Chapter 116

Eleonor stood alone in the dawn mist. Her burning red hair fluttered in the wind. Like a torch illuminating the darkness.

Bwooooh—.

Just then, the sound of a horn came from afar.

A horn blast that simply continued on and on.

Eleonor understood its meaning.

It was the attack signal Leon had arranged before infiltrating Ratio.

It was time to begin the plan.

“It seems that play last night was worth it.”

Eleonor spat out the blade of grass she had been chewing on for fun and stomped on it with her boot. Then, without looking back, she shouted.

“Unit. Advance!”

The non-commissioned officers repeated the command.

“Unit, advance!”

“Fasa Regiment, forward!”

The perfectly formed square unit stepped onto the ground covered in morning dew.

It was the Fasa Regiment, the first unit recruited when the Black Company was founded in Fasa, and a unit that had been tempered into the finest elite through many wars.

Every time the soldiers moved their feet, their armor clashed against each other, making a clanking sound. The sound of their footsteps, carried on the dawn air, grew louder and louder.

As they pushed through the thick fog and walked forward, the surrounding mist gradually thinned.

Then, suddenly, the fog lifted completely, and the view became clear. The walls of Ratio appeared before the Fasa Regiment's eyes.

Eleonor and the Fasa Regiment were not surprised. But the guards of Ratio, who had belatedly discovered the Fasa Regiment, caused a commotion.

Eleonor could see the soldiers shouting something. She heard the sound of an alarm bell ringing.

During all this, the Fasa Regiment continued to walk and reached the vicinity of the city gate.

At a distance where catapults or arrows could fly but would be difficult to hit.

Eleonor gave another command.

“Unit, halt.”

“Unit, halt!”

Clack!

Following the command, the Fasa Regiment came to a halt in unison.

Amidst the sound of the Black Company’s flag fluttering, the soldiers’ breathing, and the neighing of excited horses.

Eleonor stared straight ahead.

Her hair was disheveled by the flow of the air, but Eleonor paid it no mind.

She just stared at the gate and quietly.

She said only one word.

“Open.”

Open the gate.

Now.

Surrender.

That command was fulfilled.

Creeeeak—.

A dull sound echoed from the hinges as the gates of Ratio opened. At the same time, a white flag was raised above the city walls.

Eleonor smirked. It meant that the reckless plan Leon had proposed last time had worked. Eleonor briefly thought about that brilliant plan.

That absurd operation where Leon would personally infiltrate Ratio, meet the Pope, and respond from within.

It was something you couldn't do even if you had two lives.

A dangerous gamble where Leon's head could be cut off and the mercenary company could be disbanded if things went wrong.

But as a chronicler and a knight, Eleonor had no choice but to support Leon.

Honestly, she wanted to participate in such an adventure herself. It was just that she couldn't volunteer because she was shackled by the title of regimental commander. Eleonor was someone who knew what it meant to take responsibility.

“Gentlemen. We have just retaken Ratio.”

“Long live Leon Gryph! Long live the Mercenary Captain!”

“The holy land is ours! Unit, advance!”

“Unit, advance!”

Following Eleonor's command, the Fasa Regiment entered Ratio.

***

In reality, what happened in Ratio was much more complicated.

When Eleonor moved, the pro-Elance faction fell into chaos.

They had just received a report that the city gate was being attacked. And now, they had just received a report that the Black Company outside the city walls was doing nothing.

The army was just staring at the city gate. They had even surrounded the city without a single siege weapon.

“What the hell is this?”

“Isn’t it a trick to make us let our guard down?”

“Damn that mercenary captain.”

The pro-Elance nobles judged the situation only by common sense.

They didn't even think that Leon had already entered the city. This was because the guards, fearing punishment, had not reported properly.

The result of information not being transmitted smoothly was the current total chaos.

“As long as we have the city walls, the army outside can’t do anything. More importantly, have you found out where that horn sound came from earlier?”

“I don’t know. There’s no word.”

