Chapter 92
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: 22. Greedy Princess (1)
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The mercenary band that had journeyed all the way from the east finally arrived at the mercenary city of Vermandua after a full month and a half.
The sturdy young man who stepped down from the ornate carriage at the station was Rados Haime, leader of the Rados Mercenary Corps. A fairly well-known mercenary captain even in the east, he politely extended his hand to the person about to disembark next.
"Thank you."
A small hand clad in pure white gloves carefully grasped the man's callused one and descended from the carriage. The platinum-haired woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat was a rare beauty. She could stand toe-to-toe with Viola, one of Vermandua's renowned stunners, without batting an eye.
The mercenaries passing by gawked, wondering who she was, until they spotted the golden lion emblem and pieced it together.
"It's one of the Top 10—!"
The Top 10 representing the east—the Duke's mercenary corps emblem was the golden lion. That meant this platinum-haired beauty had to be Vice Leader Elizabeth Belver, the de facto leader of the Top 10 corps.
Her nickname: the Elegant Mage. She specialized in lightning-fast incantations and pinpoint accuracy. True to her reputation as the genius who dominated the east, she had been active as a member of the mercenary corps since her early teens, already a veteran with over a decade of experience.
With the famous Lady herself arriving in Vermandua, chaos was inevitable. Rados, the leader allied with her, had earned the honor of escorting her personally. For him, who admired and adored her, it felt like proudly showing off the Lady as if she were his own woman—he couldn't have been happier.
Anyway.
The two mercenary corps strutted down the main avenue with utmost dignity. Their destination was Viola House. Truth be told, in this place, the only ones who could match Vice Leader Elizabeth were the fellow Top 10 leaders Viola and Gione.
The main street buzzed with crowds who had heard the rumors and come out to see. Street vendors along the riverbank seized the opportunity, shouting their wares at the top of their lungs.
Viola, having already gotten word, stood at the wide-open front gate to greet them. She and Elizabeth even exchanged a light hug, as if to flaunt their friendship.
"Long time no see, Eliza."
"Yeah. Has it really been over a year?"
That was the last glimpse the onlookers got. As the mercenaries entered Viola Mercenary Corps' private grounds, the front gate slammed shut with a thud.
Viola led the two into the reception room. Even as they walked the corridor, the women warmly inquired after each other's well-being.
They had met back when Viola was with the Kalim Mercenary Corps. Elizabeth had been a teenage girl then. ...But Viola, possessor of [Aesthetic Eye], had seen the staggering number 368 over the young Lady and known she was destined for greatness. Admittedly, there had been some intentional networking for future gains, but they simply clicked well together.
Rados the leader's number was 291. Not bad, but not quite up to Viola's standards.
The trio entered the reception room. Knowing important talk was coming, Rados quickly slipped into the small waiting room adjacent.
The two women sat facing each other across the table. Viola poured tea into a cup and slid it toward her esteemed little sister. Vice Leader Elizabeth nodded lightly, accepted the cup, and took a sip.
"Sister's the same as ever. You don't change even as the years go by."
"You've gotten even prettier. ...It's about time. You could get married now."
"Ugh, marriage? Men are more than enough for me already. They're all desperate to get laid."
For an elegant Lady, her words were shockingly blunt. But Viola, who knew Elizabeth's true colors, wasn't fazed. Compared to dealing with rough, promiscuous mercenaries, this was downright cute.
"Miss the timing, and it'll be real trouble. You've got a perfect example right in front of you."
"Sister didn't miss it—you just didn't go for it."
"Even if I wanted to, it'd look bad. I'd get called desperate."
"Who cares about that? If you like him, go for it."
"......You'll understand when you're my age."
"Pfft."
The two women chuckled softly. They each took a sip of tea, gathering their thoughts. ...Time to get down to business.
"So, what brings you here? Bringing a guy along, too. ...Not here to see me, that's for sure."
"Why not? I came to see you, Sister."
"Save the jokes."
Elizabeth just gave a faint smile. Watching that refined expression, Viola thought she shouldn't smile like that in front of men.
"I really did come to see you."
"......Me? ...Why?"
