51 The Association of Mercenaries

Supper was prepared within a short period of time. It was a simple meal with some bread, cheese and fried eggs, appropriate of the ten coins each day. Regardless, they all enjoyed it very much and didn't leave a morsel of food on their plates.

Moxinke was still in a bad mood after dinner, so he went to his room early. But Han Jin was excited. It was said that Isolated Cliff City was a city with lights that lit up all night, so he wanted to go around and see it by himself. Cessacioun had the same idea. Sunier and Miss Keeley also wanted to join them, so they went out together.

There were nine commercial corps and a powerful Association of Mercenaries in the city, thus guards from the commercial corps and the Association could be seen everywhere. In such a city, the three industries of alcohol, whoring, and gambling were bound to be well developed.

In a city where people earned money after risking their lives, the mercenaries would need to relax and vent. Living under constant stress would make one collapse. Thus, Isolated Cliff City was swarmed with bars, and in some streets, you could see densely packed bars with people standing in rows.

There were no specific places for whoring or gambling, as bars could provide both of the services. Barmaids dressed up like colorful butterflies and wandered around tables while wiggling their asses. If a price was agreed upon, the guest could go upstairs with a barmaid and enjoy his special treatment. Bars also provided places for gamblers. For the mercenaries, bars were their second homes. They could drink cups of beer, call some barmaids upstairs, and then come back down to drink again. If they liked, they could also shake their elbows and try their luck. What a dégagéd life it was... provided that they could make money first.

Han Jin and Cessacioun walked ahead and stealthily chatted with each other all the way. After Cessacioun's explanation, Han Jin was eager to enter into one of the bars on his own. But there were two tails following him, and all the money was with Sunier. He was ashamed to ask for money from her for some improper purposes, and he had to give up his intention.

"Where is the Association of Mercenaries, Cessacioun?" he asked.

"I don't know." Cessacioun shook his head.

"But you've been to Isolated Cliff City before, haven't you?"

"No. Who said I've been here before?"

"You are so familiar with..."

"The bars in Isolated Cliff City are very famous. I heard this from someone else." Cessacioun laughed.

"I thought you were a regular customer here." Han Jin was a little disappointed.

"Don't kid me. I don't have the money." Cessacioun blinked. "Regular customer? You want me to bring you..."

"Forget it, I want nothing," Han Jin immediately changed the topic. "Do you know where the Association of Mercenaries is, Sunier?" he asked.

"I don't know."

At this time, a crisp voice said, "Need a guide, my lord?"

Han Jin turned around and saw a bony boy, aged twelve or thirteen, standing there. His face was of a child, and his clothes were ragged but clean. A long sword hung at his waist, but it was too long to match his height and nearly touched the ground.

"A guide?"

"Yes, my lord. I only charge three silver coins a day - it's a low price," the boy said.

"You are good at doing business, aren't you, kid? It's already late and you're charging us three silver coins just to lead us around for a bit?"Cessacioun laughed. Although they could be considered rich now, they still retained their old ideological concepts about money, especially Cessacioun, who had traveled around all year round in the past and had gone through many difficulties due to lack of money. Thus, he was particularly money-saving.

"I mean a whole day, my lord, from now on to this time tomorrow. I will be with you the entire time during this period, for as long as you require," the young boy said confidently.

"What's your name?" Han Jin asked.

"You can call me Little Joseph."

"Well, you are hired, little Joseph. Take us to the Association of Mercenaries," Han Jin said while nodding his head.

"Do you need a carriage, my lord?"

"No, we will walk."

A look of swift disappointment flashed in Little Joseph's eyes, but he immediately concealed it with a smile. "Follow me, my lord," he said.

Both Han Jin and Cessacioun noticed the expression in the kid's eyes. Cessacioun laughed in a low voice, "This boy... he was testing us. Afraid that we can't afford?"

"Maybe he was just wondering if he could get some tip," Han Jin said with a smile.

The Association of Mercenaries was not too far. About twenty minutes later, they saw a tall, magnificent stone building standing in front of them. There was a spacious square in front of it which was lit up as bright as daylight by the hundreds of large torches around it.

Many professionals were gathered in the square. It was easy to identify their professions by their outfits. There were soldiers, knights, magicians, and archers. 

"My lord, if you want to receive tasks as mercenaries, you'd better have some knowledge about the Tarasha Mountains first. You could ask me for my advice. My consultation fee is very cheap - only fifty silver coins." Joseph smiled with his white teeth displayed.

"Consultation fees?" Han Jin laughed.

"It's not funny, my lord," Joseph said solemnly. "There are fourteen magic transferring circles in the Association of Mercenaries which can send mercenaries to the depths of the Tarasha Mountains. Do you know the exact coordinates of each transferring circle? Do you know what you have to pay attention to when you are transferred there? What kind of holy animals to be careful of? And to protect the mercenaries, the Association has also established some permanent shelters in the Tarasha Mountains. If you come across some unconquerable holy animals, do you know where to flee to?"

Han Jin and Cessacioun were rendered speechless by the kid's words.

"Your lives are more valuable than fifty silver coins, aren't they?"

"You know all this?" Han Jin asked dubitatively.

"All of this," Little Joseph replied proudly.

Sunier came from behind with a smile and flicked her fingers. A golden coin bounced toward Joseph. He caught it agilely and carefully looked at it before putting it into his pocket.

"You already have your consulting fee. Now tell us," Sunier said softly.

"The whole golden coin is mine?" Joseph said with a canny expression on his face.

"Yes, as long as your introduction is satisfactory."

Cessacioun twitched his mouth and murmured, "Prodigal elf."

"You are a group of mercenaries?" Joseph cast a glance at all of them and asked.

"Yes," Han Jin laughed.

"Then I suggest you'd better not take the risk, because you have no strong soldiers."

"What kind of introduction is this!" Han Jin was about to say this, but a dramatic wave of magic was suddenly transmitted from behind the square. There was an immediate uproar amongst the professionals present.