C19 The First Mission

At nightfall, everyone at Liu Manor gathered together. Yan Yongchun led ten people to forge weapons, yet only five were completed: Han Xin's sword, Shan Xiongxin's spear, Liang Shitai's double hammers, and the twin swords for the Knights of the Round Table. The others, who earned their keep with their bare hands, had no use for such weapons.

Han Xin and the others, unfamiliar with the customs of Liu Manor, began to treat Zhao Rong and her son as if they were servants upon their arrival. This was particularly true for Han Xin and Dong Haichuan, who were accustomed to a life of authority and were adept at giving orders.

Liu Xiaobao found himself needing to set these men straight. With the increase in people came an increase in chopsticks at the table. Under Liu Xiaobao's direction, everyone who could help was expected to assist with cooking. It would be unreasonable to expect Zhao Rong and her son to prepare meals for so many on their own.

The following day, the capital was abuzz with news that the wasteful young master, Liu Xiaobao, had formed a mercenary group to challenge a Level 2 mercenary group. Mercenary groups were categorized by levels: Hearthfire, Liu Xiaobao's group, was a Level 1 mercenary group, while the Vipers were Level 2. Above them were Level 3, Level 4, Epic, and legendary mercenary groups.

Currently, the most formidable on the Continent of Divine Might were the four epic mercenary groups: the Sacred Dragons from Aeseaba, the Holy Light Mercenaries from the Yalas Empire, the Greenshadow Mercenaries from the Elf Realm, and a diverse group comprising dwarves, Berserkers, and others known as the Barbarian Mercenaries.

Despite his recklessness, Liu Xiaobao's challenge to the Level 2 mercenaries propelled him to the top of the capital's news once again. Unfazed, Liu Xiaobao instructed Han Xin's Master Squad to avoid unnecessary conflicts over this trivial issue. He asked Yan Yongchun to stay behind and guard the home while he and the Master Squad headed to the Mercenary Alliance.

Liu Xiaobao had intended to ascend to the second floor, but the Mercenary Alliance staff barred his way. As a Level 1 mercenary group, they were not permitted to take on Level 2 missions and were restricted to accepting Level 1 missions on the ground floor.

To access the second floor, one must accumulate 100 mercenary points and reach Level 2 status among the mercenary groups. Advancing to the third floor requires amassing 1000 mercenary points and achieving Level 3 status. To ascend to the fourth floor, one must gather 5000 mercenary points to become a Level 4 mercenary group. The fifth floor is the dwelling of the head of the mercenary branch, and only distinguished individuals can secure an invitation to this exclusive level.

There are only four epic mercenary groups in the world, each possessing formidable strength and a vast team. They have all made significant contributions to the Continent of Divine Might. These groups are ancient, with a legacy stretching back a millennium. Legend has it that at the inception of the Mercenary Alliance, to spur its growth, the leader of the Knight Alliance, Warrior Otto, called upon the world's bravest to form mercenary groups, and the four epic groups were born from this initiative.

The Hearthfire Mercenary Group is currently only Level 1, which suggests that their ambitious plan to rescue the southern populace has been thwarted before it could even commence.

Today, the members of the Master Squad arrived armed to the teeth. Indeed, Han Xin's additional sword lent him the air of a hermit master to those aware of his sly nature. Shan Xiongxin and Liang Shitai exuded an added air of authority, while the Knights of the Round Table exuded an extra touch of nobility.

Having arrived at the Mercenary Alliance, it was time to check out the available Level 1 missions. Liu Xiaobao and his companions scoured the ten-meter-long notice board for suitable tasks. This fearless bunch, save for the cautious and apprehensive Liu Xiaobao, were not to be trifled with, and no one on the first floor dared to cross these wildcards. This allowed Liu Xiaobao and his group to navigate the crowd and meticulously search for missions.

The missions on offer were perplexing. What was the mission owner thinking? 'Find the lost cat' offered a reward of 1 gold coin and 2 mercenary points. 'Dig a well' promised 1 gold coin and 2 mercenary points. 'Find the Azure-eyed Bluewave Fish' was worth 5 gold coins and 10 mercenary points.

Liu Xiaobao voiced his frustration, "Why do I get the feeling that these tasks won't help me rack up any karma points?"

Han Xin presented a mission brief to the Young Master, "How about this one? 'Escort the Caravan' offers a reward of 5 gold coins and 10 mercenary points. According to the brief, the journey from the capital to Hesneas requires passage through Mount Dawnfire, which is rife with bandits. The caravan requires a mercenary escort."

Liu Xiaobao reviewed the brief and nodded in approval. "This looks good. Let's take it."

