Henry never expected that his earlier measures to alleviate military expenses, food consumption, and army housing would make people think he was becoming a mercenary.
'Then again,' he thought, 'it really does look like what a mercenary would do.'
Henry nodded, gesturing for Carlos to continue. He wanted to know what this "cooperation" Carlos mentioned was all about.
In the Empire's current political landscape, the Mercenary Guild occupied a middling position—not at the top, but far from the bottom.
Financially, they couldn't compare to the Imperial Chamber of Commerce, and politically, they couldn't outmatch the local councils of nobles. However, they were much stronger than the likes of actors, Minstrels, musicians, and adventurers.
The Mercenary Guild's most important resource was, in fact, its network. By constantly "taking jobs," they befriended a great many nobles and caravan leaders, and could even mediate disputes between weaker minor nobles.
