102-109

Chapter 102: Blasting Fuse

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Amidst the fatigue from the matters of her group, Shauna was still energetic as usual.

"Hello, Mr. Rhode."

Shauna greeted Rhode with a smile.

"Frankly, I thought I was dreaming when I heard about you from Old Walker."

"I'm also quite surprised to see you."

Rhode nodded and replied as he shook Shauna's hand.

"Never thought that I would get a response from your group."

Shauna smiled helplessly. Her emotions were slightly shaken, but she soon stabilized herself and gestured towards the three other people behind her.

"There's no need to introduce them. Henry, Martin and Levi... right?"

Rhode recalled their names and briefly recited them.

The three were surprised as they had only fought together once, yet Rhode could still remember their names.

"You actually still remember us, Mr. Rhode."

The Swordsman named Henry smiled and said.

Henry was present during the battle in Pavel Cemetery. He was convinced of Rhode's strength when he witnessed how he commanded and defeated the Necromancer. That was the reason why he actively supported this meeting.

"Of course I remember."

"But I think the person that left a deep impression on me isn't here?"

Shauna and the others smiled awkwardly as they knew who Rhode was referring to. Luckily, that matter had already been solved, otherwise, Shauna wouldn't be able to meet Rhode at all.

"If you are referring to Barney... you don't have to look for him anymore because he had already left our mercenary group."

"Oh?"

Rhode was slightly surprised.

"That's quite unexpected. He left the group? Why?"

Shauna was already prepared for this question, so she gestured Rhode to sit down and began to explain.

"Before we met Old Walker, we received an invitation from Jade Tears. Barney was quite interested in the invitation, but the four of us weren't keen on accepting it. Thus, we could only let him follow the path that he wants and removed him from the group."

However, Shauna only stated half of the truth. After the battle in Pavel Cemetery, Red Hawk had received heavy casualties, so Shauna's position as leader was inevitably shaken. Being a female mercenary already left her at a disadvantage, and now, coupled with the heavy losses under her leadership, her position began to falter.

Shauna had planned to recuperate before initiating the recruitment process, but she didn't expect her subordinates to betray her during the downtime. Barney made his stand blatantly obvious. He even visited Shauna privately, requesting her to pass him the position as mercenary leader.

Barney promised that he would evolve the mercenary group, but Shauna could understand what was Barney thinking about. Naturally, she rejected his proposal, causing Barney to seeth in anger.

Purely based on her female instincts, she quickly concluded that he intended to sell the group to Jade Tears for a large sum of money. However, after the incident in Pavel Cemetery, she felt wary of people who offered something that was too good to be true.

Thus, after ending their relationship, Barney and his followers left Red Hawk for Jade Tears. That was why only four members remained. Of course, this made Shauna incredibly furious, but when Old Walker visited her, it was as though a bright light dispersed the dark, gloomy clouds over her.

However, since this was a private matter, Shauna didn't plan to bring it up during the negotiations. Rhode also wasn't very keen on internal conflicts, so both of them quickly shifted to the main point of the negotiation.

"Frankly speaking,"

Rhode stretched out his hand to grab a glass of wine on the table.

"Your strength is quite lacking... I don't know if you can handle the upcoming battles."

"I... understand."

Shauna had already made mental preparations to be rejected. She knew that she couldn't possibly compare to a Mage like Marlene in dealing damage, nor could she compare in soaking up hits like Anne.

There were four people left in Red Hawk. Shauna and Henry were both Swordsmen, Martin was a Shield Warrior and lastly, the Barbarian, Levi.

If they were ranked accordingly by their power level, Shauna held the first place. The other three were more or less the same. But Shauna knew that even though she might be regarded the top in her mercenary group, when faced against a group like Rhode's, she was nothing but a small fry.

If that was the case, what kind of jobs would he assign her group to if they merged?

Shauna felt a little uneasy thinking about this. However, Rhode soon eased her worries.

"I think you are aware that Starlight is still quite small. Thus, when we head out for a mission, no one would be present to guard our stronghold. This matter has been on my mind for a while, so if you're fine with guarding the stronghold, I will welcome you with open arms."

Shauna and the others didn't answer hastily. They sipped a few mouthfuls of wine and pondered for a while.

After a moment, Shauna narrowed her brows and said.

"I really appreciate your trust, but... isn't that responsibility a little too heavy for us?"

While at first glance, it might seem that guarding the stronghold was a mindless job and probably one of the least important roles among the others, but it was actually the opposite. One must realize that the stronghold was the core of any mercenary group. Only members who were trustworthy were allowed to guard the stronghold while their leader was out. Thus, Shauna's concerns weren't unfounded. Though she might have relations with Lize, it wasn't a good enough reason for Rhode to fully trust them. Weren't they afraid that they might take advantage of the situation while Rhode wasn't in?

But contrary to her expectations, Rhode didn't seem to show any worry.

"I've already said that we are lacking in manpower. And since you're honest enough to remind me of such matters, I believe you wouldn't do such a thing. Furthermore, this important responsibility will be shared with other mercenaries other than you three in the time to come. When that time comes, they will be under you. I'm sure that you'll be able to handle them as you already have experience as a mercenary group leader.

"..."

Shauna wanted to speak, but she hesitated in the end.

If she hadn't met Rhode before, she would've thought that he was joking. Rhode had just offered her one of the most critical roles in a mercenary group. However, what did she do to deserve such a position? Besides, she hadn't even joined Starlight yet!

For a while, the red-haired female mercenary pondered deeply.

Rhode, on the other hand, merely kept silent and waited for Shauna to decide. It wasn't that he was oblivious to her concerns, but because of the system prompt, he had a method to observe his stronghold any time he wished. In other words, if Shauna were to do something bad, Rhode would be alerted immediately and could activate the security system to imprison everyone inside.

Thus, he didn't have to worry about anyone trying to destroy the stronghold from inside. Instead, he was more worried about people attacking from external sources. Although the stronghold's defenses were difficult to breach, if someone were to attack the stronghold continuously without anyone to stop them, the situation would turn dire. It would be meaningless to activate the security system if there was no one guarding inside.

Shauna's Red Hawk mercenary group might not be the best option for him, but right now, it was the most feasible method.

"I understand."

After confirming Rhode's offer, Shauna turned towards her remaining members and discussed the matter with a serious expression.

Then, a while later, she turned back to Rhode and said,

"Since Mr. Rhode displayed his trust in us, then we can't possibly decline your benevolence. We can assure you that we will do our best to defend the stronghold!"

Upon hearing Shauna's reply, Rhode nodded, satisfied with her choice. Then, he stood up and shook her hand.

"Well then, let me be the first to welcome you to Starlight."

Once both sides reached an agreement, the remaining details were not difficult to settle. Soon, they reached a consensus on compensation and salary.

Each month, Shauna and the other three would receive ten gold coins. While it was less than they that got previously, it was still a generous pay considering their low-risk job. On the other hand, if Shauna or any other were to neglect their duty and cause the mercenary group to suffer a loss, they would have to compensate with their personal funds. There was no objection to this clause as it was logical. Now, the final step was for Shauna to send in their letter for disbandment to the Mercenary Association and report that they were joining Starlight right after.

When it was time to sign her name on the disbandment form, Shauna still showed signs of hesitation. After all, it had been several years since she had formed Red Hawk. She had done so to prove that she didn't need to rely on men to be strong. She worked doubly hard to create a name for her mercenary group, but in the end, reality still slapped her in the face.

Shauna's hand that was holding the pen suddenly stopped moving. She lifted her head and looked at Rhode who stood beside her.

Will this man be different from the others?

He managed to attract Lize, so he must have something that compels others to follow him. But... what does she see in him?

Still, thinking about this right now is pointless.

After a while, Shauna bit her lower lip and signed her name on the paper.

From that moment on, Red Hawk was officially disbanded.

When Shauna exited the Mercenary Association, it can be seen that she appeared tired, but her expression was still rather calm.

"You're my leader now, Mr. Rhode."

Shauna smiled wryly and patted on Rhode's shoulder.

"After packing up, come to my stronghold and I will show you around. You should already be aware of its location by now."

"Of course."

After speaking with Rhode, Shauna turned around to leave, but at that time, a familiar voice sounded nearby.

"Big sister? Why are you here?"

When she heard this voice, Shauna's expression changed. Rhode also frowned and turned around.

A young man walked towards her, wearing a brand new leather armor. His eyes widened when he saw the red-haired woman.

"Big sister? What are you doing here? Are you taking a mission?"

"That's none of your business, Barney."

The woman's former smile disappeared and was replaced by a cold expression.

"I-I'm only asking..."

Barney's mouth twitched when he heard her cold remark. Then he shifted his dissatisfaction to Rhode nearby.

