Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?
Chapter 61 - 61 50 Undermining the Foundation

61: Chapter 50 Undermining the Foundation 61: Chapter 50 Undermining the Foundation Joining the Steel Cross Mercenary Group’s employment procession was unexpectedly smooth.

Perhaps it was because the Steel Cross was short-staffed for this operation, or because there weren’t many mercenaries nearby.

The prosperous Imperial City of Constantinople, like a black hole, had sucked away all the mercenaries from the Thrace Province, enabling the Steel Cross to spread their recruitment without any qualifications, yet they managed to hire only about a hundred mercenaries.

Such a small number of people thrown into the mountains was hardly expected to make a splash.

The price for being hired was five dinars per day, a relatively low rate in the mercenary business.

However, considering there was no need to engage in combat and the job was merely to assist the Steel Cross in finding someone in the mountains, the price seemed quite reasonable.

After all, jobs paying dozens or even pounds of dinars were available everywhere, but they were dangerous tasks that risked lives.

By comparison, grinding a whole day in the mountains and then taking the money was not unacceptable.

The assembly location was in a deserted castle at the northern foothills of the Rhodope Mountain.

As the mercenaries trickled into the hall, they saw Steel Cross’s Gothic Knights lined up with their hands behind their backs, their expressions solemn and strict.

Standing on the second floor’s balcony was a Steel Knight in Power Armor, leaning against the railing and looking at everyone with boredom.

“Divine Luo Knights?” Medea frowned as she spoke.

“I heard that those who can wear Power Armor in Divine Luo are at least knights with their own lands,” said Nora in surprise.

“Do knights also become mercenaries?”

“That information is outdated,” Aske said, “At this time, Emperor Otto has already cracked the Church Court’s armor technology and started producing Power Armor on a large scale domestically.

Later when we get the chance, we can also go to Divine Luo and buy a few sets.”

“Listen up, mercenaries!” Seeing that the mercenaries below had all gathered, the armored knight on the second floor took out a loudspeaker and shouted at them:

“Those who have come here are mostly willing to accept our Steel Cross’s hiring to go into the mountains to search for the wanted criminal by the Church Court, Fengkexim, right?”

“I’ll emphasize the price again, those who accept the hiring will get two dinars on the spot;”

“After today, if Fengkexim is not found, come here to get the remaining three dinars.”

“If someone is lucky enough to find Fengkexim’s traces and we verify the clues as genuine, we will pay them five pounds as a reward on the spot!”

“Of course, some sly guys might think, ‘I’ll take the two dinars and then slip away, can the Steel Cross catch me?'”

“Let me put it this way, if you want to take advantage of those few dinars, we don’t lack this money.

What we want are valid clues!”

“You don’t have to confront Fengkexim directly; just find his traces and come back to report to us immediately!

I emphasize the reward again, five pounds!”

The armored knight’s speech immediately stirred up a noisy clamor among the mercenaries below.

Obviously, some mercenaries who might have come with the idea of ‘taking the money and then idling around in the mountains’ now had their attention drawn to the “five pounds” reward.

If they didn’t find Fengkexim, they’d only get five dinars a day.

But if they did find him, the compensation would immediately increase a hundredfold!

Faced with such a price comparison, most mercenaries immediately abandoned their plans to slack off and started enthusiastically planning to search vigorously in the mountains.

After all, finding a clue was entirely up to luck, and like gamblers, people always subconsciously think they are the luckiest.

Soon, the Gothic Knights set up tables below, and large bags of silver coins were thrown onto the tables.

Unlike the banknotes commonly used in the East Solomon Empire, the Divine Luo mercenaries preferred to use these weighty gold and silver coins for payment.

Opening the mouth of the bag, the beautiful gleam of silver coins almost dazzled the mercenaries’ eyes, so they quickly lined up orderly to collect their money.

“Two silver coins.” The Gothic Knight on the other side of the table took out two silver coins from the bag and tossed them into the hands of the mercenaries.

The Gothic Knight next to him, holding a smartphone, took a photo of the mercenary who received the silver coins, then impatiently waved his hand and urged, “Move along!”

“They’re taking photos too?” At the back of the line, seeing the clicking ahead, Nora immediately showed a noticeably worried expression.

“Probably to prevent people from getting paid twice,” Medea said coldly.

“Do you have a problem?” Aske noticed her uneasiness.

“I might not be comfortable being photographed,” Nora said, frowning.

Her older sister Kapaxilin knew the higher-ups of the Steel Cross, so conversely, they might also recognize her, Kapaxilin’s sister.

Being recognized would be troublesome.

“Yes, with our looks, who knows what filthy things they might do looking at our photos stored in their phones,” Medea thought of another issue and shook her head in disgust, “I can’t bear the thought alone.”

“Then just skip the photo,” Aske suggested.

Soon, it was their turn in line, and Aske, leading the way, pointed to the two girls behind him:

“We are together.

