Chapter 27: What a big order
Hearing the count’s answer,
Lortissa let out a slight breath of relief,
while a flicker of determination passed through her eyes.
Her question was not only for Weiss but also for herself.
It was just about driving them away—no other price attached.
Even if he had to leave, she could escort him herself.
At worst, after the Erchao cleanup was complete and she had fulfilled her duties, she’d resign as soldier captain and leave together with him.
She glanced toward the young man standing beneath the dais.
His emerald eyes shone brightly, as if silently warning him not to take unnecessary risks.
“—So, Mr. Weiss, what is your opinion?”
Count Leicester made the final inquiry.
The officers around the council table remained standing, their eyes burning as they looked over here.
Yet, amid this tense atmosphere, Weiss’s eyes nearly glowed with radiance.
In his vision, countless tiny points of light rose from each officer present,
brighter and denser than any commissioning he had seen before, like innumerable tiny stars converging into a mini-galactic beam.
The brilliance was almost overwhelming, tempting him to reveal a look of wild joy.
(So many… so many willpower points! How many could that be? A hundred? Five hundred? A thousand?! Jackpot! This time, I really hit the jackpot! This one mission alone could cover two or three months of hard work!)
Weiss forcibly suppressed the twitch at the corner of his mouth and the pounding in his chest, striving to keep a calm expression, lest his greed and delight be fully exposed.
Perhaps assuming he was deep in thought, Count Leicester made no move to rush him, giving him time to carefully weigh his decision.
Silence fell over the tent, and the others held their breath, awaiting his answer.
Norsen wore a confident smile, as if victory was already in sight.
Lortissa’s fists clenched tighter and tighter, nearly bursting to speak again—if you don’t know how to politely refuse, maybe I should just say it for you…
At last, Weiss slowly lifted his head. His expression turned grave and resolute, as though he had made a tremendously difficult yet unwavering decision.
“Your Excellency, noble lords, I, Weiss, am but a mercenary, a wandering soldier. I am honored by your esteem and sincere request.”
He placed extra emphasis on the word “request,” clearly highlighting that this was their appeal.
“No one wishes to see the tragedy of two years ago repeated. Peace on the border is also my wish. The Erchao is a catastrophe that concerns all humanity; everyone bears an unshirkable responsibility to stand against it.”
His words carried a weight that skillfully matched the fervor Norsen had just stirred.
“Since the Erchao remnants within me can contribute to the current crisis—”
He paused as if steeling himself for the final resolve, locking eyes with Count Leicester.
“I have heard your expectations clearly. I accept this responsibility.”
As his words fell, the tension in the tent suddenly relaxed, erupting into a low murmur of relief and agreement.
Many officers showed expressions of comfort and approval, their gazes toward Weiss becoming noticeably more friendly.
“Good!”
Count Leicester’s hand lightly struck the table, his aged voice tinged with praise.
“The young man has ambition and courage. The kingdom will not forget your contribution and will reward you handsomely afterward.”
Norsen’s smile grew even brighter, though its warmth never reached his eyes.
The preparations had undoubtedly succeeded up to this point,
and this troublesome mercenary had finally been placed in the most dangerous position.
Although the plan to have Murphiana disable him in a sparring match unexpectedly failed—
underestimating this guy’s resilience—
it nonetheless served the purpose of spreading the news that Lortissa had brought back such a mercenary.
Bringing this up to Count Leicester would no longer feel abrupt, nor overly targeted.
Norsen bowed slightly, showing flawless etiquette toward the count and all present:
“Your Excellency, fellow border army comrades, and Mr. Weiss, now that we’ve reached an agreement, there is no time to lose. I suggest we immediately begin preparations for the hunting operation.
Setting up the bait using Erchao residue activation and guiding runes will take some time, and we must also quickly select the elite decapitation team and finalize the ambush location.”
Count Leicester nodded:
“Agreed. Knight Commander Norsen, since this is your proposed plan, you shall take primary responsibility. All company officers present are at your disposal. Coordinate promptly to draft a detailed plan and report back by tomorrow noon.”
“As you command, Your Excellency.”
Norsen responded respectfully, a gleam of cunning satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
He turned to the officers, giving Lortissa an extra glance, wearing the perfect cooperative smile:
“Then, gentlemen, your cooperation with the operation plan will be much appreciated. Especially you, Lady Lortissa, having faced the Soul-Eating Deity yourself, you possess unparalleled strength within the border army. The hunting squad must be built around you. Once again, we look forward to working closely with you.”
Lortissa’s face remained expressionless, her emerald eyes icy cold.
Whatever this noble knight truly thought, merely placing Weiss in harm’s way was enough to stoke her fury.
But she understood all too well that arguing now was futile.
The most important thing was how to maximize Weiss’s safety during the actual mission.
The young soldier captain only nodded slightly in acknowledgment, saying nothing more.
Seeing this, the count waved his hand: “Very well, discuss the details among yourselves. Be thorough and prudent. Meeting adjourned.”
The officers saluted one after another and began to exit the command tent in an orderly fashion.
Many cast encouraging and approving glances at Weiss as they passed, some even lightly patting his shoulder.
“Well done, kid!”
“They say mercenaries are cowardly, but you’ve shown admirable courage.”
“For the kingdom, cooperate well.”
Weiss forced a smile in response, but inside he was frantically calculating.
(Hiss… if I can smoothly collect those willpower points from them, that’s at least half a ten-pull worth…)
When Norsen passed by Weiss, his steps hesitated slightly, and he whispered in a voice only they could hear, accompanied by a light laugh:
“A wise choice, Mr. Weiss. I look forward to your ‘spectacular’ performance.”
His smile remained courteous, retaining the grace and elegance befitting a noble,
but the subtle undertone in his tone left Weiss feeling oddly uneasy.
After most had left, Weiss followed suit and stepped outside.
Before he had taken more than a few steps, Lortissa hurried up to him, her eyes fixed intently on his face:
“You—why did you agree?”
More than a simple question, her tone carried a reproach, mingled with a scolding for his momentary recklessness.