Chapter 212: Spring Festival
Chapter 212: Spring Festival
Old Town, South Sea City.
Night was falling, and the sound of firecrackers filled the air as bursts of brilliant fireworks competed for attention in the sky.
Though it wasn't yet midnight, many households in the old town had already begun setting off firecrackers.
Oh, right—today was the Spring Festival.
Alexander sat in his study, surrounded by documents—paper reports spread across his desk.
"Takaichi Ryo is capable enough. In Ashlanda, a nation with barely any B-class individuals, his seven-level spiritual power and B-class super fruit abilities are more than sufficient."
"Takaichi Ryo is a cunning figure, but fortunately, his loyalty to the guild is unwavering."
"The impact of a strong first impression can last a long time, especially when the Mercenary Guild is an overwhelming force for him."
Rubbing his tired eyes, Alexander sighed.
For him, conquering new territories was simple—he only needed to bestow super fruits upon those with absolute capabilities.
This absolute capability encompassed background, combat prowess, decision-making, and leadership.
If possible, Alexander wouldn't mind giving a super fruit to a high-ranking official.
But that was clearly unrealistic—no leader in power would be foolish enough to trust such things.
Those who believed in the power of super fruits were either desperate or insignificant.
Thus, for Alexander, the minor exhaustion of securing control over Ashlanda, the North Sea, and White Mountain City was well worth it.
He picked up another report and murmured,
"Once the Gluttonous Dragon Turtle is defeated, the Mercenary Guild will ascend to a new level."
The reports, compiled by Rosie, outlined the best cities for establishing future guild branches.
These cities included those like White Mountain City, which were on the verge of being overrun by monsters, as well as others in slightly better condition.
The Mercenary Guild was not afraid of battles—the more slaughter, the stronger its foundation grew.
What made these cities valuable was their excellent geographical positioning, forming a near-continuous line.
If the guild wanted to conduct operations, it could do so smoothly across a wide region.
Moreover, the neighboring cities had no powerful individuals, allowing the guild's branches to extend their influence easily.
Alexander had high standards for the guild branch presidents—they had to be senior mercenaries.
Currently, the guild only had three senior mercenaries: Ye Yunyun, Li Yang, and Huang Jie.
Even intermediate mercenaries were in short supply.
But soon, the guild would see a significant boost.
Once the Gluttonous Dragon Turtle of Ashlanda's "Seven Deadly Sins" was subdued, the guild's top combat strength would skyrocket.
Not to mention that the turtle could accelerate the maturation of the Heavenly Flame of Creation's seeds, providing Alexander with immense spiritual power and elevating him to the ranks of humanity's top awakened beings.
Additionally, if the Seven Deadly Sins member was buried in the small courtyard, the Wishwood Tree would bear exceptionally potent fruits.
Alexander was confident these would be A-class at the very least.
If a Skeleton King could produce two A-class fruits, the Seven Deadly Sins member would undoubtedly yield even better results.
Moreover, the guild was already collaborating with the authorities. A young man named Ryan was actively completing the guild's missions.
Currently, the guild's primary tasks revolved around hunting monsters and collecting their corpses.
With these corpses as fertilizer, the extraordinary plants in Alexander's courtyard would grow rapidly.
A portion of these plants could be distributed as rewards to Ryan, but the main benefits would remain with Alexander.
According to Rosie's monitoring, Ryan had already gathered a large number of monster corpses but hadn't submitted them yet.
Perhaps they wanted to study the corpses to figure out why the guild was collecting them.
Or maybe they were saving up for a major redemption of a super fruit.
Either way, those corpses would eventually end up in Alexander's courtyard.
They would produce numerous senior mercenaries.
"[Dragon Slayer] Giovani, [Jester] Jackson, [Boxer] William, [Jade Rabbit] Liu Mengmeng, [Scalpel] Levi."
Alexander wrote these names in a small notebook.
These intermediate mercenaries were his favorites and among the earliest members of the guild.
