Harvest

“What nonsense is this sudden intrusion!”

When Lügen shouted in defiance, Pernok struck the greatsword into the ground.

Boom!

Cracks starting from the greatsword spread in all directions, drawing a boundary line between Lügen and Isolun.

“His Majesty declared that the mercenaries’ disorderly conduct is causing the royal family’s authority to fall. Therefore, he commanded Named guild led by Guild Leader Pernok to settle the current chaos.”

“Where are you spouting such impossible nonsense!”

“Sallio, Enri!”

Sallio and Enri each carried documents and contacted Lügen and Sallio.

The two who received documents stiffened their expressions.

Because as Pernok said, content about exclusive contract termination and guild unification proposals was written.

‘If this situation shifts to negotiation…’

Isolun’s complexion paled.

“Contracts are private transactions! Even if His Majesty’s command, this cannot be accepted!”

“Of course, contracts are free. But you’ve gone too far. Do you know how many territories have become wastelands?”

Isolun bit his lips hard.

“Since when did throne succession expand into war! If the situation deteriorates this badly, don’t you truly know people like Lord Zermoph or Duke Ludmila will step forward!”

“Magi have no intention of interfering in this matter!”

“The S-rank guild is merely a warning. If you continue blocking my dialogue here, those above will step forward.”

Pernok looked between Lügen and Isolun alternately.

“This matter was commanded by His Majesty, approved by the military commander-in-chief, and now I’ve inherited it.”

Then he shouted loudly for all to hear.

“Guilds, choose! Will you follow me! Or become savages and die here!”

Lügen stepped back one pace.

‘This actually worked out. If mercenaries collapse this way, Isolun’s forces will crumble.’

On the other hand, Isolun became urgent.

‘No. We can’t end here!’

When he urgently tried to activate a new Anti-Magic Field.

Ruin grabbed Isolun’s wrist and shook his head.

“It’s tilted.”

“It cannot be! Lord Naia!”

“Your Highness, anyway, if you don’t accept Guild Leader Pernok’s conditions here, you’ll be mercilessly crushed by the 3rd Prince. But if you accept those conditions, Your Highness can live.”

“What are you saying! I have no intention of withdrawing!”

“Plan for the future. Now doesn’t seem to be the time.”

“Lord Naia!”

“However, I’ll seek a way out until the end.”

Then Ruin stood forward with a resolute expression.

“I also command A-rank guilds. So, how about proving each other’s capabilities for proper unification?”

“You want to duel with me?”

“It’s the birth of an S-rank guild. Shouldn’t the guild leader naturally be strong?”

Ruin raised his staff.

Pernok showed a puzzled look.

Because this wasn’t in the plan.

“If you defeat me, you may do as you wish. What will you do?”

The moment a massive mana barrier generated from the staff, Pernok realized this was a test aimed at him.

‘First time since leaving the floating castle? Facing Ruin head-on.’

Ruin wanted to confirm how much stronger Pernok had become compared to then.

‘Nasty prank.’

Pernok raised the greatsword.

“Not wrong words. Then I’ll prove it.”

Both people’s mana surged like when they dueled at the floating castle.

But Ruin’s barrier was thicker than then.

One wrong step would be swallowed by silence as is.

‘I’ll truly confirm if you’ve reached Magus, my lord.’

Pernok’s greatsword carried brilliance and sliced through空.

Ruin thickly refined the barrier to cover Pernok’s eyes.

‘When I first left the mountain, I couldn’t break through this.’

Not knowing when he was swallowed by mana, he kept circling the same path until finally grasping the abnormal phenomenon with Observation Eye.

However, now even without using Observation Eye, Ruin’s barrier was completely felt by him.

He proved the process of crossing the mountain range and reaching this place with a pure mage’s posture using mana, containing it in the greatsword as results.

Crack!

The brilliance tore through the barrier, crossed the dark vision, and finally stopped at Ruin’s throat.

