Chapter 197

Chapter 197

The neutral city of Reinhardt was famous for having the highest tax rates throughout the continent. As such, rumors didn’t easily spread out of Reinhardt for fear of Reinhardt’s retaliation. After all, Moon Gate, the Free Knights Association, the Mercenary Guild, and the headquarters of many major companies were located in Reinhardt.

Of course, one of the reasons why the headquarters of these companies were located in Reinhardt was Reinhardt’s location. Reinhardt was in the middle of the continent, so it had an advantageous location.

As such, Reinhardt became known as the City of Wealth. It was all thanks to the profitable businesses establishing their roots in Reinhardt.

Among the biggest of Reinhardt’s sources of income was the Mercenary Guild’s headquarters, where only the strongest congregate.

Bang!

The door to the Mercenary Guild’s headquarters was flung open. The men inside turned to look at the doorway and found two figures entering the building.

One of the figures was a large-framed middle-aged man whom everyone was familiar with because they immediately bowed toward him.

“Akshuller-nim.” The young man at the reception stood up.

“I was informed that the Mercenary King has issued a summons.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“The target location?”

“The Pontier Family’s territory, south of Avalon.”

“Damn it...” Akshuller sighed.

“Including the 54 Gold Mercenaries who are not involved in the mission, about a thousand mercenaries are on the way.”

“Darmian.”

The young man immediately shut his mouth. “If you have a brain in your head, I’m sure you already know what I’m thinking when I stepped in here, right?”

“...” The young man remained silent at that.

“Why didn’t he say anything to me beforehand? Is it too much to ask for him to consider my opinion and to hear a different option?” Akshuller said with a scow.

After a brief moment of silence, the young man spoke, “They want to keep it among themselves.”

“What?”

“The mercenaries can’t be forced to follow a summons, even if it’s from the Mercenary King. As such, they’re accountable for their own actions, but...” Damian’s expression stiffened as he continued. “Barbarian-nim definitely demanded a huge sum from the Avalon Empire in exchange for his services, and you know that such a sum will definitely be a temptation for any mercenaries out there.”

“Are you saying that...” Akshuller looked like he already understood what was going on.

‘Why are they following the summons?’

“It’s all because they will be awarded their own title, land, and hopefully, a family. The deal makes sense because the Mercenary King is the greatest of us all and a Superhuman at that. However, they have to stick together if they were to survive the territorial disputes between nobles, so they know that they can’t be on their own.”

“They actually thought that far?” asked Akshuller, seemingly surprised.

“Most mercenaries are commoners. Over ninety percent of them joined the Mercenary Guild to earn money and risk their lives because they have no other way to support themselves. They basically live at the mercy of the blade...”

”This is their chance to achieve their dreams. Not only does it promise a secure future, but it also promises a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a member of the nobility. It is only natural for them to take advantage of this opportunity. After all, not all mercenaries are like you, Akshuller.”

Akshuller didn’t know what to say.

He swept his gaze across the others, but no one wanted to look at him.

‘I didn't mean to criticize their decision.’

It was a perfectly reasonable decision. Contrary to their beliefs, Akshuller understood their thoughts perfectly. He had climbed his way up from the bottom as well.

If he didn’t like this situation, then he had to change it himself. He had to do it with his own two hands. It was time for Akshuller to make a move on his own.

Iceline was biting her lips while standing next to Akshuller. When she felt Akshuller’s hand on her shoulder, she raised her head and looked at him.

“Let’s go,” said Akshuller.

“...” Iceline followed without saying a word, and they started walking away.

As Akshuller and Iceline walked out of the door, no one chased after them. The other mercenaries simply followed them with their eyes as silence enveloped the Mercenary Guild’s headquarters.

“...” Darmian remained silent with his eyes closed.

***

“Our main forces have been completely obliterated. We have only six commanders, two C-Class Knights, and a thousand enlisted soldiers ready for battle.”

“...”

There was desperation and frustration in the air within the Lord’s chamber of Peril’s castle. At the report, silence immediately inundated the chamber. There were nine people seated around the round table.

Aside from Charles, Icarus, Verdot and Cain. There were five other lords seated around the round table—Count Keiros, the lord of Peril Castle, and four lesser nobles.

The four nobles came from a vassal family who had dedicated themselves to the Keiros family and was related by blood to Count Keiros, which was fortunate. After all, the latter was particularly important to Charles, who had already been betrayed by her close confidants.

“There’s trouble!” A messenger rushed through the open door, attracting everyone’s attention. “The border watch sent a message! A force of at least five thousand is marching toward us!”

“Five thousand...”

“This is the worst-case scenario.”

The vassals lamented. Meanwhile, an elderly man quietly stood up. He was Count Keiros, the lord of Peril Castle and Charles’ uncle.

