Chapter 33

Declan spread his hands.

"Since your skills have already been proven, if you undergo a bit of training and take an oath, I want to appoint you as a centurion and deputy in my unit. Isn't that a good offer?"

"Do you mean to incorporate mercenaries into the regular army?"

Philip narrowed his eyes and asked.

Having lived on the front lines for a long time, he knew how absurd such a proposal was.

Declan nodded calmly. His eyes, looking at Ian, sparkled with honest ambition.

"Given that we are on the brink of war, it's possible. Other lords may look down on mercenaries, but I don't. Mercenaries who have seen a lot of action in the field are excellent forces. If they are given a fair reward and opportunity, they can rise through the ranks under me. Of course, I will never abandon you."

"Hmm…"

Ian stroked his chin.

He wasn't interested in the offer.

What intrigued him was this man's attitude.

He was genuinely trying to make mercenaries his own subordinates.

And the success of his approach was evident from Patton's expression, who looked as if he had already become his deputy.

"Do you have the lord's permission?"

"Of course. He said to go ahead and try. It wouldn't be a loss for my father, as we will be placed at the forefront."

"So, you're saying we'll be cannon fodder."

"I won't deny it. But if we survive, we will become a powerful force with a strong cause. I will make it so. Believe me, I'm not completely foolish."

Declan tapped his temple with his index finger.

Ian nodded calmly.

From what he could see, this man was far from foolish.

His casual actions, appropriately honest yet not frivolous speech, and his eyes and expressions were all impressive for a country bumpkin.

Of course, Ian found no charm or appeal in the offer.

He had no intention of advancing in such a backwater, and he already knew how the impending war would end.

Despite his inner thoughts, Ian spoke calmly.

"I can't give you an answer right now."

"Why not?"

"Because I have a mission that I haven't completed yet. It's not a small offer that I can accept without finishing the mission I've already taken."

"But the crocodile is already… Ah, right. Your coming to Orndell wasn't a coincidence. You came to complete a mission."

Good to know you understand.

Ian just shrugged.

Declan might think he had set the hook.

In fact, Ian had been thinking from the moment he first saw him.

He would turn the tables and use him to complete his mission.

That's why he had listened patiently to stories that didn't interest him at all.

"If I help you with your mission, will you consider my offer?"

"I might. But I can't be sure if you can actually help us."

"If your business is within this city, it's likely I can. My influence extends everywhere except the inner castle."

Declan said confidently.

His gaze, looking at Ian, was filled with goodwill and desire.

Ian met his eyes calmly.

It didn't matter whether this was his true self or not.

If he was as good as he seemed, he would eventually reveal his father's true nature.

If not, everything would become easier.

"However, I'm sorry, but that would expose our mission."

Philip interjected at the right moment.

His pedantic nature was helpful in such situations.

"Oh, the unwritten rule of mercenaries. Hmm, Patton?"

Declan, stroking his chin, turned his head.

Patton smiled.

"Yes, sir."

"Could you please step back? And take those curious onlookers with you."

"Sure, sure. Got it? Don't loiter like rats. Let's go have a drink."

Patton turned around.

A small space was created around the corner where Ian was sitting.

Ian looked at Declan.

"The content might be disappointing to hear."

"You're good at piquing people's curiosity. Go ahead, it's fine."

"We came here to find a person."

Ian pulled out a half-rotten identity badge from his coat.

Declan's eyes narrowed.

"Dave…?"

"As you can see, he was a regular soldier of Orndell."

"Given his condition, he must be dead."

"You're right. He was escorting prisoners. Finding the one who issued the escort order is the first goal of our mission."

"The second goal is to find out what happened to him, right?"

Declan lowered his voice.

Ian shook his head.

"I can't tell you the details, but it was an unjust death."

"Does that mean there are corrupt people within the regular army?"

"Perhaps. You might know better. What do you think?"

When Ian asked, Declan scratched his cheek.

"Embarrassingly, I don't know much about the internal affairs of the lord's army. My brother and father command them. They are the legitimate heirs."

"In that case, you can't help us."

"I didn't say I can't help."

Declan smiled. To Ian, it looked like the smile of someone who had spotted an opportunity.

He looked at Ian with enthusiasm.

"I'll look into it. My personal curiosity has been piqued, so I won't disappoint you."

"If you do, I won't refuse."

"Once I find the one who issued the order, what will you do next?"

"That depends on the situation. As you know, I'm a mercenary. Mercenaries will do anything to complete a mission."

Declan smiled brightly, as if he had heard what he wanted to hear.

"Wait a bit while I gather some information. I'll come back with good news."

***

The "bit" Declan mentioned was really just a bit.

He came to the inn the next day as soon as the sun set.

He sat opposite Ian in the corner, which had become Ian's designated seat.

"From what I found out, it's as strange as you said."

Thanks to the mercenaries making space and the noise near the entrance, their seat became a private room in the crowd.

Ian smiled.

"What was strange about it?"

"Dave had only one family member, his younger sister. She believed he was still alive, thinking he had gone to guard the prison in Agelran. Without a way to confirm, she had no choice but to believe it. The interesting part is—"

Declan leaned closer to Ian.

