Meeting with Baron Barthon

"They can also enter the city as long as they drop their weapons at the checkpoint and go visit it as they please."

"So be it, go have fun in the city as you see fit." announced Maxime as he turned in the direction of his mercenaries.

"They answered with a loud voice, attracting a few glances in their direction.

"How do we find each other, boss?" asked Peter, slightly worried.

"Don't worry about it, I'll find you easily.

To which Peter nodded, although still a little worried.

Seeing the exchange over, the deputy chief said:

"Well, can you follow me now?"

"I'm at your disposal," replied Maxime with a slight smile.

Starting to enter the city, Maxime thought with a slight excitement:

"At last I'm really starting my adventure and who knows, maybe I can find a mercenary in this town with two-star potential. Although even if I do meet one, it's probably a person with a better physique and better skills than me. He should also already have a very high status."

"After all, even this deputy chief is probably stronger than me."

Suddenly, a surprising thought appeared in his mind and he couldn't help but release it.

"Deputy chief of the guard?"

"Yes?" he replied naturally without turning around.

"How about joining my band of mercenaries?"

This time he turned around and with a stunned look written on his face, then he burst out laughing.

"Haha you don't lack audacity young man!"

"We must always seize the opportunities that present themselves in front of us, otherwise we may regret certain things." replied Maxima with a light smile.

"Haha maybe when you are known." refused the deputy chief with irony.

"But then it will be too late, and even if you manage to join us you will have no preferential treatment or status, you will just be an ordinary mercenary."

"Although obviously being an ordinary mercenary could already be the achievement of a lifetime for many people in the future." concluded Maxime with a slight laugh as if his words were not worth taking seriously, yet his bright eyes spoke volumes.

Indeed, Maxime was already a very determined person naturally, but his very ordinary status in real life acted as a restriction for him.

But his completely surreal talent had completely destroyed this restriction, giving way to an overflowing confidence and endless optimism.

The deputy chief of the guard had detected these points, and he was suddenly amazed by the charm that Maxime exuded.

In his eyes the confidence but also Maxime's own charisma could be clearly seen as if it was a tangible substance surrounding his whole being.

This made her previously quiet heart beat.

"I am now 30 years old and yet I still haven't achieved anything particularly noteworthy and my life is as ordinary as ever. I've had relationships with many women but none have been able to reach my heart."

"I've heard that many mercenaries find life much more exciting and enjoyable while roaming the battlefields."

"I've always laughed at them, but then why today my heart beats so hard at the mention of becoming one?"

"Honor? Wealth? Status?"

"What do I really want in this life?"

"Do I really want to continue my life as one, but remaining ordinary and only being able to admire these mercenaries or risk becoming one and perhaps achieve a previously imaginable honor?"

"Who knows? Maybe one day I could be at the front of a huge army and conquer lands and have my name cross the borders of this world. Marry a princess of some kingdom and give birth to a royal line."

Suddenly, the previously glowing eyes dulled all at once as they came back to reality.

"No, with my talent I'd only die as an ordinary cannon fodder. I might as well enjoy this quiet life but still..."

"I can help you get stronger."

The thoughts of the deputy chief of the guard were interrupted by the young man with long blond hair in front of him. After a few seconds of hesitation that could easily be detected on his face, the deputy chief of the guard seemed to make a decision as he answered firmly:

"Okay."

The scene had lasted only a few seconds, yet someone's destiny had changed drastically from that short time.

Even Maxime was surprised by the acceptance of the deputy head of the guard, he had only been testing the waters, and even all his prepared arguments had hardly been used.

But he quickly recovered and announced with a smile:

"Welcome to the saber-toothed tiger mercenaries."

"Thank you."

Then the scene became silent as they passed through the noisy streets.

The echoes of people talking on the street could be heard everywhere.

A bard was singing not far from a pub, drunken men were applauding him and even singing along with him in their husky voices, causing the guards and passersby nearby to laugh.

Individuals entering and exiting various stores of necessities especially clothes could be seen everywhere.

Shops with a hammer as a symbol on the roof could also be seen.

"It would seem that the profession of blacksmithing is quite popular and lucrative given the number of stores bearing this crest," analyzed Maxime.

Soon they reached a beautiful residence, seemingly a very large mansion.

In front of the door two guards were watching the newcomers carefully, but soon their vigilance disappeared as they recognized one of them.

Soon the distance between them had shortened significantly.

"Welcome Deputy Chief Romuald, may we ask the purpose of your visit and the identity of the person accompanying you?"

"Oh his name is Romuald..." mentally noted Maxime with a wry smile.

"I've come to report the disappearance of a village. The person accompanying me is..."

"Maxime, leader of the saber-toothed tiger mercenaries. Pleased to meet you," Maxime introduced himself, smiling in order to establish a good image.

To which the guards generally bowed their heads in greeting before looking at Romuald.

Romuald also made a mental note of his new leader's first name before continuing where he had left off:

"He witnessed the disappearance of said village."

Sensing the importance of this matter, the guard who had asked the question hurried to warn the Baron while the other guard led Romuald and Maxime to the guest room before returning to his post.

Maxime observed with curiosity this lounge where there were two sofas looking rather comfortable, one in front of the other. A beautiful carpet covered the floor on which was laid a table of precious wood.

As decoration, there were several paintings and stuffed animals.

Simultaneously, a beautiful young woman arrived in a maid's outfit, placed cups of tea on the table before bowing slightly to Romuald and Maxime and leaving.

"Well, what a comfortable environment..." commented Maxime silently, who had never enjoyed such a welcome nor lived in such a luxurious environment.

Soon a middle-aged man, imposing by his stature but also by his aura, arrived and settled in the remaining sofa.

A few seconds passed, from which Maxime seemed rather uncomfortable because he had never come into contact with people of such status.

Currently he did not have a strong personal strength, at most he was considered slightly better than an ordinary well-trained soldier.

His mercenary group was also currently small and weak.

And finally his financial situation was not particularly high, and even seemed rather poor for a mercenary group leader.

Romuald was in a worse state than Maxime because he knew the personality of Baron Barthon.