Chapter 421
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Speculations of the Plunderers
Translator : PolterGlast
Unaware that the expeditionary force commanded by Takuhir
was closing in, the morale of the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy Army, which
had achieved the unprecedented feat of conquering and destroying three
kingdoms—Lute, Vile, and Cain—in a short period of time,
was exceedingly high. Just as they had done in the two countries previously,
they sat in the Royal Capital for a while and began to thoroughly plunder its
wealth like locusts.
「Hmph, to the barbarians of Istoria,
a Royal Capital is a suitable bait, but... Even so, do they intend to uproot
and plunder all the wealth in this country as well?」
Looking out from a corner of the Royal Palace of the fallen Cain
Kingdom at the soldiers committing every atrocity imaginable in the Royal
Capital, Azel distorted his mouth and spat out those words.
『Plunder, plunder everything from the
heathens to the last! Only by offering what is plundered to God will their sins
be atoned for! Bestow God's grace upon the sinful heathens!』
Those who urged the soldiers on with such words, taking the
initiative to push forward with outrageous looting and assault, were not the
soldiers that Azel and Lugner had led up until now. They were
individuals belonging to a unit with a different chain of command, who had
joined them when they transitioned to invade each of the kingdoms of Lute,
Vile, and Cain.
「The Holy Knights? One could
say it is a fitting unit for fanatics. Because we need them to continue being
useful as our dogs from here on out as well. Sometimes, bait is also necessary.」
「N-No way, Lugner, you gave
permission?」
「That's right, they worked
correspondingly well this time, and we also need bait anticipating what lies
ahead.」
Up until now, when they came to the Royal Capitals occupied
by Azel and the others, they merely partook of the leftovers. The
contents of that were... executing the captured royalty of each country under
the pretext of 『delivering
God's judgment upon the ringleaders of the sinful heathens』, and forcing the inhabitants of the Royal Capital to
convert, after which they plundered their wealth under the pretext of alms to
the church; behavior that was still somewhat cute compared to now. However,
circumstances were different this time. This was because this time, they too
had properly done their 『job』
before entering the Royal Capital. Unlike the surprise attacks that caught the
enemy off guard up until now, the defense of the Royal Capital of the Cain
Kingdom allowed the enemy side to have some time to prepare their defensive
posture. Therefore, the capture of the Royal Capital was not as simple as
before, and they ended up proceeding with a siege battle after surrounding it,
but the Holy Knights played an active role there. Not only did they
fanatically launch a fierce attack to open a breach in the city walls, but they
also captured royalty attempting to abandon the Royal Capital and flee under
the cover of night. This time's plunder was nothing more than 『bait』 given by Lugner as compensation for those actions.
Therefore, against the Cain Kingdom, they openly plundered the wealth of
the Royal Capital and committed every atrocity imaginable.
「But... if it goes too far, future
occupation policies will not hold up, you know?」
「Fufufu, that is exactly right. To
have them spread notoriety for the sake of the future, that is also one of
their roles.」
「What do you mean?」
「To begin with, even within the Imperial
Kingdom, while styling themselves as the shield protecting God's teachings,
on the inside they were nothing more than starving mad dogs. To the point where
even the Pope had trouble dealing with them, you see. That is why they
abandoned the Pope who fled Isra and responded to Castro's
invitation. In other words, they always desire bait and are swayed by bait.」
The ten thousand Holy Knights who were stationed in
the Holy Capital of Isra to protect the Pope in the Istoria Imperial
Kingdom were originally handpicked knights purely cultivated in the
doctrine to serve as the shield protecting the Pope and the Church. However, as
the upper echelons of the Church began to run towards personal greed and
self-interest, causing the top to rot, they too followed suit. No, it might be
more accurate to say they evolved into a more ferocious and villainous form.
However, after that, when the country fell into poverty due to repeated defeats
against the Kyle Kingdom and the rise of the Istoria Orthodox
Theocracy, they, starving, were no longer able to satisfy their own
desires. At that time, against the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy Army that
was encroaching on the national territory day by day and pressing close to Isra,
the Holy King abandoned Isra and fled, but Castro extended the
tentacles of temptation to the Holy Knights.
