"From what I've heard, the first contribution settlement was actually paid by the Pieta Alliance... Wow... Did we really do a good job this time??? Should I say it's all thanks to you, hyung? You personally protected the Alliance Lord there, and even saved his life during this quest."
Swish!
Thomas stuck out his tongue as he handed Eugene the statement of account.
This is because the amount of money that the Pieta Foundation supported and paid as compensation was enormous.
Of course, Thomas was in charge of the finances of the Red Fox Mercenaries, so expectations were high.
However, I can't help but feel bewildered as the amount that was paid was three times more than expected.
"Everyone worked hard. The results were clear. As Commander Antonio said when he first met us, the most important things in this project were skill and trust. Judging by the results alone, we're a mercenary group that's achieved both. I don't think it's excessive compensation."
Seal...look...! Seal...look...!
Eugene read the statement Thomas had handed him and gave a formulaic answer.
We all did well.
It is a sufficient reward for the results achieved through mutual trust and confidence and by doing one's best.
But inside, he was trying to control the corners of his mouth from going up, as if he found this situation quite amusing.
‘It’s a really strange feeling… I’m sure I got it for doing a good job, but on the other hand, I can’t help but feel like I got it because I was fucking really good at playing.’
There must be a reason why Eugene is different.
In his eyes, it was read as the result of him satisfying Vivian too much.
In other words, it can be seen as the material and spiritual support of Vivian, a female who wants to look good in front of her beloved man, Eugene Schneider.
Anyway, now that we're in this situation of being so far apart, wouldn't you want to continue to make your presence felt by pouring in money?
“So, the leader went to find out about the village workers and their children?”
Eugene Schneider, who looked at the transcript, mentioned Jeanne.
Jeanne headed to a carpenter village outside Pangaea.
Having heard in advance that the Mercenary Association would be providing funds, Jeanne, without hesitation, set about securing the manpower and materials to build a mercenary village.
"Yes, that's right. The Empire is currently holding all of Pangea's internal manpower, hyung. We'll have to go out and find enough manpower to build a village."
Thomas explained in detail why Jeanne had gone beyond Pangaea.
In relation to the increase in monsters, the empire has unknowingly begun and is planning large-scale construction projects here and there.
As a result, blacksmiths, carpenters, and laborers in large cities and easily accessible areas tend to avoid other long-term jobs unless they have a particularly large amount of wealth.
There's one reason the Empire manages them, and that's because getting involved in the Empire's massive businesses allows you to rise in tier as a technician.
“Hmm... So in the end, it’ll just be you, me, and Marie that have to go, just like the captain said.”
Eugene nodded slowly after hearing what Thomas had said, accepting Jeanne's situation.
Jeanne instructed Eugene to go to the area near Jebodang, where the Red Fox Mercenary Corps village would soon be located, and to take a closer look to see if there were any other threats.
If you just use mercenaries as a unit, there's no need to go that far.
Since we plan to live with the children of the slums, we thought we needed to provide a much more detailed estimate and make supplementary provisions.
Eugene was just going to go with Jeanne when she returned from her business trip.
It seemed like she was thinking that they would have to move separately since her schedule seemed to be longer than expected.
**********
“Oh... I thought I knew a lot about the report since I’d been back and forth a few times, but that wasn’t the case at all.”
Two days later, Eugene Schneider, as planned, headed to the Jebodang with Thomas and Marie.
So we arrived at around noon.
Then, after a brief greeting with the villagers of Jebodang,
I carefully and meticulously examined the site where the mercenary village was to be built and its surroundings for about an hour.
Then he started to see things he hadn't noticed before, and his expression became quite interesting.
“There was a waterfall~!”
Swaaaah! Swaaaah!
Because a really awesome waterfall came into view.
There was a section with a long cliff and a waterfall at the end of it.
It was so large that the waterfall was clearly visible even though it was located more than 1km away.
"I mentioned something like that during the Goblin Quest. I said this place was once heavily used for smuggling. The area where people live has been reclaimed and settled for a long time, but the surrounding area is still quite rugged."
“Oh... right, I remember you saying that.”
Thomas began to diligently share what he knew.
Pangea was a fairly famous city even during the time of Phaedon's wars.
At that time, it was the capital of the kingdom that occupied this land, and its surroundings were so rugged that it was considered a fortress beyond the sky.
There is a history of Jebodang being used as one of the key outposts of the fortress.
"Still, it's a mercenary village, so these elements are necessary. It needs to be easy to defend. Of course, it could be a danger to children. But that could be resolved with proper barricades and regular safety education."
Thud, thud, thud,
Eugene began to explore the cliff section in earnest.
A sheer cliff, the cliff extending for several kilometers.