"Big sister, why are you together with this... guy?"

"None of your business, Barney."

Shauna repeated herself coldly.

"You're not part of Red Hawk now, why do you even bother? Moreover, Red Hawk is already disbanded. I'm now a member of Starlight."

"What!?"

Barney jumped, startled like a cat whose tail was stepped on.

"Big sister, are you saying that you disbanded Red Hawk because you want to join this b*stard's mercenary group? How can you do something like that?! How can you give up on Red Hawk, I..."

"Shut up!! You are no longer a member of Red Hawk. You don't have any rights to tell me what to do!"

"...Have no rights?"

Barney's expression turned dark.

"You always say things like that... telling me that I have no rights to do anything. Didn't I just state the truth?! It is you who refused to hear it! Even when I was still in the mercenary group, you always shut me up by saying that I have no rights. Now that I'm not a member any longer, you still tell me that I can't speak my mind? In fact, it is actually you who no longer have the rights to tell me what to say!"

Barney then reached out his hand and pointed towards Rhode.

"I will say this now. This b*stard's dirt broke mercenary group is nothing compared to Jade Tears. Am I right, everyone?"

"Yes!"

"Yeah!"

The people that had followed Barney started chiming in.

"How can anyone want to join a trashy mercenary group like Starlight?"

"Hey... maybe that guy used his beauty to seduce people? Look at his face, doesn't he resemble a sissy?"

"Hahaha! He does really look like a sissy! Perhaps he might even be a woman in disguise! Is it because that she's too flat chested so she decided to dress as a man? Hahaha, that's too funny. Anyway, a flat chested woman in bed is still a woman, someone like her..."

Before that man could finish, a bright red light flashed past his head. In a fraction of a second, half of his head flew into the sky followed by his brain matter splattering all over the place. His body was still halfway maintaining a vulgar pose, but after convulsing a few times, it dropped to the floor with a thud.

Dead silence.

Everyone was in shock. All of them stared at the dead body in disbelief.

"Only level 5? Hmph, even the EXP he gave is only 5. What a noob."

Rhode spun his sword a few times and flicked away the 'dirtied blood' on his blade. Then, he coldly curled his lips into a smirk and stared at the rest, sending chills down their spine.

"Y-you, what are you doing!!"

Barney finally reacted. He stopped staring at the dead body and pointed a finger angrily at Rhode. But at the same time, he subconsciously backed a few steps away from him. It wasn't until he was reunited with the rest of his followers was he then finally relieved.

"You dared to kill a person in public!! Do you know that he's a member of the Jade Tears mercenary group?! Doing something like this is the same as declaring war!"

"Killed a person?"

Rhode glanced at the dead body and tilted his head, smiling coldly.

"I can only see a dead dog. I don't see any person here that you speak of... including you."

Rhode then lowered his head slightly and stared at Barney menacingly with his one side of his lips still curled upwards.

"For the sake of the peace and stability of this world, and as a respectful resident of this city, I have a duty to put down stray dogs that might infect others with their... contagious diseases."

Rhode slowly walked towards Barney.

"And as for you... perhaps you've forgotten the pain from before, Mr. Barney? Since my gift was so easily disregarded, do you think that I should give you something to remember me by—permanently?"

"Ah...ah...."

Barney's heart thumped harder at every step Rhode took and found himself frozen in fear. Although he had more people than Rhode, he didn't feel safe at all. From his perspective, the cold light gleaming in that man's eyes was like a monster that could gobble him up without breaking a sweat.

"M-m-mov..."

His teeth chattered as though something struck his throat. It was clearly only two simple words, but he didn't know why he was unable to say it.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!

Rhode was getting nearer and nearer. Barney could feel his previous injury that was already completely healed starting to hurt again.

Droplets of sweat trickled down his forehead, but he was still unable to move.

Am I going to die like this?

Swoosh!

Suddenly, a black shadow emerged from Rhode's back. With a quick motion, a sharp dagger deftly shot towards Rhode's rear.

The moment the dagger arrived behind him, he suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind the assailant. Her hands suddenly became numb and she lost control of her dagger which fell to the ground soon after.

Bad!

Realizing that her attack had failed, she planned to retreat. But before she could do so, the very next second, she found herself pinned against the wall with her neck grabbed tightly.

"That's already the second time. Looks like there's another one who didn't learn their lesson."

He glared mercilessly at the half-elf girl who struggled against the wall.

"I didn't think that you'd also join Jade Tears. It looks like that mercenary group is full of trash. They basically accept anything."

"Ugh..ugh..."

Both of her legs kicked against the wall, reaching out her hands in an attempt to pry open Rhode's vice-like grip. On the other hand, Rhode didn't budge an inch. Instead, he turned around and shot a glare at Barney.

"Is she your comrade? Maybe I should start with her?"

"S... stop!! Let her go!"

As though his words had woke him up, Barney suddenly had a surge of momentary courage and whipped out his sword, pointing the tip towards Rhode.

"Quick, let her go! Otherwise, I won't hold back!"

"A man must learn to talk less and do more."

Rhode smiled coldly at Barney's 'threat.' His fingers slowly clamped tighter on her neck, causing the girl to gasp for air. Her strength also seemed to dwindle as her legs which was previously actively kicking against the wall began turning limp.

"Everyone! Go!!"

Noticing that the situation was turning bad, Barney hesitated no longer. He waved his sword and gave the order to attack. Once they heard his command, the other mercenaries also took out their swords and rushed towards Rhode.

Then, at that moment, a deep voice boomed.

"Everyone, STOP!!!"

Chapter 103: Accident

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Barney and his crew were shocked by the voice and quickly put down their weapons before turning around.

Rhode frowned, but his grip didn't loosen the slightest.

"What's happening?!"

A man who wore a stunning magic armor appeared from the crowd which gathered to see what was happening. It was Frank, the leader of Jade Tears mercenary group. When he saw that the troublemaker was Rhode, a flash of coldness shone in his eyes, but it soon disappeared.

"Mr. Rhode, please release her. No matter what happened, what you are doing now is a provocation to my Jade Tears mercenary group."

"What if I don't let her go?"

Rhode loosened his grip slightly, allowing the half-elf girl to breathe again. However, she still had no strength to move, just like a puppet under Rhode's control.

"If you're smart, let her go. That would be the best outcome for the both of us."

Both of them stared at each other intensely, unwilling to back down. The bustling crowd, who gathered to watch the commotion also began to quieten down.

"Alright, sure."

Rhode pondered for a while and nodded. Then, he waved his hand and threw the pitiful half-elf girl to the ground while she screamed. Soon, some Jade Tears mercenaries came to carry her to safety.

"Leader, that guy, he..."

"I know."

Frank held his hand up and stopped Barney from speaking. He glared at Rhode coldly as he slowly shifted his hands to the sword by his waist.

"Mr. Rhode, although I don't know what actually happened here, isn't it enough since you've already killed one of my men?"

"Well, for a start, stop contradicting yourself. You just mentioned that you didn't know what happened here, so why are you telling me that what I've done is too much?"

Rhode maintained his terrifying smile. The sword in his hand gleamed in the sun with killing intent.

"Perhaps you can give me an explanation?"

"Sorry, I'm not interested in doing that. Moreover... I'm not done with that man over there."

Rhode lifted his sword and pointed it towards Barney.

"I've already given my word that I'm going to bequeath him a gift that he will not forget. Are you going to stand in my way, Mr. Frank?"

"... Mr. Rhode. I hope you understand the implications of what you are doing."

Frank's face turned darker.

"What you're doing now is declaring war with Jade Tears."

"Declaring war?"

Hearing Frank's response, Rhode smiled.

"If I'm not mistaken, what you meant was... you're attempting to wage war against Starlight?"

労働条件明示のルール変更～企業がやってはいけない5つのNG事項～ - 法改正にともなって必要になる実務対応に加え,企業がやってはいけない5つのNG事項を解説します.

Rhode lowered his voice until it was almost inaudible, but anyone who heard him felt a chill down their spine.

"And since that's your true intention..."

Rhode slowly lifted the sword in his hand.

"Then I won't hold back!"

Shadow Flash, activate!

A shadow flickered, followed by a bright red sword light piercing straight towards Frank's heart. Meanwhile, Frank also yelled and pulled out his swords to parry the attack.

Clang... clang... clang!!

Numerous sparks flew out each time the swords clashed. Both sides took a few steps back and stared at each other for a moment. And as if it was a planned performance, the two of them suddenly rushed forward again at the same time.

Frank swung his swords and lunged at Rhode's vitals. In response, Rhode spun his sword around and blocked the attack to his chest. At that moment, Frank discovered that Rhode threw something with his left hand. Three cards of different colors flew out.

"——!!"

In a blink of an eye, a dark fog filled the air and enveloped the two men within.

