Episode 67
* * *
Just because the empire unified the continent, it would not bring about a world of peace. The power struggles that occurred every day between nobles and lords were no exception.
The Battle of Yeongji. Also known as the Battle of Rice Bowls.
However, the Territory War is not the only war that takes place in this world.
At the eastern end of the continent, across the Strait of Calais, on the island of Britannia. Once the Kingdom of Britannia, it was reduced to a province of the Empire after its defeat in the War of Unification… … A being called the ‘Holy Maiden’ appeared, gathered the patriots of the fallen nation, and started an uprising.
Legends began to spread about how a force of only 10,000 men defeated an imperial army of 45,000 men.
A daughter of a mere serf became commander-in-chief, annihilated an enemy force four times her size, and achieved victory. A miracle that can only be explained by the miracle of a goddess.
A virgin who fights for the independence of her country after receiving revelations from the Sistine Sisters.
true beauty.
It was the prelude to the Britannian War of Independence.
* * *
Black Armor Company’s stock price was steadily rising.
Furthermore, Dale’s concept of ‘exercising operational capabilities’ that are more powerful than the customer’s also began to gradually come to light.
In addition, several lords were unable to accept the results of the land war and brought Dale before the Imperial Court.
The magical abilities that Dale displayed in battle were definitely not those of a 3rd circle wizard.
That was actually true. Dale’s performance as a wizard on the battlefield was definitely not that of a 3rd circle wizard.
In addition, according to imperial law, magicians of the 4th circle or higher cannot participate in the disputes between lower-ranking lords. However, after the strict examination of the court magicians in the imperial court, Dale was undoubtedly a 3rd circle magician.
Three circles.
“Is that really the power of the 3rd Circle… …?”
“I can’t believe it! He must have been making things up!”
“That day, the skills that Prince Dale showed on the battlefield were definitely not those of the 3rd Circle!”
It was an unbelievable result, but I had no choice but to believe it.
“Oh, it really is like that even when the three circles meet.”
Dale muttered as if it were someone else’s business in front of the lords who were pointing fingers at him and not accepting the verdict.
The lawsuits of the lords who brought Dale to court in the hope of grabbing at straws also ended in defeat. As a result, the lords’ lawsuits served as advertisements that made Dale and the Black Armor Company’s reputation known throughout the empire, and the lords who lost were also responsible for paying the advertising and lawsuit costs.
Even after that, in battle, Dale fully demonstrated his abilities as a ‘3rd Circle Wizard’.
When you can make a profit, rake it in and gather it, and as one of your self-practices to further reach the realm of the Four Circles.
Driven by the fame of the Black Armor Company, the organization grew in size with each passing day.
At the same time, the power and wealth of the Duke of Saxony… …in other words, the investments of the Duke of Saxony provided the support that allowed them to maintain their organization.
At that time, Black Armor Company’s participation in the war was like a guarantee of victory.
So when a fight broke out between the two lords, the only question that came up was whether they had the money to pay more than their enemies to hire the Black Armor Company.
And around that time, mercenary groups that had suddenly become unemployed due to the activities of the Black Armor Company began to gather together one by one.
In their eyes, Black Armor Company was a thug with ‘no morals’ and a dinosaur corporation.
* * *
Imperial Free City of Hamburg.
This is the starting point of the trade route commonly known as the ‘Pumpkin Road’, the starting point of the pumpkin trade that crosses the continent by sea.
But around that time, an unexpected force emerged that threatened the imperial free city of Hamburg.
The nobles of the central part of the empire joined forces to take advantage of the wealth that the city of Hamburg had amassed through trade.
The central lords joined forces to form the Robber League, occupied the lower reaches of the river, crossed the chain, closed the Elbe River channel, and began to plunder all ships and cargo under the pretext of collecting tolls.
The waterway, which was the main artery of trade, was blocked, and it was a very embarrassing event for the imperial free city of Hamburg.
Moreover, since the nobles of the central region were joining forces, they were not an opponent they could dare defeat.
And under pressure, they were threatened that if they did not regularly pay the ‘exorbitant tribute’ each year, the trade blockade would continue and the city would be left in a state of ruin.
The central part of the empire has no great nobles to maintain order. As a result, it has become a de facto lawless zone where small and medium-sized lords wield their tyranny as they please.
Therefore, the Imperial Free City of Hamburg had only one decision to make.
After a while, an emissary from the city of Hamburg crossed safely through the territory of the robber league and made his way to the Duchy of Saxony.
It was to hire the ‘Black Armor Company’ to fight against the robber alliance.
A mercenary organization with more powerful operational capabilities than their clients. What the city of Hamburg offered Dale was something that Dale had been hoping for.
All operations necessary to bring down the Gangster Alliance were entrusted to the Black Armor Company.
* * *
Around that time.
“Baron Bolvar, Baron Basel, Lord Peter… … many other lords of the alliance have gone missing.”
It is the name of the robber nobles and thief knights who make up the robber alliance.
After hearing his subordinate’s report, Count Robert, the leader of the robber alliance, frowned.
“Could it be that the central government’s punitive force has come?”
