Footsteps of the White Whale

"Welcome to the White Whale Mercenaries, both of you."

"But, Captain... do you know?"

"Hm?"

"We don't even know each other's names."

"Puhaha! You're right!"

Chris and I exchanged names with the fifty or so mercenary members. They struggled with my Eastern-style name, but since it felt so foreign to them, it stuck easily in their minds. Naturally, the mercenary captain and Mel were among those we greeted.

I opened Janet's status window.

'This is...'

Unlike the traits I'd seen so far, it wasn't a standardized buff with clearly defined performance. Its usefulness would only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠become clear through real experience. If it worked as simply imagined, this trait seemed incredibly versatile. It felt like concentrating power into one area at the expense of minor buffs elsewhere.

Janet's stats were markedly higher than the other mercenaries—enough to qualify as an instructor even in the Terraforming world. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Her stats were similar to Chris's, excluding agility. Even I, without the double stat growth buff from Sun Command Day by Day, Bay Rumors Moon by Moon on non-doubled days, had lower total stats than hers.

Of course, that didn't mean I'd lose to her in a fight at night. Life-or-death battles weren't decided by raw stat numbers alone.

"Hey, defrocked monk. Normally, newbies have to go through a month as apprentices. That's when you get a full share of the pay. During apprenticeship, it's only half."

"Normally... so we're getting special treatment, then."

"Heh. Sharp one. My gut says you two are veterans who don't need a long proving period."

"...Can't disclose it, but yeah, we've got experience."

"Then no point dragging out the apprentice label..."

"You're giving us a full share right away?"

"Nah, that'd make us suckers. Why give a full share when half for a month is fine?"

"Then?"

"How about this: If I waive your 'apprenticeship period'... what can you do for the White Whale Mercenaries? You smell like money to me."

She smirked, curling one corner of her mouth as she proposed the deal.

'Is this her trait at work?'

It was so perceptive I couldn't hide my surprise. As she said, I had countless money-making abilities.

Since things had come to this, I decided to reveal one card. A safe one, with no loss if shown.

"...I can do basic appraisals."

"Appraisals?"

"That Velderu seed concentrate earlier. I appraised it."

"...Ah."

"Whether it's magic, a monk's secret art, or an artifact— that's a secret."

"Don't care. Appraisals... so you can value relics or jewelry too?"

"Depends on the item. Too unique or powerful, and it might fail."

"Poisons?"

"...I'd need to test. Got any poison on hand?"

"Mel! Bring some!"

"Yes!"

I took the tightly sealed bottle from Mel. The narrow mouth was plugged with something like beeswax to prevent leaks. I could check item info without opening, but that might seem suspicious, so I carefully pried it open.

Luckily, it had all the info I wanted.

"Black snake poison. Eating land frogs neutralizes it."

"...You didn't know that already? Black snake poison is common."

"Bring something else, and I'll appraise it again."

"That's our only poison."

We were done with poisons, but after appraising a few more unfamiliar leathers and items, they finally acknowledged my ability. Janet looked genuinely pleased. According to her, appraising with mages or alchemists cost a fortune.

"Heh. Saved a ton. You have no idea how much I've suffered from appraisal fees."

Normal mercenary groups rarely found relics or artifacts. Even with an appraiser, it'd be used once a year if lucky. But White Whale took big jobs. On major quests, they'd find mystery items, racking up huge expenses.

'Of course, her trait probably ensured they profited big from anything appraised.'

Her complaints were exaggerated. If appraisal cost more than the item's value, she'd have sniffed it out.

"Then, defrocked monk and his lover Chris get full shares from the start, no apprenticeship! For appraised items' sales, defrocked monk gets 2 shares! Any objections?"

No one objected. Janet had the mercenaries' full trust—especially on money matters.

"Uh... I told you my name, but you're still calling me defrocked monk?"

"Bothered? Deal with it. I'm your boss."

"Not really..."

It wasn't offensive. Just... Janet was more unpredictable than I'd thought, leaving me a bit unsettled.

Tap, tap.

A poke on my arm made me turn. Chris was looking up at me, gesturing to lean down. She wanted to whisper privately.

Swoosh...

"How do you know so much about this world, Chanyoung? And appraising items—is that your ability too?"

"It is. And I mentioned gaining some knowledge from another dimension before?"

"An extension of that?"

"Yeah."

Whoosh!

We pulled back at the whistle. Janet, of course—no one else would act so boldly toward us.

"Hot couple stuff. Ugh, making me jealous?"

"Doesn't the captain have a lover?"

"Heh... To get me, it's one of two: filthy rich, or about to be."

So, when she eyed me earlier, she saw me as 'a guy about to get filthy rich'? Hard to tell truth from bluff. Janet was pure chaos, the word fitting her perfectly.

"Alright. Extra pay, then."

"Extra pay?"

"Yeah. You know we came to uncover the roaring sound's source?"

"Yes."

"And if we eliminate it, we get bonus pay."

"Ah..."

Then I got it—what she meant, and why she seemed so thrilled.

...Or so I thought, but there was more to her excitement.

"Since the roar's owner—me—is gone, the request's complete. I should apologize for troubling the village..."

"No, no—what? You planning to reveal you were the roar's source?"

"...Should I not?"

"Sigh. You're hopeless at this stuff? You'll pick it up with time. Everyone!! Time to work!!"

Yes!!

The whole group moved like clockwork at her command. Chris and I stared blankly at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the fifty mercenaries. Mel too.

A burly guy like Brack first grabbed the rabbit sack, pulled out four, and stabbed them dead.

Squeak!! Squeak!!

Blood soaked his clothes and blade instantly. He passed the dripping carcasses to another, who smeared the blood on his own gear.

'Wait... don't tell me...'

I started catching on why they were doing this madness.

Chris and Mel still looked confused, faces screaming, Why blood on perfectly maintained blades?

The branch-hunting mercenary...

"Chanyoung? That guy's splinting his leg? He wasn't even hurt—why?"

"Ah... ha... haha... Right, they're mercenaries."

"Mercenaries? So what...?"

Instead of answering, I watched more. Janet noticed, surprised.

"Oh, defrocked monk. Figured it out?"

"...All mercenaries do this?"

"Smart cookie. Reliable. And no other group goes this far—that's why White Whale's top-tier."

Hard to agree. Medieval mercenary scam, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠basically. In army terms, 'salting'—or beyond illegal. Uncatchable illegal.

"So, the White Whale Mercenaries fought a brutal battle with the massive monster causing the roars, chasing it far from the village?"

"Tough fight."

I smirked and played along. Janet beamed proudly.

"Kekeke. Exactly. Look—our member's leg broke in combat... heart breaking, right?"

Limp, limp!

"Quest reward won't cut it now?"

On cue, the burly vice-captain approached—the 'salting' ringleader.

"Captain. 7 armors need repair, 13 swords."

"Village has a smithy?"

"Yes."

"Get 'em fixed free."

"Got it. Oh, and we have plenty of dry rations left..."

"Take 'em anyway. Everything we can squeeze."

"Yes."

"Warm beds, booze, and snacks for tonight—obvious inclusions."

"Quest reward, weapon repairs, rations, booze and food, lodging... Got it."

"Handle it."

Bow.

He returned crisply. Everyone had finished disguising—looking like battered survivors of a fierce battle.

"Thanks to you clearing this space, defrocked monk, no big camouflage needed!"

"It's already rabbit-blood central."

"Kekeke. Thoughts on your first real 'mercenary hustle'?"

"Impressive... in many ways."

"Listen up. Mercenaries..."

"..."

"Never earn money honestly, no matter what."

My first impression of Janet? A money demon incarnate.