For the mercenaries, this was an assessment they would remember for a long time.
Although the gap in strength between the two sides had been enormous, and Rhode's methods could hardly be called honorable, mercenaries weren't knights. To them, as long as they won, nothing else mattered. They especially admired anyone who could win through an unexpected trick. In no time, Rhode and Sereck had become the talk of the mercenaries. Sereck had been famous for years, but few people had ever seen him fight, so quite a few mercenaries had privately wondered whether the Swordmaster was really as good as his reputation. After this battle, though, none of them had any doubts. The fight had been quick and brief, but in those few minutes, anyone else who had taken Rhode's place would likely have been on their knees already.
What the mercenaries were most curious about was how Rhode, a swordsman, had conjured up those two strange Elemental Spirits. If it was a mage's summoning spell, why hadn't he even recited an incantation? It made no sense. Everyone was speculating about how he had done it. Some said it was a unique summoning spell, while others thought it might have been the effect of some kind of magical artifact. Judging by how the young man had produced a powerful magical weapon at the end, he was clearly someone of no ordinary standing. It wouldn't be surprising for someone like him to have a few magical items.
But what excited them even more was that such a powerful young man had taken part in the mercenary assessment. That meant he would become a mercenary from that day on. Many mercenary groups were already eager to bring him into their ranks. Although Rhode hadn't beaten Sereck, the fact that he had forced the normally composed Swordmaster to fight in earnest was proof enough of his strength. Combined with his age, few could doubt that his future was bright.
While the mercenaries chattered excitedly, thrilled to have witnessed such a spectacle, Rhode and Lize had already returned to the Mercenary Association president's study. Unlike before, however, a smiling Swordmaster was now standing beside the old president.
"Since you've passed the mercenary assessment, you're a mercenary from this moment on. Congratulations."
Though he was offering congratulations, the old president's face remained stern. Clearly, their earlier clash with Rhode had left him too embarrassed to let go of his grudge.
"As for the mercenary code and regulations, I don't think I need to explain them to you. You should know them well enough."
Rhode had no response to the old president's sarcasm. He knew the old man's temperament. He had already achieved what he wanted, so it didn't matter what the president said. Letting the old man vent a little was no big deal.
And just as Rhode had expected, after getting a few jabs in, the old president soon softened his tone. He reached into a drawer, took out a scroll, and unrolled it on the desk. Before doing so, however, he glanced at the young woman sitting beside Rhode. Unlike earlier, when she had been ill at ease, Lize was now much calmer. But there was a clear trace of complaint and regret on her face. It wasn't because of Rhode and Sereck's battle; it was because the cloak she had carefully chosen had been ruined after only one wear. It pained her to see it in such a sorry state.
Women's thoughts really were hard to guess.
"Lize, although I admit this young man is very capable, I still have to say that this was a gamble. An individual's strength is not the same as the overall strength of a mercenary group. Look at Sereck, look at Mar. These men are famous in their own right, yet they're still just members of mercenary groups. That's because the strength of a group far exceeds that of any one person. I have no doubt about this young man's abilities, but a mercenary group can't be held together by one or two people. There's still a long time until the winter recess, but frankly, I don't think you'll have enough time to pull your group back from the brink of disbandment."
"I understand, President."
Lize nodded slightly. As a member of the group, she understood better than anyone how difficult the road ahead would be. In fact, even she didn't have a good solution. The problem was that the group had far too few members: just Rhode and Lize. If they wanted to keep it going, they had to recruit. But if the newcomers outnumbered the veterans, the leadership could easily be thrown into question. Mercenaries were practical people. Those with ability didn't want to take orders from someone else, while those without ability wanted to coast along. Under those circumstances, it was very difficult to develop in peace. What was more, although Lize was a "founding member" of the group, she was too young and worked in a noncombat role, so she couldn't keep anyone in line. And though many mercenaries had witnessed Rhode's strength that day, he was still a newcomer. That would only give later recruits more incentive to challenge him, not make them feel secure.
Lize naturally had her own ideals for her mercenary group. Many groups started out well, but later, for the sake of money, they resorted to murder, arson, fraud, and every other wicked deed. Some groups had even stopped taking jobs altogether and become servants of local lords and nobles, tasked with collecting all kinds of taxes from their subjects. They could no longer be called mercenaries. They were thugs.
