Armipotent

Chapter 1923: Green Rank

The battle was not over as they came over to help the Raven Monarch’s force. Of course, the Dominion’s army retreated after finding out the main army was retreating. The battle was over after the mercenary guild won their battle.

General Ravenbarch and Mercenary Guild Leader Alves immediately instructed the subordinates to move. The enemy already knew their camp, and more would come for them. Staying here longer would put them all in danger because the Dominion might send their elite to stop them from helping the Sorcerer Monarchy, which was currently leaderless. Half of their territory had fallen to The Dominion, and three out of six potential successors also had fallen to The Dominion’s cruelty.

The Dominion showed no mercy because the Sorcerer Monarchy was ruled by humans, and most of their people were also humans. The Dominion slaughtered its way into the Sorcerer Monarchy. They even killed the beastmen that lived in the Sorcerer Monarchy for tolerating humans, living with humans. All kinds of rumors spread among the mercenaries.

”I expected you to beat them, but I didn’t expect you to win this quick and with minimal casualties as well,” General Ravenbarch walked alongside the Mercenary Guild Leader, Alves, side by side. With just a glance, he could tell that the mercenaries did not even lose one-tenth of them. He was shocked when the mercenaries aided them, and he was surprised to see their numbers.

”I think it’s our Eleventh God Rank’s work, Sir,” Alves replied in a whisper.

”Eleventh?” General Ravenbarch furrowed his brow, ”I didn’t know the Raven Monarchy Mercenary Guild has eleven God Ranks... I thought you only had ten God Ranks.”

Alves looked around, ensuring no one listened to them as he got closer to General Ravenbarch, ”I just found out recently, and I think he is a player, not one of us. I want to look for him, but I am afraid to spook him.”

”What do you mean by spooking him?” General Ravenbarch did not understand Alves’ train of thought. He thought it would be better to be acquainted with such a strong player.

”He doesn’t want to meet me, and maybe he wants to keep his identity secret. It’s better to keep that way if that’s what he wants, Sir. As long as he fights for us, I think it’s better to leave him alone,” Alves said, getting closer to General Ravenbarch. ”I also hope you will respect my decision and don’t try to recruit him to your army, Sir.”

General Ravenbarch furrowed his brow because that was what he wanted to do if Alves did not remind him. In his eyes, it would be a huge boost for the Raven Monarchy if they got an additional God Rank ally. He didn’t have any choice but to listen when the Mercenary Guild Leader made a personal request like this.

”I can promise you that I will not approach him as long as no one approaches him during the war against The Dominion, Alves. However, you can’t stop me after the war is over.”

”I can accept that much,” Alves nodded, ”I think he killed more than half of The Dominion’s army. That’s why we suffer so little in the battle. I noticed many of The Dominion’s army died with a hole in their forehead. I think that’s what he’s doing.”

*** ***

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[Mercenary Profile]

Name: Tang Shaoyang

Credits: 3,528

Mercenary Rank: Green

Mercenary Organization: None

Contract: Under Contract with one of the monarchs from the Eptas Monarchy, The Raven Monarch

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Tang Shaoyang checked his Mercenary Profile and found out that he was already at Green Rank. He did not expect his mercenary profile would be updated automatically as he finished the contract. He thought he needed to make a report or something before his profile got updated. There was something new as well, Credits. He still did not know the use of Credits.

”I guess it’s better to have Credits than nothing...” He muttered in a low voice.

”You can exchange your credits with coins,” Aella chimed in, ”One Credit is worth ten copper coins. One hundred Copper Coins is one silver, and you can exchange ten silvers for one gold.”

Tang Shaoyang turned toward the girl who was smiling at him. He had a suspicion that Aella had a suspicion that he was a player. The girl paid more attention to him than was necessary. This was the second time that she eavesdropped on him.

Aelka was having a conversation with Johan as they seemed to want to partner, forming a new team. Johan and Arkum would be good new teammates to rebuild his team. Rokic and Arkum seemed on high alert after the battle; they remained cautious of their surroundings even though the battle was over. They had been like that ever since Alves told them that they might be ambushed again by The Dominion.

”You can ask me anything you want to know. Do you want to know how many Rank Points you need to reach Green Rank?” Aella smiled sweetly.

Even though she looked innocent and naive, she was quite sharp. She had an inkling that Tang Shaoyang might be a spy, but she was convinced that Tang Shaoyang was on their side after the battle. She witnessed how Tang Shaoyang killed almost half of The Dominion’s army.

