Chapter 157 : The Turbulent Apennine Peninsula (1)

"Hahaha, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍congratulations. Young knight. It turned out that way after all."

Mage ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Agpiel laughed heartily as he spoke while walking out with Shatien after the conversation with the envoy from the Holy See ended.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Holy Ground.

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sacred land.

Globally, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there were few holy grounds of the Church, and there was only one such sanctuary on this continent, which corresponded to the west of the ancient empire.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the heart of the Church where the Holy See was located, a place built upon the earnest consecration of the first Pope.

Because it was at the very core of the Church, no one dared to approach it carelessly.

Considering that even the Emperor of the Holy Empire, who possessed the highest honor and authority on the continent, found it difficult to enter the Holy Ground, it went without saying how prestigious this task given to Shatien truly was.

"I feel a bit dazed."

Shatien scratched his head with a reluctant expression at Mage Agpiel's words.

He had expected the Holy See to take some action, but a meeting at the Holy Ground was something quite different.

"It means they intend to use you importantly. Think about it, from the Church's perspective, is there any card as attractive as you?"

A faithful man who was young, whose family was small and foundation weak, yet who simultaneously led a military force with outstanding prowess.

The Church was bound to like him.

Especially now, with a fight against the Emperor ahead of them.

"It is good for me that the Church is stepping up like this. But no matter how much I think about it, I feel like it is a poisoned chalice. In the end, it is the same as telling me to become a sword on behalf of the Holy See. I wonder if I am just being used."

"Hehehe."

Mage Agpiel smiled at Shatien's words.

Humility and caution.

They were truly rare virtues.

Most people would have puffed out their chests with pride when receiving such attention, but this young knight remained cautious and cool-headed.

'Well, that is why I like this fellow.'

A being worth helping, and especially one worth advising.

He was a perfect fit for Mage Agpiel, who lived a wandering life as a mage under the name of a sage.

If he helped this friend, just how far could he develop?

Was this the excitement of an advisor?

"Do not worry too much. The Holy See will not want to miss this burning momentum either."

"I suppose... I heard that the gathering of anti-Imperial forces in the northern Apennine Peninsula is unusual."

"You should view it as them having essentially turned their backs on the Emperor. They will want to completely oust the Emperor's power from northern Apennine. At the very least, they will not give up on you until the threat of the Emperor disappears. Besides, haven't you been wagging your tail quite hard?"

As he spoke, Mage Agpiel smiled mischievously.

Shatien tilted his head for a moment, then realized what he meant and frowned.

"Come on. Wagging my tail? That is all a misunderstanding."

"Pffft. Yes, yes. A misunderstanding, surely. But what can be done? People already know you as the 'faithful knight'."

Furthermore, he was a performer of miracles.

That was why Shatien looked even more distressed.

He was neither faithful nor had he performed any miracles.

"What if I go to the Church and everything is exposed for nothing?"

The thought made him feel dizzy for a moment.

The imagination of being beheaded for insulting the Holy See suddenly struck his mind.

"Tsk tsk. You are worrying unnecessarily again."

Of course, the mage found Shatien's reaction cute.

"You have already come this far, so what does the truth of the matter matter? From the Holy See's perspective, whether your miracles are true or false is not important. They simply must be true. Even if they knew it was a lie, the Church has the power to make it so. Besides..."

"Besides?"

"There is no one whose very existence is a miracle as much as yours. Indeed."

"......"

Shatien felt deflated, having inwardly expected another piece of advice.

It was as if the mage was teasing him.

But surprisingly, Mage Agpiel's words were sincere.

The day would eventually come when this young knight realized his own value. Mage Agpiel intended to quietly observe Shatien's side until that day.

* * *

The summons from the Holy See stimulated the mercenary captains scattered throughout the territories of the Church across the Apennine Peninsula.

The dream of mercenaries with no fame and low status was to achieve success by receiving territory and a title.

Most mercenaries gave up on such dreams early on, but it was a different story if one became a leader of a mercenary corps.

The people they met were the high-ranking leaders of cities or nobles, and since they possessed a reasonable amount of wealth and the military power that came from commanding mercenaries, they revealed their greed more intensely.

This was especially true for mercenary corps under the command of the Church.

If they upheld the authority of the lofty Holy See on the continent, they did not need to worry about humble families or lowly birth; they only needed to find land.

In fact, the Church often threw out the carrot of land to lead the mercenary corps.

In the midst of that, the commotion of the anti-Imperial alliance happening in the northern Apennine Peninsula?

This was an opportunity.

-This summons is unusual.

-Supporting the anti-Imperial alliance? Could they be planning to expand territory by advancing into the southern part of the Empire?

-No. They might be trying to discipline the northern free cities instead!

-Argh! Whether it is the former or the latter, land will eventually be created! Then, that vacant land...

-Would they not give it to us, who have achieved great feats?!

Thanks to this, the mercenary captains leading their respective corps were all very excited and began to move very quickly to win the Church's favor.

Naturally, the crumbs were more plentiful the higher the rank of the opponent.

If the opponent was an Emperor, rather than just any noble or even a great noble, the rewards would be even sweeter.

How many manors were attached under him?

