Chapter 146 : Chapter 146

Chapter 146. The Mercenary Association

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍next morning, when the sky had only just begun to brighten, Eli woke up in Lynn’s room.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍woman beside him was still fast asleep, her peaceful sleeping face appearing especially gentle in the morning light.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did not disturb her. He rose with light movements, dressed neatly, and then left the room without a sound.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did not linger inside La Roche Fortress. He went straight out of the fortress and into the city to find Ron.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍two had already agreed yesterday to meet this morning and go together to Count Habe’s residence to begin carrying out the auxiliary task Lucius had assigned them.

Ron ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had long since been waiting at the appointed place.

When he saw Eli, the two exchanged a brief greeting, then walked together toward the Habe Family’s residence in Thorne City.

The Habe Family was an old noble family of the Western Frontier. Although it was not particularly dazzling among the top noble circles,

Its temperament was mild, its family foundation was deep, and it possessed a sizable residence in Thorne City.

Their arrival went very smoothly.

After they stated their identities and purpose to the gatekeeper, a respectful old butler soon came out to welcome them.

“Good day, Lord Baron Pendragon, Lord Baron Hohenzollern. The count is waiting for you both. Please follow me.”

The old butler bowed, then led the way ahead.

The decorations inside the residence did not seem especially luxurious, but everywhere carried a sense of weight accumulated through the years.

After passing through several corridors, the butler led the two into a small but bright room.

At this moment, Count Habe was sitting before the dining table, being served by a servant as he slowly ate breakfast.

When he saw Eli and Ron enter, a kindly smile immediately appeared on his wrinkled face.

He waved a hand, signaling for the butler and the waiting servants to withdraw.

“Ah, Baron Eli and Baron Ron. Welcome.”

“Good day, Count Habe,” Eli and Ron greeted him at the same time with a bow.

“Haha, there is no need for such ceremony. Judging by the look of you, I imagine you have not eaten breakfast yet.

Come, come, sit down and have some with me. There is no need to be polite.”

Count Habe greeted them warmly and pointed to the empty seats beside the dining table.

The two exchanged a glance. They had indeed not eaten yet, and at this moment, it would not be proper to refuse this elder’s kindness. They sat down accordingly.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Count Habe,” Eli said in thanks. Ron also followed and thanked him.

The breakfast was not complicated. There was fresh bread, warm meat soup, and some seasonal fruit.

Count Habe seemed to have a good appetite. As he ate, he casually asked about the conditions in their territories.

His tone was gentle, like an ordinary old man showing concern for his juniors.

Eli and Ron also answered politely, and the atmosphere was rather harmonious.

After breakfast, Count Habe accepted the hot towel handed to him by a servant and wiped his hands and mouth.

“Good. We should go handle proper business now. Mm… we will go to the Mercenary Association first.”

He had already arranged for several lower-ranking officials responsible for paperwork and registration to wait outside.

The Mercenary Association? Eli and Ron exchanged a glance.

After the group gathered, they left the Habe Residence and headed toward the Mercenary Association within Thorne City.

The Mercenary Association was located in a relatively lively district of Thorne City.

The group had not walked for long before a... rather bold-looking building appeared before their eyes.

An attendant was standing at the entrance. When he saw Eli and the others, who were clearly dressed as nobles, he immediately restrained his casual attitude and bowed respectfully.

“Toward the stars and the abyss! Welcome to the Mercenary Association!

My lords… do you have a commission you wish to post?”

Eli looked inside the association.

The interior was spacious, with many wooden square tables scattered throughout. Quite a few people were seated there at the moment.

They had various physiques and were dressed in all sorts of attire: leather armor, chain mail, and some even wore nothing more than coarse cloth clothing.

The weapons at their sides also included everything from swords and sabers to axes and bows.

Many of them were sitting together in groups of three or five, speaking in low voices, drinking, or wiping down their weapons.

At this moment, the arrival of Eli’s group attracted many probing, curious, and even somewhat unrestrained gazes.

Huge noticeboards hung on the surrounding walls, plastered with all kinds of parchment commissions.

The aroma of ale lingered in the air, and noisy voices rose and fell one after another.

Rather than a proper institution, the atmosphere here made it seem more like a mixture of a large tavern and an information hub.

A trace of nostalgia appeared in Count Habe’s eyes, as though he had recalled certain experiences from his youth.

He smiled at the attendant by the door, while also explaining to the gazes looking over from inside.

“Ah, we have come by order of the Governor of the Western Frontier, Lord Lucius La Roche.

We are preparing to form several temporary city patrol teams responsible for maintaining Thorne City’s public security and order in the coming days.

Therefore, we have come here to post a commission.”

Then, he raised his voice slightly and spoke to the many mercenaries inside. “We welcome all brave warriors to join us!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a buzzing wave of conversation instantly rose inside the hall.

“Patrol teams? That does not sound too dangerous.”

“By Lord Lucius’s order? Did something happen in Thorne City?”

