55-62

Chapter 55: Battle in Cemetery

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Rhode's overwhelming charisma and confidence rendered Shauna completely speechless. As the saying goes, give him an inch, and he'll take a mile. Shauna assumed that they were merely in a cooperation-relationship, but when Rhode delivered those overbearing words, wasn't it the same as demanding them to be his subordinates?

Though everyone else revealed a different reaction in response to Rhode's exclamation.

Old Walker placed his hands on his chest, watching the fun that was about to ensue from the sidelines. During the arduous journey, he had witnessed and personally acknowledged Rhode's capability in commanding others. He could tell that Rhode's knowledge and resilience were top notch. It was a pity that his only flaw was his sharp tongue. If he said one, then it'll be one. If he said two, then must be two. He will not give others the opportunity to refute him. Rhode made it clear to Shauna and her team that they were too weak, and he did not believe in them. It was better to leave everything to him.

Although there was nothing wrong with his sentence, the way he said it was just like a slap in the face...

Compared to Old Walker who preferred to watch the scene unfold from the side, Marleen genuinely thought that it was only natural that Shauna should concede her party to Rhode. She did not understand how things work between mercenaries, but she knew that with only four of them, they were able to reach the depths without breaking a sweat. It wasn't like Shauna and the others. Though they had more manpower, they still fell into such a tragic state. Thus, wasn't following Rhode's commands the most logical thing to do? As for their numerical advantage...? Eh... mages had never considered numbers as an advantage.

Lize, on the other hand, felt rather awkward. She was the only one who was well acquainted with Shauna's team. And right now, her friends suddenly turned into subordinates. Furthermore, Rhode's straightforwardness didn't leave them with a speck of face. This left Lize confused about her next action. Nevertheless, she wasn't stupid, and at this time, she understood that it was better for her to stay silent.

As an experienced mercenary group leader, Shauna knew she had to respond quickly, and she looked at Rhode before her. However, she still remained quite hesitant.

The truth was simple; she didn't want to agree with this condition! Since both of them were from two different groups, and her people might be employed as meat shields. But recognizing Rhode's determined attitude, he made it clear that there was no room for compromise. If she did not agree right here and now, then the next road might lead to a dead end.

When Shauna fell in deep thought, a voice sounded beside her.

"Hmph, why should we listen to your command! Bis sis, don't listen to him! We have more people than them; it should be them who needs help from us!"

A young mercenary donning a leather armor and a two-handed sword jumped out from the rear. Then he glared at Rhode unhappily.

"Barney, it's not your place to speak."

Hearing the outburst of this young mercenary, Shauna began having a headache. She waved her hand, indicating him to stop. But it was clear that the young mercenary named Barney did not intend to stay silent there.

"But, big sis, this guy, he is too much... He just made it clear that we were going to be their meat shields and they will just snatch the rewards later! This kind of despicable person, we..."

"Despicable person?"

Rhode wasn't mad, but Marlene on the other hand, couldn't hold her rage in anymore, and she flared up.

"So that's how mercenaries treat their benefactors?! If it weren't for us, you've already died in this ghastly place!"

"Even without you guys, we can still survive!"

Barney clenched his teeth and answered. Marlene snorted coldly and lifted her chin, no longer looking at him. In her opinion, as a noble, she did not need to waste her precious saliva in a mouth fight with an uncouth mercenary like him.

Marlene's arrogance angered the young mercenary. He spat on the floor and opened his mouth to say something. However, Shauna finally became angry.

"Shut your mouth, Barney! If I hear one more word from you, you can help yourself to leave the group."

"Big sis..."

Looking at the furious Shauna, Barney felt extremely wronged.

Who cares if they're a noble?

It took so much effort to get to this place, and yet these despicable people were trying to use us as meat shields?

Pui!

We mercenaries also have our own pride, how we can we just let trample all over us?

Maybe big sister is afraid of these nobles, but I'm not!

Even though they have power and money, I will still fight with them with whatever I have until the end!

"I agree to your request."

Shauna finally made her decision. After all, the undead were too difficult for their group. Furthermore, she was also still pondering on how to beat that damned necromancer. Since this young man is confident, then it would be the best to leave it to him.

"I need everyone to follow my commands unconditionally."

After receiving Shauna's acknowledgment, Rhode began to speak again as he stared at the mercenaries behind her with his usual calm expression.

"If you obey my commands, I assure you that I will try my best to keep your lives intact. Otherwise... your life will be irrelevant to me."

When he paused his speech, Rhode studied the young mercenaries' expressions behind the red-haired female swordsman.

"If there's anyone who is not willing to listen to my command, you can stand up now. I don't want any trouble in the battle."

"Hmph!"

Barney was aware that Rhode was eyeballing him. Thus, he merely snorted and refused to move. In his opinion, this cunning noble was trying to use the threat of death to split the team. So, he would definitely not leave. Once he found sufficient evidence of the young noble's scheme, he might be able to stop it.

No matter what you want to do, I won't let you succeed!

The young man clenched his fist and swore secretly to himself.

–

Ever since the addition of Shauna's team, the group's clear speed became evidently faster. Soon, they found themselves at the bottom of the underground cemetery.

"Boom! Boom Boom!"

Followed by streaks of lightning, many undead creatures were sent flying, and their fragments soon fell to the ground, no longer presenting any threat.

Indeed, they are strong...

As she stared at the young mage, who wielded her wand as easily as breathing, and the young noble Rhode, who calmly commanded at the front, Shauna's initial doubts began to diminish. The combination of the powerhouse Marleen and Rhode's flawless command was the epitome of perfection. Those undead who once caused Shauna and her team to struggle for survival were wiped out as easily as sneezing.

There is no doubt, they ARE strong...

Shauna couldn't help but stare at the black hound following behind Rhode. While she was present on the day of the mercenary assessment, witnessing Rhode's prowess firsthand in a dungeon was always clearer than being a mere spectator.

"We're about to arrive."

Unlike the distracted Shauna, Rhode never stopped focusing on his opponents. After clearing out another wave of undead, he scanned his surroundings vigilantly. Then, he whipped out a ring from his pocket and wore it on his finger. The Soul Binding Stone which he obtained from the haunted house was engraved on the tip of the ring. Rhode had cut the stone into three parts which he inserted into a silver ring he had bought. While his alchemy skill was rather lacking, he could still do something basic such as this.

The size of the Soul Binding Stone could decide the level of the soul it could bind. For example, a small stone was unable to bind a strong soul, but if the stone was too big and the soul was small, then it would be a waste. Right now, the size was just right. And the reason why Rhode brought out his Soul Binding Stone right now was clearly that of one thing.

Swoosh!!

A dense fog billowed out of nowhere, clouding the sights of everyone.

When the smoke dispersed, a moment of eerie silence fell upon the group. Suddenly, a black shadow emerged from the ground, swiftly rushing towards them. If it were before, then everyone would be surprised by this sudden attack. But Rhode had already made the necessary preparations, thus, the enemy's ambush failed to harm the group. Marleen was chanting furiously; she conjured a whirlwind which engulfed the team and barred the black shadow from entering.

A pile of bones slowly formed into a sharp silhouette.

"Hehehe..."

At the same time, a cold and crisp sound echoed from all directions, followed by an aura of evilness and death.

"I truly did not expect that you could break into my chamber..."

"The Necromancer!"

Shauna growled in a low voice; then she raised her sword. Shortly after, a crimson flame emerged from her sword which soon engulfed her blade with fire. This fire attribute magic weapon was something she looted from a long time ago. It was called the Burning Blade.

"Listen to my commands, and don't forget my words from before."

Compared to Shauna's tense expression as though she was facing her eternal nemesis, Rhode was clearly much calmer. He held the Star Mark on his hand and narrowed his eyes to scrutinize each changing detail in his surrounding. The darkness became increasingly thick; it was like an invisible, heavy curtain that shrouded everyone within. As their world plunged into pitch darkness, nobody knew for certain where the next attack might come from.

However, only Rhode knew what was going to happen.

He majestically raised his sword over his head.

In the next moment, everyone discovered that Rhode's sword was emitting a brilliant light which pierced through the darkness like a lighthouse in the night.

Akin to an opening of a stage play, the curtain of darkness suddenly parted, and a Necromancer who was wearing a black robe miserably retreated to the back. In his hand, he held a gruesome looking staff formed with bones. Right now, he stared at Rhode with a surprised expression.

How did this young man see through his art of darkness?

But how could Rhode give the necromancer time to find out the answer? In the next second, Rhode raised his sword once more and slashed downward.

"Follow the plan!"

Chapter 56: Like A Pig...

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

The Necromancer snorted coldly at Rhode's incoming attack. A wall of bones formed before him and it blocked Rhode's sword attack. At this time, Shauna and other mercenaries moved according to Rhode's command and positioned themselves in a triangular formation surrounding the Necromancer.

"Hmph, such petty tricks."

Although the Necromancer couldn't retreat any further, clearly he didn't regard Shauna and the others as threats. He snorted coldly, causing an intense glow to flare up within its empty eye sockets as he gripped his staff and strafed to the side, swinging his weapon in a sideways arc.

