"Hello, Commander Ivan," Li Xi noticed that Galidos used the most reliable term for Ivan, indicating he was the strongest of the three.
Ivan remained silent, merely nodding slightly, but his eyes, hidden in the shadows, conveyed curiosity and goodwill. It was clear Li Xi's name was already legendary in the mercenary world.
"There are also some spellcaster mercenaries who are not here. They are with Master Zuo Lin elsewhere and will be seen tonight."
Regardless of the time, spellcasters always held a special, privileged status among all professions. They always received the best treatment; this was an unspoken agreement among everyone.
"The men of the three commanders are setting up defenses outside the walls, five hundred men per group, a total of one thousand five hundred. Except for a very few experts, no one can break through the defense lines of the three commanders. As for those who breach the walls, we will handle them."
"Our responsibility covers the area from the castle gate to just outside the princess's room. If an enemy were to break into the princess's room, we are not to pursue them, nor are we to engage. Others will handle it. There's no need to turn in any spoils; whatever is taken is yours."
Li Xi understood as soon as he heard this. This was nothing like the desperate, life-or-death crisis described in the letter. The most crucial personal protection was not their responsibility; the princesses' own people would handle it.
This was entirely a situation where the highest echelon looked down upon the countless people below scrambling for a little favor. Honestly, it was the same feeling as ordinary people standing on a bridge, watching ducks on the river fight for breadcrumbs thrown from your hand. The mercenaries here were those scrambling ducks, ducks meant to entertain.
Who was responsible for what area was all arranged; this was simply a play, a grand performance to entertain the princes during their idle hours.
These mercenaries, despite their seemingly grave responsibilities, were merely dispensable or, at best, casual laborers.
Status?
What status did they have?
If they had status, they wouldn't be living in these dilapidated houses.
"Bang, bang, bang."
No wonder Galidos dared not tell Li Xi the truth before they came and after. In such a situation, if he had told Li Xi the truth beforehand, Li Xi would never have agreed. He wasn't cheap enough to risk his life for others' amusement. Just as Li Xi saw through the charade and felt a bit displeased, there was a knock on the door.
Galidos opened the door. A maid stood outside, her curious gaze surveying everyone in the room. Her eyes quickly settled on Li Xi, the youngest among them. She forced down a smile, saying, "Lord Galidos, Princess Philin has arranged for Mr. Li Xi's accommodations. I am here to invite Mr. Li Xi."
Galidos feigned realization, "Right, right, you see, I'm getting old, my memory isn't what it used to be. My place is cramped, and there's no room for Brother Li Xi to sleep. Princess Philin's arrangements are truly thoughtful."
Then, without further ado, he pushed Li Xi out the door as if he were discarding trash. If not for Li Xi's tearful appearance outside the Magic Guild earlier, judging by his current attitude, one might think Li Xi had wronged Galidos. "Brother Li Xi, you must seize this opportunity. Not everyone gets the chance to personally protect a princess. Your responsibility is immense. Our last line of defense rests on you. Please do not let down the princess's good intentions."
"Clang."
Li Xi said nothing and offered no opinion. He was shut out by Galidos, leaving him with no outlet for his simmering anger.
"Mr. Li Xi, please follow me." The maid's attempt to suppress her laughter made Li Xi feel he had been set up, a conspiracy between Galidos and Herme. The letter had sounded so dire, but upon arrival, it seemed only a few mercenaries would be lost.
To lure Li Xi here, they had used exaggerated rhetoric. Now, mentioning Philin, their true intentions were revealed.
Li Xi followed the maid to the uppermost floor of the castle. The exterior of the castle looked like an old, dilapidated building, but the interior details exuded extreme luxury. Underfoot was a carpet made of sea sheep wool, which a single sheep could produce only half a pound of in its lifetime. The air was filled with the scent of rare Solanum nigrum incense. The paintings and antiques on the walls were worth at least ten thousand gold coins each, not to mention the gold and silver inlaid decorations, which were considered the most common and vulgar embellishments. Truly wealthy!
