Chapter 103: Garrison in Gantz part1
We entered Gantz and designated our clan base as quarters. The base had twenty-eight four-bed rooms—space for 112 people. Eleven squads makes 110 heads. I’d thought I’d left enough margin when we remodeled it, but it turned out to be just barely enough. There are twin rooms on the fourth floor as well. Shining Star’s core members were originally assigned there, so we managed to fit everyone. If we don’t mix men and women in the four-bed rooms, this layout is the practical limit.
I had Katolle arrange separate lodgings for the drivers. There were 10 of them, but we sent 4 back to Ares, so 6 remain. That many should have no trouble finding rooms in town. We’ll park the wagons in the square out front.
We needed security, too.
「Walter, Kenny—have your squads focus on perimeter security around the base. Walter takes the front square, Kenny the back garden. For now, make sure no prisoners wander outside. You don’t need every last person on duty—rotate rests, just don’t let anything slip, got it?」
「Iris, keep an eye on enemy movements and on the prisoners. Report the moment you see anything brewing.」
「Roger, Captain.」
「Now, the issue is the prisoners.」
On humanitarian grounds we’d accepted the wounded. We have three people who can use Heal, and I don’t see injured soldiers dodging monsters all the way to the next town. Most injured were probably abandoned as burdens.
This time both sides agreed to treat the wounded as prisoners and lay down arms. From their perspective, if their own could be saved, withdrawing was worth it.
Right now we’ve pushed the dining hall tables to the sides and turned the place into a field hospital. Selena and Sharon are casting Heal on the more serious cases. If they’re short-handed, I’ll join the rotation as a healer.
「Selena, how many prisoners are we looking at?」
「137.」
That’s a lot. Roughly on par with us—actually more. We can’t assign them rooms.
「Adjutant Dalshim, I need your expertise. We need to house the prisoners. Selena’s count puts them at 137.」
Dalshim folded his arms, thinking.
「Normally, you’d throw down bedrolls in the courtyard and have them sleep there.」
「That’s the only way, huh?.」
We’ll have to pull tents off the wagons and set them up in the square.
「Alan, there are sixty-three women among them.」
Nearly half were women—that’s a lot. Or rather, men are too few. They must have had the lightly wounded women surrender while pushing the men along even if they were hurt.
「I’ll help with the healing later. Let’s fully recover everyone who’s more than lightly wounded. Then we’ll turn the dining hall into women’s quarters. It’ll be a mass sleepover, but this isn’t the time for luxury—and it’ll feel safer for them. The men can sleep in the tents outside in the square.」
We’d need toilets first. The base has a back garden. Time for me to show off some earth magic.
「Once the injuries are gone, some will start getting ideas. We’ll confiscate all weapons and armor again, lock them in storage, and post guards. Dalshim, Elna—can I leave that to you? Dalshim takes the male prisoners, Elna the female. Recruit help and proceed with disarmament.」
「We’ll start at once.」
「Alan, if we’re having the women remove their armor, we should give them something to wear.」
「Use your judgment and have Katolle procure what’s needed. We’ll cover the cost. If necessary, get men’s clothes too. For the women, take their armor only after the clothing arrives.」
「Understood, Alan.」
That handled the immediate arrangements. With what’s coming, I should also call on the Commercial Guild.
I gripped a Magic Stone and built toilets in the back garden. Better to separate men and women. For safety, I ran a simple earthen wall between them so you can’t wander back and forth easily. A wall along the property line is useful too. In the end I circled to the front and raised a wall there as well. For everyone’s safety, Gantz’s citizens will have to forgive this much.
Even if they walk out, it’s not like they’ve got many places to go—but Gantz is a big city. Enemies we haven’t even considered could be lurking. Besides, Count Gantz’s manor is still unoccupied. If someone barricaded themselves in there, that would be trouble.
We floated the idea of occupying the manor, but Iris’s report said there weren’t any decent soldiers left. We hadn’t planned for street fighting, so I ordered we leave it alone. Still, the manor should have weapons on hand, so we do need to guard against disarmed prisoners reuniting with castle troops or the count’s men to rearm.