Typically, mages were weak in their physical attacks, but the Necromancer was an exception. After losing its mortal body, it obtained a power far beyond humans. Facing the Necromancer's incoming attack, Shauna instinctively held her weapon up to block but little did she expect that the impact was akin to a barbarian waving a huge stick. Shauna's body trembled violently under the immense pressure. If her reaction was a tad bit slower and didn't swiftly retreat after the initial blow, then she might have been already thrown towards the ceiling.

"Don't clash with it head-on, keep your distance and don't stop attacking!"

Rhode discovered Shauna's miserable state and frowned before reminding her once again. After hearing his voice, Shauna and the other mercenaries immediately regained some of their spirits before surrounding the Necromancer, launching periodic mid-to-long range attacks. Since the Necromancer possessed abnormal physical and combat prowess, he was able to tie Rhode down with a wall of bones while swinging his staff like a club on his other hand. An intense ember burned from deep within his bottomless sockets, emanating a chill aura of danger.

But that was all it could do.

After dodging the relentless assaults, the Necromancer sneered and raised its left hand, conjuring an eerie ball of negative energy at the tip of its bony finger. Then it slowly pointed outwards, waiting for the right moment to launch it...

However, at this moment, he felt that something was amiss when its wall of bones suddenly trembled.

Bang!! A raging storm surged in when the solid wall of bones collapsed like a bunch of building blocks falling apart. At the same time, a flash of light reflected off the white bones, creating a white, straight line which pierced right into Necromancer's forehead.

Damn, how could this happen!

The Necromancer was shocked. The negative energy that it had painstakingly condensed instantly dissipated. At this moment, it discovered a whirlwind emerging from under its feet and quickly dodged it along with an attack from Rhode. At the corner of its eye sockets, it found a young girl adorning a luxurious magic robe holding a wand which emitted a crimson light.

"Damn, my spell was nullified?!"

The Necromancer's expression sank. It had assumed that Marleen was just another mage apprentice, which was why her presence didn't bother it too much. But now that it discovered its magic had been nullified, it realized that her power was far beyond any apprentice, rather, it was certain that she had entered the middle circle! It was impossible to nullify its protective magic with this vast gap in levels between them, but since she could do it...

These thoughts crossed the Necromancer's mind in a flash. Then, in no time, it found a way to counter her. The staff that it was holding on suddenly fell to the ground and disappeared.

Only Rhode caught this subtle action.

"Walker, Lize, pay attention to the surrounding!"

Rhode put down his sword and shouted towards the two. Then, at the very next moment, the ground suddenly rose.

"Boom!!!"

エスリード苦楽園老松町（5階） - 阪急電鉄甲陽線「苦楽園口」駅徒歩18分/4LDK

Numerous heavily armed undead clawed out from the crevices caused by the quake. Many of them held old, broken weapons and were bellowing in a fury. Though their pace was slow, their unwavering stance and superior numbers surrounded every one of the mercenaries. Rhode thought that this move was indeed a right choice. Fortunately, he had already reminded his men, if not, all of them would be running around like headless chickens. Now, each mercenary scattered around the battlefield to kill the spawned undead. Two mercenaries from Red Hawk immediately guarded Lize and Marleen's front and flank. In response, Lize cast a protective shield on everyone. As for Marleen, she wasn't the slightest bit worried about the situation as she pointed her wand towards the Necromancer while murmuring a spell to analyze the protective spells on its body.

This battle was a race against time.

"Tch!"

When the Necromancer realized that panic didn't settle in as it had expected, it scoffed in contempt. It retreated once more and dodged two attacks at the same time. Since these attacks were so weak, it did not care about those who launched it. Even if it landed on its body, it wouldn't inflict any injuries. However, what made it anxious was the black-haired man before him. No matter what it did, that man was able to derive a counterattack. It was just odd... how did this young man who appeared to have a girlish face, have such familiarity with its fighting style?

"Swoosh!"

Rhode could care less what the Necromancer thought about him. He swung his sword and shot forward once more. When his sword collided with the bone staff, a spark ignited at the point of contact. Then, at the very next moment, he discovered lines of magic surfacing in the air which scattered soon after.

"I did it!"

Discovering this phenomenon, Rhode's resolve became firm. Meanwhile, the Necromancer's expression darkened. It retreated once again while raising his the staff on his hand.

At the same time, Marlene aimed at the Necromancer's body with her wand.

A bright, dazzling white light condensed on the tip of her ruby wand which soon shot forward. In a flash, the spell successfully collided with the Necromancer.

"Boom!!!"

An intense surge of heatwaves burst out from the point of impact. Even Rhode couldn't help but take a few steps back. The temperature within the room soared up. At this moment, the Necromancer's anguished roar sounded out from within the flames.

"Damn bastard!! ALL OF YOU WILL PAY!!"

The protective spell which encompassed the Necromancer had been lifted. It no longer maintained its lofty demeanor and sank into a crazed state of fury. Almost instantaneously, it conjured five to six sharp bone spears around it and shot them towards Marleen in retaliation. But before the bone spears could pierce into Marleen's body, a Shield Warrior intercepted its trajectory and raised his colossal, steel tower shield before slamming it downwards to the ground, protecting Marleen to his rear.

Boom!! Followed by the sound of the metal screeching, it appeared that some of the sharp spears had broken into countless fragments. However, due to the terrifying force of acceleration, the Shield Warrior also fell to the ground.

Damn it.

Waving his two-handed sword, Barney fought the undead at the front. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Rhode's figure fighting against the Necromancer. Never did he imagine that Rhode was this strong, and the scene that he saw seemed to reflect his thoughts. The Necromancer ran berserk, and under its crushing blows, that nasty noble and his big sis barely managed to avoid its attacks. If this situation went on, they might not be able to win!

Barney cut down one undead after another. Looking back, he saw Shauna's 'miserable' state, and that cunning noble was hiding behind the Necromancer, as though having no intention of helping her.

See, I was right. That guy planned on using us at meat shields, and would reap the rewards by himself! Damnit! I won't let him have his way!

Barney decided on his next course of action. He turned his body and raised his sword, charging towards the Necromancer.

"Go die, you evil monster!!"

Barney shouted while waving his sword, but he did not expect that Shauna who was supposedly 'in dire straits,' suddenly changed position and arrived in front of him.

The sound of swords could be heard.

Discovering the threat behind her, Shauna was surprised. Under Rhode's command, both her and her comrade finally managed to switch position to guard against the Necromancer's counterattack. After it went berserk, the Necromancer had used a lot of its power and was currently exhausted. Just one more push and they would win this battle. But Shauna did not expect that another person was attacking behind her?!

Right now, the red-haired female swordsman had no opportunity to back down, the only thing she could do was to clench her teeth and stand her ground. But at this time, the Necromancer used the opportunity while Shauna was confused to target her. It bent his finger while chanted a spell and sneered.

"Bang!!"

"Aaa!!!"

Shauna, who was distracted, was unable to dodge the Necromancer's attack. A sharp bone spear penetrated through her left shoulder, and the massive inertia sent her body flying before finally falling to the ground.

The Necromancer who had finally gotten the upper hand also did not plan to linger and turned around to escape.

"Damn it!!"

Looking at the scene before him, Rhode cursed inside. He flipped his right hand and a red card appeared.

"Marlene, use your full power to attack it!!"

Rhode yelled at the top of his voice and threw the red card on his hand. Soon the Flame Killer appeared and rushed towards the enemy who was about to flee. A red shadow flashed in the dark and a violent explosion sounded, followed by the Necromancer's roar which spread towards all directions.

Damn it, as expected, the protective spell wasn't completely lifted.

The summoned spirit had not made contact with the protective spell and was already sent back home. Rhode immediately rushed past the black smoke.

The Necromancer's state wasn't good either. Right now, it had already fallen into a miserable state; its protective spell had been reduced by 70-80%. That was the reason why the Necromancer could not completely block the Flame Killer self-destruction. The robe it wore had been blown up and was in tatters, even its bone staff was in a complete mangled mess.

"Cursed mankind!!"

Looking at Rhode who rushed towards it, the Necromancer clenched its teeth and cursed. It raised both of its hands and aimed towards Rhode.

A crimson ball of light flew straight to Rhode's position. However, Rhode didn't choose to dodge, rather, he held his sword forward and continued on.

He's a dead man!

Watching how Rhode disregarded his defense and rushed towards it, the Necromancer exposed a confident smile. In his opinion, this young man was going to die soon.

But soon, the smile on his face turned into fear.

A translucent pair of wings appeared before Rhode. Soft, white feathers scattered in the wind; it was such a fantasy-like scene.

The Necromancer had no time to appreciate the beauty. Because the negative ball of red energy also turned into a breeze and disappeared.

"You are..."

The Necromancer opened its mouth, but at the same time, Rhode's sword pierced right through it.

Chapter 57: Unlucky Barney

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Rhode stood up.

The necromancer who had acted all high and mighty laid before him as a corpse once more.

But Rhode wasn't smiling. His face was dark and gloomy while he stared at his left hand.

