NOVPUBGhislain's deep knowledge of the Drake Mercenary Corps and Martin came from his own past as a mercenary. He had fought alongside and against them, witnessing firsthand the brilliance of their combat and the leadership of Dominic, who had been even stronger back then.
Dominic’s exceptional growth and talent were undeniable, and it wasn’t hard for Ghislain to guess why he had pushed himself so hard.
“He probably wanted to save his family at all costs.”
During the civil war, the Duke’s faction easily claimed victory. House Rodrik grew even more powerful, sparing the mercenary corps from immediate ruin.
But their plight remained unchanged—they were still nothing more than tools for House Rodrik. Dominic likely gave up drinking and dedicated himself to training to escape that trap—or perhaps to forget his grim reality.
“And then, he met me.”
The Mercenary King’s army, which swept through the kingdom, was nothing like the Prince’s faction in the civil war. It was led by one of the Seven Strongest on the continent. Within a week of the campaign’s start, the army had seized the capital, obliterating any opposition.
When the Mercenary King’s forces invaded the West, House Rodrik predictably sent the Drake Mercenary Corps to the frontlines.
For Dominic and the others, survival was imperative—not just for themselves but to keep their hostages alive. They fought with everything they had.
After killing Marquis Rodrik and Martin, Ghislain had learned the truth about the Drake Mercenary Corps’ situation.
“What a shame.”
They were one of the strongest mercenary corps on the continent, strong enough to catch the Mercenary King’s attention. If not for the hostages, they might have followed him.
As a fellow mercenary, Ghislain had felt genuine regret. That lingering memory was why the Drake Mercenary Corps stood out so vividly in his mind.
And now, that memory and the information he had gathered were proving invaluable.
“This time, they’ll follow me.”
In his previous life, he couldn’t save them. But now, he could give them a chance to live as true mercenaries.
Ghislain knew from his past life that the hostages had always been kept at this location. From Martin’s perspective, the Drake Mercenary Corps was a critical asset, and their hostages needed to be hidden in the safest place possible—a location he could monitor and protect from any outside interference.
“That’s our target,” Ghislain said. “Prepare everything I ask for, and leave the rest to me.”
The building in question was unique—it was connected to the main mansion via an underground passage. Additionally, it linked to a separate hidden escape route that led outside the estate.
Martin, ever the coward, had remodeled his mansion with multiple escape routes. These secret passages were known only to his most trusted confidants. He used one of them to keep the hostages concealed.
Dominic, still wary but reluctantly trusting Ghislain, nodded. He had little choice but to follow the count’s instructions. The “Chronicles of Count Fenris” described Ghislain as a man who always succeeded, no matter how reckless he seemed.
In truth, Dominic had reached the point of resignation. “Well, might as well throw caution to the wind.”
“How do you plan to infiltrate?” Dominic asked cautiously.
“With the help of infiltration specialists.”
“What?”
“Your mercenaries can bypass the city’s inspections, can’t they?”
“...Yes.”
As Martin’s lackeys, the Drake Mercenary Corps weren’t subjected to inspections. House Rodrik allowed them such liberties, knowing the mercenaries couldn’t rebel with their families held hostage.
“Prepare wagons. I have people to bring in. Don’t use your mercenaries; disguise my men as your own.”
Ghislain’s orders were precise and confident, as though he had planned everything in advance. Dominic complied, partly out of curiosity and partly because Ghislain left him no time to object.
Ghislain’s knights were quickly disguised as mercenaries, complete with official seals on their wagons. By nightfall, the wagons sent out by Dominic returned, carrying dozens of people.
Dominic’s eyes widened in shock when he saw the passengers step out. Short but stocky figures with muscular frames and determined faces.
“Dwarves?” Dominic exclaimed.
Ghislain had brought dwarves—fifty of them, to be exact.
The leading dwarf extended his hand to Dominic and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Galbarik.”
“Wait... the Galbarik? The legendary blacksmith?”
“Oh? You’ve heard of me?”
“I read about you in the Chronicles of Count Fenris.”
“What? There’s a book like that? Why didn’t anyone tell me? If I’m in it, I’d like to know what it says!” Galbarik grumbled, turning to Ghislain.
