Veil of Destiny

Chapter 9 Cooperation and preparation

Under the radiance of Bedivere, nearly everyone else seemed to fade into insignificance. It wasn't just his sun-god-like appearance, his noble lineage, or his formidable strength—it was his kingly demeanor, a charisma that moved hearts like a gentle spring breeze.

Behind Bedivere burned a silent black flame—Elysis. Her presence, though noiseless, overshadowed even the brilliance of the Golden Lion. Her face, cold and aloof, was a beauty one dared not gaze upon yet found impossible to forget. Reginald and the other noble scum would secretly glance at her from time to time, only to quickly avert their eyes as if scorched by the black flames. Her black mage's robe couldn't conceal her extraordinary allure—her straight legs, full hips, slender waist, and perfectly curved bosom were enough to stir primal instincts in any man.

Dorian, Reginald, Tristan, and Ryder sat awkwardly. The sudden visit of the Golden Lion had caught them off guard. They scrambled to welcome Bedivere and called for the best refreshments.

The Golden Lion took a sip of tea, his movements flawless. His guard, Richard, opened a small pouch and spilled dozens of colorful gems onto the table before them.

Bedivere smiled and said, "I'm here to discuss a potential partnership." The room fell silent. "These gems are worth about fifty thousand gold coins—consider it my down payment."

Dorian, tearing his gaze away from the gems, tried to steady his voice. "If you can't handle it, how can we possibly manage?" As soon as he spoke, Reginald jumped up to cover Dorian's mouth. "Don't mind him. Whatever you need, just say the word. I, Reginald, would go through hellfire and back for you!" He spoke grandly, but his eyes were fixed on Elysis.

Bedivere watched the disgraceful nobles with interest. No one had ever dared to ogle Elysis so brazenly. Yet, the fools were doing just that. Bedivere could feel the murderous aura from behind him growing.

"Of course, my partnership comes with conditions," Bedivere gestured, and a man behind him unfurled a large sheepskin map on the table. He pointed to a castle symbol at the center. "This is an abandoned castle in my Asteria Duchy, recently occupied by bandits. It's 415 miles southwest of Fort Farle, near the Demon Forest. The location isn't strategically important, but there are two towns and several villages nearby. I can't abandon my people, so I need you to reclaim it. The gems are your starting fund. How you accomplish it—whether by assembling a heavy cavalry squad or some other means—is up to you. You have six months."

Bedivere continued, "If you succeed, I'll have my father grant you the land. You'll become land-owning nobles, and I'll invest a hundred thousand gold coins in War God's Hammer as my stake, expecting half the profits." The men's eyes lit up with excitement as they gathered around the map, though their attempts to strategize were futile. Bedivere smiled calmly, while one of his guards couldn't hide his disdain.

Ryder suddenly asked, "We don't have any soldiers. How can we defeat a bandit gang? And how many bandits are there, anyway?Is there any relevant information?"

Elysis answered coldly, "Only now do you think to ask for information?" Ryder's face turned red with embarrassment. Bedivere, unhurried, replied, "The bandit gang is actually a brigade of the Valeria Duchy's Ice Silver Fox Mercenary Group, their name is Snow Fox Brigade,about 500 strong and quite capable. They might increase their numbers over the next six months."

Dorian pondered briefly before asking, "Surely these bandits are beneath the notice of the Golden Lion. If you went personally, you could scare them off single-handedly."

The Golden Lion smiled faintly. "This is merely a small test. If you succeed, I hope Asteria Duchy will gain a few loyal retainers."

Tristan's eyes narrowed. "Asteria Duchy?"

"Yes, Asteria Duchy."

The temperature in the air dropped sharply, and the silent undercurrent surged.

Reginald rarely became serious. "Asteria Duchy has a lot of elite soldiers and generals, and they are as powerful as clouds. Even the subordinates of Lord Bedivere can easily deal with us. Although we are not very competitive, we still have some self-awareness. Besides, we brothers don't have any lofty ambitions. We just want to drink and play with girls every day and live a comfortable life. You don't need a few of us, do you?"

Bedivere glanced at the few noble scoundrels and said, "I was very impressed by the fight you had at the 'Oakwood' tavern. I believe you have potential. And in such a short time, War God's Hammer has become so prosperous, it must not have come out of nowhere. Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. Whether it's managing the world or running a weapon shop, it all comes down to understanding people's hearts."

He paused, and continued, "Life is short, so we need fine wine, famous swords, and even if we are fighting for a woman, we must fight for a world-famous beauty. Even if there are millions of mediocre women, how can they compare to a charming smile? Now, as long as you pass a small test, the opportunity is right in front of us. What do you all think?"

Their hearts pounded with excitement.

Dorian suddenly raised his head and looked into the eyes of the golden lion. Although the light hurt his eyes, he did not flinch at all. "I'm in." Dorian said word by word.

Tristan sighed. "Sigh, how can I let you go die alone? I'll have to pick up your money after you die."

"Conquering the world's beauties is a joy!" Reginald shouted, filling the room with enthusiasm.

Ryder, trying to make a grand gesture, sat heavily in his chair, which promptly collapsed. Embarrassed, he said nothing more.

"Then I await your success," Bedivere said, waving his hand and turning to leave.

Elysis stopped, her cold gaze freezing the disgraced nobles in place. They shivered as they found themselves immobilized. Elysis sneered, and black flames lifted them into the air. Her icy voice echoed, "I don't know why Bedivere values you. Your current strength is comparable to a worm's. Even in a few years, how strong could you become? And how dare you look at me with those eyes?" Without an incantation, giant spectral hands appeared above them, slamming them into the ground.

Elysis turned and left, the black flames dancing as if mocking the few people who were still struggling to get up.

As their minds cleared, Ryder asked, "Dorian, why did you agree so quickly?" Dorian blushed. "Bedivere is a powerful noble in our alliance, hard to come by. It's a rare chance to curry favor." The others agreed, caring little about potential treason. If Bedivere did rebel, Asteria Duchy had a better chance of winning. After all, Bedivere's mother was the sister of the emperor of Austro-Hungary, one of the three great nations.

"We might become founding heroes," Reginald daydreamed. The others agreed. As for Grayson, "We'll share the wealth; he can't escape us," Ryder said slyly.

"We should bring as many people as possible. Let's form a mercenary group to keep things official," Tristan suggested. They discussed this and began to act.

Days passed as Dorian and the others recruited tirelessly. War God's Hammer had earned over twenty thousand gold coins in recent months. Combined with Bedivere's fifty thousand, they could equip a hundred-man cavalry. Through various means, Dorian recruited thirty skilled mercenaries, forming the core of their new group. They debated the name before settling on "Dragon and Beauty" by a 4-1 vote, with Tristan, the only one with true artistic taste, dissenting.

However, Dorian was troubled by the lack of intelligence. They knew little about the bandits' numbers, leaders, or equipment, or even the local terrain. Their inexperience showed. After losing two scouts, they grew anxious. Finally, they decided to take all their forces for a reconnaissance mission.