While the Angel's Wings was able to block most of the negative energy, in the end, the level gap was just too big. Currently, his left hand had become a sickening green color, and a tingling discomfort spread to the rest of the body.

If it weren't for his abnormal stats, then perhaps his arm would end up being fractured.

"Sigh..."

Rhode sighed, then he focused on the ring on his finger. The original white luster on the stone had dulled considerably. With careful observation, he noticed that the darkness within appeared to have a self-consciousness as it swirled steadily.

The soul binding succeeded.

Though there were some unexpected events during the process, he still managed to procure his objective. However...

Just thinking of the previous mishap made him furious. He was absolutely confident about this mission when he chose it. The reason why Pavel Cemetery was a four Star-Ranked mission was not due to the difficulty of the BOSS, but rather, the negative energy that the undead passively emitted was naturally effective against living beings. Before the invasion, the peaceful era under the Light Dragon's reign didn't expose its people to fighting the undead. As such, their experience fighting the living dead was almost nil. NPCs were unlike players, who could restart the battle once more by respawning if they died in battle. This was the reason why the Mercenary Association regarded missions involving the undead as a higher tier compared to others.

But as for Rhode's opinion, since he had a Spirit Master in the party, he knew that her positive energy would be a natural counter against the undead. Furthermore, with Marleen as the recent 'talented' addition to the team, his chances of victory soared over 90%. That was if she obeyed his orders, of course. The positive development in the tunnels reinforced Rhode's opinion as the undead easily overwhelmed melee combatants but were felled in droves when faced with magic. So, judging by all of these advantages, it was just a matter of time before their victory was assured, but he did not expect...

Rhode shook his head and kept the Soul Binding Stone before turning around.

He walked towards the crowd when he realized the situation was becoming rather troubling.

Lize treated the heavily injured Shauna who was lying on the floor while the fool that caused this entire debacle watched at the side. Old Walker was cleaning the battlefield, and Marleen stood beside him with a cold expression on her face. Even the Red Hawk mercenaries didn't look too good when they anxiously surrounded Shauna, worried about her injury.

"I'm sorry, Leader... I'm sorry, Leader!! I wasn't trying to..."

Barney knelt beside Shauna with a pale face; he could sense that the others were staring at him with anger. This kind of situation hadn't happened to him before and it made him frightened and wronged. Obviously, he felt that it was unfair that Rhode was made party leader and his comrades were all dragged into a bitter struggle while Rhode merely stood behind. Therefore, he was trying to help, why were these people mad at him? Didn't they realize how dangerous the situation was back then?

While Barney was in distraught, he discovered footsteps behind him and found the 'culprit' walking towards him.

Barney felt his blood boil inside. His Leader was injured for the sake of the group but apparently, Rhode did not care.

The nobility is a bunch of cold-blooded snakes!

With that as his basis for his anger, Barney immediately jumped up and stretched his finger at Rhode, cursing him openly.

"IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!!! If not because of your–"

Before Barney could finish, a fist flew towards him.

"Bang!!!"

ガーデンコート河原町 - 京阪電気鉄道京阪線「七条」駅徒歩6分/3LDK

Rhode punched the young man's face mercilessly. Barney screamed as he fell to the ground and rolled a distance while grabbing onto the side of his face. Then, he glared icily at the man standing before him, completely oblivious to his bleeding nose.

"Why didn't you follow my command?"

Rhode's voice was calm, but everyone was shocked; even Lize who was in the middle of bandaging Shauna's injury.

Because Rhode actually laughed!

The people who were acquainted with Rhode knew that he had a beautiful face, but he was always serious and never smiled. Many people thought it was a pity, even Old Walker joked about it, saying that if he smiled more, perhaps he could bewitch people.

But now, Rhode really laughed, and it was the bewitching kind of laughter. However, everyone somehow felt a chill down their spine.

"Answer me."

Rhode shifted his arm, smiling while walking towards Barney. Next, he lifted his left foot and stomped hard on Barney's chest, forcing him back to the ground.

"Ugh!!!"

"I remember, before the start of the battle, I've made it clear we are responsible for surrounding the Necromancer. Without my command, no one was allowed to act... Are you stupid? Or do you have a problem with hearing?"

"....Bullsh*t."

Facing Rhode who had a condescending smile on his face, Barney instinctively felt dread as though he was coiled up by a python. But he still did not succumb to his fear and spat at Rhode's feet instead.

"Don't think that I didn't notice how you hid behind the Necromancer. You want us to be your meat shields? How can I listen to your commands? Or are you saying that you didn't hide on purpose? Everyone here had seen your cowardly acts, right Henry?!"

Henry was a swordsman who fought beside Shauna. At first, Barney thought that Henry would back him up, but he never expected him to tilt his head and avoid his gaze.

In fact, Henry was somewhat dissatisfied because Barney ruined their flawless plan. Although they appeared miserable, as long they followed Rhode's command correctly, they would be able to dodge the Necromancer's attack. These instructions mid-battle were extremely crucial for mercenaries. But in the end, at the direst moment, it was screwed by this damn kid!

It was akin to two people trying to tango. They put in countless hours in practicing and finally grasped the rhythm, but it just took a single drunk to appear to destroy everything.

No matter what, anyone would certainly be unhappy if those kind of things happened.

But because Barney was his comrade, he did not say anything. Even though that was the case, he still didn't stop Rhode from venting his anger.

"Hen, Henry..."

Seeing how his comrade reacted, Barney clenched his teeth. In his mind, he didn't think that his comrade was dissatisfied with him. On the contrary, he thought that he must be afraid of that noble!

So that's why he didn't say anything...

But I'm different!! I will not yield and I will never give up!

"Hmph, say whatever you like. I am absolutely not- AHHHHHH!"

Barney wasn't able to finish before a sharp sword pierced through his palm. The sudden pain made him swallow his words and replaced it with a yell. Then, Rhode pulled out the sword and kicked the young man at his waist, flinging him a distance before finally losing consciousness.

Hearing the mournful screams from Barney, Marleen couldn't help but tremble. She recalled what Rhode said when she came to look for him. At that time, she did not put Rhode in her eyes, but fortunately, after that duel, she never doubted Rhode's strength again. If she maintained her previous haughty attitude, then the one who laid on the floor right now would be her.

Recalling that duel, Marlene was sure that Rhode would not show any mercy.

After kicking the lights out of Barney, Rhode clasped his hands and removed the smile on his face. He ignored the surprised and frightened expressions from the people around him.

"Clean the battlefield."

This time, Rhode received a bumper harvest. Since the Necromancer had made his home in the Pavel Cemetery for many years, naturally he had plenty of hidden treasures. After scavenging for a while, a large bag full of magic crystals, gems and plants laid before him. Of course, Rhode also attained what he came here for.

He lowered his body and fished out an old, dusty holy grimoire from a wooden box. He nodded in satisfaction and turned his head towards Lize.

"Mr. Rhode, what's the matter?"

Realizing Rhode's intention, Lize ran over in a hurry. Her expression was a bit complicated as she wanted to treat Barney's wounds, but Rhode said 'leave him be.' So she could only awkwardly leave him behind. Frankly, Lize was quite unhappy with Barney's performance as well, but as a Spirit Master, she could not disregard the lives of others just because of her personal preferences.

"This is for you."

"This is..."

Lize received the Holy Book which Rhode handed over and flipped a few pages curiously. Then her expression immediately lit up when she realized the value of the book.

"Is this the Holy Book?"

"Yes."

Rhode patted the girl's shoulder.

"With your power, I believe that learning the spells on it should be no problem. Good luck."

"Of course! I will work hard! Thank you, Mr. Rhode!"

Embracing the Holy Book, Lize exposed a broad smile. Of course, she knew its worth. In the church, only a selected number of people were qualified to learn about high-level spells. Typically, Spirit Masters were only allowed to learn basic spells, from here, one could infer the value of the Holy Book which recorded high-level spells. Lize was confident that as long as she could learn half of it, then her strength would increase further.

At the same time, Marlene walked towards the both of them. But compared to Lize, who was overjoyed from receiving the Holy Book, her expression was absolutely mortified. Because just now, Rhode told her to take care of the Necromancer's corpse. This is undoubtedly a challenging test for Marlene as she had never done such a thing before. Although Marlene voiced a protest in the name of righteousness, facing Rhode's 'since you are also one of the members of the mercenary group, then you also must follow the command' argument, this genius young mage could only surrender and execute the command while holding her breath.

"I have finished the task, Mr. Rhode."

"Oh?"

Hearing Marlene's words, Rhode looked at her with a slight surprise.

"Did you find anything good?"

"Everything is here."

Facing Rhode's question, Marlene made a robotic reply, then she stretched out her hands, handing out the equipment that she found.

But she did not think that Rhode wouldn't take it immediately. On the contrary, he quietly stared at a ring on her hands and did not speak for a while.

"Mr. Rhode?"

Seeing Rhode's reaction, Marlene reminded him again. Rhode finally responded and nodded his head.

"Yes, I know... You've worked hard."