What's happening?!

Frank had no time to react. A black spear suddenly appeared from within the fog and pierced at him.

What the heck is that?!

Frank was startled. He quickly retreated to dodge the spear, but before he could relax, a black hound covered in flames appeared from the fog, roaring and rushing towards him.

"Damn it!!"

Frank's expression darkened. He crossed his swords to block the attack reaching for his chest, and when the black hound was just before him, Frank's body split into three illusions, slashing at the black hound consecutively. The black hound was immediately split into several pieces, and at that moment, the flames within its body burst out.

Boom!! The explosion turned the ground to glass, mercilessly sweeping out everything around it. Even the surroundings became hazy as the air filled with dust. After this, anyone who is tasked with cleaning this place would probably curse and swear.

Meanwhile, Frank was in quite a sorry state. He rolled on the ground a distance away from the explosion; his beautiful clothes were now incredibly dirty. Even if he tried to wash it, it would probably take a long time.

However, there was a much more imminent threat than his dirty clothes.

A holy flame split the dust cloud apart. The angel girl turned into a flash of lightning and shot towards Frank. Her white wings shone even under the cloudy sky. No matter how much dirt landed on her, the holy flames would keep her clean and pure.

Angel!?

When he saw Celia, Frank's eyes narrowed. He stared helplessly at the sword that was almost on him. Then, he stretched out his hand and held onto a beautiful pendant on his neck.

The next moment, he crushed the pendant.

The holy sword pierced through his body, but it didn't cause him any harm. With the power of a magic equipment, Frank escaped from being mortally wounded and fled the danger area.

But that didn't mean that Rhode was done.

The sound of hooves echoed from behind.

Frank, who had already spent all his concentration on the angel, didn't have time to dodge the attack that came from his rear. The Centaur Knight lifted its shield and bashed onto Frank's face, sending him flying towards Rhode. At the same time, a red sword glowed brightly and scattered into a thousand fragments, shooting towards Frank.

Is it the end?

As he stared helplessly at the attack coming for him, his heart sank. He had just begun his journey, was he going to die without accomplishing anything?

I am not willing, I am not willing!

"Stay your hand!"

Accompanied by an old voice, a mysterious rune barrier appeared and blocked the fragments. Rhode narrowed his eyes when he heard this voice. He flipped his hand and a card reappeared on his palm which quickly disappeared into thin air.

A gust of wind blew away the dust.

Everyone could finally see the scene before them.

The street was now full of holes. Rhode stood quietly by himself, staring at Frank emotionlessly. As for Frank, he was lying unconsciously on the ground.

An old man wearing a white robe stood beside Frank.

Space Barrier... an inner circle Mage.

Rhode clenched the sword on his hand.

A big fish was finally lured out.

"Young man, you've gone too far."

The old man looked at Frank's wound before studying Rhode. Facing his gaze, Rhode looked at him without the slightest fear.

"I don't think I have done anything excessive."

Rhode said while putting down his sword. At the same time, Sereck and the Old President walked out from the crowd anxiously. Since such a big thing happened outside, there was no way they didn't notice. It was just that Rhode moved too fast and they didn't have the time to stop it. Seeing the situation finally eased down, the two of them quickly stood forward.

"Stop it! Are you crazy? You actually dare to make a fuss in front of Mercenary Association's entrance! Do you even still put mercenaries as people in your eyes!?"

"Old man, I'm also a mercenary."

"You... alright enough, cut the b*llshit, I will carefully investigate what was happening here! Wait here. Before I clear up the mess, you are not allowed to go anywhere!"

"I'm not planning to go anywhere."

Rhode shrugged.

"It's just that Mr. Frank's Jade Tears was declaring war on me. I only agreed to his request, it's that simple, isn't it?"

"Don't falsely accuse people and talk nonsense!"

Barney heard Rhode's voice and quickly spoke out.

"You clearly were the one who killed our men first and now you're trying to alter the facts? Mr. President, this b*stard..."

"That's right, I actually forgot something important."

A sword flashed.

Barney's suddenly stopped speaking and his voice immediately turned into grief.

"Aaaahhhhh!! My ear! My ear!!!"

He stretched out his hand and held his left ear that was already gone. Only blood flowed out from in between the gaps of his fingers.

"Let's go Shauna. The show is over."

Rhode said without even turning back. The girl was dumbstruck. Before she could react, Rhode had already left.

Such a pity, it was a very good opportunity to kill a dangerous rebel...

But... the there's always another opportunity.

Chapter 104: The Group of Four People

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

The investigation results came out in less than half a day. Not surprising though, since the whole fiasco took part in front of the Mercenary Association, and with the numerous onlookers witnessing it, they had no choice but to put in extra effort in the investigation.

Sereck had a headache. He wanted to persuade Rhode to reconcile with Jade Tears, but he didn't expect that the Rhode who had been relatively easy to talk to actually ignore him. He couldn't understand why this young man's attitude suddenly took a turn without any warning.

Meanwhile, the Jade Tears mercenary group were unexpectedly calm. Though many mercenaries were furious, since their leader was injured and currently unconscious, they were unsure of what to do. If their leader, who was much stronger than them, still lost to Rhode, what could they do?

As for Rhode, he was lamenting about not being able to kill Frank.

He knew clearly what role Frank would play in the future. If he could get rid of Frank now, the Country of Light would be unable to create trouble in Deep Stone City for at least one more year.

With that one year, he could reinforce Deep Stone City with enough measures to resist the Country of Light.

However, Rhode's plan failed. According to Old Walker, he only needed to rest a month to heal. Rhode felt that it was too short.

Still, he managed to succeed in provoking the hostilities between both parties as planned...

In fact, when Rhode realized that Frank was the leader of the Jade Tears mercenary group, he had been trying to find ways to create conflicts. In the future, he would inevitably launch an attack against Jade Tears to counter the internal invasion from the Country of Light. If he did that without reason, the opponent would definitely be suspicious of Rhode. Even though Rhode knew what the Country of Light was planning to do, he didn't want to reveal to others just yet.

Rhode decided that the safest way to conceal his intentions was to act hostile to Jade Tears. As the rivalry between mercenary groups was uncommon, he could disrupt their plans on purpose without being found out.

If the Country of Light found out that Rhode somehow discovered their plans, they would use many methods to try and silence him. However, if it were only something like a dispute between mercenary groups, they wouldn't risk exposing themselves for a mere conjecture.

It's just like a fight between two yakuza gangs. It's very normal for them to fight. If one of them dispatched the CIA or FBI to help one side, then the other party would definitely become suspicious.

The woman sitting at the top of Golden City was no fool. That was why the Country of Light had been treading lightly around her.

Initially, Rhode was thinking hard on how to provoke Jade Tears without being it being too forced. But he had never thought that Barney would be thoughtful to deliver himself on a platter.

After this clash, Rhode felt certain that he didn't have to worry about the relationship turning harmonious.

However, there was one thing that went beyond his expectations — the attitude of the other mercenary groups.

Normally, uninvolved groups would usually be indifferent to these kinds of fights between mercenary groups. But surprisingly, many mercenary groups revealed their support and ridiculed the Jade Tears mercenary group.

This made Rhode a little surprised, but after thinking about it, he understood why they behaved this way.

After all, nearly two-thirds of the thirty-two mercenary groups in Paphield received heavy losses. However, during this time, Jade Tears actually flaunted their money and poached mercenaries. It was like putting salt on one's wound.

If Jade Tears was like Starlight who managed to come back from Silent Plateau without any casualties successfully, perhaps their stance on the matter might be different. However, Jade Tears weren't strong like Starlight. Moreover, they used their money to poach mercenaries which made a lot of groups unhappy.

No matter where one went, a show-off would always be shunned.

Many criticisms against Jade Tears floated in taverns and inns as many mercenary groups drowned their worries in liquor. They had no choice but to complain privately as the strength of Jade Tears rose quickly to a first-class mercenary group just by numbers alone while their groups were unable to recover.

However, they didn't think that Starlight would suddenly appear and beat up Jade Tears. This left them extremely satisfied. There was actually someone who was willing to help clean up the trash, so they didn't mind supporting them from behind. Even though Rhode understood that verbal support had little to no significance, at least it wasn't totally useless. It made clear to the Mercenary Association that the reputation of Jade Tears was falling. And that was more than enough for Rhode since they would take this point into account when dealing with Jade Tears in the future.

But that wasn't the most important matter right now.

"Is it... here?"

The girl looked up; her beautiful face revealed an uneasy expression. She clenched her cloak tightly, looking at the massive house before her. Beside her, a young man who was also wrapped in a cloak patted the girl's head to comfort her.

"Lapis, don't worry. I believe there won't be a problem."

"Um...umm."

