One wrong word could decide the fate of the entire mercenary band. Walking down the hallway, Rebell calmed his mind.
“Your Majesty, I have brought the leader of that mercenary band.”
“Come in.”
Warmth filled the room from a fireplace. The low flames suggested that Claudius had been there for quite some time.
“Come on in. I was about to lose my patience waiting.”
Claudius shifted slightly on the sofa where he had been lounging, observing like a predator sizing up its prey, but Rebell remained unshaken.
“Show respect to His Majesty.”
Calum warned Rebell, who simply continued to stare at Claudius’s location, displaying a blatant lack of manners. A man who does not kneel before the Emperor must be forced to. Calum drew his sheathed sword, aiming at Rebell’s leg.
“Stop.”
Claudius’s intervention came swiftly, disapproving of such insolent behavior before the Emperor.
‘Perhaps he is indeed a former slave, with no knowledge of etiquette.’
Calum resentfully eyed the disagreeable mercenary leader, then re-sheathed his sword. Claudius watched the entire scene with amusement, his voice oozing magnanimous ease.
“Let’s be generous in our understanding. What would these northerners know of etiquette?”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Claudius clicked his tongue lightly and gestured to the opposite sofa. Without a word, Rebell approached and sat down in front of the Emperor, finally able to look directly at his face.
Another face, one that Rebell would have to remember forever, sat leisurely before him, smiling.
It had taken too long to sit before him and face him. Rebell forced strength into his trembling hands, repeatedly reassuring himself that it wasn’t too late.
“You caused quite a ruckus. The number of Imperial Guards injured by you and your mercenary band was… Calum, how many was it?”
“Nineteen.”
“Ah, right. Merely four of you inflicted injuries on nineteen. The prestige of the Imperial Guard has hit rock bottom. A regrettable outcome indeed.”
Claudius seemed not entirely pleased with his sarcastic remarks. He could have been more straightforward, but he chose not to dive into the main point. Instead, he continued fiddling with his hands aimlessly.
Claudius looked into Rebell’s unwavering blue eyes again. A mere mercenary daring to look directly at the Emperor, and without any signs of fear or nervousness.
But after all, they were just base creatures motivated by money. Claudius continued.
“Judging by your skills, your band seems quite desirable. Have you experienced war before?”
It was a probing question. Rebell remembered a battle not recorded in history.
The duke who had hired the mercenary band delayed the payment and tried to exploit them, prompting an unhesitating withdrawal by Rebell and his men.
Not long after their departure, the duke’s territory was claimed by the Imperial standard. An expected outcome.
“We fought in Seradio.”
Claudius straightened up at Rebell’s calm reply.
Seradio, a small duchy in the west, had been a significant battleground. Claudius couldn’t forget it, having struggled there initially.
“So you were employed by the opposing side.”
“Yes, but we didn’t see it to the end.”
“Why is that?”
“We didn’t receive the remaining payment.”
Rebell answered shamelessly, almost challenging Claudius to be flustered.
Claudius leaned forward, his face twitching slightly. Calum, perplexed, stepped towards the Emperor.
“Your Majesty?”
Claudius burst into laughter, shaking his body. He banged his hand on the sofa armrest, laughing uproariously.
Rebell simply watched, unmoved by Claudius’s behavior. The Emperor’s laughter gradually subsided, and he looked at Rebell with a skewed gaze.
“I hope to provide you with proper compensation.”
For Claudius, paying less and delaying payment was a blow to his pride, especially for a nation absorbed by the Empire.
Claudius was intrigued by the strange man before him. He felt a competitive drive, unusual for him. A man who should be groveling at the bottom was boldly speaking before the Emperor.
If money was what the mercenary wanted, Claudius was ready to pay. However, if Rebell failed to deliver the expected results, he would face corresponding consequences.
“Once you stood against me, now stand on the side that saves.”
Claudius signaled Calum to bring a contract. A contract and a pen were placed on the small table between them.
“I will hire the entire Ricus Mercenary Band. The advance payment will be generously provided.”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