His blue eyes sparkled.

"Six soldiers escorted the prisoners with Dave. All of them were orphans or had lost their parents. They were the kind of people who would disappear without a trace. Their siblings and friends all believed they had moved to Agelran."

Ian nodded.

It wasn't a surprising story.

The lowest of the freemen.

Like pawns in chess, they were the first sacrifices in every conspiracy.

"So, who issued the escort order?"

"A man named Bradley. He's a commander and my brother's subordinate. We're not close. In fact, you could say we're the opposite. He dislikes showing respect to me and barely speaks to me."

Declan, speaking in a cheerful voice, looked Ian in the eye.

"So, what will you do now?"

"I plan to have a conversation. Privately."

"Getting the information you want won't be easy, will it?"

Ian drew a dagger and placed it on the table.

"This is an excellent tool for conversation. It has a magic that makes even the most taciturn person talk."

Declan burst out laughing.

"I'd like to see that magic. Can I join?"

"It's not impossible. If you can arrange the setting for the conversation."

"Ha… I like you more and more. It's been a while since I've met someone who understands me so well. By the way, are you of noble birth?"

There it is again.

Ian chuckled and said,

"Unfortunately, no."

"No, that's actually a relief. As you know, half of my blood is freeman. Alright, I'll get up first. I have a lot to think about. Once the setting is ready, I'll send someone. It won't take long."

Declan stood up.

"I'm also very curious to see how your mission ends."

"Me too."

He smiled charmingly and walked away among the mercenaries.

As Ian watched him mingle with the mercenaries and buy them drinks, he spoke.

"You're quite the smooth talker."

"From what I see, you're quite skilled at using people."

Declan's seat was taken by Philip.

Ian chuckled and looked at him.

"Let's continue our conversation."

"Sure."

Philip quickly spoke.

In fact, he had been following Declan all day on Ian's orders.

Surprisingly, Philip had a talent for tailing and infiltration.

His timid nature shone in this aspect.

"The young master arrived earlier than expected, so our conversation was cut short. There were no significant developments. The route was as you predicted. Incidentally, I also heard about his reputation."

"Great progress. Doing more than I asked."

"I couldn't help but hear. The people of Orndell seem to like the young master. They say it's because of his freeman blood… Anyway."

Philip cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

"The young master's mother died a few years ago. The viscount took him in as a son but didn't use him for important tasks. The eldest son, Mason, seems to view him as a thorn in his side. Everyone worries that the young master will be sent to the most dangerous battlefield and die."

A typical noble family.

Philip added as Ian nodded.

"From what I see, the young master doesn't seem to be a corrupt person. If he were, he must be hiding it very well."

"Yes, he is hiding it very well. It doesn't seem like he worships chaos or darkness… yet."

Ian brought the beer in front of him to his mouth.

"We'll see if he remains the same after everything is over."

He could already smell the scent of blood.

***

Ian, leaning on the bed, opened the research journal he had taken from the tomb.

A few days after arriving in Orndell, he had secured the best room.

By solving the village's miscellaneous missions without conflict with other mercenaries and befriending the maids, he had achieved this.

The maids who worked at the inn or tavern always treated Ian with unusual comfort.

Perhaps it was due to his non-threatening appearance and calm demeanor.

Even considering that, it was an excessive amount of goodwill.

In any case, thanks to this, Ian could enjoy quiet, solitary moments.

'The priest I met after a long time opened a new path for me. At first, I stubbornly refused and was angry, but I eventually listened to his words. I couldn't help it. It was the true truth. Everything I thought was true until now was a lie. The same goes for this world…'

Conraud's research journal was a typical madman's memoir.

There were equations, magic formulas, and rules that he had organized, but to Ian, none of it made sense.

Of course, this world was one where such nonsense worked.

Ian confirmed once again that he would never learn magic in this world's way.

No matter how much smarter he had become, he couldn't understand things that didn't even make sense.

'Well, to the people of this world, I, who learn and use magic with skill points, must be the one who makes no sense.'

Ian carefully observed the process of Conraud, a border mage, being corrupted and finally breaking free from the shackles of humanity.

As expected, the one who brought him to the underground tomb was in Agelran.

Although the name wasn't mentioned, Ian knew who it was.

When the time came, Conraud was to emerge as his vanguard and servant.

To demonize the entire Agelran kingdom.

Their grand plan was to summon the void entities, like the black wall, to this land.

They wanted a life ruled by ancient gods, neither gods nor devils.

To the fallen, this was the only way for the world to return to its original order.

Content that would have been dismissed as a cult's doctrine if it were the original world.

'This world is so insane that I can't tell what the truth is.'

When the journal reached the part where Ian first met him,

"Sir, are you asleep?"

The door opened, and Philip poked his head in.

He whispered,

"The place for the conversation has been arranged."

"He's efficient."

Smiling, Ian closed the journal without hesitation and stood up.

It was time to flatter and coax the one who had sacrificed his subordinates to the darkness.

With a knife and a fist.