Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: By Chance (1)
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Ian took in the sight of the mercenary guild, which he was visiting after a long time.
The staff were still bustling about, but they seemed a bit more relaxed than before.
Having received the guild's official notice to collect his bounty, Ian visited the next day and went through a very simple procedure to receive the city council's reward.
If it had been a famous high-rank mercenary corps, they probably would have been invited to a victory ceremony attended by the mayor and council members...
But the Ian Mercenary Corps was still just an unknown D-rank group.
They lacked the qualifications for such events.
"Alright, Ian Mercenary Corps, over here."
Ian took the pen and signed the documents.
It couldn't compare to the distribution payout he'd received, of course, but as free bonus money, it wasn't bad at all.
"We'll skip the ceremony... Here's your bounty. Check it over."
What Ian received was the bounty that the city council had collectively sent to the guild.
The council couldn't review and award each mercenary corps individually, so this was budget money given with instructions for the guild to handle selections and distributions themselves.
By formal procedure, the guild should hold its own ceremony and event...
But it was already a busy time with all sorts of administrative work.
No staff wanted to waste time on such frivolities, and no mercenaries wanted the hassle either.
Let's just call it done and take the gold.
Under that mutual unspoken agreement, Ian simply signed and took the coin pouch.
"Looks good."
Ian checked the contents and nodded. The investigator added his final signature and closed the documents.
"By the way. You've got a ton of requests coming in. You aware?"
"Requests?"
"You haven't opened contact at the counter, so they're flying in here asking me to broker them."
They'd probably tried submitting offers through the guild counter, but since Ian hadn't received any such contacts...
They had no choice but to ask guild staff for favors.
"Even the garrison sent a hiring proposal..."
He picked up the letters on his desk and waved them.
"Some want to absorb your whole corps as a subordinate unit. Interested, I can connect you."
"No thanks."
"Figured. Looks like your value could double from my view. Promotion coming soon too."
The investigator nodded as he spoke.
Promotion...
Ian had no intention of selling the corps, but hearing about promotion made him think a bit deeper.
It was about time to prepare for promotion.
Thanks to skipping all the unnecessary procedures, Ian collected his bounty simply and headed down the stairs.
Ian looked around the guild's first floor, which he hadn't seen in a while.
He hadn't visited much lately, tied up handling things at the outpost.
The underground sewer supply runs were nearly done.
The outpost cleanup was mostly finished too...
Maybe time to look for the next job.
With that thought, Ian's gaze turned to the mission board.
He was about to check the remaining long-term missions when he spotted a familiar face chatting with someone in the corner.
A tall mercenary with wild blonde hair roughly tied back.
Ian noticed Rebecca at almost the same moment she spotted him, their eyes meeting.
Since Rebecca was in the middle of talking to someone else, Ian planned to give a casual wave and move on.
But Rebecca, having locked eyes, waved first.
"Hey. How's it going."
Rebecca seemed to have something to say, so Ian approached her waving hand.
"Hello, Rebecca."
"Heard the rumors. You're on fire lately, huh?"
"Thanks to you."
Ian's gaze naturally shifted to the person Rebecca had been talking to.
Rebecca had been conversing with a mercenary Ian didn't recognize.
Red hair and a somewhat sharp impression.
From the well-equipped gear, she seemed like a fairly high-level merc.
No memory of her face meant she wasn't guild staff or an important NPC. Just a regular mercenary.
Maybe because Rebecca had greeted first, the other woman showed a bit of interest in Ian.
Noticing their exchanged glances, Rebecca stepped in to introduce them.
"This is Ria. C-rank mercenary."
Rebecca introduced the mercenary named Ria first, then pointed to Ian.
"This is Ian, leader of the Ian Mercenary Corps. D-rank now, but heading to C soon."
D-rank?
No verbal reply, but Ian sensed that murmur in Ria's gaze.
She'd seemed mildly interested at first, but cooled off quick upon hearing D-rank.
Whether oblivious to the awkward chill...
Or aware but ignoring it...
Rebecca seemed intent on pushing a conversation between them.
Ian and Ria.
Rebecca glanced back and forth, then nodded like she'd had a great idea.
"Ian, not recruiting newbies anymore?"
"About time I did."
"How about her? Ria's currently unattached."
"...Hold on, Rebecca. I'm not looking yet."
As Rebecca tried linking them, Ria couldn't hide her discomfort and spoke up.
"It's the D-rank? This place has real bright future. Joining early's a steal, right?"
"Appreciate it, but I'll find my own corps."
With that, Ria gave Rebecca a slight nod goodbye.
Ignored Ian completely, turned, and left the guild.
Rebecca watched Ria's retreating back, then grinned wryly at Ian.
"Sorry. She's skilled, but zero manners."
Rebecca shook her head toward Ria's back.
Ian asked about the mercenary who'd just left.
"You said she's unattached now?"
"Yeah. No trouble caused or anything."
Rebecca hesitated briefly—another merc's history—then lowered her voice.
"Back in the day... I taught her some fighting basics. Eager rookie."
Not quite a disciple.
Recalling old times, Rebecca muttered with an awkward smile.
"But she had talent. Picked it up way too fast."
Rebecca had only meant to teach a bit...
But Ria grew lightning-quick, surpassing everyone in her old corps.
To the point they couldn't handle her anymore.
"So she left?"
"Yeah. Best for both sides."
Ria holding back to match the corps' level, or the corps taking risky jobs leaning on her skill—neither good.
Mismatched merc and corps inevitably part ways.
"Been months, can't find a new one. Says nothing clicks."
"You seem pretty invested."
"Hate to see talent wasted... Skilled, but picky as hell."
So Ria still hadn't joined anywhere, picking up short-term gigs on urgent recruitment requests.
Maybe because Ian sensed she'd taught her a bit herself.
Rebecca really wanted to hook her up with a good corps.
Rebecca had an expectant glint.
Kept shooting Ian meaningful looks.
"She'd fit perfect in yours. Could learn some manners too."
"We don't do etiquette classes."
"Rubbing elbows teaches plenty."
Rebecca recalled Ian's corps members from before.
If she had half their personalities, no worries ahead.
"Not pushing for nothing... Wouldn't hurt, right?"
Considering Rebecca's subtle pitch, Ian recalled Ria's stats he'd glimpsed earlier.
Definitely.
If recruitable now, she'd be a huge help.
Still D-rank, but per Rebecca, C promotion wasn't far.
Snagging a C-rank early—even stretching—would pay off big.
Unlike E-rank scrubs flooding recruitment offices, higher mercs had few hiring channels.
And unlike lowbies bought with cash, they demanded picky conditions.
Like Ria—probably high fame or [Chivalry] trait.
Classic for prideful mercs.
Ian hadn't flat-out refused, just pondered. Rebecca took it as interest and whispered.
"She stays at Starry Night Inn. Interested, go see."
"...You can just share that?"
"Say you bumped into her on the street. Don't say I told you."
What're they gonna do, bump into you by chance?
Rebecca grinned mischievously, patted Ian's back like "good luck."