Although she nodded her head, her expression didn't relax the slightest. Looking at her current appearance, the young man beside her couldn't help but smile wryly; then he glanced at his other two comrades. Clearly, they were also nervous.

These four people were almost the same age, and they were wearing mercenary clothes. A man and a woman in front looked like a pair of siblings. The brother was carrying an old wooden longbow and five or six flying knives hanged from the belt on his waist. The green cloak wrapped around his head and body, only leaving his chin pointing out, looking very much like a Ranger's outfit. While the girl beside him dressed just like him, she didn't possess a Ranger vibe, unlike her brother.

She was holding his hand looking around uneasily; she resembled more like a child who had run away from home.

The other two behind them was a Swordsman wearing heavy armor while the other was a Thief who yawned while kneeling on the ground.

Although each one had a different expression, they were all looking at the old mansion before them.

These four were newcomers who wanted to join Starlight. Before, they belonged to Mark White and were also Anne's subordinates.

At that moment, these four people were feeling complicated.

Mark White was their first mercenary group. Before that, they didn't have much adventuring experience, that was why they were often excluded after joining the mercenary group. It was Anne who helped them and brought them into her clique until they gradually got used to mercenary life. Initially, they thought the days would go on just like this, but they were taken by surprise by the old leader sudden death and what happened afterward. The fight for leadership also made Anne distressed and confused, making them worry about her. But as newcomers, they didn't have the authority to speak their views openly; they could only slowly see how the group eventually abandoned Anne.

Later, once the dispute ended, the newly appointed leader began cleaning up the former leader's forces and transferred them into other mercenary groups. This included the four standing by the door right now.

Eventually, they found Old Walker through an acquaintance. Since they couldn't stay at Mark White any longer, they decided to move in with Anne.

However, they still unsure what would happen to them once they joined Starlight. They investigated some matters regarding Starlight and while most of them were good, such issues such as killing the Jade Tears mercenary made them feel slightly uneasy. What if their new leader was cruel and tyrannical?

But since they had no choice after being kicked out of Mark White, and also out of concern for Anne, they could only leave it up to fate.

When the four of them arrived at the entrance, a red-haired mercenary walked forward. She looked at the four of them with a stern expression, her right hand was holding a sword, blocking their way.

"Who are you guys? What are you doing at Starlight's stronghold?"

"Erm...."

Shauna was only older than them by a few years, but since she had the demeanor of a former mercenary leader, the authority in her voice was still there. Not to mention that the people that appeared before her were newbies who at most had only a year of experience.

Discovering Shauna's sharp gaze, the girl who was wearing a cloak quickly hid behind her brother's back. Her brother coughed lightly and lifted his head up.

"Sorry, miss, but we are—"

"Aren't you Shauna, the leader of Red Hawk!?"

Before he could finish, the Ranger suddenly exclaimed with shock in her voice when she saw at Shauna.

"You guys are..."

Shauna looked at them curiously and asked.

"We are Anne's former subordinates. We came here to..."

"Ahh... so it's you guys."

Shauna nodded her head after confirming their identities. She put down her hand which was resting on her sword and turned around towards the mansion.

"Follow me."

Under Shauna's lead, the four of them entered the mansion and the interior of the mansion before them caused them to gasp in surprise.

The reason why Rhode's mercenary group was famous because their stronghold was formerly Cyril's Haunted House. As the name suggested, the house was famous for being 'haunted.'

This was why the four thought that the house would be old and eerie. But what they saw blew their expectations away. Instead of cobwebs and broken furniture, what they saw were clean courtyards and comfy sofas. While it can't be said to be overly luxurious, at least it was tidy. No one would believe that this place was the famous legendary haunted house.

"Ms. Shauna."

Looking at the red-haired girl figure, the Ranger hesitated for a moment but still chose to ask.

"Why... are you in Starlight?"

"Because Red Hawk has already been disbanded."

Shauna shrugged while answering the Ranger's question. Although she answered it casually, there was still a trace of helplessness. After all, it was a mercenary group that she put her blood, sweat, and tears into it. Now that it was gone, of course she felt unwilling.

The four of them caught the slight helplessness in her voice, so they stopped asking. The girl also secretly glared at her own brother; clearly, she was blaming her brother for what he should say and what he shouldn't say. After being glared by his sister, the Ranger could only shake his head. In the end, he still decided to bite the bullet and change the topic.

"Ms. Shauna. What kind of person is Starlight's leader?"

Shauna stopped walking. The other four who were following behind her also stopped in their tracks. They stared at the red-haired girl curiously, waiting for her to speak. After a moment, Shauna turned around, but contrary to what they expected. She was actually smiling! What does that mean?

"Umm... describing Mr. Rhode is hard. That's because even I haven't interacted with him for long. But I have one advice for all of you."

"Please speak."

The four of them quickly became nervous.

"Firstly, Mr. Rhode is almost the same age as us. But definitely don't look down on him, he's very capable... Also, please note that he rarely smiles, and one more thing, don't mention anything about his face in front of him... This is very important—the importance is tied to the existence of your life."

"..."

The four of them couldn't help but gulp in nervousness. Even the smile on the Thief's face gradually disappeared.

"Does the leader look scary?"

The girl who kept hiding behind her brother's back couldn't help but ask. It seemed like whether young or old, a female always cared about appearance.

"It's not like that."

Shauna smiled wryly and waved her hand. After thinking for a while, she still didn't know how to explain it to everyone.

"Anyway... I hope that you guys remember this, he is a man. Don't be mistaken by his looks."

After saying her piece, Shauna opened the door.

"Please come in. Mr. Rhode is waiting."

Chapter 105: Another Surprise

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Rhode looked at the four mercenaries standing nervously in front of him. Although Old Walker did remind him that they were newbies, he didn't expect them to be that nervous.

"Hel, Hello, Mr....Rhode."

The Ranger finally understood why Shauna reminded them that Rhode was a man. Honestly, if Shauna didn't inform him beforehand, it would be difficult for him not to call Rhode a 'beautiful young miss.'

Once he did that, it would be the end of him.

"Welcome, Anne informed me about the four of you."

Rhode nodded towards them as a greeting.

The Ranger stood straight and began to introduce themselves.

"Yes, Mr. Rhode. We are Ms. Anne's subordinates. I am Randolf Cary, and this is my sister Lapis, we're both Rangers. The one who is wearing heavy armor is Andon, and the one beside him is Joey, although he looks like that... he's a trustworthy thief."

"I know."

Rhode said after Randolf introduced the others.

"Anne's testimony of the four of you is quite high, but I still need to witness your performance personally. I'm going to conduct a trial for the four of you; as long you can pass, I will permit you to fight alongside the rest of us in the frontlines. However, if you are unable to pass, I will assign you to some other task. Alright, you can prepare as and when you wish from now."

"Yes, Mr. Rhode."

Randolf finally felt relieved. Rhode was just as expressionless as Shauna had said, but at least his tone wasn't cold.

"Mr. Rhode, is Ms. Anne here? It's been so long since we saw her..."

Randolf asked curiously.

"Anne?"

Rhode went silent for a while, then he nodded.

"I can bring you guys to see her. But you must understand that she's in the middle of a punishment, so she can't go outside."

Punishment?

They glanced at each other nervously.

What kind of punishment did Anne get?

Why did she get punished?

It wasn't difficult to imagine why she was punished. Back in Mark White, Anne was often penalized because spoke her mind and always did things at her own leisure. Therefore she often caused trouble in the group, but all of these were small matters since the old leader could cover up for her. However, once the old leader died, the trouble she caused went out of hand and was often punished for it.

Randolf thought that perhaps Anne would behave better in a newer environment, but it seemed like that was not the case...

What did Anne do to make Rhode angry?

Is she okay?

労働基準監督署の調査 - 労働基準監督署の調査（臨検監督）の基礎知識をはじめ,調査が入った際の対応方法,企業が日頃から取り組むべきことについて解説します.

At that moment, these kinds of thoughts crossed their mind.

All of them were worried about Anne's situation. They imagined her being imprisoned in a cold and dark underground cellar. If she was treated like that, how could they possibly stay in this mercenary group in peace?

But they were left dumbstruck when Rhode opened the door.

Both of her hands were tucked in as she sat on the edge of the bed, bored. When she heard the door open saw Rhode, the girl immediately bounced up and ran towards Rhode.

"Ah, leader, you finally came! Is it time for me to go out now???"

Randolf and the others stared at the girl with their mouths wide open. If she had a tail right now, there's no doubt that it would be wagging intensely.

Still, Rhode seemed unaffected by her natural charm. He pointed at the clock and said, almost emotionlessly.

"No, 12 pm tonight."

Eh, that's... punishment?

"Anyway, your friends came to see you."

