027 | Registered

As Pen promised, Emily led us upstairs to our rooms which were right beside each other. How convenient and nice of Pen.

I turned my head to look Emily in the eyes.

"So what does he want?"

Emily's face couldn't be more obvious that she was stupefied.

Lisha nodded, as expected of her, she is thinking what I am as well.

When you are approached with overwhelming kindness and good intentions there to be something they want. What could Pen, a Manager of the AU, want from mere children?

Rudif was about to speak. I see, it seems he also grasped the situation. As expected of-

"Where's the food?"

"That's right! We need food!", Lisha says.

Emily chuckled, "Right away. We'll send the waiter to deliver food to your rooms."

...

This is going to be a long day. Here I thought that at least Lisha shared the same opinion as me.

Well, it's not like it's the end of the world. The two wanted to rest and relax, Pen gave us exactly what "we" wanted. Free rooms, clothing, and food. Something is obviously brewing when I questioned Emily earlier. I'll ask about it later.

* * *

My sincerest greetings. The darkness of this world. The shadow under every light.

After years of tedious recovery, I have finally regained a spiritual shape in this world.

That filthy. Disgusting. VILE lower being dared to harm me? The Lord of Darkness!?

Despite a long war, that trash still stood its ground against my onslaught.

Lord of Water, I will remember you.

I will never forget the scars you gave me and how you cowardly ripped me of power!

Though...it seems, only a mere fragment of my powers have returned. I wonder how that fool is coming along? I do not sense their presence anywhere on the face of this planet. Looks like I've recuperated faster.

If only I could get more...sacrifices.

The kingdom of Dark Elves is currently too much for me to bring down. However, they are engulfed in a civil war. It would be displeasing if I were not to make use of that. The weakest kingdom adjacent to them is...

Interesting, Yanalia was it? Let's have a visit.

Right now, I'm nothing but a silhouette of dark electrifying particles. It is inelegant and embarrassing to show myself in this state. Being a Lord, one must uphold and represent their dominance.

Carefully amidst the shadows, I avoided the eyes of other watchful Lords who may want to end me.

I was drawn to the most sinister presence in all of Yanalia. Somewhere deep inside the dungeon below Yanalia's castle. In the farthest reaches of hundreds of jailed prisoners, is a muscular man with several chain tattoos engraved on his arms. He had long black hair that no one bothered to cut. Facial hair started to grow on him as well.

"Greetings, abandoned child."

The man was not one bit startled.

"...Are you in my head?"

"Indeed I am."

"Leave me be."

This is quite the peculiar man. Not asking any questions in relation to me.

"Poor abandoned child. Once the head of the Yanalian crime syndicate and now, caught and shackled like a weakened beast."

"Shut up..."

There was no more strength in this man's voice. I peeked in his memories only to find disappointment. If he had the will to take revenge, I can make him a vessel. He murdered hundreds, caused corruption multiple times, instigated a war, and the list of crimes goes on. If only he had even a fraction of what his personality used to be.

No matter, I get what I want.

I invaded his mind using a spiritual attack.

He screamed and yelled in agony, half a dozen guards came running over to see what was wrong.

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?!"

"Don't fall for it you fool! He's probably faking it so he can get out!"

"He looks seriously ill though..."

"Do you even KNOW what this guy did?"

"We should be thankful that he's finally starting to rot."

"He's finally going to kick the bucket eh?"

Pitiable mortals, you should make haste and run like your life depends on it because very soon, your life WILL be threatened.

I corrupted the man's mind and made him completely subservient and loyal to me with an unbreakable contract. His very being is mine to control.

Poor abandoned child, I shall give you your first mission. Eliminate everyone in this dungeon and offer them as a sacrifice for me.

"...Your wish is my command."

The man twitched and his once brown eyes were now lit on fire. Blue flames that never extinguish. The guards were petrified as they watched the man's skin slowly start to burn to ashes, revealing a black bone structure.

One of the guards stabbed their spear through the man's heart. He laughed nervously, thinking he actually killed him. The poor guard instantly corroded to death. Like ice melting on a hot surface. The remains of his bones, armor, and some pieces of skin fell onto the ground.

Excellent! If my plan goes perfectly, Yanalia as a whole will be offered as a sacrifice for me! With that many mortals, I will have enough strength to swallow Naskac down as well! Even if one of The Twelve Duke's is present, they can only save so many people before most of their populace becomes part of me.

Once you finish killing everyone here, go to the north. You will find a wooden fortress occupied by one of the Three Forces of Yanalia. The Scouts. Annihilate their fortress and raise the dead as part of your army.

If you do well, I shall reward you.