“Go and tell our remaining forces to prepare for a last stand.” n0VeLusb.C0m

The messenger’s eyes widened, but he nodded. “I understand!”

Count Keiros watched the messenger vanish before saying, “The enemy’s numbers are overwhelming, but I... as the lord of Peril Castle—I refuse to take my fate lying down.”

His eyes brimmed with tears as he bowed to Charles and took up his sword from where it rested on the table. “I, Keiros, will show the enemy that the Pontier Family cannot be defeated so easily.”

No one said anything in opposition because it was the decision of both the lord of Peril Castle and the young woman who was currently the head of the Pontier Family.

“I will go with you.”

“My lady?” Cain's surprised eyes widened. War was no joke. The battlefield was a location where even a man would have to keep their eyes wide open if they didn’t want to die. Therefore, it was extremely dangerous for a lady. “I’d rather—”

Cain stopped speaking at the sharp pain in his thigh. Icarus pinched his thigh. Cain looked at the former and saw her shaking her head.

“The soldiers are out there, protecting us—me—I can’t just run away and hide.”

“But, my lady...!”

Count Keiros looked into Charles’s unflinching eyes for a moment before bowing.

“May the fire of the Pontiers burn forever.”

“Let’s go,” said Charles before turning around to leave.

The people in the room hurried after her as she departed the room.

***

Fwueeee!

Gehog in the lead grinned at the sound of the trumpets.

“Hehehe, it’s perfect.”

Peril Castle was highlighted by the rising sun. The weather was definitely perfect.

Gehog stared at the walls of Peril Castle.

“Charles di Pontier?”

“It’s my first time seeing a lady of an esteemed family taking the center stage of a battle.”

“Perhaps this is her last hurrah or something, but damn, I can’t wait to see what expression she will make once she’s kneeling in front of me.” Gehog chuckled and licked his lips. Charles’ vivid ruby-like hair could be seen even in the distance.

Gehog couldn’t see her face properly, but when he recalled her beautiful face, her feisty attitude, and her innocent demeanor back then, Gehog felt a fire rising up in him as he muttered, “I thought they’d arrive tomorrow. I guess she just couldn’t bear the idea of waiting for me, could she?”

Gehog scanned the area and asked, “Sir Wright, what do you think?”

A middle-aged man with a thick, magnificent mustache answered, “I’ve heard that Knight Cain on their side is an A-Class Knight, while the Dark Knight of the Dennis River lost his arm, thanks to the Mercenary King.”

“So, what are you planning on doing?”

“I have had enough, and my knights have had enough as well. Give me the order, and I will deliver their heads to you myself, commander.”

“Hahaha!” Gehog boisterously laughed. He smiled deeply before saying, “Sir Wright, I’m liking you more and more every time you open your mouth. Do you have a degree in flattery or something?”

“I was just telling the truth.”

“Heh. There’s no need to share—Look, it’s only a small castle. You can topple it with brute force. Furthermore, those mercenaries...” Gehog came to a decision. “Begin preparations. We will end this ugly war before the main forces arrive.”

“I hear and obey.” Sir Wright saluted before yelling out loud to his knights.

With that, the detachment of Marquis Crombell’s army, where Gehog was the commander, started moving. After a while, two units started moving toward the castle. It seemed that the Pontier Family didn’t expect to be attacked sooner rather than later.

The defenders from the Pontier Family would definitely feel humiliated that Marquis Crombell’s army only sent two units to attack them.

Gehog grinned while staring at Peril Castle. He was obviously enjoying all this.

However, he had no idea that someone else was watching them.

***

“Wow, just how many people did he bring to attack that small castle?” The Lion King whistled at the sight of Marquis Crombell’s troops. “Don’t even bother asking for my help because I don’t want to help.”

“I wasn’t planning on asking for your help,” said Joshua without even looking at the Lion King as he moved forward. “The same goes for you lot as well. Reinhardt has nothing to do with this. Don’t be too hasty on my account.”

Neigh!

Leo de Grans gripped his reins, drawing a neigh from his horse. A hundred knights clad in black followed him on horseback.

“You are our king, and our king wants to do something. What else needs to be said?”

The birds in the surroundings flew into a panic upon being hit by the aura of over a hundred B-Class Knights. Leo de Grans and the Wilhelm Knights had already been captivated by Joshua Sanders.

“How nice...” the Lion King remarked.

Joshua smiled at the Lion King’s remark before saying, “Let’s go, then.”

“Wilhelm Knights, destroy those who dare to oppose His Majesty!”

“AAAHHH!!!”

The shouts of knights and steeds mingled as Joshua raced down the ridge ahead of a hundred knights.