I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 61

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 061

61. Reton Mercenary Company

Crossbow.

When people commonly think of crossbows, they imagine pistol-like weapons.

Small, yet seemingly powerful. But the reality wasn’t like that.

“Hmm. Making a small crossbow isn’t entirely impossible.”

It’s possible to make a small and light crossbow.

“But it would be weak. Or… if we could obtain something like ogre sinew, we could make it strong. But it would be that much harder to draw.”

So they changed it.

The size increased and the weight grew heavier. Also, to load it, one had to fix it to the ground with their foot and pull the string with both hands to hook it on the trigger.

Naturally, this would be impossible on horseback.

However, the power was correspondingly strong. Even knights who had learned aura would find bolts shot from such crossbows dangerous.

The power was definitely reliable.

So he planned to use them as a mobile unit charging on wolves. Shadow Wolves could deliver a more powerful charge than any horse.

This judgment was possible because they were large in build yet fast.

“…Then how about training mounted charges first?”

This was Teobaldt’s opinion.

Cliff shook his head.

“Have them shoot crossbows first. I’m not thinking that everyone can become cavalry anyway. Then it’s better to have even one skilled crossbow soldier.”

He was roughly thinking of two-person teams.

Behind the riders who shot once and retreated, other soldiers would wait in one place with additional crossbows loaded.

The rider who received a replacement instead of reloading would go again to shoot arrows at the enemy.

Meanwhile, the crossbow loader in the rear would finish loading the exchanged equipment and wait.

They would shoot at enemies who gradually appeared, then engage in close combat with shields and spears respectively.

‘During close combat, the riders would charge toward the enemy’s rear or flanks.’

He had thought of such tactics.

Of course, this wasn’t why he wanted to increase crossbow soldiers.

‘Combat doesn’t proceed as smoothly as I think anyway.’

His next step.

The canal that he had previously abandoned due to some snake living in the lake, but was now possible.

He could now travel south to the Yusta Peninsula via the river connected to the lake.

‘I know it’s connected all the way to the sea…’

He would secure that waterway.

When he went out to sea like that, he didn’t know what threats might be there. Naturally, most of the cards he possessed would be sealed at sea.

Not only Kyuung, but the increased number of Shadow Wolves also lacked the ability to run across the sea.

‘I wonder how much the Dark Elves could perform at sea…’

Then the soldiers he trained would have to be active.

Learning crossbows in advance would be helpful.

The former Ballard Baron Territory.

It was now a place incorporated into the Elimis Domain.

The Ballard Territory was about one-third the size of the Elimis Domain.

It was that narrow. There was only one village. But the population was actually larger than the Elimis Domain.

The existing Elimis Domain population was roughly 400 households.

Before Cliff arrived, they lived scattered across 5 villages with about 30-100 households each.

Cliff had used a policy of merging those villages since his first winter preparations.

Now the 5 villages had been reduced to 2. Even this, Cliff planned to later integrate and develop into one village.

The Ballard Territory had its population concentrated in one village from the start.

That population was roughly 600 households.

Currently managing them were Administrator Anton and Knight Adolf.

‘I wonder if Sir Nigel will be alright.’

Anton squeezed his eyes shut in front of the desk in the study that the former Baron Ballard used to use.

He pressed his closed eyes firmly with his hands.

Though it was now a village rather than a domain, the village administrative work hadn’t decreased.

Rather, it had become overwhelming. This was because Anton had dismissed all the bureaucrats that the former Baron Ballard had employed.

“…This is troublesome.”

To be precise, Anton lacked sufficient authority.

True to being Nigel’s acquaintance, he was a rigid person. He never overstepped authority he didn’t possess.

Three types of authority that only a lord could wield.

Personnel authority.

Diplomatic authority.

And military authority.

The problem was the characteristics of Ballard Village.

The Elimis Domain where the lord resided was isolated, but Ballard Village stood alone outside.

All diplomatic business toward the Elimis Family came through here.

Party invitations.

Marriage proposals.

Or social gatherings.

And there were also places requesting military dispatch.

“Whew.”

All of that work remained unprocessed.

Even if Anton handled basic administrative work, such external matters were difficult for him to judge independently.

Also, there was another problem troubling him.

Knock knock.

“Administrator. It’s Adolf.”

“…Come in.”

Adolf.

From the moment he heard that name, Anton’s expression hardened.

It wasn’t particularly because he hated Adolf. It was because Adolf had never brought good news.

That Adolf opened the door today with a stern face as well.

“Looking at your expression… again?”

Anton asked without saying anything else.

Again?

With that one question, communication was established between the two. Adolf nodded with a bitter expression.

“I apologize. I did rush there with the militia, but ultimately couldn’t catch them.”

“Ugh. Why are such things appearing at this time…”

“Rumors seem to have spread. That our domain’s forces are currently beyond those mountains.”

“Sigh.”

Anton sighed at Adolf’s words.

From some point on, there were those making life difficult for Ballard Village.

Simply put, a bandit group had formed.