Rhode lightly caressed Anne's head and pointed to the people behind him. Anne popped her head to the left and saw the four mercenaries behind Rhode staring blankly at her.

"Ah, Randolf, Lapis, you guys finally came!"

"Sister Anne!"

Lapis who was hiding behind her brother's back rushed and hugged Anne. Anne rubbed her head and smiled just like Rhode before.

"Lapis is still a scaredy cat like always~ You cannot continue to be like that, okay? You are a mercenary now! If you're not brave enough, you'll be laughed at by others!"

"I-I'm not scared! I'm just nervous!"

The girl quickly raised her head and tried to defend herself, but her face still flushed red.

"Ms. Anne, I'm happy to meet you once again."

Randolf and the other two also walked towards Anne and greeted her.

As for Rhode, he had already made himself scarce. Clearly, he was giving them privacy for their reunion.

"Randolf, Andon, Joey. You guys look like you're doing well."

Looking at the three of them, Anne laughed and said. But then her tone suddenly turned serious.

"But, in Starlight, don't call me Ms. Anne anymore. I'm just an ordinary mercenary here, so just directly call my name in the future. You must remember that this mercenary group belongs to Mr. Rhode. Don't get it wrong now, okay?! Otherwise, I'll get really mad!"

The four of them was mildly surprised because Anne rarely got serious.

"Of course, Mi... no, Anne."

"Ah, Sister Anne, what actually did you do to get punished? Did that person bully you?"

Lapis raised her head and asked curiously.

"It's not that serious..."

Anne's expression turned awkward when she heard Lapis' question. The four of them looked at her strangely. They had followed Anne for a year, so it could be said that they understood her relatively well. Even when dealing with the old leader, when Anne was at fault, she rarely acknowledges it. However, she was actually hesitating now!

"It's just that... I didn't follow my leader's command in our previous mission. That's why leader is furious and told me to reflect on my mistake. I don't understand what exactly he wants, but that was what I was told to do. Hmph! Leader is too strict!"

Looking at the girl who sat on the bed twitching her mouth dissatisfyingly, the four looked at each other and smiled wryly. They never knew that Anne had this side of her. She had always been so unafraid of everything. What did Rhode do to cause Anne to turn so docile?

Since they couldn't find the answer to this question, they proceeded to the training field in the courtyard, with Lize leading them, of course. In the beginning, they viewed Rhode as tyrannical and powerful, but now they saw him as friendly and mysterious. They were relieved when they found out that Rhode was rather caring towards his subordinates.

When they reached the training field, they saw Rhode and Marlene standing next to each other.

"That's the four?"

Marlene frowned, evidently dissatisfied with their bearing.

"Frankly, they don't look like they can fight well."

"It's okay as long as they have the potential."

Rhode shook his head.

"With our current situation, it is impossible for us to hire people with powerful abilities. Since we lack manpower, they will have to suffice. Moreover, it's not like they're totally powerless; with training, I think that these guys still can make it."

After saying that, Rhode walked towards the four of them. In their eyes, Rhode saw hesitation, uneasiness, and expectation. It made him reminiscence of the game days when he brought newbies on a mission just after forming Starlight. At this moment, these four mercenaries somehow resembled those players.

Well, since it's like that, he would just test them using the same way.

"The test is simple. As long as you can injure my summoned spirit, it means you win. You can do whatever you want; I just want to see your real strength."

Rhode said as he took a step backward. Then, a black card appeared on his palm.

Without waiting for them to react, a huge Centaur Knight rose from the fog. It lowered its head and gazed at everyone with its bloodshot red eyes before roaring menacingly.

What is that? Where did it come from?

They were shocked at the sudden appearance of a monster. But before they could say anything, Rhode snapped his fingers and spoke.

"The test begins now."

"———!!!"

The Centaur Knight roared. It lifted the spear on its hand high and swung it in a downward arc.

"Not good!"

Randolf quickly rolled to the ground to dodge the Centaur's vertical attack. Then he promptly equipped the bow from his back and drew an arrow, aiming towards the Centaur Knight.

"Everyone, prepare for battle formation, Lapis!"

"Yes, brother!!"

Lapis who was hiding behind stretched out her hand to take an object from her body and threw it forward.

"Eh?"

Both Rhode and Marlene raised their brows at the same time. They saw her throw two small glass bottles with a translucent liquid inside. When the bottles hit the floor, it broke into many tiny fragments and the liquid inside blended together. Then, out of a sudden, the liquid that seemed harmless turned into a sharp blade made out of ice and shot forward!

At that moment, Marlene who was standing by the side spoke with surprise in her voice.

"Ice Potion?"

"Elemental Fusion... It's alchemy."

Rhode said.

He, too, was looking at that girl in surprise.

Did he unknowingly pick up a treasure again?

Chapter 106: Fake?

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

The ice didn't hinder the Centaur Knight's movements at all; it merely raised its shield and blocked the shards.

Facing the Centaur Knight's unstoppable charge, the heavily-armored Swordsman was also forced back.

But the moment he turned around retreated a few steps back, his fate was already decided.

The heavily-armored Swordsman lifted his sword, intending to counterattack. Suddenly, a towering shadow loomed over him. When he looked over his shoulders, he saw the Centaur Knight's huge body just a few centimeters away from his face!

Sh*t!!

That was the last thing he could remember saying before his mind was sent into a whirl. The Centaur Knight smashed its shield into his chest and sent him flying, landing on the ground a few moments later. All he could do now was moan in agony while clutching his stomach.

He was out of the battle.

"Andon!"

The Ranger who was about to attack apparently didn't expect that his comrade to fall in one hit. As a result, he panicked and released an arrow towards the Centaur Knight before quickly backing off. Their original plan was to let the Swordsman hold the Centaur Knight's attention while the other three would find opportunities to attack. Alas, the plan hadn't lasted ten seconds before it shattered. The Ranger wasn't ready for such a drastic change in the plan at its initial stages, so he could only back off and think of other options.

At that moment, the Thief who had been concealing himself also made his move.

If he knew that Andon would fail so miserably, he would've hesitated and retreated like the Ranger. But it was too late as, by the time he attacked, Andon had already been knocked out. In a blink of an eye, his outcome was decided.

An intense wave of pain swept through the Thief's body. The Centaur Knight kicked backward using its two hind legs, stamping two black hoof prints on his chest. After that, the Thief was no different from the Swordsman and was left groaning on the ground.

If the Centaur Knight hadn't held back its strength, perhaps his ribcage would already have been shattered.

With two down, the Centaur Knight now shifted his attention to Randolf and rushed towards him.

"Lapis!"

Randolf quickly pulled his bow and yelled. He shot another arrow towards the Centaur Knight's chest, but its armor deflected it easily. The girl who Randolf shouted at recovered from her shock and grabbed another flask before throwing it onto the ground in front of Randolf.

On the surface, nothing seemed to have changed. But when the Centaur Knight galloped near Randolf, its huge body halted abruptly and tilted forward. Because of the inertia, the Centaur Knight ended in an awkward position; its two front hooves were stuck in the ground as though it was made out of mud. It began struggling wildly, but its legs sunk deeper into the ground the more it tried to move.

"That is indeed Elemental Fusion."

Marlene said as she propped her chin with her fingers. She stared at the girl curiously with a glimmer of delight.

"That's strange... since she has already learned about Elemental Fusion, why would she use such elementary spells?"

When Rhode caught Marlene talking to herself, he chose to stay silent. He was also paying close attention to the girl named Lapis. As for the matter Marlene was thinking about, Rhode naturally knew her doubts.

Typically, when someone manages to reach the level of Elemental Fusion, it means that his or her ability is comparable to that of a full-fledged Alchemist. Alchemists were able to produce magic items and cast low-tier spells via concoction, but Lapis hadn't shown any magic instruments nor used any low-tier spells. All she did was imitate apprentice-level spells. Although her spells were passable, other than in training, there was no point for her to store these spells in flasks as they could be learned easily.

2024年版 年間業務カレンダー - 人事労務の年間業務を月別にまとめ,提出や納付が必要な手続きを一覧化しました.

The purpose of alchemy was to make complicated things easier, but all Lapis was doing was making it more complicated.

As for the level of this alchemy, not only could Marlene passively ignore it, it could also be blocked by Lize's barrier. Rather than wasting time to concoct the spells into a flask, wasn't it better to use her Ranger skills?

When the two of them were still trying to figure out her intentions, the battle had already been decided.

Although they took the Centaur Knight by surprise, Randolf still didn't manage to win. When the Centaur Knight realized that it couldn't leave the trap, it hurled its spear at Randolf when he least expected it. As Randolf was in the midst of nocking his arrow, he didn't manage to react in time and was the third person to be sent flying.

