The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 270: Chapter 269: It’s About to Get Faster (2)



In the territory, soldiers were being recruited continuously, and this time, a large-scale recruitment announcement was issued. However, the speed at which the forces grew was slower than expected.

This was due to the perspective of the territory's people toward the military.

"Isn't our territory's army already big enough?"

"It's easy to make a living without being a soldier."

"There's no need to go somewhere dangerous, is there?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

If they worked hard, they could earn high wages. Food costs were incredibly low compared to other regions.

In the past, basic necessities were severely lacking, but that was no longer the case. Various merchant guilds came to obtain food supplies and distributed a large variety of goods.

Of course, the people didn't live as comfortably as nobles or the wealthy, but for those who had lived in severe poverty, their current lifestyle was more than enough.

Additionally, all criminals were captured and placed into the labor assault corps, so the territory's security was quite good.

The territory continued to develop, which meant there was always work to do. With high wages, many people worked only until they earned enough and then took breaks until they needed money again.

The problem was that everyone was too satisfied with this situation.

"I heard the pay is good if you enlist as a soldier."

"Yeah, but it's tough. I'm fine with this. Think back to the old days."

"Exactly, the houses are clean, life is good, and we're not starving. There's no need to be greedy. Besides, if war breaks out, we'll all be recruited anyway, right?"

With this attitude prevailing, no matter how vast the territory was or how large the

population, the replenishment of soldiers couldn't keep up.

Claude was at his wit's end. Considering the wars ahead, they would need far more troops. The slow rate of recruitment frustrated him.

"Damn it... People don't understand the gravity of the situation. We have to fight Desmond, the Duchy, and even Rayfold. Enemies surround us on all sides."

The territory's people had no idea about political circumstances or who they might have to fight in the future.

At least, everyone knew that Ghislain was affiliated with the Royalist faction. This was because Claude had been spreading the word far and wide.

The fact that the Royal Family was on their side also helped alleviate the people's anxiety.

Claude used his authority as the head butler to heavily promote additional benefits for soldiers.

[Fenris Territory Army Recruitment! Tax Exemption During Service! Full Plate Armor and the Latest Equipment Provided for Free!]

The flyer featured a drawing of Claude pointing directly at the viewer.

[Brave warriors! Join to defend the territory with honor!]

[March to the battlefield with us! Glory and rewards await you!]

[The war begins when you join!]

With the additional benefit of tax exemptions, the number of recruits increased significantly compared to before. However, it was still far from Ghislain's target.

The goal was to gather at least 10,000 soldiers, but at this rate, even a few years wouldn't suffice.

Claude sought out Ghislain to discuss the matter.

"We'll probably need to resort to some level of forced recruitment."

"Before that, get rid of those flyers with your face on them. I feel embarrassed every time I see them."

"...Understood."

"The mandatory military training is being prepared well, right?"

"Yes, there shouldn't be any major issues. Everyone is expecting it anyway."

In most territories, people underwent a few days of basic military training annually in preparation for conscription.

The Fenris Territory was no different, and its people also received some degree of military training.

Ghislain had been working to make this system more structured by establishing proper training centers across the territory.

However, such basic training wasn't enough. For actual warfare, they needed a significantly larger force of fully committed soldiers, and a solution had to be found.

After pondering for a moment, Ghislain smirked slyly and said to Claude:

"This is all because life has become too comfortable. They don't even know who they'll be fighting."

"True. At least they no longer have to worry about food and shelter."

"But it's not like they're living like wealthy commoners in other territories, is it? There are still plenty of inconveniences."

"Because they were so impoverished before, they're satisfied with even this much. They say they're just happy they're not being exploited anymore. Most of them were peasants or poor tenants constantly oppressed."

"Exactly. So, we need to give them a little tension. If they're too comfortable because they're not being exploited, we'll just have to take something away."

"So... have you decided to become a tyrannical lord now? It does suit you better. With that personality of yours, I'm surprised you've held back- Ow!"