"Brother Li Xi, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon." An undeniable aura of magic emanated from Philin, almost dazzling Li Xi with the magic fluctuations comparable to a Grand Magus.
What did Li Xi see? From her shoes to her hair ornaments, Philin was adorned with magical equipment, and none of it was low-grade; they were all genuine top-tier items. She had at least fifteen pieces of equipment in total.
What was she doing? Had she given up being a princess to become a wholesale dealer of magical equipment?
"Greetings, Your Highness Princess Philin."
"There's no need to be so formal. I've prepared a banquet, as a welcome feast for Brother Li Xi. Welcome, Brother Li Xi." Philin moved aside, revealing a banquet table already set in the room.
"My duty is to protect the princess's safety, not to drink and dine. The princess's future husband is not me. Please do not waste your time on me."
If what Avrild said before coming had stirred some hope in Li Xi, that hope had vanished after meeting the eldest princess. The eldest princess was such a formidable figure; she would surely not allow her sister to become someone else's concubine. If Li Xi were to do so, he would face consequences he would never regret. According to the novel website "Sultan."
For instance, the eldest princess might kill Ais and Avrild for Philin's sake, making her sister the matriarch, or she might hate Li Xi to the bone and send a domain expert to kill him. All of this was entirely possible. Li Xi was not the strongest in the world, nor could he abandon Ais and Avrild to curry favor with the powerful. Therefore, facing such consequences, Li Xi's best choice was to stay far away.
But Li Xi couldn't have imagined that after hearing his words, Philin would be disheartened. Instead, her eyes sparkled with the admiration of a fan. She waved her small fists, cheering him on. "Brother Li Xi is indeed as principled as ever. This is the man I've set my sights on. I will not give up."
"Uh..."
"You'd better tell me where my room is. I want to rest and sleep." Li Xi retreated.
"Heh heh, it's right next to mine. I'm afraid to close the door at night, so Brother Li Xi can come in to protect me anytime." Philin pointed to the room beside hers, separated by only one wall.
"Goodbye." Li Xi turned and left. There was nothing to do during the day anyway, and it was the perfect time to sleep.
"Then I'll see you tonight. I won't close the door." Philin continued to remind Li Xi that she wouldn't close the door, fearing Li Xi wouldn't climb into her bed that night.
Li Xi entered the room and collapsed onto the bed, not from physical exhaustion but from mental fatigue.
At the same time, in the study, the eldest princess, who was still reviewing official documents, nodded with satisfaction upon receiving a report from a servant. She had only one sister, and her future husband must be the best. While this Li Xi was not bad, he was still some distance from her ideal candidate. This opportunity to observe him closely would be a good one.
It was already noon, and winter had arrived. Night fell quickly. Faint sounds of battle began to drift from outside.
Suddenly, there were footsteps outside the door. Li Xi sat up abruptly. Even though he knew this mission didn't require too much seriousness, he couldn't afford to be careless. It was an A-rank mission, after all. Li Xi was already entering a state of readiness.
"Bang!"
The door was kicked open, and a petite figure rushed directly onto Li Xi's bed. Without looking, he knew who it was.
Just as the petite figure was about to embrace Li Xi, he appeared at the doorway with a Shunshin no Jutsu.
"Brother Xi, I'm scared."
Li Xi truly didn't know what to say in this situation. There were many scenarios in scripts where dragons abducted princesses, but that would never happen to Philin, as any dragon that appeared would be pulverized by the magical equipment she wore.
Looking at Philin on the bed, appearing frail and like an innocent maiden, Li Xi simply opened the door, allowing outsiders to clearly see what was happening in the room, to declare his innocence.
"Since Princess Philin is afraid, stay here. I guarantee that no villain can approach you."
"I will go out and investigate the situation now."
"Clang."
With the opening and closing of the window, Li Xi had vanished from the room, leaving behind a princess who was punching and kicking the bedding, venting her dissatisfaction. She gnashed her teeth, wishing she could devour Li Xi alive. Words like "coward," "prude," and "doesn't understand a woman's heart" were constantly directed at Li Xi.
