A Message from the Shapeshifters

"..." × N

On the silent wasteland, a group of Sarkaz mercenaries sat motionless around a campfire. From afar, they looked as though they were performing some mysterious ritual.

But the truth was...

Why isn't she saying anything... Is she just going to sit there?

A young mercenary frantically signaled to his companion with his eyes.

My ass is numb... How much longer do we have to sit here?

Another mercenary's eye twitched slightly as he struggled to maintain his posture.

How about... you ask her?

A third mercenary gestured with his eyebrows.

Why don't you ask? If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!

The mercenary who received the signal shook his head slightly.

The mercenaries continued their silent discussion. Quite a few cast envious looks at W, who was "sleeping peacefully" beside the fire—

At least she did not have to endure this kind of mental torment.

Meanwhile, Vera, surrounded by everyone at the center, was feeling rather conflicted.

They had agreed to her commission and had even tactfully refrained from bringing up payment.

Thinking that "a certain degree of friendliness should be shown when first establishing a cooperative relationship," she sat down by the fire.

She had intended to discuss the details of the commission with them, but the moment she sat down, Hedley came over and took a seat across from her.

Ines followed closely behind and sat slightly behind Hedley.

Then the remaining mercenaries gathered around one by one, and then... nothing happened.

Everyone simply sat there in silence, waiting for her to issue orders.

Second: What's wrong with these Sarkaz? Is this supposed to be intimidation?

Fourth: ? Do the people over there know how badass they look?

Eldest: Maybe it's their custom.

Third: ...Could it be that they're just waiting for you to speak first?

Vera: "..."

She took a light breath, and that faint sound instantly made every mercenary straighten his back.

"Is there anything you would like to add regarding the commission?"

Hedley let out a breath, his tense shoulders sinking slightly—this young lady had finally decided to speak. "We need to replenish our supplies first," Hedley immediately seized the chance to say.

"The previous battle drained us badly. We urgently need weapons and food. Also..." He paused and glanced at his companions.

"We need to expand our ranks. With our current numbers alone, it will be difficult to build a reputation big enough to attract Babel Tower's attention."

Vera's gaze swept over the Sarkaz mercenaries seated around the fire.

Every one of them was powerfully built and carried the murderous aura of battle-hardened veterans. There were not many of them, but each was sturdier than the last.

"Does your mercenary group specialize in elite operations?"

The question put puzzled expressions on the mercenaries' faces.

Elite? Us?

"No."

Ines took over the conversation.

She sharply noticed that this woman seemed to lack even a basic understanding of mercenary affairs, making the suspicion in her heart clearer.

"We adjust the size of our team according to the mission requirements and the payment. Most of the time, we take small reconnaissance and harassment jobs."

She pointed around them.

"The people you see here are those who survived the last few missions and have not yet found anywhere better to go."

"Today, we may be acting together. Tomorrow, we may part ways because of different jobs, or... die in some unknown corner."

Hedley nodded and added:

"We need to take on a few commissions with enough weight and payment as soon as possible. That will let us replenish our losses and attract capable mercenaries to join us."

"A stable team and resources are the foundation for completing your commission."

Vera listened in silence, her eyes flickering slightly.

"If you completed difficult missions with only your current manpower, wouldn't your reputation grow even faster?"

Hedley hesitated for a moment before answering honestly:

"It would... A small team that repeatedly completes difficult commissions is more likely to draw the attention of major powers. But..."

His tone shifted, becoming grave.

"The price would be an extremely high casualty rate. It is very likely..."

"I'll be responsible for helping you complete the missions," Vera interrupted him calmly.

"I'll handle any combat-related problems."

Hedley swallowed the rest of his words.

What else could he do when this young lady had put it that way?

Ines glanced at Hedley. It was rare to see him make that expression...

She took over. "Then we can first select a few suitable commissions and obtain some initial supplies and intelligence."

"Once the supplies are ready, we can head directly to Scar Market and begin building our reputation. What do you think?"

Hedley said nothing, tacitly accepting Ines's arrangement.

Vera frowned. She still felt the process was too slow.

"Supplies... If you do not need to participate in combat, can we skip the initial buildup and go directly to Scar Market?"

"But food and basic provisions..." Hedley looked troubled.

"I'll provide them," Vera said without hesitation.

The moment she said that, not only Hedley but all the mercenaries instinctively turned their eyes toward Vera—

In her light outfit—one could even call it sexy—she did not look like someone capable of carrying large quantities of food.

Hedley sighed inwardly. In his view, her so-called "provision" was merely an empty promise.

But he did not dare contradict her and could only force himself to say:

"...If that is the case, then theoretically, we can leave immediately."

"Good." Vera rose to her feet at once, her decisiveness astonishing.

"I'll prepare food and medicine. As for weapons... I'll consider it depending on the situation."

Looking down at Hedley and Ines, she issued her orders.

"Rest here. I'll return tomorrow morning."

With that, before anyone could respond, her figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

"..." × N

The dead silence lasted several seconds before suppressed discussion broke out.

"What did she just say?" A mercenary dug at his ear, suspecting he had misheard.

"She's covering food... and even medicine???" Another mercenary's voice was full of disbelief.

For mercenaries like them, who had no fixed organization and struggled to survive in the cracks, being able to fill their stomachs was already good enough. Medicine was an outright luxury!

Minor injuries were endured through sheer toughness. Serious injuries meant waiting to die.

That was why Hedley had mentioned only food and weapons earlier. He had not even dared hope for medicine—

No employer would be kind enough to provide expensive treatment for disposable cannon fodder hired for a single job.