Lapis, being the last one standing, knew that her brother was in a difficult position. She once again tried to attack the enemy by using alchemy, but her performance made Rhode and Marlene sigh at the same time.

The Centaur Knight caught sight of her movements and tossed its shield towards her. With an ear-piercing screech, the shield shot past her head. Lapis immediately lost her courage and squatted down with her hands on above her head. Apparently, she forgot what she was supposed to do.

A group of newbies.

From the beginning to the end, it took no less than thirty seconds for the Centaur Knight to wipe the floor with them. Rhode shook his head in disappointment. Frankly, this standard was even worse than the newbie players.

Ask them to go on a mission with him with this standard?

Impossible.

Rhode then recalled his summoned spirit.

From Rhode's gloomy expression, the four of them knew that their performance was unsatisfactory.

"To be honest... your performance is far below my requirements."

Rhode didn't coat his words in sugar. This caused their already de-spirited expressions to turn even worse. However, they knew that what Rhode said was a fact.

"But, I will give you another chance. In the following days, I will teach you how to improving using your own strength. If you can successfully improve, you may have the opportunity to become a formal member of my mercenary group. But if you fail, then I'm sorry..."

Rhode spread out his palms.

"You can only be servants here."

The four of them were shocked and lifted their heads to look at Rhode. Randolf opened his mouth, but no words came out from it. They weren't supposed to be treated like this, still, Randolf could tell that their performance was truly substandard.

In the past, they could still get away with their level of skill because Anne was there as the backbone of the team. But now, she had left, and they found themselves unable to function properly as a team when faced with a strong opponent.

Can they still be considered mercenaries?

While Randolf sunk deep into thought, Rhode's voice brought him back to reality.

"Your answer?"

"Yes, Sir!"

Randolf quickly stood up and lifted his head.

"We assure you that we will comply with your request."

"I hope so."

Randolf's answer didn't assure Rhode at all.

Luckily Shauna had warned them about Rhode's lack of emotions otherwise Randolf would think that he didn't care at all. But Rhode's attitude still left him somewhat frustrated. Perhaps they wouldn't be this uneasy in his presence if he could at least give a smile,

"But I have one more question regarding Lapis."

Hearing this, Randolf immediately tensed. Lapis was still holding onto her brother's sleeve, carefully watching the young man who was only older than him by a few years. Although Rhode was aware that both of them were nervous, he didn't plan to stop and continued to speak.

"I can see that she's at the level of Elemental Fusion. But why didn't she use magic instruments? It wouldn't be difficult for her to concoct low-tier spells. What's the purpose for spending effort crafting elementary spells?"

"Yes...umm"

Randolf's expression eased up a little after understanding Rhode's intentions. It wasn't a strange question as Mark White had asked them the exact same thing during their recruitment.

"Lapis isn't very talented. She likes alchemy and had been always able to comprehend every theory since young, but somehow, she hit a bottleneck and was unable to improve since. Yes, she has the ability to perform Elemental Fusion, but she can't concoct higher-tier potions..."

"Wait."

Rhode face turned strange and stopped Randolf from continuing. By the side, Marlene expression also turned weird.

"You mean that... she can comprehend every subject in alchemy? From mysterious creations, potions to construction? All of it?"

"Y..Yes, Sir."

This time, Lapis answered personally, albeit timidly.

"I, when I learned alchemy, I thought that every alchemy subject must be studied together, so I..."

"..."

Rhode and Marlene glanced at each other, speechless. They finally understood why she did that.

Just like a person who studied foreign languages, they would usually study one language at the time. But for Lapis, she chose to it learn all at once. That was why her performance and ability differed so much. Elemental Fusion was indeed the basics of alchemy, but more than often people would only excel in one division of it. If she majored in mysterious creation, her Elemental Fusion would be to create magic instruments. If she majored in potion-making, her Elemental Fusion would be concocting potions. And if she majored in construction, her Elemental Fusion would be used as a core to enhance magical constructs.

Different divisions had different outcomes, but this greedy girl wanted to eat everything all together.

Maybe this is the so-called saying that ignorant people have no fear.

But what struck Rhode and Marlene speechless was her ability to learn all three divisions. Typically, an ordinary person could only dedicate their entire life to one division. Even if they were greedy and wanted to learn one more, they had no time.

Even the superhumanly player couldn't escape from this limitation. When a player chose a division, it would consume 1 Skill Point. If they wanted to unlock another division, they would need to use 5 Skill Points. These Skill Points could directly level a single division to 6. Therefore, using so many Skill Points to do something like this was just plain wasteful. Moreover, every division had a different set of skills and knowledge requirements. Even the most bored player who wanted to become the king of alchemy couldn't do it without dedicating around five years to it.

At least from what Rhode remembered, from his many years of playing Dragon Soul Continent Online, he had never seen someone who was successful in learning all three divisions in alchemy.

But now there was actually a weird person before him that managed to do so, at least in the theory part.

Is she a genius or not?

At that moment, Rhode felt utterly helpless. He had the urge to pat her shoulder and give her this advice:

Kid... that's enough. Just... delete your character and replay.

Chapter 107: Mercenary Joint Meeting

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Of course, Rhode was kidding. There isn't a way for her to delete her character since this world isn't a game.

Rhode and Marlene pitied her. She had the talent, but she didn't have a proper tutor to guide her the way to study alchemy. Perhaps if she had, she would be one of the next alchemy geniuses on the continent.

But Rhode didn't plan to give on up her just like that. Since Lapis had already joined Starlight, he could still try and salvage what he could. Although Lapis did what no player could do, it wasn't all that surprising as NPCs had different characteristics from players. Rhode turned towards Marlene and looked at her. Just like that young genius mage beside him who excelled in 'all forms of magic.'

"It's impossible, Mr. Rhode."

Marlene said, as though she read Rhode's mind.

"While I did learn how to concoct potions, I'm not too sure about the other two divisions. Even if you want me to teach her, I can't teach something I don't know."

After all, being a genius doesn't mean that she's omnipotent.

"Just give it a try."

Rhode understood Marlene's difficulties as his class had a similar problem. One of the skill requirements for the Summoning Swordsman class was also mysterious creation.

Marlene had a look of bewilderment on her face; her usual confidence was nowhere to be seen. Rhode knew that he shouldn't force things to progress quickly so he didn't require her to complete the task if she couldn't. It's just that he didn't have anyone else who had more knowledge of magic than her, thus he could only give it a try.

労働条件明示のルール変更～企業がやってはいけない5つのNG事項～ - 法改正にともなって必要になる実務対応に加え,企業がやってはいけない5つのNG事項を解説します.

After hiring the four of them, Rhode told Old Walker to halt the recruitment.

With the addition of Shauna, Randolf, Lapis and the others, Starlight had met the minimum requirements of 12 members. It took some time, but Rhode finally did it.

Although there were no geniuses among the new recruits, Rhode didn't worry about it. These mercenaries were still young and had enough time to train. Rhode was once the leader of a massive guild, so he had plenty of experience in developing newbies. As long as he had enough time, he was certain that he could bring them up to a similar standard to that of a regular player. While he couldn't guarantee that he could train them up to a level similar to Marlene, at least they would be self-sufficient when going for missions.

Now that's settled, Rhode still had one more thing to do.

Attending the Mercenary Association Joint Meeting.

When Rhode arrived at the Mercenary Association, it was already dusk.

"Hello, Mr. Rhode."

The mercenary who was responsible for greeting the guests promptly paid his respect to Rhode and politely ushered him inside. When he entered the hall, he found that the Mercenary Association looked different than the usual.

The tables and chairs the mercenaries sat on were gone; the only traces of furniture was the 32 chairs placed in a circle at the center of the hall. Many people had already arrived, making the large hall seem somewhat crowded.

Some were discussing something quietly while others quarreled openly. And among them, some people were unhappy, while others were coldly watching by the side.

These people were Paphield Region's 32 mercenary group leaders. At this moment, all of them were assembled together.

Rhode's arrival caused many people to stop talking as they shifted their attention to the appearance of the rising star. Ever since Starlight was formed, it was a group that didn't shy away from controversy. From how it was created, to where its stronghold was located and to the attractive rewards from the missions they received. Moreover, the recent conflict between Starlight and Jade Tears also sparked another wave of controversy among the mercenary groups. These events put Starlight in the limelight, and the mercenary group leaders were curious about who this mysterious young man was.

Under the attendant's lead, Rhode finally made it to his seat and sat down. The chairs were arranged according to the rank of the mercenary group, and the Starlight mercenary group's seat was the second to the left, which was the third-ranked seat.

Some people were unhappy with Rhode occupying the third rank, but before they could display their dissatisfaction, the Old President slammed his hammer down and silenced the crowd.

"Enough! Since everyone is now present, I now declare the commencement of the Mercenary Joint Meeting."

