Chapter 50 of 100
Chapter 50
15 min read3,700 words
The man with the large axe said to Kate Wayne, "Cerberus is the legendary three-headed dog that guards the gates of hell!"
Wayne replied, "A three-headed dog? I've seen one."
The man with the large axe was quite surprised, "You've seen one?"
Wayne nodded, "It's just a dog with three heads, right? My neighbor has one, and I even held it."
"You held it!!" The man with the large axe was even more surprised.
Cornelia covered her mouth and giggled.
Irina punched him and said, "Idiot, that dog is a freak, not a three-headed dog!"
Everyone was speechless.
"Ah... ah... it hurts." Wayne rubbed the back of his head and said, "Aren't they all dogs with three heads? Could there really be a hell in the world?"
The man with the large axe laughed, "Hell is just a legend, a myth. People deify those rare and unknown magical beasts. Cerberus is a relatively rare and fierce magical beast. Many people like to place stone statues of it at their doors, saying it can ward off evil. I saw someone selling one in the market a while ago, and it seems a noble bought it for 170,000 gold."
"170,000 gold!"
"Yes, you should know that magical beasts are not like materials or treasures. They can become your battle companions. As you go through more experiences, they will grow stronger too." The man with the large axe continued, "Cerberus is not only rare but also very fierce. Getting such a magical beast as a guardian is luckier than winning the lottery."
"Is a unicorn stronger or is that Cerberus stronger?" Wayne asked, fully demonstrating his willingness to ask questions. He couldn't forget that Cornelia had obtained a unicorn the day before, so he couldn't help but ask.
The man with the large axe laughed, "I'm not a noble, so I don't know which is stronger. However, according to the 'Encyclopedia of Magical Beasts' published by the scholars of the Magic Guild, unicorns are much more precious, so they should be stronger."
"Is there a Cerberus with fifty heads?" Cornelia asked.
The man with the large axe shook his head, "I've never heard of a three-headed dog with fifty heads. That wouldn't be called a three-headed dog; it should be called a fifty-headed dog. It's probably something someone made up to deceive others, and people believed it."
Cornelia said sympathetically, "Oh, the people who were deceived must be very pitiful!"
"Not really, little girl." The man with the large axe said, "Those who post such tasks are usually wealthy nobles. The posting fee is not a big deal. I have to go now; it's almost time to set out. We still have to..."
"Ah!!" Before the man with the large axe could finish, Carol suddenly let out a cry, pointing at the memory stone board, "Look."
Everyone looked over and saw that the blue magical text of the SS-class task had turned golden. Those who had done mercenary tasks knew that a failed task would turn red, a canceled task would turn gray-black, and only a completed task would turn golden, symbolizing success and wealth!
The man with the large axe stood there with his mouth open, occasionally making sounds of shock. Everyone in the mercenary guild gathered around, "SS-class, who could complete such a task?"
"Is there really a Cerberus with fifty heads in the world? Impossible, I don't believe it!"
"A 130-year-old bounty, who, who could complete such a task?"
"Idiot, how could one person complete an SS-class task? It must be an S-class mercenary group."
"S-class mercenary group... Yes, that's right, it must be. There are only a few S-class mercenary groups in the world. Which one could it be?"
"It's 'The Land of Dragons,' it must be this mercenary group!"
"No, I think it's 'The Night Pearl Embedded in the Night,' this S-class mercenary group has a 400-year history and is the most powerful."
"It could also be 'The Great Other Side'! I once saw a squad leader from their mercenary group, and he was a master-level figure!"
"The Emperor is also possible, although it's a new S-class mercenary group, they are still possible."
"No, no, no, you're all wrong. I think it's 'The Will of the Gods.' They are the largest mercenary group, boasting 100,000 mercenaries!"
...
In no time, all seven S-class mercenary groups on the continent were mentioned, but the debate continued. The originally quiet guild was suddenly in an uproar.
Wayne and Lo quickly escorted the two girls out of the crowd, "Wow, I've learned a lot."
"They're arguing so fiercely. Why do they care so much about other people's business?" Irina said.
Carol said, "It's a joke, there are only seven S-class mercenary groups in the world right now. Do you know what that means? It means that only these seven groups can take on the most lucrative tasks."
"Only seven! After so many years of the mercenary guild, there are only seven?"
Lo shook his head, "Not exactly. There were some in the past, but they were demoted or disbanded after their leaders or high-level mercenaries died."
