Chapter 215
The Mercenary King was dead.
The Lion King, one of the Twelve Superhumans, formally announced it, and the tumultuous news spread across the continent like wildfire—a testament to the significance of the war between the Pontier Family and the Crombell Family.
Akshuller, the new leader of the Mercenary Guild, also made an announcement.
[The Mercenary Guild admits that Marquis Crombell has hired our services. The mercenaries who participated in the contract will be declared a persona non grata of the Avalon Empire. In addition, every client will enjoy a fifty percent discount with our services for the next two years.]
Akshuller even went one step further by writing a letter of apology to important countries and organizations. The speed and tact with which he handled the situation astonished the rest of the mercenaries.
Marquis Crombell’s request was technically just the same as the rest. However, it had to be stressed that the outcome of the request would greatly influence the landscape of Avalon.
Therefore, it had to have been denied or ignored. After all, it was a request that shouldn’t have been accepted without the approval of Avalon’s Emperor. If people started believing that Emperor Marcus had a special relationship with the Mercenary Guild, then no one would hire the Mercenary Guild anymore.
After all, Emperor Marcus’ iron-fisted rule had earned him more enemies than allies.
Even with that in mind, a fifty percent discount on all commissions was still a difficult pill to swallow. It was all because fifty percent of the contract price was the Mercenary Guild’s net profit.
Therefore, the Mercenary Guild would be in the red for the next two years.
Akshuller also promised that he would raise the mercenaries’ cut to seventy percent after the two-year promise he made was over. In addition, he also promised to cover the damages with the Mercenary Guild’s money, so he quickly became popular.
However, everything about it had more than what met the eyes.
***
“I said no.”
“I told you I didn’t want it, either.” Akshuller frowned at Joshua’s quick response. “I didn’t fight him so I could take his job.”
“It was all for the especially unfortunate mercenaries.”
“Precisely…”
“I can already see it based on what Iceline is doing.”
“It’s not the same.”
“I don't believe you.”
Akshuller sighed lightly as he looked into Joshua's stubborn eyes.
“Is it that hard for you to help a dying old man?”
“A dying old man?is asking for help from a young man?”
“Let’s not even talk about that. Youngsters who don’t listen to their elders will earn the ire of Lady Luck.”
“If you think there’s anything an 80-year-old man can learn from a kid, I suggest you give up now. If you care about the mercenaries, then don’t kick up a fuss.”
“Sigh…” Akshuler shook his head in frustration. “You’re already a mercenary. You defeated the Mercenary King as well, so you will inevitably explode in popularity…”
”I’m convinced that you’re the only one suitable to be the new leader, not to mention your skills.”
It was easy to deduce what Akshuller was trying to say.
He wanted Joshua to be in charge of the new and improved Mercenary Guild.
“With a little help from me, the mercenaries will also—”
“If I were to agree, for whatever reason, then I’d be the first person in control of both the free knights and mercenaries at the same time.”
“What?” Akshuller asked blankly.
“Since the Lion King agreed to act as a notary, I took his place as well.”
“...!” Akshuler’s eyes widened.
If Joshua’s words were true, then the continent would be thrown into chaos.
If Joshua became the leader of the Mercenary Guild, then in addition to being the leader of a powerful force made out of free knights, he would also be in control of a guild with branches all over the continent.
It would be unprecedented news…
If it were to come true, Joshua would be the first one to be the leader of the Mercenary Guild and the Alliance of the Free Knights at the same time.
Akshuller started trembling at the thought.
Joshua saw that, and he said, “I have a condition.”
“A condition?”
“If all you need is a figurehead, then I’ll do it.”
“In that case…” Akshuller’s face lit up.
“However…” Joshua started.
“...?” Akshuller stared at Joshua with a serious look.
Finally, Joshua continued, “However, I will only consider it if you stay by my side the whole time. I don’t really have the luxury to take out other people’s trash.”
“Hmm…” Akshuller nodded in understanding.
He never really wanted Joshua to become the complete leader of the Mercenary Guild. Honestly, what he was really worried about was Joshua taking revenge against the mercenaries who dared to raise their swords against him.
If Joshua were to direct his anger at everyone in the guild… Akshuller didn’t want to admit it, but there was no way they could stand up to Joshua’s spear, especially when he was furious.
Akshuller’s thoughts and worry were concrete evidence of just how strong Joshua had become since the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle.
In the midst of his worry, Akshuller had to reconsider his fantastic idea.
“Fine. I don’t mind that. But… am I the only one who’s going to take out the trash?”
“Well, you have to make sacrifices to achieve something,” Joshua smirked and asked, “I thought you also wanted the Mercenary King out of the picture?”
“...?” Akshuller seemed confused.