Lize certainly didn't want her group to become like that. But she was alone and powerless, and her words wouldn't carry any weight. Rhode's support wouldn't help either. If everyone else opposed her, it would remain nothing more than an empty dream.
For all those reasons, hardly anyone believed Lize's mercenary group could be rebuilt.
"But there's no point talking about all that now."
Seeing that Lize couldn't be persuaded, the old president said no more. He picked up a quill, then glanced at Rhode.
"All right, young man. You've gotten what you wanted. According to the Mercenary Association's rules, when a mercenary group changes leaders, its leader is entitled to change the group's name. Do you have a new name in mind?"
"Starlight."
Rhode answered without hesitation. The old president nodded, bent over the paper, and wrote down the name. Then he picked up the signet ring beside him and pressed it firmly onto the page. Finally, he pushed the paper over.
"Next, just put your thumbprint on this paper or sign your name."
"Of course."
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar sheet of paper before him, Rhode took a deep breath. In the game, forming a group had involved filling out a form, which was easy enough for players. But this worn sheet of paper gave the process a much greater sense of history. He looked at the young woman beside him, and Lize met his gaze and nodded slightly. Rhode drew another deep breath, then signed his name on the paper.
"Ding!"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out in Rhode's mind, and a system notification appeared before him.
[Leader position acquired, Mercenary Corps Construction System activated]
Rhode glanced at it, then quickly put the message out of his mind. He had come to accept it by now. No matter how strange or illogical these things were, they had already appeared in his life. There was no point in wondering where they had come from or how to make them go away. Since they were there, he might as well treat them like the game. So his expression barely changed, and after signing the paper, he pushed it back.
The old man rolled up the scroll. A hint of a smile appeared on his face, but quickly faded.
"Then I'll be watching closely to see how far you can go, youngsters."
"I'm sure we won't disappoint you."
Rhode nodded slightly in reply.
"I hope so."
The old president said nothing more, but in the end, a trace of hesitation crossed his face.
"However... there's something I need to warn you about. Some spies from the Kingdom of Light have recently arrived in the city. I don't know what they're up to, but I recommend that you avoid getting into a conflict with them. It wouldn't be good for anyone."
"I understand."
At the president's warning, Rhode raised an eyebrow.
What was coming had finally arrived.
Only after the two had disappeared from view did the old president give a wry smile and sit down. Then he looked at his old friend.
"What do you think of that young man? I really wonder if he was sent by the people up there."
"You mean Golden City?"
At the old president's question, Sereck smiled helplessly.
"I don't think so. If our little Lize was telling the truth, then she really did meet him by chance."
"But it wasn't by chance that he asked for a mercenary group."
"I know that perfectly well."
This time, Sereck didn't disagree with the old president's assessment.
"Magical weapons, decent strength, and quite... well, handsome? Frankly, he fits our young lady's tastes extremely well. I can understand your suspicion, old friend. But if someone like that had appeared, Golden City would have heard about him by now. You and I both know what that young lady is like. If this young man were her subordinate, she'd never have kept him hidden until now. And besides... that fighting style was bizarre. I've never seen anything like it."
"It wasn't a summoning spell?"
At Sereck's remark, the old president's expression immediately grew serious.
"Of course not, old friend. You've dealt with mages plenty of times. You've seen their summoning spells, haven't you?"
"Of course, but those mysterious mage tricks have always been beyond me..."
"That's why you're a mercenary, old friend. Try reading a book or two."
"All right, enough of that."
At Sereck's mockery, the old president flushed.
"I'll leave that young man to you, Sereck. Keep an eye on him. A few days ago, that bunch of bastards from the Kingdom of Light sneaked into Deepstone City. I've been wondering if they're up to something. Now this young man shows up out of nowhere, and I can't help wondering if he came here for the same reason... Deepstone City doesn't want trouble. At least, the Mercenary Association doesn't."
"Don't worry."
Sereck's expression turned serious, and he nodded slightly.
"I won't let those people cause trouble here."
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