Mercenary Wars

Chapter 104 Ryan's Secret

Siren Canyon!

Upon learning that a silver mine had been discovered in this place, several pieces of information immediately came together in Gaucano's mind, giving him a feeling as if he could foresee the future.

The reason is simple: Siren Canyon is located on the border between the Duchy of Nordanron and the Marquisate of Dibutor.

With the news of the new Patriarch of Dibhuto taking office, Gaugano could easily guess what would happen soon.

Gaucano pondered for a moment: "It seems that a war is inevitable. But it's too much of a coincidence that silver mines were discovered on the border as soon as Cyril XIV took office. It's almost as if Mosa arranged it."

Ryan: "Actually, as far as I know, this silver mine has been discovered for at least a year, but it has been being mined in secret."

Gaucano realized: "So it was after Cyril XIV took office that the miners panicked?"

Ryan nodded: "After Marquis Dibutow completed his internal consolidation, the silver mines in the border area could no longer be left to a group of merchants to mine. Their time is running out, which is why the amount of silver on the market has increased rapidly recently, causing the price of silver to plummet."

As he spoke, he suddenly sighed.

Gao Jiano looked at him strangely: "You didn't lose money, did you?"

Ryan did not answer: "I should have realized it a long time ago. Although the price of silver has only recently plummeted, the price of mithril started to fall a long time ago."

Gaucano pondered: "Mithril products do seem to be more common on the market than before."

Ryan sighed again.

Gao Jiano then changed the subject: "Has the mercenary group received an order?"

Ryan nodded: "This order has always existed because the silver mine was discovered and mined by Gavin Merchant Guild, a long-time customer of the mercenary group. However, there weren't many mercenaries involved in the past, but now, due to the tense situation, Gavin Merchant Guild plans to strengthen the defenses of the silver mine."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to go?"

Gaucano: "Our enemy is the army of Dibto?"

Ryan: "Of course not, mercenary groups don't take on jobs that are far beyond their capabilities."

"Our mission is to protect the silver mines and transportation. The enemies are the Naga sirens, bandits, and Dibto's spies. As for Dibto's army, that's a matter for the Levin Fortress border guards to consider," he added.

"A spy for Dibto?"

Ryan: "The exact location of the silver mine remains a secret; spies from Dibto are searching for it. If those spies find the silver mine, the Gavin Chamber of Commerce will ask the Border Guard to take over the mine."

After a moment's thought, Gao Jiano finally agreed.

As long as he didn't directly clash with Dibto's army, he was confident that even if he couldn't win, he could still escape by using Bloodlust Sprint.

Whether it's a siren, a bandit, or a spies, they are all intelligent beings who can provide him with a wealth of experience.

After becoming a Level 3 Hunter, Gaucano also tried hunting monsters in the Stonetalon Mountains, but the process of finding prey was too tedious, and the experience provided by monsters was much less than that of intelligent creatures, so he quickly gave up.

To level up quickly, you still have to kill intelligent beings.

The only way to justify, legally, and massively kill intelligent beings is in one scenario—war.

Soon after, Gaucano went through the formalities and applied to join the silver mine garrison.

The process was somewhat complicated because he wasn't a combatant, and this mission didn't require an accompanying pharmacist. If it weren't for Vice Commander Cassandra's approval, he might not have been able to participate in this mission.

After passing the mercenary group's test, he still needs to sign a confidentiality agreement with the Gavin Merchant Guild—prohibiting him from revealing the location of the silver mine.

After signing the confidentiality agreement, Gao Jiano and Ryan prepared to leave.

Of course, some preparations are essential before the official departure.

Gaucano was fine; he had bought everything he needed and given Daryls all the necessary instructions. Ryan, on the other hand, made sure to visit the Southshore Church before every mission.

Gaucano often found this strange.

In his mind, Ryan was not a devout Mossist. Although he was not a staunch materialist like him, he would never entrust his fate to meaningless religious rituals.

The crucial point is that Ryan didn't go to a chapel or similar place, but rather to a courtyard, and he seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally avoiding other people. I wonder what he was up to.

But today is different from the past.

Gaucano has already mastered the Eagle Eye technique.

The Eagle Eye technique significantly enhances vision in a short period of time.

Gao Jiano cast Eagle Eye on himself and, peeking through a window, finally discovered Ryan's trickery.

In a secluded corner of the church courtyard, amidst flowers and trees, Ryan sat on a stone bench, his posture humble and upright, like a primary school student.

At the same time, a nun in white, around forty years old, sat opposite him, holding the "Holy Scripture of Light," smiling as if explaining its doctrines.

It all seemed normal; the devout Mosas listened attentively to the nun's teachings.

A moment later, Gaucano noticed that Ryan suddenly grasped the nun's hand...

Good guy!
Gaucano exclaimed, "Wow!"

After shaking hands, Ryan and the nun drew closer and closer, and the Scripture of Light was set aside.

But just then, a priest appeared in the distance, walking towards Ryan and the nun, who seemed unaware of his presence.

Gao Jiano quickly threw out a string of swift breezes.

"Wow—"

The nun's white robes and hair were blown into disarray, and the pages of the Holy Scripture of Light were turned repeatedly, finally bringing the two, who were deeply in love, back to their senses and hurriedly returning to their proper sitting positions.

Even so, the pastor noticed the two of them and came over to say a few words, which, judging from his expression, were clearly not pleasant.

A moment passes.

Ryan came out of the church and found Gaucano looking at him with a half-smile at the door.

"What's wrong?" His eyes flickered.

Gao Jiano saw through it but didn't say anything: "It's nothing."

As the two left, they passed a place known as "Giving Alley," where some poor people were queuing up to receive bread for breakfast from the church.

Gaucano: "Ryan, you seem to have told me that you used to be one of these people?"

“Yes.” Ryan nodded, then suddenly changed the subject, “Do you know what the biggest challenge is in accepting breakfast from the church?”

"What is it?"

“Get up early.” Ryan’s eyes flashed with memories. “The poor who got up the earliest could get the softest bread and the blessings of the clergy. Those who got up later could only get coarse bran bread, and those who got up the latest could only beg on the streets or steal on an empty stomach.”

After watching the line of people handing out alms for a while, Gao Jiano couldn't help but ask, "Are you considered an early riser or a late riser?"

“Neither.” Ryan smiled. “I’m neither the most hardworking nor the laziest, but I’m the luckiest.”

……

(End of this chapter)