As for comrades? In resource-starved Kazdel, it already counted as exemplary moral character if your companions did not stab you in the back.

Hedley and Ines exchanged a glance, and both saw the absurdity in the other's eyes.

She did not seem to be joking, and given the abilities she had displayed, she seemingly had no need to deceive them over something like this.

Could it be... she had been telling the truth?

All the mercenaries turned their eyes toward the place where Vera had disappeared.

For the first time, these numb mercenaries felt a glimmer of hope they had never dared imagine.

Elsewhere...

[Vera: Third, have you found any food over there?]

[Gorth: I think I saw bears... Have you run out of food at home?]

[Vera: No... (brief explanation of the reason)]

[Gregor: The medicine you mentioned wouldn't be...]

[Vera: It's the red potions, but I plan to dilute them with water.]

[Vane: Second, aren't you being a little too heartless? They're risking their lives for you, and you're giving them fake medicine?]

[Gorth: Is it possible... that the fake medicine works even better than the real thing?]

[Vera: It can't be helped. We're poor, so this is all we can do. By the way, why are you still here, Fourth?]

[Vane: Uh...]

[Vera: Don't tell me... you're still playing games with Ifrit!]

[Vane: She's asleep! She's going to sleep right now!]

[Vera: Let Ifrit go to sleep... Come to the Nursery. We need to discuss something.]

A short while later, everyone gathered together.

Gregor spoke first:

[What is it? Another new idea?]

Vera did not answer directly. Instead, she turned to Gorth, who was standing quietly to one side.

"Third, did you get any blue coins from this Dungeon run?"

Gorth shook his head, his voice full of helplessness.

"Not a single one. The chests only gave me a few... bricks."

As he spoke, he pulled several heavy "gold bricks" from the shadows.

"Th-Those are Originium gold, aren't they!?" Vane's eyes widened instantly.

"Hard currency on Terra! Are you sure those came out of Dungeon chests?"

"Sure."

After receiving confirmation, Vane stroked his chin with a puzzled expression.

"That's strange... Could it be that after we crossed over, even the Dungeon reward system became localized? No more blue coins, just specialty resources from this world instead?"

Gregor did not dwell on the reason for the change in resources. He was more concerned with why Vera had raised the question.

[You asked about the blue coin gains. Do you have a new idea?]

Vera was silent for a moment before speaking.

"I think... perhaps we should actively farm the Dungeon once."

Kazdel, temporary Military Commission base.

Under the dim light, the brawny pink-haired Sarkaz tapped his fingers against the tabletop, frowning as he stared at the battle report before him.

A hoarse voice sounded from the shadows beside him:

"Being enemies with Her Highness seems to have given you quite the headache, my student."

Theresis turned and looked at the tall figure slowly emerging from the ground.

The figure was wrapped from head to toe in old bandages, radiating a powerful aura of decay.

"Teacher... You could simply come in through the door."

"Spare me," Nachzehrer said, shaking his head.

"The doorframe here is too low. You have to lower your head every time you go through it, don't you?"

"...I'll have someone make a taller one." Theresis rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"There is no need to waste effort on such a trivial matter..." Nachzehrer waved his hand, his gaze falling on the documents on the table.

"What is it? What has made my most outstanding student wear such an expression? Has the war gone badly?"

Theresis did not answer directly. Instead, he handed the battle report to Nachzehrer.

Nachzehrer took it and quickly scanned the information on the paper.

"Hmm... This tactical style does not resemble Her Highness's, nor does it resemble that Feline's..."

Theresis stood and walked to the window, looking out at Kazdel's gloomy sky.

"Theresa has found an extraordinary helper. She has always been like this..."

"From your tone... are you happy for Her Highness? Happy that she has finally found the strength to oppose you?"

"..." Theresis remained silent and did not turn around.

"Heh... I was joking." Nachzehrer shook his head.

"Theresis, I should not have disturbed you so late, but there is indeed something I had to come for."

"Please, Teacher."

"It is from the Shapeshifter Cluster... They asked me to deliver a question."

"The Shapeshifters?" Theresis frowned. Why would those freeloaders, who usually stayed out of everything, take the initiative to send a message?

"What do they want?"

Nachzehrer was silent for a moment, as if choosing his words, before slowly asking:

"Before this... did you and Her Highness ever privately conduct any experiments concerning the revival or fusion of ancient bloodlines?"

"Experiments?" Theresis frowned even more deeply as he carefully thought back.

"No. Theresa and I may have differed in our ideals, but we never privately conducted dangerous experiments in that regard."

"If there were experiments... could it have been the Confessarii?"

"No, it has nothing to do with the Confessarii." Nachzehrer interrupted him, then hesitantly continued.

"...Your Highness once used the Black Crown to confirm that the Flame Demons of this world had truly been completely wiped out, right?"

"Flame Demons?" Theresis froze, utterly unprepared for the subject to turn to this powerful Sarkaz branch that had long vanished into the river of history.

"Yes, she confirmed it. The Black Crown's response was that Flame Demon blood had already been cut off."

"Teacher, what exactly are you and the Shapeshifter trying to say? What do Flame Demons have to do with the current war?"

"Mm..."

Nachzehrer fell into an even longer silence, for even he found what he was about to say somewhat absurd.

"Perhaps... the Shapeshifter had left too hastily at the time, and the information was relayed incorrectly. Or perhaps these old ears of mine heard wrong..."

"What exactly did he say?" Theresis's patience was nearly exhausted.

Nachzehrer raised his head and slowly repeated the news that even he found hard to believe:

"The Shapeshifter said... their avatar in Columbia observed a Flame Demon appearing."

"And... it had already sunk a mobile city."

Theresis: "???"

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