Demon Suppression City, Territory of the Black Knights Mercenary Group.
The Black Knights Mercenary Group is an elite sky-level team with a membership numbering in the hundreds. They function both as mercenaries and adventurers. While members pursue their adventurous lives individually, they can also gather under the call of their leader to undertake certain large-scale mercenary missions.
Mercenary groups like this aren’t particularly common within the Human United Kingdom’s borders. Instead, they are quite popular in the Austre Empire located in the eastern part of the world, with the Holy Empire serving as a significant barrier in between.
For the most part, adventurers and mercenaries are similar or share common characteristics. One of the more notable differences is that mercenaries often operate in groups, while adventurers tend to work solo or in small teams.
Or, it could be said that mercenaries, due to their group structure, are more prone to establishing dominance, creating a “king of the hill” scenario among different cities, with each city having an exceptionally powerful figure in charge. Adventurers, managed by guilds, seldom encounter similar issues.
Of course, in countries like the Human United Kingdom where the mercenary culture isn’t as prevalent, and most mercenaries also double as adventurers, things don’t usually escalate to such extremes.
In the reception room of the mercenary guild, Lester and Violet, having removed their black heavy armor, sat facing each other, with hot tea and snacks already laid out on the table.
“So, you left Sil City and came to operate in Demon Suppression City in the north of the kingdom because you had conflicts with another group of adventurers and were worried about retaliation?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s been over a year now. It’s really unpredictable how things turn out. I never thought I would encounter both of you here. How have you been lately?”
Yes, it has been over a year...
When the priest mentioned Lester’s name unintentionally earlier, Violet immediately thought of the several adventurer captains she had encountered in the dark jungle when she first arrived in this world.
She remembered that when they parted ways, she had casually given Lester a soul-grade shield as a memento because she noticed his equipment was damaged during the battle, which startled him.
Violet originally thought it was just the ignorance of people from small places, but later she gradually realized that the overall equipment forging technology in this world was too backward.
Although during her time in the Courage City, she occasionally thought about asking Lilya to send someone to Sil City to check on his situation, but due to its low priority, she later forgot about it. If it weren’t for someone mentioning it by chance, the priestess might not have remembered it at all.
Although Lester didn’t explain the situation too clearly probably because there were other people in the hall, from the previous subtle hints, Violet could also understand that most likely, when he first got the Black Knight’s Soul War Shield, he didn’t quite know how to conceal it, which led to it being noticed by someone and attracting covetousness.
That’s why he had to leave his hometown and escape to this remote Demon Suppression City in the northern border to start anew where no one knew him.
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“We’re all doing fine, Uncle Lester. What about your former teammates? Did they not come together with you?”
“Violet looked around. Whether in the past or now, she hadn’t seen the young man named Leon whom she had saved on a whim before, nor the little priestess and the ranger girl from the Black Knights Mercenary Group.
As if reminiscing about the past, Lester smiled bitterly.
“Everyone has their own lives, but I’m the only lonely one. Although we share the same ideals and gather together, how can I burden others with my own affairs? Those guys are only after me. By leaving, they’re safer. After all, Sil City is under the rule of the king, and we can’t just act recklessly.”
“I see...”
Nodding without much comment on the matter, Violet glanced at the large black shield leaning against Lester’s legs and smiled faintly.
“But I didn’t expect that in just a year, Uncle, you’d make such rapid progress. You’ve even reached this level.”
Judging from his aura, Lester was now almost at the earth-level. One of the criteria for the mercenary corps’ ranking is that the captain must possess corresponding strength. In other words, with the help of the spiritual artifact, the Black Knight’s Soul Shield, this guy could even unleash power comparable to the sky.
Calling it rapid progress wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Speaking of this, Lester couldn’t help but feel emotional.
“A lot has happened on the way to Demon Suppression City. If Miss Violet hadn’t given me this opportunity, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have reached this level in my lifetime.”
“Haha... Opportunities aside, to be honest, I was a bit short-sighted at first. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have had to leave your hometown. Besides, your strength growth is due to your own efforts, not much to do with me.”
The tall man shook his head.
“Although I, Lester, am a rough man, I can still distinguish between gratitude and grudges. Perhaps Miss Violet’s actions were the spark, but those who harbored ill intentions and wanted to snatch the treasure are the real troublemakers. Otherwise, why didn’t Leon and the others take any action when they knew about this matter? Instead, they tried hard to help me escape after the incident, and even pooled together money for my journey?”
“Speaking of which, I haven’t apologized yet. That Cyril kid doesn’t know his place, arrogant and offensive to you and your companions. It’s my fault for not disciplining him properly... He used to be a hunter in the 【Ghost Thief Group】, accustomed to his foul temper, though he’s turned over a new leaf now...”
Feeling that this topic wasn’t quite suitable to continue, Lester paused and clapped his hands forcefully on his thighs.
“That’s it! Miss Violet and the others who came from afar will temporarily stay here. Let me take care of you properly. Feel free to make any requests, as long as it’s something I can do...”
“No need, no need. We’ve already booked a hotel.”
Violet hastily waved her hand to stop this overly enthusiastic guy. It’s not that she was being polite, but honestly, the conditions at the mercenary corps’ base... were quite mediocre.
After all, those who were adventurers and mercenaries at the same time were basically a group of rough and tough individuals who came and went as they pleased. Nicely put, it’s called simple, but harshly put, it’s rough. The snacks and tea here were also terrible, completely unacceptable to the priestess who had been spoiled by a certain queen’s exquisite taste.
It was better to stay at the expensive hotel they booked. Violet is a rich lady now, she didn’t need to save this pocket change.
Lester could easily see through the dark-haired girl’s thoughts, but he didn’t reveal it. He just chuckled heartily and took another big sip of tea.
“Haha, alright, Miss Violet hasn’t changed a bit. I wonder, what brings you to Demon Suppression City this time? If it’s tourism, this isn’t really a good choice.”
Ah, look, there comes the intelligence they needed. This is much simpler than Violet running around like a headless fly with her quest board.
Pretending to ponder for a moment, someone finally spoke up.
“Well... mainly it’s for tourism indeed, but I’ve heard there’s been some trouble around the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains recently, causing quite a stir. So, I thought I’d come over here to take a look, join in the excitement. Do you have any leads?”
“You really dare to join in such excitement... Ah... the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains, huh...”
At this point, the captain’s expression visibly sagged, sighing softly, looking particularly helpless.
“It’s not just quite a stir, it’s turned the whole northern region into a mess. Miss Violet must have heard about the Southern Calamity of Abyss, even with such an event happening, the entire northern army dared not move a single soldier to support...”
“Now, the military forces are reportedly massively mobilizing towards this side, and all four gates of Demon Suppression City are under strict control.”
“I’m afraid... a monster war is about to break out soon.”