Avril Arrives

"Haha, I'm back."

As Lin Lei and Aierlan were speaking, Allen walked in from outside with a beaming smile.

"Did something happen?"

Seeing the lingering anger on Lin Lei's face, Allen's smile faded, and he looked cautiously at the two people in front of him.

"You've returned just in time. Do you know that those soldiers are using their status and strength to freeload everywhere? They don't look like soldiers at all; they look like thugs and ruffians among mercenaries."

"Lord, it is my dereliction of duty. I will go and investigate this matter strictly at once. I will get to the bottom of this and will not be lenient."

"Forget it. Before you returned, I already handed this matter over to Lin Yu to handle. You just got back from delivering goods, so you should rest for a while. In half a month, my wedding with Aierlan will be held. You should focus more on that. You may go."

Lin Lei didn't have much anger toward Allen. Putting aside his outstanding abilities, just the fact that he was Aierlan's brother meant he couldn't be punished for this.

"Yes, I will take my leave."

Allen lowered his head, stood up, and left.

"Master, I will also take my leave. My brother just returned from Flower Territory, and I want to talk to him about my parents' recent situation."

"Hmm, go ahead."

Lin Lei nodded in agreement without much thought.

"Master, the Blue Moon Mercenary Group wishes to see you. They feel that since this place is near the Gloomy Forest, they would like to build a base here to facilitate their adventures and the sale of goods."

The butler, dressed in a black tailcoat, walked quickly into the living room and whispered to Lin Lei, who was resting with his eyes closed.

"Oh? That is worth seeing. Let them in."

Lin Lei's heart stirred, and he spoke with a flick of his lips.

Regarding mercenary groups, nobles both like and dislike them. Every territory is more or less never without them. These fellows are the floating population of every country, as well as its floating wealth and strength.

When a magical beast that endangers civilians appears in a noble's territory, such as the common Black Stone Boar, and the territory's soldiers cannot be assembled in time or the cost of using soldiers to clear them out is too high, the lord can offer a bounty in gold to let mercenaries solve the problem.

At the same time, mercenaries live hand-to-mouth and spend money lavishly, which promotes the prosperity of the territory's economy. Furthermore, most of the spoils of war obtained by mercenaries are processed on the spot, eventually flowing into the lord's pockets.

Mercenaries do not just take on tasks involving magical beasts; they also accept wars and assassinations if the price is right. The most recent large-scale battle between Kul Tiras and neighboring countries employed ten large mercenary groups.

The regular legions of Kul Tiras traveled by ship to land and conduct large-scale group operations, while most mercenary groups carried out sneak attacks on the enemy's rear and supply lines, serving as harassment and reconnaissance, playing a role no less significant than the front lines.

The Blue Moon Mercenary Group is a medium-sized mercenary group with about one to two hundred members, and they are somewhat well-known in Flower Territory.

Lin Lei had never dealt with them, but he had heard of them. Unlike some unscrupulous mercenary groups that would do anything for money, the Blue Moon Mercenary Group had a relatively good reputation.

"Baron, they are here."

The butler leaned over and whispered into Lin Lei's ear.

Lin Lei sat up straight, and then a man and a woman walked in from the entrance of the hall. Both were muscular, and their bulging frames looked quite imposing.

The male mercenary had fiery red hair and a square-shaped face, with an unhealed scar on his forehead. He kept his hands in front of his waist, a position very convenient for drawing a weapon in an emergency, and he always walked half a beat slower than the woman beside him.

The female mercenary had a pleasant, girl-next-door face, with small dimples appearing inadvertently, making her look very kind and approachable. However, the coldness in her eyes revealed that she was someone who had seen much life and death. A uniquely shaped snake-like whip hung at her waist; the barbs on it were slightly damaged, but it was very well maintained.

"Greetings, Baron. I am Lan Linglong, the leader of the Blue Moon Mercenary Group. Beside me is our deputy leader, Guba. We have come today to ask for your permission to establish a base in your territory."

Lan Linglong got straight to the point.

"Please sit. My butler has already told me the purpose of your visit. I am very happy that your mercenary group wants to develop in our territory."

Lin Lei sipped his tea and pointed to the chair beside him.

"However, Leader Lan, everything comes down to profit. If your mercenary group wants to develop here, what kind of benefits can you offer us?"

Lin Lei spoke unhurriedly.

"Baron, we inquired before we came. Currently, there is no mercenary group in your territory, and we are likely to be the first to settle here. We are willing to pay you half of the Blue Moon Mercenary Group's total annual income as our base fee."

Lan Linglong's words were shocking; she stunned Lin Lei the moment she spoke. He had seen people trying to negotiate lower fees, but never someone offering to pay more.

A mercenary group usually pays no more than one-third of its annual profit to a territory; in fact, most pay one-fifth. Never had anyone requested to pay half.