“I didn’t know about it either,” Ghislain replied dryly.
The book had clearly been written and distributed without their knowledge.
Officially, dwarves were considered slaves, but Dominic addressed Galbarik with utmost respect. As a devoted fan of Count Fenris, even those who appeared in the chronicles were revered.
Avoiding Dominic’s fawning gaze, Galbarik turned to Ghislain. “So, where should we dig?”
“Dig?” Dominic echoed, startled. “Are you saying you plan to tunnel into the estate?”
Ghislain nodded. “Exactly. We can’t approach from the outside, so we’ll dig our way in.”
“That’s impossible! You can’t dig a tunnel in the middle of a city without making noise. It’ll be discovered immediately!”
“Don’t worry. Dwarves never get caught.”
Galbarik smirked confidently. “For us, digging a tunnel this distance is easier than sipping soup. Using precise measurements, we’ll install supports to block any noise...”
He launched into a lengthy explanation, much like Vanessa often did. Having worked alongside Vanessa, Galbarik admired her intelligence and had learned to mimic her detailed explanations.
Ghislain cut him off before he could go on all night. “Save the lecture for later. Focus on the work. Claim it’s internal renovations and bring in all the materials we need.”
Dominic, still skeptical, asked nervously, “Are you sure this will work?”
Galbarik studied the estate’s layout, then pointed to a spot between two buildings. “We’ll dig here. Judging by the placement of the buildings, this area isn’t heavily guarded.”
He was right. The gap between the target building and its neighbor wasn’t a place where additional guards would typically be stationed. The estate’s vastness made its inner areas naturally less secure.
“But even if we get in, we’ll have to fight our way out to rescue the hostages,” Dominic pointed out.
Ghislain nodded, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Once we free the hostages, it’ll be a race against time. We’ll neutralize the guards as quickly as possible and retreat through the tunnel.”
“And after that...?”
“Prepare wagons here to transport everyone out of the city immediately. And...” Ghislain’s eyes gleamed coldly as he stared at Dominic. “Mobilize all your forces outside the city. Make it clear to any pursuers that they’ll regret following us. Understood?”
Dominic swallowed hard. He had heard of Count Fenris’ audacity, but seeing it in action was overwhelming.
The plan felt reckless, even haphazard. There were no guarantees, only Ghislain’s unwavering confidence.
Reading about it in a book and witnessing it firsthand were worlds apart.
Still, it was too late to back out now.
“...Understood.”
If the plan failed, Dominic resolved to storm Martin’s estate in a last act of defiance. If nothing else, he would ensure the man paid for his crimes.
With that, preparations began under Ghislain’s direction.
Dominic threw all of the mercenary corps’ resources into the effort. He procured the necessary materials and ensured the dwarves could work without interruption.
Only the dwarves were involved in the tunneling operation to maintain secrecy. Slowly, the mercenary corps also began relocating their most critical assets, intending to salvage what they could.
But not everyone was on board with the plan. Several senior officers and sub-commanders of the affiliated mercenary groups confronted Dominic.
“What’s going on here?”
“.......”
“Could you please explain what’s going on? Why are we suddenly gathering troops and moving supplies? And why the sudden renovation inside the warehouse?” one of Dominic’s subordinates asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
“...We’ve received a mission,” Dominic replied cautiously.
“What kind of mission?”
“It’s a highly important one. I can’t disclose the details just yet because nothing is finalized.”
“Commander!” another pressed, clearly dissatisfied.
Dominic wasn’t a skilled liar, and it showed. With a strained expression, he tried to placate his men. “It’s truly important. Can you trust me and wait just a little longer? I promise I’ll explain everything soon. Just this once, follow my lead.”
The group, though visibly skeptical, eventually nodded.
Most of those questioning Dominic had family members taken hostage by Martin. A few had no families to worry about, but they had been by Dominic’s side for years.
Dominic was a trusted leader who had guided the mercenary corps with distinction. For him to make such an earnest request was almost unprecedented.
“Well, if you’re putting it that way, Commander...” one said, breaking the silence.
