Chapter 39: Deliberately Misleading and Cultivating Thieves (continued)

With just such a small amount of manpower at hand, he will enter the fortress city. Lantil, crusade against the undead and reclaim lost ground?

Faced with Ainz's question, the kingdom's warrior captain Gergeph. Stronov first looked up at the fallen city where thousands of undead creatures gathered in the distance, and then looked back at his subordinates who had only a total of more than forty horsemen, and for a while he was in a cold sweat, a big sweat, and a waterfall sweat!

Sir Ainz, you can't help but think too highly of me! It's really impossible to do such a thing?

“…… This one...... I guess we have to think about it in the long run. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info" he said in a loud voice, but then something suddenly occurred to him, and his eyes lit up suddenly, "...... Could it be ...... Is Ainz interested in helping? That's great! On behalf of the Kingdom, I am here to thank you for your good deeds......"

“…… I'm sorry, Lord Warrior, but from the indications that have been found so far, it happened in the fortress city of Ya. The situation in Lanthir is obviously already a confrontation and game at the national level. An outsider in the lower district knows nothing about the various hidden secrets and insider stories, and if he participates indiscriminately, he is afraid that there is a danger of being shattered by a storm, so he really does not plan to rush into it. ”

In the face of the prayer of the warrior commander, Ainz immediately replied categorically - just kidding, not to mention that the army of the undead in the city has been robbed and taken over by his own men, and to go in to crusade is tantamount to beating his own people. And if I really want to exterminate the undead in this city, how can I play with self-respect for thieves? Why do you kill people and set fires while helping the world, why do you beat you while saying that I am for your good, and make you grateful?

“…… That's right...... Well, yes, after all, this is the kingdom's own business, and Your Excellency is not obliged to risk our lives. ”

Captain Gurdjieff was not annoyed by Ainz's unceremonious refusal, but had expected it, so he just sighed.

But what he never expected was that next, Ainz gave him another "big gift" - "...... Also, Your Excellency the Commander, when I set out from the city before, my butler did not expect such a thing, and only prepared two hundred people to eat for half a month's food, but I did not expect that more than 1,500 people came here today, and they did not bring anything to eat, and as a result, the food in the camp was only enough to last for two days...... I didn't know what to do, but I'll leave it to you. I am confident that you will be able to properly settle the fallen subjects of these kingdoms......"

So, looking at these more than 1,500 refugees who had no belongings, no food or clothing, Captain Gurdjief once again sweated coldly, sweated, and sweated at the waterfall!

- When he came here before, he was bent on fighting the undead in a bloody battle, but he didn't expect to have to bring a lot of food to help the refugees. In fact, he didn't even have the horse food and dry food for the return trip at the moment, and he wanted to be cheeky and ask Ainz for some!

Although humans in this world can use magic items such as [Endless Food Packs] to make food, the food produced in this way tastes like rotten sawdust, and it is difficult for even people who are dying of hunger to eat it, so it is usually only deployed in fortress strongholds to deal with the enemy's long-term siege. At this time, Captain Gurdjief was obviously not carrying such a thing as [Endless Food Pack].

“…… Uh, that ...... I'm afraid it's a bit difficult, Mr. Ainz. ”

Gurdjieff scratched his hair a little embarrassed, "...... I only brought less than 50 people with me, and I came lightly, and then I had to return to the royal capital to report the military situation, and I really couldn't take care of so many refugees. In addition, the nearest town takes a day to ride a horse, and it takes at least three days to walk, and there are monsters along the way...... So, I can only ask you to continue to take care of them until this mess is resolved. ”

“…… Ha? Did I hear me right? Why do you want me to provide for 1,500 people for free? And keep them safe? Are you crazy, or are you taking me for a fool? Your Excellency Warrior Commander? Ainz asked rhetorically in an uncanny tone, "...... I am neither your subordinate, nor a nobleman of this kingdom, nor a vassal of your king, nor even a person of this country, so why should I be selfless and dedicate to such an extent? Don't forget, Lord Warrior, that not only do I never owe you anything, but you owe me a debt of affection! ”

