While Richard had a lot to think about in bed—
Osric also had a lot on his mind.
He had just returned to his inn and was now laying in bed.
His hands rested on his chest as he took deep breaths.
'Getting Hawise and Mabel fired isn't enough. It doesn't erase the years of torment.'
Osric wanted real revenge. He wanted to make them suffer for how they treated him when he was just a kid.
'Should I kill them?'
He knew that he could probably get away with it and it wouldn't be difficult to do.
There were two problems Osric had with it though.
First was the matter of whether he would include his subordinates or inform them at least.
The second was whether that was enough of a punishment.
'Killing them and then keeping something so big hidden from people I plan to have at my side in the future too, would only become a problem later on.'
'But if I tell them my plans for revenge, whether that's killing them or making them suffer in other ways, will the others just go along with it?'
'Paul won't like it but he'll understand since he watched me grow up to their torment.'
'William might not like it either but I feel that he has come to trust my judgment enough to support me.'
'Jayson hasn't known me long, but he clearly looks up to me and has a real resolve to follow me. The question is whether his trust would take a big hit if he saw me in a new light.'
'But I think I can convince Jayson to see it my way.'
'My biggest concern is Garrick.'
'He stated from the beginning that he wouldn't blindly follow my decisions and tolerate any and all actions. There's a clear line he won't cross.'
'The question is where exactly that line is for him. Because he clearly doesn't hesitate to kill people to protect himself and others—
But what will he do when I tell him I plan to either kill and torture those disgusting old hags?'
Osric was determined to make them suffer either way.
He had no problem showing kindness like with the orphanage, but he also didn't plan to build some huge morals or become a person with some kind of heroic code.
Osric always planned to get revenge on everyone that wronged him. Just because he acted patiently and calm at most times didn't mean he would completely ignore his emotions and other ambitions.
'My path will hold much more blood than that of those two.'
'I've decided. I'll tell the others about my plans and hope that they'll support me. It would he a shame to lose any of them as useful subordinates—
But my goals come first.'
Now what Osric had left to decide was how exactly he would exact his revenge.
—
The same night in different parts of Lowbrook, all the small gangs were running around trying to either start their own fighting rings or upgrade the ones they had.
And to do that, they needed the arena fighters that had nowhere to go after Stoneclaw's downfall.
But since most of the elite fighters were mercenaries who fought for extra money, almost all of them decided to just stop with the underground scene and focus on their mercenary jobs.
Because Stoneclaw was the only big gang in Ashbrook and controlled most criminal activities, none of the smaller gangs had enough funds or connections to build such a large arena and recruit fighters who wanted to be paid well.
While most mercenaries either decided to solely focus on mercenary work or were out drinking and complaining about the arena's downfall—
One mercenary was busy doing something very different.
The former champion who was considered the strongest of the seven underground arena champions, Harold.
Since he also no longer saw an opportunity for extra money or opportunities to find capable fighters for his small mercenary company, he decided to do something that could elevate his company's funds and reputation.
Currently inside a small pub that had no workers inside, but was full with armed men and women.
Harold, the mercenary company captain in his late thirties and considered the strongest Apprentice Knight in Ashbrook by many, walked into the pub with his two lieutenants at his side.
"Is everyone ready?"
The roughly thirty mercenaries looked up and put away their weapons after cleaning them.
"Yes captain!"
"Good."
Unlike many mercenary bands or even small mercenary companies like Harold's, he had real control over his mercenaries.
His subordinates all respected and feared him. They followed his orders almost as well as a professional soldiers.
Of course the root of their loyalty still lied in the money, but Harold was both strong and smart enough to make sure his subordinates never betrayed him.
Harold ran his thumb across the long scar on his right cheek and spoke up.
"You all know why I summoned you. Let's get rid of all the remaining thugs in Ashbrook."
"We'll take all their dirty money and assets for ourselves and then turn in their heads at the guild for the bounty on them to cash in a hefty amount of coins!"
All the mercenaries of Harold's Ash Company stood up.
"YES!!"
"Let's go!"
Harold turned around and left the building with all his subordinates following him.
'Stoneclaw's collapse is a real fortune for us.' He thought to himself.
'After seizing every last coin from the remaining gangs and their member's heads, it will allow me to recruit more people into my company.'
'The arena's collapse also allows me to more easily approach the fighters who have nowhere to go.'
'Just you wait Baderon. I'll soon overthrow you and make the whole mercenary guild mine.'
Baderon was the current mercenary guild leader of Ashbrook and a 1-Star Knight. He was also in the pockets of House Greydell, not just receiving their money for completing missions.
Harold was always someone who preferred freedom and making money his own way as a real mercenary, instead of bowing down to a noble for more money but less freedom.
This whole ordeal with Stoneclaw's downfall also happened to be fortunate for someone else.
And that was Osric.
Not just because it made House Greydell no longer try to approach him, but also because before this happened—
He was the primary recruitment target of Harold as well.
Of course Osric didn't know that.
And now he could leisurely focus on his first revenge targets.
Hawise and Mabel.