Chapter 72

Chapter 72. Stop the Movement, Are You Cheating? (4)

Ruquer’s small tavern.

Who would have expected that the owner of this tavern would be the ‘Mercenary King’? Even Joyray himself didn’t see it coming.

“What are you talking about? Me, the Mercenary King?”

Joyray, who had even placed his hand on the handle of the kitchen knife, slumped in disbelief, clutching his forehead.

“Well, it’s not entirely unrelated… But calling me ‘Ray’? That’s ridiculous.”

“Guess it’s not true. But you are related to the Mercenary Association, right?”

“Well, yes… But hey, what made you think I was Ray?”

“No particular reason. The only person I know in the mercenary world is the Mercenary King, and he’s been missing. I thought you were training in Ruquer to seek revenge. Roughly that kind of story.”

This is a lie.

Keter had completely figured out Joyray’s identity.

In his past life, Keter had paid 1 million gold to the Mercenary Association for help, and the assistant sent by the association at that time was none other than Joyray.

Joyray was a big shot in the Mercenary Association and someone who knew the secret of leaving Ruquer.

Keter wasn’t asking for Joyray’s help because he lacked confidence in taking over the Mercenary Guild, but because he didn’t want to risk Joyray opposing him becoming the branch leader.

So, he informed him in advance. “I’m taking over the Mercenary Guild. Any objections?”

Keter isn’t above lying. If it’s a perfect lie, he’ll gladly do it. If the other party can never know the truth, then it’s not a lie. It’s the truth.

But Joyray didn’t easily believe Keter and started probing.

“How did you deduce that I’m related to the Mercenary Association? I never gave you any clues.”

“Making something out of nothing is what I, Ruquer’s Solver, do best.”

“…You’re insane. Truly insane. If you go around revealing people’s identities like that, you’ll end up dead at the very least.”

“We’re master and disciple. You wouldn’t do that, right?”

“Stop messing around. You said that because you think you can take me down.”

“Talking like that doesn’t do your reputation any good, Master.”

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, six kitchen knives from Joyray’s waist formed a hexagram behind Keter.

An incredible speed and accuracy.

Joyray didn’t even use his hands.

“Don’t get cocky. You only copied my Aura Blade superficially.”

“Aura Blade. Nice name for a technique.”

“Ugh! You didn’t even blink. Annoying brat.”

As Joyray gestured towards the knives, they returned to his waist on their own.

“You’re not going to kill me, right?”

Keter asked nonchalantly.

Joyray raised his fist, trembling.

“Just let me hit you once. Then I won’t stop you from becoming the branch leader.”

“If you’re going to hit me, give me back the 10,000 gold.”

“Ugh, you stingy brat!”

Joyray suddenly charged and swung his fist.

Despite his supposed leg injury, he moved swiftly, but Keter easily dodged by spinning around.

Keter walked out of the kitchen, saying,

“I trust you, Master.”

“If you’re going to call me Master, learn my Aura Blade properly!”

“I’ll send someone to learn it in my place.”

Keter left without looking back.

Joyray scratched the back of his head.

“That guy just shows up out of nowhere and says he’s going to be the branch leader of the Mercenary Guild? How the hell did he figure it out?”

Even though he had given 10,000 gold, Joyray wasn’t pleased. After all, he had to reveal his existence.

“Suddenly bringing up Ray like that.”

The Mercenary King Ray was a figure from 50 years ago.

It was true that the world never found out when or where he died.

“Did my name give it away?”

Joyray sighed deeply and shouted towards the customers in the dining room.

“We’re closed! Everyone out!”

The customers grumbled but left anyway. There was no point in staying.

Joyray locked the tavern door and entered a secret space connected to the dining room.

“Of all people, it had to be Keter who remembers my father. My fate is truly twisted. Did I grow fond of him? Or does he really seem like my disciple? Ugh.”

Joyray began writing a letter. The recipient was the head of the Mercenary Association.

* * *

Luke didn’t know what Jairo and Keter had discussed because of the mana barrier Keter had set up.

But he wasn’t upset about it. In fact, he was grateful.

Luke had already been exposed to too many things in a short time. His awakened abilities, the secret of his birth, and the stress from the environment of Ruquer.

In this situation, hearing something he couldn’t handle would do him no good.

“I thought it was impossible. But I’ve already collected two, and now only one remains.”

Even though he couldn’t hear the conversation, Luke saw that Keter had received a recommendation letter from Jairo.

Moreover, Keter was now heading to the Mercenary Guild to fulfill the last condition.

