Max tried to plead his case, feeling deeply wronged. "We didn’t neglect the mission on purpose. Ordinarily, in cases like this, it’s common practice to consider the mission complete if the client’s goal is achieved.” They hadn’t dragged their feet. On the contrary, they had pushed hard to be prepared for any potential mishaps along the way. Besides, it was a siege, so they expected to have plenty of time. Yet, when they arrived, the battle had ended far sooner than anticipated. The battlefield was already being cleared. In this situation, there wasn’t much left for them to do but to feel relieved that Baron Fenris was still alive as their client had wished. However, Ghislain was relentless in his interrogation. “I was trapped at the gates, nearly surrounded and killed! Did you save me when it mattered? Or not?” “No... we didn’t,” Max admitted. He couldn’t deny it, especially since Ghislain was adamant about the danger he’d been in. “So did you complete the mission properly? Or not?” “N-No, we didn’t. But we had no way of knowing the war would end so quickly...” “Well then, you owe me for the job! What, are you trying to cheat my partners?” Max and his team had no response to Ghislain’s sharp words. They felt wronged, yet couldn’t refute him. Moreover, their client was none other than Rosalyn, the daughter of Marquis Branford, and Lady Mariel, an influential noblewoman. If this madman succeeded in putting them on the wrong side of those two, it could end their business altogether. Surrounded, fleeing was not an option. Their best hope was to appease Ghislain and make a graceful exit. “I-In that case, we’ll offer a discount on the next mission and ensure it’s handled with utmost care.” “Next time? Where’s that supposed to happen? Do you expect me to be in danger again? And don’t talk about discounts as if you’re doing me a favor. A fifty percent discount is a given!” At this, Max paused, exasperated. *This guy... he’s impossible to reason with... It’s probably better to just ask what he wants.* “S-So, what would you like us to do?” Max asked, his voice cautious. Only then did Ghislain’s tone soften. “Start by helping clear the battlefield and assisting with some work in my territory. We need more laborers, you see.” This wasn’t unreasonable. Spending a bit more time here was preferable to arguing with a crazy noble. “Fine, we’ll help out for a few days and then be on our way.” Max and his team looked defeated as they began aiding the soldiers. They assumed they would only work a few days as a gesture, but Ghislain had other ideas. *They look pretty capable. I should put them to use for a good while. I can calculate their pay like laborers.* Rosalyn and Mariel must have paid thousands of gold for the mission, given the risk. Working that off as laborers would mean several years of service, even with a generous pay rate. As the hired hands moved off to start working, the young priest with them was left alone, looking a bit out of place. Noticing this, the priest, clearly uncomfortable, tried to speak up. “Then... I suppose I’ll be on my way...” Ghislain, feigning ignorance, scratched his ear before addressing him more politely than he had the mercenaries, acknowledging the priest’s status. “You seem quite young, priest. What’s your name?” “P-Piotter, sir. I serve Juana, the goddess of beauty and prosperity.” “The goddess of beauty, Juana? Don’t her followers tend to avoid war zones and... well, unsightly places?” Piotter hesitated a moment before responding. “Lady Aylesbury has been very generous to our temple, so the request was made through special channels.” Hearing that, Ghislain nodded in understanding. If anyone would recognize the value of cosmetics, it would be Mariel, an absolute master in beauty. Her connection to Juana’s temple made perfect sense. With her influence, wealth, and connections, sending a priest to the battlefield would have been no trouble for her. “I see. Thank you for coming to such a harsh place.” “Yes... Well, then, I’ll be...” “Where are you off to? You must have received payment as well, right? You’ll need to earn it, like the others.” At this, Piotter looked indignant. “I haven’t received any payment!” “What? A priest lying in broad daylight?” “I swear on the goddess herself! I did not receive any money!” Even the most corrupt priests rarely dared to invoke the goddess’s name in a lie. This revelation made Ghislain pause. No money? A priest coming to a battlefield without any pay? How could that be? *That doesn’t add up. There’s no way a priest would come here for free.* He squinted at Piotter, examining him carefully. A small man with light pink hair and delicate features that made him look more elegant than rugged. The timid way he lowered his head showed his lack of experience. He was pale and well-groomed, as if he had spent his life in the temple without a day of hardship. *Such a person doesn’t fit the image of a paid priest coming to a war zone.* There was no way Mariel would select someone like this for the job. *And he doesn’t look like someone devoted enough to sacrifice himself for the goddess’s message. Normally, priests are only sent if they’ve received the payment directly.* Then, a realization dawned on Ghislain, and a look of excitement appeared on his face. *This is amazing! I’ve finally got a proper priest!* Most Northern territories didn’t have resident priests who could perform divine magic. They only had traveling preachers spreading doctrine. Since priests capable of divine magic were rare, they were hard to find outside of the lands of powerful lords or major cities. Gillian, for instance, hadn’t left Rayfold when his daughter fell ill for this reason. If his guess was right, he could secure this priest in his domain for a good while. “Be honest. Someone else took the payment, didn’t they? Probably someone high up, and you were just sent here because of temple hierarchy, right?” “Uh...” Piotter hesitated, unwillingly confirming the truth with his silence. In the main temple in Cardinia, of course, there were high-ranking priests and the archbishop. Even with Mariel and Rosalyn’s influence, they couldn’t easily send such figures to a remote and dangerous region. Most likely, a senior priest had accepted the payment and sent Piotter as a substitute, with the excuse of “building experience” for future missions. Feeling wronged, Piotter replied, “Well... it’s true, but I can’t stay here. I must return to the temple.” He didn’t want to end up trapped like the mercenaries. He had grown up surrounded by the finest things and had only seen the world as he’d imagined it through the temple’s lens. The reality he encountered now was jarringly different. *The world outside the temple is hell. I have to go back.