Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 144: Back To The East (1).

The two reached a dramatic agreement… Of course, it was more like Vice Group Leader Quintus being unilaterally swayed by Group Leader Allen.

And on the very evening they finalized the agreement, Allen gathered the members in the meeting room.

Standing in front of the map, he quickly scanned the seated members and then struck a region with his baton, speaking in a solemn tone.

“We are heading to the Eastern Region.”

“The Eastern Region?”

To the mercenaries of Vermandois, the current perception of the East was a place that had lost its charm, and was bland and flavorless. Everyone knew that in a place of peace, the value of mercenaries was less than that of a prostitute’s allure.

“Hasn’t all the work dried up there?”

“We’re not going to hunt mercenary heads.”

Allen lightly tapped his palm with the baton, smiling intently.

“We are going to hunt heretic heads.”

Heretics, or demon worshippers…

As soon as those words were spoken, a natural discomfort subtly appeared on the faces of the members. On the continent, their reputation was akin to trash that one wouldn’t want to associate with. The very idea of worshipping demons, who regard humans as mere insects, aroused an unbearable disgust.

In particular, the Blind Saintess’s hatred towards heretics was at its peak. Believers of the Holy Spirit and demon-worshiping heretics were natural enemies.

“Are you saying there are heretics in the East?”

This question was posed by Gheorghe, the Cautious Archer. The whereabouts of the heretics were notoriously unclear.

“It’s because of war… What comes to mind when you think of war?”

“Well… Mercenaries and money, right?”

Of course, it wasn’t an incorrect answer. War indeed equates to money.

However, it wasn’t the answer Allen was looking for.

“From the heretics’ perspective, I mean. Those demon worshippers.”

Then the clever Milk-Jug Mage answered.

“Is it because of the corpses?”

“Correct.”

Corpses resulting from the war. That was the main reason heretics gathered in the East.

“There’s no way they’d collect all the bodies of those many mercenaries from the territory one by one. Most are either buried in one place or burned.”

“The demon worshippers want that.”

“Yes. They are probably already up to something.”

The ultimate goal of demon worshippers was to open the gates of hell. To open those gates, they would gather corpses or dark energy.

What Allen was precisely targeting was not the head of the heretics, but the magic orb that gathered that energy. Only with it could the seal axis be restored.

Of course, it wasn’t just the magic orb that gathered energy needed for restoration; a mage to execute it was also necessary. A mage who had opened the door of mana. Without the skill to control the evil energy leaking out as the axis collapsed, it would all be in vain.

“We will stop their plan and, at the same time, retrieve those evil items. That’s our primary goal.”

“Does that mean there are other goals?”

Allen smiled meaningfully and struck the sacred kingdom with his baton.

“We will take the retrieved items to the Holy Kingdom. The rest will be mentioned then.”

“Are we moving alone?”

“No, the Holy Knights Order will join us.”

Even though the heretics were mere small fry, it was somewhat burdensome for the Allen-Mercenary Group to handle them all alone. Unlike bandits, who at least feared death, these heretics had no such fear. However, things would become much easier with the addition of the Holy Knights.

“This mission is a secret request from the Holy Kingdom. So, keep your mouths shut.”

“Don’t worry.”

“We leave in two days. It’s a bit sudden, but what can we do? The knights are getting all worked up. We, who take their money, have to do our part, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Make sure to check your equipment in advance. Don’t end up breaking things while smashing monster heads. If you die, it’s your own loss.”

Having said all he needed to, Allen waved his hand.

“Alright, the meeting is over. Dismissed.”

The next morning.

Allen just clocked in at the Guild House office and went straight down to Viola’s office. Even if he was leaving, it was only right to give her a heads-up.

True to her reputation for diligence, she was, as always, tending to her office duties.

“Welcome, Group Leader Allen.”

“How have you been?”

Allen sat in the chair in front of Viola’s desk.

“I’ll be leaving for the East tomorrow.”

“…With the Holy Knights Order?”

