Lord of Rot

Yi Lin only stopped speaking when her throat became dry.

”My lord, may I ask how you plan to help Longship Castle?” Yi Lin asked, her attitude still humble.

Leech pondered for a moment.

’This whole situation feels familiar.’

’How many historical figures on Earth have led uprisings? And how many of them actually succeeded?’

From his conversation with Yi Lin, he realized that Wado Eighteen lacked nearly all the essential elements for a successful uprising.

’A backdrop of crushing taxes, with the people living in misery?’

’No. The war just ended, and life is still tolerable. People are hopeful for the future; no one wants another war.’

’A legitimate bloodline? Legal justification?’

’Never mind the question of the legitimacy of the child in the Baroness Wado’s belly. A bastard raising a banner to recruit soldiers is in itself a violation of the kingdom’s laws. Bastards aren’t even entitled to a surname, much less a right of inheritance.’

’The only thing attracting people to his cause is the promise of returning land to the farmers.’

’Perhaps before, people were simply content to farm their own fields. But when Wado Eighteen’s army sweeps through and offers the enormous benefit of ”land restitution,” the farmers, whether willingly or not, are swept up into his ranks.’

’By the same token, however, Wado Eighteen will never be able to gain the support of the noble class.’

’Even the nobles who support him in secret are just waiting for their payday before they get rid of him.’

’This army is doomed to fail. The only question is whether it will be defeated after sacking Longship Castle or before.’

With this in mind, Leech began to consider how he could raise the valiant banner of Porcupine Territory just as the enemy was breathing its last.

’When it comes to war, it’s best not to fight if you don’t have to.’

Frankly, the fact that Wado Eighteen managed to rally a twenty-thousand-strong army was a blessing from the Four Gods. Otherwise, he should have ended up like his seventeen predecessors—making a small ruckus before being captured and hanged.

Leech said, ”Bring me Kro Camel!”

”Yes!”

Soon, a drunken Kro Camel staggered in.

Yi Lin’s expression soured the moment she saw him.

’The Kro Camel standing next to her was the archetypal useless young noble. He spent his days drinking and bragging but couldn’t fight and understood nothing of military affairs. He probably didn’t even know how to use a weapon to kill someone. He was just a fortunate son, born into a noble family.’

”HIC... Good day, my lord!” Kro Camel slurred, swaying on his feet.

Here in Porcupine Territory, Leech had no use for Kro Camel, and Kro Camel was more than happy to be a useless freeloader. He spent his days using his noble status to get free food and drink at the tavern. Leech never said a word, and Gelan wouldn’t dare interfere—after all, this was a nobleman.

Leech leaned forward slightly and looked at him. ”Kro, you once said you were willing to pledge your loyalty to me, even to give your life. Do you remember?”

”I have never forgotten, my lord!” Kro Camel affirmed at once.

”Very good.”

Leech nodded in satisfaction. ”I need you to go to Waterfall Land.”

”Waterfall Land?” The name was enough to sober Kro Camel up by half. The chaos in that region was the talk of the tavern every day.

Yi Lin also wanted to object. ’Sending a drunk to Longship Castle is Baron Porcupine’s idea of help? He’s just a common drunk! This is insultingly half-hearted!’

”That’s right,” Leech said firmly. ”I want you to find the bastard son of the late Baron Wado... hmm, Wado... yes, Wado Eighteen. And then, I want you to swear allegiance to him.”

Kro Camel was instantly sober. He dropped to one knee and stammered in a panic, ”My lord, the Four Gods can attest to my loyalty! I have already sworn an oath and will never betray it!”

Yi Lin was also stunned. ’This isn’t right,’ she thought. ’Why is he sending Kro Camel to join Wado Eighteen? Shouldn’t he be going to Longship Castle?’

’Is he really sending his subordinate to help Longship Castle’s enemy right in front of me?’

’Did I say something wrong? Did I displease Baron Porcupine?’

