CHAPTER 80

"In the name of Aspen, you tried to cover up the crime, didn't you?"

Leona asked again.

"That's enough. From here on, it seems to be our business."

Torres interrupted Leona.

"Is that so? Anyway, the misunderstanding is cleared up."

Leona smiled sweetly. It was a smile that said, 'I'm innocent, I'm naïve, I know nothing.' Of course, she knew everything and was far from naïve.

Instead of answering, Torres grabbed the man's shoulder and said,

"Let's go."

There was no farewell to Encrid. He just pushed the man's messed-up face and glared at him.

"Please, please, spare me."

"Shut up. You're just an enemy spy."

"I'll tell you everything I know. I'm not a spy. This is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."

"Don't worry. I'll cut your tongue last."

At Torres' words, the man's legs gave way, but he had no freedom to fall.

Two squad members on either side grabbed him under the arms, lifting him.

Judging by Torres' attitude, he seemed annoyed that things weren't going as expected.

'There must have been a mental battle.'

He had been too obsessed with the sword to see the situation, but now he could see things clearly.

Why doesn't Leona pin the crime on Pollid?

What would happen if it were revealed that Pollid was behind it?

'Is it only Pollid's responsibility, or does the Rockfreed Company also bear some responsibility?'

If the company were to be held accountable, would it benefit Leona to admit it or deny it?

If the company was definitely hers, it would be better not to admit it.

If she didn't need to get rid of that fool Pollid over this issue, that is.

Encrid thought Leona would sacrifice Pollid for the sake of the company's succession.

If that happened, the Border Guard would use the fact that a member of the Rockfreed Company ordered an assassination as leverage to demand a price.

In any case, the company's act of instigation would have tarnished the city's honor.

The city's honor was equivalent to the unit's honor, and they could have used this to extract a hefty price.

'Did she make this decision for the sake of the company?'

Did she care that much about her company?

"Why? Have you suddenly fallen for my beauty?"

Encrid found himself staring at her face.

What kind of woman was she?

Her face was much brighter than when she slapped Pollid's cheek.

She exuded a natural confidence. Even while displaying such confidence, there was no flaw in her sitting posture.

It was the face of a merchant who had finished calculating.

It seemed she didn't need to sacrifice anything of the company. She must have had something she was relying on.

And it wasn't the Border Guard standing army.

She was truly a mysterious woman.

"No."

Encrid responded with what needed to be said.

Regardless of his thoughts, attitude, or intentions, Encrid's job was simply to complete the mission.

"That's a shame."

Leona smiled.

Did he think her beauty didn't suit a spider?

That thought needed to be corrected.

Looking at her now, didn't she suit it perfectly?

The smile she wore now, having shed the mask of innocence, was that of a spider with its prey.

* * *

"Thank you for everything."

The task was nearing its end.

Leona, who was packing her things at the inn, said.

Beside her, Pollid was grinning. In reality, had he won a verbal argument with Leona regarding the succession, or had he succeeded in his prepared assassination attempt?

Even so, he was smiling.

That smile seemed to say that he was now the owner of the company.

"Hey, soldier, you'll be clinging to my coattails later."

'At first, he seemed to be picking a fight with Jaxon.'

At some point, he started aiming his arrows at Encrid. He repeatedly picked on Encrid.

'Should I have ignored him?'

Was it a problem born out of kindness? Suddenly, such thoughts crossed his mind.

Pollid's face seemed to epitomize a triumphant expression.

A smile on his lips, eyes filled with confidence, even emitting excitement through his breath.

"Instead of clinging to your coattails, I could just cut off your feet."

Encrid muttered to himself, not wanting to give the other a chance to respond.

Only Jaxon, the Company Commander, and Leona, who was nearby, heard this.

"If that's the case, just cut off his head. It's faster."

Jaxon advised.

"You're popular with men too, soldier."

The Company Commander teased.

"I feel unnecessarily apologetic."

Leona apologized.

"Huh? What did you say?"

