Chapter 753: Go Make Trouble for Scar Tiger!

At this point, Lodar's confidants are still utterly bewildered, with no idea what is happening.

When Henwell sheds his Adolf disguise, they freeze in shock.

Henwell turns to Miller. "You're coming back to Peace Haven with me. No more running around on your own."

"I've already told you about your brother-in-law, though I can't reveal everything."

"You know how important this is. The fewer people who know, the safer he will be."

"Once we return, spend six months with the Lord Iron Guards, followed by six months training with the Military Intelligence Office's Wind Raider Cavalry."

"If DeWitt and Senra approve of you, you'll take command of the Wind Raider Cavalry."

Miller drops to one knee and salutes. "I will follow your arrangements, my lord."

The fighting in the ruins has helped Miller mature considerably. He should advance to Grand Knight before long.

With his experience and strength, taking command of the Wind Raider Cavalry should pose little difficulty.

Henwell turns to Lodar next. "I can't use this identity anymore. We need to arrange Adolf's exit."

"You have two choices. Return to Peace Haven, join the Lord Iron Guards, and study under me."

"Then, when we form another legion, I'll send you out as a warband commander."

"Or stay here, take over Qili Guild, and continue serving as Peace Haven's proxy."

Lodar scratches his head. "Father, is there no third choice?"

"Peace Haven has already finished forming its new legions, and I wasn't born or raised there."

"I have few connections. Even if I begin as a warband commander, I'll face no shortage of difficulties."

"I can manage Qili Guild well enough, but I don't want to spend my whole life among merchants."

Henwell studies him with interest. "You wouldn't say all this without an idea of your own. Let's hear it."

Lodar thinks for a moment. "Father, Kriye City is important."

"If possible, I want to build something of my own here."

"As a major outlet for the Western Federation's influence, Kriye City is gradually becoming the foreign-trade hub of the Western Regions."

"New caravans and guilds appear every day, and plenty of people covet the wealth flowing through the city."

"But every major power competes here, and all the large guilds have powerful backers."

"The smaller guilds can only band together for protection, yet even then, pressure comes from every side."

"I want to establish an armed force, unite those smaller guilds, and secure a foothold here."

"At the same time, we could help Peace Haven monitor the city and intervene when necessary."

Henwell gives no sign of approval or rejection. "Go on."

"I plan to begin with two hundred thousand gold coins and form a thousand-man guard force."

"Under the banner of protection, I'll gather the scattered small guilds, expand gradually, and establish a secure foothold."

Henwell shakes his head. "No."

Disappointment crosses Lodar's face. He can only resign himself to returning to Peace Haven.

Then Henwell continues, "Two hundred thousand isn't enough. I'll give you three million."

"There is one million in gold outside, and you can withdraw another two million from the accounts."

"As for weapons and equipment, we have enough in storage to arm two thousand men."

"It was meant for western Lumir, but Dilio is nearly broke. You might as well use it."

"I cannot give you any personnel."

"Whatever you build must have no visible connection to Peace Haven."

"Every faction will be watching me closely for a long time. Peace Haven needs to keep a low profile."

"Once Qili Guild is dissolved, you won't receive any further financial support for the foreseeable future."

Lodar stares blankly for a moment. Delight flashes across his face, only to give way to a calculating frown.

Henwell does not rush him. He is quite pleased with this student in all but name.

After a while, Lodar nods. "That will work. It is more than enough."

"I can consolidate the guards employed by several guilds. That alone will give me more than six hundred men."

"With those six hundred as the core, recruiting the rest shouldn't be difficult."

"Within a year, I'll build a standard warband with genuine combat strength."

"Then I'll seek another faction's backing. I don't intend to join Ika or any of the great powers in the Western Regions."

"And I certainly can't join Dilio in western Lumir. He desperately needs troops and would meddle until my force was torn apart."

"The best choice is someone with real power in western Lumir, someone who can shelter me until my force is strong enough to withstand outside interference."

Henwell nods lightly. "Do you have someone in mind?"

"Marquess Pajaje. He controls a capable legion, one of western Lumir's elite forces."

"During eastern Lumir's offensives, he repeatedly led his army to gain the upper hand, buying western Lumir greater strategic room."

"He is also a trusted confidant of King Dilio and wields considerable influence in western Lumir's Royal Council."

"His legion must remain on the southeastern front beyond Kriye City, facing the forces of Holy Lake City."

"That has left his territory southwest of Kriye City chronically short of defenders."

"The territory covers more than six thousand square kilometers and is rich in resources, yet it has never developed properly."

"If I join him and take responsibility for defending his lands, I doubt he will refuse."

Henwell smiles and gives a soft clap. "Good. You've thought it through. But I need to add a few things."

"First, don't approach him directly. Seek the backing of a Western Federation faction instead."

"Your opening target will be Solomon's King's Shield. Claim that it is an official proxy of Ika."

"Say it killed Qili Guild's guildmaster and now intends to seize everything the guild owns."

"Unable to stomach the injustice, you turned to the Western Federation for redress."

"The Western Federation will promise to help, but it will never take meaningful action."

"In its arrogance, it won't care about your handful of men either."

"Only then should you approach Marquess Pajaje, but don't ask to join him."

"Ask him to introduce you to Dilio so you can enter the king's service."

"Your force can't be too large or too small by then. Around two thousand men will be ideal."

"Pajaje will agree in principle, then stall and invent reasons to ensure your attempt to join Dilio fails."

"Eventually, he'll offer to recruit you himself. When he does, act as though you're accepting reluctantly."

Lodar asks, puzzled, "Why pretend to be reluctant?"

Henwell smiles. "Because he's a gambler who's been scared witless. He wants to play, but he's terrified of losing."

Marquess Pajaje, better known as Scar Tiger, has been toyed with until he is nearly broken.

As a triple agent, he lives on edge, suspicious of everyone and everything around him.

Only this kind of play-hard-to-get approach will put him at ease.

Put simply, the man wants a windfall to land in his lap, but fears it may be poisoned.

So they must offer him a windfall that looks slightly stale and unappetizing. Only then will it seem real.