opened his mouth at that moment and said quietly, “There won’t be a war until spring. We have plenty of time to find out.” 

The territorial disputes that had been going on for the past seven years had left the nation impoverished. Many people were starving due to the lack of food. It was inappropriate to start a war during this season due to the weather, decreased number of armed forces, and lack of finances.