Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
A glistening wide river ran in the middle of the desolate plain and mountains. Glamorous ships that were fully loaded with cargo were sailing towards Calcate City. Whenever they reached the places where the waves were too turbulent for them to sail against the current, many stevedores would gather and pull the rope together, hauling the ships over the obstacles.
Despite the wind that would chill any normal person, those workers were all half naked, with vague steam rising from their skin.
“If I hadn’t left home to be a mercenary, it’s possible that I may have become one of them, a worker on the Niegening River…” Katrina was listening to the familiar work song, when she suddenly heard a coarse male voice.
The river was the ‘main artery’ for the Schachran Empire, which had bred many prosperous cities as their mother river. It originated from the snowy mountains that were controlled by the Vladimir family in the northwest province, flowing past the northern province, and meandering all the way to the southeast, until it entered the Schachran Empire at the border of the Schachran Empire and the northland.
Katrina turned around and looked at the young male next to her with a smile. “Everybody has a chance to change their fate. It depends on themselves whether or not they can seize it. It’s obvious that you are an expert who defeated your weakness. If you hadn’t made up your mind to press forward with waves, Yakov, you would never live beyond 35 like most of the workers.”
Yakov was a mercenary with yellow, short hair. He wasn’t thirty yet, but his beard made him look old. Tall and brawny, he was nicknamed by his fellows as ‘Brown Bear’.
“Was it also your motivation to become a mercenary?” His eyes moving away, Yakov asked back.
Because the Schachran Empire was unpopulated and frequented by magic creatures and bandits, long trips could be dangerous, particularly in the north. Therefore, it was quite eye-catching for a beautiful girl to be on a trip by herself. By the same logic, she would receive a lot of attention if she joined a business team without any partner.
In order not to be suspected by the clerics of the North Church and the nobles, Katrina prudently chose to pretend to be a mercenary. With fake certificates, she joined a team that was to protect some businessmen on their way to Calcate City. Yakov was the leader of the team, a knight who had triggered the blood power of frost giants by himself.
Katrina was about to reply, when a pleasant female voice interjected, “Let me guess. Are you trying to run away from your marriage? A girl as gorgeous as you must be from a noble family. Has a powerful scoundrel got his eyes on you and forced you to marry him, and you had to flee as a mercenary?”
“Anna, you’ve heard too many tales from the bards…” Amused, Katrina looked at the female archer next to her who was wearing leather armor.
Anna was a mercenary no more than twenty. She had blond hair, green eyes and a pretty face. She was as convivial as Heidi, so Katrina made friends with her easily after they met. She was also very curious about Katrina who was tall and elegant. Having grown up in the tales of the bards, she instinctively believed that Katrina must have a complicated past.
Little did she know that it was also the speculation of most mercenaries in the team. Although Katrina was good at swords, and some female mercenaries were as beautiful as her, she was very graceful and emanated the obscure air of knowledge when she considered questions. That was rare for mercenaries.
Yakov had once worked with an official sorcerer best known for his insights, but he did not feel such a vibe from the guy.
Anna chuckled. Looking at Calcate City that was getting close, she asked expectantly, “Sister Katrina, we will settle in this place with Boss Yakov. What about you, are you going to leave?”
Yakov had activated his blood power in an adventure earlier. He had returned to be knighted. After that, he would be given a manor and a fief on the desolate plain. Those in his team who were willing to stay would become his squires or butlers.
For most mercenaries, such an opportunity was not easy to come by. Naturally, they agreed to stay without any hesitation. With the support of a noble, it would be easier for them to activate their blood power.
Yakov and the few mercenaries pricked their ears as they waited for Katrina’s answer.
Katrina smiled and rubbed Anna’s gold hair. “I’ve come to Calcate City for fortune. Maybe, I will get what I want in a few months. After that, I will return to the place I belong to, where my family and my friends live. I will always cherish the memory of my adventure with you.”
Many resources and magic creatures were hidden in the forest and the desert near Calcate City. That’s why so many business teams and mercenaries were active here.
Many adventurers had come in search of gold mines or other undiscovered treasures to be rich overnight. Most of them left in disappointment or lay forever in the depths of the forest, but there were still lucky dogs who returned with trophies. They motivated more and more adventurers to come.