Rhode said while looking at her.

How lucky was this young miss... she could even find the legendary Dark Soul Ring...

Chapter 58: The Other side of the Board

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

The early morning star peeked over the horizon once more, casting a radiant ray of gold as it sprinkled through the window which fell upon the white, polished marble floor. A warm light filtered through the girl's thin eyelids and she narrowed her eyes for a brief moment. Her body slouched comfortably on the soft couch while enjoying the afternoon leisure time.

Just outside the window, a river rippled along with the gentle breeze. The lush, green branches swayed, followed by a calm, rustling hymn. A gorgeous crystal chandelier refracted a magical light, which spilled a royal palette of colors onto the golden walls encompassing the grand hall; a beautiful painting hung on the wall, perfectly matched with an exquisitely crafted sculpture. Just standing there emanated the sensation of an art paradise.

The intricately carved door of a Nine-Winged Bird quietly creaked open, and a noblewoman donning a formal gown quickly walked past the red carpet before half-kneeling at the girl who laid on the couch.

"Your Highness."

"Yes?"

Acknowledging the noblewoman before her, the young girl's eyelashes fluttered open slowly, her green eyes giving off a lazy and playful look. The brilliant rays which shone through the windows were akin to a silky fabric which wrapped around her beautiful and charming figure, accentuating her slim figure. A pair of white, slender legs hung down from the couch nonchalantly, which was rather seductive. Her golden, lustrous hair reflected the rays of the sun, appearing extremely appealing as though it was a crown.

"What is it, Carol?"

"Everything is ready as per your orders; the Merchant Association's side has been processed. By your command, we ca-"

The woman suddenly stopped speaking and snapped her mouth shut. This was because she saw the girl in front of her close her eyes again. Based on her understanding of Her Highness, she decided to stop and wait for her command.

"Decaying plant matter are really disgusting," she said. Her eyes were closed as she reached out her hands, gently stroking a black cat which curled up lazily on her lap, "but they provide the necessary nutrients for the new saplings to grow into beautiful flowers. Halting the growth process of beautiful lives isn't something I fancy."

"I see, Your Highness."

Although her words appeared rather incoherent, the woman could still understand the underlying meaning of her words. She nodded in reply, but her face revealed a complex expression.

"... from the recent report, the Paphield area," she hesitated for a moment before continuing, "...there appears to be a rat from the council."

"Let them be."

The girl stopped stroking the black cat and sighed.

"My cute subordinates should know what to do. The ruler and her subjects should have this kind of tacit understanding. Qualified underlings will understand what I mean. Only flowers that weathered the storm are eligible to accept my favor, I believe they know what to do."

"Yes, Your Highness."

When the girl heard her docile answer, she exposed a brilliant smile.

ベル・アーバニティ西宮 - 東海道本線「西宮」駅徒歩5分/3LDK

"After working so hard, I believe you must be exhausted. How about accompanying me for a cup of tea? This is a fresh red tea that I just acquired recently; I think it should suit your taste."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Carol, you are too humble... But that's the reason why I'm so fond of you. Come now, don't just stand there, how about you come closer to me?"

"Your Highness..."

–

The wind grew stronger.

Rhode felt relieved when he returned to the safety of Deep Stone City.

On the way back, they did not encounter any interference. Just like what Marleen had said, the undead were only able to maintain their existence because of the Necromancer's energy. Now that it was dead, naturally the undead returned to dust where it originally belonged.

The mission was a success. Rhode finally created his much needed Soul Core, Lize acquired her Holy Book, and Old Walker looted a cloak which could resist elemental attacks.

As for the distribution of the Dark Soul Ring, Rhode and Marleen had contrasting opinions.

In the Dragon Soul Continent, the definition of 'Rare Items' were generally divided into two categories. The first was the item itself was rare, and contained a rare skill. And the second was an item that could increase the effectiveness of the item itself. Rhode's sword, Star Mark, belonged to the latter while the Dark Soul Ring belonged to the former. Nevertheless, both of them were categorized as 'Rare Items' and the Dark Soul Ring possessed a considerably valued skill, even to the players.

[ Shadow Mist: The item holder can create a dark fog AOE. When inside, the item holder can move as and when he wanted, granting a passive 'Stealth' ability. The effect will be lost once the holder is damaged. ]

Another way of describing this skill was: granting a limited dimensional space to move in. In the game, this ring was an incredibly rare accessory. Since the granted ability wasn't limited to their class, the item was highly sought after by non-mage classes. This is because they did not possess skills that could move quickly and the Shadow Mist was a way to counter that deficiency. Its utility didn't only limit to ambushing; if the holder was under attack, then it could help by concealing the holder to aid him to escape. The only drawback was its limited effective AOE. But for most players who spent the majority of their time adventuring, it was only but a minor issue.

Although it was an extremely rare and useful item, Rhode did not monopolize it all for himself. He slowly explained the function of the Dark Soul Ring to Marleen and then asked her if she needed it.

But never did he expect Marleen to actually express disdain! Her reason was simple. Firstly, she was a middle circle mage and possessed a plethora of life-saving spells. And secondly, she felt that Shadow Mist wasn't as exceptional as Rhode described it to be. In the battle, when Necromancer utilized the exact same skill to conceal itself, Rhode still found him easily with his sword. She believed that it was best to not bet her life on something that was untrustworthy. Thus, Rhode took the ring.

...Really?

He did not know what to say about the players who were willing to spend astronomical amounts of money to purchase this rare accessory that had been deemed 'untrustworthy' by an NPC.

He wondered what kind of expression they would make.

"Thanks for your help, Mr. Rhode."

Shauna's countenance was apparently much better than before. Although the Necromancer's attack was lethal, since this red-haired female swordsman was a veteran, she managed to dodge the attack in the nick of time, and ended up with an injured shoulder. With Lize's healing and proper rest, fully recovering wouldn't be a problem.

However, as a whole, the Red Hawk mercenary group received heavy losses when compared to Rhode's group. They turned the Pavel Cemetery upside down, but they were still unable to find the sword they were searching for. This made Shauna extremely depressed. However, it was just as Rhode expected since he could remember clearly that the drops from Pavel Cemetery were all related to the magic classes and never heard of a hidden quest involving a sword.

Previously, when he heard the mission description from Shauna, he assumed that it was an NPC exclusive quest, and players were not eligible to participate. But judging from the situation right now, it seemed that something was indeed fishy...

"Miss Shauna, are you sure that your client is looking for a sword?"

"Yes."

She sighed and shook her head helplessly.

"He said that it was their family's heirloom and that Pavel stole it. Thus, he requested me to find it. Based on the agreement, he paid us 150 gold coins as a deposit, so I doubt that it'll be a fake mission. But now, since I can't find the sword, I don't know what to do..."

It was no wonder Shauna didn't doubt the credibility of the mission, because according to the rules, the deposit received when undertaking the commision would not be returned. In other words, regardless of success or failure, the money would still be taken away. In many cases, clients paying a small deposit could be considered as a symbolic meaning. Nevertheless, they would still pay the remaining sum after the mission completion. Since her client offered her 150 gold coins as a deposit, it was almost equivalent to finishing a three Star-Ranked mission. It was such a huge boon, no wonder Shauna didn't doubt the legitimacy of her client. After all, who would throw that amount of money just for fun?

But lamenting over it right now was pointless. The sword that Shauna had to find was an ancient sword. It was a sword that also existed in the game, but these swords were primarily used for decorations. Since she couldn't find it, her mission was a failure, and she lost many comrades in the process. Thus, she was in quite a foul mood, so she promptly bade farewell to Rhode and the others, and she trudged towards the Mercenary Association with whats left of her group following behind her. Only Barney, that idiot, was being carried by the Shield Warrior. That poor little guy had not yet woken from his coma. But if Rhode didn't guess wrong, he wouldn't wake up anymore.

When Shauna and the others finally disappeared around the corner, Rhode's eyes turned cold.

"They were deceived," Rhode said.

"Eh?"

Hearing those words, Lize widened her eyes in surprise. Even Old Walker frowned.

"What is it, boy? You said they were being deceived? Why is that?"

"Simple."

Rhode shrugged.

"If it was just as the client said," Rhode's eyes narrowed as he spoke, "then why would he entrust everything to a mercenary on something as significant as his family heirloom? Furthermore, he didn't even appear once."

Rhode said as he deduced the situation calmly.

"Yes."

Marlene nodded and agreed.

"For us nobles, family heirlooms are the spirit of the family. It can be said that it is the measurement of the family's honor and glory. If the heirloom is lost, then as a member of the family, it is their responsibility to find it as soon as possible. If the Senia's family heirloom was misplaced or stolen by someone, not only would I ask a mercenary for help, but I will also follow them. Only the family's bloodline should regain the glory by personally retrieving the heirloom. If someone else, for instance, a mercenary, retrieves the heirloom, then it would stain the honor of any prestigious family. I don't believe someone who has a family heirloom to be a nouveau riche. As what Mr. Rhode had said, there must be a problem."

"W-what problem?"

