The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 332: Chapter 331: I Have So Many Questions. (3)

Chapter 332: Chapter 331: I Have So Many Questions. (3)

?

Manus, oblivious to Amelia's demeanor, continued speaking.

"Yes, the Forest of Demonic Beasts is shrouded in secrecy. Though I only ventured into its outskirts, I have experience reaching the area where rune stones were found. I believe I deserve fair compensation."

"Ah..."

Amelia nodded, still wearing her frosty smile. In truth, he wasn't entirely wrong. Even trivial information should be compensated-that was a noble's dignity.

"Very well, how much do you want?"

"I would like 2,000 gold."

The expressions of those in the audience hall darkened immediately. Two thousand gold was enough to change the life of an average commoner. His brazen demand, under the pretense of payment for information, was infuriating.

Still, no one spoke up. No one dared act recklessly in Amelia's presence, even in loyalty. Meow!

Only Bastet, Amelia's cat, openly displayed its displeasure.

Amelia smiled gently and said, "That is a very steep price for information."

"This is knowledge you can't get anywhere else. I believe it's worth that much."

Manus wasn't making this audacious move thoughtlessly. He believed himself to be safe.

'I heard the lady of this land is kind-hearted and doesn't kill people indiscriminately. I'll just haggle until the price drops.'

Even a lord would find it difficult to kill a subject without just cause. A tyrannical reputation could make subjects distrustful, and if the victim belonged to another territory, it could serve as grounds for a territorial dispute.

This was why nobles often emphasized duty and reputation, keeping public opinion in mind.

'Besides, I was taken from a tavern with plenty of witnesses. They can't do anything rash right now. If it doesn't work out, I'll just run away.'

Manus factored in every possibility, even the chance of overzealous subordinates causing trouble.

Though he trusted Amelia's reputation, his suspicious nature made him calculate every risk. 'I'll start high and settle for less. I'm not expecting to get all 2,000 gold, so don't worry, dear lady. Heh heh.'

This was a tactic he'd honed during his mercenary days. In negotiations, the desperate party always lost.

As expected, Amelia entertained Manus's bargaining.

"Two thousand gold is too much. However, since I am quite curious, I'll offer you 200 gold. That should suffice, don't you think?"

"Hmm... Could you make it 1,500 gold? This is truly valuable information that will amaze you."

The expressions of the vassals grew even darker. Even 200 gold was an enormous amount, yet this insolent man dared to push his luck further.

Manus wasn't intimidated by their hostility. He'd frequently negotiated with nobles during his mercenary days.

No matter how angry the vassals seemed, they weren't the ones haggling with him.

Manus only needed to deal with Amelia, and her reputation as a kind and understanding noble made him feel safe.

Amelia furrowed her delicate brows slightly and quietly asked Bernaph,

"Where did you find him?"

"We brought him from a tavern."

Amelia nodded a few times before turning back to Manus.

"1,500 gold is still too much. I'm curious, but not enough to spend such an exorbitant amount of the territory's funds. You may leave."

"W-what? My lady, this is information that will truly astonish you."

Manus, surprised by her response, pleaded, but Amelia shook her head.

"It's still too expensive. I can't justify using vital funds for mere curiosity."

"Tch, so the rumors about her frugality for the sake of her subjects are true. Fine, then.'

"Then... how about 1,000 gold?"

"Still too much. Even 200 gold is a stretch for me."

"Then... 500 gold! I'll settle for 500 gold!"

Five hundred gold was still an enormous sum. If that didn't work, Manus was prepared to accept 200 gold and leave the territory.

Amelia appeared to consider his offer before replying.

"I'll think about it. For now, you may go. Bernaph, ensure this man is given enough money for

a hearty meal and a place to sleep tonight. It's only fair to compensate him for his time."

"Understood."

At Bernaph's signal, a servant approached Manus and handed him a gold coin.

Manus pocketed the coin with a sly grin.

'Hehe, she's still interested. A little more haggling, and I'll get what I want. She's not good at this at all.'

From his years of experience, Manus could tell Amelia's curiosity wasn't fully satisfied.

Her hesitation and lack of decisiveness indicated she wasn't used to such dealings.

'A sheltered lady who grew up reading books in a room like a delicate flower. She wants the information but doesn't want to pay too much. Must be frustrating for her. Hehe hehe.'

Mocking Amelia in his mind, Manus retreated, already relishing the gold coin in his hand. "Wow, just for showing up, she gives me money? What a soft-hearted noble. People must constantly take advantage of her. Tsk, tsk."

Clicking his tongue in mock concern for Amelia, Manus decided to celebrate.

With the gold coin, he treated himself to a night of drinking, something he hadn't been able

to afford in ages.

"Ah, this is great. Haha, I shouldn't have run away back then."

As he got drunk, memories of the past resurfaced. Having fled during his time with Fenris, he hadn't dared return to the Zimbar Mercenary Guild.

He'd heard rumors that Ghislain had survived, and so he drifted between territories, doing

odd jobs to pass the time.

Yet, as time went on, the rumors about Ghislain grew more extraordinary.