Just take my photo.”

“That won’t do,” the Gothic Knight declined, “You only photograph her alone, what if those two queue up again for the money?”

“Come on, how many female mercenaries are there here?” Aske laughed, “You can recognize them without the photo anyway.”

It seemed the negotiation had taken too long, and the mercenaries behind started clamoring.

This alarmed the Armored Knight who was speaking earlier, and he came over with some men to ask, “What’s going on?”

The Gothic Swordsman briefly explained the situation in a few words.

The Armored Knight nodded, saying,

“Female mercenaries, eh?

No need for photos then.

Just give them the money.”

His gaze fell on Nora and Medea, suddenly noticing Nora’s medical backpack at her waist, “Field medic?”

“Military Nun,” Aske corrected.

“Oh,” murmured the Armored Knight, introducing himself, “I am Andrea, currently the Leader of the Steel Cross Mercenaries’ Eastern Division.”

“Nice to meet you,” Aske said, “I’m the Leader of The Azure Longsword Mercenary Corps.”

Andrea: ??

The Gothic Knights behind him exchanged glances.

Damn, this isn’t the right reaction, is it?

When our leader previously introduced himself, shouldn’t the response be something like “Wow, you’re a high-ranking official from the Steel Cross Mercenaries” filled with admiration?

What kind of equal self-introduction is this?

Do you even qualify?

“After hearing about you for so long,” Andrea reluctantly said after a long silence, still being polite.

“Eh, you’ve heard of our ‘The Azure Longsword’s’ great reputation?” Aske said, surprised.

“Pfft!” Medea couldn’t help but laugh, the charm that suddenly flashed almost dazzled the Gothic Swordsmen behind.

Andrea’s eye twitched, barely swallowing the curse “Who the hell knows you”.

Besides being a Mercenary Leader, he was also a minor lord under Bavaria, thus he had some basic noble poise and simply nodded with difficulty,

“Uh… I have heard… before…”

“That’s great,” Aske smiled, “Then I look forward to a pleasant collaboration this time.”

This time Andrea was silent even longer, finally saying, “Definitely.”

Taking the six silver coins given by the Gothic Swordsman, Aske turned to the two ladies, “Let’s go.”

Armored Knight Andrea also turned away as if a burden had been lifted, suddenly feeling like something was off.

Wait, what was I about to say?

“Wait a moment!” He quickly called out to the three just as they were leaving, stepping up to Nora and asking, “This lady, are you a Military Nun?”

“Yes,” Nora nodded, “Is there something you need?”

“I, on behalf of the Steel Cross Mercenaries, extend a sincere invitation to you,” Andrea earnestly said, “Offering you the position of Advanced Healer in our Eastern Division.

If you’re interested, please consider it.”

“Oh, trying to poach, I see,” Medea joked with a laugh, “Aske, your team is facing a crisis.”

Before Aske could even respond, Nora politely declined, “Thank you, but I’m not interested.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you must be a full-time Military Nun from the Solomon Theological Academy,” Andrea continued, “Across the whole continent, each year less than sixty Military Nuns graduate: half of them stay in Solomon City, joining the Church Court or St.

Maria Hospital; a quarter take positions in various royal courts as personal medics for nobility;”

“Less than ten enter the mercenary industry, and they mostly choose well-known large mercenary groups.

In this regard, our Steel Cross offers quite generous terms in the industry, providing a monthly salary of twenty pounds.”

“I’m sorry, it’s not about the money,” Nora continued to decline politely.

It’s not about money?

Could this “The Azure Longsword” mercenary group possibly offer more than twenty pounds a month?

Andrea’s thoughts raced.

If it’s not about money…

His gaze landed on Aske.

Hmm, he seems to have Dragon Country heritage by his looks, this exotic handsome man, likely very admired by naïve young ladies.

So, it’s a matter of the heart.

“Mr.

Aske, the Leader.” Since he couldn’t sway the girl, might as well try her significant other.

Looking at Aske, Andrea tested the waters, “Would you be interested in joining our Steel Cross Mercenaries’ Eastern Division?”

“I’ve already formed my own mercenary corps,” Aske said.

Damn it!

Andrea cursed inwardly, your so-called “The Azure Longsword,” similar names can be found by the hundreds across the continent, who knows some unknown small mercenary corps!

How could it be more promising than joining us at Steel Cross?

After being rejected three times in a row, he finally lost his patience and merely forced a smile,

“If that’s the case, I hope we have the opportunity to cooperate in the future.”

“Aren’t we cooperating now?” Aske said, perplexed.

Andrea turned away expressionlessly, plunging into deep confusion.

Why was communicating with these people so exhausting?

Just then, a mocking voice suddenly came from outside,

“Hey, outsourcing hires at five dinars a day, regular employment at twenty pounds a month, when did Steel Cross become so wealthy?

Can my brothers join too?”

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