Claude rubbed his forehead, sulking after being struck by a blow of mana. It felt unjust since he hadn't said anything wrong.

Ghislain continued, ignoring his reaction.

"If we forcefully recruit people, their morale will plummet. The morale of our soldiers must always remain high. Only then will they actively participate in training."

"So, how do you plan to raise their tension?"

"I've got it all planned out. First, start spreading ominous rumors."

Too comfortable? Then create problems to fix.

Ghislain still had a sly smile on his face.

***

"Count Desmond is said to be invading soon."

"Isn't his territory known as the strongest in the North?"

"They've already sent scout teams into our territory."

Recently, whenever the territory's residents gathered, they whispered among themselves with anxious faces. The topic of discussion was the rumor that Desmond, known as the

strongest in the North, was planning to attack.

The territory's leaders had known about this for a long time. However, the residents had been so focused on the development of the territory that they remained largely unaware.

One of the reasons was that this information had been deliberately withheld to stabilize the territory's atmosphere immediately after its capture.

Even when occasional rumors of war surfaced, most dismissed them as nonsense. For them, surviving day-to-day had been the priority.

But with the rumor that war was imminent, people could no longer remain at ease.

"Didn't they say our lord is part of the Royalist faction? The royal family is supposed to

protect us, right?"

"Count Desmond is part of the Duke faction. Don't you know the dukes are stronger? They're

famous for their power!"

"What nonsense! The king is the strongest! That's why he's the king! Don't you know what a

king is, you ignorant fool?"

"What did you just say, you moron? Calling me ignorant when you can't even read!"

As anxiety grew, quarrels became more frequent. However, some tried to ease their worries

by recalling Ghislain's achievements.

"Isn't our lord known to be an incredible fighter? Surely he'll protect us, right?"

"Yeah, he defeated Count Cabaldi easily and took over this territory too."

"Don't be naive. Count Desmond is on a completely different level from Count Cabaldi.

There's a reason they call him the strongest in the North."

Opinions began to diverge. Some were certain they would lose in a fight, while others believed

the lord would somehow protect them. The debates were endless.

Still, most people assumed things would be fine.

That's just human nature. When peace lasts for a while, the threat of war doesn't feel real.

This is why Lowell, the spymaster, fanned the flames of these rumors. He continuously spread

propaganda, stirring unease among the people.

Where they once hid the truth to keep the people calm, now they deliberately revealed it to

shake up their complacency.

"Desmond's scout teams have already been spotted near the territory!"

"There's already been a skirmish! The lord barely drove them back!"

"That's not the worst of it! They say the northern lords are forming an alliance to take this

place!"

In reality, some northern lords were forming an alliance, but their target wasn't Fenris Territory. However, Lowell mixed truth with lies to deliberately distort the rumors.

The people grew even more anxious. They knew better than anyone that there was no other

territory as good as Fenris.

Tension and fear began to spread rapidly among the residents.

"I don't want to go back to the old days of having everything taken away. We have to protect

what's ours." "I'm sick of starving. If another lord takes over, we'll be back to starving again."

"I was just working at a construction site anyway. Might as well enlist as a soldier."

Able-bodied men began volunteering for military service.

While this led to a reduction in the number of laborers, the territory had a large population, so

recruiting new workers wasn't an issue.

And in Fenris, if there was a labor shortage, soldiers were often deployed to construction

projects anyway. It was never a problem.

Although the number of enlistments increased significantly, it still wasn't enough for

Ghislain.

There were still many hesitant residents.

"Not all of us need to go, right?" "Yeah, war is dangerous. I'd rather just wait to be recruited."

Some people naturally hoped that others would fight and sacrifice in their place.

They couldn't be blamed for this. Volunteering to fight was commendable, but refusing didn't

make someone bad.

Of course, if the territory fell, they'd have to find a way to survive on their own.

Amidst this, new rumors began spreading, as if to push the hesitant into action.