『Holy Knights who fight to protect the doctrine, participate in the
sublime opportunity to guide (plunder) hundreds of thousands of heathens, and
make the name of God known! God will surely bestow sufficient grace (plunder)
to answer the expectations of you devout ones.』
Upon receiving these words, many of those belonging to the Holy
Knights made a decision. Even if they stayed in the Imperial Kingdom
and followed the Pope in fleeing, it would be a gradual decline; their desires
would not be satisfied. If so, they thought it would be better to turn to Castro's
side, who believed in the same God and was once in a position close to the
Pope. As a result of their decision, Castro obtained as many as seven
thousand Holy Knights who responded to his call. At the point they
joined, Castro dispatched them to the national border as a deterrent
against Lugner and the others who had invaded Imperial Territory,
giving them the bait of unrestrained pillaging in Imperial Territory,
but the circumstances changed along the way. This was because, contrary to
expectations, the Demon Territory Dukdeom Army achieved an overwhelming
victory. However, for them as well, it was merely a matter of the destination
to satisfy their desires changing from Imperial Territory to the three
countries newly presented by Lugner and the others.
「But their stomachs are big, aren't
they? In the Royal Capital of the Cain Kingdom where we let them do as
they please, hasn't what we obtain also greatly decreased?」
「This is nothing more than bait.
Because I plan to give a new mission to those whose stomachs are temporarily
full here. To push them to the borders of the four countries and use them as
watchdogs against the brat's (Takuhir's) army.」
「Hahaha, you thought that far ahead?
I am in awe.」
「Naturally. Although the income in
this country has decreased, the fanatics under our command are also desperately
scavenging for tributes to God, learning from them. So it will be 『corresponding』.」
「Certainly... because the soldiers
will selfishly offer the majority of what they plunder to us as offerings to
the Church. The Church is a convenient thing. So Lugner, what do you
intend to do after driving them to the borders?」
「As expected, we lack the soldiers to
govern the three countries. We will give them bait and have them protect the
borders, and besides that, a total of ten thousand troops additionally sent by Castro—excluding
the four thousand that have already joined us, two thousand soldiers each are
invading from three directions from the border with the Lute Kingdom,
right? We will gather them, put them in the Royal Capital of the Lute
Kingdom, and use them as the rearguard.」
「I see, so you'll have the seven
thousand soldiers whose loss at the entrance is acceptable guard it, and place
the reinforcements he (Castro) sent in the Royal Capital of the Lute
Kingdom, which is close to Tria and the Empire? With that, we
can devote ourselves to governing the three countries with our direct twenty thousand,
and use it as a foothold to fulfill our long-cherished desire.」
To those words, Lugner smiled fearlessly.
「Ultimately, it will probably
increase a bit more. We have surrendered soldiers from the three countries;
those who, far from protecting their homelands, took the initiative to
surrender to us and became our vanguard number two thousand. Once governance is
settled, including those who were sitting on the fence, it will probably become
around ten thousand.」
「Certainly... that's right. Because we
accepted the shameless ones who surrendered and treated them correspondingly
well so that they can be treated as disposable at any time.」
「When that happens, we place seven
thousand for border defense and six thousand as the rearguard; combined with the
fighting strength we left in the Royal Capitals of the two countries, our main
force becomes twenty-four thousand. If we can manipulate the mad dogs and the
six thousand rearguard as we please, our ultimate fighting strength will be
thirty-seven thousand. Even currently, with two thousand surrendered soldiers,
don't you think a fighting strength of nearly forty thousand is sufficient to
rule the new countries?」
While saying so, Lugner was elated. This was because
it was far more than the fighting strength he had commanded up until now, and
both the territory and fighting strength would be vast, far surpassing the
upstart brat he had continued to hate for many years. Moreover, there was even
the possibility of it increasing further.
