Chapter 245: The First Commission
Chapter 245: The First Commission
My lips parted reflexively, and I felt the dry skin pull apart. I closed my mouth immediately, but I couldn’t stop myself from swallowing.
I knew it, and so did Han Soyoung. The direction of this conversation would change depending on my next answer. On the surface, she used the word “commission,” but the true meaning behind her words was a proposal to create a justification for our clans to work together.
If I was going to refuse, now was my only chance. Of course, I could listen to the details before deciding. However, ignoring Han Soyoung after she’d brought up a “commission” could be taken to mean, “Mercenary has no desire to form a relationship with Istantel Low Clan.”
She really doesn’t mess around.
For a moment, a torrent of feelings surged through me, my thoughts racing. Amidst them all, I reminded myself of the reason I had returned to this second playthrough. A sliver of hesitation remained, but I soon arrived at an answer.
I needed to maintain a good relationship with Istantel Low Clan from now on. No, I had to. I didn’t come back to antagonize Han Soyoung. It was quite the opposite.
In those few seconds of thought, I managed to grasp one clear feeling.
“You’ve set the stage so perfectly… You’re making it very difficult to refuse.”
“You don’t have to feel pressured.”
Han Soyoung’s clear reply drew a bitter smile from me. After gulping down the last of my tea, I spoke calmly.
“Understood. Then, could I hear the details of the commission first?”
“Of course. Dayeon-ah? Go and bring those things here.”
Perhaps Han Soyoung’s earlier gaze had been that intense, because Park Dayeon stood up immediately. Though she was still clearly grumbling, she obediently opened the door and walked out.
Thud. As soon as the door closed, Han Soyoung began to explain the commission.
“Where should I begin? Our city, Monica, is located in the southwest among the southern cities. It’s a key strategic point, connected to Barbara in the north and the Steel Mountains in the south. By any chance… are you familiar with a place called the Canyon of Illusions, connected to the east?”
“Are you referring to the canyon in the Plateau of Delusion?”
As I answered right away, I saw a flicker of interest in Han Soyoung’s eyes. She stared at me for a moment before nodding once.
“Yes, that’s right. Let me ask you one thing. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Monica?”
“A city bordering the Steel Mountains, and one renowned for its stability. I recall hearing it’s considered one of the top five most stable cities.”
“That’s the rumor, yes. But.”
Han Soyoung paused and, for the first time, lifted the teacup in front of her. The cup tilted, touching her lips, and her pale, slender neck was fully exposed. The slight bob of her throat as she swallowed radiated a seductive beauty. Suddenly, my throat felt parched.
After setting the teacup down, her voice, now much smoother than before, flowed into my ears.
“I don’t think so.”
“……”
“Until now, we’ve focused on stabilizing the city by securing a safe route to Barbara and concentrating on conquering the Steel Mountains, all in preparation for the Warp Gate breaking down. However, one of those is no longer necessary, and the other has become a distant prospect for the time being.”
“Hmm… I think I understand what you mean.”
Her relationship with Golden Lion had been twisted beyond repair, and conquering the Steel Mountains was now a distant dream for the foreseeable future. It meant that from now on, she intended to turn her attention to matters she had relatively neglected.
Han Soyoung let out a short sigh, then looked me straight in the eye and spoke.
“That was a long preamble. I’ll tell you the details of the commission now.”
“Yes. I’m listening.”
“It was about… two months ago. The Rapids’ Edge Clan, one of the clans under Istantel Low Clan, set out on an expedition to the Canyon of Illusions. Considering the distance to the Plateau of Delusion, a round trip should have taken three weeks at most. But even after eight weeks have passed, they haven’t returned.”
“Eight weeks… Is it possible they died for some reason along the way?”
She shook her head slightly at my words. It wasn’t so much a denial as it was an expression of uncertainty.
“They say a single communication came through six weeks ago from a Rapids’ Edge Clan member’s personal communication device.”
“Was it a request for rescue?”
“Something like that. But the report said they didn’t explain the situation. They left just one word.”
“That one word was…”
“Save us.”
Save us…? Don’t tell me they actually managed to enter the Canyon of Illusions? It must have been quite difficult to break through the Plateau of Delusion. And if they asked for help… then perhaps…
I couldn’t be certain, but hearing Han Soyoung’s words, I could guess the general situation. I hadn’t personally participated in the conquest of the plateau and canyon during my first playthrough. However, it was such a famous expedition that I knew in considerable detail what secrets were hidden there and what process the conquerors had gone through.
“The communication was cut off immediately after that single word, and we haven’t been able to re-establish contact since.”
“So the message came two weeks after they left for the expedition. It’s hard to believe they’re still alive after six weeks have passed. Weren’t any rescue teams dispatched during that time?”
“One week after the communication came in, two clans that were on good terms with the Rapids’ Edge Clan joined forces and dispatched a rescue team. However, we currently have no contact with them either.”
“Hmm…”
Just as I was about to sink into thought, I heard the click of the door opening. Turning my head, I saw Park Dayeon enter with a sullen expression, her arms full of various items.
“Clan Lord. I brought them.”
“Perfect timing. Can you give me the records first?”
“Mumble, mumble.”
“You don’t have to say it out loud. I know how you feel.”
Han Soyoung tossed out the comment and began to quickly scan the records she was handed. After a moment, she sorted through a few pages and spoke.