Hearing this detailed explanation by Marleen, Lize expression immediately tensed up. After all, Shauna was her good friend, and now she discovered that she might be in danger, so of course she could not calm down.

"I don't know."

Rhode shook his head, then he looked up, staring at the Deep Stone City before him.

"...but I may have a clue."

Chapter 59: An Invitation from the Keller Family

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

The odd circumstances which befell the Red Hawk mercenary group caused Rhode to harbor some doubts and became increasingly vigilant. Although on the exterior it appeared to be an accident, he felt that something was amiss. Just as Shauna had mentioned, that person gave her a whopping 150 gold coins as a deposit. That sum of money was a little too much for just some random fun.

Undoubtedly, there was something happening behind the scenes.

Rhode weighed the consequences in his mind, and in the end, he refused to allow Lize to gather information from Red Hawk. Since Barney caused a rift between both of their mercenary groups, Rhode didn't intend to cross the line and requested Old Walker to return to the Mercenary Association, assuming back his 'old-self.'

"When you return to the association, help me to watch out for any abnormal movement," Rhode said to Old Walker while sitting behind an old wooden desk in the study while writing something on a paper.

"Notify me immediately if there's anything particularly strange. Then, if possible, find a tank for me."

"Tank? Never heard of it."

Rhode reached out his hand and smacked his forehead. Then, he quickly corrected his sentence.

"Err... find someone who can hold the front when in crisis."

"Remember, we require no more than two people. Although at the moment, we lack members, the aspect we need to improve on is our teamwork."

"Someone who can hold the front...?"

Hearing Rhode's request, Old Walker stroked his beardless chin and fell deep into thought.

"Hmm... I have some people in mind. But kid, I think should be prepared to spend quite a bit."

"How much?"

Rhode raised his head and looked at the old man who was sitting in front of him.

"300 gold coins."

Old Walker grinned.

"That much?"

Rhode frowned. The gold reward for completing Pavel Cemetery was only 500 coins. Now, Old Walker said that he needed more than half of it which left Rhode slightly puzzled. Typically, recruiting a mercenary didn't require that much money. A decent mercenary was only worth roughly 100 gold coins. There were even mercenaries who didn't want money to join a group. For example, Marleen and Old Walker. Old Walker only wanted 50 coins while Marleen was only interested in gaining experience. But now, Old Walker wanted 300 gold to recruit people?

Old Walker smiled wryly at Rhode's reaction. Ever since he joined the mercenary group, Rhode always kept this sarcastic attitude towards him. So, he wanted to somehow let him taste a little of his own medicine. Of course, he wouldn't explicitly express his intent since he was already part of the group, but hehe... when gains are involved, spending money is inevitable.

"Sure."

But to his dismay, even though Rhode expressed shock at first, he neither became mad nor unhappy. Instead, he pulled open a drawer and grabbed a bag of gold before throwing it casually on the table.

"Here is 500 gold coins. Take it."

"Eh?"

Seeing this, Old Walker's face turned stiff.

"Hey, boy, isn't this our payment? You're just giving it to me just like that?"

Rhode shrugged, "It doesn't matter either way. At the moment, we don't need to use the money. Since you require it, then just take it with you."

He didn't even bat an eyelid when he threw the bag of coins. To Old Walker, 500 gold coins was a considerable sum of money, but as for Rhode, 500 was just a mere drop in the ocean. Back in the game when he was a guild leader, managing millions of gold coins was a daily affair. Thus, these measly 500 coins weren't enough for him to feel heartache. Frankly, he was more worried that Old Walker would hesitate to spend. If that happened, he would deduct from his share of the payment.

If only Old Walker knew what Rhode was thinking right now... he would immediately reconsider his suggestion without a doubt. Unfortunately, reading other people's mind wasn't his forte.

Thus, Old Walker's impression of Rhode improved because he saw this as an act of generosity.

"Don't worry, boy."

Old Walker picked up the bag with a solemn expression.

"I promise that I will bring back a suitable candidate that will satisfy you."

Old Walker bowed and exposed a subtle smile.

"I will ensure that your money is well spent."

"I hope so."

As Rhode's attention was focused on the paper, he did not notice Old Walker's odd smile. After a moment of silence, Rhode put down the pen and looked up at Old Walker.

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes, I would like to ask; when will we accept another mission?"

"I've already accepted one. We'll head out two days later."

"Two days?"

Old Walker frowned.

"Then when will I have the time to gather information?"

"Only Marleen and I will be on this mission."

Rhode shook his head and replied.

"Lize needs time to study her new spell, and you also have your things to do. That's why only both of us will go." Rhode glanced at the young lady sitting in the corner reading a book. "Worry not, we are merely heading for Twilight Forest to pick up some alchemical plants. A simple two Star-Ranked mission."

Marleen, who was aware of Rhode's glance, exposed a proud smile in response. This haughty act made Rhode shake his head helplessly and sigh inwardly.

Frankly, Rhode wasn't planning to bring Marleen along. He wanted to head out by himself and dig out some decent equipment which were hidden within the Twilight Forest. However, Marleen found out about this matter and insisted on tagging along. Since her priority here was to gain experience, she wanted to get out of Deep Stone City as much as possible. Facing Marleen's demand, Rhode eventually agreed to take her along. No matter what happened before, she was now a member of his mercenary group, plus her strength as a middle circle mage would be useful if something went awry along the way.

"Okay, I understand."

Old Walker nodded his head and stood up.

"Then I will prepare my own matters and observe the situation within the association. I'll be at that place if you wish to find me."

Once he finished his sentence, Old Walker turned and walked away. But right at that moment as he was about to leave, a knock came from the door.

It was Lize. She opened the door and walked towards Rhode, handing him an envelope.

"Mr. Rhode, this was sent by the Keller family."

There was a trace of confusion on her face when she passed the letter to Rhode. The engravings on the letter were beautiful. The gold symbol of their family emblem revealed the identity and status of the sender.

"The Keller family?"

Rhode was puzzled and furrowed his brow. Then, he reached out and took the letter from her.

"Do we know these guys?"

Hearing Rhode's question, Lize stared blankly at Rhode.

"Umm...Mr. Rhode, have you forgotten?"

"What?"

"When we were returning to Deep Stone City from the Twilight Forest, you've saved a lady..."

"No impression."

Rhode replied decisively. Judging by his expression, he clearly forgot about the matter. Lize was stunned, but she swallowed her saliva and decided not to say anything. After all, both of them weren't exactly on best terms and thought that after that incident, there wouldn't be any further communication. Unexpectedly, the Keller family actually took the initiative to contact Rhode. She didn't know what they intended to do.

"The head of Keller family invited me to a dinner party to thank me for saving her daughter."

Rhode read the content out loud and put the letter on the table.

"So... who is going to go with me?"

Old Walker was the first to reject. He walked out of the room and waved his hand at Rhode.

"Drink tea with a group of boring noblemen? Count me out. I will head out first, kid. Rest assured that I will complete the mission you assigned me to."

"I, I also...."

Lize said hesitantly, exposing awkward smile. Then she quietly took a few steps back.

"I'm learning that new spell recently, and I think ... I can't make it.

"Marlene?"

Seeing that Old Walker and Lize weren't interested in going, Rhode turned his attention to the last person in the room. Marleen contemplated for a moment before nodding her head.

"Though I'm not exactly interested... but I guess its good to relax occasionally. Come Lize! Let's go together."

"Eh? But I..."

"Spells aren't something you can learn within a day. Moreover, you've not participated in a tea party in ages."

"This ... I..."

Due to Marleen's pestering, Lize's face flushed red, and she quickly glanced at Rhode. When she saw that he didn't say anything, she felt slightly relieved and nodded her head.

Chapter 60: Late Night Banquet

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

"Pa!"

A vase crashed onto the floor, shattering into countless fragments.

"Why did you invite that b*stard, Daddy!?"

Helen stood in the living room, glaring at Keller who looked solemn.

"Now isn't the time to throw a tantrum."

Looking at his daughter's swelled face, Keller sighed. But expression immediately hardened again.

"In any case, someone else saved your life. At least you need to say something, have you forgot everything that I've taught you before?"

Keller raised his voice considerably, causing Helen to shrink back slightly. But once she realized her own cowardice, she stood back up straight again.

"I don't care. Anyway, I hate that guy! I will never thank him even if you kill me!"

"You...! You spoilt...!"

He pointed his finger at his rebellious daughter and shook with anger. He couldn't figure out why his usually docile girl would suddenly become so stubborn.

"Go back to your room. NOW! Tonight, little lady, you're grounded!"

"I'm not going anywhere! Hmph!!"

Helen stomped her stubby feet fiercely and turned around, leaving the room in a huff. Keller watched as his daughter's figure disappear behind the door, then, he sat back on his chair and gave a huge sigh. At this moment, it was as though his face aged another ten years.

He was exhausted.

"Master..."

Ben walked up to Keller's side softly and bowed respectfully. He looked at his Master's worn expression and hesitated for a while before asking, "About Miss..."

"Keep an eye on her. For tonight, don't let her out of the room."

