Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 153: The Underground Of The Holy Kingdom (4).

The incident, which resulted in nine injuries and two deaths, was quietly communicated only to the high-ranking officials within the Holy Kingdom and was hushed up. The Holy Kingdom was as silent as if nothing had ever happened. Even if the story leaked, it would only circulate within the cathedral.

From the start, the Holy Kingdom was such a place. That’s why they could live so complacently with something so terrifying sealed underground.

Victor, who had his jaw blown off, and Kori, whose arms and legs were severed, fortunately managed to find and reattach their parts. Kori seemed to still be in shock from the experience, but such things are like a rite of passage that one inevitably undergoes to survive as a mercenary. In this line of work, where your life could be snuffed out in the blink of an eye, just being alive and whole was a badge of honor. No matter what, survival was ultimately the most important thing.

Old Dog Kalisman also patched up the hole in his belly, but he definitely seemed to feel the cruelty of time. His increasingly sluggish body was slowly distancing itself from mercenary work. At most, he had 1 or 2 years left… But what can he do? That’s just the way aging works…

Although there were fatalities, the Holy Knights, true to their Kingdom’s reputation, quickly composed themselves. When Allen heard the rumors, it seemed that the female knight who had extracted the monster’s offspring from her body wished to retire. It appeared that after experiencing such a horrific event, she concluded she could no longer continue her knightly duties.

Occasionally encountering Allen, the scent-sensitive Monua seemed deeply troubled. Her inner thoughts, as confirmed from the status window, were a jumbled mess of various considerations.

Of course, no matter what the Holy Kingdom did or what the Holy Knights Order intended, it was none of Allen’s concern. What mattered to him was ensuring he received the promised compensation from the Holy Kingdom.

Three days after successfully completing the mission, Allen sat at the negotiation table with Vice Group Leader Quintus… To be honest, calling it a negotiation table was a bit of a stretch. The Group Leader just needed to receive what was promised.

The amount they were to be paid by the Holy Kingdom was three thousand two hundred gold coins. Frankly, from the perspective of the Allen-Mercenary Group, it wasn’t a particularly large sum for four months of work. Initially, Allen considered the lowest monthly rate for their services to be roughly eight hundred gold coins. In other words, they worked for four months at the minimum rate.

Still, it wasn’t a bad outcome. The level of the Milk-Jug Mage had increased by nearly two stages, and the experience of some members had significantly risen. Moreover, the payment wasn’t completely below expectations.

…However, as expected, once the mission was completed, the stingy Holy Kingdom started playing tricks.

“First, they propose to pay half the amount as a lump sum, and the remaining half in installments.”

Allen couldn’t help but laugh, thinking, as expected.

These damn Holy Kingdom bastards would never hand over the money easily.

Even if they said installments, it was obvious they’d wipe their hands clean and pretend not to know halfway through. They’d have to go directly to the Holy Kingdom and scream about why they weren’t paying to finally get it… The Group Leader didn’t want to do such things every month.

“That’s not acceptable. We’ll take the full amount. Vice Group Leader, haven’t you seen firsthand how much we’ve suffered? I actually think that compensation is quite cheap.”

“…I’m sorry. It’s not something I can decide on my own…”

The Vice Group Leader also had an awkward smile, perhaps embarrassed because the higher-ups suddenly changed their words.

However, Allen could never accept such an offer. Especially if it was from the Holy Kingdom.

“We have no other option. We will receive the full amount in a lump sum. Please convey that.”

Thus, the first negotiation table ended without any gain for either side.

And the two sat at the table again the next day. The Vice Group Leader awkwardly began to speak while watching the Group Leader’s reaction. Allen was immediately sure of what the other would bring up… Certainly not someone with a knack for negotiation.

“You mentioned that the conveniences we provided were not insignificant. And we also provided the Holy Water… Considering that, there was a message asking if three thousand two hundred gold coins were a bit excessive.”

Though said in that way, it was essentially a threatening remark to cut the amount if they kept insisting.

Of course, Money-Grubber Allen wasn’t someone who would easily fall for such tricks.

He leisurely smiled, resting his chin on his clasped hands on the table. As if to say the advantage was his, not theirs. In truth, it was.