The man's appearance was no longer suitable to be called a human. He has turned into a monster. One of my underlings. A pitch-black skeleton with blue flames in his eye sockets.

"I will not...disappoint you, my master, the Lord of Darkness."

* * *

Pen walked into my room with Lisha as I was talking with Rudif. Looks like I don't need to question the receptionist anymore.

He pulled out a chair from one of the desks at the side and sat down. Lisha sat beside me on the bottom bunk bed. Rudif was lying down on the other side of the room where another bunk bed resides. He was at the top bed leaning on his pillow.

"You're very...keen, Asher."

Says Pen. He looked at me waiting for a response.

"Thanks?"

Today was our first night staying in Yanalia. As we were offered a place to stay, free meals, and even clothing by Pen, the manager of this branch, I'm sure there's something in it for us.

Well, it's not necessarily a bad thing. You see, I plan to train Rudif and Lisha by taking on commissions for the AU. Registering us as Mercenaries gave us the right to subdue others as it can be covered with a justifiable reason. Acting on behalf of a request. An official commission from the AU.

Lisha was dressed in soft white fabric clothing. I guess she also received pajamas. She brushed her hair back and turned to talk to Pen.

"So, mister manager, what do you want?"

Hah, and here I thought she was completely oblivious like Rudif.

"Looks like there's another sharp individual. Fine, I'll get to the point."

Finally. The sooner we get a commission, the sooner I can train my dog. Rudif's in dire need of some REAL experience. Only when people are in desperate times, a crisis that means life or death, will they have growth equivalent to how dangerous the circumstances are.

Simply a daily spar with me for eight years makes Rudif too tense. He'll always fight believing other opponents are the same as me, giving him tunnel vision in combat.

Lisha is different, she doesn't have that type of mindset that Rudif has. Though there are times I also question myself if that's really true. Both of them were hungry for food right after the examinations.

Pen stopped himself from talking and reached into the air and pulled out three small leather booklets. He tossed it into the air in each of our respective directions.

I grabbed it and opened it to the first page.

"This is-"

Rudif was interrupted by Pen, stating what Rudif probably would have.

"Yep, it's your official documents that have already been completed."

Lisha gasped.

"That fast? Emily told me that it would take a few days to a week depending on how many are on the waitlist."

Pen laughed. He spoke with confidence.

"As the MANAGER of this branch, there are many things that I can bend to my desire. You guys would have had to wait around four or five days if not for me."

"Wow~ You're amazing!"

Good work, Lisha. Pen has an arrogant side and complimenting a person's achievements makes us appear more friendly with him, allowing for easier communications in the future.

"In your AU passports, it is filled with information about yourselves. Since you guys are mercenaries, you can see there is one bronze star on the front of the book."

Lisha and Rudif showed me their bronze star.

"Why do I-"

"Do you really need an answer to that question, Asher?"

I smiled, "No...No, I don't."

Mines had two silver stars instead. Pen probably deemed it acceptable for me to skip whatever rank-up process I had to go through. He verified my skill during our match in the basement.

"T-that's cheating!", Rudif yells.

"Are you jealous, mutt?"

Rudif turned his head and crossed his arms. Despite already being a teenager, his mentality is that of the same puppy from eight years ago.

"Do you want to get beat up?"

"N-no."

"Then quiet for now, mutt. Let's hear the request from the manager."

Pen nodded, "Right. As you can already tell, I provided you guys amenities and got your passports completed faster."

Lisha and I nodded our heads.

Rudif was scratching his head while following our lead.

Sigh. This dumb mutt didn't even catch on.

"Giving you the authority of a Two Star Silver Mercenary wasn't just because of your skill. You will also have the required authority to accept better commissions from the AU."

"Do you need us to do something dangerous?"

Lisha asked.

"None of the sort. We are right on the tails of a criminal organization in Yanalia. We've been working closely with the Captain of the Scouts to exterminate them by their roots."

Interesting, "Then you want us to investigate these guys?"

Pen nodded, "That's right. But there's another reason. I believe you guys are more suitable to locate their headquarters."

"And why is that?"

"These guys are involved with slave trading-"

Rudif's Raw Energy spiraled around him. He inhaled and exhaled, calming himself down and his aura slowly vanished.

"...My bad."

Pen smiled, "These criminals are aiming for children and we've also confirmed that their most prominent source of income is from selling enslaved Half-Beasts."

Haha, looks like quite the coincidence occurred. These people could very well be the same ones that were going after Rudif. Did they give up their chase after I killed the hunter that was going for Rudif? Or perhaps they found it unnecessary to encroach on Naskac's territory?

"Nonetheless, mutt, this is perfect for your revenge isn't it?"

Rudif smiled deviously, "It sure is."