Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: 14. Crisis, and Cooperation. (5)
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The mercenary band that had arrived in Serju yesterday climbed back aboard the boats moored by the riverbank in the early evening. With no villagers to carry this time, the two large vessels had more than enough space for the entire group.
The Allen Mercenary Corps, which enjoyed Mercenary Leader Rudra's special favor, boarded the same boat as her. Among the mercenaries, rumors were rampant—everything from the naive noble lady falling head over heels for that delicate face to the two already being in some sordid relationship.
Of course, the two seasoned mercenaries weren't so mentally fragile as to react to every bit of gossip. Damned mercenaries could blow even the pettiest nonsense out of proportion tenfold or a hundredfold on a daily basis—this was practically tame by comparison.
Fortunately, the voyage proceeded without incident. Four days of peace on the water did much to ease their worries about a necromancer popping up out of nowhere to hurl ghouls at them again.
And so, on the evening of the fourth day, the two boats arrived at the great city of Behimruod—Rudra Mercenary Leader's hometown and home.
At the sudden appearance of two unfamiliar vessels drifting in, the city went on high alert. Guards armed with spears and swords swarmed the riverbank. It was a stark contrast to the mid-sized city they'd left behind with no response at all. As expected of a metropolis.
Once the boats docked and Rudra Mercenary Leader stepped ashore, the guard captain finally realized it wasn't a threat and ordered his men to stand down.
"Lady, why have you come by boat?"
"Circumstances demanded it. I'm heading straight to Father. Clear us through inspections. I'll vouch for them."
"Understood."
Thanks to Rudra Mercenary Leader, the group passed through the gates without so much as a bag search.
The metropolis didn't dim even in the evening. The main boulevards blazed with light, thronged with crowds. The city of revelry was booming even now, with necromancers on the loose.
"Fuckin' hell, all the pretty girls here go around half-naked..."
As the bald, squinty-eyed mercenary said, the western beauties with their light copper skin and sharp features were dressed so scantily it was practically bare. Plenty of men wandered around shirtless too. You could tell who was from the west just by their outfits, never mind their looks.
Allen kept a straight face outwardly, but inwardly he couldn't hide his shock. It really was a paradise of voluptuous beauties. He now fully understood why the west was called the land of revelry.
Weaving through boulevards overflowing with handsome men and beautiful women, they reached the marquis's castle and passed through without inspection once more. No wonder people couldn't forget the taste of power.
Rudra Mercenary Leader sent the group to their lodgings while she went alone to meet the marquis. It would be improper to drag unfamiliar outsiders into her father's chambers late at night.
After grabbing a quick meal in the building's dining hall, Allen collapsed onto his bed the moment he entered his room and passed out. Four days at sea had left his body utterly spent.
...And the next day, after finishing breakfast, Allen received a summons from Rudra Mercenary Leader and headed to the drawing room.
"Ah, come in, Mercenary Leader Allen."
Rudra Mercenary Leader, enjoying tea time in the drawing room, greeted him no longer in her grubby travel clothes but as an elegant noble lady.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I had a very restful night."
"Good to hear. I was a bit worried the beds might be uncomfortable... Come, have a seat."
Rudra gestured to the chair across from her. Once he sat, she took another sip of tea and got straight to business.
"I explained everything to Father last night. Apparently, this place has started suffering necromancer attacks too."
"I see."
"We can't assume it's completely safe here. Not like Hegel, of course, but we could still get in over our heads if we're careless, right?"
"Absolutely."
"I urged him to heighten vigilance and surveillance. And to hire as many mercenary corps as possible... How's that? Sufficient handling, no? What do you think, Mercenary Leader Allen?"
She was quite proud of her near-perfect resolution, but oddly, his expression remained impassive. No, it felt a touch lukewarm somehow.
"Why? Did I miss something?"
Seizing the moment, Allen flashed an awkward smile and waved it off lightly.
"No, nothing like that..."
"There is something. Spit it out. ...No secrets between us."
Of course, he wasn't so oblivious or stupid as to ask what "us" even meant.
