Chương 27: The Mission No One Wanted

After Heruko scared us with his ominous tone, making us feel there would be "new dangers," we sighed heavily in unspoken dread.

"You know we've experienced a lot of dangers recently," I said.

"So we'll face it. No other missions seem available from the registry anyway."

"Deals done," Heruko replied with a grim smile.

"Follow me." He led us through the crowded streets of Athenae, weaving past bustling merchants and noisy carts until we reached a narrow alley tucked behind a row of old warehouses. The entrance to the hidden tavern was almost invisible, a heavy, reinforced wooden door set into the stone wall, guarded by two silent men who only nodded after recognizing Heruko. Once the huge wooden door creaked open, we were greeted by a sight that made our stomachs drop.

The underground hall was far larger than expected, a vast, dimly lit chamber filled with at least a hundred different men and women from all corners of Europarum. Mercenaries in scarred armor, battle-hardened soldiers bearing the marks of countless campaigns, and grim-faced adventurers of every kind stood shoulder to shoulder. The air was thick with the smell of ale, sweat, and oiled leather.

Some radiated a great presence of might, veterans with sharp, calculating eyes and heavy auras that pressed against the skin like an invisible weight. Others nursed drinks in silence, their hands never far from their weapons ready for an potential all out brawl. Heruko climbed onto a makeshift wooden crate at the front of the room and raised his voice, cutting through the low murmur of conversation like a blade, with his voice.

"We got two new ones now, and more will come in. We need at least 120 for this mission, which you all are getting good pay for!" The crowd immediately erupted.

"Shut ya trap and tell us already! Where are we going for such good coin? It has to be something fun to hunt!"

"Or something dreadful has to be slain!" Heruko hesitated, clearly not wanting to say it, but the group pushed harder, voices rising into a thunderous roar. Fists slammed on tables. Tankards were slammed down. The entire hall shook with building impatience. After a long moment of shouting and cursing, Heruko finally gave in with a heavy sigh.

"Ok… here goes nothing. It's about Kriemhild." The entire hall went dead silent. Every soldier, including Galer, looked super shocked. One man in the front asked in denial, his voice cracking, "Is it the one of Burgundian of Lübeck… or hopefully the one of Burgundian of Dijon, the 20-year-old elegant daughter of Dijon Mustér?" Heruko answered with a heavy sigh.

"The first one." The reaction was instant and chaotic. The hall exploded into pure panic. Chairs scraped violently as people surged toward the door.

"Fuck this!" someone screamed.

"I'm not dying for that monster!" Another shouted, "Kriemhild of Lübeck?! Are you insane?! She's a walking slaughterhouse!" People shoved and pushed desperately to leave, faces pale with terror. Galer was shaken up as well and was already at the door, trying to force it open with raw strength. But many of the mission givers were holding it barred tight closed with their bodies and hands, refusing to let anyone escape. Heruko screamed at the top of his lungs, "HOLD!"

A butler named Lümens jumped in with excuse after excuse in such fast, slippery movement. Before most people could even react or protest, he was already darting between them like a shadow, grabbing wrists and pressing fingers onto contracts with unnatural speed. Fingerprints were taken without approval or proper reaction from the majority, some were still mid-shout, others mid-push toward the exit. The butler moved so quickly that many only realized what had happened after their print was already on the paper.

"Hmm, see? Your contract stands. Hahaha! Or you will get a huge penalty of 2000% on mission cancellation fee." The hall fell into stunned silence. Everyone stood still, trapped by the contracts they had been forced into signing. The air grew thick with betrayal and dread. Faces that had been full of excitement moments ago were now pale with horror. The unhappiness was palpable. Those who had surged toward the door all returned to their seats with heavy, defeated steps, grumbling and cursing with higher intensity.

