The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 43

6. Reclamation: The Scheming Bastard

The leader of the Blue Falcon Mercenary Group seemed to possess considerable strength.

Judging by appearances, it was difficult to gauge his exact level, but the druid’s intuition warned me of danger.

“He’s quite skilled. In terms of this continent, he’s above an intermediate Expert,” Cheonma reported immediately after completing his scan. He estimated the leader was about two levels ahead of me.

Even among warriors who have reached the Expert level, there’s a significant gap between the beginner and intermediate stages, but I was already beyond the norm.

If I used the Cheonma Sword and my druid abilities to their fullest, I could handle opponents several levels above me. Besides, I had the acorn as a last resort.

It was worth a try.

That was my conclusion.

“Is this how the Blue Falcon Mercenary Group treats its guests?”

I refused to shake his hand and deliberately acted coldly. Rakan, the mercenary leader, briefly showed a hint of embarrassment on his face, followed by a subtle flash of anger.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You know better than anyone what I mean.”

The Blue Falcon Mercenary leader put on a friendly smile and tried to gloss over the unfortunate incident as a mistake by his subordinates.

A typical case of passing the buck.

What did the gatekeepers think they were doing, turning away and messing with someone who had an appointment with the head of the organization, no less?

Of course, it must have happened with Rakan’s tacit consent. I pointed that out, and the mercenary leader expressed his displeasure.

“I apologize for the inadequate hospitality. However, I think you’re being a bit emotional, young master. I understand it’s because of your young age, but…”

“Campbell, Zion, let’s go back. There’s nothing more to gain here.”

As I turned to leave, the surroundings suddenly darkened, and a shadow fell on my face.

Naturally, I looked up and saw a burly figure, similar in height to Campbell, blocking my path and looking down at me.

“Hey, noble sir, you may come as you please, but you can’t leave as you please. You’ve made such a mess, so you should at least compensate us… Cough!”

I punched him in the jaw.

The burly figure, caught off guard by the sudden attack, collapsed with his eyes rolling back.

Thud!

He made a loud noise, probably because he was heavy.

“Ugh! The assault captain!”

“Are you crazy!”

“Don’t let him get away!”

Clearly, these were just low-level guys who weren’t even user-level [referring to individuals who haven’t reached a certain level of skill or ability], and they angrily drew their weapons.

However, the experienced fighters who knew how to watch a fight hardened their faces. They noticed that these guys hadn’t even seen me swing my hand just now.

“The assault captain, just like that?”

“Even if it was a surprise attack, how is that possible?”

“I didn’t even see the attack.”

Under everyone’s piercing gaze, I turned my back to Rakan and said,

“I’ll add this to the ledger too. Blue Falcon Mercenary Group. I’ll remember this.”

Then I started walking.

Campbell to my left, Zion to my right.

Before I could even take three steps,

“Wait a moment.”

Rakan called out to me.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“Can you spare some time?”

To ask for my time after seeing everything. Even though the mercenary world is a place where you have to prove your strength to be treated well, this was a truly outrageous level of brazenness.

“My time is very valuable. Or rather, it just became more valuable.”

“…I’ll pay the price.”

“Very well.”

I entered Rakan’s tent.

Inside, there were three cups of tea.

They were steaming, as if prepared in advance.

‘He wasn’t planning to kick me out without even meeting me.’

He was probably watching how I would react if the gatekeepers caused a commotion, and if the situation became serious, he would step in to smooth things over.

Then, having won the initial battle of wills, he would try to seize the initiative and continue the conversation.

Of course, the situation was reversed because I held my head higher than expected.

“Have a cup. By the way, it’s not poisoned.”

Since I was immune to status ailments anyway, I took a comfortable sip of tea. Zion and Campbell also followed my lead and drank their tea.

“Was it Henon? It seems the rumor that you caught a Twilight executive in the North wasn’t entirely false.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, wondering if he had made all that fuss just to find this out.

“Are you perhaps an Expert? The assault captain isn’t someone you can easily catch, even with a surprise attack. Judging by the feeling…”

“Let’s stop talking about me.”

I interrupted Rakan.

