Chapter 74 - Renid (5)

Mayhop, the organizer of today's auction and the boss of the Lizardpa, was dead.

The futile death of an underworld bigshot.

Still, his journey to the afterlife wouldn't be lonely.

Because I had sent his minions right after him.

The ordinary people who participated in the auction were pale with shock at this sudden pandemonium.

“Please rest assured. I have only wiped out a single criminal organization.”

By now, a letter reporting the Lizardpa's atrocities should have arrived at the security forces.

Once the investigation began, the hallucinogen would be found at the house immediately, and there were plenty of victims here to testify, so there was nothing to worry about.

The prerequisite for all of this was Mayhop’s death.

If a bigshot like him were alive, there was a high probability that he would cover up the incident and escape one way or another, so I made killing Mayhop my top priority.

It was obvious that the remaining remnants would crumble and disperse.

“Excuse me.”

Leira, the one with the light purple hair who had won the bid for me today, approached me.

She had held her ground without running away even amidst the tremendous commotion that had just occurred.

“I’m sorry about that. You were probably thinking of taking me as a slave and working me to the bone.”

“It’s a shame, but what can you do.”

The amount she had bid to have me was a staggering 1.2 million Renin.

According to the auctioneer, it was a record-breaking amount.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

“Johan.”

“Your affiliation?”

“The Red Fox Mercenary Guild.”

“Was there such a guild? I don’t think I’ve heard of it.”

“Because it’s a new one.”

Leira stared at me intently with her bright, clear eyes.

“Still, my eye for people is pretty good, isn’t it? To bet 1.2 million on you even though I saw you for the first time.”

“Isn’t that what people usually call a pushover?”

“But it wasn’t in the end, was it? Honestly, there was some luck involved, but I have pretty good instincts. I felt something special from you.”

“It seems there were many others interested in me besides you.”

“Those people were purely captivated by your looks. As for me, shall I say I was also interested in your looks?”

She was a woman who was as unrestrained in her words as she was in her betting.

Anyway, to think Seo Ji-han’s looks were this effective in this world as well. As expected, being handsome is all that matters.

“It would have been better if I could have taken you as a slave, but that seems to be off the table. Would you be interested in working for me? I’m confident I can pay you much more than a new guild.”

“I’ll pass.”

“What if I offer you an amount of money you can’t refuse?”

“I’d still refuse.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m an Earthling.”

Even if that weren't the case, I had enough money to live in piles of it.

And my family had far more money than that.

In fact, there was nothing one shouldn't do more in front of me than brag about money.

***

The Red Fox Guild office.

As usual, I was sitting on the floor operating my Mana Breathing Technique, and Akin was guarding his seat with the guild leader's nameplate, eagerly waiting for clients who might never come.

“……”

Unfortunately, today too was just another slow day.

“No matter how I think about it, Johan, you seem like a madman.”

Akin, perhaps bored, broke the long silence.

“Why is that?”

“To think of causing such a commotion at the auction house. It was too reckless.”

“If it succeeded, that’s all that matters.”

“What if it failed? Our guild would have been torn to shreds.”

To be honest, I hadn't thought that far.

“Let’s just say I was too confident that I wouldn't fail. Anyway, it seems the security forces are handling this case well, so let’s wait a little longer. Soon, people wanting to entrust work to the Red Fox Guild will come flocking.”

“Flocking, my ass! We’re still dead quiet like this today.”

“Just wait a little more patiently.”

“Instead of that, how about you try reviving your aptitude again?”

I wondered what he was talking about, but it seemed Akin was thinking of the money I had earned at the house.

“That’s absurd.”

“I should have just had you earn money at the house instead of taking down the Lizardpa.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Half kidding, half serious.”

“If that’s the case, you might as well change your business and turn this guild office into a house.”

“What are you talking about! Despite how I look, I’m a man with a romantic dream about mercenary guilds!”

Kiiik—

At that moment, the office door opened, and Akin shot up from his seat.

“Welcome!”

For a guild leader, his bottom was so incredibly light.

“Room Chief Johan!”

But contrary to Akin’s expectations, the one who came to the office was the bearded guy.

Come to think of it, I still didn’t know his name.

“Beardo, what brings you here?”

“Why else would I be here? I came to see you, Room Chief Johan. I just came from the security forces after giving my testimony.”

At that moment, Akin’s expression hardened.

“So, you’re not a client.”

That was true, but he might be helpful in other ways.

This bearded guy, though a bit rough, had a friendly personality and was quick-witted, making him perfect for sales.

“Boss. Why don’t you have this guy work here.”

“Work? What work is there to do here. There are no clients.”

“Honestly, that was the problem with the Red Fox Guild. You should have hired people first before opening the office. How long are you going to do everything by yourself, boss?”

This was something I had wanted to say for a long time.

After all, before I signed the contract, there wasn't even a single mercenary here.

“Hmm.”

Akin pondered my words for a moment, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“There’s some truth in what you say. But it’s too much of a burden to pay an employee’s salary while operating at a loss. So, how about we try to find a new house……”

In the end, it was that again.

The first profit was so sweet that Akin still seemed to be clinging to the idea.

Kiiik—

At that moment, the office door opened once more.

“Welcome!”

This time, it wasn't Akin who stood up.

