Chapter 363 Elite Mercenary Group (1)
Chapter 363 Elite Mercenary Group (1)
Ashton headed over to get his first job as a mercenary. However, at his rank, not many were available in the first place. Those that were available to him, were not available to Anna as she was still stuck at rank 1.
She wanted Ashton to leave on a mission suitable for him, while she would hang back with the twins as their rank was the same. However, ever since the incident with Darjud, he had grown kind of overprotective of her and did not want to leave her alone, but he was not being given a choice.
In the end, he agreed it was for the best to leave her with the twins. But not alone. Sven was to stay within her shadow and protect them if the need arose. This was his compromise. Initially, he wanted to leave Atlas with her, but considering he wasn't fully tamed yet and was unpredictable, Ashton decided to leave Sven instead.
Also, since Sven had already been on two missions with twins, it was best to leave him with them. After that, the twins took a prearranged escorting job and left along with Anna and Sven.
'Hm... I should look for a high-paying job, I guess.'
[You bet. Being a mercenary isn't cheap. Thankfully you have some leftover money from earlier. It will come in handy. Especially when you have to pay for your travelling, food, and lodging.]
Ashton nodded and began analysing the bulletin board for the latest job requests. The ones he could apply for were useless searching and retrieving missions or some sort of plant collection thing.
These kinds of missions did not give enough money or combat experience. Those were the two criteria Ashton refused to let go of. After all, the only reason he became a merc was to get stronger and level up faster.
[There was a Xyran saying relating to money, I don't remember it well, but it went something like: A person can never have enough money.]
'I wouldn't expect anything else from you greedy bastards, to be honest.' Ashton smirked, 'But this time, I can agree with your ways. I do need money for a lot of things, especially information about the Xyrans and that'll be pricey. They have been quiet for far too long, considering one of their generals just went missing out of nowhere.'
[I don't know about it now, but back when I was alive, Beelzebub wasn't held in high regard by the council. I doubt they have changed their views on him even after a millennium. That being said, they will look for him eventually, but not so soon.]
Ashton just nodded and didn't respond. Ever since he got his [Perception] skill back, it had been hyperactive. Ashton could feel, see and hear things he normally wouldn't be able to. It was the same with his other senses as well. The trip to Euphoria had proved to be more fruitful than he thought.
That being said, his [perception] was the reason he immediately noticed the commotion that was slowly heading his way. From what he could hear and understand, some 'elite' mercenaries were heading his way and causing a ruckus.
For some reason, they wanted to call dibs on the lower-ranking jobs instead of claiming jobs that suited their ranks. This was the reason why players ranking at level 1 or 2 were so adamant about not letting them do so. But it's not like they had a choice in the matter.
Although anyone was eligible to take any job request as they pleased as long as they qualified for it, it was an unspoken rule to not take jobs that were lower than the mercenary's rank. It was for that reason Ashton did not accompany Anna and the twins in their escort quest. But now it looked like he should have done so.
'I understand why they are losing their shit over such a matter.' Ashton thought to himself, 'If an employer could get better-ranked mercenary to do their work for a cheap price, it's obvious they'll go for them instead of the usual low-rankers. These fuckers are basically taking their jobs away from them.'
[You know you're one of them, right? You might be strong, but you're still a low ranker so...]
Ashton shook his head and sighed like never before. Troubles... just the thing he wasn't looking for. He turned around and saw around twenty or so people walking in his direction. The mercenary group consisted of various different types of aliens. Some Ashton had seen before, and some he had not.
The one thing all of them had in common was their golden armour and the logo of a black hexagram engraved on their upper limb. It was probably the symbol of their mercenary group.
Ashton averted his gaze from the hexagram tattoo and analysed their gears. Just one glance was enough for him to know that the mercenary group had to have a powerful backer. The reason behind his logic was that all of them had rare gear on them.
He was still grasping the concept of the new monetary system of the Yenos. Even then, he could say just one set of armour would probably cost him around fifteen to twenty-five thousand Yenos. Which was enough to buy a third-hand travel-oriented or non-combat spaceship... something that Ashton did not possess.
[Don't get jealous. You possess something their backer can never dream of having.]
'I'll trade you for a battlecruiser without a moment's hesitation.'
[...fuck you!]
'Yeah yeah, but the F-word reminded me of something.' Ashton could barely contain his laugh just imagining what Astaroth's reaction would be, 'You said there was an intergalactic orgy right? Then how come are you still a virgin?'
[I'm done talking to you regarding that matter. It was a mistake to bring it up in the first place.]
Before Ashton could reply, someone grabbed his shoulder and tried to shove him aside. Unluckily, they weren't able to. Ashton turned around to see one of the people from the mercenary group was still holding on to him.
He was a muscular, pasty-skinned man with thin eyebrows, a large nose and a funny squared face. The person was one of the aliens Ashton did not know about. However, apart from the muscles, it didn't seem there was anything he had to worry about from the man. Especially when he was just a C-grade being.
"Do you need some help?" Ashton politely asked knowing the man had gotten flustered.
"Just move it. We'll be the first ones to accept certain job requests."
Ashton thought nothing could possibly be funnier than the alien's perfectly squared face, but he was wrong. The alien's squeaky voice was even funnier. Ashton almost thought he was conversing with a squish toy.
"Um... sure, go ahead."
Ashton stepped aside as he had no reason to get into a fight with unknown people. In his eyes, all of them were mercenaries trying to earn a living. However, if they gave him a reason to engage them, high-ranking or not, he was going to kick their ass. But he would like to keep the situation as peaceful as we could.
[Bruh... why are you getting so level-headed!!!]
'I have no idea.'