48 Castle Rachard (4)
Mark received empty threats and promises from these nobles but from what he had read they were the cliché representation of scum nobles. Abuse of authority, blackmails, cover-ups, bribes and the likes of which that could be seen in most fantasy setting stories.
Mark knew that this world would not be a walk in the park and the inherent nature of humans are shown such as Greediness and baseless arrogance. He contemplated in his mind as to why those fantasy manga setting protagonist had such an easy time, his was like the experience of the shield hero with all the hardships.
His system helped in making things easy as well as the gifts he received but if not for those then he'll have a worse experience here. And even now he still don't know what the endgame of the system is, though he's thankful he did not get to enact his plan on his past family after being pulled by a ROB.
Who did not even introduce himself/herself to Mark at all and told him the purpose of the System. There are no free things in this wide cosmos and surely the price would come to bite him someday. Mark ignored the clamoring nobles as he walked up to the battlements and watched the torches lit in houses around the castle.
He did not want to think much on why he was brought here or what his purpose is but seeing things like these made Mark wonder why him. Of all the people they had to choose someone who is not that knowledgeable in things related to Marvel and DC. He did watch the movies and read some comics but not to the extent of knowing which issue and date the comic was released.
Mark sighed as he felt himself small in the grand scheme of things, as smart as he might be he could not figure out what was the reason of his presence here. All he did since coming here was go with the flow and see what the road has ahead of him.
[Ding!]
[+1 WIS]
"What is our next course of action my lord?" Melissa appeared next to Mark as she felt unsure why this new liege of hers give out such a gloomy vibe. But she did not know that Mark was exasperated at how the system increased his wisdom just because he was brooding over his existence.
"Ring the bells, the rest of the guards outside should gather in front of the castle once they hear it. Bring the head of the Baron also along with his son's, well take the castle without any much difficulty once they are here." Mark said as he felt the cold wind of winter passing by his face. Melissa nodded as she went to the keep to ring the alarms and she was quite active as to show her competence towards her new liege.
Soon the bells rang and made the guards that were lazing around the area wake up as well as those drinking sober up in an instant. They hurried in putting on their armors but it still took about thirty minutes until the last guard arrived in front of the castle. Now the area was quite chaotic as the guards were mostly peasants conscripted by the Baron to serve him.
But they were all confused as to why the portcullis still not raised of they were called here by their lord, So they all talked and gossiped on what the reason of the sudden summon. They showed how laid back and slow the response of the people here towards the situation that only a few noticed the unusualness of the atmosphere.
Mark stood under the shadow of a tower as he watched could see the poor appearances of the guards as well as the dilapidated armors and weapons which told much about the neglect of the Baron over his lands. He could not understand how the guy had the balls to start a rebellious plan with only this much military strength.
At least arm your guards with proper equipment and have them trained well, but Mark thought that maybe there was someone else that was prepared for that as the records on the flow on taxes in this territory went to someone else other that the Duke. From what Mark could remember in Melissa's notes then the County of Pinot which was the territory of her husband has been providing the Duchy of Chardonnay with weapons and provisions.
Seeing as they were quite close to Mousillon then maybe the Duke of Chardonnay is the one aiming to gain territory from Duke of Mousillon. As powerful the King of Brettonnia is, he could still not prevent Dukes in scheming against each other. Mark realized something as he looked more pissed off but he needed to take care of these soldiers in front of him.
"SILENCE!!" Mark released a powerful roar that made the guards in front flinch as they looked upon the battlements and saw a stern cold face of Mark.
"You all may be wondering why you have been summoned here but first I shall introduce myself. I am Mark Johnson of town Creacheur and I have been given the title of Baron by the power of the Duke of Mousillon. The fief I was given if the Castle Rachard as well as the lands 50 leagues around it." Mark saw the disbelief of the guards but since they were all commoners they could not interrupt as Mark was noble.
The aura emanated by him gives a more regal authoritarian air that their previous Baron which they were curious as to where his current whereabouts are. But their questions were answered soon as two pikes were hoisted up nearby Mark which the heads of the Baron and his son were impaled.