Tang Shaoyang squinted his eyes at her, and she was unfazed, ”Do you know, huh?”

”Do I know?” Aella pretended not to know what Tang Shaoyang meant, looking confused for a moment before nodding, ”I do know your secret.”

She tried to make it seem that the secret she said was about the battle earlier, but Tang Shaoyang felt that she might have implied something else.

Tang Shaoyang almost told her that he was a player, but he decided to play along and nodded. If he had asked about the ranked-up requirement, she might have confirmed her suspicion of him. However, the fact that he did not ask might have thrown her off.

The army marched through the forest nonstop, heading straight to the capital of the Sorcerer Monarchy. Tang Shaoyang thought they might only need less than a day’s march, but he found out it was a two-day journey to reach the Sorcerer Monarchy’s capital. This confirmed his guess that from here on, he could no longer climb as quickly as before.

From the twenty-first, it was no longer about finding the boss and climbing the tower. He must follow the process. The tower emphasized the process by which they finished the quest given to them. This made him think that from here on, it would be dangerous for his people. He must think of a way to make the climb safer for his people.

The Demi-God Ranks were common, and just in this army and mercenary, there were more than five hundred Demi-God Ranks. The problem was the God Ranks, not the Demi-God Ranks. There were sixteen God Ranks, and these God Ranks might be the real issue. His people would need God Ranks to watch over them because a God Rank could easily wipe them out.

There was no more ambush or surprise attack from The Dominion, and it seemed like The Dominion had not reached The Capital as well. Just because the city was not under attack, it didn’t mean they could enter the city smoothly.

The Guards had them waiting outside for three hours because they did not believe they were from the Raven Monarchy. Their suspicion was not groundless because most of them were beastmen.

Tang Shaoyang was annoyed, and if it were him, he would slam the gate open. However, General Ravenbarch was patient and understood that he did nothing but wait. Alves said nothing as he set up a small tent for himself and enjoyed a drink with his close aides.

The grating sound of the steel gate rang in the air, and they were welcomed by an army behind the wall. The wall was filled with an army, around six hundred mixes of Sorcerers and archers. The Heavy Soldiers were standing behind the wall, standing in formation, more than a thousand people.

They were instructed to put their weapons in their inventory as they entered the city. That was the requirement. Tang Shaoyang was annoyed to the point of letting his bow hang on his back instead. He was looking for trouble just to make things harder for these people.

He wasted two days following the army when he could have spent those two days at her home, sleeping in a comfortable bed with her wives and playing with her daughter. But he had put in so much effort not to attract attention, so he decided to keep his bow in the inventory.

Once they were inside the city, the mercenary and the Raven Monarchy’s forces split up. The city provided the soldiers lodging, but not the mercenaries. They must look for their own lodging, and Aelka often visited the capital for his work. He had a place in mind and led them there. The inn was not the fanciest one, but it was still good.

Aelka knew the owner and the manager of the inn. Once they were in the city and met regular people, Tang Shaoyang realized how big a deal a Gold Rank Mercenary was. An owner of a big inn welcomed Aelka himself and treated his team leader with respect.

It was not the fanciest or the biggest one in the city, but Golden Sparrow Inn incorporated four big buildings for an inn. They were not given the best room, but still good and big rooms, and it was for free. They did not have to pay, as the owner apparently owed a favor to Aelka.

Tang Shaoyang shared a room with Rokic. After one battle together, Rokic was no longer awkward around Tang Shaoyang. The young man was casual and quite chatty.

Tang Shaoyang was about to make an excuse, saying he wanted to sleep and get out of the tower. He realized that it might take a few days before the actual battle against The Dominion, and he might as well spend that time back home instead of staying here.

”Aelka wants to talk with you, it’s about the team,” Rokic brought up the topic, quite important.

Tang Shaoyang was so eager to go back that he forgot about the team matter. They agreed to form a temporary team, and the term for the temporary team was over. He guessed that Aelka wanted to officially invite him to the team, especially when the guy gave him a free room.

Rokic led him to the private dining room. Aelka, Johan, Arkum, and Aella were already there. Aella waved her hand at Tang Shaoyang and Rokic. Aelka did not say anything about the team until they finished their meal.

”What’s your plan, Tang?” Aelka brought up the matter, ”Johan and Arkum agree to join my team, and I want you to join the team as well.”

”Thank you for the invite, but I don’t think I can work with a team. I am just used to working by myself, and a team is just not for me,” Tang Shaoyang declined the invitation.