“You know what?”

Ruin smiled.

“The barrier I spread around the castle absolutely couldn’t be broken unless you were a Magus. Back then seemed like a lucky breakthrough, but now it’s certain skill.”

Ruin deliberately bit his lips and bled.

“Go to Illumina, my lord.”

You pass.

Those words echoed in his chest.

“Cough!”

Ruin pretended to receive severe internal injury and collapsed backward.

“Lord Naia!”

Guild leaders ran over and supported the fallen Naia.

A-rank guild leaders including Jad and Zodiac gave Pernok heavy looks.

“Do as you wish.”

Ruin left those words and closed his eyes.

Pernok barely suppressed bursting laughter while speaking with forced solemnity.

“The internal injury is severe. Go treat it.”

“Damn it!”

Jad who spat out words carried Naia and returned to Isolun.

The 4th Prince faction’s complexion darkened.

On the other hand, Lügen’s momentum seemed to pierce the sky.

“Isolun! Now shut up…!”

“Your Highness, have you heard recently that Rakis Empire is targeting Rezhen?”

At Pernok’s carelessly stabbing words, Lügen’s mouth gaped.

Because Knox was immediately associated with the word Rakis.

“As you know, Rezhen has little influence from Rakis. Not shaken like Illumina, the will to prosper with their own strength is strong. Prince Zayl’s diplomatic prowess shines here.”

Pernok stared at Lügen.

“Not permitting gaps to great powers and not being swayed. But recently, ominous words are heard. Rumors that Rakis Empire’s experts are consecutively pushing Rezhen into chaos.”

“W-what does that have to do with me!”

“I thought even the 3rd Prince would know this content, so I just mentioned it. Why are you so flustered?”

“W-when was I flustered! Ahem, so what do you want?”

“Let’s not tolerate any royals trying to become Rakis’s puppets.”

Lügen’s body flinched.

“When desperate, people don’t refuse anything. I understand your relationship with the 4th Prince is bad, but I hope you’ll wrap things up here so the word ‘Rakis’ that the royal family worries about won’t be heard.”

“Is that also His Majesty’s will?”

“Who knows. I merely recited content from the princes and royal family as is.”

Lügen bit his molars hard.

When the 3rd Prince faction tried to step forward, Pernok struck the greatsword into the ground and sternly declared.

“Haven’t heard the guilds’ intentions yet. This is an important moment for us, so if you interfere, Named will block with all our might.”

When mana flowed from Pernok, the 3rd Prince faction stepped back.

“Your Highness, will you continue?”

Rakis and S-rank guild.

At the weight these two complexly entangled words gave, Lügen ground his teeth.

“Withdraw!”

Pernok smirked and bowed.

Lügen glared at Isolun throughout recovering the wounded, and when showing no signs of withdrawing, finally left.

Pernok approached the deflated-looking Isolun and whispered.

“This is Prince Salavan’s message. Said to stop escaping from futile dreams now.”

To the dazed Isolun, Pernok spoke with cold eyes.

“If you believed one ring would resolve all situations, Your Highness has fallen into absurd delusions. The throne never permits the unprepared.”

Isolun couldn’t say anything.

Ruin fell into critical condition, guilds were confused, and disturbance spread to soldiers.

Lügen left, but as Pernok came, his forces were now closing curtains.

* * *

Ruin who rose from the sickbed carried out the scenario as is.

He preached to all mercenaries who revered him like a teacher that following Pernok was a hundred times right.

“Fate already left the 4th Prince. For you all to survive, you can only grasp the hand of the S-rank guild sent by the royal family. Follow Pernok. Otherwise you’ll all die.”

“Will Lord Naia also go together?”

“I no longer want to stay anywhere. I dueled Guild Leader Pernok and keenly felt it. My place doesn’t exist in the new era.”

Sallio and Enri also began persuading guild leaders.

Isolun lacked ability to settle the chaos.