Since there was a specific reason why this meeting was arranged today, I decided to get straight to the point.

“Rosalyn and Phillip. Do you think they have a chance of winning?”

Rakan, taken aback by my blunt question, was momentarily speechless and shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, I’ve heard rumors that the interests within the Marquisate are complexly intertwined regarding the Albus territory. We’re just doing our job according to the money we receive.”

His answer was ridiculous – partly true and partly false.

It’s true that mercenaries move according to money. However, a group the size of the Blue Falcon Mercenary Group doesn’t accept just any request. They mainly take on requests that won’t cause problems later.

The fact that the Blue Falcon Mercenary Group was hired by Rosalyn and Phillip meant that they believed Phillip had a better chance in the Lloyd Marquisate’s succession battle.

Rakan scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed, as he noticed that I didn’t believe him at all.

“I’ll be honest. The Marchioness gave us money that you couldn’t earn even if you worked in the North for ten years.”

“That must be a considerable sum.”

“Is that all? It’s Prince Phillip, who commands 1,000 soldiers. It’s only natural for me to think he has a better chance, isn’t it?”

Rakan continued.

“At least he’s safer and more reliable than Henon, who has no money and is caught up in rumors that may or may not be true.”

“Then why did you want to meet me? You could have called off today’s meeting and sided with Rosalyn and Phillip.”

I already knew the answer.

It must be because of my reputation for catching the Twilight executive.

He probably agreed to today’s meeting to see if Henon, the bastard, was hiding any tricks up his sleeve, to check what claws he had hidden.

For the Blue Falcon Mercenary Group, which operates long-term in the Elden Kingdom, it would be desirable to maintain a friendly relationship with the person who will be responsible for the Marquisate in the future.

“I wanted to check your qualifications, Henon. At first, I thought you were just a decent mercenary you brought from the North, but I didn’t know you were so skilled in personal combat.”

“But that’s all there is to it.”

“That’s right. I regret to say that the Blue Falcon Mercenary Group has no choice but to support Prince Phillip. There’s no personal feeling involved. Rather, I was glad to meet a young man with potential. It was a short meeting, but it was enjoyable.”

Rakan firmly issued an order to leave.

There was a way to leave as it was.

However, I also took the precious time to meet the mercenary leader because I had a reason, so I emptied my teacup and brought up the matter.

“I’d like you to help me.”

“What have you been listening to? I want to help, but I can’t.”

“Three days from now, I will capture Albus Castle in three days.”

Rakan froze like a stone for a moment at my bombshell statement. He couldn’t answer and stammered, then barely managed to open his mouth.

“That’s ridiculous! Do you think Albus Fortress is a joke? Unless you’re a master-level expert, you can’t capture it in a few days.”

“What if, even if it’s just a needle’s eye of possibility, the castle gate opens?”

“That will never happen, but if such a miracle were to occur, I will take responsibility and help you.”

“The negotiation is established.”

Thump!

The table shook because of the leather pouch I took out.

A faint golden light leaked from inside.

“What is this?”

“Check it out.”

Rakan, having untied the leather pouch and checked the contents, let out an exclamation of astonishment.

“Ugh! What on earth is this…”

Inside the pouch were ancient gold coins.

To be honest, I don’t even know which era the gold coins are from. I just picked a few gold coins from the treasures I swept from the Dragon Lair and put them in.

Nevertheless, the elaborately crafted patterns and the glittering luster made it clear to anyone that it was 100% pure gold with no impurities mixed in.

“How is it? Are you still hesitating?”

“…”

Rakan became tight-lipped.

After staring blankly at the gold coins for 5 minutes, he put the gold coins in the leather pouch and pushed it towards me.

He refuses even after seeing the ancient gold coins?

I was embarrassed for the first time since coming here.

“I’m sorry then. I’ll get up.”

“No, I accept. I accept the offer.”

“Then why don’t you take the reward?”

Rakan’s eyes lit up at my question.

“I feel like you have a chance of winning. I was quite rude today. If Albus Castle falls as you said, our Blue Falcon Mercenary Group will turn to your side.”