‘Knowing Keter’s personality, he wouldn’t walk if it was far. So the Mercenary Guild must be close.’

In that case, there was no need to ask how he got the Diamond Class insignia. Keter shows through actions rather than words.

‘Still, I’m curious. Diamond Class. They say it’s equivalent to a 3-Star Knight.’

In the mercenary industry, the strength of mercenaries is divided into seven levels, likened to minerals.

Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond. Most mercenaries you see generally fall into these five ranks.

Among them, the highest rank is Diamond Class.

It’s not a rank you can achieve just by being strong. Just as knights adhere to chivalry, mercenaries have rules they must follow.

They must perfectly complete their requests, never giving up or betraying midway. Only strong and trustworthy mercenaries can become Diamond Class.

‘Come to think of it, Keter’s job as a Solver is similar to a mercenary. Though the process is quite different.’

Luke’s wandering thoughts didn’t last long. At some point, the atmosphere changed drastically. When he came to his senses and looked around, the scenery itself had changed.

Instead of tightly packed buildings and spiderweb-like alleys, an open square-like area appeared.

In the middle of the square stood a building, surrounded by a long wooden fence.

A large sign hung high, making it clear to anyone what this place was.

-Mercenary Guild, Ruquer Branch

Warriors who lived by the sword and slept under the night sky had firmly established themselves even in the gloomy abyss.

While Mercenary Guilds are everywhere, it’s safe to say that none are as fierce and warlike as the Ruquer branch.

Bang!

Keter kicked open the door of the branch.

Luke wasn’t surprised by “What the hell?!” anymore, but he couldn’t help but feel drained.

‘I never thought he’d just talk normally with the branch leader and get the Diamond Class insignia.’

Inside the guild, there were at least 30 mercenaries.

Mercenaries checking the requests on the bulletin board, mercenaries resting at tables, mercenaries maintaining their weapons by the bonfire. They all turned their heads towards the entrance.

As if by some unspoken agreement, they silently stared at Keter.

Keter walked in, facing their gazes.

‘Sigh…’

Luke wished he could stay far away and just watch.

But he couldn’t. Keter wasn’t just anyone. He was his partner and friend. They had to share both trials and joys.

‘Though it feels like we’re sharing too much.’

There wasn’t a single mediocre mercenary among them. To Luke, they all seemed to be at least Gold rank or higher.

“Who do we have here?”

A man descended from the second floor via the stairs.

He looked distinctly different from the mercenaries on the first floor. Armor that looked light despite being metal. Unusual weapons and tools hung from his body.

They didn’t look cumbersome at all. They weren’t mere decorations but actual weapons and equipment he used.

He was Cork, the branch leader of Ruquer. A Diamond Class mercenary and a man known as the weapon merchant.

He stopped in front of Keter and looked him up and down.

“The fifth madman of Ruquer and the Solver. What brings you to the Mercenary Guild?”

“I came to eat what I saved for later.”

“Have you come to finally end our feud? And what’s with the knight beside you? Did you take a request from the nobility?”

At the word ‘nobility,’ the observing mercenaries sprang to their feet.

While the main income source for mercenaries comes from noble requests, nobles treat mercenaries like dirt.

A relationship of mutual need and hatred. There’s no stranger relationship than that between nobles and mercenaries.

“Wrong guess. I’m here as Keter of Ruquer.”

Keter looked around and nodded.

“Good, it seems everyone who needs to be here is here. Come closer. Don’t say you couldn’t hear from far away. I’m about to announce something important. Hey, wake up the guy sleeping over there!”

Keter even gathered the sleeping mercenaries.

Proving that the influence of the title ‘Solver’ was no less than that of the branch leader, all the mercenaries gathered around Keter.

“Cork. Do you remember what I told you 12 years ago?”

“Hahaha, yeah. I remember.”

“As expected of a man among men, a true mercenary. You admit it so refreshingly. I told you back then. Since you crushed my dream, I’ll crush yours.”

“The knight beside you might misunderstand. I just followed the rules. There’s no precedent for accepting a six-year-old as a mercenary. The minimum age is twelve. In fact, I even approached you when you turned twelve and said, ‘Let’s stop fighting. Now that you’re twelve, I’ll accept you as a mercenary.'”

“I’ve admired mercenaries since I was four. The act of selling myself for freedom while enjoying freedom suited me perfectly. Plus, mercenaries don’t mince words. The branch leader of Ruquer back then told me that if I could prove I could handle one person’s share, anyone could become a mercenary.”