“…… And, Your Excellency, you are also a soldier who has led soldiers, and you should know how much a thousand fifteen hundred men eat every day, and how much will it cost them to provide them with clothing, cooking utensils, tents, or tools for building huts if they are to survive? Why do you want me to bear it? And now the trade route to the kingdom is blocked by the undead, and in this uninhabited wilderness, there is no place to raise supplies, even if you have money! If you want to buy food from the Bajas Empire in the northeast, the cost is even higher. ”

“…… Even if I don't think about money and supplies for the time being, in what name should I supervise these refugees? Giving them a meal now can be regarded as charity. But if I want to manage them for a long time, what position should I use to rule them and punish those who make trouble in them? In their eyes, I was just a stranger and a foreigner, and it was a matter of course that I refused to obey.

And in a camp where so many refugees are gathered, and there is a threat of undead creatures outside, I don't need to explain what kind of bad consequences will happen if there is a riot, right? The causes of the riots could be varied, such as snatching food and water from each other, complaining about not having enough food or accommodation, and even some refugees with a bit of status would take this and that and send my men as servants......"

“…… Please rest assured that the various expenses for the resettlement of refugees are only for the time being. I will certainly show your majesty that I will be reimbursed by the treasury in the future. You can also teach them a hard lesson about maintaining discipline, and I have also taken new recruits, so I know the troubles. ”

Captain Gurdjief hurriedly said, "...... If there really is that kind of arrogant person who doesn't know what to do, even if he makes an example, it is normal. As long as you can save the lives of these survivors and keep the life of this land from extinction, I believe that the whole kingdom will thank you for your kindness......"

“…… As long as I can get your gratitude, it's good. Ainz smiled wryly, "...... Maybe someone in the royal capital will hate me because of this! ”

“…… How is this possible? Captain Gurdjief was stunned, and a look of incredulity was revealed.

“…… Why is it impossible? You seem to have said it before, the secret invasion of the secret forces of the Slian Sect must have colluded with the powerful people in your country, and it has to be the top nobles. So now it takes place in the fortress city of yes. The undead scourge of Lantil may not be part of a great conspiracy...... In this way, if I rescue these refugees, I may affect the plans of the conspirators......"

“…… This one...... Those nobles in the country, even if they are really enemies of the royal family, should not be so mad, right? ”

Captain Gurdjieff muttered with obvious confidence, and the more he spoke, the quieter he became—it was also a traitor and a betrayal, since those conspirators could have colluded with the special forces of the Six Colors of the Sacred Canon of the Slen Cult to slaughter the subjects of the kingdom in the border villages, and ambush him, the warrior captain. Now, naturally, it is also possible to collude with other forces to take the richest territory of the royal family, the fortress city. Rantir sacrificed to demons or the god of death!

It stands to reason that once someone has broken through the original lower limit, then it is normal to break through more lower limits.

“…… If these recent events on the border are really part of a great conspiracy, and involve the great nobles of the Slian Sect and your country, I feel that the throne and even the life of the king of your country are already in danger, where can justice be done for me? Ainz shook his head and retorted, "...... I'm not afraid that the conspirators will send killers or anything to deal with me, and I'm still somewhat confident in my own combat effectiveness and that of my subordinates. What is really troublesome is that the other party may use the influence of the official face to confuse black and white, forcibly charge me with the crime of 'illegally gathering the displaced people with the intention of conspiring to cause chaos', and then force the king to give an order and send you to crusade against me...... Don't tell me this can't happen! ”

"......" Gurdjieff was speechless for a long time, indeed, in the decline of royal power and the growth of princes. In the kingdom of Yestij, various conspiracies to kill kings and usurp the throne and overthrow the royal family have been rumored from time to time in recent years. If there really was anyone among the domestic aristocracy who colluded with foreign countries to commit such a horrific tragedy, then what could their goal be other than the throne of His Majesty?

