Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Little Young Master (4)
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Having seen Allen's outrageous recruitment notice, mercenaries came running from all over. Some even crossed over from distant towns. Of course, a few approached with wicked intentions, hoping for a quick score, but most were just curious. Just who the hell is this lunatic offering such insane terms?...
Whatever their reasons, Allen's ploy to gather as many mercenaries as possible had hit the mark perfectly. In a place where the overall quality was sorely lacking, the only way to hire decent ones on a limited budget was to cast a wide net and sift through the quantity.
But unlike the astonishing rumors, the man behind the notice remained utterly composed. He didn't bat an eye even in front of these rough-looking mercenaries. There was a boldness to him... Though in truth, he was inwardly frantic, soothing his racing heart, but people couldn't see that far.
"My skill with swinging this axe is top-notch, I tell ya. Heh heh heh. Hire me, and I guarantee you won't regret it."
"Noted. Next."
Allen watched the bronze-skinned bald man swing his axe around a couple times before moving on to the next in line.
...Worse than I thought...
He drew a straight line through the name on his list with his quill and shook his head slightly. Nearly fifty had come and gone already, but he'd only filled three of the eight spots he'd planned. Far more had traits like [Deception] or [Greed] than expected. Otherwise, their stats were just trash... His strategy had worked, but too many flies had stuck to it.
Honestly, he wasn't even hoping for top-tier traits like [Unyielding Will] or [Cold Rage]. Since it was short-term work, flashy traits weren't needed—just decent stats would do. But guys like that were rare here. This really is the stagnant southern mercenary scene, huh.
Finding talented newbies was proving harder than expected...
Still, he couldn't just hire anyone willy-nilly. The Demon Realm wasn't some walk in the park. The eyewitnesses called the monster a Hellhound, but there was no guarantee they wouldn't run into something higher level. If a mercenary died, he'd have to pay double the fee to the guild, plus his reputation would tank. He had to avoid that mess at all costs.
As Allen sighed inwardly, the next candidate pushed open the door and stepped in. A young man with sharp eyes. Especially striking was the long scar slashing diagonally across his face. Something about him clicked right away.
Allen pulled up the man's status window. Even if this weren't a recruitment, he would've checked it anyway. The habit was drilled too deep to shake off, even in death.
(Overcomes fatigue with willpower. Left shoulder tingling. Right knee stabbing...)
Oh ho...
Among all the status windows Allen had seen here, this was the best by far. Not outstanding, mind you, but for a rookie mercenary corps, it was decent enough. Thankfully, his trait was [Ambition], two steps below [Greed].
Who doesn't have some ambition, really? Mercenaries live by coin—if they lacked it, that'd be the real deception. Allen actually liked seeing [Ambition] on a mercenary. Too lofty, and they were hard to control with money alone... That's why I had to put on that tearful dog-and-pony show to hire one of the Legendary Ten Dragons, Agnes Neptune.
"Aiden Brandt, Young Master."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Allen."
Aiden shot him a slightly surprised look. Nobles were usually too haughty to give their names to lowly mercenaries. At best, they'd vaguely say "nth son of such-and-such house." Most didn't even bother.
This young noble must be pretty green... Aiden brushed it off and stated his specialties.
"I mainly use spears. And I briefly served with the Herrera House mercenary corps in the eastern region."
Herrera House!
Allen knew the name well. Not continent-famous, but prominent enough in the east.
"Herrera House, eh? Impressive. ...How much experience do you have with subjugation missions like this?"
"More than five, I believe. In the eastern Demon Realm."
"Impressive. I know the reputation of the eastern Demon Realm well myself."
In truth, Demon Realms were all similar unless you delved deep, but a flattering word cost nothing.
"Got it. Thanks for your time."
"Yes, sir."
Aiden gave a curt nod and left. Allen circled Aiden's name on the paper with his quill, deciding inwardly to make him temporary captain. Given the candidates so far, the odds of finding better were slim.
Allen wrapped up the day after interviewing thirty more.
And six of the eight spots were filled.
After three days and 216 interviews, the eight-man Allen Mercenary Corps was formed. Temporary captain: Aiden Brandt.
Allen gathered the chosen eight and paid out the advance fees from the contract in full view. Only then did the faint suspicion in their eyes fade.
They each received seven gold coins—half of the fourteen-coin fee—before even starting work. Their expressions were a bit awkward.
But Allen didn't stop there. The real reason for his generous terms went beyond just gathering numbers.
"If you're interested, I can provide gear at a bargain price. Way below market. I guarantee it."
He laid out the prepped equipment before them.
Day-labor mercenaries overwhelmingly blew their pay on booze and women after a job, not better gear. The immediate itch scratched louder than future worries.
But with advance pay, survival trumped desire, leading naturally to gear investments. Which meant higher chances of mission success.
Simple logic, but it required trust between noble and mercenary. And trust was in short supply. Both sides distrusted the other. They knew it was smarter, but couldn't act on it.
Without his status window, Allen wouldn't have dared. He'd already weeded out the [Deception] and [Greed] types! Without it, he'd pay up only to have no-shows on departure day.
Of course, lacking those traits didn't guarantee loyalty, but it minimized risks.
"Just take a look. No pressure to buy."
Allen urged the hesitant mercenaries.
The gear wasn't leagues better than other smiths'. But Allen got it dirt cheap from the smithy exclusive to Pomwell House.
For talentless grunts, gear was life or death. At these prices for solid stuff, how could they resist? That was Allen's other angle.
"I'll take it."
"Me too."
One by one, they bought—soon the whole corps had grabbed at least one or two pieces. They swapped their shabby old kits for clean new ones at a steal.
With gear sorted, Allen announced the rendezvous: two days from now, at dawn, east gate. Demon Realm bound.
"Dismissed."
But temporary captain Aiden looked uneasy. Paid already—if they bolted now, disaster. Even if the money was gone, short-staffed could doom the expedition.
"Young Master."
"Call me Mercenary Leader from now on."
"Ah, yes, Leader... But is it wise to let them go like this?"
Allen smiled faintly, reading his worry.
"Worried they'll run?"
"Frankly... yes."
As a fellow mercenary, it'd tarnish his name too, but honestly, reliable ones were rare. Especially low-tier.
"I picked carefully. Odds are low. Don't sweat it."
"Still, don't trust too much."
"Even if one or two bail, I budgeted for it. That's why I chose these guys... Besides, breaking contract means guild expulsion, right? Bounty too. Who'd become a fugitive for seven gold?"
Not a huge sum—laughable to go outlaw for life over it. Sure, crazies existed, but...
"They're rock bottom types..."
"I screened those out. Focus on the mission, not worries."
"...Understood."
Further complaint would challenge the leader's authority, so Aiden shut up.
This kid knows nothing about this world.
He didn't approve of the brash young leader's ways. But with such confidence, he had to back off.
Still, if too many bailed, he'd raise the manpower issue and bow out. Money mattered, but not enough to die for pennies.
Aiden bid the young leader farewell and left. Like any day-labor merc, he'd splurge the rest on gear upgrades and fun. That was the life.
What use savings to a merc who could die tomorrow!
...And two days passed in the blink of an eye.