Mercenaries Returning to the Horns Bay 2
Translator: Cinder Translations
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Bogdan, or rather Jerry Elvin, is his alias in Horns Bay. He is a senior staff member of the Alden Army's General Staff and also a faculty member of the Grayman Military Academy, holding the rank of Major. This time, he was appointed as the supervisor of the mercenaries and brought a group of teachers and students from the Grayman Military Academy to Horns Bay alongside the mercenaries.
Chief of Staff Schroder's assessment of Elvin is that he remains calm and possesses both courage and strategy when encountering challenges, which is why he personally selected him to lead the southern expedition.
Elvin's mission, besides managing the mercenaries, includes an important task: to lead the Grayman Academy personnel in investigating and researching the military capabilities of various nations in Horns Bay. This includes gathering information on their organizational structures, human resources, combat styles, and weaponry. It's not that the Alden Town has any specific designs on Horns Bay; rather, studying these aspects is the responsibility of military academies. Now, with the Horns Bay War providing a ready-made case, it's natural to utilize this opportunity to enhance their skills.
"It's a great honor to meet you, Lord Bogdan!"
Sam Habai approached Elvin, shaking his hand with an enthusiastic grip.
Elvin smiled and nodded in response, while Fergus and Doug disdainfully snorted at Habai.
"I wonder which noble has hired the Black Dog and the Rhino. Ah, let me guess—must be some big shot from the Northwest Bay, right?" Habai recognized their accents, as traders from the Kingdom of Aldor have been flocking to Horns Bay for business in recent years, making him familiar with their dialects.
"My employer is the Lord of Alden, Earl Paul Grayman," Elvin replied with a smile. Although their personal identities need to be kept confidential, their affiliations do not.
Liszt, sitting nearby, perked up upon hearing this.
"My goodness! May the Lord of Light be with us!" Habai exclaimed, his expression exaggerated as he formed an O shape with his mouth.
"I can tell; today is my lucky day," he said, looking as though he had found a treasure.
"I've heard of the great Earl Grayman! He's said to be a magnificent inventor and an unbeatable commander. Ceramics, paper, canned goods, printed books, and oarless sailboats—all attributed to this Earl, right? Oh, I've also heard he eradicated long-standing pirates from his territory and defeated the evil lord next door. Are these rumors true?"
"Uh... basically... yes," Elvin replied, somewhat surprised that the lord's reputation had spread to Horns Bay. It makes sense, as the traders from the Northwest Bay owe their fortune in Horns Bay largely to Earl Grayman, who enabled overseas voyages, opened new shipping routes, and provided goods free from competition. Naturally, the merchants would admire him and sing his praises when discussing their own lord.
"So... what has Earl Grayman hired the Black Dog and the Rhino for in Horns Bay? Is there any way I can be of service?"
Upon learning that the other party's boss was Paul Grayman, Habai decided to establish a reliable friendship with him.
"To be frank, I have considerable connections and resources in Horns Bay. If you need anything, feel free to find me. You can ask Fergus and Doug if you don't believe me."
Elvin looked at the two mercenary leaders, and Doug nodded, saying, "Lord Bogdan, this guy really does have connections, but be careful not to get ripped off on the prices."
"Honest dealings, honest dealings! I, Habai, place great importance on integrity in business," Habai insisted, eagerly promoting himself.
Elvin responded, "Thank you, Mr. Habai. If I have needs, I'll consider your offer. Earl Grayman has sent us to Horns Bay mainly to ensure the safety and property of the people under his rule. We do not wish to get involved in too many trivial matters."
"Is that so?" Habai said cheerfully. "Such work often requires a lot of interaction, and I believe we will have opportunities to cooperate. Furthermore..."
Habai cautiously looked around before extending his hand toward Elvin, saying, "Please, have a seat at my table. I have some inside information I'd like to share with you."
Elvin nodded, curious about what this local insider might reveal.
Habai made a gesture of apology to Raja and Liszt, leading Elvin and others to his table.
Once Liszt learned that the newcomers were from the Northwest Bay, he decided to stay for a while longer. After all, they were sent by Earl Grayman, and he planned to introduce himself after their conversation with Habai. Raja and the other three decided to wait and ask Habai about some information on mercenary groups, so they remained with Liszt.
At Habai's table, he poured drinks for his new friends and, looking mysteriously at Elvin, said, "Lord Bogdan, I wonder if the Black Dog and the Rhino have the capacity for other tasks besides protecting assets?"
"What do you mean by that?" Elvin asked.
"Oh, my lord! The Black Dog and the Rhino are among the most notable mercenary teams in Horns Bay. It's a waste to limit them to mere security work."
As he said this, Habai looked regretful. "I have an opportunity for wealth that I can introduce to you. Have you heard? Ha... right, you're new here, so you probably don't know. The Alliance's army has won a great victory on the front lines—this is what the reports say, but in reality, it was a Pyrrhic victory. The expeditionary force suffered tremendous losses and is urgently in need of reinforcements. Currently, the Council is busy contacting people like us to find mercenaries for them."
"Is that so?" Elvin replied nonchalantly, already knowing what Habai was about to say next.
"Ha ha, you see, I just received a commission and casually wandered into a tavern for a drink when I bumped into Fergus and Doug. Would you call that divine intervention?"
Habai was elated, dancing with excitement. "So, if you, as the representative of the employer, can assign more tasks to the Black Dog and the Rhino, you'll be able to collect a substantial sum of money from the Council."
(End of the Chapter)
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