Viola, who had recently had a secret meeting with the Holy Knights Order, almost certainly suspected that Allen’s reason for going to the depleted East was because of them.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I see.”

She didn’t pry into the reason for his departure. That was an internal matter.

However, what he had to convey wasn’t just that he was leaving for the East.

“I plan to meet Vice Group Leader Elizabeth there.”

Then, there was a reaction so subtle that it would be missed unless observed very closely. Hadn’t the two women already been engaged in a fierce psychological battle with Group Leader Allen between them?

Although Group Leader Viola had claimed victory, it couldn’t be considered a perfect win. After all, where in human relations does the word ‘perfect’ exist?

“If necessary, you should do so. Did you really think I’d be upset over something like that? Not at all. I’m not such a narrow-minded person, Group Leader Allen. So, don’t worry and go.”

Group Leader Viola spoke these generous words, even showing a faint smile. Of course, she couldn’t completely erase her anxiety, but preventing a meeting for business reasons would make her look quite disgraceful as an elder.

“Then I could write a letter for you…”

“Oh, that would be perfect.”

“Alright. I’ll write it and send it by today.”

Thus, Group Leader Viola racked her brain to write a letter. She crumpled and tossed away over a dozen sheets of paper because she wasn’t satisfied.

After much deliberation, she finally produced a letter. Although it was adorned with flowery language, the core content was as follows:

-Provide only the necessary help to Group Leader Allen.

-Do not express unnecessary personal feelings.

-Do not flirt. Absolutely not!

…In truth, the essence of the letter was in the last line.

The Allen-Mercenary Group and the Holy Knights Order left Vermandois early at dawn, heading East.

The person most excited about this journey was none other than Milk-Jug Mage Elena. Having not been able to visit her hometown for a long time, she couldn’t hide her joy at the Group Leader’s mention of stopping by Mahvana this time.

Despite her modest success, she wanted to show off her newfound confidence to her family… And with her beloved Group Leader too.

Wouldn’t her father be pleasantly surprised?

Originally, her goal was to eventually lead the family’s mercenary group after growing sufficiently, but now she no longer had that desire. She wanted to accompany Group Leader Allen to the end. To challenge the wall of the Top 10! With him, she felt like she could accomplish anything.

“How do you feel?”

Noticing the excitement on Elena’s face, Allen asked about her current mood.

“…I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a while since I’ve gone back home.”

Even though they just passed by, several members who had never truly experienced the taste of the East chatted about the beautiful scenery they had only heard about in rumors.

“Is the East really that scenic?”

“To put it bluntly, the view is killer. It’s just that people are a bit hot-tempered.”

Living in a good place doesn’t necessarily make one kind-hearted, it seems.

In fact, the East was surprisingly indifferent to heresy. They were somewhat distant from faith and didn’t care as long as it didn’t directly harm them. However, the moment the line was crossed, they would lose their cool.

Take the case of the Dagon-Mercenary Group, for instance. Vice Group Leader Elizabeth, who didn’t care whether that guy sold drugs or whatever, turned on him viciously the moment she found out he was selling drugs in her territory. And eventually, it ended in ruin.

“Still, it’s better than women from the North!”

Furball Geese, who had been burned by the rugged women of the North, had significantly lowered his standards. He thought anything was better than muscles.

The lively conversation abruptly stopped there. Allen turned his head outside the carriage to look at the following Holy Knights Order’s carriage.

And soon, dawn broke. In time with the Holy Kingdom’s prayer hour, the Blind Saintess gently clasped her hands.

Everyone in that carriage must be praying with one heart.

Freeing himself from miscellaneous thoughts, Allen recalled his future plans.

First, after recovering the seal axis, let’s temporarily postpone the Holy Kingdom event.

If we seize the heretics’ items from the East this time, the opening of the next Hell Gate will be delayed for a while.

There was an event to root out demon worshippers who had infiltrated the Holy Kingdom, but Allen had no intention of taking on such trivial tasks. Even if he helped clean up the mess, he expected them to handle the rest themselves.

…Of course, if they paid a lot, he might even clean it up for them!