Berserk: The Prophet

"But..."

Gambino was about to say something to refuse, after all, no one wants to narrow down their way of making money.

“Hey, stop with the talk of rejecting me. You’ve been doing this for ten years now, haven’t you?” Langdon looked at Gambino meaningfully.

"...Yes, sir."

"How about this? In addition to your mercenary group members, I'll provide you with 1,500 conscripted soldiers. As for the pay... if you do a good job, I'll pay you three times the original amount. How about that?"

Gambino's heart skipped a beat. Triple reward—that was an irresistible temptation for any mercenary group!

...but the risks behind this are equally enormous.

He subconsciously licked his dry lips, his gaze shifting back and forth between the ground and Langdon, unsure how to answer.

Langdon, skilled at manipulating people's hearts, could tell at a glance that Gambino had been persuaded and only needed a little push.

“I know you’re worried about offending us nobles and having trouble getting along in the Juda Empire... But don’t you think about yourself, Captain Gambino? You’re over thirty, aren’t you? How much longer can you wield that blood-stained sword?”

Langdon's words were like a sharp dagger, piercing straight into Gambino's deepest anxieties.

He couldn't help but recall the days he had spent living on the edge of a knife, every battle a test of life and death, his old wounds often aching on rainy days, and his physical strength not as good as before.

"Besides, not everyone has the opportunity to command an army of two thousand..."

Gambino took a deep breath, raised his head, and the hesitation in his eyes was gradually replaced by determination. He knelt on one knee and said, "My lord, I, Gambino, am willing to serve you like a dog!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Langdon's face. "Good, you're a man who knows when to back down."

"Tomorrow morning, you will lead the troops out. I will have Bosgao engage Heron's main force head-on; he will surely come out in full force. You must take the fortress on the southern side of the northern hills of Dordore. Success is the only option; failure is not an option!!"

"clear!!"

After receiving his orders, Gambino returned to his camp and began preparations in earnest. He first informed his men of the battle plan, and then conducted a preliminary reorganization of the 1,500 conscripted soldiers. Although time was short and systematic training could not be carried out, he still managed to arrange the troops in a general manner based on his rich experience.

After a busy day, Gambino returned to his tent, where his mercenary brothers gathered around the campfire, preparing their meal while waiting for tonight's meeting.

The people reacted differently when they heard that they could participate in this struggle between nobles, with triple pay and the opportunity to command a large army.

One of the mercenaries was so excited his face turned red: "Captain, this is our chance to turn things around! Once we get the money, I'm going to buy the best armor and weapons!"

The old mercenary North frowned deeply. "Captain, the struggles among the nobles are too complex. Do we really want to get involved? If we fail, we'll be doomed."

Gambino's gaze swept over the crowd, and he said in a deep voice, "Brothers, I know there are risks, but this is also our chance to change our destiny."

"Over the years, we've been running around, risking our lives for meager pay. When have we ever had such an opportunity? If we succeed this time, our Fierce Bear Gang will gain fame, and we'll have a foothold in this chaotic world. Everyone, get ready. This battle is one we can only win, not lose!"

Although everyone still had concerns, they all nodded in agreement when they saw Gambino's determined expression.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Gambino assembled his troops.

As he rode his horse, looking at the two thousand men before him, a complex mix of emotions welled up within him. He knew that from this moment on, they were completely embroiled in this aristocratic conflict, and their lives were now in the hands of fate.

Living in this chaotic world, if you want to continue to develop, you have to take one high-stakes gamble after another!

"Brothers, let's go!" With this command, the troops marched off towards the battlefield in a mighty procession.

Guts packed his bags, put on the armor that fit him well, and followed Gambino's group.

Guts looked at his newly bought helmet with a heavy heart. He still remembered when Gambino threw the bag containing a few silver coins into his hand.

He was searching for Gambino in the castle when he received news of Judas's defeat on one of the fronts.

...because Green hadn't replied for a long time.

Gambino was drunk in the tavern with several mercenaries, shouting loudly, "After being out in the game for so long, not only has my wife died of illness, but my sons are also dying one after another! Even my adopted sons aren't very lucky!"

"Hehe, but he did manage to get quite a few silver coins, so he did provide me with some value, right? I didn't raise him for nothing..."

The procession moved forward along the winding road, the sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps mingling together, raising clouds of dust.

Guts followed in the group, gripping his weapon tightly, his mind filled with the drunken ramblings of Gambino, a mix of emotions swirling within him.

He couldn't understand how Gambino, who usually seemed so generous and righteous, could say such cold-hearted things after drinking.

That day, when he loudly questioned Gambino about the meaning of his words in the tavern, Gambino waved his hand.

"...Don't ask me about your brother's whereabouts anymore, he's dead!"

Even now, thinking of those words, Guts' body stiffens involuntarily, his hand gripping the weapon clenching involuntarily, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The surrounding noise of marching seemed to have disappeared, and all that remained in his ears was Gambino's words—"He is dead."

"Tch, take this money and buy some equipment. Be careful not to die on the battlefield like your unlucky brother."

“Dead? How could that be…” Guts’ lips trembled slightly as he murmured, his eyes instantly reddening.

He had been hoping that Green was simply unable to reply for some reason, but this cruel news was like a heavy hammer blow, shattering his last hope.

The group continued onward, but Guss seemed lost, walking mechanically. He recalled the days he spent playing with Green as a child; those innocent smiles and carefree times felt like yesterday.

...Can we never go back? Just like Sis...

...Will we not even see each other one last time?

Gambino rode at the front of the column. He noticed Guts's unusual behavior, but with a major battle imminent, he had no time to dwell on it. He knew in his heart that what he had said while drunk had gone too far, but life and death were unpredictable on the battlefield, and he had long been accustomed to using indifference to shield himself.

...Tsk, what a troublesome child.