The Overlord of Blood and Iron (WN)

“Victory! We won!”

“Yeah!!”

Laputa’s soldiers, who had seen Kimura being captured from atop the castle walls, roared in delight.

They had won.

It was not just a victory. It was a grand victory in a situation where they were at an extreme disadvantage. It was a complete victory.

It was an inspiring achievement.

“Are any injured or dead? Report!”

Commander James sought to quickly check the status of his soldiers as soon as the battle ended.

“Platoon 1, none, sir!”

“Platoon 2, two injured!”

“Platoon 3, none, sir!”

Amazingly, there were no deaths.

The two soldiers who had suffered minor injuries were all the casualties that Laputa suffered in the entire battle.

My Lord, did you predict this would happen?

James looked towards the watchtower that Kang Chul-In should have been in and could not hide his awe.

“With the composition of troops that the enemy has, they will not beat us, no matter what they do.”

Kang Chul-In, who had gathered intel on the Burrows’ troops, had assured them. Assured them that the enemy would lose and that Laputa would win an overwhelming victory.

And that had come true, right in front of his eyes.

“Walk faster!”

Meanwhile, Podolski and the other cavalrymen had bound Kimura tightly with rope and were returning to Laputa.

“Ugh…!”

Kimura was dragged along by the soldier named Podolski.

But… he looked a bit strange.

What, what is that method of…?

Scary…

How in the world did he tie it like that?

In the minds of those watching, many questions arose.

Kimura was bound tightly in a very complicated and strange rope-tie and was tied so well that it did not allow for any movement from head to toe. It was enough to startle everyone.

Kang Chul-In was also taken aback.

Ha… this is driving me crazy.

Kang Chul-In hid his face in his hands as if he was tired.

Where Podolski learned this technique was unknown, but the rope-tie that was used on Kimura was a technique similar to the tortoiseshell tie, commonly found in Japanese AVs (adult video).

A Japanese Lord bound with a tie found in Japanese pornography… it was incongruous.

“Lord, it is a complete victory. But why do you seem…?”

“No, nothing.”

Kang Chul-In waved his hand at Lucia’s question.

“I probably did not sleep well last night.”

Kang Chul-In could not say that the tie method was lewd, so he just avoided the question by saying that he was tired. He then shifted his gaze towards Timothy.

“Timothy.”

“Yes… Lord”

Timothy looked as if he had lost his country. In reality, he did lose a country. From today, the Burrows would fall under Kang Chul-In’s leadership.

“Your Lord is incompetent and foolish.”

Timothy did not answer.

Although Kimura was incompetent and foolish, he was, up until a moment ago, still Timothy’s Lord, to whom he had pledged all of his loyalty. He could not turn his back the moment Kimura lost.

“And he abandoned you. If you still have loyalty to pledge to a leader like him, pledge it to me.”

Timothy opened his eyes wide.

“So…Lord…!”

“I don’t know how it looks from your perspective, but I value men of talent. I don’t know your capabilities, but I like your loyalty. What do you think? Will you grow this territory alongside me?”

It was an unforeseen proposal, but it was attractive nevertheless.

Me, me… does he want this Timothy?

Timothy could not speak, confused and jumbled at the sudden conciliation.

“You must need time. There, the sun is setting.”

Kang Chul-In pointed at the mountains.

“Decide before the sun sets and darkness comes. I am not that laidback. Now, I will go see that arrogant monkey.”

Kang Chul-In left, giving Timothy less than an hour to make a choice.

“Timothy.”

Lucia called to Timothy, who was staring blankly.

“What are you contemplating?”

“What do you mean…?”

“You have just hit the jackpot. You have the opportunity of a lifetime right in front of you, but why are you not taking it?”

Lucia spoke in a serious tone. It was not the tone of one addressing a loser’s Secretary but that of one Secretary to another.

“We Secretarys, all of the territory’s people, have waited an innumerable amount of time between the dimensions. For our Lord to come and lead us!”

“But we cannot choose our Lords. Only the Lords make choices. Only God knows what Lord will lead us. Am I wrong?”

“You… you are right…”

“And a chance has been given to you to choose your Lord. Are you going to choose that incompetent Lord…?”

Lucia raised her arm and pointed at the doors of Laputa. There Kimura was, being dragged along and humiliated by Podolski, who had him all tied up.

“Or choose an extraordinary Lord like mine. This time, the choice is entirely yours. However, the position of my Lord’s right hand is mine, so do not dare covet it!”

Lucia’s eyes burned.

“Anyways, the Lord has given you time, so think wisely. Also… the Lord has already granted you a pardon once.”

“That… is true.”

It was true.

If it had been any other Lord, they would have taken Timothy’s head at the break of dawn.

“Do not disappoint him. Although he has shown mercy, he is blood and iron at the core. This… is probably the last chance you will be given.”

Lucia was saying, “There won’t be a second chance”. Timothy’s choice was to either serve Kang Chul-In or die.

“Then, I hope you make a wise decision.”

With those words, Lucia quickly left the watchtower.

“Ah… Gods… what is this Timothy to do?”

Timothy was now left alone with only his thoughts, which he turned in his mind over and over.

Should he remain loyal as an Secretary to the end or should he go serve a new master? It was hard to decide. It was a choice too difficult to make before sunset.

