Knight: Becoming King of the World

The plates in front of Henry and his companions were nearly empty, yet the mercenaries’ conversation remained as boisterous as ever. They seemed completely lost in their own world, oblivious to the disapproving glances cast their way.

The other patrons in the tavern began to grumble under their breath. The mercenaries’ clamor had shattered the tavern’s otherwise peaceful atmosphere.

While it was a tavern, it was a relatively high-end establishment. Its clientele consisted of the wealthy and the noble.

Henry gently set down his cup and shook his head, displeased by the mercenaries’ boorish behavior.

’It’s not that I’ve gotten a big head now that my station is higher, or that I’m putting on high-society airs,’ he thought. ’It’s just that no one likes noise.’

Though they wore fine clothes, they couldn’t hide the coarse temperament unique to mercenaries. They were more boisterous than the people of the Northern Lands, more savage than the Battanians, and wilder than the nomads of the plains.

Henry’s gaze swept across the tavern. He noticed everyone else exchanging looks of dissatisfaction and couldn’t help but shake his head again.

’There’s a reason the Mercenary Guild has never been considered respectable,’ Henry mused. ’And based on their conversation, one of them is the Mercenary Guild President from Luotai.’

’And where is he? Lukaron! In a place of such refinement, he should be presenting himself properly, networking with the powerful to get more contracts. Instead, he’s here gorging himself and spouting nonsense.’

Bain and Leon seemed to sense Henry’s impatience. They procured a chessboard and started a game at the table to pass the time.

People are like that. When feeling awkward or idle, they find something to do to look busy.

Henry, meanwhile, continued to watch the mercenaries, mentally plotting how to trail them once they left.

Finally, just as the other patrons were reaching their breaking point, the mercenaries staggered to their feet, clearly having had too much to drink.

They continued to argue loudly as they paid their bill and made their way out.

Seeing his chance, Henry immediately signaled for Bain and Leon to get ready to leave.

The trio quickly gathered their things. Henry tossed a few Dinars on the table to cover the bill—more than enough—and then they slipped out, quietly trailing the mercenaries.

If these mercenaries truly knew something, he wouldn’t hesitate to use extraordinary means to get that information.

The streets of the capital were brightly lit, but the mercenaries took a route that became progressively more remote, and the crowds began to thin.

Henry snorted. ’These mercenaries must be short on cash if they’re staying in such a seedy neighborhood. That visit to the tavern must have cost them a fortune.’

Henry and his men kept their distance. After letting a security patrol pass, the three of them quickened their pace. A few swift punches were all it took to stun the five men and knock them to the ground.

"Drag them away."

At Henry’s command, the trio sprang into action. Their movements were surprisingly coordinated, as if they had rehearsed this countless times.

Henry and Leon each grabbed two mercenaries by the ankles, while Bain handled the remaining one. They moved swiftly, clearing the unconscious men from the street and dragging them into a narrow, dark alley in a matter of seconds.

Though it was their first time carrying out such an operation, their technique was exceptionally proficient. An uninformed observer would have mistaken them for experienced gang members.

In the shadows of the alley, they propped the mercenaries against a wall. Henry scanned the area, and after confirming no one had noticed them, he nodded, signaling to Bain and Leon that they could begin.

This was the emperor’s territory, after all. Some things couldn’t be taken too far, and they certainly couldn’t be done out in the open. It was best to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Some deeds are weightless until measured, but once they’re on the scales, even a mountain couldn’t hold them down.

Bain pulled a few pre-prepared cloths from his belt and swiftly gagged the mercenaries to prevent them from shouting when they came to. Meanwhile, Leon tied their hands and feet with rope.

Henry crouched, his sharp gaze fixed on the man they called the Mercenary Guild President of Luotai. ’He’s the mercenary chief of a major city,’ he thought. ’Even if I can’t pry information about the Mysterious Merchant out of him, I should at least be able to get something useful.’

’Probably,’ he added to himself.

Of the five men, three were completely unconscious, while the other two were dazed. Henry and his companions were masked.

Henry stepped forward and delivered several sharp slaps to the Mercenary Guild President’s face, jolting him from his stupor.

The Mercenary Guild President’s eyes flew open. He took in the scene and tried to struggle, only to find his hands and feet bound and his mouth gagged. A look of utter disbelief washed over his face.

’Just moments ago, I was in the tavern eating roasted meat, drinking wine, and enjoying a pleasant evening. How could I get jumped the second I stepped outside?’

’Is there no justice? Is there no law? The nerve! This is Lukaron, the most civilized city in the world!’

Henry didn’t give him much time to think. He sent Bain and Leon to stand watch at either end of the alley, preventing anyone from accidentally stumbling upon them.

Then, he got straight to the point, asking the Mercenary Guild President if he knew anything about a Mysterious Merchant in Lukaron.

A look of confusion appeared on the Mercenary Guild President’s face. He shook his head, indicating that he had no idea what Henry was talking about.

He didn’t even seem to comprehend the masked man’s question. His eyes were filled with confusion. Clearly, this "Mysterious Merchant" was a completely foreign concept to him.