Chapter 179

Chapter 179

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 179: Big Sis (3)

A rare guest visited Grenzo, who had some leisure time. It was the elegant mage from the East, Lady Elizabeth Belver….

Sitting across from Grenzo with a wide-brimmed hat, she elegantly grasped the teacup offered to her and sipped the tea with grace.

“What brings the Vice Group Leader all the way to the capital?”

“For this and that.”

“This and that?”

Her hand waved through the air as if telling him not to play dumb.

“You know the North isn’t looking good right now, Group Leader Grenzo. Why act so rustic?”

As Vice Group Leader Elizabeth said, the movements in the North were indeed unusual.

Considering the already scarce finances were being scraped together to buy up grains and ingots, it seemed a war was about to break out. The East had already experienced something similar once before.

“Just because the amount is more than usual, isn’t the evidence a bit lacking to conclude it’s a war?”

Of course, what Ghost Flame Grenzo said wasn’t wrong. However, she had even more compelling evidence.

“They even borrowed from us. That prideful North… Could there be more definitive evidence?”

That was news to Grenzo as well. It seemed the matter had been handled quite secretly.

With that, the ‘perhaps’ turned into a ‘definitely.’ Signs had been appearing for years, and finally, conflict seemed to have erupted.

“So, did you come because of the war?”

“It’s not the direct reason. When war breaks out, there will be a severe shortage of talent again, so I’m trying to fill up the numbers in advance.”

At that moment, Ghost Flame Grenzo lightly clenched his fist, tapped it on the table, and warned with a slightly chilling expression.

“I’m just saying, but… let the Northern matters be handled by the North. If you get involved again, things will get too big.”

“No way… But isn’t this meddling a bit too much? Whatever choice we make, that’s for the East to handle.”

As Elizabeth’s expression became somewhat sulky, Grenzo’s voice softened.

“That’s why I said. I’m just saying it just in case… I care about you. I don’t want your time to be wasted on such trivial human squabbles. You have the potential to reach greater heights. I’ve repeatedly told you before. Open the Mana Gate. Escape reality and see another world.”

“How is that an easy thing to do? I still don’t have a clue. I need to know something to open it or not, but if you just tell me to open the Mana Gate without explaining anything, what am I supposed to do?”

“That’s because you’re not thinking about it seriously.”

Elizabeth felt Grenzo’s sincere care for her. That was why he was the only person on the continent she could confide in… Her father, the Duke, only saw her as a useful tool.

Of course, the Lady didn’t particularly have any complaints about that. As the daughter of a cold-hearted Duke, she was freely using the Duke’s name at her will.

Still, having someone like Grenzo around wasn’t bad.

“Strive and improve. Don’t waste that precious talent.”

Ghost Flame Grenzo brought up a topic he had been holding back to make Elizabeth, whose spirit of challenge had waned, strive once more.

“The fourth Gate Opener has appeared.”

The expression of Lady Belver, who had been leisurely sipping tea without paying close attention to whatever the Ghost Flame was saying, noticeably stiffened.

“What did you just say?”

“The Fourth Gate Opener.”

Suddenly, a fourth out of nowhere? Weren’t there only three the past twenty years?

“No, a fourth all of a sudden? Weren’t you saying I would be the fourth?”

“I thought so too, and I realized that the world is much bigger than I imagined.”

Then Grenzo smiled slyly.

“If you keep dawdling like that, you’ll miss the fifth, or even the sixth?”

“Isn’t that complete nonsense?! You said not just anyone could open it! You said only a genius like me on the continent could open it!”

“Simply being a genius isn’t enough. You need desperation and effort, and you’re lacking that.”

Vice Group Leader Elizabeth was filled with even more dissatisfaction. But she couldn’t bring herself to say what was on her mind and abruptly stood up.

“I’m leaving.”

“I won’t see you off.”

“I didn’t expect you to.”

She snorted in disdain and stormed out of the drawing room.

“That pride of hers… Tsk.”

Still, she was certainly provoked, so she’d probably improve a lot compared to before.