"Raiders! Raiders have appeared!"

"What? Where? We have soldiers all over the territory. How could raiders be roaming freely?"

"They say most of the soldiers are focused on defending against the northern lords' armies,

so there aren't enough left to guard the territory!"

"Several villages have already been wiped out! All their belongings were stolen, and refugees

are flooding in!"

"What about the local militias? Aren't all the villages trained in basic defense?"

"They were either killed or fled! The soldiers stationed there were too few and had to

retreat!"

The rumors of raiders swept through the territory, leaving the people deeply shocked.

They had believed the peace would last forever. But that was a mistake. A territory so rich in food and iron would never be left untouched.

In a world where strength determined possession, Fenris was an enticing prize for both

nobles and bandits alike.

People began to realize they had to defend what was theirs. Living under the lord's protection

had made them forget that.

Awakened by the rumors of raiders, more residents volunteered for the military. Enlistment numbers skyrocketed, and the raiders' reputation for brutality only grew worse over time. "Another village has been attacked! Those bastards are running rampant in the territory!"

"How many of them are there? Why can't they be stopped? What is our territory's army doing?" "They say there are over 500 armed men! Small villages can't defend against that! Everyone's fleeing to nearby fortresses or cities!"

"Where did they come from? Are they all the bandit gangs in the North joining forces?"

"I don't know! Rumor has it they call themselves the 'King of Northern Raiders'!"

The so-called "King of Northern Raiders" stood on a low hill, wearing a mask, as he looked

down on a village.

"Hey, it's that village next, right?"

"Yes, lord... I mean, boss. It's a village scheduled for relocation soon."

"Hey! Stop calling me 'lord'! Call me 'boss' instead. What if someone overhears? We're

pretending to be a bandit gang, remember?"

"...Fine, boss."

The King of Raiders was actually Ghislain, and the person beside him was Claude. The two

were leading 40 knights to raid the village.

The 500-strong force was nothing but an exaggerated rumor they had spread. To keep the

operation covert, they needed to move with a small but skilled team.

"See? It feels more real when you make it close to reality. You've noticed how tense

everyone's become these days, right?"

"...Yes."

'You're absolutely insane... What kind of lord raids their own territory like this?' thought Claude.

Ghislain and the knights broke into the village and looted supplies. Though the idea of actually looting their own land was absurd, the results were undeniable.

No one had been killed, of course. When the local militia confronted them, they were simply knocked unconscious. Even that was enough to make people scream and flee in terror. After all, the Fenris Territory was in the process of consolidating its small villages into key fortresses and cities. This operation conveniently accelerated the relocation efforts. They didn't set anything on fire or cause permanent destruction, anticipating that the villagers might return to recover precious belongings. Surprisingly, the operation required a great deal of precision and care.

"Make sure the relocated villagers are quickly provided with homes, and compensate them

for the food and property they've lost."

"I've already instructed the territorial administrators to prioritize it above all else."

"Good. That'll make them even more determined to work hard."

The relocation plans had already prepared homes for the expected population. All that

remained was to reimburse them for their lost belongings.

Ironically, this boosted morale even further. Experiencing such an event firsthand heightened

their resolve to defend the territory at all costs.

With villages being destroyed and actual "refugees" emerging, the rumors gained credibility

and spread even more rapidly. "Have all the nearby units pulled back?"

"Yes, they've already withdrawn as instructed. They're focusing solely on protecting the

relocated residents."

Orders had been given to the stationed units not to engage but to retreat instead. Confused,

the soldiers hastily complied.

Now fully embodying the King of Raiders, Ghislain turned to the knights beside him.

"Didn't those barbarians shout something during their village raids? What was it again?"

"Uh... something like, 'Kill the women and rape the men.....'"

"Let's not do that." "Agreed. Honestly, that's just embarrassing."

"Then just yell something random. Let's go!"

"WAAAAAH!"

The King of Raiders and his 40 bandits charged into another village, beginning their raid

anew.

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