’The handsome Baron Porcupine seems so kind. He couldn’t be that sort of person, could he?’

In a single moment, three questions raced through Yi Lin’s mind.

”This is my command,” Leech said very seriously. ”I need you to use your talents, go to Wado Eighteen, and display all your abilities. Show him your strengths. Make him value you.”

Yi Lin had a sudden realization. ”So, you’re infiltrating his inner circle.”

’Planting someone close to Wado Eighteen and waiting for an opportunity to assassinate him... it could work.’

’But the question is, does this drunken young noble even have the skill for that?’

’Besides, assassinating someone suspected of being Baron Wado’s bastard son would come with serious repercussions.’

’Or perhaps the plan is for him to blend in and steal vital intelligence. But Wado Eighteen has a lot of momentum right now. He relies on human-wave tactics and the gimmick of ”land restitution.” Many villages are surrendering at the mere sight of his forces. In some villages, genuinely oppressed peasants have even overthrown their lords to join him. Even if Kro could steal intelligence, what would be the use? We don’t have the soldiers to fight.’

”My... strengths?” Kro Camel, however, was stunned.

’My strengths?’ he thought. ’One, I can hold my liquor. Two, I’m a great conversationalist. Three, I know noble etiquette so well I often use it to sleep with merchants’ daughters. Four, I’m a noble.’

’It could all be summed up in one point.’

’A useless young noble who excels at wining, dining, and debauchery.’

’And these are supposed to be strengths? Sending me to infiltrate Wado Eighteen’s inner circle is no different from a death sentence!’

”Yes, my lord.” Nevertheless, Kro respectfully accepted the order. He had no other choice.

’Because he was certain of it too—Leech was sending him to infiltrate the enemy and steal intelligence.’

’If he left Porcupine Territory, he’d have to face Mama City, and those desert bandits wouldn’t spare him.’

”Miss Yi Lin,” Leech said to the messenger. ”You may return to Longship Castle. And please, inform the Baroness Wado that we can communicate by letter. Porcupine Castle will do everything in its power to help Longship Castle. Justice will prevail.”

”...Thank you.” The corner of Yi Lin’s mouth twitched.

’He made it sound as if Porcupine Castle was expending immense manpower and resources, when in reality, he was just sending a single drunk.’

’Besides, she felt Leech was being naive. Even if Wado Eighteen was an impostor, he wouldn’t so easily accept a nobleman into his ranks.’

The two of them left Porcupine Territory, one after the other.

In truth, Yi Lin wasn’t wrong. Leech had just given Kro Camel a mission with a near-certain chance of death. If Kro Camel was scared enough to just run away, that would be even better.

Ever since that fellow arrived in Porcupine Territory, he’d been eating without paying and going on drunken rampages. But since he was a noble, Leech couldn’t just kill him, which had been a constant headache.

This was especially true for a ”talent” like him, who couldn’t do a single thing right.

Leech couldn’t just throw a man who had pledged fealty to him into a dungeon, so he could only let him waste his days away in the tavern.

Now, finding an opportunity to kick him out was the perfect solution.

As for the matter of the slaves, he could wait until Wado Eighteen fell and then reclaim them, or he could wait for Longship Castle to defeat Wado Eighteen and reclaim them then.

The only problem was his reputation for being ”covered in thorns.” By remaining silent this time, Leech would likely invite trouble and damage his family’s prestige.

A noble must uphold his honor. When provoked, he must answer with his sword.

Someone like Fast-Blade was already itching to draw his sword and charge in, ready to fight to the death.

He couldn’t handle twenty thousand men, but killing a single Wado Eighteen wouldn’t be a major issue. However, doing so would mean exposing the existence of the Corpse Ghost, which he was very reluctant to do. It would attract too much attention, and Porcupine Territory was not yet strong enough to withstand such scrutiny.

For the sake of his family’s honor, he needed to make Wado Eighteen pay the price publicly.

「That very night, the messenger Yi Lin left Porcupine Territory on horseback.」