Keller waved his hand and sighed once more. He pinched his brows with one hand while impatiently gesturing Ben to get out of the room with the other.

Keller waved his hand, then sighed. He was holding his forehead while impatiently waved his hand.

"Just... just go back. I'm tired, and I want to rest. Report to me when the gentleman arrives, I will personally welcome him."

"Yes."

エスリード苦楽園老松町（5階） - 阪急電鉄甲陽線「苦楽園口」駅徒歩18分/4LDK

After receiving Keller's order, Ben immediately left. Keller closed his eyes for a long time and said nothing. Right now, the pressure on him was too much for him to handle. Not only family matters weighed down on him, but the Merchant Association was also a problem. When they tried to kidnap his daughter to threaten him, he resolved to draw the line with the Merchant Association. Never would he have thought that those guys with only money in their brains would suddenly become so bold. But ever since he firmed his resolve, he decided not to associate with them anymore. For safety reasons, he even ordered Helen not to go out, or at least until the matter concluded. Surely he'd expected that Helen would be extremely displeased about being grounded, but still, as the head of the family, he had to be responsible for everyone.

Keller had a feeling that something was wrong these few days, but he was unable able to figure it out. Although there was no activity in the Golden City yet, Keller knew that once that girl made her move, it

meant that his position as head of the family would be over.

Keller shook his head to throw these negative emotions and thoughts out of his head. Since he couldn't figure it out, then he wouldn't think about it anymore. This time, the dinner party would be graced with the presence of the Mercenary Association's President and the Duke. He must grasp this opportunity to discuss with them about this issue in depth as it was of utmost importance. Furthermore, he couldn't afford to wait until the last minute to solve it.

Initially, Keller did not intend to reveal certain matters since it was the Merchant Association's internal problem, but after the attempted kidnap of his daughter, he felt that something was amiss. If it were just an ordinary commercial dispute, they wouldn't have exerted such an extreme method to force him to comply.

No matter what, it was still better to have some sort of preparation.

Thinking up to this point, Keller couldn't help but recall the young man who saved his daughter's life. Although Deep Stone City was a small town, finding one single person still wasn't an easy task. However, Rhode, in particular, was somewhat infamous, thus, investigating information about him wasn't as tricky as Keller thought it would be.

Once he stepped into Deep Stone City, he was immediately assessed by the legendary Sereck and won. After that, he managed to become a leader of a mercenary group with only two people. Then, he spent his money to purchase the ill-famed Cyril's Haunted House. Furthermore, according to rumors, the young man's appearance was absolutely beautiful. Frankly, if not because of the fact that his feats were nigh impossible based on his circumstances, then it'll be hard to believe whether he was actually trying to attract attention or not.

Astonishingly, this young man had led his 'mini' mercenary group to subdue the Necromancer in Pavel Cemetery which was a four Star-Ranked mission. Even though many people doubted the legitimacy of the mission props, the Mercenary Association's staff affirmed the people that the Necromancer's head and staff were the real deal.

Rhode didn't realize that he was the focal point of many people currently. The fact that he could lead a few people to complete such a dangerous mission meant that he must be someone extraordinary. Mercenaries were also humans. Naturally, they wished to work for the strong as they often put their life on the balance.

So, who is this young man?

What kind of person is he?

Keller closed his eyes and mused to himself.

–

When the night fell, the quiet environment soon began to brighten up.

A chandelier refracted countless of lights as many luxurious carriages moved back and forth. Now was the best time for nobles to interact with one another. Whether if it was a formal or informal banquet, they were here to enjoy themselves.

And so, tonight's banquet became extremely lively.

"This place could actually house these many people?"

The Old President walked down from the carriage, muttering unhappily while observing the nobles donned in fancy clothing.

"Whenever I come here, it feels as though I'm entering a market. Hearing thousands of ducklings yapping in my eardrums is extremely upsetting!"

"Well, old friend, Mr. Keller rarely invites us. Don't be a grumpy old man."

Compared to the Mercenary Association's President who wore a casual outfit, Sereck was dressed more elegantly. The Deep Stone City's celebrity absolutely resembled a nobleman with his stunning attire. On his waist, his iconic magic sword hung loosely.

"That man is just trying to stir up problems."

Ignoring the dissatisfied eyes from the attendant, the Old President entered the grand hall, then, he took out his pipe and tapped on the door.

"If not, why did he become low profile? See, even Klautz that wily old fox came. It seems like there's a really huge problem."

"Maybe. I heard that something happened to the Merchant Association, but... if that was the only problem, he wouldn't look for us, the Mercenary Association, nor Klautz to help him solve whatever issue he is facing. What do you think is the problem?"

"I'm not interested in these troublesome things. If there's someone who dares to look for trouble, I will just hammer him to death, don't you think so?"

"That may not be right, since..."

Sereck hadn't finished his sentence before the door opened once again.

The noisy hall suddenly became quiet.

For these nobles, there were only a few things that could attract their attention. But now, they've completely shifted their focus to the three new faces who walked down the hallway.

Rhode was naturally at the front. He wore a dark set of clothes, emphasizing his pale skin and thin body shape which made him appear like a frail child. His dark, long hair fell onto his shoulders, and his eye-catching face combined with his usual cold expression was giving off a strange charm.

Following behind him were two ladies who were equally dazzling.

Marlene's dress wasn't much different from the usual; she was still in her luxurious robe which perfectly matched her movements. Her ruby wand by her side emitted an elegant aura.

Meanwhile, compared to the other two, Lize's dress was more modest. She was in a sparkling white dress, as though she was a white lily which aroused love and affection from people.

Everyone in this hall were outstanding individuals, but these three newcomers still stood out with their unique aura which drew the attention of so many people. Soon, some groups began to whisper and gossip.

"Hmph... It looks like the banquet was a little better than I thought."

Marlene completely ignored the crowd around her and looked around.

"M-Marlene, that's too rude."

Lize stretched out her hand and pulled Marlene's sleeve gently.

"You don't have to mind it Lize, just relax."

However, Marlene apparently did not take Lize's advice seriously.

"We're here to have some fun. Moreover, this lady is willing to participate in this low-class banquet; it's already enough to give him face."

Just after Marlene ended, a well-dressed middle-aged man with a staunch face entered the hall. After noticing Rhode and the others, his eyes lit up and quickly made his way towards them.

"Hello, Mr. Rhode... I am Clayor Keller. I've heard about you from my daughter and hoped that we could meet since then. Right now, my wish is fulfilled. On behalf of the Keller family, I welcome you to this banquet."

"Don't be modest, Mr. Claytor. It's my pleasure to receive your invitation."

Facing the middle-aged man before him, Rhode replied in neither humble nor overbearing attitude. While he obviously wasn't a noble, he participated in similar events back in the game. Though he didn't personally experience it, he saw it many times. Back in the game, he could recall at least two or three typical noble dialogues.

Hearing Rhode answer, Claytor displayed a pleasant smile. Then, he switched his attention to the people behind Rhode.

"You don't have to be that polite, Mr. Rhode. These two people are...?"

"Greetings," Marlene took half a step forward and slightly raised the hem of her skirt, "My name is Marlene Senia, very pleased to see you, dear Mr. Claytor Keller."

"Senia?"

Hearing Marlene's answer, Claytor was stunned for a moment. His face immediately flashed a trace of surprise and looked at Rhode.

Is this man associated with the people from the Senia family?

What is his identity?

Chapter 61: Unexpected Guest

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

Keller felt that Rhode's identity was too confusing. Originally, he wasn't interested in Rhode's background because even the nobility had classifications within their circles. As long one had the money, one could purchase a low-class title and enter the ring of nobles. Furthermore, from his gathered intel, he discovered that Rhode hailed from the Eastern Plain, a place that was independent and closed off to the rest of the world. That was why Keller didn't really care about his history. But now it seems like he must change his view on this matter. In any case, having a relationship with the Senia family wasn't something that can be easily achieved by ordinary nobles. The Senia family's influence spread wide across the continent. While the Keller family could be considered to be rich, but compared to the Sena family, it was just like a small boat in an ocean.

Of course, Keller heard of Marlene Senia, the rare and rising genius mage of the century. At such a young age, the young lady managed to reach the middle circle rank. Her future was limitless. There were even rumors saying that she had the chance to join the Royal Magic Guard.

And this once-in-a-century magic genius was actually standing behind Rhode?

Was she implying that Rhode's identity was higher than her?

If Marlene could hear Keller's inner monologue right now, she would immediately throw a few fireballs at him so he could sober up. The reason why Marlene stood behind Rhode was so that she could conveniently whisper to Lize. As for her status... at least Marlene would assume that her status was higher than everyone else in the banquet.

Keller, who didn't know the real reason why Marlene was at the back, became even more respectful as he ushered them to their seats. His actions sparked curiosity from many guests. Since the Keller family was considered a first-class family in Deep Stone City, they rarely saw him lower himself. So, this respectful act from Keller garnered even more curious stares towards Rhode.

Whether it was on purpose or not, Keller arranged Rhode to sit beside Sereck. Noticing Rhode and the others approaching him, the Swordmaster smiled and stood up.