"That whelp is now a count and the strongest in the North? The Mad Dog Corps became

knights? Hah... even that piss-pants Gordon became a knight and learned mana cultivation

techniques..."

The more Manus thought about it, the more bitter he felt.

During every battle, he'd prayed for Ghislain to die, wishing the territory and its knights

would collapse.

Instead of failure, they had thrived.

Ghislain had become the most successful lord in the North, and the Fenris knights had gained

immense fame.

"Dammit, if I'd stayed, I could've learned mana cultivation techniques and become a knight too. I would've done better than them!"

He had no idea how hard they had worked, nor did he care. Manus only saw the results and seethed with jealousy and resentment.

After cursing Ghislain to his heart's content, Manus staggered back to his shabby inn.

Despite its decrepit state, the inn felt like home after so long.

Collapsing onto a near-broken bed, Manus muttered to himself before falling asleep.

"If I get some more money from that noble, I'll leave and start my own business. Just wait, I'll

make it big and put that noble brat to shame..."

Manus awoke with a jolt, feeling an uneasy sensation. His vision was blurry, perhaps due to

the alcohol, but he saw a woman smiling alluringly in the dim light.

"You're awake? Are you alert now?"

"Huh... My lady?"

The beautiful woman before him was none other than Amelia.

Confused, Manus smirked lewdly.

"Hehe hehe hehe... If you're lonely, you could've summoned me privately instead of coming

to such a shabby place yourself..."

Completely misunderstanding the situation, Manus tried to approach her, but-

Clink.

Something restrained his wrists.

Puzzled, Manus blinked and turned his head.

"Huh?"

Chains bound his hands to the wall.

Alarmed, he looked around the room.

Dimly lit by a few candles, the space wasn't his inn. Its oppressive atmosphere and damp air

felt like a dungeon.

Realization dawned on him.

"W-where... am I?" The stench of blood and iron filled his nostrils, jolting him fully awake.

As a former mercenary, he immediately recognized the smell.

Clink! Clink!

Manus struggled, but the restraints held firm.

Step. Step.

A menacing man approached Amelia and bowed.

He carried an assortment of tools, which he laid out methodically before Manus.

It was clear now-he was in a torture chamber, likely hidden beneath the castle.

"M-my lady! What is the meaning of this?"

Manus cried out, but Amelia remained silent.

'B-but... I heard she's kind? She seemed that way too!'

A lord who spent her personal wealth on her subjects? Amelia's reputation and the loyalty of

her people weren't built on fleeting gestures.

They were the result of years of genuine care and dedication.

But she was also someone capable of this.

As Manus trembled, Amelia finally spoke, addressing the torturer.

"I have a lot of questions. I'm the type who can't stand not knowing."

The torturer, bowing deeply, responded confidently.

"By the time I'm done, he'll even remember what he ate for dinner ten years ago."

"Don't let him say 'please let me live.""

"You mean...?"

Amelia smiled faintly.

"Make him beg to die instead."

"Understood."

To achieve that, the torture would need to be precise and excruciating. The torturer

meticulously inspected his tools, embodying a craftsman's spirit. Seeing this, Manus felt his mind slipping into despair.

Amelia stepped back to sit, sipping tea as if she were enjoying a casual evening.

Had Manus moderated his greed, things wouldn't have escalated this far.

She might have paid him and gently extracted the information.

But his audacious demand and attempts to gouge her sealed his fate.

'What a fool.'

She could have recovered the money after obtaining the information.

But Amelia saw through Manus immediately.

He was the type to wield his knowledge as leverage, dragging things out to milk every

advantage.

In such cases, efficiency mattered most.

The curtain was drawn across the torture chamber's entrance.

Though she could witness the gruesome spectacle if needed, there was no reason to watch

unnecessarily.

"AAAAAAH!"

Manus's screams echoed through the dungeon.

Amelia closed her eyes, sipping her tea as the cries became a background melody.

***

The torture didn't take long.

Manus, lacking mental fortitude, confessed everything he knew before succumbing.

The torment was so severe that, by the end, he wasn't pleading for his life but for death.

Returning to her office, Amelia paced in thought, her expression shifting between disbelief

and shock. "No way... He prepared for everything as if he knew exactly what would appear?"

The Forest of Demonic Beasts was abandoned long ago.

There was no information about it, yet Ghislain acted as if he had been there before.

According to Manus, Ghislain knew precisely how to deal with every creature except the Blood

Python.

"Unheard-of monsters... and he knew their behaviors and weaknesses? That's impossible." Given Ghislain's age and circumstances at the time, it made even less sense.

Even experienced mercenaries struggled to have such comprehensive knowledge of monsters, let alone in a forest full of unknown dangers.

"And he knew the exact direction to the rune stones?"

Though it sounded unbelievable, the results spoke for themselves.

Before, Amelia had thought Ghislain's success was a combination of skill and luck.

But this changed everything. Stopping her pacing, Amelia muttered to herself,

"That man... must be getting information from somewhere. Knowledge no one else has." [T/L: Please support me and read 385 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]