Because this place was actually commanded by Ruin.

The moment he who was the focal point gave up everything, mercenaries boarded new opportunities to crave life.

“We’re sorry, Your Highness. We’ll terminate exclusive contracts.”

“Lord Naia’s words are right. We fought the 3rd Prince with luck, but can’t handle the 2nd or 1st Prince.”

“If we leave, Your Highness will also be safe without being checked.”

“We’re sorry.”

Isolun could only silently watch the spectacle of carefully built towers crumbling in an instant.

Ruin left, and Sallio and Enri successfully performed persuasion.

Eventually, all guild leaders gathered before Pernok.

“My exclusive contract with the 2nd Prince also ends soon. But in exchange, we became able to gather together. The weight the name S-rank gives will absolutely match the honor you desired.”

“Is it true you guarantee our rights?”

“Of course, Jad and Zodiac know. That I don’t say two things with one mouth.”

When Jad and Zodiac nodded, other guild leaders sighed in relief.

“Instead, your guilds will be reorganized anew to match Named’s structure. Since bulk increased, we’ll clearly organize each role, so definitely comply.”

“…”

“Dissatisfied?”

“N-no!”

Pernok smirked and spoke.

“New mercenaries will rise to the vacant position after Roland died. We’ll soon convene the Ten Assembly to ask their intentions too. I absolutely don’t intend to make a sloppy guild. I guarantee you all a brilliant future.”

“M-may I ask one thing?”

“What?”

“Will you really terminate the exclusive contract with the 2nd Prince?”

“Why? Want to continue participating in this throne succession battle?”

“N-no. Just… thought maintaining connections would be good.”

“You all think the same?”

Guild leaders looked at each other while reading the mood, then nodded.

Though they boarded the wrong ship, the throne struggle is truly an attractive method of status elevation.

‘Seems lingering attachment remains.’

For Pernok, something to welcome.

He was worried how to persuade newly joined guild leaders when going to Illumina.

But if everyone wanted greater honor and planned to dive into this board, persuading them for Illumina’s throne struggle seemed to become easier.

“If you wish, I’ll consider once more too.”

“Understood!”

“Today’s late, so withdraw, and think we’ll pack belongings tomorrow and head to the mountain range.”

“Yes!”

After guild leaders left, Rio entered.

Rio still with changed appearance bowed his head.

“Congratulations on victory.”

“You rather, didn’t you greatly build a merchant group here?”

“Still insufficient. But thanks to your help, I could take some of Lamostal’s trading partners. Based on that, I’m thinking of growing the merchant group more here.”

“Because of Galun ore?”

“I identified several products whose value will rise later. Rezhen is a place that doesn’t favor great powers’ influence. It will greatly help securing military supplies.”

“Do as you wish.”

“Thank you. And Lord Ruin took this spoils of war to the castle.”

The spoils taken from princes were substantial.

He gave up Isolun’s ring because it was his mother’s keepsake with no proper way to take it.

But A-rank guilds and royals’ hidden treasures and Rio’s merchant group.

With Salavan’s powerful trust and Ludmila’s thick support together, Pernok became virtually Rezhen’s unparalleled Mercenary King.

Force expansion that would’ve taken decades if he kept training Named at the mountain range was achieved in just six months.

“You told Ruin about the other races too?”

“Yes. Said once Lionic stabilizes, they’ll test-run the castle beyond the strait. And asked what about bringing research facility staff and Tunnel Folk to the castle.”

“Planning to operate the castle’s facilities…”

Pondering Pernok nodded.

“Send food and ore together.”

“Understood. Then will you return straight to the mountain range?”

“I must finish the work.”

As if something occurred, Rio asked.

“Do you plan to join hands with Salavan?”

“Recently the tendency to depend on me started growing. When he’ll voluntarily enter my embrace, what can I do?”

Pernok grinned.

“We must grasp and shake Salavan and Ludmila.”