Aililan, as an intermediary,
Hired quite a few people at the price of slave labor.
Of course, there were many who cursed angrily, since not everyone is willing to be treated like a slave.
Arkernard found this a bit hard to swallow.
He didn’t understand, but was deeply shocked and shook his head, saying, “I don’t get it! With that kind of pay, why would anyone agree?”
According to Arkernard, even for 30 copper coins—just for a round trip between the city and a village—his first instinct would be to string up the employer and give them a beating.
From beneath the snake-etched mask came the clear, bell-like laughter of a young girl.
“Don’t understand?”
“It’s only natural you don’t.”
Another meaning of the word ‘famous’ is: only a damn fool would take this job.
But Aililan couldn’t say that. She merely asked softly, “Sir Arkernard, do you know what is one of the most precious—and yet most useless—qualities a person can have?”
Seeing Arkernard deep in thought,
Aililan spoke out the answer directly.
“Dignity.”
“Those people I just met—you don’t really think they’re completely worthless and that’s why they’ve ended up so destitute, do you?”
“They simply fall between two extremes. If they were willing to swallow their pride, even becoming a guard for a village landlord, they’d live better than most.”
“But Sir Arkernard.” Aililan paused, then suddenly asked, “You studied diligently from a young age, graduated from the Supreme Sacred Academy in the Holy Land, earned your knighthood through your own efforts, and finally became a noble Chastity Knight. If one day you left the Chastity Knights, would you be willing to become a mere cavalryman for some rural lord, just to make a living?”
“Remember, even cavalrymen are considered noble warriors, treated well wherever they go.”
“So.”
“Would you be willing?”
Arkernard shook his head vigorously. “That’s impossible! I’d rather wander as a vagrant.”
He seemed to understand a little.
But at the same time, a trace of fear crept into his heart.
Could he one day… At that moment, Aililan patted his shoulder and said, “Don’t worry! As long as I, Aililan, am here, you may die for me in war, but I will never let you die in poverty.”
Arkernard swore, “I will follow you unto death, Lady Aililan!”
Aililan’s gaze turned to the distance.
As if she was watching over the village.
The arrival of the mercenaries Aililan hired was quietly changing the situation in the village.
The thugs who once threatened the villagers had been struck back, forcing the locals to reconsider just who they should be doing business with.
After all, the Snake Gang wasn’t a force to be trifled with, either.
Gradually, some of the villagers who grew flax began signing supply contracts with the Snake Gang.
But the good times didn’t last long.
The three rival factions—no one knows who made the first move—also hired mercenaries, sending them to directly confront those hired by Aililan.
Inside the city lord’s mansion.
Aililan held three reports in her hands.
One was delivered by Arkernard, stating: the mercenaries they hired had suffered heavy losses, and many were no longer willing to fight for such meager pay.
Another report came from Betiliana: the Inspection Office had halted a City Guard raid on the Snake Gang in the slums, citing jurisdictional issues.
The third report was linked to the second; someone was pushing for the legal justification of raids on the slums.
But Aililan had put a stop to that.
She massaged her aching forehead, frowning. “Could it be that the City Guard’s magistrate, Akoma’na, wants to move against the Snake Gang?”
She shook her head again.
Because this wasn’t the interest of just one person—it was at least three parties working together.
Akoma’na sent people to trouble the Snake Gang.
Beryon paid to hire mercenaries to clash with those Aililan had recruited.
Meanwhile, the David Family pulled strings, submitting reports to Aililan accusing the Snake Gang of harboring traitors and heretics as justification for a raid.
If Aililan hadn’t seen through their ploy,
If she had just gone along with it out of a “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality,
She might very well have approved their request. Then, with just one City Guard raid, the Snake Gang would have been wiped out completely.
This kind of collusion at the bottom—people willing to sell out their lord for their own gain—was truly terrifying.
It was also one reason why, after arriving in Atester City, Aililan was in no rush to seize power and govern the city.
Local interests were tangled and deep-rooted.
They might not dare touch Aililan herself,
But they definitely had ways to ensure she only saw what they wanted her to see.
Aililan paced back and forth for a while, softly analyzing the situation: “With the Inspection Office watching over the City Guard, they won’t be able to move against the Snake Gang for now.”
“I’ll suppress the application from the David Family for the time being, too.”
“In other words, the most urgent issue right now is to deal with the mercenaries that the wealthy merchant Beryon has sent to clash with my own.”
There are priorities in all things.
After analyzing, Aililan
Already knew who she needed to deal with first.
After thinking a little longer, Aililan took off one of her earrings.
And summoned the Knight Squad Leader, Milisanel.
“I have something for you to do.”
“What is it?”
“Take this earring and auction it off on the Black Market. Just tell them it’s a treasure from the Sacred Treasury of the Holy Land, personally blessed by six of the Seven Virtues Saints, and given as a gift to their youngest sister, the Saint of Chastity.”
“Ah, this?”
“Is there a problem?” Aililan asked.
“Is this true?” Milisanel’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the earring, calculating whether, if she sold everything she owned and signed a twenty-year service contract with the Knight Order, she might be able to afford it.
This was an earring blessed by the Seven Virtues Saints—sure to make countless noble ladies and girls go wild with desire.
She wanted it, too.
She really, really wanted it!
However, Aililan’s next words immediately shattered Milisanel’s fantasy: “Of course it’s a lie. If I didn’t make up a story like that, who’d be willing to pay a fortune for it?”
Milisanel was shocked: “Y-You’re lying? But you’re the great Saint of Chastity!”
Aililan just smiled mysteriously, speaking earnestly: “Squad Leader Milisanel, you can always look at things from another angle.
For example!
Perspective 1: The great Saint of Chastity, for the sake of tens of thousands of impoverished slum dwellers, used her wisdom to obtain a large sum of money, thereby saving countless lives.
Perspective 2: The compassionate Saint of Chastity, for the sake of tens of thousands of impoverished slum dwellers, was willing to sell off precious gifts once given to her by the Seven Virtues Saints, thereby saving countless lives.”
Milisanel’s eyes widened. Could this actually work? But the more she thought about it, the more she realized—though it was a bit of a conceptual sleight of hand—it actually sounded pretty reasonable.
It really might work!