I’m a Rebel in Another World

Chapter 71: Black and White Preparations

After sending Monroe away, Henwil began his next phase of planning.

Monroe would cooperate with the bandit chieftain Scar Tiger, whom Henwil had intentionally spared, to reassemble a bandit gang.

This bandit gang would only rob specific targets.

For example, merchant caravans trying to avoid tariffs by taking small paths.

Or, some funds that Henwil wanted to launder and transfer.

Alternatively, to handle some troublesome minor issues for Henwil's new 'friend,' Knight Roderick.

Henwil never trusted just two people, nor did he worry about their betrayal.

As Henwil said, he believed in human nature, not oaths.

Human nature has weaknesses; as long as you understand a person's weaknesses and exert some control, it's far more effective than any oath.

Additionally, Henwil also provided them with benefits, using profit to make this relationship even more secure.Monroe was a warrior of Knight Rank, though he didn't yet hold a knighthood.

He possessed decent combat strength and was a competent officer in commanding battles.

Many of the bandits currently scattered across the borders of the three kingdoms were former soldiers, so subduing them wouldn't be difficult for Monroe.

Scar Tiger was a seasoned, cunning bandit, a natural-born scoundrel.

But this man had ambition, and greed shone in his eyes.

Even if Henwil had let him go, he wouldn't have been content to live as a cripple.

He couldn't stay in either the Ika Kingdom or the Worui Duchy now.

He had no foundation in the Ogiro Kingdom, making it hard to start over there.

Only by relying on Henwil could he regain his status as someone above others.

Having been in the bandit trade for several years, Scar Tiger possessed a wealth of information about other bandits.

With a bit of planning, Monroe—no! Now called Senluo—could quickly absorb the surrounding bandit groups.

With the support of standard military equipment and comprehensive intelligence,

if the two of them still couldn't build something substantial, it would prove their will to survive wasn't very strong.

Henwil also didn't care about a small failed investment.

Furthermore, Senluo and Scar Tiger were fundamentally different types of people, incapable of becoming true, trusting friends.

They would exist in a state of mutual restraint and supervision, thus neither being able to escape Henwil's control.

In just half a month, the duo of Senluo and Scar Tiger had assembled a bandit gang several dozen strong.

During this time, Henwil trained daily with the newly recruited defense forces.

Since recruitment began, the defense forces had only managed to recruit six hundred men, still far from full strength!

After all, the common people weren't very enthusiastic about military service; in fact, there was significant resistance.

Because in this world, enlisting in the army made it extremely difficult to achieve class mobility.

Moreover, the military pay was still quite touching.

Even though Henwil offered what he considered 'conscientious' pay, not many people enlisted.

Primarily because Henwil was currently issuing IOUs; the finances of Peace Point weren't that prosperous.

However, Henwil wasn't worried about this. He didn't follow his subordinates' advice to lower the recruitment standards.

Because his upcoming dual operations, one white and one black, would force all merchant caravans to use the official roads.

The villages and towns that had benefited from caravans using the small paths would soon see their economies plummet.

Henwil intended to compete with the people for profit, drawing the population from the villages and towns towards Peace Town and the large Trading Post as much as possible.

Why do this?

To pursue urbanization, of course. A larger population is necessary to build a city, and having a city enables effective economic radiation.

Tax collection would certainly be more convenient too!

In just half a month, many shops in the villages and towns that served the caravans faced closure.

Previously thinking they could make a fortune, many villages and towns had increased investment in caravan service industries, but now Henwil had severed the source with a single stroke.

Simultaneously, the large Trading Post established by Henwil was visibly growing in scale. The number of coming and going caravans surged, requiring more and more manpower.

Henwil offered decent wages to recruit artisans and workers, began demarcating land, and started constructing various buildings.

Henwil himself didn't engage in business; he was a noble now!

How could he engage in trade!

He must collect rent!

Henwil continuously poured all his money into building houses.

He built relentlessly, regardless of whether there were tenants or not.

Street by street was planned out by Henwil; commercial district by commercial district was demarcated by him.

Initially, it was the idle labor force from various villages and towns who came to the Trading Post area to work and earn money.

Where people gather, business follows. The essence of commerce is to chase after people.

Wealthy individuals from various villages and towns began opening shops in Henwil's buildings.

Henwil generously waived three months' rent, which further attracted some merchants from Peace Town to set up shop.

Three months later, Henwil had fully recruited the new soldiers for the defense battalion.

By this time, the prosperity of the Trading Post area had caused a qualitative leap in the tax revenue of Peace Point.

It was sufficient to pay off all the IOUs Henwil had previously issued.

Around this time, the merchant caravan secretly established by Henwil and Roderick also began formal operations.

The goods transported by this caravan were all high-demand items, even commodities strictly controlled by both sides.

For example, military supplies!

Or again, stolen goods!

This caravan wasn't large, but it possessed exemption from inspection rights when crossing both borders.

Smuggling!

That's a damn profitable venture in any world.

Furthermore, the bandit gang led by Senluo and Scar Tiger was also developing rapidly.

They consistently managed to evade the patrols of both kingdoms, catch their 'fat sheep' (lucrative targets), and retreat safely.

Moreover, any bandit gangs that tried to absorb them were unlucky enough to be suppressed by the armies of the two kingdoms.

Suffering heavy losses, they were instead absorbed by Senluo and Scar Tiger.

Now, this bandit group, nicknamed the Plunderwind Bandits, consisted of over a hundred elite mounted bandits and more than two hundred daring and combative bandits.

And their numbers were steadily expanding.

While everything developed steadily according to his plan, Henwil celebrated his fifteenth birthday.

Henwil now possessed considerable secret wealth, a highly profitable caravan that earned piles of money daily, and a capable fighting force.

But Henwil understood clearly that all this was built upon his foundation as the heir of the Phoenix family.

Once his mission as a substitute ended, he would lose all these conveniences.

Therefore, Henwil needed to use the remaining six months to strengthen his hidden assets as much as possible.

Now with financial support, Henwil could return to the good life of using one Knight's Body Tempering Potion per week.

Henwil always understood that in this world, the only one he could rely on was himself.

Earning money was to ensure his survival, and to survive better.

So, even though the Knight's Body Tempering Potions he privately purchased now were quite expensive, he still resolutely converted a large portion of his wealth into his own strength.

After the autumn harvest arrived, the entire territory became busy. Even matters concerning the caravans had to make way for gathering the harvest.

After all, ensuring people were fed and preventing deaths were the most important matters for the territory.

Henwil knew there were still many serfs in the villages and towns, all of whom could be converted into more efficient labor.

But Henwil had no time left. He needed to focus his energy and begin preparing for the Path of Glory next spring.

If he could return alive!

Having already demonstrated his value to the Baron, there was a high probability that the Baron would let him stay in Peace Point.

If he was lucky, he might even obtain a knightly fief here.

If luck wasn't on his side, he would have to flee and become a bandit himself!