110 – I create my value (2)
3 Months later, Medici Republic, Piedmont City Palace.
As soon as I, Captain Dalton, and Vice Commander Heinz arrived here, we were called to a banquet.
This is a banquet carefully prepared by the Medici Republic, which is famous for being rich on this continent, so there will definitely be a lot of high-quality wine and expensive dishes, right?
I never thought I would be so desperate to be treated like this just three years after being possessed in this world…
‘And a few days ago, Lucia finally became my wife, so now I have two beautiful girls, flowers in both hands…’
This is the amazing life in the fantasy game I dreamed of.
As I was lost in thought for a moment, Unit Chief Heinz next to me shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth.
“Captain Dalton, our treatment has really improved compared to before. Isn’t it? “Before Martin came, I was just a sidekick in small territory wars and wars.”
“f*ck, that’s right. I had no idea that sales would change so much in just three years. “Just last month, a count from the Rhine-Palatinate sent me a letter with a proposal to be commissioned as a superior knight.”
“Hey, all of your palms have bloomed.”
I could not bear to join in that conversation.
If a guy who was offered the title of baron by Margrave Estelle and turned it down were to step in, it could sound like he’s criticizing Dalton.
“Martin, by the way, why are you looking forward to this banquet?”
Hearing those words, I smiled bitterly and shrugged my shoulders.
“Honestly, I’m looking forward to it, right? However, I am worried that if we go in there, there will be someone who will fight to keep us in check.”
“That’s a big deal. That’s as long as you don’t throw your gloves, don’t hit someone in the face, and don’t beat them. And it has already arrived. “Be alert.”
When I went inside the door, there was a luxurious scene that made me wonder if the guys gathered here were really mercenaries.
As it was a rather formal occasion, the mercenaries did not wear clothes decorated with gold thread or jewels like nobles.
Everyone wore neat silk suits, and the food served was made with great care, not just for its taste but also for its appearance.
This is because there were a lot of carpets and various expensive-looking furniture and paintings from the East.
When I saw that scene, I muttered with my mouth wide open.
“…… Medici guys, it looks like their money is rotting away. No, has our value increased so much that we are being treated like this?”
As I was dazed like that, Dalton slapped me on the back.
In the past, I thought I would die from the severe pain I got from getting hit with this, but now I only feel a slight tingling sensation.
“Why are you so blank? “Let’s get a drink here and walk around saying hello.”
Dalton immediately gestured to the maid next to him and handed him some wine, then gave it to me and the vice-captain.
“There are many secretly good wines from Piedmont. “Take a sip.”
When I drank the wine I received, I felt a slightly sour and bitter taste and a deep aroma in my mouth.
‘Delicious.’
‘Shall we set the mood by drinking wine like this with Lucia and Karin sometime?’
Both Karin and Lucia are not women who like luxury, but they really like it when you set the mood like this when they are alone.
While I was lost in thought, a man came towards us.
I was momentarily taken aback because he was not a mercenary leader but a man with a real aristocratic aura.
“This is Alberto Piedmont, the leader of the Brown Shark mercenaries mainly active in the Medici Republic. “It’s an honor to meet you like this.”
With those words, Dalton greeted us on behalf of us.
“This is Dalton von Prime, the mercenary leader of the Whitebeard Mercenaries.”
“Oh, were you originally a senior knight?”
“I have to leave the earl’s family that I used to serve.”
“Mercenaries don’t ask about the past, but I’m sorry for unintentionally digging into the past.”
The mercenary commanders I have seen so far used a lot of direct speech and harsh language rather than a polite tone…
It felt awkward to have such a sophisticated conversation.
“No, Captain Piedmont. “Because I just said it on my own.”
“Is that so? Oh, I have to say hello to the other mercenaries now, so I’ll leave now. Next time I get the chance, I will come and visit you in person with some good wine, so I hope we can have a close conversation.”
Piedmont said those words and disappeared in front of us.
So we had a short conversation with the captains and executives of about 3 to 4 mercenary companies. At that time, I saw a guy coming towards us, looking a little turbulent.