Lin Lei knew that Lan Linglong must have a reason for saying this. He had originally been prepared to lower the fee to fifteen percent, but he hadn't expected her to pull this move.

"Leader Lan, since you are so generous, you must have your own requirements. Why don't you just say them directly?"

Lin Lei laughed, unmoved, and spoke directly.

Lan Linglong glanced at Lin Lei secretly, her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly said.

"Baron, our Blue Moon Mercenary Group hopes that we will be the only mercenary group in Crouching Dragon Ravine. Rather than letting those small mercenary groups develop it haphazardly, it would be better to hand it over to us entirely for exclusive development."

Hearing this, Lin Lei's eyes turned cold. He realized that the woman in front of him was bullying him for being young and inexperienced, daring to propose a monopoly so boldly.

Yin cannot exist alone, and Yang cannot grow alone. For an industry to develop well and rapidly, it must rely on the competition of all parties. Agreeing to Lan Linglong's request would only bring temporary benefits to the territory.

After that, it would only drag things down, cause stagnation, and hinder development. Lin Lei was not stupid enough to agree to this condition.

"Leader Lan, I refuse this request of yours..."

Just as Lin Lei finished saying he refused, the butler hurried to his side and said.

"Master, Miss Avril and the couple Aguda have arrived and are waiting for you in the backyard."

"My apologies, I have matters to attend to. Please excuse me."

Lin Lei said coldly, flicking his sleeves as he left his seat and strode toward the backyard, leaving Lan Linglong and Guba staring blankly at each other.

"The two of you, please."

The butler standing to the side urged them.

Only then did the two snap out of their daze, leaving the Lord's Mansion in a trance.

"Captain, this guy clearly isn't willing to accept the request. Should we still build our stronghold here?"

Guba asked Lan Linglong, who was beside him.

"Build it. The geographical location of Crouching Dragon Ravine is excellent, just a stone's throw away from the Gloomy Forest. Our Blue Moon Mercenary Group is increasingly being squeezed out by other mercenary groups in the Flower Territory, so we should put even more effort into this place now.

Since this noble didn't agree to our terms, we can negotiate other conditions with him. Before other mercenary groups discover this place, we must take a big bite out of it first."

Lan Linglong said in a firm voice, as much to convince Guba as to convince herself.

The development of a mercenary group is never smooth sailing. The Blue Moon Mercenary Group was currently facing a crisis that threatened to disband them; an intelligence error during a suppression mission had caused a massive loss of low-to-mid-level members.

Although the high-ranking officers remained, rumors spread by rival mercenary groups made it difficult for new recruits to trust the Blue Moon Mercenary Group, making personnel replenishment a struggle.

For the Blue Moon Mercenary Group, Crouching Dragon Ravine was like a ladle of water to a traveler dying of thirst in the desert; no matter how difficult it was, she had to seize this opportunity.

On the other side, in the backyard of the Lord's Mansion.

"Brother, I missed you so much."

As soon as Lin Lei walked in, he saw a figure dash over at high speed and latch onto his waist.

"Alright, alright. You're so grown up now, why are you still acting like a little kid? And why are you crying?"

Lin Lei teased Avril. Avril climbed down from him, looking embarrassed, and retorted.

"I did not! I wasn't crying."

"Yes, yes, Avril isn't a little kid. You definitely weren't wailing like a bear just now."

"Dad, Mom, look! Brother is making fun of me as soon as he gets here."

Avril pouted, acting spoiled toward the two elderly people behind her.

Only then did Lin Lei clearly see his parents. Although they had been marked by the passage of time due to years of hard labor, after half a year of rest, they looked different from the farmers they once were, appearing younger and more prosperous.

While Lin Lei was joking around with Avril, Aierlan was chatting with Aguda and his wife. She, who had been so nervous about meeting Lin Lei's parents, was surprisingly composed, chatting happily with them.

"Brother, is that my sister-in-law?"

Avril asked curiously.

"Yes, that is your sister-in-law. From now on, you will learn magic from her. Don't let her delicate appearance fool you; she is a Silver-rank mage, more than qualified to teach you."

Lin Lei then spent time talking with his parents, leaving Avril in Aierlan's care. He figured Aierlan could handle this mischievous girl, and having not seen his parents for so long, he missed them dearly.

Azeroth had no mobile phones to transmit messages, relying only on slow letters for communication. Over these days, it was only natural for longing to grow.

Even though Lin Lei was now a Baron with decent achievements, in front of his family, he remained the same youth he had always been, unchanged in the slightest. He would never be one of those heartless people who despised their parents for their humble origins.

Because of his past experiences, he only valued them more; there was no such thing as looking down on them.

Lin Lei didn't have much to say to Aguda and the others, but he still stayed with them until late into the night, keeping them company.