‘This is serious. The damage isn’t major, but the very fact that bandits are roaming around is troublesome.’

Having a bandit group around the domain.

In other words, it meant the domain’s security was poor.

Then travelers and merchants would be reluctant to come. Ballard Village’s economic power was barely at a self-sufficient level.

If they suffered even small damage occasionally, this place too would need to procure supplies from outside.

‘In such a situation, with bandits roaming around…’

Meanwhile, Adolf told an even sadder story.

“The bandits seem to be… traveling on horseback.”

“What?”

“When I went to the place where bandits appeared this time, that’s what I found. There were horse hoof prints everywhere.”

“What kind of nonsense is that… How could bandits be riding horses?”

Anton shouted fiercely.

Gripping the desk, he even shot up from his seat. But Adolf wasn’t the type to mix lies into such reports.

This was no joke.

“The witnesses gave the same testimony. They said there were about five mounted bandits.”

“Five of them…”

One cavalryman could face ten infantry.

Even if five seemed like a small number, it was by no means a small force.

And there was another reason cavalry was terrifying in this world.

“Perhaps… there might be a knight among them.”

This was the possibility they had to consider.

“That’s impossible…”

Anton’s pupils wavered.

If the enemy truly had knight-level forces, things could become troublesome.

Above all, they had to gradually consider other possibilities.

“…Lord Adolf.”

Anton called to him with a darkened expression.

“Yes, Administrator.”

“I believe someone who has served the Ballard family for so long would have some idea. Where?”

Anton’s question came out like an interrogation.

Where.

This question contained his suspicions. Anton believed this incident wasn’t the work of simple bandits.

And Adolf felt similarly.

“There are few places in this area that could operate five cavalry units. The worst case would be the Platice family.”

“But isn’t Count Platice our lord’s adoptive father? How could they target our lord… Ah, I see.”

Count Platice was a great lord.

His great domain contained countless smaller territories, namely manors. Simply put, there were those who wouldn’t welcome Cliff becoming the count’s adopted son and gaining a manor in the southern count’s domain.

‘If it’s them… I can understand why they’d hide their identity and harass us.’

This could put them in a troublesome situation. The solution was simple enough.

They could send a diplomatic letter directly to Count Platice.

But the moment this was sent to Count Platice, the Elimis family’s independence could be compromised. It would also greatly damage Cliff’s reputation.

‘If that’s their goal, they’ll stop their activities the moment a letter reaches the count.’

The count wouldn’t even need to intervene.

The moment the Elimis family left this matter to the count, they’d stop this harassment as if that was enough.

Perhaps the count already knew about this incident.

‘But even if he knows, he won’t help first. He’ll want us to bow down and submit to him over this matter.’

If the Platice count’s domain was behind this, such a scenario was expected.

But from Adolf’s hesitant expression, Anton considered another possibility.

“Is there more?”

“…The Reton family.”

“The Reton family?”

If Anton had been from this region, he would have known just from the name.

But Anton couldn’t tell where the Reton family was.

“To be precise, it’s not even worthy of being called a family.”

“What do you mean?”

“They have no title. Naturally, no territory either. It’s more like a mercenary company concept… with someone named Reton as their leader.”

“…A mercenary company? Then who hired him to harass us?”

“Rather than that, it would be more accurate to say this Reton character has his eyes on this place. Right now… it’s more like a probing battle, if you will.”

He was testing the waters.

Anton frowned.

“Who is this Reton that a non-noble would dare covet this place?”

“He’s Baron Ballard’s uncle.”

“What?”

Anton was surprised.

This meant that one of the Ballard family’s collateral bloodline was targeting this village (territory).

But it was strange. If such a person existed, why hadn’t he appeared in the previous territorial war?

“Reton and Baron Ballard’s father competed against each other for the succession. Since the winner became the previous Baron Ballard rather than Reton, Reton left the territory. Though it’s difficult to say he left…”

“He was driven out?”

“That’s right. So during the previous territorial war, we feared him discovering this matter. If Reton had learned of it, he might have made a deal with our lord, sided with him, and attacked the Ballard family.”

The identity of that mercenary company made sense.

Those who had missed their opportunity during the territorial war.

‘Are they now probing our forces before fighting us under the pretext of avenging the Ballard family?’

This was how it could be interpreted.

“Our lord hasn’t displayed any military force since his battle with Baron Ballard. Of course, he fought goblins in Ethel Village, but in the end, the Platice family’s elite soldiers finished that.”

“So they see us as easy targets?”

“They probably don’t see us as easy. But they must be confident. He’s a mercenary. He has experience in various battles, and his subordinates must likewise be those who’ve experienced battlefields.”

“…The snow in the ravine must be melting soon. We should report to our lord. Let’s send a messenger.”

-A performable Quest has been generated.

“Everyone has learned to shoot crossbows. About thirty of them have now become skilled at riding on the backs of Shadow Wolves. How about we show them off?”

It was time to show off.

The messenger sent by Anton and Adolf arrived around that time.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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