When everyone was celebrating the victory, one person, Kang Chul-In, was not rejoicing.

No, he was happy, but the reason for his happiness differed.

If the others were purely celebrating victory, Kang Chul-In was celebrating the spoils of the victory. He had won in the battle, and he had captured the enemy leader, Kimura. From today onwards, the gold and surviving troops of the Burrows would belong to Kang Chul-In. And…

Timothy, he will prove useful.

The old goblin was the biggest harvest.

Kang Chul-In wanted Timothy to pledge his loyalty to him. Because Timothy was also an Secretary. Just as there were 300 Lords, there were also 300 Secretarys. Therefore, each Secretary had a [specialty], a specialty that usually focused on internal affairs. Maybe she was a special case, but he could not see Lucia’s specialty.

However, Timothy was different.

Based on what Kang Chul-In could see, Timothy had the skill of [Administration Master]. The capabilities of that skill were as follows:

[Administration Master]

Level: 1 (Maximum Level 5)

Effect: Administration work performed, Efficiency +20%

Effect: Night shift performed, efficiency +70%

Effect: Administration work performed, stamina +30%

It was a skill perfect for use behind a desk. For Kang Chul-In, whose head spun just hearing the A of administration, Timothy represented an extremely necessary asset. If Timothy pledged himself to Kang Chul-In, he would be behind a desk with papers for the rest of his life. Kang Chul-In, thinking of this and that, arrived in the Lord Hall where his throne was. In the Lord Hall, there waiting for him were Commander James, ten soldiers, the cavalryman Podolski, and Kimura.

“My Lord, my congratulations on the victory.”

“Congratulations, my Lord!”

His soldiers sent awestruck congratulations, but Kang Chul-In was not satisfied with this boring win, so he did not show any joy.

It was an easy win.

Kimura was an idiot too stupid to even be called a Lord and was trash not worth dealing with. Kang Chul-In was not a man who would be satisfied with a victory over an incompetent leader.

Think about it.

Would a professional boxer be happy that he had won against an elementary school child? Would a strong, fit man celebrate a victory after twisting a chicken’s neck?

If such a person existed, that person would be the true trash that laughed after stepping on the weak. It would not be an overstatement to say that all those who enjoyed the massacre of innocent people were crazy.

“Enough congratulations. Now, I will teach this one a lesson, so if you have a suitable club, fetch it.”

“Yes, Lord!”

At Kang Chul-In’s orders, a soldier quickly went to fetch a club.

“Are you Podolski?”

Kang Chul-In called for the cavalryman who had captured Kimura.

“Yes, my Lord. I am Podolski.”

“…do you like handcuffs, by any chance?”

“Huh? That… Handcuffs are a wonderful catalyst that makes a boring sex life more interesting…”

Podolski was about to explain something, albeit with embarrassment, but Kang Chul-In waved his hand and cut him off.

“Stop! Do not speak further.”

“Yes. How do you know, my Lord, that I like handcuffs?”

“… Don’t ask me.”

Kang Chul-In turned away.

The reason why Kang Chul-In asked such a question… was that Podolski looked just like the mascot of the Police Force of a certain country[1]. The round eyes, short haircut, the M-shaped forehead like a monkey’s, the excessively large ears, and the brown hair. If he had worn the uniform, no one could deny that he was the mascot.

A guy like that, using that crude rope-tie? You have to live long to see certain things.

Kang Chul-In pressed his aching head tenderly and shook his head.

“…Anyways, you captured the enemy’s leader, so you have done well. I will appoint you as Laputa’s Director-General.”

“Thank you, my Lord!”

Podolski bowed to Kang Chul-In in gratitude for his unexpected promotion.

“I… always wanted to be a cop ever since I was young!”

“…Seems so.”

“How, how do you know that, my Lord?”

“Just… don’t ask. You’ll get hurt.”

“Yes, Lord!”

Anyways, Podolski, who said he had wanted to be a cop ever since he was a child, was given a position responsible for Laputa’s safety. Kang Chul-In looked at Podolski and thought that maybe a person’s destiny was predetermined.

“James.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“You did a good job as well. I will reward you five gold.”

“Oh, thank you, my Lord!”

Five gold was about 2,000 dollars. James’s smile reached his ears.

“I will postpone detailing other rewards to a later time.”

Kang Chul-In looked down at Kimura and spoke.

“Uh…Uh! Mmm..”

Kimura was gagged, bound with Podolski’s rope, and was trying to say something. Although Kang Chul-In could not hear the words, he was almost 100% certain that Kimura was begging for his life.

“Young.”

Kang Chul-In grimaced after seeing Kimura’s face as if to say the little boy was nothing.

“Roughly a high-schooler? Well, I have no intention of going easy at any rate.”

Kang Chul-In was not someone to hold back just because the opponent was young.

“Mmmm! Mrmmmm!! Mmm!!!”

Kimura, overcome with horror, yelled. He must have felt the danger to his life when he looked into Kang Chul-In’s eyes. It was at that moment when the soldier from before ran into the Lord Hall and handed Kang Chul-In an iron club.

“My Lord, here it is.”

Coincidentally, the iron club had the shape of a baseball bat, making it perfect for hitting someone. There was no better club for teaching someone a lesson.

“Undo that idiot’s rope and make him lay in front of me.”

Kang Chul-In ordered.

It was time to train the monkey.