Many local specialties were important for sorcerers’ studies and alchemy. That’s why the official sorcerer came to explore. However, he was involved in a demon worship case and killed in Calcate City. if he hadn’t come with partners, the Congress wouldn’t have known that such a sorcerer went missing at all, much less sending investigators.
“Family… friends…” Anna muttered gloomily, “Sister Katrina, you must come to see me often while you are still in Calcate City.”
Yakov said in a low voice, “Katrina, whenever you need help, don’t hesitate to find me. We’re partners.”
Katrina nodded. Seeing that the atmosphere was turning heavy, she hurried to change the topic by asking Anna about Calcate City. She was only ten when she left this place and only had a vague memory about it.
In the middle of discussion, the business convoy reached the city gate. At this moment, a team of cavalrymen rode out of the city fast and neatly. They had obviously been trained for a long time.
Those cavalrymen were in black, full armor, their faces covered by the masks of their helmets. They looked as cold and cruel as if they were from a bloodstained battlefield.
Their left arm had a blood red emblem, in which a red bear was holding a head with its left paw.
“Count Vladimir’s Blood Bear Legion…” In an extremely low voice, Yakov introduced them to Katrina.
Katrina was actually no stranger to them. Although the Vladimir’s family was based in the northwest province, they had certain influence on the neighboring north province, too. For example, Calcate City was the hereditary dominion of the Vladimir family, whose liege was known as ‘Count Calcate’. The emblem of blood bear that represented strength and honor was their unique sigil.
Anna said enviously, “The Blood Bear Legion? They must be going to welcome Viscount Andree!”
“Viscount Andree?” Katrina did not know what the name represented, although he did sound like the next Count Calcate.
“Yes, Viscount Andree became an official knight at twenty, a grand knight at twenty-five, and a top grand knight two months ago. He was recruited by the legendary knight ‘Nicolle’ as his student! He will certainly become a radiant knight and the strongest Count Calcate!” Anna spoke as if he were the prince charming for her.
Nicolle, the Storm of Death? Katrina was more or less surprised. This level-one legendary knight was the current leader of the Furtado family and the de facto governor of the north province. However, wasn’t the Furtado family in disagreement with the Vladimir family and dissatisfied with them meddling in the affairs of the north province?
If Andree Vladimir did need a legendary knight as his teacher, Vladimir had their own. Thom Vladimir, the Ice Age, was already old, but he was still alive and he was a legendary knight who had the hope to reach level three of legendary!
Are there any secrets? Is the information important for the Congress? Thought Katrina in confusion.
Seeing her apparent shock, Anna appeared even more envious. “It’s very fortuitous to be the student of a legendary knight even for radiant knights, not to mention the grand knights. Viscount Andree must have something special about him!”
“Not just legendary knights, I would be satisfied if a radiant knight agrees to be my teacher, but it will never happen without the grace of the Lord.” Yakov sighed bitterly and hopefully.
The other mercenaries said in self-mockery. “We would like to go to Mountain Paradise in advance if we can be given a grand knight, or an official knight, as our teacher.”
In their conversation, they entered the city with the business convoy and checked in at a hotel.
While Yakov went to register in the city hall, Katrina went to a tavern nearby with Anna.
The moment she stepped in, Katrina was immediately ‘welcomed’ by the mercenaries and adventures with whistles, who made dirty jokes nonstop.
Anna glared at them and drew her dagger. Without being shy, Katrina also raised her longsword and glanced around indifferently.
On such occasions, the weaker they behaved, the more they would be bullied.
As expected, their toughness intimidated the drunkards, and they managed to reach the bar.
“Hi, young Anna, welcome come. Who is this beautiful lady?” The owner of the tavern was a lecherous-looking middle-aged man.
Anna chuckled. “Uncle Gulf, do you plan to enjoy the thugs of brown bears? Right, has anything important happened in the past few months?”
“You certainly know the most important thing. Viscount Andree became the student of His Excellency the Storm of Death. As for the lesser incidents, a demon worship case happened in the district of nobles, and dozens were killed uncannily.” Gulf’s smile was gone.
“A demon worship case?” Asked Anna curiously.
Katrina was more or less relieved. It was indeed easier to investigate with a local mercenary as a partner, and it would not raise any suspicion. Otherwise, somebody would’ve noticed her if she had asked about the case recklessly as a ‘foreigner’.
