The Extra Wants To Live

Hidan stared blankly at Carl for a moment. It would have been worth showing a little courtesy, but Hidan simply couldn't do that. Could this delicate young man really be the 'Laurel Planter' who had personally achieved the impossible victory?

And was this really the monster who received a huge promise that would turn Tumaria upside down in one night?

Although Carl was relatively tall for a nobleman or knight, his physical abilities were not so outstanding that he could gain muscle mass, even through exercise. Thanks to that, when Carl took off his armor and Hidan saw him for the first time, he looked like a young gentleman who was busy enjoying drinking and women.

But that impression was only temporary. Only after meeting Carl's unwavering, sunken eyes could Hidan finally admit that he was indeed the 'Laurel Planter' who had united the eastern part of the empire in just one year.

This was an 18-year-old young man. Could it be that he was not a human but something else wearing human skin?

"Archduke Carl, it is a pleasure to meet you. I regret to greet you under these circumstances. This is Sahal Din Hidan Aban Madwan Al Abinou," Hidan introduced himself to Archduke Carl of Hardion as briefly as possible.

Hidan, son of Madwan of the Abigail clan and military commander. There was no point in explaining anything more to Carl; it would just make both of them uncomfortable.

"I am Carl Feldhardion. I am Sahal Din Hidan."

As if it were a lie that they had been fighting to kill each other the night before, the two greeted each other calmly, shaking hands. Unless they killed out of necessity during battle, no one killed or humiliated a high-ranking enemy leader after taking him prisoner.

There was no point in killing them, and there was no benefit to being on bad terms with them. If the winning side treated them well, the captured side would also be polite and not cause any trouble.

Then, when the family paid the ransom, they would greet each other with a warm smile, shake hands, and, if they got along, buy each other a drink and say goodbye, promising to meet again.

That was why the attitudes toward war between a simple soldier, who was nothing more than a consumable fighting to the death, and the noble class were completely different.

"First of all, I would like to thank you for liberating the soldiers." In that respect, Hidan, who took care of his soldiers, was an excellent commander.

Even he fought with his own sword until the very end, and that was all because he thought Carl would kill the commoner prisoners.

"It is only a matter of keeping the promise I made to Akhtal Ali, so there is no need for you to be grateful," Carl firmly replied about the issue of liberating prisoners.

Hidan also saw Carl's attitude and did not discuss it further.

"Let's talk about ransom." Hidan said it straight away.

It was thanks to this that Hidan could tell at a glance that Carl was not the type of person who enjoyed laughing and chatting.

"I trust you will not trouble us with the payment of the ransom. Of course, the amount of the ransom will require some discussion."

Hidan was a high-ranking noble, and many of the noble commanders and staff members under his command, as well as the warriors and standing army, and even the national power, Master Mahalet, were all captured by Carl.

Hidan was trying not to show his fear of how much Carl would demand as ransom, but behind his calm face, he was screaming silently. Hidan might not have to pay the entire ransom, but he still had to take responsibility for those who followed him. It was truly a terrible loss. If he made one mistake, it would destroy the roots of his family.

"More than that, what I want to know is why you joined the rebellion."

Hidan couldn't help but laugh at Carl's words. It was a laughter mixed with regret, remorse, and anger.

"Archduke Carl, I did not take part in the rebellion. I simply fought for my lord."

With those words, Carl realized that Hidan had been serving someone in his family for generations. He probably followed the family of the Sultan's mother who had rebelled.

Unlike Hardion, where one could dislike their lord and change allegiance if there was a good reason, Tumaris had a very close relationship with its vassals. Hidan did not literally join the rebellion; he was simply following his lord's orders. This might not be the case for Hardion, but it was a very important matter in Tumaris.

In Hardion, if your lord rebelled, you could betray and run away at any time. So, saying you followed your lord could not be used as an excuse for being blameless.

On the other hand, in Tumaris, the rebellion of the lord and the rebellion of his subjects were separate matters. This was because when the lord gave an order, the subject had to follow unconditionally and had no choice.