“Hey, that was my predecessor who said that. It has nothing to do with me.”

“How is it unrelated? You’re the one who ousted my predecessor. Actually, even that doesn’t matter. What’s big is that you didn’t acknowledge me after I completed a C-rank request. That was un-mercenary-like. The mercenary I aspired to be wasn’t someone irresponsible and bound by something like you. My dream was shattered because of the pettiness you showed me.”

“Such nonsense. Isn’t that right, Sir Knight?”

Cork turned to Luke and said.

Luke frowned and replied.

“I’m not a judge, so I can’t determine right or wrong.”

“Huh, typical nobility.”

Cork muttered as if for the mercenaries to hear.

Seeing the mercenaries’ hostility directed at Luke, Cork smirked and continued.

“So, in the end, it’s either you or me. One of us has to die, right?”

Cork exaggeratedly shrunk back as if scared.

“Do you think you’ll get such a favorable choice?”

Keter pointed at Cork and shouted.

“Cork. Hand over the branch leader position and get lost. If you hand it over quietly, you might walk out on your own two feet.”

Cork burst into laughter at Keter’s declaration.

“Hahaha! What are you talking about? Hand over the branch leader position? You fool! How little do you think of mercenaries? Do you think the Mercenary Guild and Association are jokes? Do you think the branch leader position can be traded like goods?”

“This is Ruquer. What’s impossible? The Mercenary Association’s influence doesn’t reach here anyway.”

“Fine, give me 1 million gold. Then I’ll hand over the branch leader position.”

“1 million is enough? Got it.”

As Keter reached into his pocket, Cork changed his tune.

“Cut it out. Even if you give me 10 million gold, I won’t hand over the branch leader position.”

“Same as always, never mincing words. Then how about this? Let’s ask the mercenaries here. Who’s more suitable for the branch leader position?”

“You’re completely insane. Why are you wasting my time like this?”

“Scared? Afraid the mercenaries won’t side with you?”

“Shut up! Fine. Everyone, gather around!”

The scattered mercenaries gathered around Cork and Keter.

Luke, watching the mercenaries swarm, whispered to Keter.

“Keter, what are you doing? This wasn’t our goal.”

“This was my goal.”

“Ugh.”

Luke had more to say, but how could he speak up in this situation?

‘Our original goal was the Diamond Class insignia. Why are you suddenly aiming for the branch leader position!’

The mercenaries’ gazes were piercing. It was clear no one would side with Keter.

Luke glanced around, observing the mercenaries’ movements.

‘We’re doomed. Not even ten, let alone a majority, will side with him.’

There were 47 mercenaries surrounding them. At least 24 needed to side with Keter. But no matter how optimistically he looked, none of the mercenaries showed favor towards Keter.

Cork had no reason to delay the vote and incited the mercenaries.

“Let’s start right away. If you oppose Keter becoming the branch leader, stay where you are. If you agree… it’s better if I don’t see you. Hahaha!”

He spoke as if joking, but never said what would happen if they sided with Keter.

The mercenaries didn’t even hesitate, staying in place. Not a single one raised their hand.

Luke tried to remain calm.

‘There must be a twist, right? Keter wouldn’t act without thinking.’

A full minute passed.

Cork smiled victoriously.

“Keter. No need to check. I’ll express it for you. The number of mercenaries supporting you is…”

Whoosh!

Cork’s middle finger shot up.

“Just me. Hahahaha!”

No one raised their hand.

A twist without a twist.

Even Keter couldn’t prepare for every situation. Luke tightened his grip on his bow, fearing Keter might start a fight.

Then.

Swoosh.

Keter slowly raised his hand and clenched his fist. He did nothing else. He didn’t even open his mouth.

But something unexpected happened.

Cork’s eyes widened.

“What the hell are you doing, you brat?”

One of the mercenaries raised his hand.

Cork, with a menacing face, approached the mercenary who raised his hand and grabbed him by the collar.

“Looks like you took some money from Keter. Do you think raising your hand alone will change anything?”

Cork’s fist rose. The veins on his arm showed how angry he was.

“Not alone, Branch Leader.”

Another mercenary raised his hand.

Cork threw a dagger attached to his wrist at the speaking mercenary.

Clang!

The dagger, capable of piercing even steel armor, was blocked.

It wasn’t the mercenary who spoke that blocked it. The mercenaries beside him used their weapons to block it.

Cork’s eyes trembled.

The atmosphere changed. The cold air turned hot. When he came to his senses, the once unified group of mercenaries had split into two factions.