"Would the hiring contracts be handled by you, Mercenary Leader Rudra?"
"...No, not me. Why?"
He looked genuinely regretful.
"With your discerning eye, wouldn't it be best to see and judge them yourself before contracting? Times being what they are, we can't just take anyone willy-nilly... If you leverage your renowned name, top-tier mercenary corps will flock like bees. No doubt. Especially after the feats you witnessed."
How could Rudra, overflowing with [Greed] and [Self-love], stay still at that? She tried to mask it with ingrained poise, but couldn't stop her lips twitching, her nostrils flaring, her eyes softening into a melt. The picture of utter delight.
"Oh, come on, it's not that big a deal... Anyway, thanks for thinking so highly. Truth is, I'm not exactly unknown. Hardly anyone in the west doesn't know my name. And I've heard it's gaining fame in the central regions too."
Her chin lifted, chest puffed out.
"...All right. You've got a point. I'll speak to Father and take charge of this myself."
Aw yeah. Allen clapped lightly, beaming with genuine joy.
"Excellent. Mercenary Leader Rudra really gets it. Instant chemistry."
With her now at the negotiation table, half the objective was achieved.
(Thrilled to death. Ecstatic. Craves more praise. Aroused. Lustful...)
"And you're especially radiant today. So dazzling I nearly went blind for a second."
"Stop, that's too much. It's embarrassing."
(Overjoyed beyond measure. Craves even more praise. Waves of pleasure...)
...Kid, you're a praise black hole?
···
That afternoon.
Allen sat at the negotiation table with Rudra. Before hiring outsiders, she planned to prioritize talks with the corps that had fought alongside them from Hegel.
The original Hegel pay was 550 gold coins. But he vaguely claimed he'd settled for 600 with a bit extra tacked on. Rounding up to the nearest ten was mercenary standard!
"How about 700 then?"
Ahem.
As Allen let out a slightly displeased hum, praise sink Rudra immediately upped it by 50.
"...Fine, 750. That's plenty generous, isn't it?"
Someone who'd scraped by wandering from place to place wouldn't jack up the price like this, but she seemed utterly clueless about mercenary pay as a marquis's house operative. No inkling of the cutthroat haggling over a few coins between employer and hire.
Having gauged her grasp of money, Allen kicked off the real fleecing.
"It's decent, sure, but... truth is, Hegel losses were so massive I nearly went bankrupt..."
"Bankrupt?!"
"Unlike you with your solid backing, Mercenary Leader Rudra. I'm just a pitiful day-to-day survivor."
Jackpot.
"I see... All right, 800 then."
Marquis wealth flowed freely. Even better!
"I hate being chained by money like this. Wish I didn't have to worry about it. Truly, I want to aid you selflessly, no greed involved. But reality won't let me ignore it... I fear tarnishing your lofty reputation..."
"Tarnish? Your feelings reach me loud and clear."
"Then, might I lean on your mercy just a bit more?"
"...Of course. 900. That should tide you over awhile?"
Praise her holes, gold coins squirted out with every tap.
Allen landed the finishing blow. With a heartbroken expression, he murmured sadly.
"...No. This won't do. Dealing like this over money with you feels wrong. Sorry. I should just leave. I'm showing too ugly a side..."
"Nonsense! Reality is reality. I understand. I get your heart completely...! Don't think like that. I know how great you are...! Screw the money...!"
Rudra Mercenary Leader thumped the table lightly with her fist and declared it. Her absolute limit squeezed out.
"Fine. 1,000. That covers your Hegel losses, right?"
Allen wanted to leap for joy but held back. No poking the finished rice.
"...For someone like me to be understood by you—how could I ever measure your vast magnanimity?"
"If you stand by me, that's enough. Let's weather this crisis together."
"Understood. I'll earn every coin."
"Yes...!"
Allen dabbed at his eyes with his sleeve as if moved to tears and rose.
"Then I'll take my leave."
"Yes... And later, when you have time, maybe dinner together?"
"Of course. Call anytime."
He walked a good distance from the room before pumping his fist into the air with a gleeful hiss.
Praise sink: Raid cleared.