Savage Ascension: Starting with God-Tier Plunder Ability-Chapter 111: Do I Look That Pathetic to You?

Senior soldier Bulsheben went to find Commander Gesilian Faerun. He was looking around the completed position set up right of the cave. Every time you looked, there were shortcomings—that's what positions were.

Commander Gesilian knew best that even if soldiers died, you had to do it that way to win battles. There was even a saying that the best commanders were the ones soldiers cursed the most.

A week later now, what mattered to him as commander was keeping the soldiers' vigilance maxed out.

"What is it?"

"Yes. Something I didn't think of came to mind."

Commander Gesilian entered the low temporary tent. Leather was spread out roughly inside. You could see the dug-up dirt. Because they'd put heated stones underneath. Even in summer, pretty chilly wind blew at night on this forest hill.

Body temperature had to stay warm or you had to heat up even if you sweated—that was bivouacking, camping. Otherwise your bones ached when you woke up. Young recruits got beaten into doing it, but by middle age you did it without being told—that was normal.

"About what?"

"When battle starts, we didn't decide about the Tracking Mercenary Group."

The strategy was to shoot arrows from the left and right flanks to neutralize the merchant group coming up the valley where water flowed. Using the massive military supplies the bandits were trying to sell to the illegal merchant group.

The merchant group's numbers varied by bandit but were generally 20-50 people. A hundred soldiers shooting arrows wildly could win without fighting. The soldiers' archery was naturally solid. They weren't professional soldiers for nothing.

So they forgot about the Tracking Mercenary Group and drank.

"Ha, I forgot. This is really embarrassing."

Absurd situation. They had to decide their position even now.

"...So, can I speak?"

"I'll hear it."

Bulsheben licked his lips. That habit meant he was pretty nervous, and Commander Gesilian had seen it often. He feared nobility. Like most people did.

'Bulsheben's opinion is worth hearing.'

Especially private talks like this—he always listened first no matter what. Because the guy came forward with fear.

"Everything's not over yet, but thinking about the resulting achievements is important."

Everything had an end. That was divided into reward and punishment.

"We can't make all the Tracking Mercenary Group's achievements nothing. But we also can't give them too much."

"Just give them achievements matching their mercenary group's name, right?"

"Controlling the soldiers' mouths is dishonorable, and it becomes gossip anyway."

Bulsheben was from the capital. And the rope he grabbed for advancement was Commander Gesilian. That didn't mean becoming a member of House Faerun. How dare a commoner bring up the House?

The rope he held could shake anytime and rot and snap off. Worrying about that was proper as his subordinate, for his own safety too.

Commander Gesilian rubbed his chin roughly like he didn't like it.

"You mean don't let them participate in this battle at all?"

"Yes."

Bulsheben answered firmly.

"Hmm..."

Commander Gesilian pondered. Actually nothing to ponder, but he pretended to think for appearances.

'Good. Nothing bad about it.'

The situation itself was going perfectly well. Their numbers could never defeat the kingdom army. Above all, the ambush with arrows would be terrifying.

'Not likely to get the combat power I'd expect from Mercenary Captain Rowan.'

Even if a few strong ones showed up, Gesilian himself was there. Plus he was curious if anyone could move after taking an arrow rain. A very secret ambush attack was planned. Didn't seem like they could handle it.

'And achievements should go to the soldiers.'

Above all, Rowan shouldn't and couldn't be made the star of this battle. This battle had soldiers' eyes on it. As he delayed, Bulsheben doubled down.

"How can the soldiers hiding on the flanks coordinate with the Tracking Mercenary Group? Moreover, arrows are vicious weapons. If the scouting mercenary group gets greedy for achievements and enters where arrows are raining, soldiers will stop shooting."

"You're saying an uncontrollable situation would come."

None of this opinion would be written in a separate report. If it became a problem later, he'd testify, but that situation wouldn't come easily anyway. Who'd put Gesilian Faerun in court for Rowan's sake?

This was just the process of creating stories to spread among soldiers through Bulsheben's mouth.

"Regarding battle, the Tracking Mercenary Group has no track record yet, so I'll judge direct participation in this battle as difficult."

"Yes. I'll tell them."

The Tracking Mercenary Group returned at dusk. They'd been patrolling pretty far. His body was itching. The approaching clouds of war were definitely reaching Rowan's skin after multiple combat experiences.

"Why is the senior soldier waiting for us?"

Rowan's words came out polite, but inside he was anxious. He and Bulsheben didn't have a good relationship. First, what they wanted didn't match.

Bulsheben was a soldier and Commander Gesilian's only senior soldier. A kind of middle manager or low-level officer. From that position, Rowan was mercenary trash who'd disappear someday.

On the other hand, Rowan had to catch the eye of someone connected to the military or knights in this long-term job. Because getting recognition from nobility or those with connections to them mattered more than raising awareness in the mercenary world.

