In the Golden Lion's radiance, almost everyone else seemed to pale. It wasn't just his Apollo-like looks, his illustrious lineage, or his formidable power, but also his kingly demeanor, as gentle and persuasive as a spring rain, that won people over effortlessly.
Behind Ophirock, a mass of black flame burned silently. Even the Golden Lion's brilliance could not obscure it. The face within the flames was exquisitely beautiful yet cold and aloof, making one afraid to look directly, yet it was seared into the mind nonetheless. The noble scoundrels couldn't help stealing glances, only to hastily look away moments later, as if their eyes were scorched by the black fire. The black mage's robe could not conceal her peerless, alluring figure. Those straight legs, that willow-slender waist—every part of her threatened to turn a man into a beast at any moment.
Rogue, Lance, Franco, and Ete sat somewhat awkwardly. The Golden Lion's sudden visit was utterly unexpected. They flustered about, offering Ophirock a seat and calling for the finest tea and pastries.
The Golden Lion took a sip of tea, his movements flawlessly graceful. His guard, Richard, opened a small pouch and poured several dozen small, multi-colored gems onto the table before them.
Ophirock said with a smile, "My visit is to discuss the possibility of a partnership." The room practically gasped. "These gems are worth roughly fifty thousand gold coins. Consider them my deposit."
Rogue finally managed to tear his eyes away from the gems and, steadying himself, said, "If it's something you cannot accomplish, it seems unlikely we would have the capability." No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lance pounced to cover it. "Ignore him! Whatever you need, just give the order! I, Lance, would go through fire and water without hesitation!" His words were fervent, but his eyes were fixed on Elexis.
Ophirock watched the noble scoundrels with great interest; he had rarely seen anyone dare to stare at Elexis like that. Truly, fools rush in. Lustful gleams began to appear in the eyes of Lance and the others. Ophirock clearly felt the killing intent spreading behind him.
"Of course, my cooperation comes with conditions." Ophirock made a gesture, and one of his men spread a large parchment map on the table. He pointed to a castle symbol in the center. "This is a deserted small castle, a territory of my Duchy of Bavaria. Recently, it was occupied by a band of thieves. The castle lies southwest of Faerburg, about 415 miles away. It's less than ten miles from the Demon Domain Forest. While its location isn't strategically vital, there are two small towns and several dozen villages nearby. I don't wish to abandon my several thousand subjects, so I need you to retake this castle. Those fifty thousand gold coins in jewels will be your initial funds. Whether you go yourselves or raise a full heavy knight company to go, I leave to you. The time limit for this commission is six months."
Ophirock continued, "Once you capture the castle, I will have my father grant you that land. Then you will be nobles with a fiefdom. Furthermore, I will invest one hundred thousand gold coins in the Hammer of the War God as my capital contribution. I'll expect half the profit rights, of course." He chuckled.
Their faces lit up with excitement, and they immediately huddled around to study the map, though naturally, they couldn't make head nor tail of it after a long while. Ophirok watched with a constant smile, while one of his guards behind him faintly revealed a look of disdain.
Ete suddenly looked up and asked, "We don't have a single soldier. How are we supposed to defeat a bandit group? Ah, right, how many of these bandits are there? Do you have any relevant intelligence?"
Elexis said coldly, "Only now do you think to ask for intelligence?" Ete's face instantly turned crimson. Ophirock replied, still unhurried, "That bandit group is actually a battalion of the Ronen Duchy's Ice Silver Fox Mercenary Group, around five hundred strong, with decent combat prowess. Of course, in these six months, they might have received reinforcements."
Rogue pondered for a moment, then asked, "These bandits, or mercenaries, shouldn't be a concern in the Golden Lion's eyes, right? If you went personally, even alone, you could probably scare them off just by your presence."
The Golden Lion smiled faintly. "This is merely a small test. If you succeed, I hope the Duchy of Bavaria can gain a few more loyal vassals and capable officers."
Franco's pupils constricted instantly. "The Duchy of Bavaria?"
"Yes, the Duchy of Bavaria."
The temperature in the air plummeted dramatically. A silent undercurrent surged tumultuously.
