Mercenary Wars

Chapter 149 Recruitment
Two guards stood on either side of the bulletin board, taking turns shouting: "General Peter is about to arrive in Southshore—with the Duchy's Second Legion and Second Knights!"

"Of course, in order to deliver the heaviest blow to the Dibto people, we need to recruit more soldiers. Brave and devout Mosa, it is time for us to fulfill our obligations to the Mosa and to our Lord!"

"The recruited soldiers will be divided into two warbands: the Redemption Warband and the Faith Warband! If you have at least two Holy Names and some combat experience, you can try joining the Faith Warband!"

"It doesn't matter if you have no special skills. You can join the Redemption Warband and be at the forefront of the attack on Labzat Fortress. If you can nail the Scroll of Destruction to the city wall, you will become a nobleman, a hero, a warrior of Mosa, and be admired by thousands! Your descendants will be proud of you forever!"

"If you unfortunately die in battle, it will be during the fight against the heretics, and all your sins will be washed away! Your soul will cross the broadest path of redemption and ascend to heaven!"

"Even if you don't die or achieve any merit, participating in the battle can still give you tax breaks, debt deferrals, and of course, a subsidy!"

"Finally, guess who the commander-in-chief of the army is?" the guard asked.

“General Peter? Or perhaps General Roden?” someone blurted out.

"wrong."

"Is that Mayor Wilson?"

"That's not right either."

"Could it be His Excellency the Duke...?" More and more people gathered around, and the discussions grew louder and louder.

The guard's lips curled slightly upward, and after a moment he announced, "Let me tell you, it is His Highness Prince Eric who is leading us in this campaign against the heretics!"

"Your Highness Eric!" people exclaimed in surprise.

"I've heard that Prince Eric is His Majesty Louis's most beloved son. When he was born, the entire Kingdom of Libreland whispered his name!"

"His Highness Eric is an eighth-level paladin; he will surely lead us to crush the heretics!" the people exclaimed excitedly.

At that moment, a loud voice rang out: "Then let me ask you, can I join the Faith Warband? I have no combat experience, at least no combat experience on the battlefield."

Gao Jiano looked in the direction of the voice and found that the speaker was a bald, muscular man.

This man was tall and muscular, covered in red magic tattoos, and shirtless, making him stand out in the crowd.

It seemed quite a few people recognized him: "Jarel, are you planning to join the Faith Chapter?"

Jarel slapped his pectoral muscles: "I will spread glory for the supreme Mosa!"

The guard said, "Of course, no problem. You're a Level 4 Boxing Champion. Even without battlefield experience, we welcome you to join us."

Jarel then asked, "Then let me ask you, where can one join a Faith Chapter?"

Guard: "The Faith Warband's recruitment in Southsea Town is handled by the Grey Eagle Mercenary Group. If you want to join, just go to the Grey Eagle camp."

“I’m off!” Jarrell said. “I can’t wait for the Dibto people to experience my ‘Tidal Wave’!”

Before he finished speaking, he swaggered toward the Gray Eagle camp, his exaggerated muscles bulging...

In the days that followed, especially as the Second Knights of Nordanron, the Second Legion, and Prince Eric arrived in Southshore, the atmosphere of war intensified.

The vast majority of people were immersed in excitement. No one could remain uninvolved, not only because the purpose of the war was to punish infidels—a religious obligation—but more importantly, because the scope of this conscription was vast.

According to information obtained by Gaucano, in order to launch a fierce counterattack against the Dubto Principality, the Mosa nation plans to organize an army of up to tens of thousands of people.

For medium-sized countries like Nordanen and Dibto, this size of army is already quite exaggerated.

The determination of the Mosa state can also be seen from the commander of the army.

After all, Prince Eric has long been considered the best candidate to become the next King of Libreland, and he largely represents the will of His Majesty Louis.

Of course, what Gaugano was most concerned about was not Prince Eric, but the change in the attitude of the Mosa nation.

Prior to this, due to the influence of the Pope, the Mosaic states had been very restrained, even weak, in this local war, and had been trying to negotiate peace.

But this restraint and weakness have clearly come to an end.

The peace faction remained completely silent, while the war faction gained a significant advantage, which led to this large-scale conscription and preparation for war.

As for the reason for the change... it can be said to be brought about by Gaucano to some extent.

He rescued and released Nikon from the Underdark, successfully returned to Dubto, and successfully exposed Cyril XIV's crimes—at least partially—plunging the Dubto into great chaos.

The Marquis de Dubto must now prioritize politics and religion, doing everything possible to preserve Cyril XIV's position as Patriarch.

The pro-war faction in the Mosaic countries sensed an opportunity and, through lobbying and unification, quickly formed a consensus that represented an absolute majority, forcing even the Pope to compromise.

Gaucano felt as if he had become a small but crucial link in history, indirectly influencing the fate of several countries.

The subtle point is that his actions of uniting with the Red Dwarfs, rescuing slaves, and freeing Nikon were clearly more in line with the style of the Mosa peace faction, but in the end, they actually provided an assist to the war faction.

"Did I do a good thing or a bad thing?" Gao Jiano wondered to himself from time to time.

He couldn't come up with a solution.

Meanwhile, the first batch of conscription has been completed.

As a dual manifestation of religious obligation and commerce, all members of the Grey Eagle Mercenary Group were recruited into the Faith Warband.

The two chapters are Redemption and Faith. Redemption is essentially a cannon fodder force, absorbing a large number of street urchins, criminals, debtors, and paupers from all over Nordanron. In contrast, Faith is positioned as the main force, mainly composed of professional mercenaries.

There are also distinctions within the chapter; Gaucano was assigned to the Faith Chapter's "Raid Battalion".

The average level of the raiding battalion is about level four, but its average combat strength is said to be close to level five. It is an elite force, and most of its members are recognized as having exceptional skills.

"Hilgon, I remember you also participated in the raiding battalion before?" Gaucano asked when Hilgon was next to him during his registration at the raiding battalion.

“Hmm.” Hilgon nodded, sharing his experience with his friends, “The main role of the raiding battalion is to eliminate border outposts under the cover of other friendly forces. Their rank can’t be too high, and their combat strength can’t be too low. They’re a relatively easy unit to earn merit…”

Just as he was speaking eloquently, a loud voice suddenly interrupted, "You know so much about the raiding battalion, so let me ask you, is the raiding battalion's casualty rate high?"

(End of this chapter)