บท 25: Chapter 25: Change of Plans... again
After a while, Zaos reached the delivery location. It was a small cottage situated in a remote forest.
He walked over to the cottage and knocked on the door.
*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*
His knocks echoed through the still forest, breaking the silence that hung in the air.
[What a nice place to live.] Zaos thought in awe.
"Who is it?" A grumpy male voice sounded from behind the door. His unpleasant voice brought Zaos out of his daze.
"I'm a mercenary here to deliver the requested dwelops," Zaos responded with bitterness.
[I feel like I'm running a cheap delivery service.] As an individual who had been wealthy all his life, the sudden change in his situation was difficult to adjust to.
[I need funds to get stronger, and strength comes before everything else… ] Zaos recited his personal mantra with a slight grimace on his face.
"Oh, give me a moment." The voice said as Zaos perceived movement from behind the door. A moment later, the door swung open.
An elf with black colored hair and deep wrinkles on his long face appeared.
"Gimme the stuff." He said in a repulsive tone.
"My payment," Zaos replied simply.
"Of course, I remember! Give me the dwelops and I'll hand you the mana gems! Do kids these days have no respect?!" The old dark elf spat out in annoyance.
[This old twig!] Zaos' mood was already sour, and the old man's words only added fuel to the fire.
As much as he wanted to curse back at the old man, he swallowed his pride and handed the latter the dwelops. After all, he needed the mana gems.
"Learn your place next time!" The old man threw the mana gems to the floor.
Zaos snapped. A large amount of killing intent radiated from his body and locked onto the old man.
The old elf's expression turned pale as he gasped for breath.
"It seems… you wish to die." Zaos spoke in a demonic tone as he reached towards the old man.
"Y-you, what are you doing?!" The old man fell to his feet while pointing at Zaos with shaking hands.
Seeing how powerless and terrified the old elf was, Zaos shook his head as he recalled his killing intent.
"Trash." He spat out those words and left the area. He didn't bother picking up the Mana gems on the floor.
After Zaos left the scene, the old man finally dared to speak back.
"B*stard! Better not let me see you around here again!" He threw empty threats.
Zaos was already on his way back to the mercenary city, he didn't care about the old man's words or subsequent actions and instead focused on something else.
[The life of a mercenary isn't for me. The risk it possesses is high while the rewards are meager… ] Many tasks assigned to mercenaries were clan-related, but for now, Zaos wanted to have few interactions with clans. He had planned to ignore missions from clans and instead complete tasks given by individuals, even if it meant forgoing the substantial benefits that clan-related missions provided.
However, after his dealings with the old dark elf, Zaos changed his mind.
As Zaos returned to the mercenary city, his mind raced with possibilities. Suddenly, an idea crossed his mind, causing him to stop abruptly and face-palm.
[How could I forget the most profitable venture; crime!] Zaos reminisced. As the boss of the greatest Mafia group in Pinewood City, Zaos was extremely wealthy. Compared to his parents who were business tycoons, Zaos was 10x wealthier!
[Hmm, but what should I do?] Zaos contemplated as he resumed running through the overgrown path.
[Joining a large organization won't work. I might attract unwanted attention. Then… a smaller group?] Zaos pondered this deeply.
[The gangs in the mercenary city should suffice.] Zaos decided and continued the rest of his journey silently.
Before long, Zaos returned to the mercenary city. He swiftly navigated the streets and arrived at the guild hall. He went straight to the front desk and addressed the receptionists stationed there.
"I wish to cancel my contract," Zaos stated plainly.
"Huh?" The receptionist was a male dark elf, he was the receptionist Zaos had interacted with when he came to retrieve his identification pass.
"Um, you are?" The receptionist asked.
"I'm Zaos." Responded Zaos.
"Mister Zaos, when did you join the guild?" The receptionist began searching for Zaos' contract in a compartment on the desk.
"Yesterday," Zaos answered.
The dark-elven receptionist stopped his actions and gave Zaos a peculiar look.
"Is there any specific reason?" The receptionist asked curiously.
"No, I'm just not suited for the job." Zaos shook his head.
A hint of disdain flashed across the receptionist's eyes as he gazed at Zaos.
"Mister Zaos, if you were to leave the guild now, you will be blacklisted." The receptionist spoke in a less friendly tone.
[Tsk. Although the Raven Guild is strong, the leader or leaders are at most high elves, what's there to be afraid of?] Zaos scoffed to himself.
"Alright." He answered in a neutral tone.
"Good! You may leave now Mister Zaos, your contract with the guild will be canceled and you are no longer allowed entry into the guild, your identification pass(city pass), and identification card(mercenary car) will also be revoked." The receptionist spoke with a sour expression.
After handing over the required items, Zaos left the guild hall.
[The Red Lotus gang should be around here, right?] Zaos pondered as he headed towards the south side of the settlement.
The Red Lotus gang was infamous in the settlement. They ran a black market where all sorts of goods that could not be sold in public were traded. Their business mostly catered to the outlaws and criminals who occasionally visited the settlement or those who hid in the settlement.
[If I can get the red lotus gang under my control, I shouldn't have to work about funds for a long while!] Zaos grinned at the thought.
[However, I'll need to gather more information on the gang. Recklessly attacking them might prove perilous.]
Zaos arrived at a dilapidated wooden hut that stood isolated from the other buildings, surrounded by overgrown weeds. Surprisingly, the path leading to the hut was clear of any weeds, indicating that it was regularly used.
He knocked on the door in a certain rhythm and waited patiently for a response.
"What do you want?" A deep male voice asked from behind the door.
"I wish to visit the city," Zaos responded.
There was silence for a few seconds before the door creaked open.
"Come in." Said the voice from earlier but in a hushed tone.
Zaos made his way into the small hut.
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