The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Chapter 101

Episode 101: Want to make a bet with me? (1)

“Wow!”

Claude fell out, screaming strangely.

“No, why are you hitting me! Wendy, what are you doing!”

Claude cried out while lying on the floor.

Wendy, who was supposed to be an escort, didn’t move an inch when Belinda attacked.

Whether Claude was upset or not, Belinda shouted at him and yelled at him loudly.

“How dare you build such a cheap facility on our master’s land!”

This is the first spiritual land that Jiselle, who has been taking care of gold and jade, has received.

But what? A casino?

As Jiselle’s former tutor, I absolutely could not tolerate the construction of such a facility.

“Look at that! I told you that guy is completely obsessed with gambling. As soon as he takes the position of governor, he starts setting up a gambling house!”

“No, no! Listen to me for a second! I’m not saying I’m going to gamble! I said I quit!”

“What do you mean, quitting? How can someone who quits talk about opening a gambling house? I’d rather quit a dog’s shit!”

Belinda’s words brought doubt to the faces of the attendants.

Claude waved his hands urgently.

“That’s not it! Listen, we’re going to turn this place into a red-light district like Austin. If we advertise it hard, the nobles will flock here and spend a ton of money!”

“… … .”

Belinda still had a dubious expression on her face, but she kept her mouth shut at those words.

Certainly, there were many nobles who came to visit Auston. Thanks to them, Baron Auston also made a lot of money.

When the people seemed to be getting excited, Claude spoke quickly and excitedly.

“To put it nicely, it is a city of cultural life and a tourist destination. The residents of Yeongji will also be able to earn money by serving guests.”

“It sounds plausible in its own way.”

Belinda nodded, stroking her chin.

It certainly seemed like I could make a lot of money if I did well.

However, I cannot agree that gambling is a cultural activity.

“I found out that there is no such city in the Kingdom of Rutania. We planned to make it bigger and more magnificent from the beginning. Since Austin grew naturally, it was a bit rough.”

Austin was originally in a similar situation to Fenris.

A barren land with no special products or resources.

It was developed by chance as people who enjoyed gambling and people who did illegal things gathered together in a land where there was nothing.

A superficial place unprecedented on the continent, growing naturally without any policies.

That place was Austin, the city of pleasure.

“The nobles may pretend to be nice, but in reality, they are always looking for something to do behind the scenes. Not only nobles, but also mercenaries and adventurers will come in droves. The more people come and go, the more money will flow in, and the more people will settle down.”

Claude said confidently.

At first, the vassals were taken aback, but then they started to see that it made sense.

Claude, who had secured public opinion, looked at Giselle.

“What do you think? Once you’ve organized the city, you can make money while playing. Money can be copied? Oh, I can’t stand that.”

Jiselle, who had been listening silently, leaned back in her chair and smiled.

“Well, that was an interesting idea. Maybe I should consider a small city later.”

“Later? Then what about now?”

“Why are you asking something so obvious? We’ll proceed as originally planned.”

“No, my lord! I told you not to waste money!”

It would have been an offer that would have been attractive enough for other lords.

If you use all the rune stones, you can create a city that is just as good as Austin.

But it wasn’t a good choice for Jiselle, who had to fight the strongest duke in the kingdom one day.

“I know there are a lot of problems in the territory. Which one is the most urgent right now?”

“Of course, everything is a problem… … . The most urgent problem is food. Right now, there is nothing to eat, so I am buying it. We can’t keep buying food, right? If we run out of money, we will all starve.”

“Food… … . That’s good, since I had already thought about it. I’ll take care of the food, so just secure some land to cultivate.”

“Oh, really… … .”

Claude looked at Giselle with an annoyed look.

I’ve explained so far that the land is barren and we can’t increase production!

Did this guy even listen to me properly?

“Your Majesty, I have been saying that this land is not suitable for crops to grow. No matter who comes, they will not be able to survive here. Unless even the God of Agriculture comes… … No, even a goddess would give up on this land, saying it is dirty.”

“Enough. Let me handle it.”

Claude’s expression began to grow increasingly impudent.

“… … My lord, have you ever farmed? Do you know much about farming methods and such?”

“No, I don’t know very well.”

They’ve been fighting all their lives, so they’ve never been able to farm.

“… … Are you actually the god of agriculture? The secret of your birth?”

“How could that be?”

“But how on earth are you going to increase food production? Do you think the other lords don’t do it because they don’t want to? It’s not that they don’t want to do it, it’s that they can’t! So let’s start by making a lot of money!”

As Claude pushed his argument to the end, Giselle answered with a sly smile.

“What will you do if I solve that problem?”

“yes?”

“Would you like to make a bet with me? Whether I can increase food production or not.”

“Ha, how can you do it, my lord?”

“I don’t know about that. What do you think? If I win, you won’t complain anymore and just do whatever I say.”

Claude snorted.

How dare you make a bet against me, a gambling expert! And a bet with an obvious outcome!

“What kind of bet is it if you don’t even put money on it?”

“You don’t have any money. Oh, then if I win, you’ll be an unpaid slave for 10 years. I’ll feed you and give you a place to stay. In return, you’ll do whatever I say without complaining.”

Although he owes Giselle 2,500 gold, Claude also receives a salary.

