Chapter 117: Negotiations

"Ohh, hello there!" Rex greeted him warmly, his voice carrying a friendly and almost disarming tone. He leaned back on the throne, still casually holding Cleo on his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"My name is Rex. We're just a normal mercenary group that happened to be passing through when we saw the commotion. Thought we'd lend a hand."

The old administrator, whose weathered face betrayed years of hard-earned wisdom, narrowed his eyes. Despite Rex's smile and casual demeanor, there was something unsettling about him. Something that made every instinct in the old man's body scream for him to run.

"If you're mercenaries," the administrator began cautiously, his voice steady despite the cold sweat forming on his back. "Does that mean you're here to demand a reward?"