“…… Of course, although I can't trust the nobles and the court of your country, I can still trust the character of His Excellency the Commander of the Warriors. ”

Seeing that Captain Gurdjief's face became more and more ugly, the cats think tank, who were too frightened, hurriedly used [Message] magic to send a text message to Ainz to ask him to stop, and Ainz also immediately came to his senses and quickly changed the conversation, "...... Therefore, I will still take in and resettle these refugees, but I can't feed these people for nothing. If you want to have food and a place to live under my hands, they have to work for me, listen to my orders, and do not eat if they do not work, and incite troublemakers to make an example of them. ”

“…… Uh, thank you, Excellency. It's all a matter of course......" Hearing that Ainz finally relented, Gurdjieff hurriedly agreed.

“…… So, please stand up and explain to these refugees on behalf of the king you serve! ”

Based on a hint from the think tank, Ainz uttered the final request, "...... I believe your words should be more effective than an outsider like me......"

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Sure enough, when Captain Gurdjief said that he was about to return to the royal capital to report that he was temporarily unable to shelter the refugees here, so he wanted to entrust them to his friend "Grand Magician of Anz", the fleeing citizens gathered in the suburbs were in an uproar.

“…… Wait, wait a minute, Lord Warrior, are you going to leave us alone? How can this be? ”

When a middle-aged businessman heard this, he suddenly became anxious, "...... We are all subjects of the Kingdom! Why should we listen to foreigners? ”

“…… Hum! Didn't you understand what the warrior chief said? If you don't obey, you won't have anything to eat! Do you mean that I still have to feed you for the rest of your life......? ”

Seeing Captain Gurdjieff's somewhat embarrassed appearance, Anz stood up with a cold snort, "...... Sir, if you are suspicious of me and do not want to accept my asylum and management, then please leave with your family yourself. Of course, you can also try to stir up trouble here. But before making trouble, you should think clearly that I am not your relative, and I have no obligation to you, but only for the sake of His Excellency the Commander, and I have a little limited sympathy for you. But even that little bit of compassion can easily be drained up by some stupid guys, and if you want to murder the other citizens here, you can do whatever you want, and I don't mind taking that little bit of compassion back! ”

- Damn! What an unbearable humiliation......

The middle-aged businessman with a big belly suddenly felt a touch of grievance that he hadn't suffered for a long time, but he didn't dare to break out, not only because of the strong strength and lofty status of the other party, but also because of the eyes of the other surviving citizens around him, which was a kind of opposition, rejection and even disgust.

In fact, everyone here is reluctant to leave alone. They are now fleeing in a hurry, with little food with them, and surrounded by an uninhabited wilderness where even money can't buy anything—the border area is sparse and deserted due to years of tug-of-war between the empire and the kingdom, and the last few villages that survived the war have been largely destroyed by the repeated raids and massacres of the Slen Sect's agents. And behind them, there are undead creatures chasing and killing, and there are all kinds of monsters and bandits in the wild. If you don't get help in time, you will flee to other cities in the distance on a hungry stomach, and you will probably fall halfway through.

If possible, of course, they hope that there are good Samaritans to help them expel the undead and demonic beasts, and they have been providing them with food and shelter for free, while they don't pay anything, enjoy the protection of the strong like a lord, and eat and live by the way...... But this is obviously impossible. The middle-aged merchant just wanted to take the tiger skin of the kingdom warrior and put pressure on Ainz to fight for better treatment, but unfortunately it didn't have any effect.

In that case, let's obediently obey the orders, anyway, when I was in the city before, didn't I have to rely on work to exchange food and drink?

Next, all the refugees, under the supervision of Captain Gurdjief, collectively swore to accept the care and resettlement of Ainz, and signed or stamped a piece of paper with an affidavit written on it. As for the few particularly stubborn mavericks, they left the camp after drinking a bowl of porridge.

When this process was completed, Captain Gurdjief asked Ainz about his next steps, to which he replied, "...... The fires in the grasslands are slowly burning, and the undead are gradually pouring out of the fortress city and wandering into the surrounding countryside. This place is obviously no longer able to stay...... I'm going to take them to the village of Karn! It seems that the only place to find a decent house in the neighborhood is there......"