On the training grounds outside Wischeim, the three hundred newly arrived Sarkaz mercenaries stood in silence, each one exuding an unapproachable aura.
They carried a motley assortment of weapons: machetes, greatswords, crossbows, and standard-issue Arts staves.
The three leading them were particularly conspicuous.
The tall man was named Hoederer, the vice-captain of the Sarkaz mercenary group.
He carried a greatsword on his back as tall as he was, his expression composed and his gaze sharp as he scrutinized the somewhat green members of the Workers' Party Picket Team.
The woman beside him, Ines, stood quietly in the shadows.
The most eye-catching of all was a white-haired Sarkaz girl. A cynical smile played on her lips as she sized up Taylor with great interest, along with the team members behind him whose muscles were tensed with nervousness.
"Hey, big guy." She pointed at the warhammer tucked into Taylor's belt. "Is that thing of yours for cracking walnuts? You look strong enough, but I wonder if you've got the brains to match."
Taylor's face instantly flushed red. He was never one for words, and this provocation nearly made him lash out, but Lacey placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"Miss W, welcome to Wischeim." Lacey stepped forward calmly, his gaze lingering for a moment on Hoederer and Ines before finally landing on W's face.
"We are paying you to fight a war, not to bicker."
W's smile widened. She extended a finger and pointed it at Lacey. "Of course, of course."
"But, let's be clear beforehand. My 'surprises' don't distinguish between friend and foe. If your people get too close and get blown to bits, don't blame me for not warning you."
"Our men will maintain discipline," Lacey's tone was completely unruffled. "I'm more concerned with whether you will do the same."
Hoederer, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. "Mr. Lacey, we are mercenaries. Our reputation is our life. We will carry out everything stipulated in the contract."
"But we are not responsible for anything outside the contract."
"Excellent." Lacey nodded. That was precisely the professional attitude he wanted.
Gertrude stood to one side, frowning slightly as she watched this group of dangerous Sarkaz.
She whispered to Lacey, "Are these people… truly reliable?"
Lacey nodded.
The Sarkaz mercenary group from Kazdel's Scar Market—he remembered Theresis had connections with them.
Theresis's assessment of Hoederer was that he was steady and pragmatic, so it was unlikely he was someone who disregarded the spirit of a contract.
He took a deep breath and walked up onto the makeshift high platform.
In an instant, all sound in the square vanished.
More than three thousand pairs of eyes converged on him alone.
Lacey scanned the crowd before speaking in a loud voice:
"Brothers, comrades, friends!"
"As we stand here now, in the Wasser Fief, our countrymen are being slaughtered!"
"Otto Gladstone, that butcher, has turned his blade on the unarmed populace because of his own stupidity and failure!"
"The army he dispatched is burning their homes, seizing their last rations, and treating our brothers and sisters like livestock!"
"Tell me, can we stand by and do nothing?"
"NO!" Taylor was the first to roar in fury.
"NO!" three thousand Picket Team members shouted in unison.
Lacey raised a hand, signaling for quiet.
"I know that many of you were once miners, workers, and farmers."
"You too were once trampled under the boots of noble lords. Your sweat fattened them, and all you got in return was the whip!"
"You know better than anyone what that feels like!"
"Today, we stand here not to invade, not to conquer, and certainly not to become new lords ourselves!"
His voice suddenly rose to a crescendo.
"We go to tell the people of the Wasser Fief that they are not alone!"
"And we go to tell all the oppressors in Leithanien that an era belonging to us has begun!"
He turned to Gertrude's guards.
"Soldiers of Countess Gertrude! You swore an oath to this land and its people, not to some tyrant. Today, you will fight for justice!"
He then looked toward the Sarkaz mercenaries.
"Warriors from Kazdel! You came for profit, and I assure you, Otto's treasury has enough wealth to satisfy your appetites."
"But I also believe that the pleasure of toppling a tyrant with the weapons in your hands is something no amount of money can buy, isn't it?"
W let out a soft laugh, her eyes glinting with excitement.
Hoederer remained expressionless.
Finally, Lacey's gaze returned to the Workers' Picket Team, his eyes becoming incredibly resolute.
"Comrades, remember our banner!"
"Wherever our banner goes, it must bring order!"
"It must bring fairness!"
"It must bring new life!"
Lacey's arm shot up.
"Now, I give the order—"
"All forces, move out!"
"Target: Wasser Fief!"
"For the Workers' Party!"
"For Leithanien!"
"For victory!"
The Picket Team members and the Countess's guards were the first to respond, raising their arms high.
The Sarkaz mercenaries looked at each other, then almost subconsciously raised their hands as well.
"For victory!"
"For victory!"
…
…
The Wasser Grand Region.
Claude the miner hid behind the window of his wooden shack, clamping his hand tightly over his little daughter's mouth.
The shouts of guards and sporadic cries could be heard from the street; it was Elector Otto's lackeys confiscating the last of the people's grain.
He had heard that half the neighboring town had been massacred for resisting.
Fear seeped into his bones, but deep in his heart, a small flame still burned.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble slightly, and the sound of heavy footsteps grew from a distance.
Claude's heart leaped into his throat. Which of Otto's armies was returning?
He peered through a crack in the window and saw a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life.
An army was marching swiftly along the muddy main road.
At the very front was a group of people in uniform green outfits, marching in neat, disciplined steps, their eyes fixed firmly ahead.
They held aloft a red banner, upon which the emblem of a sickle and an axe was exceptionally striking against the gloomy sky.
It was... it was the Workers' Party!
Just as Claude was overcome with excitement, the army passed his residential area. A rider broke off from the main force, leading several dozen Picket Team members toward them.
Claude recognized the man in the lead; it was Markus, the miners' representative who had escaped a few days ago to seek help.
Markus shouted with immense excitement, "Folks! Don't be afraid! We're back!"
"Mr. Lacey has led us here to liberate the Wasser Fief!"
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