Anyway, we have to live our personal lives and as we live, we are bound to consume things little by little.

It meant that you should give up everything, even things like that, and roll around naked.

Claude, who had been looking dumbfounded, suddenly smiled meaningfully.

“How long? If it’s too long, it’ll be difficult.”

“A generous three months.”

“… … Did I mishear you?”

Claude opened his mouth in shock.

You’re going to show me results in 3 months instead of 3 years?

It was now the middle of winter. If I planted something, I would be lucky if it even sprouted.

Claude checked the terms of the bet, holding back a laugh.

“So, what if I win?”

“What do you want?”

Claude’s heart was pounding, but he tried his best to keep it a secret and keep his wits about him.

“Well… … . I feel a bit awkward saying this myself, since I owe you something. You know it well, don’t you?”

“Then I’ll give you 5,000 gold. How about going to see Anna again?”

The people around him were surprised at the mention of 5,000 gold.

Five thousand gold was enough money for Claude to live comfortably for the rest of his life.

“No, here you go again! Stop it!”

“My Lord, this is too… … . a ridiculous bet.”

Belinda and Gillian quickly stepped in to stop him.

I’m sure Jiselle had her own thoughts, but the period was only three months.

No matter what, it would be impossible to revive the dead land within the deadline.

The lord could not allow such an unfair bet to be made.

“Oh, the Lord is about to do something big, so why are you interfering with it? Everyone, please stay still.”

Claude said with a solemn expression.

Belinda got angry at the people around her at the sight of her sullen face.

“What are you all doing? My lord, don’t stop me!”

Pushed by her force, the men stepped forward one by one.

“My lord, this is a risky bet. You must stop thinking about it now.”

“The General is right. Most of this land is rocky, and even if there is soil, it is rough and dry, making it difficult for crops to grow properly.”

Even as everyone tried to stop her, Kaor just grinned without showing any sign of stepping forward.

It was an interesting situation for him either way.

Belinda glared at him, but Kaor just shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “Would he listen if I spoke to him?”

Giselle ignored the people trying to stop her and looked at Claude, asking again.

“Are you going to do it or not? If you’re scared, just run away.”

“under!”

Claude didn’t answer right away, but just let out a hollow laugh.

‘Why are you so confident? There’s clearly no way.’

I don’t think I’ll lose at all.

But I felt uneasy because the other person was too confident.

Claude, who had been gambling for many years, could tell that Giselle’s attitude was not a pretense to hide her anxiety.

I am truly confident that I can win.

‘What do you believe in? What crops can grow in three months?’

Claude recalled from his head the knowledge he had learned long ago at the Academy.

There weren’t any crops that could grow in three months, let alone crops that grew well in the winter… … But just in case.

“What crops are you going to grow? Of course, wheat, right? You shouldn’t plant something strange and force-feed it to them that they can’t eat.”

“Then wheat is the best.”

Claude clenched his fist.

‘Okay, then there’s really no way. If it’s wheat, you can never grow it in three months.’

Claude tried hard to suppress the corners of his lips that were rising on their own.

I don’t know what Giselle is thinking, but this is a given.

‘Did I overestimate our lord? It seems he doesn’t even know how to grow wheat. Oh, did you really expect me to give in to you out of respect for your lord? It’s been so long since we last met.’

Claude looked at Giselle and smiled faintly.

“Oh, I quit gambling… … Call.”

“Okay, the bet is made. Everyone here is a witness. If I win, you work for 10 years without pay. If I lose, you get 5,000 gold and go home.”

Claude nodded with a bright smile, but the others frowned.

Why on earth would Yeongju make such a crazy bet?

Belinda couldn’t stop Giselle and just left. She looked at Wendy and slit her throat with her hand.

It meant that you should take care of it at night.

Wendy nodded with a dark expression.

Of course, Claude didn’t stay still either.

He spoke to Giselle in a particularly spiteful voice.

“Well… … But, you know. If I win and I can’t protect myself… … If I can’t leave even with the money, then there’s no point in making the bet, right?”

Jiselle chuckled.

“Claude is the governor of the territory, so everyone should take care of him. If anything happens, everyone will be held accountable.”

At those words, Wendy looked at Belinda and shrugged.

Belinda kicked the floor and screamed.

“Ahhh! I’m so pissed!”

Gillian, who had been determined to take action when things started to go wrong, also had a displeased expression.

Since the lord had given the order directly, he could not do anything about it.

If you back out of the bet now, it will be ridiculous for Giselle.

Claude’s face broke into a smile.

“Hahahaha! Then I’ll go and secure some reclaimed land. Oh, there’s a lot of empty land, so it’ll be done quickly.”

Giselle warned Claude in a low voice as he turned around in joy.

“But if you wait until three months have passed and do the work carelessly, I will consider it my victory. I will make sure to check it, so don’t even think about trying to trick me.”

“Oh, of course. I’m not that lethal. Don’t worry. Hahahaha!”

Claude left the place almost dancing.

Wendy sighed and followed him out.

The others looked at Giselle with bewildered faces.

I had no idea what the lord was thinking.

Jiselle, who didn’t know what other people were thinking, got up from her seat leisurely.

“Should I start moving now?”