“Wasn’t it just a mistake from some barracks? It was definitely a signal. It's clear from the fact that the Black Company moved as soon as the horn blew.”

“No way. The Pope has no army, so how? Is there a mole inside the city?”

Just then, a low-ranking noble ran in with an urgent look on his face.

“Emergency! It’s an emergency!”

“What now?”

“The city is under attack!”

“We already know that! We received a report just a moment ago!”

A high-ranking noble retorted irritably. But the low-ranking noble’s face was still pale.

“That’s not it. The inside of the city is being attacked!”

“What?”

“An unknown number of cavalry units have appeared and are sweeping through the city!”

The hearts of the nobles who had joined the pro-Elance faction sank.

How on earth did the enemy infiltrate the city? Was there really a traitor inside?

The nobles tried to act rationally for the time being.

“Then just dispatch troops to stop them. Why are you making such a fuss? What are you afraid of?”

“T-that’s.”

“Speak up!”

“That army has raised the Pope's banner!”

“What.”

As soon as they heard that, the pro-Elance nobles were shocked. A shock incomparable to before. The meaning of the Pope's banner being raised was only one thing.

“That crazy bitch really…”

“She had no intention of negotiating from the beginning. She’s going to turn Ratio into a sea of blood…”

That day, the pro-Elance nobles remembered. The fear of being ruled by the Pope. The humiliation of being swayed by a warmonger.

The Pope is coming.

The warmonger is coming.

The pro-Elance nobles fell into a state of panic. They stood there in a daze, shocked.

Though they were usually strong-willed enough to oppose the Pope, they quickly lost their will to fight upon learning that the city was already surrounded and that the enemy had been allowed to infiltrate the city.

Moreover, having fought with the Pope for a long time, they knew their neighbor’s personality all too well.

“We’re all going to die at this rate. Let’s surrender.”

“But, still.”

“They say the enemy has positioned their troops outside but isn't attacking. It clearly means they’ll spare our lives if we surrender. Is there any other way?”

“…”

“Even if we lose all our property, we have to save our lives.”

The nobles, who had neither the courage to arrest and execute the Pope nor the courage to switch sides, accepted the harsh reality. In fact, even if they had the courage, they were not confident they could win against Pope Astro.

They couldn’t risk their lives on a gamble. Because life was more precious than anything else.

***

Indeed, Pope Astro’s notoriety was fearsome. The pro-Elance nobles surrendered without giving me a single chance to use my magic.

Of course, when they found out that it wasn't the Pope who had personally come, but me, they all looked like they had been deceived.

But it was far too late.

“What, it wasn’t the Pope? If I had known, I wouldn't have surrendered!”

“That’s a real shame.”

“Who are you? You look too young.”

“I am Leon Gryph of the Black Company.”

“Y-you’re Leon Gryph? You look younger than my grandson.”

“That’s also a real shame.”

The pro-Elance nobles, who never thought I would provide a ‘house call service,’ were all dumbfounded.

Too bad. Modern people are desperate to get results. This is the standard service of future civilization.

Honestly, I was a little, just a tiny bit, annoyed by the change in the pro-Elance faction's attitude.

What? I'm easy to deal with and not scary, so it’s worth a shot, but the Pope is scary, so you surrender immediately?

I suddenly thought that it wasn't for nothing that Pope Astro had entrusted me with her banner.

How tiresome it must have been for the Pope to live with people who even defied her as neighbors.

If it hadn't been for the Pope's banner, the pro-Elance faction would not have surrendered so easily.

“What should we do with them? Send them to the gallows, or behead them?”

“There’s no need for that. Package them individually and throw them in prison.”

“Understood.”

I sent the dumbfounded prisoners straight to prison and took control of the government building.

But the situation didn't end with just that. Minor problems continued to arise during the process of occupying the city.

First, the Treno Family.

“We will not be the Pope's slaves! We are the masters of our own destiny!”

Instead of surrendering, they staged a sit-in at their mansion. They shot arrows at anyone who approached.

Their accuracy was terrible, but it was very threatening to passersby. After all, you could die if you were hit.