「Fufufu, does this mean we are one or
two steps closer to our long-cherished desire?」
If things proceeded according to Lugner's
calculations, their total fighting strength would surpass even the Istoria Orthodox
Theocracy, and annexing it would no longer be a dream. When the two were
floating ugly smiles, a report came in as if to throw cold water on their sweet
dreams.
「R-Reporting! A report has come in
that an army believed to be the defeated remnants of the Cain Kingdom
has appeared west of the Royal Capital...」
「Tch, such sore losers even though
the Royal Capital has already fallen. Their numbers?」
「Approximately two thousand; after
destroying our patrol unit, they are deployed watching the Royal Capital from a
distance.」
「Hmph, then we simply have the mad
dogs do work commensurate with the bait given to them. Send a messenger to the Holy
Knights! Tell them this is an opportunity to scatter the defeated remnants
of the Cain Kingdom and make the name of the Holy Knights and
God's majesty known.」
「Ha!」
「Furthermore, tell them: after
striking down the defeated remnants, they are to continue westward and
establish effective control over the area adjacent to the border and Count Jark's
territory in the Empire, and we will recognize those as the dominion of
the Holy Knights for them to do as they please!」
After watching the back of the messenger running off, Lugner
turned back to Azel.
「Now then, with this the nuisances
will leave, and there is probably nothing left to gain in this land. Shall we
return to the Royal Capital of Vile and arrange our plans for the
future?」
「Hahaha, adding to the wealth we
plundered in the Royal Capitals of the two countries up to now, moving with the
numerous gifts we obtained here... With this, our steps will become rather
heavy, won't they.」
「That is not all. After the nuisances
are gone, I intend to collect the harvest. We will issue proclamations as the
occupying army through those who turned to us, and send tax collection
officials to various places.」
Saying so, Lugner showed Azel a document of
proclamation, perhaps having prepared it beforehand.
·
To those who have submitted thus
far, we guarantee their original territories and do not require the payment of
new taxes.
·
Lords who submit to us and pay taxes
from here on will have their original territories guaranteed in exchange for a
twenty percent tax on their harvest.
·
Regarding the direct control
territories of the royal family, they shall be treated as before, but the
delivery destination shall be the occupying army.
·
Those who collect taxes of other
territories as a proxy will be given a reward from the collected amount
according to their achievements.
·
From here on, all taxes shall be
consolidated in the Royal Capital of the former **Vile Kingdom**.
·
To territories not obedient to this
decree, the **Holy Knights** shall be dispatched, and everything will be
plundered.
·
Those who strike down lords or
magistrates who do not obey the decree and pay taxes in their stead will be
given the position of the former lord as a reward.
「Hahaha, so you will use the
notoriety of the mad dogs for governance as well? Moreover, instigating those
who submitted or those frightened by terror.」
The difference between Lugner and Azel was
that their experience and education as rulers were vastly different. In one way
or another, Lugner had been involved in governing the Viscount Hiyorimi
territory, even if it was a callous rule. Therefore, Azel was no match
in terms of experience and knowledge.
「Of course, because their tyrannical
behavior will immediately spread throughout the land. Moreover, we are still
short on hands and feet. Taking this opportunity, it's merely a matter of
utilizing the submitted ones and the actions of the Holy Knights
effectively.」
「I see...」
Azel couldn't help but be surprised by his colleague's skill, realizing that the permission to plunder was given anticipating that far ahead. After that, the main force of the Holy Knights boldly departed the Royal Capital of the Cain Kingdom, and messengers carrying Lugner's intentions ran to various places... However, here, Lugner's speculation suffered a setback due to a situation unexpected for him. Many of the messengers he sent throughout the land were either captured along the way, or changed the lord they served after learning of the war situation. This was because the Lute Kingdom was already being unified under a new lord, the same was true in various parts of the Vile Kingdom, and the beacon of resistance had begun to rise in the Cain Kingdom as well. Under the strategy of General Golpa, a full-scale counterattack began from here, and the various countries that tasted hardships from the invasion of brutal soldiers would welcome new developments from here on.
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