Pollid, who hadn't heard Encrid's muttering, asked. Encrid ignored him completely.

He should have never carried any kindness from the beginning.

Pollid briefly showed his temper at being ignored but soon calmed down. A plain-looking man behind him tugged at his collar.

He quickly subdued his excitement. Even after that, Pollid continued to express his confidence with repeated glares.

'Anyone can see that he's up to something.'

It was obvious what that preparation entailed without needing to be said.

There would be no more tolerated commotion within the Border Guard.

'They'll probably try to kill us as soon as we step out.'

Looking at the faces of Leona's group gathered in front of the inn, he wondered if they could indeed handle the situation.

While he was lost in thought, Leona came up beside him and spoke.

"It feels like I'm being escorted."

It wasn't a feeling of being escorted, but an actual part of the protection duty.

Pollid stupidly revealed his intentions, but Leona was the opposite.

What was she relying on?

He suddenly became curious. There was no sign of worry in Leona's demeanor.

"I won't forget the favor of saving my life. If I get the chance in the future, I will surely repay it."

A female guard, who barely escaped with her life from an assassin, approached from the second floor.

"Yes."

Encrid didn't pay much attention. How likely was it to meet again on this vast continent?

However, the thoughts of those around him were different.

Two squads guarding the entire inn were still nearby. They provided protection as well, taking responsibility for the incident within the Border Guard.

"Spreading love affairs with every passing woman."

"Throwing the poison of charm at every woman he passes."

"Your name is the Charming Squad Leader."

But instead of working, they were sitting and composing poems.

"…Why are they doing that?"

The female guard, blushing, asked.

"They all want to become minstrels after they retire, so they're practicing. Just leave them be."

Encrid replied casually.

The Company Commander had sidled up to Leona and whispered. Encrid's keen hearing caught her words.

"You should be careful. That soldier has a tendency to knock down every woman he sees."

Knock down what?

Encrid hadn't even smelled a woman's perfume recently.

He had been too busy dealing with a series of chaotic events.

"Aren't you going? It seems it's time for you to leave."

Encrid politely saw off the soldiers of the two squads.

They, apparently contemplating a future as minstrels, quickly composed and sang a song about the Charming Squad Leader.

They were crazy.

With this incident, Torres's side, namely the Border Guard, left with a headache, while Encrid's soldiers remained carefree.

It was understandable.

They were just following orders.

Thinking of the Border Guard, Encrid once again realized how skillful Leona was.

'She's managed to put the Border Guard in debt with this.'

She overturned the situation with just a few words. Whether the Border Guard would acknowledge this was unknown.

She framed the assault as a city security issue.

If the attack had arisen from the company's succession problems, it would be the Rockfreed Company's responsibility.

If it was an attack provoked by Krona, it became a matter of city security.

'This is incredible.'

Everyone knew it was Pollid's doing, but with the assassination target denying it, what could be done?

Is this what it means to be a born merchant?

Seeing the conclusion made things clear, otherwise, it would have gone unnoticed.

Well, Krais stayed behind at the inn after Torres left and filled in the gaps.

"In the end, the Border Guard will also deny it. But the situation is advantageous for them. Aren't they Aspen's spy unit?"

When asked why that was disadvantageous, Krais explained.

"If the blame is placed on Aspen's spy, who benefits? Do you want to focus on the fact that Aspen's spy targeted the company's Krona or that they tried to stir up trouble in the city? Which story carries more weight?"

Krais's point was understood.

The moment Aspen's name was mentioned, it became a favorable situation for the company.

Ultimately, it was thanks to the spy who glorified his homeland and died.

Hearing this, Encrid realized that Krais was as sharp as Leona.

He had always known Krais was smart.

'He seems to be on par with the heir of a large company.'

It was just a passing thought. What good is being smart?

Krais's dream is to set up a salon where he can swindle noblewomen.

Lost in these thoughts while walking, they soon reached the castle gate.