“You took the Moon Gate’s offer, didn’t you?” asked Joshua.
“You knew?” Akshuller’s stiffened. Moon Gate had strict privacy standards, so how did Joshua know about that?
“Yes, but that’s all I know. I know where to find the things that she’s looking for, and she wants me to hurry up and retrieve them. Honestly, that’s why I told you about that condition just now,” said Joshua.
“...” Akshuller remained silent at Joshua’s confession. Eventually, he spoke, “Are you not interested? Are you sure you’re not interested in what she promised me if I became the Guild Leader of the Mercenary Guild and helped you?”
“Not really…”
“Someone’s been trying to swallow up the guild for quite a while now. Barbarian knew about it, too, but nobody really cared. I couldn’t deal with him on my own as well. He already had other plans, as you could see,” Akshuller continued “He’s the one who gave the Lion King the first beating of his life.”
“...!” Joshua’s eyes widened when he heard that.
“He’s one of the Nine Stars and one of the few people who could challenge your father, His Grace Agnus, in a one-on-one battle…”
”He’s one of the most powerful beings in Swallow right now.” Akshuller stared right into Joshua’s eyes and said, “He goes by the name Lucifer.”
***
The traitors were holed up in the half-burned ruins of Fendra Castle.
“The Mercenary King and Joshua Sanders went head-to-head in the Battle of Superhumans, and the Mercenary King didn’t manage to land even a single blow on Joshua before losing.”
Baron Ashbal crumpled the piece of paper in his hands, and his expression distorted, looking similar to the paper in his hands as he exclaimed, “You guys actually believe this nonsense?!”
“The Lion King served as a notary, and Marquis Crombell is missing as well…”
“Shut up!” Baron Ashbal yelled in fury at the words of the others. “They’re definitely jamming our communications channel right now, and they’re feeding us with fabricated news!”
After a few moments, someone else cautiously spoke, “I think the Lion King helped him. There’s no way Baron Sanders could defeat the Mercenary King, no matter how you look at it.”
“It doesn’t make a difference right now,” Cox finally spoke. He seemed to be the true leader of the throng, and his words were like buckets of cold water, which doused the traitors’ mood. “Right now, we should discuss where we’re going. If the news is true, then they’ll be here soon.”
“...!” Each and every individual in the throng shivered. For them, Joshua Sanders was scarier than the messengers of hell.
“I… I’d rather…” The nobleman, who was in a verbal altercation with Baron Ashbal just now, stammered. “Wh-Why don’t we just surrender?! The Marquis already gave up, and Lady Charles is in charge right now…”
”How hard could it be to fool her? Her soldiers are unharmed as well if the news were true.”
“Hmmm…”
When he saw that the people around him didn’t react too badly to his words, the brave nobleman continued speaking, “It's just a step back. Isn't there a saying that if you take a step back, you can take three steps forward in the future?”
”Surely, we keep biding our time until we have created a decent plan to continue what we started,” added the nobleman.
“That doesn’t sound too bad.”
“It makes sense, and I think it’s going to work if all of us were to participate in that operation.”
The nobles nodded along to the nobleman’s suggestion, and the latter nodded his head repeatedly in delight.
“It’s impossible.”
“Eh?”
“Lady Charles has already resolved to eliminate us. I have heard some rumors about how they are already setting out to block Aiden Gorge, which is our only way out of here.”
“Wait, that’s…!”
“That crazy bitch actually dares?!”
“Hoho, she’s already acting like the head of the household, isn’t she?”
While the traitorous nobles were muttering among themselves, Baron Ashbal turned to Count Cox and asked, “Lord Cox, are you telling the truth?”
“I have eyes and ears in Peril Castle.”
“Hmm…” Baron Ashbal sighed. He had no idea what to say.
Count Cox saw that, and he said,
“Among the news I’ve heard, one of them is bound to be the truth. In that case, shall we just act on blind faith, then? Or shall we take our chances and flee? Lord Sanders can’t stay here forever, and all we have to do is kill His Grace and Lady Charles.”
Count Cox was truly a ruthless man based on the remarks he had made. It seemed that if this attitude of his had been revealed prematurely, then it wouldn’t have been strange for him to be a traitor as well.
Count Cox’s remarks were on point. Unfortunately, it was already too late because his enemies had already surrounded them.
***
“Sir Cain…”
“Please give me your orders, my lady.”
Charles gazed at Fendra Castle with cold eyes. They had already surrounded Fendra Castle with thousands of troops. The troops’ weapons glistened sinisterly beneath the rising warm light of the sun amidst the cold morning.
Icarus nodded at Charles.
With that, Charles raised her hand and said, “Destroy the remnants of our enemy…”
Cain placed one hand over his chest and smiled, “It shall be done!”
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