Angry glares filled the room, directed at all the employers with pure shock and awe. Some men slammed their fists on tables so hard the wood cracked, while others muttered dark threats under their breath, their eyes burning with the thought of killing the ones who had trapped them. But no one dared to move toward the door again. The weight of the penalty now hung over them like a loose noose around their necks, slowly tightening with every passing second.

The butler was about to start giving information for the mission when I hit Galer's shoulder to get his attention.

"Why and how is the situation like that?" Galer's face was pale.

"Kriemhild is infamous in the world of nobles and many citizens around her Region. She might be a 15-year-old ginger beauty, one of a kind. Her infamy goes far beyond reason. She kicked her older brother in the jewels of man in a 1 versus 1 duel, while being only 7 years old. She went into a city and destroyed all markets because her father had an affair with a lower noble, hurting the city's economy and its status.

At age 11 she rode on a horse toward monsters and killed so many, bringing them back for decoration around the castle to spew ghosts and spite them. She also went to a warrior school and got expelled in her second year because in her opinion she had nothing left to learn after beating a teacher who went against her fighting style. So yes… she is very powerful and usually a stubborn girl. Not many have beaten her, maybe a small handful. After seeing and still not believing about someone stronger than Siegfried…

she is around that presence level of Animo that makes one think of just accepting your own fate. After hearing that, we go again on someone way above our leagues… Oh, our luck is rotten, in Michaelanius' name why? So this is the plan... let's hope we stay in the back and just lie low. We do not engage her. It's futile and wasteful. And straight after many fall, we dash as fast as we can and never turn our backs to her." I stood in awe mixed with anxiety again at meeting such a powerful potential foe ahead.

The problem was… that was way too soon, and we had to fall for such a trap, all because we gave our coin away for a good deed. Yet this time I had to agree with Galer. We would fake engage her and then retreat fast from that place. The butler finally started to tell his tale about what's to come for us.

"Kriemhild ran from a different mission because her oldest brother annoyed her. The father, King Dancrat the VII, wants her back onto his domain. He is preparing for something huge and needs her service and help. So he offered all of you, you already know, 2 Osmium after successful capture onto the Galley of Burgundy of Lübeck alive. 20 Osmium for each surviving member as reward is a given upon this contract you signed up for."

He mumbled in a very low tone, "Many of you will die, so we do not have to give many rewards. Our cash is also limited to a certain number." Nobody heard it except Heruko, who stood beside him as a guard. So he simply continued, "We will go on a Galley and ride to Melita…"

"Mel… Melita… MELITA?!" Galer whispered in horror.

"Oh nooo… that is not good…" I hit his shoulder again to get his attention.

"What is so scary about Melita?" Galer's face was grim.

"The Island of Ogreclops. Such strong monsters like demons, they are the pseudo gatekeepers of Europarum and Hespericum, the Continent of Desert Green Lash fields and many big animals with powerful Nations. Yet the Ogreclops swim around the vast Mare Nostrum. That ocean is our most important trade route between Europarum and Hespericum.

Because of the many monsters lurking in its depths, especially the Ogreclops, ships tend to sail clockwise near the coastlines instead of venturing too deep into the beating heart of Mare Nostrum, where the waters are most active and dangerous. The Island of Melita is their homebirth island. During breeding season they go there and lay eggs. We currently are in this season's time of laying eggs. Oh my Michaelanius… I can tell she went there for the Legendary Silver Egg… This mission is doomed and we can't leave."

The butler continued forcing us to take on the mission, his voice sharp and unrelenting. The exact moment he finished his speech, the heavy wooden door at the back of the hall creaked open. A small but formidable group of elite guards stepped inside... no more than ten men, yet their presence alone silenced half the room. They wore sharp navy-blue and teal uniforms with crisp lines, accented by bold red belts that stood out like fresh blood.

At their sides hung ornate rapiers sheathed in pure golden-black scabbards that gleamed menacingly. Each man moved with disciplined confidence, their auras heavy and sharp. They were clearly battle-hardened veterans chosen to accompany us as overseers for this suicide mission.