The soldier on guard saw Encrid and his group approaching and turned his body.

"You're Encrid, right?"

As they approached, a swordsman from Pollid's side spoke up.

"I haven't heard your name."

"Sorry about that. I'm not in a position to reveal my name here."

"..."

Suddenly approached and staring intently, the swordsman then spoke towards the back of Encrid.

"I just want to have a few words. Put away the hostility."

On Encrid's right, Jaxon had suddenly come up close.

"You're quite sensitive. Hostility, you say."

Jaxon replied. The same guy who ignored Pollid so much, was quite responsive here.

"Don't worry. It's easy to cut a man's throat without hostility."

The Company Commander, who had arrived unnoticed, stood behind Pollid's swordsman.

The swordsman looked at them both once and then neatly turned away, focusing on Encrid.

"Drop the sword."

A sudden command.

"There are things that can't be achieved with passion alone."

It was something Encrid hadn't heard in a long time.

Give up. You have no talent. It's a waste of time. It's like walking a path that leads nowhere.

Do you need to be hit to know it hurts?

You know now that being cut by a sword is painful, don't you?

As much time as you spend training, you can see how insignificant your talent is. Why can't you feel it?

Not that he couldn't feel it—yes, he knew.

He had heard it countless times.

Even if he didn't fall into the depths of despair and despondency from a few words, Encrid knew it too.

That he could never become a knight.

Yes, there was a time when he believed that.

Yet, he still wielded the sword. He still didn't give up.

He lived holding onto the tattered pieces of his shattered dream.

He couldn't even see the shape of the wall blocking his way. Everything around him was darkness.

Even in those times, he lived swinging his sword until his grip burst.

Would things change now because he heard this?

The Heart of the Beast, the Sense of the Blade, the Focus Point, the Isolation Technique.

The basics of swordsmanship, including the Correct Sword Technique.

Applications of the Valen Mercenary Sword Technique.

Today's repetition, continuous training and practice, increasing skills.

A half-step slower than a turtle in someone's eyes was, to Encrid, a half-step more meaningful than any moment in the past.

Thus, he unconsciously smiled.

"Are you smiling?"

The swordsman saw this and murmured.

"Don't worry."

Jaxon said a word.

The Company Commander quietly watched Encrid.

The swordsman wanted an answer, and Encrid gave him the reply he had been longing for.

"Next time, I might be the one to win."

Predicting a person's future is an arrogant act. Encrid had said.

"I see."

The swordsman, not forcing his thoughts on a deaf opponent, turned his body.

It was a small commotion in front of the castle gate.

"Thank you for all your hard work."

It was when they reached the front of the city wall.

Leona turned around and spoke to Encrid and the others.

At the moment when they thought they might leave just like this.

Encrid saw the guard turning his head back and forth, looking between their group and the outside.

He looked troubled.

Wondering why, Encrid noticed an armed group outside the city walls.

The moment he saw it, he understood.

If the opponent showed force, what should this side show?

It was the card Leona believed in. They were outside the city walls.

"Matthis, the guard of the Rockfreed Company, has arrived here."

He was the only one who had come inside the city walls.

He had a neatly trimmed mustache. His steps seemed light, and dust settled on the shoulders of his coat.

Without force, you cannot establish a company's name on the continent.

Unless you want to be devoured by bandits, marauders, monsters, and demons, force is essential.

The man who had stepped forward was responsible for the force of the Rockfreed Company.

Just by showing himself, he gathered everyone's attention.

Encrid felt a strange sensation. Matthis seemed to fill his entire view.

He saw nothing else. His presence was extraordinary. He drew everyone's gaze with his mere presence.

"You have interesting companions with you."

He said this and then knelt on one knee towards Leona.

"The guard has arrived. Company Leader."

He spoke to Leona.

Only then could Encrid shift his gaze behind him.

The Rockfreed Company's guard.

Over thirty armed soldiers were stationed outside the city gate.

[T/L: Please support me and read further chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/revengerscans]