บท 14: Becoming a Mercenary
Author shill here, please add this book to your library if you like it, along with liking pics I post so I know people have seen them and giving a couple powerstones here and there if you really like the story, so far it's been slow but it will start to pick up the pace soon enough.
*****
Not knowing I had just done a big Nono by naming my horse after a Goddess no less but I'd find out soon enough.
So now riding on the back on Kali it was time to head to the Mercenary Guild.
The Mercenary Guild, something you would assume to be only found in the far west in Rome and Greece but it also existed in the Middle East along with it appearing in Asia and of course later on the Ronin of Japan, and of course there are those in those fantasy stories of their existence as well.
Although Asian Mercenaries weren't well documented in history and most believed they didn't exist but archeological digs and recently discovered ancient texts back in modern times proved of their existence.
Mercenary Guilds look for not just the regular person hoping to seek their services, though most beginners are thrown into the regular militia if they don't make the cut, those who do acquire mercenary status and those who go above and beyond become known as Mercenary Generals and thus are ones that would lead their own personal forces in battle when called upon.
So I was going to sign up and hopefully pass the exam to become a Mercenary General, and get at least someone's attention if not Lu Bu's Mercenary Group that he is currently in as he doesn't pledge his services until fall of 193 before betraying CaoCao in Spring 194 and it's currently the spring of 192 at the moment.
But if I don't get hired I can go work for. Someone else, as long as it isn't Yuan Shao or his slimy brother Yuan Shu.
****
[Optional Quest: Coalition that Defends the North]
[Description: With your close relationships with Liu Bei, Kong Rong and your older cousin Gongsun Zan, offer a suggestion to Liu Bei to form a coalition with the both of them, and as they all know each other and have a deep seated friendship with one another the chances are high that a Coalition will form]
[Rewards: +5pts in all stats, Yuan Shao's Ire, Yuan Tan's Hatred, Yuan Shu's Approval]
[Yuan Shao knows of you and is displeased]
[Yuan Tan Will now Kill you on Sight]
[Yuan Shu is Pleased with these Developments, expect a Reward when you return to your Fiancée's home in a months time]
Stats
Expertise: 80(100)/200 -> 85(105)/200
Resolve: 80(100)/200 -> 85(105)/200
Cunning: 65(85)/200 -> 70(90)/200
Instinct: 100(120)/200 -> 105(125)/200
Authority: 60(80)/200 -> 65(85)/200
*****
'Well that was fast, it's only been a day, but messenger falcons do fly fast and since everyone of them is a friend them making a coalition isn't that hard to form, after all it's a non-binding military alliance where they can choose to come to the others aid if they so need it at the time.'
With those rewards and thoughts out of the way I finally arrived at the Mercenary Guild before I hopped off Kali's back before bringing her over towards the mercenary horse stables.
Many mercenaries were both in and outside of the guild so I did feel somewhat good that those who saw me on the back of Kali went wide eyed at the sight of her, even the stable boy was surprised, "Umm…. Sorry sir but your horse is to big for our stables…" the stable boy said nervously as the stables were meant for the average warhorse and Kali was two to three times bigger than a normal horse, standing around Red Hares height and length which is said to be massive even for a horse of this era just like Kali is.
"That's fine, just hook her up to a post outside the stable then, oh and try to keep people away from her, she's liable to kill whoever gets to take her that isn't me." I explain to the guy after he lead me to a horse post where I tied up Kali's bridle on it before giving her another carrot to snack on while I go do my test.
Soon enough I walk inside and the place is bustling with activity, the Mercenary Guild is neutral territory and thus it's a place where all factions across China can post mercenary work for those who need it.
Most jobs are to help with problems that the main faction armies don't have the time and effort to deal with, such as bandits and possible small rebellions that pop up from the displeased populations across China do to either their lords cruel or unjust rules, not only that sometimes lords hire mercenary's to go to specific regions in China to act as looters and raiders to terrorize the border regions of China on either China's side or the tribals side of the lands beyond China.
After waiting a bit for the line to end I finally reached the recons desk, I was hoping for a cute receptionist girl, but instead I got a muscular woman with a mean look in her eyes, at least it wasn't horrifyingly muscular or anything that would make it look disgusting but cute was a long distance from how she looked like, she seemed more like a female tiger ready to rend her claws into anyone's flesh should they piss her off, she also seemed to have a constant pissed off look on her face.
"Man, why do I get stuck with receptionist work." The girl seemed pissed having to be here and plenty of the guys who she dealt with left her quickly after as to not anger the mad tigress any further.
'Never knew any famous tough women in the three kingdoms like her, only ones I know are from video games being Lu Bu's, Zhang Fei Ma Teng and Guan Yu's Daughters and I guess Sun Ren, Sun Ce's little sister, counted but all of them are little kids with Lu Bu and Ma Teng's Daughters being roughly my age and this lady looks like she's in her 20's-
"OI! You gonna say something or what?!?!" She shouted out at me as I lost focus while trying to think who she is.
"Sorry, yeah I'm here to apply for being a Mercenary General." I say scratching my head which makes her eye twitch hearing that.
"Mercenary General? Are you stupid or something? Only someone with one of the their five stats at legendary(100pts) status can even think of applying for becoming a Mercenary General, and your like what? 16 or something? There's no way in hell that a kid like you has one of your stats at legendary level right now, why don't you start off as a regular mercenary before you think about doing that." She said waving me off.
I pulled out a gold coin and placed it on the counter making her eyes widen, "Now, give me the Stat ball so I can show you my stats, and when I prove my stats I want to go take the physical test to prove it as well." I said with a squint in my eyes as I didn't appreciate being underestimated.
Seeing it she sighed and took it, "Suit yourself, the test is 50 silver to take, place your hand on the orb here." She said as she pulled out what looked like a book with an orb on it, inside the orb were blank sheets of paper where the stats of said person would be printed on, thankfully this is a bit of a game world and rather magical things like this are considered normal along with special powers strong warriors can use compared to the average soldier.
She handed me back 50 silver as 1 gold coin is the same as 100 silver, before I put my hand on the orb as it glowed with power for a few seconds before it stopped glowing as I pulled my hand away.
Soon she opened up the book as it let out a little bit of smoke before she was able to see the paper.
"Wha-What is this?!?!" She exclaimed with a shock when she saw the stats.
(Stats on the sheet are letter based, F is the lowest with R being Romanced(200pts) Stats as the strongest and L means one has hit the Legendary(100pts) status)
Expertise: 85(105)/200 -> S
Resolve: 85(105)/200 -> S
Cunning: 70(90)/200 -> A-
Instinct: 105(125)/200 -> L
Authority: 65(85)/200 -> B+
"Well would you look at that, it seems I have reached Legendary status on one of my stats, seems I'm ready to take that test now aren't I?" I say with a grin as I just earned a chance to become a Mercenary General.
(The Receptionist)
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