Irina patted her chest, "I see." She also knew the rules of mercenary groups. The promotion of mercenary groups is based on a point system, where the points of all mercenaries are added together. If they reach the required level, they can be promoted.
The points required for a mercenary group to be promoted are not fixed like those for individual mercenaries. Instead, they are calculated by multiplying the points required for a mercenary to be promoted by the current number of mercenaries, and then dividing by two. For example, a D-class mercenary needs 8,000 points. If a mercenary group has 100 members, to form or promote to a D-class mercenary group, they need 8,000 multiplied by 100 divided by 2, which is 400,000 points. If there are 10 members, they need 40,000 points.
This system prevents the proliferation and inflation of mercenary groups, ensuring that the overall strength of mercenary groups does not exceed their current level. Large mercenary groups cannot rely on an endless supply of low-level mercenaries to form an S-class mercenary group.
"S-class... It feels so far away!" Wayne sighed, "To take on S-class tasks, we have to wait for a few more years."
"No," Bing Zhiye suddenly said, "It's not entirely impossible. For example, if you had a Cerberus with fifty heads, they would still accept your task. The mercenary guild is not that rigid."
Irina crossed her arms, "You might as well not say anything. How could we possibly have a Cerberus with fifty heads?" However, her words didn't seem to have much effect, as Carol and Wayne were already imagining the large amounts of gold they would receive and the envious looks they would get after completing an S-class task.
Lo suddenly suggested, "Why don't we form a mercenary group? We can all take on tasks together, wouldn't that be great?"
"Sure, sure." Everyone immediately agreed.
Cornelia said happily, "Before, Wayne, Irina, and I wanted to form a mercenary group, but we always felt that three people were too few. Although there is no limit to the number of members, we were afraid of lacking strength, so we gave up. Now we have six people, which is twice as many."
"Forming a mercenary group..."
"What's wrong, Carol?" Lo saw her looking very troubled and asked, "You don't want to?"
Carol shook her head, "No, it's not that..."
"Then what's the matter?"
Bing Zhiye glanced at Carol. He knew why she was troubled. She was currently using someone else's identity, and if she showed her mercenary card, her true identity would be revealed.
"That..." Carol thought for a long time and said, "No, it's not that. My family... My family doesn't allow me to join a mercenary group. Yes, that's it. My family doesn't agree with this, and they have warned me before."
Wayne said, "Ah! Why? That's too unreasonable."
"I, I don't know why they don't allow it, but I can't go against their wishes." Carol looked at them, "Joining a mercenary group is very difficult for me. I hope you can forgive me."
"That's the case." Lo sighed, then suddenly smiled, "Although it's disappointing that you can't join, since it's your family's request, we won't force you."
Carol breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you."
Irina said, "Then, except for Carol, the rest of us should take out our mercenary cards." She then took out her own mercenary card.
Wayne, Lo, and Cornelia also took out their mercenary cards, but when it was Bing Zhiye's turn, he didn't move.
Wayne said, "Bing Zhiye, why don't you take out your mercenary card? It's not like Carol, where your family doesn't allow it, are you... an orphan?"
Cornelia pulled him, signaling him not to say that. Irina even hit him again.
Wayne scratched his head and said apologetically to Bing Zhiye, "I spoke too quickly, sorry."
Lo asked, "Don't you have a mercenary card? That's right, I never saw you take on mercenary tasks at the academy."
"Really?" Irina remembered that he had helped her repair her armor and knew the rules of the mercenary guild better than she did, so he couldn't be a non-mercenary.
"No," Bing Zhiye said, "I'm sorry, I've already joined another mercenary group."
"Ah!" They were all shocked.
Irina said, "I knew it. A mercenary as excellent as you wouldn't be left unnoticed."
"Yes..." Cornelia also said, sounding disappointed.
Lo was surprised, "He's an excellent mercenary? How do you know?"
Irina and Wayne recounted the incident with the armor repair.
"Amazing!" Lo grabbed Bing Zhiye's shoulder, "A 99% repair rate, even the teachers at the academy can't do better. Are you a master repairer?"
Wayne nodded, "Absolutely." He then asked, "Bing Zhiye, what's the name of the mercenary group you joined? If it's not famous, you can quit."
Bing Zhiye said calmly, "A very small mercenary group, not worth mentioning. But quitting a group..."
Lo said, "Yes, after all, they are your comrades and friends. How can you just leave?"
Wayne scratched his head and laughed, "Sorry, I spoke out of turn again."
"Really, you're so careless." Irina wouldn't let go of any opportunity to scold him.
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