Among those mercenary captains, however, there was one who had a slightly different thought.

"Oh man. No matter how I look at it, that gentleman is going to be the one handling things."

It was Voltion, the leader of the Lily Mercenary Company.

Unlike the other mercenary captains, Voltion, who had watched exactly how the situation was unfolding from right next to it, could clearly see who would take command in this summons from the Holy See.

'The one whom the Holy See personally sent an envoy to invite, and who resolved the curse commotion in the County of Shatin in the process.'

He had essentially achieved the greatest feat of the current events.

After all, the anti-Imperial alliance was created because of it.

Once his thoughts reached this point, Voltion's thinking became slightly different from the other mercenary captains.

"Huh? What do you mean, Captain?"

"You want us to join the mercenary corps belonging to that strange organization called the Mercenary Bureau or whatever?"

"Why should our Captain feel inferior! Don't you also have a knighthood received from some baron, Captain?"

"That's right, that's right!"

His plan was to immediately bow his head and enter under Shatien.

Naturally, there was fierce opposition from the mercenaries under him who did not know the situation, but Voltion crushed it with his authority as the mercenary captain.

"You idiots. Do you dare to question my thoughts?"

"N-No, but still. This is a bit..."

"Silence! If you complain any more, I will sentence you to a whipping immediately!"

"Eek! No, sir. We were wrong. We must follow orders, of course."

Certainly, there would be talk behind his back for making such a decision.

But Voltion did not care.

To survive on the battlefield as a mercenary for a long time, intuition was important.

The intuition currently striking Voltion's head was strongly warning him to bow to Shatien.

Moreover, the situation supported the fact that his intuition was correct.

'That means I must move very quickly.'

He had to move fast before the other mercenary captains noticed.

Was it not a rule that the one who entered first became a founding contributor?

Joining of his own accord before Shatien stood out would be more advantageous for receiving a higher score.

"Sir Shatien!"

Having finished his thoughts, Voltion immediately ran toward Shatien's formation, which was preparing to move.

"I wish to lead my mercenary corps and join under Sir Shatien's command. Please accept this sword."

"?"

Was this not too sudden, even for a surprise? Shatien was flustered but soon felt curious.

"The Church has not yet decided on a definite commander? Why is that? To hand over command... I think it might be a bit premature."

"The fact that you already know that means the starting line is practically different, does it not? Besides, I realized after watching Sir Shatien resolve the matter in the County of Shatin. Even if you don't become the commander, you will hold a very important position. When that time comes, please use me importantly."

"Oho..."

Mage Agpiel, who was watching from the side, stroked his chin as if it were interesting.

The world was truly wide and there were many wise people.

To think there would be a mercenary captain moving so quickly!

Regardless, Shatien tested Voltion once more.

"If you do that, there will be a lot of talk around you. Will you be alright?"

If your reputation worsened, your grip over the mercenary corps would weaken.

At worst, he could be ousted by the mercenaries under him.

But Voltion did not care.

Instead, he played it off casually.

"Hahaha. This Voltion prides himself on having accurate eyes. Do not worry about my minor affairs and please use me willingly. Well... if worst comes to worst, can't I just join the Mercenary Bureau? I have a decent career myself, so just give me an officer's position."

"Hahaha. This fellow is interesting."

"He's right. It doesn't seem like a bad idea, Sir Shatien."

It seemed Mage Agpiel and Branch Manager Marhen were satisfied with Voltion's hearty behavior.

After all, there was nothing to lose for Shatien even if he accepted him, was there?

Rather, it would only be a help. There was no reason to refuse.

"Fine. Then let us work together."

"Thank you! Sir Shatien! I will show my full loyalty."

* * *

-Boom, boom, boom.

With the sound of drums, the mercenary corps left the County of Shatin in the early morning and began to march.

With the Lily Mercenary Company led by Voltion joining in, the scale of the force had grown massive, reaching about a thousand men.

A force of this size would cause nearby free cities to be terrified and threaten them to go elsewhere.

But it did not matter.

Guided by a new messenger from the Holy See, Shatien's procession left those trivial cities behind and was heading directly toward the Holy City.

In the process, the loss for Branch Manager Marhen, who had prepared plenty of trade goods to trade with the northern cities of the Apennine Peninsula, was significant, but for some reason, her expression was incredibly bright.

"Tsk tsk. Since her partner is doing well, she must be quite satisfied."

"?"

"And it is just astounding how insensitive that bastard is."

"???"

It seemed Mage Agpiel was cursing something, but Shatien had no time to pay attention to that.

On the way down, he was busy receiving intensive tutoring on the political dynamics of the northern free cities of the Apennine Peninsula with the help of the Holy See envoy and Voltion.

Especially since he was thoroughly investigating all regions where war could break out and even making a separate map, he naturally had no mental room to worry about anything else.

And after traveling down for a long time, on the third day.

-Thump, thump, thump.

A city gate opened in the distance, and several horses galloped out.

-Neighhhh!

"Welcome, Sir Shatien! May you find peace in the great and sacred Holy City! We will guide you. His Holiness the Pope gave strict instructions. We have prepared a grand welcome!"

It was the guide sent by the Holy See.