All the leaders immediately stopped speaking and gazed at the old man in anticipation.

This old man has such high prestige? That's unexpected.

Rhode sat on the chair with his arms crossed, looking at the Old President in amusement. He didn't stare too long before glancing around to look at the other leaders since some of them might be his future allies or foes.

Rhode was familiar with three of them, though. The person sitting in the first seat was a Swordsman who wielded a two-handed sword, 'Flame' Hiller. He spent twenty years to bring his mercenary group to the top. He also obtained the 'Flame Spirit Blessing' which was an artifact envied by many players.

It was even said that the massive two-handed blade on his back was made out of pure fire elemental condensation. Once the blade touches something, its temperature would shoot up to the point of melting anything around it.

Contrary to the fiery sword that appeared tyrannical, its master, 'Flame' Hiller, was a calm and brave man. Hiller's luck wasn't that good. During the past two decades, he upgraded his mercenary group to a guild several times, but they quickly relegated back into a mercenary group in the very same year. Still, though Burning Blade couldn't be compared to a mercenary guild, among the mercenary groups, it's still first in its class.

Sitting next to Hiller was 'Shadow' Shawn, the leader of the second-ranked 'Dark Fang.' He wore a white mask with a black cloak covering his entire body. It was rumored that he used to be a Rogue in one of the northern countries, but because of a mistake, he fled to Deep Stone City and took refuge there. Compared to orthodox mercenary groups like Burning Blade, Dark Fang was more of a society for Thieves and Assassins. The way they trained was based on subterfuge and hidden weapons. This made the mercenary group popular among dexterity-based classes like Rangers and Thieves.

However, Shawn didn't seem interested in promoting his mercenary group into a guild. He led Dark Fang for many years, and each year he consistently held the second rank, but never the first. Because of this, Dark Fang being referred to as the 'Eternal No.2' was an open secret. But after some time, this nickname of theirs faded away.

Just next to Rhode was the leader of Anne's former mercenary group, Mark White. He stared at Rhode with open animosity as Starlight had overtaken their position as third. Moreover, Rhode had 'bought over' some former Mark White members. Although it was a fair trade, the presence of their ex-members still made them feel slightly uncomfortable.

Just when Rhode stopped studying the appearances of all the leaders, the Old President also completed his boring opening speech. After that, he coughed and tapped the hammer on his hand.

"As you all should know, the recent incidents have caused considerable damage to all mercenary groups in Paphield. This meeting is to decide what happens next. Now, I'm going to announce the final decision determined by the Mercenary Association as we've discussed earlier."

Many mercenary group leaders were surprised. Even the leader of Burning Blade frowned. If the Mercenary Association made the final decision, the mercenary groups wouldn't be able to defy it unless they wanted to go rogue.

"The Mercenary Association has decided that because of the complexity of this incident, we will postpone the assessment to ensure that every mercenary group has enough time to rebuild. During this period, the Association will not release any missions and also forbid any mercenary groups to receive missions in private. If you violate this rule and undertake a mission, the Mercenary Association will not be liable for your loss and will not compensate you in any way."

Once the Old President finished, the quiet hall turned rowdy. Then, a man suddenly jumped up from his chair and yelled.

"I object!!"

Chapter 108: Opposition

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Everyone looked towards the voice in surprise. Even Rhode felt curious and opened his eyes to see who dared to oppose the Mercenary Association's decision.

Many people thought that it was Jade Tears because they took advantage of the situation to 'steal' people from other groups. However, the one who opposed the decision was actually the mercenary group ranked second from the last, Mad Dog.

What are they trying to do?

Many mercenary groups glared at them silently.

Mad Dog was also one of the mercenary groups which suffered heavy casualties from the recent incident. They shouldn't be opposing this decision. If the Mercenary Association decided to amend its decision, weak mercenary groups like Mad Dog would suffer even more. So why did they oppose it?

"Hmph."

Shawn, who sat beside Rhode, snorted in disdain. The voice that reverberated from behind the mask was deep and cold.

Hiller's eyes were closed and didn't react, giving people the impression that he didn't care.

As for Rhode, he suspected that something was fishy. He turned and glanced at the representative for Jade Tears who wasn't sitting too far from him.

Frank was still unconscious and bedridden for a month and a half, so he wasn't able to attend the meeting. Instead, they sent the vice-leader to represent Jade Tears. Rhode was no stranger to this man. Back in the game, both Frank and his vice-leader were like accomplices in action and Rhode often met both of them together. It was a pity that he wasn't there when Frank challenged Rhode though; if he could kill either one of them, it can be considered a victory for Rhode.

Hmm, then what about now?

Rhode rolled his eyes and began to think of how to get rid of him openly in this meeting...

The vice-leader of Jade Tears sat on his seat with a blank expression on his face as if nothing concerned him at all. However, Rhode knew that Jade Tears had something to do with this.

Everyone knew that Jade Tears was loaded with money. Mad Dog mercenary group was clearly bribed. It wasn't surprising though since mercenaries needed money to live and wealth was the foundation of their existence. This was especially so for lower-ranked mercenary groups who had no history, no pride, and no dignity. As long the money was enough, they could crawl on their knees and lick the shoes of their 'benefactor.'

Perhaps Jade Tears had gotten a whiff of the Mercenary Association's decision from their hidden sources and paid some low-ranked mercenary group to become their 'spokesperson.' For those groups, regardless whether the Mercenary Association made this decision or not, they were unlikely to get any benefit from it.

Let's take Mad Dog's situation for example. Their rank was currently at the second from the last, even if the meeting didn't happen, they couldn't escape from being dissolved sooner or later. Rather than wait for the inevitable, wasn't it better to receive money before disbanding?

This scheme was indeed quite clever since Jade Tears figured out that they weren't welcome in the mercenary group's circle. Even so, they knew that they couldn't publically oppose the decision made by the Mercenary Association as that would give everyone another reason to hate them. Moreover, not only would they receive the hate, the Mercenary Association wouldn't change their decision.

Now, with the 'help' of other groups, Jade Tears successfully created an internal conflict within the circle of mercenary groups.

Just as Rhode had predicted, when Mad Dog's leader stood up to oppose, another three mercenary group leaders stood up simultaneously. And of course, they were all from the lower ranks.

"We also disagree with Mercenary Association's decision."

"That's right; it's too unfair! Too unreasonable!"

Inevitably, these words would spark arguments from the other side.

"What the heck are you saying? Is there something wrong with your brain? You only have a few people in your group yet you want to resume the missions? Bullsh*t!!"

"We just want to protect the Mercenary Association's tradition! Ever since the beginning, there had never been a point in time where we stopped giving out missions. Indeed, this time we're unlucky, but it's a problem we have to overcome ourselves. Isn't this situation due to our incompetence? Look at Starlight; they had lacked in members when they first registered as a mercenary group, but look at them now! If we are going to follow the rules strictly, shouldn't Starlight need to wait for enough people before calculating the points?"

Once Starlight was mentioned, the crowd's rage immediately diminished. Many took the chance to turn towards Rhode, waiting for his reaction.

F*ck those Jade Tears scum, I knew those b*stards were up to something.

Rhode snorted deep down inside his heart. He understood that Jade Tears was trying to drag him out. If they couldn't press him using force, they would use underhanded tactics such as this to enact revenge.

"Kid, don't you have anything to say?"

The Old President said sternly. Rhode guessed that the old man must be grinning over his misfortune under that cold expression. He must be feeling so very happy now that he might even live until a hundred years old.

But Rhode didn't plan to satisfy that old man's desires.

"Nothing much. It's just as Mr.IdontKnowHisName said," Rhode shrugged and answered with a distinct mocking tone.

"We are indeed strong, but we are still part of the Mercenary Association so we will thoroughly comply with the Mercenary Association's decision."

Everyone's expression eased a little when they heard Rhode's words. Although Jade Tears was the largest suspect who also benefited the most from this situation, it was all just conjecture and without evidence. It was completely different from Starlight which didn't have enough members but still succeeded in pulling off many incredible feats. Before the incident, they had already completed dangerous missions one after another. So if the Mercenary Association didn't give all the mercenary groups a break, won't Starlight dominate the entire scene?

Now that Rhode had shown that Starlight was willing to comply with the Mercenary Association's decision, that meant that Starlight wouldn't be able to complete any high points mission the next month which could be said to be unfavorable to them. However, this made the other mercenary leaders look upon them more positively as they understood that Rhode wasn't going to use this opportunity to beat them while they were in recovery mode, which was more than enough for them.

(ED: Evidence has shown that he'd already beat most of them even if they were in full strength, please.)

Everyone now turned to the two men seated in the higher ranked seat.

