Chapter 5: Mercenary Rules

The Mercenary Guild is a global organization, and the mercenary system is very popular on the continent, with all countries strongly promoting it. This is because there are two major benefits: it can improve the skills and combat abilities of the general population, and it can also solve unemployment issues, which is crucial for the economic development of the country.

Under the mercenary system, there are two types of units: mercenaries and mercenary teams. Individuals can join the mercenary system as independent mercenaries, or they can form mercenary teams with five or more people. Mercenaries can receive three types of rewards when they accept missions: labor points, material rewards, and reputation rewards. These three types of rewards are provided by the Mercenary Guild, the mission commissioner, and the state and various legal guilds, respectively.

Mercenary teams and mercenaries are established on a hierarchical system, with different levels allowing for different mission acceptance levels. Mission levels are determined by the difficulty of the mission and the reward amount. Mercenary units are divided into seven levels: S, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Mission levels are divided into ten levels: SSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

The promotion of mercenary or mercenary team levels is accumulated by the Mercenary Guild. The conditions for accepting commissioned missions are based on the current mercenary level. For example, an F-level mercenary team can accept F and G level missions, while an E-level mercenary can accept E, F, and G level missions. SS-level missions can only be accepted by S-level mercenaries. Except for SSS-level missions, the other nine levels can be commissioned by the guild, groups, or individuals. SSS-level missions are national war tasks and can only be commissioned by the state, but any level of mercenary or mercenary team can accept them.

Missions are divided into two types: individual missions and team missions. Individual missions can be accepted by any qualified individual or team. Team missions can only be accepted by qualified mercenary teams, and they can specify the number of team members, such as fifty or more, one hundred or more. If there is no limit on the number of people, any number of mercenary teams can accept the mission, and they can even collaborate with other teams.

Missions also have two states: limited and unlimited. Limited missions have restrictions on the number of times they can be accepted, such as a one-time mission, where once a mercenary or mercenary team accepts it, others cannot repeat it. Unlimited missions can be accepted by many individuals and teams simultaneously, with the first to complete the mission receiving the reward. Due to the risk involved, unlimited missions generally offer rewards that are more than double those of limited missions of the same level.

Missions are also divided into three types: regional, national, and global. Regional missions are commissioned and accepted within the local guild. National missions can be commissioned in the local guild and accepted and returned in any guild within the country. Global missions can be commissioned in the local guild and accepted and returned in any guild worldwide.

When a mission is commissioned, the Mercenary Guild charges a 10% commission fee from the reward amount and can also accept the mission reward on behalf of the mercenary. National missions incur an additional commission fee of 3,000 to 5,000 gold coins based on the size of the country, while global missions incur an additional commission fee of 10,000 gold coins. Once a mission is accepted, the commissioner cannot cancel it.

If a mercenary fails a mission, they can still receive 3% to 5% of the material reward, but they will lose 30% more labor points than the mission's reward. For example, if the mission reward is 100 labor points, failing the mission will deduct 133 labor points from the mercenary and the mercenary team. Failing an unlimited mission does not result in a deduction of points. If a mercenary's labor points fall below -100, their mercenary status is revoked, and they cannot reapply for three years. The material reward for failing a mission is determined by mutual agreement between the commissioner and the mercenary, usually in the form of currency.

Private possession of commissioned items results in a deduction of labor points and compensation to the commissioner for the value of the item, whether it is a mission item or not.

Bing Zhiye was very familiar with the mercenary system. He had traveled the continent for more than two years, and all his living expenses during this time came from the Mercenary Guild. He also took on many repair tasks because they were relatively less troublesome but offered relatively rich rewards.

Repairing is a technical skill, and often, something that costs ten gold coins to fix in the Mercenary Guild would cost several times more at a professional repair shop. However, the risk of commissioning a repair task through the Mercenary Guild is much higher. According to the mercenary principle, if a task fails, there is no compensation. If a third-rate technician accepts the repair task and the item is destroyed, they are not responsible. Therefore, valuable items are rarely commissioned for repair through the Mercenary Guild.

Bing Zhiye agreed to help them.

Cornelia looked very pleased and led him out of the tavern.

They used a teleportation array to reach another district. In this area, there was an open space, a public training ground with stone platforms, tables, and other simple facilities for repairs. This training ground was a place for learners to exchange and learn from each other, and it was common in various towns. It also attracted people who liked to set up arenas. Due to the large number of people gathered, it was a place where people with various skills would congregate, including repair experts.

Cornelia looked around the training ground and finally spotted Irena, who was intently watching a duel. Cornelia pulled Irena and asked, "What, Vain hasn't come back with the armor yet?"

Irena frowned and said, "I don't know where he's gone."

Cornelia said, "Here, give the commission form to Celeste. He will help us repair it, and we'll give him half the fee, seven gold coins and fifty silver coins."

Irena handed the form to Bing Zhiye.

Bing Zhiye looked at the form: 'Mission Level: E-level Commissioned Mission; Mission Conditions: Repair one non-standard medium knight armor from the Moon Empire; Mission Reward: 80 labor points, 15 gold coins; Mission Receiver: E-level Mercenary Bev Irena; Mission Return Location: Moon Empire Thebes City Silver Knight District Mercenary Guild; Guild Code: MY0014; Detailed Mission Conditions: Repair one non-standard medium knight armor from the Moon Empire, with a damage assessment of 65% to 68% (Mercenary Guild), and a completion rate of 90% or higher.'