“Do you really think this matter will end here, Vice Group Leader?”

At this question, the Vice Group Leader let out a sigh without answering, dropping his gaze to the table.

“The seal is incomplete. Haven’t the mages of the Holy Kingdom already confirmed this? I estimate it will last ten years at most. No matter what chaos ensues within that time, the seal will eventually break… If we don’t fight properly, the Holy Kingdom will suffer great damage.”

The Vice Group Leader, having spent a long time with Group Leader Allen, already placed great trust in him. Thus, this remark was not dismissed as merely a negotiation tactic.

“But the Holy Kingdom treats me like this after all my hard work? Vice Group Leader, do you truly think this is for the benefit of the Holy Kingdom? It’s a bit embarrassing to say this myself, but my status in the mercenary world is not that low. Right now, Group Leader Viola, one of the Top 10, is by my side. If someone like me is treated this way by the Holy Kingdom, how can the other mercenary leaders trust the Holy Kingdom?”

He lightly tapped the table and raised his voice.

“I agree with you a hundred times over, but those above don’t see it that way, which is frustrating… For now, I will try to speak to them once more.”

Of course, Allen did not expect the Vice Group Leader to make such a choice. After all, he was merely a messenger. He wasn’t the Group Leader, so what could a mere Vice Group Leader decide? It was all because the higher-ups were too greedy.

“I understand the Vice Group Leader’s hardship. But I have nine mouths to feed, nine! Honestly, if possible, I’d like to speak directly with someone who has decision-making authority. It feels like we’re just repeating the same things this way…”

“Understood. I will try to convey it.”

“…I look forward to a good response.”

Thus, the second negotiation table ended without any gains.

And the next day, Allen met Vice Group Leader Quintus again. Judging by his bright expression, it seemed the discussion went well.

“Permission has been granted for a lump-sum payment.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Speaking of trust, the higher-ups were concerned about that too.”

“Indeed, a wise choice.”

Thus, Allen received all three thousand two hundred gold coins from the Holy Kingdom.

However, the Holy Kingdom wasn’t easygoing either. They issued a unilateral notice to leave the accommodation immediately after receiving the payment. The reason was to maintain order within the cathedral. In short, they didn’t want those damn mercenaries who didn’t listen to stay in the cathedral any longer.

“What a shitty place! Even if they paid me to live here, I wouldn’t! Damn it.”

Upon learning of the situation, Furball Geese spat a thick phlegm in the dirty, stingy Holy Kingdom’s cathedral while cursing. The other members also seemed displeased. It was the first time they felt uneasy despite completing a mission neatly.

Thus, the Allen-Mercenary Group hurriedly left the cathedral without even saying goodbye to the Holy Knights they had been with for so long—no, it would be more accurate to say they were chased out.

The direction of the carriage leaving the Holy Kingdom was not toward Vermandois. They were heading to the capital, about fifteen days away from the Holy Kingdom.

There was a gathering of the Gate Openers, and because of the Milk-Jug Mage’s request to visit the capital briefly after this mission. Of course, she had no intention of taking the entire mercenary group with her, but from the leader’s perspective, Allen couldn’t send such a valuable asset to the capital alone. Besides, wasn’t this a good opportunity to build a connection with one of the Top 10 leaders, Ghost Flame Grenzo?

Kori, who had lost limbs in this mission, looked at the receding Holy Kingdom and then turned his gaze to the Group Leader sitting across from him.

“Group Leader, aren’t you angry?”

Allen chuckled at the question.

“What’s there to be mad about? It’s just the way it is. We’re lucky we weren’t shortchanged. Honestly, if it were a mercenary group worse than ours, they wouldn’t have gotten all of it.”

Still, since they received the money properly, Allen didn’t feel particularly bad. He already knew well that the Holy Kingdom was full of self-righteous people.

As long as the mercenaries got paid well, that was all that mattered. Being able to laugh off a patron’s complaints was how you could survive long in this field… Contractual relationships couldn’t always be perfect.

The Holy Kingdom was indeed a pain, but as long as they paid well, Allen had no qualms about working for them again next time.

That’s what it meant to be a mercenary.