What if you disobeyed your lord's orders? Then you would be completely buried in the society of Tumari. Find exclusive stories on empire

"Well then, Sahal Din Hidan, when would be a good time to claim the ransom?"

"Of course, the sooner the better."

Carl asked Hidan, 'Are you going to bide your time without joining the rebellion any longer? Or are you going to return and fight alongside your lord?'

Hidan said that he would not be swayed by this chaotic situation and would fight for his lord.

"Even though you know the oath of Akhtar Ali?"

"I did not make a pact."

All that remained were the commoners who had made the oath, and other commoners could be drafted. If things didn't work out, he could just bring the standing army and fight again.

"Then there might be some difficulties in ransom negotiations."

"… … ."

Carl smiled and openly declared that he would keep Hidan.

"… I don't think there will be much room for distribution."

"Don't worry. I have enough supplies to feed the 14,000 people you brought with you, and an astronomical ransom to pay, so I'm not afraid of that."

"… … ."

Carl wasn't just delaying the ransom negotiations; he was demanding an enormous amount of money that would make Hidan's family say, "Are you crazy? I can't give it to you!"

In order to serve his lord, Hidan had to return quickly, and if he did, he might have to pull out all the roots of his family.

Hidan didn't have that much money, so he'd have to compromise.

'Controlling the war with ransom!'

Hidan trembled at Carl, who used rational judgment to manipulate the ransom—a long-standing custom.

Customs were not customs for nothing. The custom of ransom was an unwritten contract that had to be strictly observed among all noble classes living in this land, from Hardion to Tumaria. But Carl was even smiling leisurely at that and trying to use it for war.

That alone was terrifying, but what was even scarier was that Carl was so effectively controlling the situation that there was no way to express dissatisfaction.

If Carl freed 10,000 soldiers without any compensation and Hidan whined that the ransom was too high, Hidan couldn't even imagine what he'd hear. Normally, the ransom for conscripts was calculated separately or not paid at all.

But Carl had already liberated them by making a pact with Akhtar Ali. Even if Ali took responsibility, if Hidan turned a blind eye to this, he would be completely expelled from the noble society of Tumaria. The custom of paying a ransom was intended to protect a nobleman who had been taken prisoner, and it was also customary to pay without question any 'reasonable' amount demanded by the other party.

That meant if Carl demanded it, Hidan might have to pay the ransom for all 13,000 people, including the conscripts.

"How is it, Sahal Din Hidan? Do you think it will be okay?"

"… …What do you want from me?"

It was completely in Carl's hands.

Hidan eventually had no choice but to give up and leave his fate to Carl.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of telling you to betray your lord."

First, Carl calmed Hidan's mind, which had been tormenting him with terrible imaginations.

"I just want to say that with your small actions, we can resolve this confusing situation we are all experiencing more easily and quickly."

Carl's meaningful words.

"I won't tell you to draw your sword. Don't we know that sometimes a smooth tongue can be more dangerous than a sword in hand?"

"… … ."

"Sahal Din Hidan, I know that you do not want this war either. I saw with my own eyes that you did not retreat, but ran and fought in front to protect your soldiers, using your soldiers as shields to survive."

Hidan couldn't say anything. But inside him, countless conflicts and anguish were raging like a desert storm.

"I promise you that there will never be unnecessary pillaging or massacre, and that we will rule with stability and peace instead of destruction and fear. In the name and honor of Carl Feldhardion, Grand Duke of the Empire, Planter of Laurels."

Carl's clear, shining green eyes completely pierced through Hidan's wavering soul.

It didn't really matter that Hidan didn't value his own name or reputation.

This was the honor Carl had built up to use at times like this, but if he don't use it now, when will he use it?

"... Okay. But it's a bit difficult for us… to trust each other."

In the end, Hidan gave in to Carl's persuasion.

Not knowing that what Carl had promised in return, that he would rule the castles and cities he had captured, was in fact a promise he had already made to Yusuf.