Chapter 110: Count Khalifa part 1
The next day was when we expected Count Khalifa’s army to arrive. Through Iris’ drone overwatch we always had their exact position. Given where they were, there was no way they’d reach Gantz before noon. Iris would ping me the moment they closed in on the city anyway. As for Prime Minister Burke’s force, word must have reached them via the Commerce Guild’s network—they’d reportedly turned back to their own territory. Sensible. It was far too far to link up with Count Khalifa’s army, and handling matters in the capital no doubt took priority.
Over breakfast, I passed the word: we’d shift to alert status because the enemy’s approach was slated for the afternoon. I left everyone’s prep to Dalshim and Walter. I had to attend the meeting with Gantz’s leadership that Heinz had couriered last night.
I received the attendees together with the members of Shining Star. Two representatives from the City Watch, the Commerce Guild, and the Adventurers’ Guild arrived at the meeting. I relayed our dealings in the capital, with Lord Leister sitting in.
「Congratulations on your elevation, my lord Margrave.」
「Had we known, we would have prepared a gift.」
Calling the guildmasters of the two guilds to my place to be congratulated by them made me feel a little itchy. From Silas’ tone, though, he likely knew in advance—thanks to the Commerce Guild communication artifact, probably. The edict is probably already posted in the capital anyway, and will work its way to the streets through the guilds. …Though technically, making it public here is my job as acting lord, isn’t it?
「Once the guild network confirms the contents, please post the notice in Gantz as well. Aside from that, there are no material changes to our agreement from the other day. Day-to-day administration of Gantz remains with you. For the next three years, tax remittance goes to us, and I ask your cooperation with recruiting. That’s about the extent of the changes as I see it. Any comments?」
Hearing “no change to the deal” straight from me let the tension bleed out of the room.
「We will of course cooperate with recruitment.」
「We can use the guild network to recruit for the Margrave’s forces across the kingdom. We’ll discount the artifact fees.」
No policy shifts meant, on the whole, favorable reactions.
「Captain Guido.」
I addressed the City Watch captain, who’d stayed quiet.
「We drove off Count Gantz’s army the other day—but Count Khalifa’s army is approaching Gantz now. Roughly 800 troops. Arrival: this afternoon.」
「What? Gantz will be attacked again!?」
Kevin, the Adventurers’ Guildmaster, blurted out.
「Now that I have the royal warrant, Khalifa has no lawful pretext to assault Gantz. And at around eight hundred, I’m confident my elites can break them. We’ve already routed Gantz’s three thousand.」
I kept my voice even and nudged the room to remember that simple fact.
「Per our agreement, Gantz’s defense falls under me as Lord Protector. So until Khalifa withdraws, keep the gates shut and man the walls. Everything falls under the agreement we signed before. Any objections?」
「No, my lord.」
「Then we’ll close the gates at noon—or the instant Khalifa’s banners are visible from the walls.」
「Yes, my lord. Understood.」
The City Watch is more police and gendarmerie than soldiers, and there are only a few dozen of them. We can’t rely on them for heavy fighting, either in loyalty or strength. Better to keep them out of any battle and quiet.
「Commerce and Adventurers’ Guilds—please notify everyone about today’s in-and-out restrictions. We still have about two hours. Merchants slated to depart this morning should already be gone. Nearby farmers who delivered to market should have time to head home. For safety, I can’t recommend going out now, but that’s their choice. I want minimal disruption to people’s lives.」
「With an enemy near, they’ll understand—but we’d like to dispatch runners immediately.」
「If you need to send messengers, your aides may withdraw now. If there are no questions, we’ll wrap here.」
「If you’d allow a moment—once we send our runners, we have a few questions for you, my lord.」
The Commerce Guild, Adventurers’ Guild, and City Watch all sent their aides off at a trot. We paused the meeting. I noticed Count Khalifa’s army would reach Gantz a week ago, so their arrival feels almost anticlimactic now. For Gantz’s leadership, though, this was news; surprise and fluster were natural.
「Forgive us. Concerning a brief lockdown—there will be losses in trade and costs as well. What about stores of food?」
「Is there any hope of relief?」
Questions came in a flurry. Fair—without seeing us fight, our true strength is hard to grasp. I should change their perception. First, Kevin-san’s question.
「First, about reinforcements. Even if His Majesty chose to chastise Count Khalifa, it’s a month’s march to the capital. We can’t expect reinforcements from the capital. So I’ll chastise him in His Majesty’s stead.」
I meant it as a joke, but no one cracked a smile. I let the dud slide and continued.