Also, the cliff was about 30 to 40 meters high, and below it, the water from the huge waterfall in the distance formed a small river and flowed quickly in a meandering manner.
When I actually walked around it, it was even more rugged than I had pictured in my head.
But it's also good for making a fortress, so it ultimately depends on how you handle it.
“Oh, what time is it?”
Eugene, Thomas, and Marie continued to inspect the cliff section for about 20 minutes.
Then Thomas looked at the time check stone and reacted.
"Hyung, I'll stop by Jebodang Village for a bit and then come back. The locals there said they'd like to treat us to lunch. I thought it would be a good idea for me to go and bring some food over here."
It was because there was a reason why I had to walk towards Jebodang Village.
The people of Jebodang Village now consider the Red Fox Mercenaries not just neighbors but family.
So, when Eugene said he would stop by, they said they would treat him to lunch and started moving busily from the morning.
However, since I couldn't bother Eugene who came to see me for work, I thought of bringing the food to the site.
So, Thomas decided that it would be safer to go out and help out himself.
"Okay, Thomas, I'll look around a bit more and then head out to the mercenary village grounds."
“Okay, I understand, Eugene!”
"Then, Captain Thomas! I'll just meet you up there and then come back!"
“Haha! Okay, Marie.”
Eugene decided to go back after looking around.
Marie said she would come to meet Thomas because she wanted to talk to him privately.
‘Hmm...’
Thud, thud, thud,
So Thomas and Marie left for a while.
After the two people left, Eugene looked around with a thoughtful expression and began walking along the cliff path again.
‘Since that day, it seems like Mina has been avoiding me a little?’
The background of his intent expression was more influenced by thoughts other than what he was doing at the time.
That's exactly what I thought about Mina,
Eugene Schneider noticed that Mina's appearance was different after her volunteer work in the slums.
Of course, Mina is still kind to Eugene and works hard at what she has been given.
But somehow, that inexplicable current? That's what I've been feeling since that moment: Eugene Schneider.
‘I thought you’d be really happy when I asked you to come with me today…’
The decisive blow to it is the situation today.
In fact, Eugene was able to come to the reporting party yesterday.
But I chose today on purpose.
The reason was to ask Mina to go with me.
Anyway, she is also a blacksmith, so there will be a lot to look into regarding the site.
Eugene thought that the children would be quite pleased to actually see the place where they would spend their time.
However, Mina looked apologetic at Eugene's surprise proposal and politely declined.
Of course, it could be that she reacted that way because something really urgent was going on.
When Eugene saw it, it didn't feel like he was being rejected for that reason at all.
There must be another reason.
"Was that slightly puffy eye from crying? What happened?"
And all of this is what happens after Eugene notices Mina's eyes are slightly swollen while she's playing with the kids, which makes him even more concerned.
So Eugene continued to walk, looking at the river winding down the cliff with such a contemplative expression on his face.
But at that moment,
Phew!
A sharp gust of wind blew in.
"Where should we eat~? It feels like we're having a picnic for the first time in a while~?"
After seeing Thomas off and finishing her story, Marie started walking back towards Eugene.
The fields are filled with the scent of summer because it is early summer.
Looking at that place, Marie vividly recalls her childhood memories of going on picnics with her older siblings without knowing anything about the place.
"But what's wrong, Mina? I think this is the first time she's been so careful with me."
Marie, who was fully enjoying the picnic atmosphere, tilted her head.
Because Mina had been telling her that it would be better to be a little more careful about safety when she went to the reporting party separately.
If she was someone who usually said things like that, she wouldn't know, but since this was something she had never said to Mina in the nearly six months she had known her, Marie was puzzled.
In fact, the reason she had just seen Thomas off was because she wanted to stay by Thomas' side and carry out Mina's orders.
‘Has Captain Eugene already gone in?’
After seeing Thomas off safely, Marie headed back towards Eugene.
“!!!!!!!!”
Her eyes widened.
“Huh!”
Tilt!!
Because Eugene, who was hit by a dagger and a secret weapon, was on the verge of losing his balance and falling off the edge of a cliff.
“Brother!!!!!”
Dadadadadada!
Upon recognizing the sight, Marie ran towards it.
-Chooaaaah!!
However, Eugene completely lost his balance and started falling down a cliff about 30 meters away.
-Splash!!!
Eventually, I fell into the rough and winding river.
“Assault Captain, Brother! Brother!!”
Marie reached the edge of the cliff, her face pale, and she looked down at the river below the cliff where Eugene had fallen and shouted.
at that time,
Paaaa ...
A black object emerged from the sheer bushes just beside the cliff.
Shuaaaah!!
And the object began to fall straight down the cliff.