My Players Are So Fierce

“Truly a herd of pigs fattened for slaughter!”

The Earl leaned on his cane, shaking his head as he spoke to the expressionless old butler beside him:

“No wonder the profits from the district he oversees have been declining year after year. It seems that when foolish thinking is in power, it not only brings unrest but also results in loss of benefits. Go and handle this matter. Arrange for a more suitable person to take over.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Old butler Huge nodded and, before leaving, asked:

“The attitude of the locals towards the refugees is escalating. Just yesterday, there were three brawls near the refugee camp, led by workers who lost their jobs. There is definitely someone secretly stirring things up behind the scenes.

Do you need me to resolve this matter for you?”

“And how would you resolve it?”

The Earl waved his hand, sighed and said:

“This is essentially a struggle for livelihood resources and job opportunities. The factories in the Kato area are still too few; they can’t even meet the local workforce demand, let alone absorb these refugees.

Although the kingdom’s industrial progress is rapid, the development across regions is unbalanced. The policy favors developing new industries in the newly occupied East Prussia, where human resources are also abundant, so we don’t need to transport local manpower over there.

Greeny Province, indeed, lacks people, but the cost of sending them there is so high that I am quite fearful.

Unless these fundamental contradictions are resolved, even without these idiots stirring up trouble, the suppressed conflicts are bound to erupt some day.

What’s worse, you’ve read the battle report sent back by the Exploration Corps too. Chaos Fiends are spreading pollution in the Northern Peninsula, poisoning vast tracts of land, making it impossible for these refugees to return to their hometowns.

They have indeed become an unsettling factor in the Kato area, but the problem cannot be solved so crudely with weapons.”

“I don’t understand these complex concepts, sir. You know, I’m just a blunt man who is good at wielding a blade.”

The old butler shrugged and said:

“You only need to tell me, in which direction my blade should swing, then I will bring you victory after victory, which is my area of expertise.”

“So, let’s start by eliminating these parasites within our own ranks.”

Count Leon removed his monocle and wiped it with a luxurious handkerchief, speaking softly:

“Removing these pests benefits both His Majesty the King and our family. Collect evidence of these profiteers’ crimes and announce it publicly upon their execution; the people always enjoy seeing such actions.

Especially during wartime, we need to unite most people.

Additionally, you handle the investigation, but leave the enforcement process to the Pioneer Army’s military law department. Let them deal with these rotten members swiftly and strictly according to military law; you know, Huge, the loyal Cape Family never oversteps His Majesty’s regulations, always maintaining the family’s good image.”

“Yes, sir.”

The old butler turned away, getting into a carriage more lavish than that of the factory owner from earlier.

Though he was merely a butler, nominally a servant, the resources he controlled were comparable to those of an ordinary Earl noble, which is why this mercenary assassin, who spent the first half of his life licking blood from blade edges, willingly followed Count Leon in his old age.

It’s not just because he had followed Lord Kudell in conquering lands and had an expansive vision, but more so because Count Leon’s rewards were far better than others’.

“Leon, Sir Palian from the Bataxin Business Association is here to visit.”

Just as the Earl was preparing to take a stroll in the garden to clear his mind and think about dealing with the refugee problem, his lover appeared amidst the shimmer of the teleportation spell, informing Count Leon of the visitor.

Upon hearing the name Sir Palian, Leon immediately straightened up and asked:

“Miss Palian holds a prestigious position in Transylvania. What could be important enough for her to cross the border at this time to come here?”

“She brings news about Fraser.”

Runa said gently:

“Your son… has had an accident.”

“?”

The Earl’s face changed at once, grabbing his cane to leave. Runa gently sighed as she held her lover’s wrist, and with utmost steadiness in the teleportation sent him to near the mansion’s reception hall.

Watching Count Leon enter the hall without regard to his demeanor, the teleportation master’s expression was somewhat gloomy.

She had given twenty of the best years of her life to this old man in front of her, yet regrettably she couldn’t shake the absolute position of his son in his heart. Even the fiercest heart has a corner reserved for its blood kin.

But as a wise woman, she did not try to sway the Earl’s thoughts or foolishly make a move against Fraser.

She adopted quite an intelligent strategy, proactively drawing closer to Fraser, and so far it seemed effective; the Cape Family’s heir no longer resisted Runa becoming his elder. However, to secure enough power for her future child under current circumstances, she had to work a little harder.

Just like the reckless desire hidden in Count Leon’s heart, Runa had her own plans as well.

As someone of civilian origin, she deeply understands such a “defying fate’s decree” opportunity comes only once. If she misses it, she’s completely doomed.

Count Leon gathered news from Sir Palian, who specifically visited with news, regarding Brigadier General Fraser’s encounter on the battlefield. Hearing that his child was affected by chaos contamination, the Earl’s fierce expression even made Miss Palian feel a tinge of fear, despite her part-Barbarian blood. But upon personally seeing the recording brought by Sir Palian and confirming that Fraser had received the best treatment and was recovering, the Earl regained his composure.