Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 571: The Mercenaries’ Return to Horn Bay 2
Chapter 571: The Mercenaries’ Return to Horn Bay 2
TL: Rui88
Bogdan, or rather, Jerimin Elvin…Bogdan was his alias in Horn Bay…was a high-ranking staff officer in the Alda Army’s General Staff. He was also a faculty member at the Grayman Military Academy with the rank of major. This time, he had been appointed as the supervisor of the mercenaries, leading a group of teachers and students from the Grayman Military Academy to Horn Bay along with the mercenaries.
Chief of Staff Schroeder’s evaluation of Elvin was that he was calm in the face of situations without lacking courage and resourcefulness, and he had personally named him to lead the team south.
The mission entrusted to Elvin this time, besides managing the mercenaries, had another important aspect: to lead the people from Grayman Academy to inspect and study the military strength of the Horn Bay nations. This included information on their organizational systems, human resources, combat styles, weapons, and equipment. It was not that Lakeheart Town had any designs on Horn Bay, but rather that studying these things was what a military academy was supposed to do. Now that there was a ready-made case like the Horn Bay war, they naturally had to make good use of it to exercise their abilities.
“It is a great honor to meet you! Lord Bogdan.”
Sange Mahabavi stepped forward and shook Elvin’s hand with great familiarity, shaking it enthusiastically.
Elvin smiled and nodded at him, while Ferguson and Doug snorted heavily at Mahabavi with disdain.
“I wonder which lord hired the Black Dog and the Rhino. Ah, let me guess, it must be some great figure from the Northwest Bay, right?” Mahabavi had identified where they were from by their accents. In recent years, merchants from the Northwest Bay of the Kingdom of Ordo had flocked to Horn Bay to do business. Mahabavi, who had extremely wide social connections, was naturally very familiar with their accent characteristics.
“The lord I serve is the Master of Alda, Count Paul Grayman.” Elvin replied, still smiling. Although their personal identities needed to be kept secret, which faction they belonged to did not.
Liszt, who was sitting to one side, listened, and his eyes lit up.
“My heavens! Lord of Light above!” Mahabavi’s expression was extremely exaggerated as he formed his mouth into an ‘O’ shape.
“I am certain now, today is my lucky day.” He had a happy look on his face, as if he had found some treasure.
“I have heard of Count Grayman’s great name. In the legends, he is a great inventor and an invincible commander. Porcelain, paper, canned food, printed books, sailing ships that don’t need oarsmen… they all came from the hands of this Count, right? Oh, it is said he also eliminated the pirates that plagued his territory for many years and defeated the evil lord next door. Are these rumors true?”
“Uh… basically… they’re all true.” Elvin was a little surprised. Had the lord’s reputation already spread here in Horn Bay? Thinking about it, this was also quite normal. The merchants from the Northwest Bay who could run to Horn Bay to make their fortunes really had Count Grayman to thank. The ships capable of long-ocean voyages, the opening of new shipping routes, and the goods that did not face competitors…these were all the Count’s achievements. It was only natural for the merchants to admire him, and when talking about their own lord with the locals, their words could not help but be full of praise.
“Then… what did Count Grayman hire the Black Dog and the Rhino to do here in Horn Bay? Is there anything I can do to be of service?”
After learning that the other party’s boss was Paul Grayman, Mahabavi made a decision…to establish a solid friendship with them.
“To be honest, I have quite a lot of contacts and connections in Horn Bay. If you have any needs, you can come to me. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Ferguson and Doug.”
Elvin looked at the two mercenary company leaders. Doug nodded and said, “Lord Bogdan, this fellow does indeed have a lot of connections, but you must be careful not to get ripped off on the price.” ṛÅ𐌽ȪＢΕš
“Honest to young and old, honest to young and old. I, Mahabavi, value integrity very much in my business.”
Mahabavi did his utmost to promote himself.
Elvin said, “Thank you, Mr. Mahabavi. If I have a need, I will consider you. Count Grayman sent us to Horn Bay with the main task of protecting the safety and property of his people. We don’t want to get involved in too many miscellaneous matters.”
“Is that so?” Mahabavi said happily, “This kind of work requires a lot of dealings. I think we will definitely have opportunities to cooperate. Also…”
Mahabavi looked around cautiously, then extended a hand towards Elvin and said, “Please, come and sit at my table. I have some inside information I want to tell you.”
Elvin nodded. He was very curious about what this local, who was clearly in the category of “well-informed sources,” would tell him.
Mahabavi made a gesture of excuse to Raja, Liszt, and the others, and then led Elvin and his group to his table.
After learning that the newcomers were from the Northwest Bay, Liszt had decided not to leave just yet. Moreover, they were acting under the orders of Lord Count Grayman. He decided to go and introduce himself after they finished talking with Mahabavi; at the very least, he would know one more person from his hometown in this foreign land. As for Raja and the other two sitting with him, they decided to ask Mahabavi for information about mercenary companies later, so they did not leave either, waiting together with Liszt.
Over on Mahabavi’s side, he ordered drinks for his new friends, then looked at Elvin mysteriously and said, “Lord Bogdan, I wonder if the Black Dog and the Rhino still have the spare capacity to do other tasks besides protecting assets.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, my lord. The Black Dog and the Rhino were once some of the top mercenary companies here in Horn Bay. It’s truly a waste to just have them do security work.”
As he said this, Mahabavi had a regretful look on his face. “I have a money-making opportunity to introduce you to right now. Have you heard? Ha… that’s right, you’ve only just arrived, so you probably don’t know. The Alliance’s army won a great victory on the front line…that’s the news that came back, but the actual situation was a pyrrhic victory. The expeditionary army suffered huge losses and is in urgent need of replenishing its soldiers. Right now, The Council is busy contacting people like us to find mercenaries for them.”
“Is that so?” Elvin said perfunctorily, already knowing what the other man was going to say next.
“Haha, you see, I had just received a commission, and I ducked into a tavern wanting a drink, and I ran into Ferguson and Doug. Tell me, what is this if not the Heavenly Father’s arrangement?”
Mahabavi danced with joy. “So, as long as you, the employer’s representative, can let the Black Dog and the Rhino take on more tasks, you can get a large sum of money from The Council.”
Chapter 571: The Mercenaries’ Return to Horn Bay 2
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