Chapter 20: The Captain’s Offer

Chapter 20

A frigid voice emanated from within.

When the door creaked open, an interior as dim and desolate as the voice itself was revealed. Hay instinctively assessed the interior at a glance. On one wall hung a massive sword, alongside various other blades. They weren’t merely decorative; each bore the marks of extensive use.

Opposite, an oval table, seemingly for meetings, was positioned, while detailed maps of the Cheapel Kingdom and Nudan City hung framed on the wall, meticulously drawn.

Facing the entrance, with windows behind it, a desk was set. Beyond the essentials for work, no personal items could be found—it felt eerily similar to Han Tae-hyun’s workspace.

The man seated at the desk was just rising.

“We have a visitor, Captain!”

Hay, slightly surprised, scrutinized the young man.

‘That’s the Captain?’

He was a scrawny man with light brown hair that gleamed like honey. His expression was sharp and icy, making him seem utterly unlike a mercenary. He looked more like a prickly, sensitive scholar.

“A visitor? How did you come to be here?” the man inquired.

“Ah, I’m from the Torres Inn. I heard you were recruiting mercenaries for a monster subjugation mission.”

“Ah.”

The man’s rigid expression softened, replaced by a radiant smile that distinctly felt like a professional greeting. The contrast between his neutral face and his smile was stark. More than that, the aura emanating from him was extraordinary.

Hay felt a sense of déjà vu. He’d experienced something similar before.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Kisen Ludor, Captain of the Kranz Mercenary Group.”

He extended a hand to Hay, inviting a handshake.

Hay reached for it, but it was the hand the Fortune-teller was still holding.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” the Fortune-teller exclaimed, quickly releasing his hand.

Hay, betraying no emotion, clasped Kisen’s hand.

“Hay Styles.”

He had assumed, given it was the Kranz Mercenary Group, that the captain would also be a ‘Kranz.’ Was he a disciple, rather than a grandson?

“Please, have a seat.”

Kisen gestured towards a chair in front of his desk and took his own seat first.

“Captain, this man is a spirit user. You’ll hire him, won’t you?” the Fortune-teller pressed.

At the mention of ‘spirit user,’ Kisen’s face registered a flicker of surprise, but it quickly vanished.

“Well, it’s not as if I can hire everyone I wish to.”

“Then I’ll leave you two to talk. Call me if you need anything.”

The Fortune-teller retreated.

Hay glanced at the closed door, then awkwardly met Kisen’s gaze.

It was Kisen who spoke first.

“You’re from the Torres Inn, you said?”

“Yes.”

“The spirit user who’s been staying there long-term, then.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Kisen’s tone was polite, yet there was an underlying sharpness to it, as if his words could cut someone down at any moment.

“If you don’t mind, could you show me your mercenary badge?”

Hay readily presented his badge.

The front bore the emblem of the Mercenary Guild and the embossed name of the region where it was first notarized. The back, however, was blank save for his name, place of origin, and profession.

Yet, when Hay tapped the back with his index finger, new letters appeared in the empty space.

“A-rank, lowest-grade spirit user. Hmm, acquired attributes are Earth and Water.”

Kisen read the text aloud, then returned the mercenary badge.

“It’s rather unexpected for a lowest-grade spirit user to be A-rank. Even with a good evaluation, they’d usually be B-rank.”

“I have a special skill.”

“A special skill?”

“Yes. I can transform ordinary water into healing water, or even conjure healing water.”

Kisen tilted his head, his eyes betraying a hint of suspicion. It was a familiar reaction.

Hay picked up a letter opener from the desk and rolled up his sleeve.

“Rather than explaining it, it’s better to show you directly.”

“What? Wait, what are you…”

Before Kisen could stop him, Hay drew a long, vertical cut across his forearm. Though it undoubtedly hurt, he merely furrowed his brow slightly. Then, he immediately conjured in the air.

A mass of water, shimmering with white and blue light, formed above his palm. Hay defiantly brought it to his lips and drank it down.

Moments later, the wound began to heal. Kisen watched it all, his lips pressed tightly together.

“Four months ago, it had the effect of a lowest-grade healing potion, but now it provides a healing effect slightly better than a low-grade potion. Unfortunately, there’s a limitation: one person can only experience its effect once a day. Four months ago, I sold this for 30 silver per use.”

“Is that also spirit magic?”

“Yes.”

“Fascinating. I’ve never heard of a spirit user having healing abilities.”

“So I’m told.”

Hay shrugged. He had no intention of revealing the secret of the healing water, just as he never had before.

“For your information, my current spirit user grade is mid-low. The acquired attributes aren’t just those two; I recently gained Wind as well. The record on my mercenary badge is from before it was updated.”

“So you’re saying you contracted with a wind spirit and advanced to mid-low grade in just four months? Why haven’t you updated your record?”

“To update my record, I’d have to go to the capital or a major city where grading exams are available. It’s more convenient to just prove my abilities by completing a request here and then update it.”

“That’s true. Would you mind showing me a wind-based spirit magic?”

He asked, his sharp gaze fixed intently on Hay, as if trying to dissect his very thoughts.

“Of course.”

It was no trouble at all. Hay, as if to prove his point, swished his hand through the air, creating a gentle breeze.

Kisen’s hair ruffled from the sudden gust of wind. His eyebrows twitched upwards.

