Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
A pretty yet delicate-looking girl walked into Han Jin’s room with a tub of hot water. She struggled as she tried to place the tub on the floor before quietly standing next to it.
“Just leave it there.” Han Jin looked at the girl.
The girl slightly bowed, but instead of leaving the room, she acted as if she did not understand what Han Jin had said. She bent down and hesitated for a while before reaching forward to hold Han Jin’s foot.
Han Jin was thinking about something important, but his chain of thought was abruptly interrupted when the girl suddenly grabbed his foot. Han Jin couldn’t help but frown. “I can do it myself. Get out!”
Sunier, who was placing the vase, walked over to them. She nudged Han Jin and softly said, “Miriam, it’s okay. It’s already late, you should go back and rest.”
The girl stood up and looked at Sunier before taking a deep bow and walking out of the room.
Miriam was the little girl who had been selling flowers. After recovering from her injuries, she had stayed at the station instead of returning home, but no one knew why. Although the station was a very masculine place with lots of men like Han Jin, Cessacioun, Moxinke, Winston, and the rest of the troops, no one troubled or bullied her. The unease that she had initially felt was all gone now. However, Miriam was a realistic girl. She did not want to be an ungrateful person, as others may despise her for it, and so she kept going around looking for things to do. Unfortunately, the orphans that Winston had adopted also had the same thoughts as her, which resulted in her turning her attention to serving Han Jin.
In fact, Miriam also had another intention of her own. She didn’t dare to approach anyone else because she was worried that they may take advantage of her. Since Han Jin and Sunier’s relationship was already publicly known and she was just a peasant in comparison to Sunier’s beauty, there was nothing much to worry about.
Sunnier looked like Miriam’s retreating figure and slightly shook her head. “Poor girl, her name is just like a curse…”
“Name?”
“In the Elven language, Miriam means ‘ocean of suffering.’” Sunier sighed.
“Then… in the Elven language, what does your name mean?”
“I’m not gonna tell you!” Sunier laughed before slowly noticing the tub on the floor. “Young Master, you’re not going to ask me to serve you, right?”
“I don’t have the guts.” Han Jin laughed as well. “All the elves would come after my head if I did.”
At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and Sunier raised her head while saying, “Come in.”
Chipango and Hallister walked in one after another. “Sir…”
Sunier noticed that Chipango immediately became quiet upon noticing her in the room. She obviously understood what Chipango meant, so she smiled. “You guys go ahead, I’m going for a walk.”
Upon seeing Sunier’s figure disappear from his sight, Han Jin softly said, “Do not play these kinds of petty tricks in front of Sunier in the future, do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir,” Chipango replied and lowered his head out of fear.
“Sir, I think Chipango was right. There are a lot of things that we can only report to you,” Hallister replied while smiling.
Han Jin looked at Hallister, and Hallister maintained a smile that was neither humble nor pert.
“Sir,” Chipango hurriedly continued. “For the past few days, there have been weird rumors of you among the mercenaries. I think… they are trying to plot something!”
“Oh? What were they saying?”
“It isn’t appealing to hear…” Chipango said in a low voice.
“Go on.”
“They said that, for a superior like a dragon slayer, it is impossible for you to have been heavily injured by two vampires and not be able to protect your own companion. They said that you either are a liar or deliberately wanted to harm your companion.”
Han Jin kept quiet, but his eyes were twinkling with thoughts. After a while, he continued, “Who is it?”
“The Twilight Mercenary Corps.”
“Twilight Mercenary Corps?” It was a familiar name to Han Jin.
“Sir, have you forgotten? When we first came back to Isolated Cliff City, we saw the conflict between them and Winston. We even helped Winston get rid of the Twilight Mercenary Corps.”
“Oh… them…” Han Jin mumbled.
“But, most of the mercenaries still believe in you, Sir,” Hallister interrupted. “Every time the Twilight Mercenary Corps made an appearance in public, they would always find ways to insult you, but they could never manage to get anyone to support them. Hehe… there was also once when they almost got into a fight with the Dragon Singer Mercenary Corps.”
“You are saying that… the Twilight Mercenary Corps is being very hostile to me?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Do you know why?”
“No we don’t.” Hallister shook his head. “Most of the mercenaries know that both Chipango and I are your men, so we were unable to get in contact with the Twilight Mercenary Corps. Right now, we only have about a dozen mercenaries, and most of them are still pretty useless. It would be too… difficult for them to inquire any information with their current ability.”
Han Jin sighed. “Everything is difficult in the beginning; it will slowly get better in the future.”
“Sir, I understand.” Hallister smiled. “But I discovered a very interesting thing. Their attitude towards us was still considered friendly before this. When Sir defeated the magus from Cold Shadow City, they even tried to contact Cessacioun and Moxinke. However, about seven to eight days before this, their attitudes suddenly changed. The news that you had been attacked gave them a chance to insult you, Sir.”
“Seven or eight days ago?”
