Chapter 81: Going To Piniard’s Shop

Leon became massively impressed by Darius. To call out a faker and someone who is your superior was not something anyone can do. It requires knowledge and confidence.

"Marcus, I told you not to have such morally smarty pants as your deputy commander." Aldric patted Marcus’s shoulder and said with pity.

"Hmph! Don’t talk to me." Marcus shoved away Aldric’s hand in annoyance.

"Commanders, let’s stop the charade and focus on the mission." Suddenly, Silvana spoke, who was silent most of the time. "Let’s leave right away. We can’t waste a second or those orcs will make progress."

Leon rubbed his chin and pondered. ’Concerned about the orcs... so, she must be here to remove the scourge of the capital.’

Leon was constantly figuring out their personalities as goals, as it was important to know who to trust in this dangerous mission. He had to relay this information to Gul-Min so that nothing happens to his new maid.

"Okay, miss. We are leaving right away." Aldric smiled to himself before saying to Leon. "Prepare a carriage for seven."

"Oka— Wait... what do you mean seven?" Leon was about to take in Aldric’s order. However, he halted instantly when he heard the number of people mentioned.

Aldric stared at Leon’s clueless face and said calmly. "What? Don’t you want to go?"

"Huh? I am going?" Leon was left speechless as he was hearing it for the first time.

"Yes, you are. I don’t have a deputy commander yet. So as the stand-in deputy commander, you will be going." Aldric left Leon dumbfounded.

Leon was receiving information about him, which he had never heard of. "When did..."

"Okay, now go get a carriage for us." Aldric stopped Leon from asking anything further and shooed him away.

Leon could only listen to his brother-in-law and walk away with his head down.

Looking at Leon’s leaving figure, Marcus asked curiously. "Who is the kid? What made you make him your deputy commander?"

Marcus understood that "stand-in" was just for a short term; Leon was guaranteed to become the deputy commander. The only thing needed was his rank, as you needed to reach Expert-Rank to become a deputy commander.

Speaking of Leon, Aldric’s chest puffed up as he introduced him proudly. "That is not some kid. That is my sister’s husband, my brother-in-law. Don’t look at him as if he is just a kid; he is at Adept-Rank already, and he has only joined a few months ago. He is one of our brightest prospects."

"Oh!" Everyone raised their eyebrows in surprise, as the speed to reach Adept-Rank from Apprentice-Rank in a few months was extremely difficult.

The time and practice needed to create and refine your spells required a lot of patience. Only a stable and brilliant person can progress through the ranks as if they were drinking water.

What they didn’t know was that if not for the system limiting Leon, he would have already blitzed through the ranks.

"Wait a minute! Your sister, who is in her thirties, got married!? I never thought she would marry a young man." Marcus appeared amazed as he patted Aldric’s shoulder.

Aldric flashed a big arrogant smile on his face as he said. "Hmph! I told you my sister’s beauty would never diminish. Also, she is already ready to give a nephew or a niece."

"Wow, your brother-in-law is amazing." Marcus praised it, as it was common knowledge that it was hard to have older women pregnant. So, for this young man to achieve in just a short time was a miracle to speak of.

Darius and Silvana squinted their eyes, never expecting to make this discovery. They silently watched Leon and didn’t make any comment. They were each in their own train of thought.

At that moment, Leon’s voice came in.

"Everyone, the carriage is here." Leon poked his head and called them out. The carriage he came in with hadn’t left yet, so he just hired it again.

***

"Should I still not close the shop?" Piniard cowardly asked. Behind him was a large group Leon suddenly brought. He was beyond shocked when he found out they were commanders and deputy commanders.

Pat

"It’s fine. We will do our work and you do yours. We can’t hamper your business." Leon patted Piniard’s shoulder, reassuring him.

"O...Okay..." Piniard could only bite the bullet and lead them to his basement. He was a little afraid of what these big shots wanted in his basement, so he could only pray it wasn’t something that might ruin his shop.

Arriving in front of the basement door, Piniard asked. "Do I need to go in?"

"No, no. Leave the rest to us. But remember, do not tell anyone we have come here nor let anyone else enter. Got it?" Leon asked, squinting his eyes.

Piniard saluted and proclaimed. "As your command!"

The rest watched these two dramas and finally got separated.

Leon then opened the basement door and led everyone to the small opening on the floor. He opened it and headed first. The rest followed later, one by one, as it wasn’t big enough to fit two people at the same time.

Finally, they arrived at the cavern where Leon rescued Gul-Min and others, gaining maids.

"Now, it’s all up to you, Gul-Min." Leon said with a smile, gesturing to Gul-Min to go ahead.

"Yes, Master." Gul-Min nodded her head and walked towards the tunnel on their left.

As everyone followed Gul-Min, others cautiously scanned their surroundings. There was no source of light here, not a single marshal on the walls, so Aldric created a small cluster of fire that floated in the air—it was enough for everyone to see clearly.

Elayne Frostveil adjusted her glasses and commented. "The soil of the ground doesn’t look like this tunnel was freshly made. So were the other two back in the cavern."

"Commander Aldric said this was a weak base and they made such networks. I can’t imagine what those underground have accomplished, the ones holding the main force." Darius contemplated out loud, his expression stern.