Chapter 167

Chapter 167

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 167: Trade Secret (3).

A week passed by in the blink of an eye.

Even if treated as a distinguished guest in a duke’s mansion, it was still someone else’s home. Day by day, the bed became increasingly uncomfortable, and meals felt like they were eaten under watchful eyes. No matter how you would look at it, there was no place like home.

As the day of departure approached, Group Leader Kallihill personally came to meet Group Leader Allen, exchanging a warm handshake as they said their farewells.

“If only there were more people like you in the South.”

“With someone like you around, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Allen thought it was his duty to say nice things to the person who had given him a thousand gold coins. Besides, they might become good business partners in the future.

The Southern King of Pushovers even gave him expensive gifts. The water bottle, which looked quite costly, seemed to be worth at least two to three hundred gold coins.

“I have nothing to repay you with, so what should I do?”

“I have already received plenty in return. It is just a shame I cannot give more.”

Of course, the thought that he could give more if he wanted did not leave his lips.

“It’s alright. This is more than enough. What matters is the thought!”

Kallihill smiled even more warmly at Allen’s words… unintentionally becoming a righteous mercenary who valued honor over money. Still, if this was more beneficial, Allen was confident he could act like that as much as needed.

Anyway, the Allen-Mercenary Group finally put a period on their long mission and left the great city of Kronstold early in the morning.

“The Southern maidens are more innocent than I thought.”

Furball Geese muttered to himself as if just passing by, looking at the receding metropolis.

It was true that the Southern temperament wasn’t that harsh and had a certain simplicity. Of course, there were occasionally mutants like the money demon Allen.

Geese’s theory about the innocence of Southern maidens quickly developed into a ranking of women from various regions. Southern maidens proudly claimed the second spot. Naturally, the top spot went to the Western maidens, who were overwhelmingly beautiful and charming, and the last place to the fierce Northern maidens… Honestly, even Allen agreed with the first place, regardless of the other rankings.

“Instead of thinking about such things, focus more on training! Kori, you too, you brat. If you hang out with this guy, you’ll become just like him!”

Itty Titty Natasha seemed slightly irked that Central maidens barely avoided last place, casting a glance up and down at Geese, who had drafted the rankings, and raised her voice. Of course, Furball just laughed coarsely.

“Anyway, these guys only have lewd things in their heads.”

…said Natasha, who secretly tasted Allen’s cock that night, unbeknownst to the other members.

With a playful, sultry smile, she delightedly sucked Allen’s friendship cock, swallowing every drop without leaving a single trace.

…I wonder if raising her this way is right or not…

The Allen-Mercenary Group passed through several cities in the South, slightly bypassed the Eastern edge, and then went through the canyon.

And only after entering the familiar Iron Fortress did they finally feel at ease, realizing they had arrived in the Central region.

Rumors about the Southern demon war had already spread throughout the Iron Fortress, thanks to the traders passing through. Especially the exploits of the Kallihill-Mercenary Group and the Allen-Mercenary Group were constantly being discussed by those who loved to gossip.

With the name of the Allen-Mercenary Group appearing in every major event on the continent, people debated whether the group had now reached the level just beneath the Top 10.

The fact that such debates were occurring was evidence of how much the status of the Allen-Mercenary Group had risen. In truth, the mercenary groups in Vermandois were already unofficially treating the Allen-Mercenary Group as a mid-tier mercenary group. The perspective of a third party who only heard rumors about the Allen-Mercenary Group was certainly different from that of the mercenary groups who directly carried out such missions.

Even if the rumors were exaggerated, the feats achieved by the Allen-Mercenary Group were literally astounding—to the point where one might think they could really reach the Top 10.

And as such rumors spread, the satisfaction of the members towards the Mercenary Group also increased.

Of course, money was money, but the sense of belonging was not something to be ignored. Just looking at the transfer rate of the Top 10, it was clear that if the employment cost exceeded a certain standard, almost no mercenaries wanted to transfer. The weight of the name value held by the Top 10 for mercenaries was that significant.

…In fact, that sense of belonging wasn’t very positive in the early stages when there were many transfer situations, but now the situation for the Allen-Mercenary Group had changed a bit. As it grew larger, there were more temptations targeting outstanding members, and without a sense of belonging, the likelihood of succumbing to those temptations increased accordingly.