It was the bearded guy, who was a beat faster.

He was showing his will to get a job in this way.

Clack, clack.

And the cheerful sound of heels clicking.

This time too, it was a familiar face.

“So you really do work here. Johan.”

I had never seen a woman who looked so good with light purple hair.

Leira. She had come to see me again after the auction house.

Surprisingly, Akin seemed to recognize her right away.

“By the way, young lady, are you perhaps from the Merwell Guild……?”

“That’s right. My name is Leira Merwell. And my father is Yonad Merwell, known as the Merchant of Gold.”

“I knew it! I thought your face looked familiar somehow!!”

I too had heard of the Merwell Guild.

The wealthiest family in the southeastern region of the Lenad continent.

This was the background that allowed her to bet a huge sum of 1.2 million Renin so boldly.

“But what brings a young lady from the Merwell Guild to our humble guild……”

Akin’s eyes were sparkling in a way I had never seen before.

“Isn’t the reason obvious? I came to a mercenary guild, so I must have a request to make.”

“It is an honor!”

Akin bowed his head respectfully to Leira, who was much younger than him.

“But there’s a condition.”

“For the Merwell Guild to entrust us with a request, we must meet any condition!”

I couldn’t help but be interested in Leira’s words as well.

The quest I had to clear here in Lenad was to escort a merchant caravan.

Since her background happened to be a merchant guild, there was a very high probability that things would line up perfectly.

“Our guild is planning to form a large-scale merchant caravan in two days and head to Dertion. We’re looking to hire one mercenary to escort the caravan, would that Earthling be available?”

“He is available! He is the ace of our guild.”

To call me an ace, well, I was the only mercenary, but I didn't bother adding that.

Akin's lips were twitching, a sign that he was holding back his laughter.

I too cheered inwardly.

“Good. Then I will entrust you with the request.”

At that moment, a quest message was sent.

[A quest has been generated.]

[Take on the escort of the Merwell Guild's caravan, which will depart in two days, and ensure its safe travel to Dertion.]

Leira took a step closer to me.

“Johan, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Yes. Anything.”

“Earthlings usually don’t stay in Lenad for long and quickly return to Earth.”

“Yes. So?”

“They don’t tell us the reason, but I know that they all work in mercenary guilds, take on big requests, and then disappear like the wind one day. Is it the same for you?”

I nodded my head.

This much was something the people of Lenad already knew.

“Then, will you perhaps disappear after this job is over?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“That’s mean.”

“But I can’t help it.”

This part was a forbidden secret. The quest itself could be canceled.

“Well, I’m not so petty as to cancel the request over that, so don’t worry.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Instead, promise me one thing. If you do end up leaving, at least say goodbye before you go. Can you promise?”

“I will.”

“Then, that’s settled. The departure point is the Merwell Guild main branch, in two days.”

It seemed I was really lucky.

For a new guild like the Red Fox to be entrusted with escorting a huge merchant caravan.

Suddenly, I started to look forward to the quest reward.

***

An hour had already passed since Leira left.

Akin was still smiling from ear to ear.

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course! This job is a total jackpot! A large-scale caravan and a long-distance escort.

Once we successfully complete this request, our guild’s name will become even more famous, so how could I not be happy!”

“The Merwell Guild probably has many of its own escort warriors. Don’t you think they’ll just think we tagged along?”

“That just means the success rate of this escort is bound to be high. At first, they might say we tagged along or whatever, but in the end, what remains is the track record. The track record of having safely escorted the Merwell caravan to Dertion!”

Akin's voice grew louder and louder as he got excited.

“Johan! You were my lucky charm!”

That expression was a bit…

Even while using the name Johan, hearing such words was a very unfamiliar experience for me.

Kiiik—

At that moment, the office door opened again.

It was already the third time in one day. It could be called a record-breaking day.

“Welcome!”

The bearded guy shot up and greeted them.

Now, Akin didn't even get up, just slightly raised his head from his seat. It was as if it had always been this way, very natural.

The guests who came this time were not alone but in a group.

‘They don’t look like they’re here to make a request.’

Their attire was unusual, but what stood out more was the mana they held.

At this level, they wouldn't need to come to make a request; they could handle most things themselves.

One of them conveyed their business in a polite voice.

“We came after seeing the recruitment notice. We heard that the Red Fox Guild here is hiring mercenaries.”

“You’ve come to the right place!”

Akin’s face lit up.

In two days, when I would be away for the caravan escort, the Red Fox Guild would once again become a mercenary guild without mercenaries.

So, as long as they met the minimum qualifications, Akin had no choice but to welcome them with open arms.

“Actually, we are all from the northern Berher region. We are discharged soldiers who were in charge of monster subjugation in the border area.”

“Ooh! Is that really true? If you served in the military in such a rough place, your skills are as good as proven! But why did you specifically come to our guild?”

“We have heard the rumors about the Red Fox Guild.”

“……Rumors?”

It was about time for word to start spreading.

Thanks to the diligent activities of the bearded guy and my fellow inmates.

It seemed there was some exaggeration and fabrication, but I decided not to worry about it as everyone would probably take that into account when they came.

Kiiik—

At that moment, the office door opened again.

“Welcome!”

This time, it was clearly a client.