"Hello, Mr. Rhode, I did not expect to meet you here."

"Hello, Mr. Sereck."

Rhode shook hands with Sereck and nodded.

"If it weren't for Mr. Keller's invitation, I would not have had the chance to come here."

"Ah? Is that so."

Hearing Rhode's answer, Sereck smiled and said nothing. After that, he looked at Marlene with a complicated expression.

"I already heard the news from Hank. Missy, your decision was too..."

"I don't think that my decision was wrong, Uncle Sereck."

Marlene proudly raised her chin.

"You also know the reason why I'm here. Father sent me to learn and gain experience, but I was just being locked inside the house, which I did not see any benefit to it. I think Mr. Rhode can help me, so I decided to join his mercenary group. In the end, we've succeeded in completing a mission. It's perfect, isn't it?"

"If something happened to you, I don't know how to explain it to your father."

Sereck shook his head, but Marlene clearly didn't care.

"I made the decision myself, so, naturally, I will explain it to my father."

She replied with a slight dissatisfaction in her tone, then she pulled Lize's hand and left.

"Sigh... This young miss is really too stubborn..."

Watching Marlene silhouette disappear into the crowd, Sereck sighed and turned around to look at Rhode.

"I'll leave that kid in your hands, Mr. Rhode. I hope that you can take good care of her. She has the ability, but she is far too arrogant. It's no surprise though as she possessed both power and talent. But in this world, having power and talent isn't everything. If she goes on like this, I'm afraid she will suffer setbacks in the future."

Sereck stopped for a while, then he scooted over to Rhode and whispered something in his ear.

"By the way, we've received a strange report. A spy from the Country of Light was looking for a black-haired young man who uses strange summoned spirits."

Rhode frowned slightly but did not reply.

"Do you have problems with them?" Sereck continued.

Sereck's tone maintained its steadiness; there was nothing strange about it. But his eyes were carefully scrutinizing Rhode, trying to detect any faint movement on his face.

But Rhode merely shook his head and shrugged.

"I don't know, Mr. Sereck."

Rhode narrowed his eyes and gave an ambiguous answer.

"I did not think that I've done something that could spark someone else's concern."

Sereck maintained his silence for a moment. Then he smiled and patted Rhode's shoulder.

"I understand. Don't worry. This is not the Country of Light. Those bastards wouldn't dare to do something in the open as it would bring nothing but trouble to them. However, no matter what is your problem with the Country of Light, I hope you won't involve Marlene in it since her identity is quite sensitive. Although the conflicts between the Munn Kingdom and the Country of Light isn't something new, it's better if you refrain from stirring the hornets' nest."

Hearing Sereck's assuring words, Rhode secretly made a deep sigh. The complicated conflict between the Munn Kingdom and the Country of Light was something that had been going on for many years. Although on the surface, the two countries were in a temporary alliance, the history between the two goes quite deep. This was because of something that happened a long time ago.

Even though the Country of Light was a country in name, but it was more of a coalition than a country. When it was founded, the first generation Light Dragon formed a parliament which had 13 lords as its members. Since the Light Dragon didn't agree with the totalitarianism proposed by the Country of Darkness, the Light Dragon chose a different path. It gave up all its rights on state affairs to the parliament, and any problems would be settled using a collective voting decision.

However, the Munn Kingdom was an exception.

The Kingdom's ruling structure was fundamentally different from the Country of Light. And because of this, the tension between both countries increased even further. Furthermore, to make matters worse, the Munn Kingdom's geographical location was superb. Situated around the borders of the Country of Light, the Kingdom's trade network spanned into many directions. They had ample lakes and rivers for basic needs as well as for trade. Surrounding their domain, magic crystals and minerals were abundant, which made the nearby countries jealous of their wealth.

Of course, the Country of Light was no exception. Throughout the years, they'd been increasingly envious of the Kingdom's natural abundance. Thus, on the exterior, they tried to improve ties between the countries, but inwardly, they loathed the Munn Kingdom's achievements and assumed that the Munn Kingdom was employing the Country of Darkness's tyrannical ways of ruling which would eventually drag the whole kingdom into the abyss. Therefore the Country of Light looked down on the Kingdom and criticized them from time to time. In their opinion, they were colluding with the Country of Darkness by trading with them, and their country was the 'savior' who would vanquish the 'evil' from the Country of Darkness.

As for the Munn Kingdom, they felt that they were innocent. Neither did they steal, force, nor trick anyone. There was no reason for the Country of Light to despise them so much. Is it their fault for living in prosperity?

Thus, the Munn Kingdom's impression of the Country of Light plummetted. Furthermore, they disliked how the Country of Light acted as the 'savior of the world,' and anything they said was law while dismissing the view of other countries.

In the shadows, the Country of Light coveted the Munn Kingdom's territory and wealth. They continuously lashed out conspiracies in an attempt to pull this 'disobedient' leader off the throne so they could easily absorb their land into the Country of Light's territory in the name of 'glory and freedom.'

And this was the reason why there was so much tension between the two countries, though most of them were privately resolved. That was why, in Sereck's opinion, it wasn't too much to ask for.

But only Rhode who experienced the future, understood that the Country of Light was playing dangerously with fire.

–

Elegant music played in the background.

After thanking Sereck, Rhode walked towards the window and stared out at the night sky, holding a wine glass between his fingers.

Many times during the conversation, he thought of just revealing the truth about the Country of Light's nefarious plans to Sereck. He could easily pinpoint the current problems as well as solutions to safeguard for the future. But in the end, he did not say anything to Sereck. After all, explaining to someone that you could read the future was something extremely tedious to begin with, and even so, he needed substantial evidence to back his claims. So, in the end, what was the point of saying it? It would only bring trouble to himself.

"Mr. Rhode?"

At this time, Lize's voice suddenly sounded from behind. She walked towards him and blinked with worry in her eyes.

"What happened? You don't seem to be well."

"Well, something happened."

Rhode sipped the glass of wine on his hand, enjoying the sweet, lingering taste. But it wasn't enough to drown the thoughts in his mind.

"Remember those guys that we met in the Twilight Forest? After speaking with Sereck, it seems like those guys followed us here."

"Eh?!"

Hearing this shocking revelation, Lize immediately paled. Judging by the way she clenched her fists ever so tightly, clearly, she was extremely surprised.

"Who are those guys and why are they coming here?"

"According to Sereck, they are most likely to be spies from Country of Light."

Rhode snorted coldly.

If he could rank the most hated things in this world, the Country of Light would take the first place. While the actual perpetrator of the entire war was the Country of Darkness, being betrayed by your so-called ally was an absolute disgrace.

Rhode's current strength was insufficient to challenge the Country of Light, but since they sent some appetizers to help him warm up, he would gladly take up on their offer.

Then the music stopped suddenly.

Rhode and Lize turned around at the same time and discovered that many other people did the same.

At the entrance, a young man donning a white robe held a black cane and stood confidently with a broad curve on his lips. There was an air of superiority surrounding him, and behind him, two Keller family guards appeared quite miserable.

"Mr. Billy."

The atmosphere turned awkward. Keller sifted through the crowd in a hurry, and when he saw the man, he displayed a slightly shocked expression on his face before promptly welcoming him.

"I didn't expect you to come. Please forgive me for not greeting you."

"You don't have to apologize to me, Mr. Claytor."

The young man called Billy laughed and raised his hand. Though his voice wasn't loud, it still echoed throughout the now-silent hall.

"I'm just doing this on impulse; I suddenly felt like visiting, so I hope you don't blame me for coming here uninvited."

"You're too kind."

The smile on Keller's face didn't fade a bit, as a family whose roots originated from merchants, smiling was a crucial skill.

"I was so worried that Mr. Billy would think that this banquet was too shabby and refused to visit. It's me who's at fault."

"Who is that guy?"

Looking at that young man, Rhode frowned. He did not remember someone with that appearance or status in Deep Stone City.

"He's the special envoy from Country of Light."

Hearing Rhode's question, a noble who stood beside him answered. From his tone, it was clear that he too wasn't pleased with the appearance of this so-called 'special envoy.'

"It was a week since his arrival in Deep Stone City. I don't know what is his purpose here, but his presence meant that the Country of Light is up to no good again."

A special envoy from the Country of Light?

Rhode and Lize looked at each other. Clearly, they've never heard of such a character.

"You don't have to be modest, Mr. Keller. The truth, I came here because of a person."

The young man displayed a splendid smile; he turned around and walked towards the crowd before gently holding up a someone's hand.

"Beautiful lady, we've finally met."

"Bang!"

Rhode's wine wasn't finished, but it's all sprayed out. Lize who was standing beside him also immediately covered her mouth in shock when she saw the young man standing before Marlene.

Right now, Marlene's face's also turned pale.

Chapter 62: Duel? Sorry

Translator: AtlasStudios Editor: AtlasStudios

"Mr. Clinton."

Marlene coldly retrieved her hands from his grasp.

"We're not that familiar with each other. Please uphold your dignity."

"Tsk, tsk," the young man curled his lips and clicked his tongue, then he replied, "that's where you're wrong, Marlene."