'I found the right path.'

A coincidence, but Rowan had grabbed the right path. When this job ended, he'd likely be hired as a guide for the red-furred bear subjugation. The knight coming for subjugation would never pass by Gesilian Faerun at the Kingdom Camp.

Bulsheben had no choice but to oppose Rowan, who was nibbling away at the total achievements the military should get.

"I don't think we gave you a mission for this battle."

"Ah! I was worried about that too."

Rowan tried to go inside but Bulsheben refused. This wouldn't take long anyway. There was nothing to catch up on with Rowan in the first place.

"The Tracking Mercenary Group just needs to keep focusing on outside patrols. If you spot enemies, roughly gauge their numbers and come back."

Everyone waited for Bulsheben's next words.

"Catching those who flee from battle will be the Tracking Mercenary Group's mission."

"What?!"

Espin was shocked. That couldn't be, and he'd never thought of it at all. Bulsheben didn't repeat himself. But he couldn't leave right away either. Because of Rowan's reputation.

'I'll face him someday anyway.'

Rudely saying his piece and leaving would be foolish. Rowan was a small but rising star. Not for nothing was he mentioned by Commander Gesilian.

"You must be very surprised. But please understand."

Bulsheben explained in detail why it had to be this way. Reasonable things and unreasonable garbage lined up.

Large Shield Espin kept an unconvinced expression and attitude. Doren couldn't make a dissatisfied expression because of Bulsheben's presence.

"Haha. It's fine. If that's the decision, that's what we have to do, right?"

Unexpectedly, Rowan readily accepted it. In political terms, it was a demotion.

"Captain!"

Accepting too easily, Espin shouted. Even as Bulsheben frowned and glared, Espin didn't back down, so Rowan scolded him.

"Where are you shouting like that? When they treat you well, you should be more careful with your behavior. Do I look that pathetic to you?"

"Ab—absolutely not! I..."

When Rowan gestured, Espin bowed his head deeply and couldn't speak. He truly liked this mercenary group. After getting a dagger in the back in a back alley and washing his hands of it, this time he especially felt belonging to the Tracking Mercenary Group.

The freedom, treating him well on the surface at least, things would change going forward but still Rowan didn't change his word even with big money ahead—he deeply respected that.

"You can't just treat mercenary members well. You never know when they'll bite like wild animals."

Espin's eyes turned red. His shoulders shaking made it even more obvious because of his big frame. As Bulsheben clicked his tongue and said that, Rowan spoke.

"Even if you're dissatisfied with my mercenary policy, Senior Soldier, I think it's wrong to speak so rudely before me. Don't you agree?"

Having seized the chance to attack Espin, Bulsheben bowed his head. If he pushed it here, of course Commander Gesilian would have to discipline Bulsheben in front of Rowan. Bulsheben handled it skillfully.

"I misspoke. I apologize."

"My words were harsh too. I'm sorry."

Rowan accepted Bulsheben's apology while also apologizing for what he said so Bulsheben wouldn't hold a grudge. At least ending on good terms. They both apologized, so that was that.

That tact really suited Rowan well. Of course he didn't apologize to Espin. His position was mercenary member.

"Sorry for the harsh words, Large Shield Espin."

Instead, Bulsheben, accepting Rowan's apology and having nothing to say to him, apologized to Espin instead to end it. Bulsheben turned and walked away from the Tracking Mercenary Group.

"Espin. Think before you speak. Does the title of senior soldier look worthless to you?"

Rowan's anger was clearly felt. He wasn't an ordinary man—he'd received Gulliver Alastor's remnants. Not ordinary presence at all.

Facing that presence, Espin put on a tough front. He was scared but didn't turn away from Rowan.

"I'm sorry."

"I can't keep someone who doesn't know when to shut up next to me."

Rowan said that and went into the tent. Doren was awkward. He wanted to comfort Espin, but he'd never accept it. Espin was a real man's man.

If he gave, he gave, but he hated receiving others' consideration even if it killed him.

Doren scratched his head. This situation was too hard for him, and he patted Espin's shoulder twice and went in. Espin sighed heavily until Rowan called him, then finally went into the tent.

A round of drinks went around, and animals caught during today's patrol were dressed and brought up. With that and bread bought with copper coins on top of the basic supply goods, the meal spread was abundant.

A day later, the Tracking Mercenary Group spotted the illegal merchant group.

Rowan's eyes, familiar with forests, immediately caught the enemy's scale. In 30 minutes, the Tracking Mercenary Group skillfully hid.

The illegal merchant group's size was just 22-27 people.

Pathetic numbers, and what everyone expected. Natural since they didn't use proper roads. They had to buy goods from bandits and go, so the numbers couldn't be too many or too few.