Chapter 225 : Chapter 225

Chapter 225

“Miller, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍you’re working hard.”

One ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of the executives of the mercenary corps greeted Miller, who was checking the newly arrived weaponry.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a veteran mercenary ranked 16th—just below Miller—and had refined a 5-star Mana Heart.

Being ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of similar age, they had quickly become close after Miller joined the Lion’s Mane Mercenary Corps.

“If ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the mercenary corps is to grow, we must secure weapons to match. We only have a thousand people who have refined a Mana Heart now, but in the long run, won’t that number increase by another thousand?”

Quite ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a few mercenaries would die in the line of duty, but if they survived and grew into veteran mercenaries like them, the Lion’s Mane Mercenary Corps would easily solidify its position as the best in the industry.

“As expected, a former knight thinks differently.”

“Where did you hear that story again?”

Miller’s brows furrowed at the man’s joke.

This was because the fact that he had received a knighthood had been a secret until he mentioned it to the Commander and Vice-commander recently.

“There is nothing more meaningless than trying to find the source of rumors circulating in a mercenary corps.”

“…….”

“Don’t worry. Not everyone who receives a knighthood becomes a noble, and I don’t loathe nobles like the Commander does.”

He said he was simply curious about the reason Miller started working as a mercenary again after receiving a knighthood.

‘So, the fact that I’m from the Annihilation Squad hasn't spread yet.’

If so, there was no need to step forward and reveal it first.

“You’ll find out in due time. Anyway, now that the mission is over, there's a mountain of work to do.”

“How dull. Next time, tell me some stories from your days as a knight.”

“I will.”

At Miller’s pleasant smile, the man shrugged and turned away.

‘My days as a knight.’

There was nothing particularly special.

He was first called a knight when he was scouted by the Sepia Merchant Guild, but he officially received his knighthood after joining the Annihilation Squad.

Killian Eurasia, who brought him into the Annihilation Squad, seemed to have no doubt that he would reach 6-star within a short period and taught him a suitable training method.

Teaching him a few Ke and Shik was a bonus.

And not long after, he was expelled from the Annihilation Squad for a mission.

‘He truly is a mysterious person.’

In his memory, Killian Eurasia was at a level where it was certain he had stabilized 7-star.

Having such martial prowess at a young age was surprising enough, but rumors were also circulating that he was the master of dragons in the war that ended several months ago.

‘The master of dragons…. How did such a rumor even start?’

Since rumors circulating among mercenaries are often false, he didn't believe everything he heard.

However, such rumors wouldn't have started without a reason.

Whether it was his romantic relationship with the Princess of Cornelia since Eurasia was a family, or the famous Night Walkers following him, or the Queen of the fairies personally bestowing a precious sword upon him.

Every time he displayed his martial prowess, the rumors snowballed.

Among them, the most unbelievable was the rumor that he had become an 8-star knight.

‘Even Simon Eurasia, called the strongest knight of the eastern continent, took a significant amount of time to reach 8-star.’

Escardo Schtenberg, who gained fame as a knight alongside him, also took a similar amount of time to reach 8-star.

No matter how much Killian Eurasia was a sword being secretly raised by Simon Eurasia, and no matter how his talent reached the heavens, there wasn't enough time to reach 8-star.

‘The most plausible one is that he entered a secret marriage with the Princess of Cornelia.’

While having a warm smile on his lips for a moment as he recalled the personality of his former master.

‘This is a problem.’

Anxiety took place on Miller’s face.

This was because he knew Babato was eager to meet him.

‘Commander Babato is also a person called a genius, like Leader Killian. However, the experience of monster subjugation and the battlefield would be incomparable.’

A man who became a mercenary from a fallen noble family and seized the alias of Mercenary King.

He even possessed the boldness to take a person’s life regardless of their status if things went wrong.

That was why even most nobles or great lords feared being hostile toward him.

The meeting between Annihilation Squad Leader Killian Eurasia and Mercenary King Babato.

Surely one of them would bleed.

To prevent the worst-case scenario, he needed to meet Leader Killian first and coordinate their words.

‘But why hasn't there been a specific reply?’

It has been nearly a month since he conveyed Babato’s desire to meet.

The only reply that had flown in so far was just a message saying he understood.

Thinking that serving two bosses was no easy task, Miller resumed the work he had stopped.

It was while he was checking the list of weaponry for quite a while.

“Brother Miller.”

This time, Nul came to find him.

“Did you come to check the rumors as well?”

“I’m curious, but that’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

“Two mercenaries looking for you have arrived.”

“Mercenaries?”

“Yes, they say they are Agnil and Hazard from the Black Dragon Mercenary Corps.”

He tilted his head at the names he was hearing for the first time.

“Where are they?”

Upon hearing Nul’s answer, Miller headed straight for the general drawing room.

Upon entering, two giant warriors, each with a greatsword and a battle-ax on their backs, were waiting.

The warrior with the greatsword and an impressive, firm gaze was Agnil, and the one covered in black iron armor was said to be Hazard.

“You were looking for me?”

“That is correct.”

The one who answered the question was the warrior with the greatsword.

“This is the first time I’ve met you both…. What is your business?”

“It is because of a mission. I was told to deliver this to Miller of the Lion’s Mane Mercenary Corps.”

Agnil reached into his rough hands and handed over a single letter.

It was crumpled here and there, but it was stamped with the seal of the two dragons symbolizing Eurasia.

“Could it be……”

“That is correct.”

Agnil nodded and continued.

“I have come to meet Babato, the Commander of the Lion’s Mane Mercenary Corps, on behalf of Killian Eurasia.”

