Returning to the headquarters of Sky Covering Wings just in time for the evening meal.
After Freya left with some of her people, the atmosphere in the headquarters became much quieter. Most matters were handled by Sohana as acting leader, while the rest remained at their posts.
Because of special arrangements, Sean, though a member of Sky Covering Wings, didn't have to follow the organization's usual rules.
So most of the time, Sean was a free man...
Perhaps Sohana also felt he might leave at any moment, so she always treated him politely, more like a guest than one of their own.
"Not many people today," Sean said during dinner, sitting in his usual spot with Sohana beside him.
"It seemed like there were more yesterday."
Even though Freya had taken some people away, the headquarters still had a few hundred members, so it shouldn't have been this sparse.
The long table had people only at the front and back ends, with a huge gap in the middle... Even Elli and Karyana, who usually stuck close to him, were missing.
"Haven't you heard about the recent mercenary guild missions? Some of our people joined in," Sohana said from beside him.
"Is it about the southeastern region?"
"Not just that, but since that mission was posted, other tasks have been left unattended, so things have been especially busy lately."
Just like the news Sean had heard at the mercenary guild today, most people chose to participate in the southeastern Takoma region mission, leaving few for other tasks. That's why the city's wizard organizations were now swooping in to claim them.
"I see."
Sean ate a bit.
The sudden quiet in this group of girls felt a little surreal.
"By the way, I might be going out for a few days. I might not be back for a while, so don't prepare dinner for me." Sean's words caught Sohana off guard.
"You're leaving?"
"Just temporarily."
Although she knew he might leave, she hadn't expected it so soon.
After all, he was brought here by their leader—shouldn't he at least wait until she returned?
"Don't you need to wait for the leader to come back?"
"No need. I might come back later."
"Alright then." Sohana didn't have much interaction with Sean anyway, so she wouldn't object to his departure, though she was a bit displeased that he hadn't informed the leader.
Throughout Sky Covering Wings, many speculated about the relationship between the leader and Sean...
In all these years, no one had ever seen the leader of Sky Covering Wings have close contact with any man, let alone ride in a carriage or go out together. Many had their thoughts but dared not speak them, though later on, their interactions seemed to dwindle.
A vague feeling...
Sean continued eating. Without Freya or Karyana around, he spoke little.
Mainly because he didn't know what to say. In the beginning, the girls of Sky Covering Wings liked to chat with him, but that gradually faded.
After dinner, Sean returned to his room to pack.
He remembered that when he first left Taylor Mian, he only brought a single grimoire. Now, he had a mess of equipment and items that wouldn't even fit in his waist pouch—he needed a separate backpack.
He cleaned his flintlock, prepared potions, bandages, maps, and even some daily necessities like spices for cooking.
Everything was ready for tomorrow...
The meeting time with Jonathan's mercenary squad was set for morning at the south gate of Rietis.
It hadn't rained today, making it a relatively good day. Except for the winter mornings when he used to run, Sean rarely went out this early. Probably no one in the organization except Sohana knew he was leaving.
At the headquarters' entrance in the morning, there were hardly any people, just a few servants cleaning...
Sean initially thought about hailing a carriage, but after some consideration, he bought a horse and went directly.
He had never formally participated in a mercenary squad's mission and didn't know how they traveled, but since there was competition, they'd likely rush off.
The airships to the southeast had already stopped running.
And for nearly half a month, no airships from Takoma City had arrived. The fastest route was by horse—even carriages couldn't keep up.
Though it was still early, many mercenaries had already gathered near the south gate, along with early-rising merchant caravans...
"Master Sean, you're here early."
As soon as he reached the gate, someone greeted him.
A man and a woman...
They were the same pair chatting yesterday. The woman, named Rast, was a level 5 Orderer and a ranged archer; the man, Lawrence, was also a level 5 Orderer, but his health was closer to level 6 at [5700/5700], and he was a warrior.
"Yeah, you're even earlier."
Seeing the horses behind them confirmed his guess—the mercenary squad's transport was indeed horses.
"Where are the others?"
"Master Alphonse is already in the back. Jonathan and Von went to buy food; we'll eat breakfast on the road."
Though mercenaries were in a hurry, they didn't neglect their meals. From his earlier experience with the archaeological team, Sean knew mercenaries paid close attention to their squad's diet, especially keeping backup rations in case they entered special areas with no food for a long time.
"Then let's wait for them." Sean dismounted and walked over to Alphonse, who was resting against a wall.
"Still not awake?"
A slight movement under the black coat.
"Some people are always asleep, but many think they're awake, while others are the opposite..."
Sean frowned. When did this guy start talking in riddles?
"Oh, so which kind is Master Alphonse?" Seeing the [Recalling!] status above his head, even that one sentence had sent him into a memory.
As the only level 7 Orderer in the squad, Sean always felt someone of his rank wouldn't fight just for money.
"I'm curious..."
"Hm?" Sean looked at him seriously.
"What kind of bounty hunter like Master Sean would take on a mission like this?"
Sean didn't see a [Doubt!] status on him, meaning yesterday's display had indeed made an impression, convincing them he was a big shot!
Honestly, that feeling was pretty great.
Like standing before an armed enemy, knowing the bullet's trajectory in advance so there's no need to dodge... But to the shooter, it looked like he completely disregarded them—that calmness put immense psychological pressure on others.
"Actually, I'm curious too. Why would a level 7 Orderer team up with a bunch of level 5s?"
"You know my level?" Alphonse [Shocked!] turned around, nearly standing up.
Sean just smiled.
No choice...
He couldn't think of any excuse to fool this high-level guy, so he had to keep bluffing.
It was always like this—truly exhausting!
Alphonse sighed.
"It seems Master Sean is indeed a well-traveled hunter. Have you ever heard of the country Kserk?"
Uh...
What had been a good conversation suddenly hit Sean's knowledge blind spot.
"Is that your homeland?" He could only dodge the question.
"Sort of. Kserk is on another continent across the southern sea. Unlike the Basharan Empire, it's a country where alchemy is highly developed." Saying this, Alphonse turned to look at Sean with [Serious!] eyes.
"In that country, alchemists seek a way to break through the 'Gate of Truth'... Master Sean, what do you think alchemy is?"
He hadn't expected such a question.
"Equivalent exchange!"
Alphonse showed a surprised expression.
"Exactly! Alchemy is equivalent exchange. But if equivalence allows exchange, doesn't that mean everything can be transformed into something else? As they say, the one is all, and all is one."