「Alan-sama—ah, pardon me, Your Excellency. What about meals?」
I turned to find Sally-san, the one in charge of Home’s personnel. She made it to me through the commotion—impressive.
「Something simple is fine. Can you prepare 140 portions for tonight?」
「Um… will 140 be enough?」
Right—she thinks I forgot to count the prisoners.
「Prepare meals only for the prisoners tonight. We’ll go out and eat in shifts.」
Since we’re giving the dining hall to the prisoners, that’s the sensible move.
「Understood.」
Looking relieved, Sally hurried off to direct the staff.
As expected, not being able to use the dining hall properly is a strain. We can’t lock up the prisoners forever; the burden will mount. We’ll need a plan as early as tomorrow. But today’s arrangements won’t stretch any further. We’ll make do.
「I’ve finished placing the drivers. Shall I have them move now?」
Katolle returned right on cue.
「Perfect timing. Three things. First: move the drivers to their inns now. For meals, keep it within budget and have them eat at their lodgings. The base is overflowing with people.」
「Got it.」
「Second: confirm with Selena and buy clothes for the prisoners. Once we strip armor, they’ll need something to wear. Nothing fancy. Both men and women. We’ll pay.」
「Are old clothes okay?」
「Secondhand is fine. Third: I want the base reserved for us alone. Speak with Karina-san at the Commercial Guild about places to house the prisoners. We’ll likely split them among cheap inns. We’ll cover the cost.」
「You’re going to let the prisoners go?」
Katolle looked shocked.
「The point is keeping them from being a problem. With no count in Gantz and no weapons, they can’t put up much of a fight. If they leave the city, that’s fine. If they try to rise up armed, we crush them head-on. Frankly, having them milling around the same quarters is more trouble.」
「I… suppose that makes sense.」
「If they resist, we respond accordingly. They know we can. For now, let’s be generous and see what happens. In any case, we’ll start moving them to inns tomorrow—say, for three days.」
Within that window, it’ll be clear what Count Khalifa’s host intends. Three days from now we might be breaking through enemy lines toward Ares—or Count Khalifa might quietly reclaim his people and withdraw.
No—Gantz is essential to our plan. One way or another, we hold it.
「That’s 74 men and 63 women—137 total. Cram them into big rooms if you must, but put the men and women in separate, distant inns. I don’t want trouble. Karina-san from the Commercial Guild should be able to swing us a discount.」
「Understood.」
That should be everything. We should brief prisoner reps on the plan. If we tell them at mealtime, it’ll ease a lot of minds.
「Selena, Sharon—do you have enough people? I’d like to make some rounds and pay calls.」
「We’ve hit a lull. Prioritize what you need to do, Alan.」
「Should one of us accompany you?」
「You’ve done plenty—thank you. No escort needed. Rotate your rests, but keep one of you at the base to stay in command. Since the prisoners are using the dining hall, let’s go out for food later.」
「Roger.」
「Lord Leister, Captain Heinz, can you come with me? I would like to go talk with the key people in Gantz.」
I took Heinz’s squad as escort. Adding Lord Leister and his son, Abel, we made thirteen and mounted up. First stop: Captain Guido at the main gate. I had Julian, temporarily attached to Heinz’s squad, carry the Lord Protector’s shield.
「Hey there, Captain Guido.」
At the sight of the Lord Protector’s shield, the city guards dropped to one knee as one. The title does carry weight.
「Your Excellency, Lord Protector.」
From horseback, they were awfully low—I had to raise my voice, and I couldn’t read their faces.
「I came to prevent misunderstandings. Until a royal order arrives, Gantz will be administered by a council of three—the City Guard, the Adventurers’ Guild, and the Commercial Guild. Each keeps its current remit. Only on matters of city defense will I, as Lord Protector, issue orders. My people are guests of the city—we will obey the law and pay fair value for anything we need. That matches your understanding, yes?」
「Yes, no discrepancy, Your Excellency.」
「Good. I don’t intend to impede your duties. If shady types try to force their way into Gantz, alert us—you’ll recognize them more readily than we will. Otherwise, carry on as normal.」
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