Chapter 44: Seizing Calpion (3)
At the very innermost part of the Calpion mansion, in the room that had originally been used as Viscount Ruder’s office.
A large round table stood in the center, piled high with documents, and gathered around it sat four or five retainers, Commander Mulgybson, Malion, and others.
“Haaah…”
If there was anything unusual, it was that everyone sitting here looked so haggard that their faces had turned ashen gray.
The hands holding the parchment trembled uncontrollably, their lips were shriveled like a rice paddy hit by drought, and their eyes were bloodshot red.
To the point where it was hard to tell whether they were human or zombies.
I felt like I was about to die.
“My, my body’s condition…”
The reason was obvious.
Ever since the war ended, most of them here hadn’t gotten even a proper sigh of rest, throwing themselves into stabilizing the Calpion estate.
At that moment, Viscount Cobalt, who had been blinking slowly, suddenly dropped his head with a dull thud.
Malion asked in surprise.
“Father?”
“…”
Viscount Cobalt kept nodding off repeatedly.
“Father, are you asleep?”
“Ah, no! I just closed my eyes for a moment, only my eyes.”
Clap! Clap!
Viscount Cobalt startled awake, raised his head, and slapped his own cheeks firmly.
His cheeks, swollen thick like apples, wobbled as he forced a smile and spoke.
“Le… let’s continue. Where were we?”
From the far end of the table, Quartermaster Engelmann nodded and opened his mouth.
“Regarding the military equipment… we still haven’t been able to get an exact count. We’ve already placed repair orders with the main forge, but they said it will take at least four to five months to complete all the work.”
“Hmmm… It will take as long as five months?”
When Viscount Cobalt asked again, wearing an expression of agony, Engelmann continued answering.
“Yes, in addition to the vast amount of spoils we collected from Calpion, our own equipment was in extremely poor condition…”
“Can’t we just allocate Calpion’s stock to Calpion’s forge?”
“Well, most of the blacksmiths were injured, and the remaining ones… are currently imprisoned, so the forge can’t operate properly.”
“Hmmm… I see.”
Viscount Cobalt pulled a bitter face and nodded reluctantly.
The problem was, this mountain of work was not the only issue.
“…There are too many wounded, and it’s beyond our capacity to handle internally. According to the physicians, if this continues, there is a risk of an epidemic breaking out.”
“Can we not hire more physicians?”
“Yes, it’s difficult to recruit them quickly, and right now… we simply don’t have the funds available, so it seems unlikely.”
“…For now, let’s set that matter aside as well. We’ll have to think further on it.”
“Yes.”
Both the Calpion side and the Daphne side were overflowing with wounded and sick.
At present, there simply weren’t enough personnel to properly handle all these people, and even the accurate tally of the injured hadn’t been completed.
But… there were even more serious problems remaining.
Commander Mulgybson, the head of the knight order, spoke with a grave expression.
“The security situation in the estate is deteriorating more and more. The public sentiment isn’t good either.”
“Are our knights in charge of maintaining order?”
“Yes, and the Young Master’s mercenaries are also mobilized to assist… but the internal situation is so chaotic, and the number of troublemakers keeps increasing. To be honest, I can’t guarantee how long we’ll be able to hold out like this.”
“…it’s not easy.”
Viscount Cobalt tightly closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
He felt it in his bones and sensed it clearly.
At this rate, there was no way the situation would settle down.
“We… are far too short on manpower.”
“That’s right.”
‘What in the world are we supposed to do…’
At Cobalt’s murmur, everyone nodded their heads.
More than half the knights were lying injured, and the Calpion household itself was simply too vast for Daphne to swallow whole.
And this wasn’t merely a matter of numbers.
The systems of this place, the atmosphere, even the sentiments of the territory’s people.
Trying to handle all of it overnight… was by no means a simple undertaking.
‘What should we do…’
After finally winning, I won’t even have the face to stand before the Young Master if it ends like this…
Everyone sat there sighing deeply with grave expressions when, at that moment, Malion, who had been quietly listening, raised his hand slightly and spoke.
“After all… shouldn’t securing funds be the first priority? If we just had money, we could hire more manpower and deploy them.”
“But how do you propose we do that? Calpion and we alike… didn’t our treasuries get emptied out because of the territorial war?”
“Malion took a deep breath and continued.”
“We use this estate as collateral to borrow money.”
“Borrow… money?”
“Yes, if it’s the Calpion estate as collateral, there will be countless banks and merchant guilds willing to lend. If we can raise funds that way, we might be able to stabilize the situation somehow.”
“Mmm…”
Viscount Cobalt scratched his chin with a serious expression.
It doesn’t seem like a bad idea.
Right now, stabilizing the internal situation is the most urgent matter…
The retainers also voiced their agreement.
Everyone understood it well.
This was no time to weigh pros and cons.
Malion continued.
“If you’ll just grant permission, Father, I will immediately send letters to the surrounding areas. It would be best to proceed as quickly as possible… so please make the decision here.”
Viscount Cobalt folded his arms and let out a quiet sigh.
‘To borrow money… using it as collateral.’
Honestly, it left an unpleasant feeling.
It hadn’t been long since the family lands nearly fell into others’ hands because of debt, so taking on more debt again—how could that be an easy thing?
But…
Realistically, there isn’t any other way.
Better to patch things up somehow than watch everything collapse from the inside.
Viscount Cobalt shut his eyes tight, then opened them and spoke.
“Then… we’ll do as you said…”
It was at that moment.
Baaang!
The door suddenly burst open so violently it looked about to break, and a shout rang out.
“I object!”
Everyone turned their heads in surprise, and there stood a familiar face.
“Ha-Hardin?”
“…Brother?”
Everyone blinked in confusion at the sudden turn of events.