At this moment, a man who seemed to be one of the association’s managers heard the commotion and quickly walked out from inside.

He was around forty years old, slightly plump, with the habitual smooth smile of someone accustomed to dealing with people.

He came before Count Habe and bowed respectfully. “Of course there is no problem! Good day, honorable Count Habe.

I am the supervisor here. My name is Amber. My father, Sorens, often mentions you. He says you are an elder he respects greatly.”

“Amber? Sorens’s son? You have grown this much already…”

Count Habe nodded with a smile. “How is your father?”

“Thank you for your concern. My father’s health is still acceptable. He is currently out handling some commissions and has not returned yet,” Supervisor Amber answered respectfully.

Eli and the others followed Amber into the association, and even more gazes focused on them.

Seeing this, Ron took a step forward, straightened his chest, and spoke loudly to the mercenaries inside the hall.

“As all of you must have heard! Thorne City is about to face war!

I ask everyone to actively join us and fight for the peace and glory of the Western Frontier!”

However, what answered him was only a sparse wave of discussion. Not many people showed any sign of being stirred with hot blood.

“War? No wonder I felt that the atmosphere in the city has been wrong recently.”

“Hey, which noble lord’s family is that from? His voice is quite loud.”

“Is that old man Count Habe, the ‘Smiling Turtle’?”

An embarrassed expression appeared on Supervisor Amber’s face.

He was just about to say something to ease the atmosphere while also helping Count Habe complete this matter.

Eli watched from the side and sighed softly in helplessness.

He stepped forward, his calm gaze sweeping over most of the mercenaries present. Without any unnecessary nonsense, he held up one finger and spoke bluntly.

“Anyone who joins the patrol team will receive one gold coin for ten days!”

His voice was not particularly loud, but it was like a stone dropped into a lake.

The scene instantly fell silent for a moment.

Immediately afterward, almost in the next second, a huge uproar erupted!

“How much? One gold coin? For ten days?”

“Ohhh! My lord! Is what you said true?”

“My lord! Me! I am willing to offer my loyalty to the Western Frontier!”

“Count me in! My lord, I have rich experience!”

“And me!”

The mercenaries, who had ignored Ron’s appeal just now, now nearly had light shining from their eyes.

They rushed over one after another, speaking all at once as they expressed their willingness to join.

For mercenaries like them, practical benefits were far more attractive than passionate slogans.

Standing behind Eli, Count Habe saw this scene, and the kindly smile that had always hung on his face deepened further.

His eyes were almost narrowed into a slit, making it impossible to see the exact emotion within them.

Ron looked at the enormous contrast before and after, and his face became somewhat strained. His lips pressed tightly together, carrying a trace of anger.

As someone long experienced in battle, he found it difficult to understand why these people spoke of serving the Western Frontier, yet only valued money when it came to action.

Seeing this, Supervisor Amber burst into laughter. Then, he lowered his voice and asked Count Habe,

“Count Habe, how many people do you specifically need on your side?

Once enough people are recruited, I will personally lead the team and send them to the place you designate.”

Count Habe still smiled as he held up two fingers. “Two hundred first.

Send them to my residence before dusk today. They must be clean-handed and know the rules.”

“Two hundred people, delivered to your residence before dusk. No problem. Leave it to me!

Aside from these people, I will contact some reliable mercenary groups for you as well! I guarantee they will be dependable!”

Supervisor Amber patted his chest in assurance. Then, he turned around and shouted toward the noisy crowd.

“Everyone! Everyone! You all heard that, yes?

This is a commission personally posted by Count Habe. It is no ordinary matter!

One gold coin for ten days, with generous treatment! Those interested should hurry over to Catherine to register! Places are limited!”

“Oh!”

“Register! Hurry and register!”

The crowd immediately surged toward the registration counter, and the scene became somewhat chaotic for a time.

Supervisor Amber then turned back to Count Habe, his tone carrying familiarity.

“Count Habe, once my father returns, I will definitely bring him to visit you at once.”

Count Habe smiled and nodded. “Good, good. Give my regards to your father.”

Their purpose achieved, the group did not linger any longer. Under Supervisor Amber’s respectful farewell, they left the noisy Mercenary Association.

When they reached the street, Ron’s mood seemed somewhat low, and he silently followed behind.

Eli slowed his steps and walked side by side with him, comforting him in a low voice.

“They are mercenaries. They live by licking blood from the blade.

For them, real coins can protect their lives and families far better than any slogan.

When dealing with them, naturally, you must speak of the most direct benefits.”

Ron was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. He understood the logic, but his heart still needed some time to adapt.

After all, he had been born into the Hohenzollern Family and had received an orthodox knightly education. Toward this kind of thing… he instinctively felt some rejection.

“Count Habe,” Eli then turned to the old man walking ahead and asked him,

“the mercenary side has been initially resolved. Where do we go next?”

Count Habe turned his head back, his face still carrying that gentle smile, and answered,

“La Roche Grand Square.”