“There was no room to reveal one’s identity or attempt negotiation.”
In any case, if someone is said to be from the central government, there should be appropriate formalities and procedures.
“By the way, there is a story that a secret envoy from Hamburg has reached the Duchy of Saxony… … .”
The subordinate spoke, and Count Robert held his breath at those words.
“Could it be that they hired the Black Armor Company… …?”
“Well, this is just a guess.”
The Black Armor Company has not officially revealed itself yet. However, considering the gravity of the situation, the matter was too serious to be dismissed as mere speculation.
“These little bastards!”
bang!
At that ridiculous sound, Count Robert slammed the table hard.
“Send a warning letter to the lords of the alliance immediately and gather all your troops.”
After striking down, Count Robert said:
“… … I knew this would happen, so I prepared a countermeasure.”
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He took out the secret plan he had been preparing.
“Inform the Mercenary Guild that they have started moving.”
* * *
Every time the Black Armor Company achieved great success and rose to prominence, it was the other mercenary units that bore the brunt of the backlash.
So, to fight against the ‘public enemy’ that threatened their rice bowls, several large mercenary groups began to gather together.
Around that time.
In the central part of the empire, news came that the ‘Black Armor Company’ had joined the conflict between the Imperial Free Cities and the Robber Alliance. Upon hearing the news, many mercenary units belonging to the Mercenary Guild also did not hesitate.
It was time to finally teach the morals of this world to these thugs who had no morals.
* * *
The city hall of the Imperial Free City of Hamburg.
“We have already dismantled several of the forces of the robber alliance.”
There, the mercenary captain of the Black Armor Company, the ‘Black Prince’ of Saxony, opened his mouth.
“The main battlefield will be the point where the Alliance of Robbers is blocking the waterway, and further, the Earldom of Robert, where the Alliance’s leader is located.”
I spread out the map and calmly assessed the situation.
“Since the other party is already breaking the law, we have no need to follow the ‘Laws of the Empire’.”
There is no need to abide by the laws of the Empire. In other words, it is a fight where Dale can fully display his true power as a wizard without any reservations.
“D, I heard that Count Robert also summoned a large mercenary force through the mercenary guild… … .”
“A force that feels threatened by the reputation of the Black Armor Company.”
The mayor of Hamburg opened his mouth cautiously, and Dale nodded.
“If a large number of mercenary units gather… … wouldn’t it be dangerous?”
No matter how famous the Black Armor Company is, the situation is what it is.
“As I said, this is a fight where there is no need to abide by the laws of the Empire.”
The unilateral blockade of trade by the Free Cities by the Robbers’ Alliance is clearly an act against Imperial law. However, the central part of the Empire has no great nobles to keep order, and the central government is too far away to stop their crimes.
A world where the law is far away and the sword is close. That was the world, and what the enemies believed was precisely that ‘the law is far away.’
“There is no victory so easy to win as that over an enemy who cannot be brought to justice.”
But they could not possibly know that this is what Dale is after.
“Issue a conscription order for the entire city.”
Preparing for the coming battle, the Black Armor Company’s mercenary captain opened his mouth.
“In order to have peace, you must prepare for war.”
Thinking back to the notoriety and cruelty of that ‘Black Prince’.
“Oh, I understand.”
The mayor of Hamburg shivered involuntarily as a chill ran down his spine.
* * *
The Viper Mercenaries, the Golden Lion Mercenaries, and the Brotherhood Mercenaries.
The main force of one of the continent’s finest mercenary forces gathered towards the territory of Count Robert, the leader of the Robbers’ Alliance.
A group of mercenaries comprised of the most elite members of the three major mercenary groups. Furthermore, they are a bandit alliance whose business is to rob those who come and go from their territory.
To counter the growing power of the Black Armor Company and to protect their own jobs, the two forces joined forces in the face of a common enemy.
A small and medium-sized lord made up of robber nobles and thieving knights, and one of the few mercenary forces on the continent. This was no longer a fight between mere low-level lords.
A fight that takes place outside the realm of imperial law, without any rules.
It was a war in the true sense of the word, and it was the battle Dale had been hoping for.
In the dispute between the lower lords, the magic of mass destruction (MMD) prohibited by imperial law… … It did not mean only the destructive magic that annihilated the enemy.
The dark magic that the Black Tower boasts.
Even the necromancy performed by black magicians on the battlefield was taboo, as it fit the definition of mass destruction magic set by the Empire.
Moreover, the fact that there was no room for the ‘Law of the Empire’ to intervene meant that the dark magic could be freely unleashed.
* * *
Downstream of the Elbe River. Count Robert’s fortress, with large iron chains woven on both sides of the river to block the passage of ships.
Commonly known as a toll collection office.
In that place where the darkness of dawn is deep, one of the guards guarding the fortress turns his head. After turning, he freezes in place.
There was a knight in black armor. And he was no ordinary knight. There wasn’t a single bit of flesh attached to his bones beneath the armor.
“De, de, Death Knight… … .”
An immortal knight holding the Black Sword of Saxony was approaching them.