Lance, uncharacteristically serious, said, "The Duchy of Bavaria has elite troops and strong generals, with powerful individuals as numerous as clouds. Even just these few subordinates of yours, Lord Ophirock, could deal with us easily. Although we are quite useless, we still have that much self-awareness. Besides, we brothers don't have any grand ambitions. Drinking daily, playing with women, living a comfortable life is enough. You can't possibly be short of a few hands like us, could you?"
Ophirock scanned the noble scoundrels and said, "I greatly admired the fight you picked at the 'The Old Oak' tavern. I believe you gentlemen have potential. Moreover, the Hammer of the War God's rapid success in such a short time couldn't have come from nothing. Governing a great state is like cooking a small fish. Whether it's ruling the world or running a Weapon Shop, it ultimately comes down to understanding human nature."
He paused, then continued, "Consider this: life is but a few short decades. If you drink, let it be the finest wine; if you wield a sword, let it be a famous blade; even when fighting for a lover's favor, contend for a beauty renowned throughout the land. What are thousands of ordinary women compared to the smile that topples cities? Now, with just a small test, the opportunity lies before you. What do you say?"
In that instant, their blood boiled with passion!
Rogue abruptly raised his head, meeting the Golden Lion's gaze. Even though the light stung his eyes, he did not flinch. "I'm in," Rogue said, word by word.
Franco sighed. "Ah, how can I let you go to your death alone? If you die, I'll have to pick up your money anyway."
"Meeting all the famous beauties under heaven is also a joy!" Lance declared with soaring spirit. The room immediately filled with an acidic air.
Ete sat down heavily on his chair, striking a pose. Before he could even voice his agreement, the chair gave way first, shattering into pieces. Ete grinned foolishly, too embarrassed to say anything more.
"In that case, I await your good news." Ophirock waved a hand and turned to leave.
Elexis suddenly stopped and stared coldly at the noble scoundrels. They immediately felt a chill run through their bodies, soon shivering uncontrollably, finding themselves unable to move. Elexis sneered. A flash of black fire, and the noble scoundrels slowly rose into the air. A cold voice sounded in their ears: "I don't know why Ophirock values you so much. At your current strength, you're little better than insects. Even in a few years, how much stronger could you become? And how dare you little clowns look at me with such eyes!!" Without any audible chant, a giant hand materialized above each of the four and slammed them heavily to the ground.
Elexis turned and left, the black flames dancing as if still mocking the men struggling to get up from the floor.
Their hearts gradually calmed. They looked at each other. Ete asked, "Rogue, why did you agree so quickly back then?" Rogue's face reddened. "Ophirock is a figure with real power, one of the top nobles in the Alliance, holding his own territory. It's rare for someone like him to think so highly of us. When would we usually get such a chance to curry favor?" The others deeply agreed. As for Ophirock's possible treasonous intentions, Rogue and the others didn't particularly mind. Even if he did rebel, the Duchy of Bavaria had a relatively high chance of success. After all, Ophirock's mother was the sister of the Emperor of the O-Hung Empire, one of the three great powers.
"Maybe we could even become founding ministers or something," Lance, daydreaming, suddenly said. Everyone again found this profoundly reasonable. As for Lance, "We share blessings; we can't let that guy escape," Ete said sinisterly.
"This time, the more people we take, the better. I think we should form our own mercenary group. It would be easier to explain officially," Franco suggested. After further discussion, they began to act separately.
The days passed. Rogue and the others recruited soldiers and bought horses, thoroughly enjoying themselves. The Hammer of the War God had earned over twenty thousand gold coins in the past few months. Combined with Ophirock's fifty thousand, they could equip a hundred-man cavalry troop. Through open recruitment and covert poaching, Rogue gathered thirty fairly skilled mercenaries within a month, forming the initial core of their mercenary group. As for the group's name, they quarreled intensely for a while, finally settling on "Dragon and Beauty" with a 4:1 vote. The sole dissenting vote was Franco, the only one among them with genuine artistic taste, but he was outnumbered.
What stumped Rogue, however, was intelligence. So far, they knew little about the specific numbers, leaders, abilities, or equipment of the bandits occupying the small castle. Even the nearby terrain wasn't very clear. This wasn't entirely their fault; these guys were just starting out and had no idea how to gather intelligence. After the two scouts they sent successively disappeared without a trace, they began to grow restless. After several discussions, they finally decided to take all their men and go scout the place themselves.