Repairing a knight armor with 65% damage for only 15 gold coins was a very stingy commission. Repairing it at a blacksmith's shop would cost at least a hundred gold coins. However, Irena and the others were not concerned, and neither was Bing Zhiye.

Cornelia looked at Bing Zhiye and smiled, asking, "Do you know why I asked you to help?"

Bing Zhiye returned the form to them and said, "You are from out of town, and we know each other."

The two girls were taken aback.

Irena said, "You speak too briefly, but you guessed right."

Cornelia said, "Yes, the money is a bit less, but I'm troubling you."

Soon, Vain arrived carrying a large suit of armor.

"Vain, where have you been? Why did it take so long?" Irena was clearly angry.

Vain put the armor on the ground and wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying, "Idiot, how can you repair it without tools?"

Irena was taken aback and awkwardly smiled, realizing she had forgotten to bring repair tools, only remembering to earn labor points by fixing the armor.

Vain had a bag on his back, which he put down, and it contained the repair tools.

Cornelia happily picked up a hammer, "We have the tools, let's start repairing. Celeste..." She looked at Bing Zhiye, who was already examining the armor on the stone platform.

The armor looked undamaged but lacked the luster of metal.

The three of them gathered around, and Irena asked, "Isn't it just that the shoulder joint is broken, and there are many dents and some rust? Do you need to examine it so carefully?"

Bing Zhiye didn't look up, feeling the armor and sniffing it, then said, "You've been tricked. This armor has been corroded by the acid of a Demse worm. Although the acid is not strong, it is highly persistent and can last for over ten years even when exposed to air. The armor looks fine on the surface, but if you touch it, you'll know."

The three of them touched the armor and felt as if they were touching a rough wall, which was very uncomfortable.

Bing Zhiye continued, "The armor has been eroded with countless tiny, invisible holes, all over it, as if it had been evenly coated. From the degree of erosion, it has been at least a few years. If left for a few more years, this armor will be a pile of scrap iron. But now, this armor can no longer protect its owner. Just a little force..." He punched the armor, and a hole appeared.

The three were startled, looking at the broken hole, and Vain was furious, "Damn scoundrel, even the guild deceives people!"

Bing Zhiye shook his head, "The Mercenary Guild didn't intentionally deceive you. The person who appraised the item might not have noticed."

"Even the guild was deceived, how despicable. I'll go find the commissioner right now!" Vain said angrily.

"Wait, Vain." Cornelia held him back, "But I'm curious. The acid of a Demse worm is very precious, and you might not get a drop from ten worms. Because of its persistent corrosiveness and special properties, it can corrode enhanced magical items. No one would use this on ordinary armor, let alone coat the entire armor. How did this happen?"

Bing Zhiye looked up at the girl who asked and then lowered his head, "You know about this acid? Yes, Isabelle is a famous noble, so it's not surprising she knows."

Irena laughed, "Cornelia is a walking encyclopedia; her family's library fills a room."

Bing Zhiye said calmly, "The steel of this armor is very special. It might be a discarded item from an imperial laboratory or the Kulandine Academy. Someone found it and brought it to the guild for repair."

"You mean it's an experimental item?" Cornelia thought for a moment, "I don't think so. Even if it was an experiment, they wouldn't coat the entire armor, that would be too wasteful."

Bing Zhiye shook his head, "A good suit of armor uses a wide variety of materials. Different parts of the armor are made with different materials, formulas, and smelting methods. Different parts and components have different uses, and I think you understand this."

Vain nodded, "Right, the body of the armor requires flexibility, the arms require hardness, and the joints require high resistance to rust and corrosion, especially the shoulder joints. A good suit of armor spends more than half its cost on the joints, because if the joints rust, the armor can't be used in battle."

"Armor experiments go beyond this, such as the impact resistance at different levels of corrosion, so they would coat the entire armor with acid," Bing Zhiye explained in detail.

Irena was amazed by Bing Zhiye's knowledge, "I didn't expect you to know so much. You're so smart, you could be a detective."

Bing Zhiye smiled, "Thank you, it's actually easy to think of. Only in an experiment would they coat the entire armor with acid."

"But what do we do now? Can this armor be repaired?" Cornelia asked, frowning.

Before Bing Zhiye could answer, someone spoke from behind.

"Hey, Miss Isabelle, haven't you fixed your item yet? I've already fixed mine, all by myself," a person walked over, dragging a heavy suit of armor and smiling proudly.

Vain looked unhappy, "Hmph, our armor was corroded by acid, it's hard to repair."

The proud boy had golden curly hair, "Of course it's hard for a brute like you, but if I helped, it would be different." The golden-haired boy looked at Cornelia and Irena, waiting for them to ask for his help. Irena glanced at him and ignored him, while Cornelia was hesitant but seemed unwilling to ask for his help.

The golden-haired boy looked a bit embarrassed but didn't leave, smiling, "Miss, do you need help?"

Cornelia was still hesitating, but Irena suddenly said, "No, you can leave now, you're in our way."

"Exactly." Vain rolled up his sleeves and flexed his arms, "Bodala, do you want a punch?"

The golden-haired boy, called Bodala, waved his hand dismissively, "I don't want to talk to a brute. I only listen to Isabelle... I only listen to Cornelia. I'm sure she'll ask for my help, right?" The last question was directed at Cornelia.

Cornelia looked at her companions, determined, and said apologetically, "No, thank you, we've already found a friend to help us."

"O... Okay..." The golden-haired boy looked at Bing Zhiye unhappily and left.