“It appears that this is not a mercenary group based in the Medici Republic. Seeing that I’m not sure. “What mercenary unit are you from?”
I saw him tapping his feet on the ground and glaring at us with his eyes…
It doesn’t seem like he has any good feelings about our Whitebeard mercenaries.
Dalton answered that rude question in his own polite tone.
“This is a Whitebeard mercenary unit that was mainly active in the Rhine-Palatinate Empire. “I am Dalton von Prime, the leader there.”
“Rhine-Palatinate Empire? I am deaf, so I don’t know much about news outside of the Medici Republic. However, I see that you have done some good work…”
The guy looked at Dalton and laughed.
“I honestly don’t know how active I can be among the mercenaries here. I’m sorry it seems like we’re bragging. “The only mercenary units invited to this event are those recognized as first-class mercenary units in the Medici Republic.”
First-class mercenaries can be said to be people who have the skills of a ‘national representative’ when it comes to athletes.
And the second-rate mercenaries we have been playing with so far have been at the level of ‘national representative candidates’, so of course there is a clear difference in their skills, even if they are not incomparable.
Of course, there is bound to be a huge difference in treatment and location accordingly.
“In our Red Rose Mercenaries alone, there are six expert-level knights and seven wizards who have reached the level of intermediate wizards. “It has a long history and solid trust, and the same goes for other mercenary units.”
I could occasionally hear voices from other places nodding their heads in agreement with those words.
“It’s different from people like those guys who don’t know where they got their food.”
“I haven’t even heard your name…”
“Those red rose bastards have only just made it to the top, so they are already acting territorial and falling asleep.”
When the atmosphere of shooting us was created, I gestured to Dalton and then chuckled.
Anyway, the guy continued talking.
“But I’m not sure how you feel.”
Then, when he turned around and tried to leave without even introducing himself, I grabbed his shoulder.
“You don’t have to worry about that. “It seems like the Red Rose Mercenaries don’t know about it.”
Even if the mercenaries are not fighting each other, they are a macho group and have to cooperate with each other and compete for achievements.
Sometimes there are people who try to keep the other person in check by looking at them like this.
‘And if you get pushed out here, even though you have good skills, you could end up scratching your stomach in the back room.’
No matter where you go, if you are checked incorrectly, it can lead to your ability being undervalued.
And the way to deal with this is very simple.
“You don’t have to worry too much. “Our Whitebeard mercenary unit is a mercenary unit that has sufficiently proven its capabilities in the Rhine-Palatinate before coming to the Medici Republic.”
The guy looked at me and asked in a sarcastic voice.
“Can I ask you specifically how you performed?”
“Not long ago, I participated as an ally of the imperial army in the war between Montmartre and the Rhine-Palatinate Empire. There, with 2,000 troops, they ambushed and annihilated the 5,000-strong Montmartre army, and captured the commander who led the 15,000-strong Montmartre army while serving under the Margrave Estelle.”
No matter how top-notch the mercenary corps is and has the same high status and capabilities as the national team, it is not easy to defeat troops that are 2.5 Times more numerous than our own and capture the enemy commander alive.
‘If you boast about your achievements like this, they will have no choice but to admit it.’
“I’ve been a mercenary for just over three years, as far as I know. “I heard that rather than saying lame things like what kind of history a mercenary has or what knights or wizards they have, they are talking about performance.”
When I heard those words, the guy who was trying to pick me started trembling.
He was upset that he lost the fight, but he probably did it because he had nothing to say.
“I think I’ve sufficiently expressed our value to this extent. Could you please acknowledge it now?”
Hearing those words, he sighed as if he was dumbfounded.
“I’ll admit it to that extent. “I was a little embarrassed because a mercenary I had never heard of came to a place where only top-notch mercenaries were invited…”
It sucks to admit it like a cool idiot and move on, but what can you do?
Anyway, it is right to show our capabilities through performance, so there is no benefit in fighting just because we need cider.
“Please take care of me.”
…… Now that you guys are fighting, open your eyes and see how great we are.