“Yes Sir.” Hallister paused for a while. “There must be a reason behind this. I am trying my best to find out who has approached the Twilight Mercenary Corps these few days. I believe that it won’t be long before we find out what they are plotting.”
Han Jin was stunned. With Chipango and Hallister’s ability, it was impossible to investigate something like this; his words sounded a little arrogant at this point.
Chipango noticed Han Jin’s suspicion and laughed. “Sir, the Vice President of the Association of Mercenaries, Gustav, and his wife are not on good terms; he would also work at his mistress’s place. Hallister managed to seduce Gustav’s mistress, and is able to get his hands on a lot of important information.”
“Seduce… this is such a horrible word.” Hallister bitterly smiled. “Can’t you use something that sounds nicer?”
“Gustav’s mistress?” Han Jin raised his eyebrow. “You better not stir up any trouble!”
“Sir, I know what to do.” Hallister immediately showed a solemn expression. “Among all the Vice Presidents, we’re closest with Sir Juventus and most hostile with Sir Gustav. Whether or not you choose to stay in Isolated Cliff City in the future, you need to be aware of this man.”
“Still, getting involved with Gustav’s mistress isn’t a good idea. Have you ever thought of what the Association of Mercenaries will think of you if news gets out?”
“I don’t care about what others think, but one thing’s for sure: Sir Juventus will be very happy about this. ”
“There’s a feud… between them?” Han Jin asked in shock.
“Of course, they even tried to embarrass each other before this. Only, Juventus always got the lower hand. Since Sir Juventus is in charge of maintaining public safety while Sir Gustav is in the intelligence agency, Sir Gustav has always overpowered Sir Juventus.” Hallister laughed. “Also Sir… do you remember the black mission before this?”
“Of course.”
“Madame Yalina’s identity was already publicly announced by Winston to the Mercenaries Congress. It was logical for Dwightsteel and his troops to not know about her identity, but would it be possible that even Gustav knew nothing about it? Lord Fossa from Fatto City used up to three dragon crystals in exchange for the life of a young woman; wouldn’t he have wondered why?” Hallister continued, “Sir, everyone in Isolated Cliff City has been deceived, and I… have a peculiar feeling about this!”
Han Jin remained quiet for a moment. “Go on.”
“Sir, at this point it may look like Gustav does not have any reason to betray the Association of Mercenaries, but Lord Fossa is a powerful man. He would be able to offer and promise a lot of benefits and could even allow Gustav to reap its bets. It is seemingly better to be the city lord of Fatto City than a Vice President here right?” Hallister continued, “Along with that, Sir, you are the fresh face of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Mercenaries. Now that there are people out there trying to defame you, shouldn’t they do something about it? When I was discussing it with Sir Juventus, he was extremely frustrated, but Sir Gustav on the other hand was ignorant about it. All this is enough to prove that there is something brewing in the dark.”
Han Jin kept quiet as he started to digest what he had heard. After a while, he said, “Anything else?”
Upon seeing Han Jin changing the topic, Hallister knew that Han Jin was in acquiescence to his strategy. He paused for a moment and smiled before continuing, “Sir, I have met the troops that rushed here from Black Raven City. Although you were the one who got the magic cannons for them, you aren’t as influential as Reg in the army; at least, up till now, they have paid a visit to Reg but not…”
“This is none of your business,” Han Jin interrupted him.
“Yes, Sir.” Hallister paused for a moment. “But, Sir, I’m not done. I went to Reg after that to discuss this matter with him and realised that he seemed to be very indifferent towards power. If…”
Han Jin smacked the table hard and said in an intimidating voice, ” Who allowed you to do that?! You think that you’re the only one with brains and everyone else is simply fools? You really don’t think that Reg has already figured out your intentions?! And how sure can you be that he didn’t deliberately tell you those words?!”
Hallister was stunned, as he had never seen Han Jin furious, and couldn’t help but lower his head, keeping his mouth shut.
“Do not poke your nose into things that are none of your business!” Han Jin’s gloomy face frightened them to the bones. “Reg is my friend, and I want it to remain this way. Do not make any other presumptuous decisions on your own ever again!”
“I understand, Sir.”
“Anything else?”
“Uh… Sir, your slave… should be disciplined.”
“Hogan? What’s wrong with him? ”
“He has a lot of bad habits.” Hallister continued, “Last evening, he almost got into a fight with Alexandre.”
“Reason?”
“Hogan was looking for two lady servants to serve him but Alexandre refused, so… they got into an argument.”
“That’s all.” Han Jin waved his hand, signaling for them to leave. Towards him, Hogan was his slave, but in front of everyone else, he still maintained the attitude of a superior magus. In Han Jin’s language, the name ‘Hogan’ had a similar pronunciation to the word ‘trouble’. To be honest, Hogan was indeed a very annoying person. However, Han Jin had no other choice, as he needed to make use of Hogan, but Hallister was right: Hogan needed to be disciplined.