「My entire force isn’t in Gantz. Five hundred men under Baron Kael—who broke from Count Gantz and joined us—are en route here. They should have departed my city of Ares this morning and arrive in five days. I’ve also left units to defend Ares, so our total headcount isn’t far from Khalifa’s. Kael has already been apprised of the royal warrant. Needless to say, he agreed to serve under my command for the next three years.」
Hearing that five hundred would reach us in five days eased them. Gantz is a famed fortress city; with relief on the way, they judged the walls would hold.
Baron Kael’s proving useful in an unexpected way. In truth, when he pledged ‘I will follow your orders’, he couldn’t have guessed he’d be deployed immediately. If a second force appears behind Count Khalifa while he’s laying siege, he’ll take a beating and struggle to continue the expedition.
「Still, my plan is unchanged: end this battle before Kael arrives. My elites can do it. That said, charging into a fight we don’t need is unwise. I’ll present the royal warrant to Count Khalifa and propose he withdraw.」
「I see.」
「Either way, at most a week. If we’re quick, we settle it today. A week means minimal impact on Gantz’s citizens. That’s my read. Any more questions?」
「No, my lord. You’ve put us at ease.」
「A week of lockdown won’t strain our food at all. We could last a month.」
It isn’t guaranteed we’ll even fight Count Khalifa—between the royal warrant and the sense that we can contest him if it comes to it, they flipped to optimism quickly.
Once we dismissed them, Ria came over.
「I didn’t realize you’d factored Baron Kael’s troops in as a relief force, Alan.」
「Allies and options—you can’t have too many.」
Selena asked too, thinking ahead to when she’d command.
「Did you foresee this from the moment you let Kael go?」
「Not the whole chain—but I did think we might put them to some use.」
「Lord Corinth’s strategy is razor-sharp.」
Lord Leister, listening nearby, offered praise.
「The arrangements these past few days paid off, huh.」
Sharon’s comment earned a nod from me.
「They did. Either way, the first clash decides things even against Khalifa. Heads up and steady.」
Downstairs, Dalshim had us at the crest of battle prep.
「Selena, Sharon—let’s stock up on magic stones while we can. Tell me if you need anything else.」
「About that, Alan—what about the prisoners?」
Good catch. If they make a stir in concert with Count Khalifa’s arrival, it’d be a pain. Or… could we flip the situation to help our recruiting?
「Right—the prisoners.」
I thought a moment.
「Selena, Sharon—make the rounds and explain the situation to them. Take a few Satellite members if you can spare them.」
「Understood.」
「What exactly should we say?」
「Same thing I said in the meeting. Lay out the facts and ask for cooperation. Tell them we’re forming a new Margrave’s Army, and if they help here, we’ll hire and favor them. You can promise that.」
「We can do that.」
「I’ll bring as many over as possible!」
We need trained soldiers. If we let them rack up credit by helping this time, we can welcome them on good terms—with less lingering bitterness.
Count Gantz’s and Count Khalifa’s houses may be allied, but that doesn’t mean it reaches the rank and file. Most of Gantz’s men are locals. And for the next three years, I’m effectively Gantz’s ruler. With that in mind, we’ll extend a hand and see who grasps it.
「One more thing—we’re sending an envoy to Count Khalifa. There was a man who served as envoy the other day—name escapes me. If he’s amenable, I want him again, so bring him. I also owe him proper thanks.」
Busy as I am, I failed to pay or thank him. Talking the remnants of Gantz’s army into leaving had earned a reward. I’ve to make it right.
「「Roger.」」
Selena and Sharon snagged a few Satellite members and swept out. They know the tone to strike and have a softer touch than me—perfect for persuading. Handling the prisoners would feed their growth as future commanders.
To my surprise, most of the prisoners agreed.
「For tomorrow’s bread, really.」
Sharon said it simply.
「And Alan’s reputation for paying promptly helped. You can safely arm them.」
They also read the odds: Gantz wouldn’t fall easily. Benjamin—the man who’d called himself Count Gantz’s guard—had been fairly high-ranking; with him gone to the capital, cooperation was easier.
「Though this is probably less ‘finding a job’ and more ‘earning travel money and living expenses for the road home.’」
Selena added that. A short-term ‘helping out’, then. It’s easier for them to fight against someone who wasn’t their own lord a week ago. Either way, I judged even neutral-leaning help was far better than having them as enemies.
「Then calling them ‘prisoners’ is bad optics. Volunteers, for now. Their assignments are yours, Selena, Sharon—except the negotiating go-between. Send him to me.」
「Understood.」
I want to focus on Count Khalifa right now.
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