"As you can see the previous Baron is dead as well as his son due to treason against the Duke of Mousillon." Mark said indifferently that it scared the guards as they were not able to figure out how Mark killed the baron without alerting them. What about the guards inside, they were their relatives like fathers and uncles as well as brother which made some pale at the thought.
"Fear not, the guards inside are just incapacitated. I can see that most of you do not know of your previous Lord's plan but I will still look into it thoroughly if there are those who have transgressed along with the late Baron. Open the gates!!" Mark turned as he went down towards the Bailey where the other nobles were lined up by five of Mark's subordinates.
Soon the portcullis was pulled up and the guards outside walk in unsure of what to do. But they still walked in and were shocked as the nobles of the area as well as knights were bound and lined up like criminals waiting for trial. Soon Mark arrived behind them as he carried his sword, he looked at the side where some nobles were standing shivering in the cold winds.
He planned of make an example of ones in front of him as they were the ones recorded to have done some serious crimes that were not given proper justice. There was a reason he had to do this as he had realized something earlier, he first planned to give them sentences like taking away their wealth and such but he changed his mind.
"In the knowledge, if commoners were known to have participated in plans and schemes that may harm the Duchy would be labeled as criminals and their families would be executed with them as punishment..." Mark said but was just bullshitting around as he could tell that education in this world is not available to the common folk. But his words reached the guards as they flinched because their last lord was executed for such crimes.
Some nobles tied wanted to speak up but they felt the cold stare of Mark as well as the chill of the arrow heads that were pointed at them. They just kept quiet as they were afraid of death, maybe they might still live seeing they were not executed immediately by Mark.
"…but should some confess and say they were threatened by nobles with the lives of your family and loved ones. Then maybe the Duke would be lenient with those people, they might not even be punished at all." Mark seemed to be talking to himself but his words made some of the guards present light up and gain some semblance of hope.
Mark saw this and knew his words made the guards understand that he was giving them a way out. Mark needed manpower and he could not afford in having the population of his new fief reduced drastically by being ruthless. He might earn fame or infamy and might deter many if they heard of his ruthlessness but that could be earn if his deductions were right. There will be no need for so much bloodshed and he might gain the trust of his new subjects.
"So don't be afraid, speak up as I will promise with my name on the line that I will speak with the Duke that you have no say in this matter as the nobles held a blade at the people dear to you." Mark said as he gave a gentle smile like he was some sort of caring noble that wants his subject's wellbeing protected.
He could see that there were at least a couple of eyes that were showing hesitation as they seemed to want to say something. But Mark knew his words has reached some, he turned his head looking at the kneeling nobles and knights looking pale. He stared hard as he could see some were giving threatening glares to certain guards on the group in front.
Mark went to one and gave a quick backhand slap to a fat old man who was captured due to an arrow hitting his calf. He stared coldly at the kneeling nobles and said in a cold voice.
"You all seem to think that you have ways to threaten the guards, I can see it in your eyes. That look like you still have some power left, need I remind you all that all of you are prisoners and criminals waiting for my verdict?" Mark's voice made the nobles stare down and sweat hard as they felt humiliation towards their situation.
But they could do nothing about it as Mark now holds their life by the noose. Some wanted to clamor but they had seen the cruelness of Mark earlier, they just hoped they would not be executed as they still have something that would change the situation around.
Mark can see some nobles have silent defiance and felt that his deductions are having a high chance of happening. The ones besides them seemed to show defeat and hopelessness but no sign of hope. He looked at the nobles who surrendered and could see they did not show any signs that they might be hiding something from him. As Mark was thinking hard of all the clues he had so far, a nervous voice spoke up from the guards in the open area.
"Uhm, milord? I have something that you need to hear milord…"
(A/N: Plot for Marvel and DC would be for later as the MC still plans to get a good foundation before heading towards the two universes which has more fickle omnipotent beings going around saying F*ck You to the Universe. Heck even some were worse and scarier than the Chaos Gods of Warhammer.)
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