Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1259: Dark Smirk of Ambition ( 1259 )

Northwest of Mathrias Region.

A seized building in a town near the border served as General Mulkas’s temporary headquarters. The once-grand meeting hall was now filled with his officers, some counting piles of gold coins spread across the table, others leaning back with satisfied grins.

General Mulkas sat at the head of the table, rubbing his thick mustache with a smug, self-satisfied expression. He leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on his bulging belly, his eyes gleaming with greed.

Ooh~

I can’t believe it.

Now I have this much money.

He glanced at the stacks of gold coins before him, the result of heavy taxes squeezed from the conquered territories.

If I knew I could get this much money, I would have done this years ago.

With this wealth and the weapon supply support from Viscount Dasmen, I can expand my army, turn it into a proper private military force, and make even more profit from it.

He reached for a handful of gold coins, letting them slip through his fingers with a satisfying clink, a dark smirk spreading across his face.

Now I’m rich!

What should I plan with this money?

Ah~ First, I’ll recruit more soldiers. Now that I have new flintlock muskets, I should form an advanced musket unit and train them properly.

He rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing with ambition.

I wonder if my new cannon units and musket regiments can finally break through River Elsin and Timberland Pass.

Once we capture those areas, there’s a verified location that Viscount Dasmen’s search team discovered, a gunpowder mine. Rich with resources.

Viscount Dasmen agreed to split the profits 60-40 in his favor.

But once my army grows strong enough, I’ll force him to accept a 50-50 split.

And once Rolland is completely crushed, I’ll become the new lord of this region.

He chuckled darkly, shaking his head.

Hah. What a dumbass lord.

Too focused on his daughter, his people, feeding the poor. He actually thought loyalty could be bought with fair wages and kindness. Look where that got him.

He should have focused on power. On gold. On control. Does he really think people stay loyal just because you treat them well? Loyalty is bought with coin, fear, and the promise of more. Not with soft words and full bellies.

Mulkas grinned darkly, his eyes gleaming with arrogance.

He glanced with a dark smirk at one of his officers.

”Bankar?”

”Yes, Sire?” Bankar smirked, his tone dripping with sycophantic eagerness.

”Where are the news from the captain we assigned to lead the attack at River Elsin and Timberland Pass? Hmm?”

”Ah, Sire. We haven’t received any word from the messenger yet. Besides, we only marched forward yesterday. I believe we will receive good news soon. After all...” Bankar smirked confidently, ”we have weapons that those dumbasses don’t. Captain Bhujar and his remaining loyalist soldiers won’t stand a chance against our new cannons and muskets.”

”Good, good. Once we conquer that area, it won’t take long for us to take down the lord himself.” Mulkas turned to another officer, who was casually stacking gold coins into neat piles, playing with the money like a child with toys.

”Lurzan?”

”Yes, Sire?” Lurzan glanced up from the gold.

”Any news from our team yet?”

”Ah... Sire means the team we sent to retrieve Lord Rolland’s last son from the Beastkin Kingdom?”

”Yes. Any news?”

”Ah... pardon, Sire, but it seems difficult to get him. The Beastkin Royal Palace refuses to let our team ’persuade’ him to return.”

”Hah? We could just forge a document, use a fake letter from Rolland, and claim his father called him back.”

”We already did that, Sire. But the Royal officer at the Beastkin Nation refused to acknowledge it. They said the document didn’t match the official seal they had on record.”

”Damn!” Mulkas gritted his teeth, slamming his fist on the table. ”Our plan to lure him out and kill him once he leaves Beastkin territory is completely stalled. Those filthy beasts think they’re above humans just because they have a large army!”

”We’ve already sent our intelligence unit and assassin unit to deal with the situation. Perhaps we’ll hear good news from them soon.”

Mulkas popped open a new bottle of expensive wine, pouring the deep red liquid into his glass with a satisfied smirk. He set the bottle down on the table and took a long, slow drink, savoring the taste of wealth and power.

”Whatever. That kiddo will die anyway. Once his father is dead, he’ll have no power, and no one will have any reason to protect him. The Beastkin Royal will have no reason to protect a lost noble from a fallen house.”

”That’s true, Sire,” Lurzan nodded, his voice sycophantic. ”Once Lord Rolland falls, his son will be nothing but a stray dog. The Beastkin won’t waste their resources on him.”

Mulkas smirked. ”For now, we focus on conquering the rest of Mathrias.” He glanced at Bankar. ”Bankar.”

”Yes, Sire?”

”Recruit more soldiers to reinforce our borders.” Mulkas’s smirk widened. ”Who knows when that dumb Viscount Dasmen will try to backstab us.”

”Already done, Sire. We’ve recruited another two thousand new recruits. Most of them have been sent to support the main attack force at River Elsen and Timberland Pass. They should be arriving soon to assist the assault. As for our current territory, our regular forces are holding the borders and maintaining control.”

”Good, good. But we need more. The more men we have, the faster we crush Rolland’s loyalists. We can’t afford to be outnumbered when the time comes.”

”Don’t worry, Sire. I’ve already arranged to recruit more from the local towns. We’re also forcing some of the locals to join us, offering them good salaries and promising them a share of the spoils once we take the capital. Those who refuse... well, they learn quickly that refusal isn’t an option.”

Mulkas laughed heartily, raising his glass. ”Soon, we will be stronger than any other region! And I will become the most powerful lord in the Human Kingdom! Once this is successful, all of you will be rewarded handsomely. I won’t forget those who stood by me!”

The officers around the table cheered, raising their glasses and bottles in celebration. Gold coins were scattered across the table as they drank and feasted, their laughter echoing through the seized building.

Until.

A faint whirring sound echoed from the distance.

”Hmm?” Mulkas glanced up at the ceiling, his brow furrowing. ”What is that?”

( End Of Chapter )