Chapter 78

When Aldis returned to the inn, Ted and Orphelia were waiting for him, sitting across from each other at a four-person table in the dining room.

This inn, which provided beds and alcohol to mercenaries, was usually bustling with the voices of drunk patrons as the night grew deeper. However, today was different.

The atmosphere was still noisy, but the air inside the inn was filled with a tension that was far from cheerful, for there was not a single person holding a drinking cup.

"Where's Norris?"

As Aldis sat down in the empty chair, he asked the two.

"He's out gathering information."

"Everything is in chaos, so it's uncertain whether we can get accurate information."

It seemed that Ted and Orphelia had also been exchanging information with the innkeeper and other mercenaries.

However, unlike Aldis and the others who had seen the situation outside firsthand, the other mercenaries had only heard unreliable rumors.

"Sorry, sorry. I kept you waiting."

Just as Aldis ordered food and drinks from the server, Norris returned.

He drank the water from a glass on the table, then roughly sat down in the remaining seat and caught his breath.

"Good work."

Orphelia poured new water from a pitcher into a glass and handed it to Norris.

After drinking the second glass of water in one go, Norris finally calmed down and began his report.

"It seems the higher-ups are in a frenzy, but they're moving quickly. They plan to launch an attack at dawn."

"Does the Reiting army have that many regular soldiers?"

"Yeah, I think it was around five hundred. Even if most of them are beasts, dealing with that number is... "

In response to Ted's question, Norris answered nonchalantly.

"Yeah, there were about five hundred regular soldiers. From what I saw at the West Gate, it looks like they'll have a tough time against the monsters. Even against beasts, it could be dangerous if they're at the 'Beast King' level. That's why the country is requesting the participation of mercenaries."

"That's a reasonable request, I suppose."

"But still, I don't know how many mercenaries Reiting has. At most, there might be a hundred or two hundred. There aren't a thousand or two thousand. Even if we're dealing with beasts, we can't handle that many."

"Well, that's a silver lining, I guess. Right now, it seems that skilled mercenaries from both inside and outside the country are gathered in this city."

Norris counted off the famous mercenary parties on his fingers: 'Free Cloud,' 'Dragon's Vanguard,' 'Spirit's Guidance,' and 'Red Three Swords.' Each of them was a renowned warrior whose name was known across the land.

"There are about five hundred regular soldiers and a hundred mercenaries. They're also planning to recruit the militia, so I think the number will exceed two thousand."

Reiting had a population of over fifty thousand. Even if they weren't professional soldiers, there would be a considerable number of citizens with combat skills.

Of course, due to the sudden situation, there wouldn't be enough time for proper equipment or training.

However, if the beasts breached the city walls and flooded into the city, the militia would face the deaths of their families and loved ones. This was a battle they absolutely could not lose, and their morale would be high.

"We'll handle the monsters, the regular soldiers will deal with the beasts, and the militia will use their numbers to counter the beasts. That's the plan, right?"

"Yeah, that's what the country is thinking. Mercenaries will receive two gold coins each as a participation reward, and three gold coins for each monster they defeat."

Three gold coins per monster was an incredibly high reward.

However, with the possibility of Reiting's collapse if the mission failed, the country was not hesitant to offer such a reward.

While it was unknown how many monsters there were, defeating ten would yield a significant amount of gold.

"But if the mercenaries' employers don't agree, it's all just talk. I heard that 'Dragon's Vanguard' and 'Red Three Swords' are working for the Jinbarril Trading Company."

"Jinbarril Trading Company."

"Right, they're working for the Jinbarril Trading Company."

Ted was right. Mercenaries worked on requests from their employers.

There was usually a contract between the mercenaries and their employers, and during the contract period, they were not allowed to take on other contracts.

For the employers, it would be disastrous if the mercenaries abandoned their requests midway for better rewards.

Mercenaries, who were often seen as outlaws by society, could only maintain their status by adhering to their contracts.

Of course, there were mercenaries who broke their contracts without hesitation, but the famous mercenaries Norris mentioned were different. They would not neglect their contracts.

On the other hand, being bound by contracts also meant that if their employers prioritized their own safety and property, even the skilled mercenaries would not be able to contribute to the battle.

"But here's the thing."

Norris opened his mouth as if to say, "I'm glad you asked."

"The Jinbarril Trading Company, upon understanding the situation, requested the mercenaries' assistance in the battle. Not just 'Dragon's Vanguard' and 'Red Three Swords,' but 'Free Cloud' and 'Spirit's Guidance' were also in Reiting on the company's request."

Ted and the others, 'Morning Star,' had also come to Reiting on the Jinbarril Trading Company's request. It wasn't surprising that the company had reached out to other mercenary groups as well.

"This is only possible because the Jinbarril Trading Company has declared full cooperation. If the company had refused to let the mercenaries participate... "

The chances of success would be very slim, Orphelia said.

If it were just the beasts, the regular soldiers and other mercenaries might be able to handle it, but with the monsters mixed in, it would be difficult.

No matter how strong Ted and the others were, it was physically impossible for them to take on all the monsters scattered around.

"Moreover, they are actively providing weapons for the militia and materials for repairing the city walls. The company's reputation with the country and the military is soaring."

"What about the other trading companies?"

Aldis recalled the confusion at the Ritt Trading Company.

"I don't know. I haven't heard anything about the other companies. They're probably still trying to figure out the situation. That makes the Jinbarril Trading Company's efficiency stand out even more. Wow, impressive."

Norris laughed with a sarcastic tone.

It had been less than half a day since the situation was discovered. Probably, only the upper echelons of the government had a grasp of the situation.

In such a situation, making a quick judgment and offering assistance seemed almost too good to be true.

Moreover, considering how easily the information was spreading, it was possible that someone from the Jinbarril Trading Company was spreading it.

While it could be said that the company was shrewd as a business, it was not just Aldis who felt a sense of unease.

It seemed that Norris was also bothered by this. Even without saying it, his negative feelings toward the Jinbarril Trading Company were evident.

"Well, the cooperation of the Jinbarril Trading Company is not a bad thing for us. The priority is to repel the beast horde."

"Norris is right. That smug merchant is annoying, but at least we have a chance of winning."

Ted seemed to understand Norris's feelings and added a sarcastic comment.

"What? Are you guys still saying that? You're not jealous because the president of the Jinbarril Trading Company is handsome, are you?"

"Of course not!"

"Absolutely not!"

Aldis, who had never met the president of the Jinbarril Trading Company, ignored the argument and started eating the food that had been brought to the table.

The warm soup seemed to seep into his tired body, and the meat juice and salt from the crispy bacon-filled bread satisfied his appetite.

There were several dishes that Aldis had never seen before, given the city's location where ingredients from the east and west converged.

Ignoring the ongoing argument, he quietly finished the food on the table.

The taste was decent. At least it was a world apart from the 'annihilation weapon' at the 'Trickle Inn.'

Aldis silently thought to himself, though he would never say it out loud.

"You... You're eating your meal calmly while we're arguing..."

Seeing Aldis, Ted and the others also put aside their ridiculous argument and started eating.

About an hour later, soldiers went around the inns and taverns in the city, where mercenaries gathered, to inform them about the formation of the extermination force and the planned departure the next morning.

2018/05/11 Typo correction: 給士 → 給仕

2019/08/11 Typo correction: 五万を越える → 五万を超える

*Thank you for reporting the typos.