* The villages he’d passed through had shaken him, filling him with sympathy for the poor he’d seen. But that had been naive. The battlefield was the true hell. It was on a completely different level than the territories he’d passed through. Everywhere he looked, bodies littered the ground, and the moans of the wounded filled the air. The blood-soaked knights and soldiers wandering about made him feel as if he were surrounded by demons. Ghislain, the lord himself, stood before him, soaked in blood but smiling. *How can he smile in a place like this? Everything outside the temple is terrifying. These people are incomprehensible.* They were like demons. He was sure this place was the devil’s lair. Seeing Piotter’s innocent discomfort, Ghislain chuckled. “Fine. Then go ahead. I won’t stop you.” “Really? Thank you, my lord! Then I’ll leave right away!” “But are you sure you can make it back safely on your own? Travel well.” “W-What?” The reality of his situation dawned on Piotter, and he was stunned. This world was full of monsters and bandits lurking everywhere, so much so that cities and villages were fortified with walls and barricades. How could he, lacking experience and not being a battle-trained priest, return to the capital on his own? His chances of dying or being kidnapped the moment he left were nearly certain, especially given his delicate appearance. *No, I can’t. I absolutely can’t go back alone.* With the mercenaries beside him on his way here, he’d felt safe. They’d handled the occasional monster encounter and bandit attack with ease. In the end, Piotter gave Ghislain a tearful look, bowing his head in desperation. “L-Lord Fenris, could you perhaps arrange an escort?” “How much will you pay?” “Huh? P-Pay? You’re charging me? But I’m a priest...” “Nothing’s free in this world. You were sent here because your temple accepted payment, weren’t you? I’m not a pushover.” “W-Well... but...” Once again, Piotter was taken aback. While he’d often seen nobles generously donate to temples, he had never encountered one asking for payment. Typically, nobles tried to win the temple’s favor by donating and showing respect. Reluctantly, Piotter bowed his head even lower. “Please, I beg you . I promise to repay your kindness when I return.” *I’m never looking in this direction again once I’m back!* But Ghislain wasn’t one to be swayed by empty words. He shook his head firmly. “I’d love to help, but we’re short on people too. If you can’t make it alone, wait for the others to finish up, and you can go with them.” “...Ugh.” In other words, Ghislain had no intention of letting him leave without working. Piotter realized he would face a high risk of death if he tried to return alone. With no other option, he reluctantly nodded, holding back tears. He had no idea how long the mercenaries would be kept here, either. But Ghislain wasn’t finished. He added a subtle threat. “Oh, and if you try to slip away or don’t work hard, I’ll make sure word gets out.” “W-Word? What word?” “That you ran off after pocketing temple money. That would cause a bit of trouble, wouldn’t it? You know who’s backing me, don’t you?” Piotter’s face turned pale as he grasped the gravity of the threat. The temple had strict hierarchies, even more than the mage towers. If the senior priest were to suffer because of a low-ranking priest’s actions, Piotter could face severe repercussions. At best, he’d be cloistered in a monastery for life. At worst, he’d be reassigned to an even more dangerous place than this. “Please... just a moment...” As he tried to plead, he saw Ghislain’s wicked grin. This man was a demon, he was sure of it. And this was clearly a test from the goddess herself. In faith, one must overcome such trials to prove devotion. “...I’ll do my best.” “Good. I look forward to working with you. Let’s speak informally like friends since we’ll be working together for a while. No need for stiff formalities, right?” “Yes... Whatever makes you comfortable...” “Aw, come on, no need to be so formal. Anyway, let’s get along well. Start by tending to the wounded. We’re short on doctors here.” Without missing a beat, Ghislain began giving orders. Piotter, fighting back tears, could only agree. Though reluctant, he knew better than to provoke the blood-drenched noble before him. “Yes...” Piotter, with faltering steps, approached the wounded soldiers. For treating physical wounds and rejuvenating energy, there was nothing better than divine magic. A priest was like a living, top-grade potion. And they even “recharged” naturally over time. A self-replenishing potion—truly a valuable find. And he even came in a lovely shade of pink. Though he was only a low-ranking priest, and thus limited in divine power, he was still far more valuable than a mage. *What a fortunate gain. I need to keep him here as long as possible. He’s obedient and doesn’t seem like the rebellious type. Truly, Mariel and Rosalyn have sent me a wonderful gift. Lucky me.* With ten strong laborers and a priest of the highest quality, Ghislain felt he had truly lucked out. This was one occasion where he would have to thank Mariel and Rosalyn. “Well, shall we finish up here?” Laughing heartily, Ghislain headed to the lord’s castle with a few knights. The white flag had already been raised, and high-ranking officials and administrators from Count Cavald’s territory were assembled, awaiting him. They looked at Ghislain with terror and bowed their heads low. “We welcome our new lord.” “We were merely following Count Cavald’s orders.” “We’ve opened the storage rooms. Everything here is now yours, my lord.” “We will serve you with all our hearts.” Ghislain scanned the group with an indifferent expression. These were the same men who had profited by aligning themselves with Count Desmond after siding with Count Cavald. They had done the same in his previous life and were doing so again. When the war had begun, they must have been confident, likely believing they would conquer Fenris and seize control of the food supplies. Now, these same people were staring at him with pleading eyes, desperate to survive. “Hmph.” With a few indifferent nods, Ghislain turned to Gillian beside him. “Throw all the lower-ranking officials in prison. We’ll decide their fates after further investigation.” “Understood.” “As for the high-ranking officials...” Ghislain cast a cold gaze over them and continued. “Execute them all.”