The mercenaries watching the spectacle immediately began to jeer.
Although Matthews had been in a relationship before, this was the first time he'd been openly teased in public. He hurriedly took three steps at a time and got out of there.
"Damn, why do I feel like I'm the one who got the short end of the stick?"
As soon as Matthews had hurried off, the mercenaries in the Mercenary Guild hall burst into laughter. The curvy beauty of a warrior was a seventh-level fighter, and although they usually teased her, most of them never got the better of her. Now that they'd seen her take the initiative to kiss a warrior, they ribbed her, asking, "Tina, what was it like kissing a handsome guy?"
"Of course it was thrilling! He's Matthews, a ninth-level warrior."
Tina had learned Matthews's name and strength from the signature on his mercenary quest. Matthews was such a clueless rookie that he'd actually written his real name and strength on a mercenary quest.
After leaving Mutuo'ya City, Matthews rode his sixth-level Cloud-Patterned Horned Horse and asked the leader of the Fire Rat Mercenary Group beside him, "Tell me about the target."
"Sir, the target took an escort job three days ago and headed for Patel City. It's the largest provincial capital in the eastern part of the Bright Empire, near the Magic Beast Mountain Range."
Matthews had never been to the Bright Empire, so naturally he knew nothing about the area. He nodded, signaling the mercenary leader to continue with the details.
"We're traveling light, so we should be able to catch up with them before they arrive."
"Good. Let's go."
Pal, the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion, hadn't wanted Fiona to ride on his back. He was descended from Saint Realm magical beasts, a peak ninth-level magical beast. How could he let someone with no cultivation ride him? But Matthews wanted to catch up with the Mad Python Mercenary Group as quickly as possible, so he'd specifically asked Pal to carry Fiona for a while.
The leader of the Fire Rat Mercenary Group led Matthews and the others in pursuit of the Mad Python Mercenary Group.
Meanwhile, the Mad Python Mercenary Group was escorting their cargo through a great canyon. After years of facing life and death as a mercenary, the group's leader, Raymond, had reached the peak of the eighth level and was close to advancing to the ninth level.
So he planned to find somewhere to cultivate and break through to the ninth level once they'd finished this job. Drawing on his years of experience as a mercenary, he knew this stretch of canyon was dangerous and made a good place for an ambush.
"Everyone, stay alert and keep your wits about you."
After warning his men, Raymond moved to the middle of the group and began urging everyone to hurry through the canyon.
On the cliff beside the canyon, a female necromancer whom Matthews had encountered in the Magic Beast Mountain Range was watching the people passing below with her senior fellow apprentice. She asked, "Senior Brother, are we still waiting to make our move?"
"Mm, we can begin."
As soon as the female mage's senior fellow apprentice finished speaking, the two of them began summoning undead.
Countless undead charged straight down the cliff. Raymond wasn't a pushover, though. He'd sensed the magical fluctuations as soon as the two necromancers began summoning undead.
"Quick, form a defensive formation!"
The mercenaries raised their shields and surrounded the escort target. The group's members repelled the first wave of undead.
Looking at the undead pouring down the mountain, Raymond knew they were in trouble. As long as necromancers had an endless supply of magic, they could easily summon undead to slaughter an entire nation.
He turned to the person whose cargo they were escorting and asked, "What exactly are you having us escort? Why has it attracted necromancers?"
"Sir Raymond, according to the mercenary code, you have no right to ask about the specific nature of the goods you're escorting!"
Raymond's expression changed several times as he listened. He frowned and said, "But mercenaries also have the right to abandon a job if the task and the payment aren't commensurate!"
"This..."
The person whose cargo they were escorting thought for a moment, then continued, "This is a top secret of the Church of Light. I can't tell you. If you help us complete the job, the Church won't treat you unfairly, Sir Raymond."
At the same time, seeing that the undead had pinned down the mercenaries, the two senior fellow apprentices on the mountain began summoning their strongest undead. The female mage's senior fellow apprentice summoned an eighth-level Bone Dragon and an eighth-level Undead Knight, both of which charged down the mountain.
Terry, the sharp-featured warrior, shouted, "Boss, hurry and join the fight! The brothers are about to be overwhelmed!"
Raymond had no choice but to join the fight. He held off the eighth-level Undead Knight.
While they were fighting, Matthews and the members of the Fire Rat Mercenary Group arrived near the canyon. They spotted the battle taking place inside.
"Sir, should we wait a while before going over?"
Matthews considered it for a moment, then said, "Let's go take a look first."
The members of the Fire Rat Mercenary Group led Matthews to the other side of the canyon. They soon spotted the Mad Python Mercenary Group fighting inside. Following the direction the undead had charged from, they saw that one side was the young female necromancer he'd encountered earlier in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
Matthews turned to the Fire Rat Mercenary Group and said, "Stay here and help protect Fiona."
With that, he leapt into the air, lightning flashing around his feet, and charged straight at the eighth-level Bone Dragon. The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion charged straight at the two necromancers.
The eighth-level undead were no match for Matthews, a ninth-level warrior who'd comprehended the power of the world. With a single slash, he extinguished the Bone Dragon's Soul Fire.
Once Pal, the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion, charged over, the two necromancers had no choice but to recall their undead to defend themselves. After Matthews killed the eighth-level Bone Dragon, Raymond also slew the eighth-level Undead Knight.
"Thank you, sir—"
Before Raymond could finish thanking him, Matthews's lightning-wreathed figure flashed past him. By the time Raymond reacted, one of his arms had already been severed.
Thud!
As the sound of a heavy hammer hitting the ground rang out, Raymond let out a muffled groan and darted back into the protective circle formed by his mercenary group.
"What do you mean by this, sir?"
Seeing Raymond ask the question with a grim expression, Matthews had no intention of killing him just yet—not before finding out where the Death Scythe was. So he replied with a mocking smile, "Have you already forgotten an old acquaintance?"
Raymond still hadn't recognized him after a long while, but the sharp-witted, sharp-featured warrior Terry finally caught on.
"Ah! It's you!"
Matthews had also recognized the culprit who'd betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He smiled and said, "Well, if it isn't my old acquaintance Terry?"
Seeing that Terry seemed to recognize Matthews, Raymond asked, "Who is he?"
Terry stammered, "It's... it's that noble from ten years ago!"
Before you continue