Chapter 201

Chapter 201

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 201: Chapter 4 (1)

A war broke out in the North.

Although it was a war between two counts who had been on bad terms for decades, practically half of the entire North was entangled in it.

Not long ago, the Ryga-Mercenary Group of the Top 10, who had rolled through the ancient city in the West with Allen, was indirectly involved in the war. This was because one of the two counts in the territorial battle was a distant relative of Ryga’s.

However, since Ryga was one of the Top 10 representing the North, openly taking sides was a bit tricky. Ignoring a relative’s request for reinforcements wasn’t an option either. Thus, with the condition that Ryga himself would not participate, part of the mercenary group went to provide support. Ryga’s daughter, Armpit Hair Mary, was also included in the reinforcements.

For Allen, who only had a slight connection with the Northern Tiger, Group Leader Inmar, the outcome of the Northern War wasn’t particularly important. It was just unfortunate that the traditional Northern liquor trade faced some disruption.

Allen was planning to assign the Northern liquor transport to the newly established Charlotte-Mercenary Group. If he asked the well-connected Group Leader Ingmar, he would surely connect them well, but a war broke out at the worst time.

Yet, he couldn’t throw the still-growing Charlotte-Mercenary Group into a difficult mission right away, so he decided to divert them to the more straightforward Southern trade. Particularly, if he sent her to the Southern Pushover King, Group Leader Kallihill, he would surely procure grains for her at a low price.

Of course, it might not generate as much profit as the magic lamp business, but it was essential to make them work to gain experience and earn money. Initially, it was crucial to push the mercenary group hard to ensure growth. He had no intention of letting them idle around just because there was no work.

Even so, when he mentioned there would be a trip to the South, Charlotte seemed quite pleased. After all, it was better to go to her hometown than an unfamiliar place.

“Just give me anything to do. I’ll work hard.”

Allen liked the enthusiasm of the Southern Country Girl. Perhaps she also hoped to be worked hard like this.

“If you keep working hard, you’ll eventually see the light.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Then, can you be ready to depart in three days?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Alright, let’s prepare with that in mind.”

Charlotte was surprisingly obedient to Allen, who was once her subordinate.

She changed her belief that people couldn’t change after seeing him.

Some people could change as if they’d become a completely different person.

Charlotte resolved to manage a mercenary group worthy of the Allen-Mercenary Group, which would grow significantly in the future. Even if she couldn’t become one of the Top 10, she could at least avoid hearing that she only got into the alliance through connections.

And exactly three days later, at dawn, the Charlotte-Mercenary Group set off to the Southern metropolis, Kronstold, with Allen seeing them off. In three or four months, she would return as a more formidable group leader.

This week’s escort, Pockmarked Giant Borzo, subtly hinted to Allen about the warm feelings in the gaze of Group Leader Charlotte directed at him. Just as Geese had done before… It must mean it was quite obvious.

“The gaze from Group Leader Charlotte was, honestly, like it could melt the Group Leader.”

“It’s the fate of a handsome man, I guess.”

“I wish I could receive a gaze like that just once. But with this face, oh well…”

Then Allen lightly chuckled and rubbed his fingers together as if counting money.

“Money makes it all happen, buddy.”

“The problem is, I don’t have any.”

“Then there’s nothing you can do.”

“I guess I’ll have to work my ass off.”

“You’re not asking for a raise, are you?”

“Oh dear, was it that obvious?”

“Go on, get out of here.”

“Hey, I’m just joking! Where would I go?”

Pockmarked Giant was determined to stick with the Allen-Mercenary Group until it became one of the Top 10.

Listing his involvement in a Top 10 group on his resume would make a significant difference.

In fact, most of the current members had that same motive. They were lying low, waiting for the right moment, ready to go with the Allen-Mercenary Group no matter what….

Of course, there was no way Allen, who could read people like a book, didn’t know that!

He made sure to balance things out, being neither too stingy nor too generous, as being too frugal could backfire. Despite all the fame and whatnot, for mercenaries, money was the ultimate goal.