Should we ask first if he was alright? Or congratulate him for enduring the war? No, before that—why did he come here in the first place?
While everyone was hesitating, just mouthing words without speaking, Hardin strode confidently over and sat down in an empty seat.
Thump thump!
He banged on the table and spoke to Malion.
“You—have you lost your mind?”
“What… do you mean?”
“Did you or did you not just say you’d use this place as collateral to borrow money?”
“I did say that. Why are you reacting like this?”
“Why, you ask? Because I don’t like it, that’s why.”
“What?”
Malion looked momentarily dumbfounded, then tried to explain.
“Brother, the thing is… the family’s situation right now is…”
“I know, I know. The security’s a mess, public sentiment’s in the gutter, and there aren’t enough people to fix it… That’s it, right?”
Hardin cut him off mid-sentence.
“Yes, that’s exactly why we need to borrow funds…”
Hardin shook his head with a click of his tongue.
“Tsk tsk tsk… You only see half the picture.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Let’s say you do borrow the money. Then when exactly do you plan to hire people, train them, and deploy them? You think that won’t take time?”
It was an obvious point.
Hiring capable people required quite a long process.
On top of that… even once they arrived, understanding the atmosphere here and performing their duties properly would take at least several more months.
Hardin curled one corner of his mouth and continued.
Before this place ever stabilizes, something will happen.
Whether a riot breaks out, or a neighboring house invades again—nothing would be surprising.
‘He’s right.’
The lord and retainers all nodded.
Malion adjusted his glasses and replied.
“I understand, but do you have any alternative? I’m only trying to do the best I can.”
“Well, I don’t think that’s the best.”
“Then what is the best?”
“What else? Use the people you already have inside.”
“People… inside?”
“The Calpion bastards—there’s a mountain of them in the prison camp. Who knows this estate better than them? Use them. Use them.”
‘…So that’s what he had in mind.’
Malion pressed his fingers firmly against the bridge of his nose before replying.
“That’s impossible, Brother.”
“Why, what’s stopping you?”
“Syllot, the chief steward, refused to serve under us. Most of the prisoners are loyal to him. Since Syllot is from the Count of Landen’s house… using them is out of the question.”
“Ah, really? So if I can persuade that bastard, that’s all it takes?”
“…If it were that simple, I would have done it already.”
At that moment—
Clap clap!
Hardin suddenly clapped his hands and shouted.
“Manton, bring him in.”
“…Yes.”
Then, the door opened again, and Training Instructor Manton came inside carrying a bundle slung over his shoulder.
“Mmmph! Mmmmph!”
The bundle squirmed with a muffled groan.
Everyone gathered in the office widened their eyes, and Commander Mulgybson quickly asked.
“Manton… what are you doing here?”
“Well, it’s because of the Young Master’s orders…”
Manton looked embarrassed as he set the bundle down on the floor.
And then… when he yanked open the mouth of the sack—
“Mmmph! Sp-spare me…!”
Everyone’s mouths dropped open.
“…Huh?”
Inside the sack was a man.
Mid-thirties in age, pallid skin, a thin build, a sly mustache on his face.
His eyes were swollen shut, bruises covered his body… but everyone here knew that face and name all too well.
“C-Chief Steward Syllot?”
“Y-Young Master, what is the meaning of this!”
The man was the Chief Steward of Calpion and the third son of the Count of Landen.
He was the focal point of the prisoners and the most troublesome figure to deal with.
If they handled this poorly, it could easily escalate into a problem with the Count of Landen himself.
“Mmmph! Mmmmmmph!”
And yet… that same Syllot was now a bloody mess.
A gag was stuffed in his mouth, and thick ropes bound him tightly from head to toe.
Viscount Cobalt turned his head, his face pale as if he’d seen a ghost, and asked.
“Hardin… did you do this?”
“Ah, yes. We were having a rather serious conversation.”
Hardin smiled slyly, clenching his fist.
“What in blazes do you think you’re doing! Do you even know who that man is!”
“Brother! What have you done!”
“…We’re ruined.”
Everyone was at a loss, paralyzed by shock and despair.
Then Hardin shrugged his shoulders.
“Who else? It’s Chief Steward Syllot.”
“Mmmph! Mmmmmmph!”
“This is insane…”
As Malion clutched his head in disbelief, Hardin turned with a roguish grin and looked around at them all.
“Eheei, what’s with all of you? We won the war, so at the very least, can’t you give me some praise?”
“No… th-that in itself is commendable, but—but…”
Isn’t this an entirely different issue?
Viscount Cobalt’s eyes quivered like an earthquake.
At that moment, Malion narrowed his eyes and glared at Hardin, speaking sharply.
“Brother! Things are chaotic enough already—what in the world were you thinking, doing something like this? How do you plan to clean up this mess?”
Malion’s face flushed red, his voice rising.
“I did it to clean up this mess.”
“What?”
“I said, I did this to stabilize the situation here.”
“Do you even understand what you’re saying right now—”
Hardin walked over in front of Syllot, squatted down, and took hold of the gag in his mouth, pulling it free.
Then he spoke in a calm, relaxed voice.
“Alright, go on. Tell them what you’re thinking.”
At that moment—
“I will serve! I will devote my life to the Daphne Viscomital House and work to my utmost! Please, just forgive me this once!”
Syllot shouted in a desperate voice.
“Huh?”
‘What in the world?’
The onlookers widened their eyes, glancing at each other.
Hardin grinned and asked again.
‘You’re not lying, are you?”
“I mean it! The other retainers, the knights—they’ll all follow my word! So please!”
With that, Hardin straightened up, nodding his head.
“Looks like the problem is solved.”
‘…What is this situation?’
Confusion spread across everyone’s faces.