In that respect, the increase in satisfaction meant a lower possibility of leaving. In the now larger state of the mercenary group, it was a positive phenomenon.

Anyway, after a brief rest at the Iron Fortress, the Allen-Mercenary Group headed back to Vermandois and finally arrived at their hideout after a fortnight.

“Damn, is there a separate heaven? This is heaven!”

Even the Blind Saintess, who sought the Holy Spirit only when needed, did not deny Geese’s words.

Allen first informed Group Leader Viola of their return, then began settling expenses by paying the members four months’ worth of overdue wages. The cost alone amounted to around thirteen hundred gold coins.

Fortunately, the consistent income over time was not insignificant. More than three hundred gold coins flowed in monthly from just the two inn buildings, and the fee for lending the name to the Viola-Mercenary Group ranged from about four hundred to five hundred gold coins. Adding the regular sponsorship from the Prophetess Aloa of three hundred coins, more than a thousand gold coins were steadily accumulated each month.

Of course, once the operating and employment costs of the Mercenary Group were deducted, half of it was gone, but even so, this much provided some breathing room.

In particular, Allen could clearly feel the qualitative improvement of mercenaries hoping to join the mercenary group.

The main reasons were likely the rise in the mercenary group’s status, the upgrading of the base, increased employment fees, and close relations with the Top 10.

Moreover, applications from rookies poured in. The success of Newbie Kori had a significant impact on this.

From a mere mercenary to the core of the Allen-Mercenary Group in an instant! Of course, calling him the core might be an exaggeration, but it was enough to stir up the newbies.

Thanks to this, Allen let out a joyful scream for the first time in a while. When they lived in the shabby hideout, only worthless folks would come, but who knew things would change just by moving to a new place?

Of course, the Group Leader believed in seeing things with his own eyes, so he negotiated the hiring cost down as much as possible. The contract could be renegotiated and the amount raised once the skills were proven.

Thus, the Allen-Mercenary Group, which hadn’t recruited for a long time, welcomed as many as three new members.

First, from the East, the pockmarked giant, Borzo Kamen.

[Strength: 49] [Agility: 33] [Stamina: 50] [Intelligence: 9] [Magic: 12]

[Talent] [Foolhardiness] [Insight] [Will] [Greed] [Meritocracy] [Hypersensitivity] [Insomnia] [Premature Ejaculation]

Borzo, with a face marked by severe pockmarks, was a man with a rather illustrious career. He candidly admitted that he was an ambitious person aiming for higher positions, which was why he transferred. Allen actually preferred such individuals, so he gladly recruited him. In return, he negotiated the desired amount down by 10 gold coins, agreeing on 40.

Next, the hawk-nosed Misty Winstar from the Central Region.

[Strength: 37] [Agility: 46] [Stamina: 48] [Intelligence: 14] [Magic: 18]

[Talent] [Swiftness] [Narcissism] [Allure] [Sharpshooter] [Curiosity] [Greed] [Sensitive] [Touchy] [Insomnia]

This woman, with her hawk-like agility, was more suited to roles involving nimble movements to disrupt the rear rather than direct confrontation. Thus, she used a gladius-type short sword, which facilitated her swift movements.

Her experience seemed less than the pockmarked giant’s, but for someone in her mid-twenties, it wasn’t bad. In fact, as a mercenary, she was already fully developed.

Her hiring fee was 34 gold coins per month. Of course, with a promising future ahead of her, she seemed to prioritize experience over money, not paying much attention to the amount.

And lastly, from the West, the balding Kancho.

[Strength: 31] [Agility: 27] [Stamina: 44] [Intelligence: 10] [Magic: 9]

[Talent] [Naive] [Will] [Justice] [Curiosity] [Greed] [Passionate] [Miser] [Sensitive] [Hatred] [Insomnia]

Kancho, with a bald spot right in the center of his head, was a rookie just starting to wear the guise of a mercenary. Naturally, like a newbie, he seemed to have jumped into the mercenary world with great ambitions.

Still, considering he was a rookie, his status window was quite decent. If nurtured well, he could fulfill his role on the front lines.

The hiring fee was 8 gold coins, 2 less than Newbie Kori. Of course, the balding man, who never imagined he would join, eagerly signed the contract. Even if it were for free, just gaining experience with the Allen-Mercenary Group would be an enormous asset for the future!

Thus, three new faces joined the Allen-Mercenary Group.

…It seemed it was time to consider expanding the business.