Li Xi didn't leave the ancient castle but leaped onto the rooftop. Listening to the sounds of battle outside the city, he activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Bruce and the members of the other two teams were indeed engaged in battle with the invading enemies. There were quite a few attackers, dozens of them, each possessing considerable strength, starting at level four, and with rich combat experience.
In one-on-one combat, few members of the three commanders could match them. However, the members of the three commanders relied on the coordination of small teams, with groups of three or five engaging the enemy, temporarily holding their own.
But life-and-death combat was not child's play; casualties were inevitable. Li Xi, who had seen through the true nature of this mission, felt a pang of sympathy for those below. Every person who was knocked down while fighting for the princess's safety might not know that they were merely clowns for others' entertainment. How tragic.
The battle began around nine in the evening and only subsided around three in the morning.
Based on Li Xi's observation, the three commanders lost about thirty men that night, while the enemy lost over a dozen. However, these lost personnel were only temporarily incapacitated. After a few months of recovery, they would be as lively as before.
Not a single enemy managed to breach the walls during the entire night's battle. The opportunity to even act never presented itself for Galidos and the others, let alone for Li Xi, who was supposed to provide close protection. He didn't gain a single thing.
He thought the next day might be different, but it was the same.
"Sir, I request to go out and fight tonight. My bones are getting rusty from staying inside the castle."
This was the fifth day. Li Xi, bored to the point of exasperation, found Galidos and requested to go on combat missions. He had come here intending to use the heads of these wanted individuals to accumulate mission points, but all day had been filled with feasting and drinking, along with the constant need to guard against sudden attacks from Philin. If this continued, Li Xi felt he was wasting his life.
"Brother Li Xi, we mercenaries live by the edge of our swords. How many enemies we kill and what great reputations we build are for outsiders. What we pursue is always safety," Galidos said, earnestly advising him like an old mother hen.
"You have the princess's favor now, a fortune that everyone in the world envies. If you stay put for a month, without lifting a finger, you'll get paid for two missions, plus incredibly valuable commissions. Isn't this the best deal under the heavens?"
Galidos's seemingly heartfelt words moved Li Xi greatly. However, the next moment, when he pushed Li Xi back into the room next to Philin's, Li Xi rolled his eyes.
.............
In Isinger, within the study of a prominent figure who had appeared when Li Xi escorted Philin back to the capital, on a piece of paper that had been extensively altered, large areas were blackened with ink. The remaining parts were covered with the words 'Kill' and 'Don't Kill.' When held up to the sunlight, the blackened areas beneath also revealed 'Kill' and 'Don't Kill,' indicating the owner's intense indecision during their decision-making process.
However, in the end, a word 'Kill' written in red ink, like unending flowing blood, imbued the entire paper with a murderous aura.
...............
In the dark mercenary world, a subterranean realm transformed from a cave system, all mercenaries were discussing the currently hottest princess assassination mission.
Although their mission was to assassinate the princess, in reality, as long as they went to the castle where the princess resided and engaged with the protection detail, they would receive a substantial commission. They were not actually required to kill the princess, so many were willing to take on this mission where they could simply go through the motions – easy, relaxed, not life-threatening, and still earn money. What a wonderful mission.
Only a very few arrogant and self-important mercenaries who wanted to break in and see the princess suffered losses.
In fact, both sides fighting were very measured. They injured but did not kill, unless one was particularly unlucky and struck in a vital spot. Therefore, since the mission began twenty days ago, very few people had died.
No one was foolish enough to believe the princess assassination mission could succeed. So, it was fine to just go through the motions.
If they were truly covetous of the lucrative rewards for killing a princess, the mission boards also had tasks to assassinate emperors and leaders of various factions, such as assassinating elven royalty, orc chieftains, and dwarf chiefs. Those commissions were truly astonishing, starting with billions in gold and divine artifacts. Yet, not a single person had taken them. The missions to assassinate Fimor and Philin were considered minor tasks compared to those.