Is he trying to invest in the possibility of the future in order to gain long-term trust instead of short-term rewards? As expected of a mercenary who has been rolling around in this industry for a long time, he’s quite good at business.

“Exactly three days from now. If the period passes, today’s meeting and promises will be null and void.”

“I know that well. See you then.”

I got up from my seat.

Rakan’s deep gaze continued to be fixed on my back as I went out.

* * *

Deep in the night at 1 a.m., inside the Lloyd Marquisate Castle.

It was a windy night.

When the shaking window frame was creating ominous shadows, a knock on the door was heard.

It was a very small sound, and it might have been hard to notice unless you were listening carefully because it was mixed with the strong wind, but everyone gathered in the room was silent, so they noticed it immediately.

“Come in.”

There were a total of three people inside:

The fat middle-aged woman, Rosalyn,

Phillip, with a pale complexion, and

Finally, a hooded man of unknown identity.

Creak.

The guest who opened the door was trembling. He didn’t look good.

Rosalyn called out his name.

“Peter. Nice to see you.”

Surprisingly, the identity of the night visitor was Peter, the eldest son of the former Albus Barony family. He sat down in the seat that had been left empty for him. Rosalyn and Phillip had faint smiles on their faces as they looked at Peter.

“I heard the story. You’re going to tell us all of Henon’s plans? That’s a really big decision. You’ve made the right choice.”

Rosalyn opened her mouth while deliberately pressing her body close to Peter. Peter didn’t show it, even though he felt so much powder that he was dizzy because of the thick makeup.

“Are you sure?”

“What do you mean?”

“If I tell you Henon’s plan, you’ll give me back the Albus territory, and if Prince Phillip becomes the Marquis later, you’ll recognize me as the lord of Albus Castle for sure.”

“Is there any doubt? Rather, I’m wondering why you came now.”

Rosalyn whispered, bringing her mouth closer to Peter’s ear.

“What would have happened to you if you had stayed with Henon? Even if things went well and you became the owner of Albus for the time being, you would have been hanged after Phillip became the Marquis, because I would have made it so.”

The tone was friendly, but Peter felt fear from the venomous thorns contained within.

He felt guilty for betraying Henon, who had saved his life from the Hilton family’s knight, but he thought this path was the right choice for him.

No matter how he looked at it, Henon’s plan had no reality at all.

“Henon… will climb the cliff of Albus Castle.”

In the end, Peter blurted out all the plans he had made with Henon. And what came back was Phillip grabbing him by the collar.

“Do you think we’re fools? What? Climb the cliff of Albus Castle? Even if it’s not an Expert, but an Expert’s grandfather, he can’t do that. How on earth are you going to climb?”

“I don’t know either. I can only say that he has a special ability… Cough!”

Phillip threw Peter away.

He stomped on his chest and pressed down hard.

“Tell me the truth properly. Otherwise, I’ll break your heart like this.”

“It’s true! Please believe me!”

It was too earnest to be acting.

Peter’s chest barely regained its freedom.

“Get out of here. You worm.”

“Then what about my lord position? Will you recognize it?”

“I said get out of here before I kill you here and make another guy the lord.”

“Eek!”

Peter hurriedly closed the door and left.

Only the three of them remained again.

Phillip looked at Rosalyn with a complicated face.

“It doesn’t seem like a lie.”

“That bastard never does anything normally.”

“It’s okay anyway. It’s surprising that he reached the Expert level in the North, but he can’t climb that cliff unless he has wings.”

“What do you think?”

Rosalyn and Phillip’s eyes turned to the unidentified man who had been silent until now.

As attention was focused, the man slowly took off his hood. The man who appeared was wearing a bowler hat and a mask.

“As I, who came as a messenger from the Hilton family, judge… the plan set by the bastard Henon is absurd.”

“I think so too. He must be so proud and confident because he did some good in the North.”

The masked man continued.

“If I were to guess, this territory war is likely to be a tedious tug-of-war that will continue throughout the winter.”

“Why? We have 3,000 troops. Shouldn’t we just push through and finish it?”

“You don’t know because you haven’t done a siege. Even with 500 troops, you can block ten times the number of troops if you hold out in the fortress.”

Phillip also tilted his head.