In any case, as rumors spread that the Allen-Mercenary Group was nearing the Top 10, many mercenaries were eager to hop on the last train.

If mercenaries were considered goods, it was like an overwhelming influx of all sorts of items, regardless of type or value.

Allen decided to put on hold the recruitment of mercenaries unless they had exceptionally good terms. While it was uncertain when they would reach the Top 10, the influence of having a voice as a Top 10 group was on a whole different level.

Of course, occasionally, promising rookies were recruited at a bargain and placed in the second group. While experienced mercenaries were important, it was also crucial to raise rookies to fit the unique character of the mercenary group. It was never easy to find mercenaries with a lot of experience who matched the group’s identity perfectly. So, he trained them from the start to fit his taste.

And around that time, Old Dog Kalisman, who had left to bring his family, finally returned to Vermandois.

He even had his young son in his arms. Apparently, it was a child born from his previous brief visit to his hometown.

“He looks like a general, just like you.”

The daughter took after her mother, being pretty, while the son inherited his father’s exceptional physique.

In particular, the naive maiden who grew up in the countryside with her mother was instantly smitten upon seeing Allen. After only seeing the dusty young men of the rural areas, she couldn’t help but be captivated by the sophisticated, handsome urban man.

In fact, Kalisman, who became the leader of the second group, earned enough money to support his family alone, but his diligent daughter seemed to need a job because she couldn’t just eat and play. Thus, Allen hired her as a waitress at the high-end inn. Taking after her father, she was adept at work, managing to handle two or three things even when taught just one. Truly a fortunate situation.

Other than Kalisman’s family settling in Vermandois, it was just a series of ordinary days.

Allen periodically spent intimate time with Elena, Natasha, and Viola, keeping his relationships with them close. Of course, since nothing good would come from others finding out, it remained a secret. In fact, it seemed the women themselves didn’t wish for this relationship to be revealed either. After all, they had their own positions to consider.

And newly joining this list was the Blind Saintess, Ordnung, who, quite shockingly, was the most passionate about sex among them. Yet, at the same time, she was the easiest to deal with.

She even developed the trait of [Sex Addiction] in just five days. Considering it would usually take quite a while for traits to be added, Ordnung’s acquisition of this trait was simply inexplicable. This literally meant her lasciviousness was beyond his understanding.

Thanks to this, the Blind Saintess played a role in restoring Allen’s pride, which had been diminished by Group Leader Viola.

A saintess who would climax immediately upon penetration. Wasn’t this the very proof that his masculinity was still fiercely alive?

And time flowed again like the river…

As the weather grew chillier, snow unexpectedly began to fall. The first heavy snow in years… A rare sight in Vermandois.

The whole world was covered in white, and children, fascinated by the snow, made snowmen of all shapes and sizes on every street.

It wasn’t particularly surprising in Vermandois to hear that a drunkard froze to death overnight in the snow. After all, death wasn’t an unusual term in Vermandois.

Rumors stemming from the eyes began to lose attention as those from the North started to take over.

A rumor spread that the short but intense war in the North had ended.

That signified the end of Chapter 3… and simultaneously, the beginning of Chapter 4.

The continent would step closer to war, demons, poverty, and pain.

Soon, a dreadful drought would come.

A great famine would recur every twenty or thirty years.

The wealthy would exploit the poor even more, and the starving would abandon their gods to follow cults.

People should be cautious of those who would give, for they were the most dangerous.

…And with the warm energy, the snow began to melt slowly.

The continent shed its old skin and made a fresh start for a new era.

Allen prepared thoroughly for the coming new era of crisis.

Gathering grain and money, recruiting people, and strengthening ties with numerous mercenary groups.

A crisis for some was an opportunity for others.

Chapter 4 was the best chance for Allen to soar high.

The Top 10.

A position to be engraved as a legend in the mercenary world.

Allen stretched out his body that had been crouching to become part of the Top 10.

Before long, the cold was gone, and a warm spring breeze blew.

Spring had come again.