Shortly thereafter, Yang Luchan approached with another mission brief. "Young Master, take a look at this one. 'Blood Ring Venomous Snake'—the reward is 5 gold coins and 5 mercenary points. The task involves refining medicine from the Blood Ring Venomous Snake to treat an illness. It requires venturing to Plum Rain Mountain to capture a level 1 demonic beast, the Blood Ring Venomous Snake."

Liu Xiaobao considered it and responded, "This one's good too. Are there any more? If not, we'll go with these two."

Armed with the two mission briefs, Liu Xiaobao headed to the mission desk, the designated spot for mission transactions. Under the manager's guidance, he presented his mercenary badge and signed the briefs. With the manager recording the tasks, the missions were officially accepted.

Now committed to two missions, one to Plum Rain Mountain and the other to Hesneas City, Liu Xiaobao pondered the logistics. Traveling to Hesneas City seemed straightforward since it was an escort mission; he could simply accompany the caravan. But where exactly was Plum Rain Mountain?

Yang Luchan stepped forward, eager to take on the challenge. "Young Master, leave that mission to me. If a grown man can't even find his way, he might as well not be alive. I'm confident I can complete this task in five days."

"That won't do. I wouldn't be at ease if you went alone. Here's fifty taels of silver for you to take Dong Haichuan with you. The two of you are close friends, and I'll rest easier knowing you're together," Liu Xiaobao insisted, not wanting to risk their safety.

Before they departed, Liu Xiaobao offered a final word of caution, "Remember, the world is far more perilous than we imagine. Don't overestimate your abilities, and don't try to stand out as the lone hero. Understood?"

The two men nodded in agreement. Despite their frustration with Liu Xiaobao's timidity, they had to admit the young master's logic was sound.

Yang Luchan and Dong Haichuan, both rather impatient, grabbed the mission list and the fifty silvers Liu Xiaobao had given them and took off. Meanwhile, Liu Xiaobao and the rest still had to head to the tailor shop in South City to locate the person they were to escort.

With Liu Xiaobao included, the group now numbered nine. Upon reaching the tailor shop, Liu Xiaobao presented the mission list, and a shiny, plump man approached them eagerly. "You've finally arrived! I've been waiting here for two days. Is escorting me to Hesneas really such a challenge?"

"Are you the client? I'm Liu Xiaobao, the leader of the Hearthfire Mercenaries," Liu Xiaobao inquired.

"That's me. I'm Wang Cai, a cloth merchant," Wang Cai replied, clearly agitated. "Now that you're here, we should set out immediately. Time waits for no one, and we've already lost two days. I bet the boss in Hesneas is getting anxious."

"Wang Cai, Wang Cai?" Liu Xiaobao nearly burst into laughter. "Are we leaving right this moment? Isn't that a bit hasty?"

"As merchants, time is indeed money, my friend," Wang Cai insisted.

Wang Cai led Liu Xiaobao and the others to the tailor shop's backyard, where two carriages were ready to depart. The carriages weren't meant for Liu Xiaobao's group; one was loaded with cloth, and the other was designated for Wang Cai's personal use. In addition to Wang Cai, the caravan comprised four assistants.

Hesneas, the capital of Zrexham, was over a hundred kilometers from the city, a journey of just two days on foot. Being so close to the capital, bandits were typically not a concern. However, Mount Dawnfire's unique terrain presented a challenge. Separated from Melennas by the renowned Azure Dragon River, Mount Dawnfire stretched for 200 kilometers along the river, forming the sole passage between Melennas and Zrexham. With Hesneas as Zrexham's capital, the treacherous landscape of Mount Dawnfire, which only had one navigable road, was rife with bandits. Even military efforts to root them out proved difficult; once bandits retreated into the mountains, they were nearly impossible to track down.

Thankfully, the bandits on Mount Dawnfire weren't particularly formidable. Generally, those with a bit of strength could pass through safely; it was mostly ordinary folks who ended up being robbed by the bandits.

Wang Cai, a cloth merchant, would issue a Level 1 Mercenary Mission to hire mercenaries for protection every time he traveled.

On his first journey out of the capital, Liu Xiaobao harbored a sense of wonder about the world beyond. He imagined it to be a place brimming with magic, unsure if he might encounter bizarre demons or other intelligent species.

Initially, Liu Xiaobao and his companions intended to follow behind the carriage on foot. However, the lords couldn't stand the thought of their young master enduring such a journey, so they insisted on squeezing Liu Xiaobao into Wang Cai's carriage. Wang Cai thought about objecting, but the intimidating stares from the eight men were enough to silence him, leaving him no choice but to acquiesce.