“Normally, we would have to assume they’re dead, but those two words, ‘save us,’ has given many Users hope. To be honest, I also think it’s too late… but as the lord of the clan representing Monica, I have a duty to take responsibility for this and uncover the truth.”
“So you want Mercenary to take on the role of a second rescue team.”
“No. I can’t ask you to take on such a dangerous task. What we want is just one thing: a search of the Plateau of Delusion.”
“A search.”
“Yes. According to the records, the survival rate for Users who have ventured into the Plateau of Delusion is 45.7%. For the Canyon of Illusions, it’s 27.8%. Of course, these figures don’t include expeditions that were completely wiped out, so the actual rates might be lower. Please keep that in mind.”
Han Soyoung paused, her gaze shifting from me to Park Dayeon. For a moment, the two just stared at each other, until Park Dayeon, grumbling again, took out a box she had been holding tightly. I glanced at the box and asked.
“What is this?”
“Twenty top-grade Mind-Calming Pills. They are the only elixir that allows one to endure the Plateau of Delusion. With the pills, you should be able to last a day on the plateau without issue. However, they are difficult to make, so we have a limited supply. I’m afraid I can’t give you any more than this.”
“There are ten of us, so this is more than enough.”
“That’s a relief. Mercenary Lord, I would now like to formally offer you this commission. I believe the Shadow Queen is the User who can best utilize the Mind-Calming Pills within the limited time. I’m not asking you to enter the Canyon of Illusions. I just hope you will conduct the most thorough search possible within the time these pills allow.”
Han Soyoung handed me the records she had sorted. A quick glance confirmed they were filled with detailed information about the Plateau of Delusion.
“Ah, I forgot to mention the reward. If you complete the search, I will give you a 30% discount on the purchase of a Clan House, regardless of the outcome.”
“Regardless of the outcome?”
“Of course, I’ll need to receive an expedition report. It could be a great help when we dispatch the second rescue team. And if you bring back results that exceed our expectations, I am willing to offer an even greater discount.”
The Plateau of Delusion. And the Canyon of Illusions. She’s certainly played an interesting card.
In terms of pure loss, the Istantel Low Clan was taking a hit. However, it was a loss they, as a representative clan, could easily absorb. The important thing was that if we could succeed in this search beyond their expectations, we would gain the most perfect justification imaginable.
As I gave a nod or two, Han Soyoung let out a slow breath and asked me.
“What do you think? Will you accept our commission?”
“I…”
I skimmed the records and saw that the information wasn’t much different from what I remembered. In fact, my own memories contained more important and detailed information.
I was lost in thought for a moment before I slowly opened my mouth.
*
Han Soyoung offered to see me out, but I managed to leave the Clan House alone only after firmly declining. A smile naturally formed on my lips as I recalled how we had bowed to each other at the end, with her saying she was counting on me.
My steps were light on the way back to the Love House. I clutched the various records and the box in my hands and began to walk faster.
I hadn’t given a definitive answer about the commission. I had simply stated that I was more than willing to accept and that I would send a reply tomorrow after discussing it with my clan members. But I felt I had given my answer in a way. By taking the records and the box, I had conveyed my intention to accept the commission under all but the most extreme circumstances.
On the surface, this commission was a somewhat, no, a very unreasonable request. She was asking a newly formed clan to search a place that even established clans were reluctant to visit.
But I knew exactly what she was getting at. Though she didn’t say it outright, I understood Han Soyoung’s intentions. If she had wanted to send us to our deaths, she wouldn’t have told me about the survival rates or given me the Mind-Calming Pills in the first place.
Of course, these pills weren’t a cure-all. As top-grade items, their effects were potent and long-lasting. But from what I knew of the Plateau of Delusion, the field effect grew stronger the deeper one went, and the efficacy of the Mind-Calming Pills would weaken proportionally.
She had said she would give us at least a 30% discount just for searching and bringing back a few traces. Moreover, Mercenary had the Shadow Queen, whose tracking skills were unparalleled. With her, some level of success was guaranteed, as long as the targets hadn't intentionally erased their tracks.
Ultimately, her message was not to push ourselves too deep, but to just search the outskirts and bring back a few clues. Of course, I had no intention of doing that.
I didn’t want to be a burden to Istantel Low Clan like this. The trouble I caused in the first playthrough was more than enough. Even though she said what she did, if we came back with mediocre results, some people might start to doubt Han Soyoung’s decision. I was determined to avoid causing problems for her instead of being a help.
And to be honest, it wasn’t a bad proposal for me at all. In fact, it could be called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was a chance to kill two birds with one stone. One of the reasons I came to Monica was to conquer the Canyon of Illusions. After all, with the Third Eye and Mind’s Eye, that place was as good as my own backyard.
In any case, I was going to conquer it eventually; this just moved up the timeline. Setting aside the fame and achievements I would gain there (which were actually far more significant), in monetary terms alone, this was no different from taking on a job worth at least 27,000 gold, and up to 90,000 gold.
Come to think of it, is this the first commission Mercenary has taken on since it was formed?
There’s a saying that the first sale sets the tone for the day, emphasizing how important a strong beginning is. Of course, it’s hard to equate a commission with business, but it still felt like I had landed a huge first job.
As I walked, lost in countless thoughts, a pale pink building began to appear in the distance.
The sun was slowly setting. It was the time when combat Users returned from outside the city, and Users who made their living through trades began opening for business.
All that was left now was to tell the clan members about the commission and persuade them. Musing over what words to use to win their agreement, I urged my already quick pace to go even faster.