As if affirming Agnil’s words.

Ahem. Ahem.

The giant man in black iron armor snorted.

***

Babato had a routine.

When he returned after finishing a long mission, returning to the mercenary corps' headquarters and blowing off steam for two months was exactly that.

The method could be liquor, women, or sparring.

Some said he was negligent as a commander leading a large-scale mercenary corps, but the Vice-commander and his lovely sister handled most matters, so there was nothing to worry about.

Today, he had planned to finish five trysts and then train his Mana Heart.

The 8-star level, which he hadn't completely stepped into yet.

It was to break down that wall.

People thought of him as a warrior who moved only by relying on strength and had risen to his current position by luck, but that was incorrect.

He was a methodical man.

Choosing the life of a mercenary over a knight, having a warrior’s physique that emphasized muscle over a balanced physical beauty, and ultimately seizing the title of Mercenary King—all of these started from his small plans.

Small plans begin with minor routines, and minor routines must be kept to start a methodical day.

“I’m getting tired as I get older.”

Just a moment ago, he had finished his fifth tryst while drinking poisonous liquor.

His powerful Mana Heart was emitting intense heat to neutralize the toxicity of the liquor.

He was lying on the bed naked to cool down his body when he heard a knock.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

Thinking he heard his sister’s voice, the door swung open before he could even answer.

Tsk.

Clicking his tongue, Babato covered his body with the blanket.

“Bibi. Have you thrown away your etiquette toward your brother in the gutter?”

“It's not to the point of throwing it in the gutter. The one I’ve come to see is Commander Babato, not my brother.”

If she had come to see him, it would be those who served great merchants or high nobles wanting to open trade with the Mercenary King.

“I won’t receive guests today. Handle it yourself appropriately.”

“It’s a guest from Eurasia.”

“Eurasia?”

Come to think of it, quite a bit of time had passed since he told Miller he would meet the Fourth Prince of Eurasia.

He had forgotten about it since there was no particular contact afterward, but it seemed he had suddenly come to visit today.

“You know I loathe nobles, right?”

“Of course.”

Bibi replied as if it were obvious.

“But you’re going to bring a royal, not even a noble, straight before me? And without an appointment?”

“The appointment was made by what you said before. And he’s not a noble.”

“…….”

His younger sister, who couldn't be unaware of his personality, was strangely confident.

So he asked.

“Didn't you say it was a guest from Eurasia?”

“It’s true they came from Eurasia. But he’s not a royal.”

“…….”

“They are Agnil and Hazard from the Black Dragon Mercenary Corps; I looked them up, and they’re quite famous.”

They were individuals who were active in the war between Cornelia and Romero as a two-man mercenary duo, and among them, Agnil, who also served as the commander, was confirmed to be a superhuman and was also called by the alias ‘Agnil of the Greatsword.’

“Ho.”

A superhuman-rank mercenary.

It meant they possessed the skills to be guaranteed a knighthood no matter which kingdom they went to.

If such a person was living as a mercenary, there must be a story.

If he could pull them in as members of the mercenary corps, that mercenary corps would gain a strength equal to having brought in a thousand mercenaries.

It was already a large-scale mercenary corps reaching five thousand, but wouldn't it be better to have as many skilled people as possible?

“Hiring mercenaries to open trade with me…. That Fourth Young Master used his head.”

It seemed the rumor that nobles couldn't lead a proper negotiation with him, and that one had to at least be a mercenary to be treated like a human, had reached his ears.

Without knowing that all of it was a plan to build his public image and increase his influence.

“Where are those guys now?”

***

A spacious room filled only with a table and chairs, without a single ornament.

Thud.

Babato, who sat down, gestured with his chin for the two mercenaries to sit.

However, only Agnil sat, while the iron-armored Hazard stood behind him.

It was a sight that made it clear whose hierarchy was higher between the two.

“You were sent from Eurasia?”

“That is correct.”

“You know where this is, right?”

“Is this not the drawing room of the Lion’s Mane Mercenary Corps?”

“Right. If so, you must also know that more than a few guys have left with their heads crushed here.”

“I believe I heard you loathe nobles.”

“And yet you’ve come to find me on behalf of a noble. Does that mean you’re quite confident in your skills?”

“My skills are humble, but they will not be significantly lacking compared to yours.”

“You say you're a superhuman. Your courage passes.”

Rumble.

Babato quietly released his momentum.

Crrrk.

Agnil also did not back down, wrapping blue mana around his body.

The sight of the mana wrapped around his body combining with Haki to receive his momentum without much trouble.

‘Look at this?’

The corners of Babato’s mouth twitched.

His instinct told him.

‘This guy. He hasn't just reached or stabilized 7-star; he’s mastered it.’

His gaze examined the companion standing blankly behind him.

He felt an extraordinary aura even from him, who looked like a warrior to anyone.

“Fine, you pass.”

Babato gave a thumbs up toward Agnil, who reacted as if he didn't know what it meant.

“I mean you pass as a sparring partner for me today.”

“…….”

“I’ll hear your business after that. Of course, if you impress me, your objective will likely proceed positively.”

Despite the reckless attitude, Agnil had a serene face, seemingly unconcerned.

“A duel with a superhuman is also something I desire. While we're at it, how about we make a bet?”

“You have a heartier personality than I thought. Speak up.”

Even though a mercenary should be well aware of his notoriety, the sight of him not backing down and instead taking a step forward was pleasing.

That was why he allowed it.

“How about the winner taking one member from the loser's side?”

To think he was a guy with the same thought as himself.