Despite receiving a direct refusal, the young man did not retreat; rather, he became increasingly bold.

"Our family are close friends, am I right? When we were kids, our parents have been—"

"That was a long time ago."

Marlene interrupted him coldly.

"Since your family migrated to the Country of Light, any sort of relationship we had is now void. Please mind your conduct. Don't act like a ruffian who likes to chase after skirts. It is very much impolite."

"Marlene..." Billy sighed, "it was just a few years since we last met, when did you become so stubborn?"

Even though he spoke these words, his proud smile on his face didn't fade one bit.

"As they say, men struggle upwards, and water flows downwards. The reason why our Clinton family did what we did was so we could live a better life. Now, we are in a free land, enjoying unprecedented peace and tranquility. We never have to worry about encountering any disturbances... don't you think that's wonderful, Marlene? The elders' era has already passed, we now live in the present, and we are the ones who will craft the future. Aren't you curious about the world, the TRUE reality of it...? You are still young, do not be bound by tradition or lies. If you wish so, I can give you a tour around the Country of Light, perhaps you would change your point of view then."

"...Traitor." Marlene glared at the man with disgust in her eyes. She no longer hid her repulsion towards this proud man and said, "I'm not interested in someone who abandoned their dignity to become a watchdog. You can leave now, Mr. Clinton. I hope that we will never meet again."

"You're wrong again, Marlene."

However, it was clear that Billy's face was thicker than Marlene had imagined. Even though many people were looking at him with strange expressions, he spoke to Marlene as if they were the only two people in the hall.

He revealed a brilliant smile and continued, "How can it count as abandoning my dignity? Don't we all live under the protection of the Light Dragon? Moreover, don't we have a common enemy? Why are you hostile towards the Country of Light? We are fighting for the sake of all of us... we shouldn't be treated like traitors. It's unfair to us."

The young man eloquently projected emotional words effortlessly. However, Marlene wasn't moved at all. She maintained her cold expression and glared at him in disdain, as though watching a clown.

"This place doesn't welcome the likes of you, Mr. Clinton. If you choose to ignore the words that I've said, then..."

The young genius mage suddenly raised her wand and pointed towards him.

"Then I will have to make you leave with a more direct method."

Billy's face finally revealed a stiff expression with the appearance of her wand. His mouth twitched slightly, but soon he recovered his usual composure.

"Ah..." he shook his head in dismay, "you've really changed. Marlene. You weren't like this when we were younger. What made you change this drastically? Oh, right... I heard that you're together with a man. Where is he? Did he run away after seeing me?"

"You!!"

Marlene was extremely furious. She clenched her teeth and prepared to curse him. As she was about to do so, suddenly, a calm voice sounded from within the crowd.

"I've heard that people from the Country of Light are well-versed at speaking nonsense. Today, I've managed to grace myself with the presence of the real deal, truly, as they say, knowing a man by reputation is not as good as meeting face-to-face."

Rhode emerged from the crowd and walked towards Billy.

"Esteemed young sir, you are wrong."

Even when faced with Rhode's ridicule, Billy's elegant demeanor didn't change at all.

"Is that so?"

Rhode studied the man in front of him and nodded his head with satisfaction.

"Hmm... it does appear that you are indeed a patriotic person. I apologize for my rude behavior."

"Mr. Rhode..!"

Marlene was displeased with Rhode's stance and opened her mouth to voice her complaints, but she was interrupted by Billy.

"Oh ho... it looks like you're a sharp one to be able to understand my underlying reason. I've done everything for the sake of my country, but unfortunately..." Billy paused for a moment and turned his head, glancing at Marlene, "unfortunately not everyone can understand that."

"Well, I can understand you."

Rhode expressed himself as though he could sympathize with Billy's situation which made his impression of Rhode improve. Frankly, when he heard that Marlene attended a banquet with a man, he was quite mad and even intended to make things difficult for him. But now that he realized that this man was intelligent enough to understand him, his anger dissipated slightly. Since his opponent was willing to play nice, he would give him some face. However, unfortunately, Rhode's next sentence immediately caused his face to turn pale.

"This is the so-called survival of the fittest, eh? Keep the good and take out the trash. To help the Munn Kingdom prosper, you took the initiative to leave by your own accord. Not everyone can make these kinds of patriotic sacrifices for the country. I really do admire your selfless mindset."

"Pfft!"

"Haha..."

The nobles weren't fools. Naturally, they understood what Rhode meant. Right after Rhode finished, a few of them were already on the verge of laughter. Many nobles present at the banquet secretly loathed that man from the Country of Light, but since he was a special envoy, they did not dare to speak out their complaints. Now that Rhode spoke their mind, it made them somewhat happy. Even Marlene's tense expression relaxed slightly. She looked at Rhode and smiled to herself. With her identity, she had interacted with many people with high statuses of the same age, but none of them were as smart or as calm as Rhode. Furthermore, Rhode looked attractive, and he was also powerful; in other words — a perfect man, only if he would smile more often.

As much as she tried to hide it, Billy still noticed Marlene's subtle giggle. And when he recalled that ever since he arrived, she had never given him as much as a smile, he boiled on the inside.

Furthermore, this man simply said a few words, and she smiled just like that?

"Good, good! Since that's the case...!"

Billy raised his voice and pointed his cane towards Rhode. A hint of anger was apparent in his tone.

"I hereby challenge you to a duel!"

"Duel?"

When that word left Billy's mouth, everyone was surprised. Keller who was watching from the side also began to grow anxious; he did not want to have any disputes in a banquet that he hosted. Before he could say anything, Rhode already spoke up.

"Duel? A duel should always have a wager, am I right?"

"This lady."

Billy stretched out his hand and pointed at Marlene.

"If I win, then I want you to leave her. From then on, she is mine. If you win, then I will give up on her. What do you think of this condition?"

"Is that so... I understand," Rhode nodded his head and continued, "then I refuse."

"Very good... since you've accepted, then... WHAT? Y-you refuse?"

Not only was Billy stunned speechless, but even the other nobles gasped in shock when they heard Rhode's reply. Refusing a duel was akin to throwing away a noble's honor!

"Why do you refuse?! Are you afraid of me?"

"As expected. Possessing low IQ is the worst."

Rhode gave a long sigh as he looked 'endearingly' towards Billy like how a teacher looks an underperforming student.

"I want to remind you that Ms. Marlene is not an item. She neither belongs to me, nor to you. So even if you win, will Ms. Marlene follow you obediently?" Rhode sneered, "I'll repeat myself once more; she's not an item that belongs to anyone, so I don't have the power to make that decision for her. If she desires to go with you, then I won't stop her."

Rhode glanced at Marlene and saw her proudly raising her head. Then, she walked towards Rhode's side and lifted her wand at Billy.

"That's right, Mr. Clinton. I, Marlene Sena, don't belong to anyone but myself. No one can order me to stay or leave. If you want to take me, then you can come try and get me."

At this moment, Marlene was obviously extremely angry. Her magic robe emitted a magical light, even the ruby on her wand grew increasingly brighter.

"You..."

He saw that Marlene was actually getting serious. He could sense an immeasurable amount of magic power flowing in that petite-looking body. If he forced her, then there's no doubt that she'd really try to kill him.

"Using force against a lady isn't gentlemanly, Mr. Clinton."

Although Billy looked rather pitiful, Rhode wasn't going to let him off that easily. In his opinion, anyone from the Country of Light was to be beaten to death.

"Well, if you truly intend to fight, then I don't mind accompanying you."

"Count me in, kid."

This time, Sereck walked out from the crowd.

"You must remember that you're in Deep Stone City, a direct territory under the Munn Kingdom. If you want to fight here, I do hope you consider the consequences."

"Sereck..."

Once Sereck became involved in this matter, Billy realized that the situation was beginning to spiral out of control. He wasn't stupid. The people here refrained from causing a scene because of his special identity as an envoy. But if he blatantly disrespected the people further, perhaps he might be thrown out. There were many envoys, losing one of them wasn't much of a problem...

"It seems that I've gone too far. I will take my leave then."

Billy said as he clenched his teeth in anger. Then, he turned around and left.

Once Billy was gone, Marlene finally put down her wand and smiled at Rhode.

"Thank you, Mr. Rhode. Because of you, we got rid of that nasty guy."

"No problem, I'm also not fond of those group of idiots."

Rhode waved his hand, causing Marlene to chuckle. Then both of them raised the wine glass in their hands.

"So, to celebrate our victory, you won't mind if I offer you a toast, hm?

"Of course I don't mind."

–

The banquet went on as usual. Just outside the building, Billy got onto a carriage, his face was all red and was extremely upset.

"I'm sorry, Sir."

At this moment, the arrogant man had turned meek as he lowered his head towards the other person inside the carriage.

"I failed to complete your request to make that man move."

"Not an issue, Mr. Clinton."

On the other side of the carriage, the person who was hiding in the darkness chuckled.

"We still have a chance; whether it is you, or me."

Then he raised his head and stared at the night sky.

"We will achieve our goal."