Renato could tell she was beating around the bush and giving him evasive answers.
Just as he was about to take out some money to give the mercenary a little motivation, Raven suddenly fell silent, her expression turning serious.
"But the most suspicious thing didn't happen recently." The female mercenary deliberately lowered her voice and leaned forward slightly. "In fact, a strange organization rose to prominence in the Gray Zone six years ago."
It seemed she was finally going to be frank with him. Renato did not know why Raven's attitude had suddenly changed, but getting information without paying for it was a good thing nonetheless.
"This organization is called the Mud Swamp Sisterhood." Raven paused, then continued when neither of them reacted. "It's a large mercenary company that controls nearly an eighth of the Gray Zone."
Tristana tightened her grip on the long whip at her waist and said angrily:
"That name alone marks them as a blasphemous organization worshipping a false god! Damn them, they must be wiped out immediately! Kill them all..."
"Be patient, lady." Raven cast a sidelong glance at the young cleric and shrugged. "The name has nothing to do with it. Plenty of people and little outfits in the Gray Zone call themselves Mud. We're all common dirt-poor folk here, after all. How much thought do you expect us to put into names?"
"The point is, this mercenary company had nothing behind it, yet its rise was far too unusual. No money, no influence, no commissions from nobles, and not a single fighter in its ranks with a name worth mentioning in the Gray Zone."
Raven spread her hands in an exaggerated gesture of helplessness.
"Other companies pick the best of the best. They only want capable fighters. But the Mud Swamp Sisterhood takes