Despite the Mercenary Association holding full authority and prestige over mercenary leaders, it didn't mean that every mercenary leader must follow their decision. Sometimes, to protect their own group, mercenary leaders would oppose the decision made by the Mercenary Association. According to the regulation, the only ones who had the right to reject the Mercenary Association's decision were the three highest ranked mercenary group leaders!

Rhode had declared his stance. Then what about Burning Blade and Dark Fang?

Hiller finally opened his eyes. While looking at Rhode, he said.

"Burning Blade agrees with the Mercenary Association's decision."

As for Shawn, he was as quiet as usual. But from his slight nod, it seems like this man also agreed to the Mercenary Association's decision.

Since the three highest ranked mercenary leaders didn't have any objection, naturally the lower ranked ones also didn't have any complaints. Only those guys who were bribed tried their best to protest but to no avail. In the end, the Old President swung his hammer down to end all the objections and delivered the final verdict.

"For thirty days starting from tomorrow, the Mercenary Association will henceforth stop issuing any missions. Until the verdict is lifted, all mercenary groups are strictly prohibited from taking any private commissions. If anyone violates this regulation, their points will be promptly deducted."

Although most have expected this outcome, what the Old President said afterward gave them a shock.

"Also from now on, each mercenary group member must be a registered resident in the Paphield Region and must have experience of more than a year. After the month ends, the Mercenary Association will inspect each mercenary group. If anyone is found violating this rule, that person will be evicted from the mercenary group immediately."

Many mercenary group leaders glanced at each other. They were confused about the meaning behind this bizarre regulation. To put it simply, the Mercenary Association will only allow citizens of the Paphield Region to join mercenary groups.

(ED: Welp, I think there's an error here. Rhode would be expelled from Starlight if that were the case.)

Before, the Mercenary Association didn't interfere with this kind of thing as long as the member was already registered in the Mercenary Association. However, the Mercenary Association in Deep Stone City actually came up with this bizarre rule. Why would they do that?

Rhode understood why. It seemed like Sereck and the Old President have realized the graveness of this matter.

After announcing their verdict, the Old President no longer cared about anyone protesting regarding this point. Then the Old President brought up the next agenda.

"Subsequently, we, the Mercenary Association, will make a resolution regarding the conflict between Jade Tears and Starlight a few days ago."

Everyone started murmuring to each other after hearing these words.

Chapter 109: Fight Until The End!

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

It looks like everyone was eager to gossip judging by their expressions. It seems as though they cared about this problem more than the life and death of their mercenary group.

The man who was emotionlessly sitting on the chair immediately shot an exciting look at the Old President.

On the opposite side, Rhode rested on his chair lazily. Looking at his relaxed expression, it seemed that he didn't even put the Old President in his eyes.

That stinky kid!

The Old President almost verbally blurted out his displeasure. He thought that Rhode would at least care for the matters relating to his mercenary group and wanted to wipe off that placid look on his beautifully emotionless face. But on the contrary, it made him angry instead.

Hmph. There's still plenty of time for us to settle this later, kid!

The Old President glared fiercely at Rhode, but he suppressed his anger and continued his speech.

"According to our investigations, we have enough evidence to prove that Jade Tears is the instigator of the matter. However, Starlight's leader clearly overreacted. So we have made a decision what to do with the both of them. But before I reveal the decision, I want to ask if the both of you have anything to add."

At that moment, the man who had stayed silent from the start finally stood up.

"The Jade Tears mercenary group can't tolerate this act of provocation. Until the leader of Starlight is willing to apologize, there will be no peaceful resolution between the two of us."

After those words were said, everyone felt shocked. Then, they turned their curious gazes to Rhode.

Rhode didn't disappoint their expectations. He opened his eyes and glanced at the man before revealing a gentle smile. From the others' perspective, however, this smile gave them a chill as though they've dipped in freezing water.

"I will pay back any grudges ten times fold. Anyone who insults me will get punished accordingly. For a group that collects trash as members should be regarded as trash instead of being allowed to attend this meeting."

The atmosphere immediately tensed.

Everyone looked at each other. They didn't expect that Jade Tears would be so daring in front of the Mercenary Association. Rhode was also being unyielding and he even blatantly said that he intended to destroy Jade Tears. This meant that both mercenary groups have declared war against each other.

The crowd finally realized that matter had become big!

There're plenty of mercenary groups who didn't get along with each other, but if they lost their lives because of disputes like these with no clear reason or benefit, it's just not worth it.

However, Jade Tear's leader had been left bedridden by Rhode. Surely they wouldn't accept their leader being beaten up and their group being ridiculed because of their bribes? If they chose to bow their heads now, wouldn't they become a laughingstock in the future? By that time, even if Rhode didn't do anything, Jade Tears would probably be too embarrassed to stay here.

What Rhode had did made everyone feel a little scared. Yes, he was insulted, and as a man, they empathized him. However, even if he got angry, he shouldn't kill an entire group just because of anger, right? That's tyranny!

If it were anyone else who claimed what Rhode had said, everyone would only think that they were merely venting their anger. But recalling Starlight's recent achievements, Rhode defeated them in front of the Mercenary Association's entrance. So it does indeed show that he had the strength to back his words.

What should they do?

Although the times they lived in weren't lawless, ordinary laws did not apply to mercenaries. If a mercenary killed an ordinary citizen, they would be dealt with the law, but if a mercenary killed another mercenary, the decision would be left to the Mercenary Association to decide.

However, its effectiveness was hard to say. Of course, if what both parties had done were too much, the Mercenary Association could also give a punishment similar to life imprisonment, or even capital punishment. But such a situation was rare.

And this time, both of their positions were rather special.

Rhode and Frank were nobles, except one of them was from the Eastern Plains, Munn Kingdom, and the other one was a noble from Barce Dominion, Country of Light. It can be said that this fight wasn't only a collision between two mercenary groups, it may even rise to fight between noble and noble, or even turn into an 'international issue' between the Munn Kingdom and the Country of Light!

Everyone waited for the Mercenary Association's decision.

No matter what decision they made, it definitely would benefit only one side. The Mercenary Association wouldn't be able to punish them too severely, so wouldn't they cause trouble again soon?

Rhode had killed someone in public, so Klautz, the Duke of Deep Stone City, already sent people to investigate the matter. If they continued to make trouble...

Anyway, Old President and Sereck were puzzled. In their opinion, Rhode was a very stubborn individual. But this was the first time that he mercilessly attempted to kill someone. Although they suspected Jade Tears was up to something, it was only a conjecture, after all. But it seems like Rhode would kill 99 people than to let one escape.

Old President could never tell what Rhode was thinking. However, he was sure that he was standing on the Munn Kingdom's side. Still, his actions were sometimes inexplicable. When he met Frank for the first time, he easily exposed his identity and then actually killed someone in broad daylight without hesitation. If it wasn't for that mysterious old man who suddenly appeared, Frank would've definitely have died that day.

It wasn't as though Jade Tears was innocent. After the incident, Old President sent out people to investigate the mysterious old man who saved Frank but couldn't find any traces of him as if he didn't exist at all.

Since both Jade Tears and Starlight were acting very strangely, there must be something happening behind it!

The Old President sighed and said.

"According to the Mercenary Association regulations, Jade Tears mercenary group started the provocation first. Their punishment will be two points deduction and a fine of one thousand gold coins. Starlight mercenary group— though have their reasons, — leader Rhode still killed someone in public and gave a bad public image. Their punishment will be two points deduction and a fine of one thousand five hundred gold coins. From this moment on, both sides are strictly prohibited from resuming the conflict or similar reoccurring incidents. Otherwise, the Mercenary Association will dissolve the mercenary group!"

Everyone was surprised.

It seemed like the Mercenary Association gave them quite a heavy punishment.

But, will Jade Tears and Starlight let this matter go?

Looking at Jade Tear's vice-leader gloomy expression and Rhode's impassive face, even the Old President didn't believe that this matter would end just like that.

Both sides were silent and that made the everyone worried. The punishment handed to them wasn't light. If a similar incident happened, they would be forced to disband and to a mercenary group, that was the worst outcome.

They wouldn't continue to fight... right?

So, the mercenary joint meeting finally ended. Everyone left with different opinions about the situation. Although many things happened during the meeting, most mercenaries were satisfied with the outcome. At least they were given enough time to recover and bolster their strength before taking on missions again. And as for those mercenary groups that didn't receive heavy casualties, this was the best chance for them to take a rest.

Rhode also had a similar plan.

The 30-day prohibition didn't only benefit other mercenary groups, but was also an excellent opportunity for Rhode to develop his ability.

He wanted to take advantage of the time to train all the newcomers until they reached his requirements. If they were better than expected, then that would be the best outcome.

So, after returning to the stronghold, he immediately gathered everyone and told them to prepare for training. In three days, they were going to the Twilight Forest!