They didn't know it, but they were essentially the guild's founding elders.
"These mercenaries are competent and highly loyal.
They can be promoted to senior mercenaries and serve as the second batch of branch presidents."
Using a fountain pen, Alexander sketched a blueprint for the guild's expansion across Base Country 3.
As the first extraordinary force built around people and spanning multiple cities, the Mercenary Guild was truly unique.
"The bigger the network, the greater the rewards. Who knows—one of these cities might become the next South Sea City in the future."
Suddenly, Alexander frowned and crossed out [Jade Rabbit]. After some thought, he wrote it back in.
After a moment of hesitation, he decided to keep Liu Mengmeng's name in the notebook.
He muttered to himself, "Other than being a bit eccentric, she's fine. She shouldn't cause any trouble—she's timid."
Perhaps Alexander should establish a trial—only those who passed it would qualify to become branch presidents of the Mercenary Guild.
In hindsight, it seemed like a practical approach. Once Rosie upgraded the Mercenary Guild app, he could monitor the candidates in real time, ensuring their actions aligned with the guild's standards.
Management was never an issue for Alexander. With Yvette's assistance, he could relay commands remotely and maintain control over the guild's operations.
Senior mercenaries had their own dedicated customer service agents. These agents not only catered to their needs but also acted as covert monitors to ensure compliance.
Flexing his slightly stiff fingers, Alexander closed the notebook on his desk and left the study, flipping off the light as he went.
Tonight was New Year's Eve, and the entire city exhaled a collective sigh of relief.
For the citizens of South Sea City, it was one of the few opportunities to celebrate since the monster invasion. The festive air was palpable as fireworks painted the sky in brilliant hues, and laughter echoed through the streets.
Holidays were fleeting for most—just New Year's Eve and the first day of the year. By the second day, many would return to their demanding routines.
Alexander stood on the second-floor balcony, looking down into the living room.
Yamato, dressed in a crisp white suit, sat on the couch with his legs crossed, lazily watching television.
Rosie sat beside him, looking somewhat reserved as she clutched a bag of chips.
Jack wasn't around; he had chosen to spend the evening with his family. For this rare occasion, he shed his usual mask, revealing his striking but poorly dyed yellow hair.
Outside, cheers erupted as little monsters rang bells and set off fireworks. Adam and Lily joined in the merriment, their laughter echoing through the courtyard.
"Sir, dinner is ready," Yvette announced as she emerged from the kitchen, wearing an apron. The scent of her subtle perfume mixed with the aroma of home-cooked dishes, adding a sense of warmth to the atmosphere.
Alexander had assigned Yamato to recruit soulbind servants for him. Most of the hired help were now stationed at the estate, many of them maids carefully selected by Yamato as a gesture of loyalty.
Still, Yvette insisted on preparing the New Year's Eve dinner herself, believing it was an occasion that demanded her personal touch.
Alexander nodded, a thought suddenly crossing his mind. He turned to Yvette and said, "Send some food over to the neighbors."
By "neighbors," he meant the old beggar beast king and his apprentices, Jang Hyun and Brian.
Yvette paused briefly before offering a warm smile.
Whoever said the guild leader was cold and unfeeling?
Across South Sea City, while most enjoyed their holiday, the Security Division was busier than ever, refusing to take a break. Ethan Blake, the deputy director, was personally patrolling the city's defenses.
Ethan supervised the New Town while his apprentice, Sarah, patrolled the Old Town.
Above, fireworks lit the night sky, and the scent of gunpowder from the celebrations filled the air.
But for Ethan, standing on the city wall as the cold wind bit at his face, the festive atmosphere felt like a world away.
His phone suddenly rang. It was Sarah.
Ethan frowned.
An emergency? That seemed unlikely—the Old Town was under the protection of the Mercenary Guild.
"What's wrong, Sarah?" Ethan's voice was firm and serious.
"Happy New Year, Master," came Sarah's cheerful reply.
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