“But we have a lot of masters on our side. The Blue Falcon Mercenary leader is also an Expert.”

“You don’t know the psychology of mercenaries well. They’re just guys who get paid and get the experience of participating in the territory war. Will they be at the forefront and become meat shields? They’ll definitely just pretend to do it.”

The masked man’s assumption was plausible.

Rosalyn, hearing this, was furious.

“How can they do that? Then there’s no reason to hire them at an expensive price!”

“Why do you only think that way? At least you can claim that you made an ‘act of engagement’ with Albus Castle, right?”

Rosalyn grasped the meaning implied in the masked man’s words.

That’s right.

She and Phillip, although formally, could claim that they had tried to regain Albus Castle.

But what about Henon, who doesn’t even have troops?

Of course, it would be impossible.

“When winter passes and the off-season ends, the soldiers will have to lift the siege and retreat anyway. Then there will naturally be a discussion about the results.”

“Phillip will surpass Henon there?”

“Wouldn’t it be obvious? Our Hilton is happy to eat the Albus territory. You’re happy to be the temporary successor of the Marquisate. It’s truly a win-win situation.”

“Well, Henon might fall and die while climbing the cliff before that.”

Phillip added sarcastically.

“Anyway, you two will only have good news. I’ll take my leave now.”

He took off his bowler hat and bowed gracefully, then jumped out the window.

Phillip, surprised, leaned out the window, but the masked man had already disappeared like a mirage.

“The Hilton family has a lot of talented people.”

“Indeed, they deserve to be called our rivals.”

Leaving the conversation between the two mothers and sons behind, the masked man wearing a bowler hat was already leaving the Marquisate at a rapid pace.

“Stupid guys. They’re so happy to take the bait.”

The man’s identity was Greed.

He was a Twilight executive.

Enjoying role-playing, he was currently disguised as a strategist for the Hilton family.

“It would be nice if Hilton won, but honestly, it doesn’t matter who wins. The important thing is that the two forces keep fighting. The key is to drive the Elden Kingdom to the brink.”

Meanwhile, Henon’s crazy plan, which Peter had blurted out, was floating in his head. It bothered him for no reason.

“I should take measures just in case. I should dispatch a decent knight from Hilton to Albus.”

This level of preparation should be enough.

A bleak smile crossed Greed’s face as he waited for the dark future to come.

* * *

As soon as Peter entered the room, he went to bed and covered himself with the blanket like a silkworm.

He kept muttering to himself.

“I can’t help it. Do you think I want to? If you judge objectively, that’s how it is. Henon doesn’t have the power to protect me. Even if he wins the territory war, I’m done if I get on the Henon line.”

He brainwashes himself, trying to convince himself that his judgment is correct. Peter was trying to ease his conscience.

How long had he been doing that?

“…I’m thirsty.”

I guess it’s because I’ve been too nervous since earlier.

He reached out of the blanket and shook the teacup, but it was already empty.

I can’t call a maid because it’s dawn. I have no choice but to endure the thirst until dawn.

A strange noise was heard in Peter’s ear, who was trying to endure it.

Trickle.

A chill runs down his spine.

Surprised, he lifted the blanket.

Surprisingly, a woman wearing a maid’s uniform was holding a kettle and filling the empty cup with water!

The maid with purple hair was Zion.

“How did you…”

“I heard you were very thirsty.”

Gulp.

Peter, swallowing dry saliva, asked.

“When did you come? I didn’t hear the door.”

“I just came. I couldn’t sleep at dawn, so I was walking down the hallway and heard you say you were thirsty in the room, so I brought the kettle.”

“Ah…”

“You don’t look good. Is there any problem?”

“Oh, no. Thank you.”

Peter drank the water in gulps.

Zion waited patiently, filled the cup to the brim, and then left the door.

Before leaving, she turned around and smiled at Peter.

“Have a good night.”

“Uh-huh.”

Creak. Thump.

The door closed.

Only the sound of Zion’s high heels echoed in the inner castle’s hallway.

Her face, illuminated by the moonlight… was chillingly cold.

‘Unfortunately, you made the wrong choice. What a pity, Peter.’