“Sir Trevor. Whether our promise is kept or not will depend on how you resolve this problem.”

“Please leave it to me. No, please let me do it. Please. So please stop trying to burn down the entire mansion!”

As I lashed out in anger, Trevor desperately tried to persuade his family.

Having already shouldered the dishonor of betrayal, it would be very unfair to lose his life as well.

But even Trevor was of no use. The Treno Family, instead of obediently submitting, laid down conditions. It was basically a demand to guarantee their property rights.

Really? You still think you can negotiate?

“Rhom, sprinkle some more oil. Will it burn well like that?”

“I admit that the tide has turned. We will give up our property, and if you guarantee the safety of our family, we will disarm willingly. So, couldn’t you stop pouring that, that oil?”

“I do not negotiate with terrorists. Bishop Ceras. Should I pour it like this?”

“You have to pour it evenly for it to cook well. A little higher. Yes. Excellent.”

“Surrender! Surrender!”

Ceras, like a true inquisitor, knew how to make a fire burn well. As she demonstrated in person, the Treno Family, witnessing the expert's touch, immediately declared their surrender.

Of course, I had no intention of actually setting it on fire.

I’m not some cruel murderer, so would I really burn people to death?

I just called their bluff.

The Treno Family, lacking in courage, headed to prison like their comrades.

“Is that the end of dealing with the rebels?”

“No. There’s one more.”

“What now?”

“Look over there.”

“Ah. I’m going to lose my mind.”

I held my head in my hands. People who had crawled out from somewhere were shouting for their right to revenge.

They were the pro-Pope nobles who had been oppressed by the pro-Elance faction.

“We want revenge on the pro-Elance faction! Open the prison gates!”

The pro-Pope nobles looked like they were about to break down the prison gates and enter.

If I just stood by and watched, a massacre would occur.

I quickly led my troops and blocked their path.

Stop! That’s enough of this crap!

“Who are you?”

“Leon Gryph. Commander of the Black Company.”

“We don’t know such a person.”

Damn it. Do you think this is the funeral of the honorary kangaroo knight commander? I’m busy as hell.

“I don't know you either. But I know you are doing something dangerous. Please disperse peacefully.”

“Revenge is our just right! How dare a mere mercenary commander!”

The pro-Pope nobles did not understand the implication to go home when told nicely.

I shot him a warning.

“Watch your mouth. The one who hired me is the Holy See, not you, and I am the Pope’s mercenary company, not Ratio’s. If you keep this up, I’ll have to arrest you all.”

“Uh, uh.”

“The disposition of the prisoners will be decided by His Holiness. You cannot touch them until then.”

“…Alright. We will withdraw. Damn mercenaries. I will definitely petition His Holiness to deal with those bastards…”

When the mercenaries’ eyes flashed, the pro-Pope nobles retreated in a hurry.

I held back a sigh that was about to escape.

Man, why are the people in this town so rough? Do I really have to have a war of nerves here?

Wait. That’s my job. That’s why I was made the commander. Damn it.

“I can’t just gut them either.”

“Young Master, they are not the Corsini Family.”

“Why did that name suddenly come up?”

“I mean you can’t just gut them carelessly. Besides, this isn’t Fasa. It’s a foreign land. It will only worsen public sentiment.”

“They’re not helping at all, should I just leave them be?”

Theo stopped me, so I’ll let it go. Really.

In any case, the matter of the prisoners was not something I could handle as I pleased.

If I handled it ambiguously, I would only end up earning the resentment of both the Pope and the pro-Elance faction.

It was better to pass such troublesome matters on to the person in charge. Like the Pope. Or the Holy See.

One more thing before that.

“Sir Eleonor. Duke Cavaldi.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“There is something you two must do.”

I called the two of them and gave them instructions.

A moment later, soldiers from all directions began to shout the same words.

“Citizens of Ratio. Ratio is safe. We have come to Ratio at the call of His Holiness. Please go about your daily lives with peace of mind.”

This is essential for the safety and well-being of the people.