“I could demonstrate a technique, but it’s magic unsuitable for indoors. Would you like me to show you one if a broken object is acceptable? Or perhaps I could summon a spirit?”

“No, that’s fine. You don’t seem like someone who would lie. Mid-low grade in four months, that’s quite remarkable. For a swordsman, wouldn’t that be like going from Beginner to Practitioner?”

“Is it? I wouldn’t know, since I’m not a swordsman.”

Hay tilted his head innocently. ‘It’s probably similar enough,’ he thought.

Kisen raised an eyebrow and leaned back comfortably in his chair.

“Alright. Shall we talk business now? Did Mr. Torres inform you about the details of the request?”

“I heard it was a monster subjugation.”

“It’s not just a simple monster subjugation.”

“Pardon?”

“From this point on, the information is classified. If you wish to hear the details of the request, you’ll first need to sign this.”

Kisen presented a pre-written document.

“It’s a confidentiality agreement.”

“Sign it?”

“Whether you contract or not, everyone who hears the details of this request must sign this agreement until the request is resolved. It’s a condition that you will not disclose the request’s contents externally. If you’re found to have violated it, you will be punished by the Lord of Nudan. Typically, it results in a fine, but the severity of the punishment will vary depending on the circumstances.”

Hay, with a puzzled expression, carefully examined the agreement.

“You can read, it seems?”

“I studied.”

He haltingly read through it, confirming Kisen’s words. It seemed the request they had received was indeed not a simple monster subjugation.

At the bottom, the Lord’s name and seal were affixed, along with the official stamp of the Kranz Mercenary Group.

Since it merely required him to keep silent, whether he contracted or not, and posed no real difficulty, he readily nodded.

“Alright. I’ll sign it.”

Kisen handed him a fountain pen.

Hay finished signing and returned the document.

“Then I’ll tell you the details of the request. On the surface, what our mercenary group intends to do is indeed monster subjugation. And we will, in fact, subjugate monsters.”

“Is there an additional task?”

“It includes not only monster subjugation but also demon subjugation.”

“What?!”

Hay’s eyes widened considerably.

“What did you say?”

Kisen rubbed his temple with his index finger, as if he had a headache, and spoke languidly.

“Demons. Black Orcs were recently discovered in Mount Senugel. They’re apparently breeding monsters.”

“The corrupted fae, you mean?”

Hay’s voice rose slightly.

“I didn’t realize anyone still called them that.”

Kisen offered a slight, knowing smile.

Monsters were simply savage, deranged beasts, while the corrupted fae were said to be savage, deranged fae. Despite the name ‘fae,’ they were not cute creatures like Tinkerbell. They were ‘those monsters’ from games and novels.

“But I thought they were all exterminated 120 years ago?” Hay asked.

“It’s highly probable that some survived. Even if only a few remained, 120 years is ample time for them to breed and reform a tribe.”

“Demon subjugation? That’s not something a mere mercenary group can handle, is it?”

“Indeed. Normally, matters concerning them would first be reported to the capital and handled by the Royal Army. However, the Lord of Nudan wishes to resolve it within his own jurisdiction.”

“He wants to take credit for cutting off an orc’s head and subjugating monsters?”

“Quite perceptive of you. Yes, that’s precisely why he hired us.”

“How absurd.”

That was the Lord of Nudan disregarding proper procedure and acting autocratically. Kisen chuckled softly. He rubbed the dark circles under his eyes, perhaps from fatigue, and continued.

“Fortunately, the number of individuals found isn’t large. According to the reconnaissance team, there are about twenty Black Orcs. While their numbers are small, the monsters they command are considerable, making this a rather dangerous request. The request rank, I believe, would be considered the highest level among A-rank missions.”

The highest level among A-rank missions implied a small-scale regional war. Hay felt somewhat apprehensive about taking on this request, wondering if it was truly advisable.

Kisen tapped the desk like a piano, *tap-tap-tap*.

“How do you primarily use spirit magic? Is it close-range offensive? Or long-range?”

“Mostly for long-range defense. I create shields, spears, or arrows for attack.”

“Would you mind showing me?”

“Spirit magic?”

“Yes. Ah, as long as you don’t break anything indoors.”

It was no trouble. Hay drew upon Kelpie’s power and conjured in the air.

Around Hay and Kisen, twenty water arrows instantly materialized in the air.

“Like this.”

Hay slowly curled his fingers inward. The then vanished as if evaporating into thin air.

A peculiar light flickered in Kisen’s copper-colored eyes.

“While I haven’t seen your skills with my own eyes, Mr. Styles, with that, I wouldn’t worry about combat. Still, if you contract with us, it would be most rational to deploy you for rear support or as a healing asset. Our rear lines are rather weak.”

Kisen stroked his chin. He seemed to be mentally calculating how best to utilize Hay if he hired him.

“You mentioned you charge separately for providing healing water, correct?”

“30 silver per provision.”

“Daily employment fee of 3 gold, healing fee of 50 silver per use, and a hazard allowance of 30 silver if combat occurs.”

Hay’s eyes widened in surprise.

“The cost of handling the monsters is shared with the Lord of Nudan’s side, with Nudan taking 40% and our mercenary group taking 60%. From that 60%, our profit-sharing with Mr. Styles would be a 50/50 split. How does that sound? Will you agree to these terms?”

Kisen asked, smiling genially.

“……”

Hay’s only reply was to quietly pick up the fountain pen.