“Yeah, there’s no way you’d lead us into something bad.”
“Just let us know when the time comes.”
Their laughter broke the tension, and Dominic managed a smile of gratitude. But inwardly, his heart weighed heavy.
He couldn’t forget what Ghislain had said before they began the operation.
“There’s a spy among your ranks. Someone working for Martin—a plant from years ago.”
“What should I do, then? Won’t they report this?”
“Let them.”
“But they’ll keep watching me and might discover the plan!”
“Exactly. That way, they won’t focus on the tunnel. Keep making noise, keep them occupied. Let them watch you. As for me, just stick to what I told you.”
Dominic felt oddly relieved that he didn’t have to concoct any elaborate lies. Just going through the motions and letting the spy stay suspicious of him was enough.
Sure enough, one mercenary cautiously probed, “Hey, wasn’t there a guy claiming to be Count Fenris who showed up recently? That’s what I heard from the others.”
When Ghislain had stormed in earlier, several had overheard his name, and word had spread fast.
“Oh, that?” Dominic feigned nonchalance. “Just some fraud who was good in a fight. Do you really think Count Fenris would come all the way out here? It was just someone using his name.”
The mercenaries nodded. It was, after all, hard to imagine someone of Count Fenris’ stature showing up with only a few subordinates.
“But who was he, then? And why did he come? The others said he gave our men quite the beating.”
Dominic shrugged. “Some noble’s lackey, I think. Probably sent by someone nervous about our plans to move on the Campbell Trading Company. He showed up to warn us not to make any rash moves and then left.”
“What’s the plan, then?”
“That’s why we’re preparing. Once everything’s ready, I’ll explain.”
The man squinted slightly, as if still uncertain, but eventually nodded and let the matter drop. There wasn’t much to gain from pressing further.
Meanwhile, the dwarves worked tirelessly on the tunnel. True to their reputation as master craftsmen, they dug quickly and quietly, making remarkable progress.
At their current pace, they would complete the passage to the interior of the estate within a few days.
Ghislain stayed at a nearby inn with his knights, waiting for the tunnel to be completed. Dominic, however, could hardly rest. He paced his office, plagued by doubt and anxiety.
He followed Ghislain’s orders to the letter—drawing attention by openly moving supplies and gathering troops. But the unease gnawed at him.
“Is this really going to work?”
If the plan failed, the hostages he had fought so hard to protect would be doomed.
The only reason Martin hadn’t yet ousted Dominic as commander was that the Drake Mercenary Corps owed its existence to Dominic. Without him, the corps would likely collapse, and Martin knew it.
But Dominic also knew that Martin wouldn’t tolerate even a hint of rebellion. The moment Dominic showed his teeth, Martin would retaliate.
Still, Ghislain’s tactics were having the intended effect.
“The city guards have been sent out more frequently.”
It was clear Martin suspected something. Guards who normally remained in the city had begun patrolling more frequently, especially near the warehouse under renovation.
“They’re watching. They’re definitely watching.”
Dominic’s position as commander afforded him some authority, but it wouldn’t protect him forever. At any moment, Martin’s men could storm the warehouse under the guise of an inspection.
Dominic couldn’t shake the constant sense of foreboding, but the dwarves paid his worries no mind. They remained focused and even seemed to enjoy the challenge.
“Ha! Following the lord means we get to do thrilling work like this,” one said with a laugh.
Having worked with Ghislain for some time, the dwarves had grown bold, trusting that whatever he did would succeed.
Though their relaxed attitude grated on Dominic’s nerves, the dwarves were consummate professionals. For them, digging a tunnel was a straightforward task.
“We’re almost there,” Galbarik announced after consulting the plans.
The dwarves, relying on precise measurements and the estate’s layout, were confident they were mere meters from their target.
That night, Galbarik decided to confirm their position. With practiced ease, he made a small opening, just large enough to peek through.
As he cautiously stuck his head out, his eyes widened in shock.
“...Oh, crap.”
Galbarik couldn’t believe what he saw. Despite their careful planning, the scene before him was completely unexpected.
A large contingent of soldiers stood just beyond the opening, their weapons drawn and aimed at him with hostile intent.