A flurry of guesses raced through Viola's mind between those short words. ...Surely not some nonsense like introducing her to a guy. Compared to her little sister, any man would seem utterly dull. Of course, Vice Leader Elizabeth knew that too.
"Not because of that guy, right?"
"Nah, no way. I just needed someone for errands. Can't have me doing all the grunt work."
Elizabeth smiled innocently, without a shred of guilt, as she exploited the eager man's devotion exactly as planned. In that sense, the Elegant Mage had a far crueler streak than Viola. ...She could act as fake as needed if the situation called for it.
"So, Sister, seeing anyone lately?"
Viola's heart skipped a beat. Leader Allen immediately came to mind.
Of course, they didn't have any special romantic connection yet. ...Right now, they were just getting to know each other.
"......No, not really."
"Really? ...What about Dagon?"
At the sudden mention of the man she despised, Viola's brows furrowed.
"I have nothing to do with him. ...You know that—why ask?"
"That's why. Those feelings are still the same, huh?"
Elizabeth wore a faint smile, but her eyes were ice-cold, like she was thinking of an enemy. ...Viola was certain something was up.
"Stop beating around the bush and spill it."
The Lady Vice Leader uncrossed her legs from her prim posture, neatly folding her white-gloved hands atop her knee.
"That son of a bitch dared to peddle drugs even in the Duke's domain. ...That's crossing the line big time, don't you think?"
Her tone was calm, but fury bubbled beneath like magma.
"This time, he swept up all the mages and is even developing new drugs now. Totally insane."
Vice Leader Elizabeth fixed Viola with a blazing stare.
"That rootless bastard, getting too big for his britches."
"......So, what're you gonna do?"
"First, kick him out of the Top 10. Just sharing the same rank as that scum disgusts me."
"He won't go quietly from the Top 10."
Elizabeth let out a scoff. As if expulsion was just the start.
"Of course, that's not the end. The moment he's out of the Top 10, we'll banish the Dagon Mercenary Corps from the Duke's domain—no, the entire east—forever. If they try sneaking back in, they'll face the ultimate punishment."
Viola swallowed hard. Banishment? It was tantamount to declaring war.
Of course, it was all karma for Leader Dagon. The litany of his misdeeds spoke for itself.
"Still, I'm not breaking rules out of anger. That's why I came all this way to you, Sister. Unlike that guy, I've got roots. So, we'll strip his privileges by expelling him from the Top 10 first. ......I've already secured one yes vote. Who? That's top secret."
Viola moistened her dry lips with tea.
"Sister's a yes, right? Obviously."
Elizabeth's face held ironclad certainty.
"......I'll vote yes."
Reading her intentions perfectly, Eliza flashed a sly, foxlike grin.
"Don't worry. I won't drag you into this. It's eastern vengeance, pure and simple. You getting involved would mess up the picture."
"Thanks for understanding."
"......Still, I wanted to hear you say you'd help. You really can't even fake it, huh, Sister."
"That's just who I am."
"I know. That's why I like you—no need to overthink or scheme. ...I'm happy just getting your vote."
Elizabeth uncrossed her legs. The chill in the air thawed, and the Vice Leader reverted to her elegant mage persona.
"By the way..., who's the guy?"
"...Huh?"
"Tch, playing dumb again."
The Lady Vice Leader tilted her chin knowingly, as if she'd figured it all out.
"That necklace, Sister. ...From someone who hates anything touching her body."
Say what you will, Viola was a mercenary at heart. As a swordswoman, she despised necklaces, earrings, rings—anything that hindered movement. ...At least, up until they last met.
Oh.
Viola hadn't even thought about the necklace. She was at a loss for an excuse.
"It's obviously a gift from a man. ...Don't try to fool me. I have a killer eye for guys."
"......It's not like that. Just a gesture of goodwill......"
Elizabeth smiled deeply but said no more on the subject.
Finishing their talk, the Vice Leader walked to the waiting room and knocked lightly on the door. Rados, waiting inside, hurried out.
"Mind if we crash here a few days?"
"Stay as long as you like."
The Lady Vice Leader sidled up to Viola, lightly nudging her arm with her elbow, and whispered.
"Let's rekindle our friendship while we're at it, Sister...."