It was time to inject new blood into the Gathering of the Gate Openers. With Elizabeth joining, there should be no worries for a while.

The two would become good friends.

The diligent and hardworking Elena.

The solitary genius Elizabeth.

He smiled warmly, imagining the two comrades getting along well.

With the retirement of three or four members simultaneously from one of the two pillars of Vermandois, the Top 10 Gione-Mercenary Group, a significant vacancy had arisen.

It was a perfect opportunity not only for the mercenaries but also for Training Junkie Victor, who was eager to move up to higher ranks. Just like Victor, the Northern Musclehead Pergamond was ambitious, but he seemed disinclined towards Gione-Mercenary Group’s main businesses of prostitution and gambling.

Of course, in the life of a mercenary, prostitution and gambling were unavoidable, but having them as one’s business was another matter.

Anyway, since Victor had so eagerly requested, Group Leader Allen also submitted a transfer request to the Gione-Mercenary Group. Fortunately, the request passed the first round. Perhaps this was evidence that the status of the Allen-Mercenary Group had risen that much.

Thus, Victor went to the Gione-Mercenary Group’s hideout on the promised day and had a brief interview with the person in charge. Given his flamboyant past achievements, it seemed they approved of his recruitment as well.

So Allen headed to the hideout for the transfer fee negotiations.

The person in charge was the Vice Group Leader of the Gione-Mercenary Group.

A middle-aged man with a shaved head and bronze skin greeted Group Leader Allen warmly with a smile. Of course, who knew what kind of slyness might be lurking behind that hearty smile?

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“It’s a big money-making venture, so this much effort is necessary.”

Allen kept the pleasantries to just that. After all, what was the point in dragging things out among professionals?

“How much are you thinking?”

He got straight to the point, but as expected, the Vice Group Leader wasn’t fazed at all.

“How about four hundred gold coins?”

It was within the expected range, but Allen obviously didn’t want to settle for just that. A few hundred gold coins was mere pocket change for the Geone-Mercenary Group anyway.

“Five hundred, let’s settle on that. You already know, Vice Group Leader, that Victor has seen and experienced a lot. This means he’ll have no issues jumping straight into the front lines of a mission right now. How can the transfer fee for such a talent be only four hundred gold coins? It’s an insult to both parties. The Gione-Mercenary Group surely cares about its reputation, so what good would it do if word got out that he was lowballed?”

A slow, deep smile gradually spread across the Vice Group Leader’s lips as he silently listened to Group Leader Allen’s words. He expected a back-and-forth negotiation, but surprisingly, the Vice Group Leader agreed readily.

“Alright. If that’s what you think, Group Leader, let’s make it five hundred gold coins.”

Such an anticlimactic response. Of course, it couldn’t be better for Allen, but it was almost too good, making him feel a bit uneasy.

Even so, since he was willing to hand over five hundred without a fuss, there was no need to openly talk about bad luck.

“It’s a relief that you agreed so quickly. As expected, not just anyone can be the Vice Group Leader of one of the Top 10.”

“There’s no major disagreement, so is there really a need to haggle with you over a hundred gold coins, Group Leader?”

There, Allen could clearly feel how much his mercenary group had grown. They had risen in stature enough for the Top 10 to care about their relationship. Ironically, the Group Leader himself hadn’t realized it.

“Then I’ll take it that it’s settled. Today’s meeting was truly beneficial.”

“Likewise, Group Leader.”

The two men stood from their chairs and shook hands. That concluded the negotiation.

Thus, Training Junkie Victor ended his years as a member of the Allen-Mercenary Group and transferred to the Gione-Mercenary Group.

It was a transfer worthy of celebration by all. Allen sent Victor off with a joyful heart.

“Thank you for everything.”

“I’m grateful too. May fortune always be with you.”

Training Junkie Victor exchanged a firm handshake with Group Leader Allen.

The members who had been with him for a long time also wished him luck and bid him farewell.

And so, he left the hideout for a new beginning.

Just as there were those who would come, there were those who would leave.

That was the way of the world.