At that moment, Joseph suddenly leaned close to speak in his ear.
"Milord, it was this girl who suggested calling you over earlier."
So it was her.
Sean looked at the blonde girl before him, who was feigning shyness. Her head was constantly in an excited state, yet she acted like an innocent young girl. She was already at Orderer Level 6.
One more step, and she'd be at Level 7.
Although Sean had seen higher-level figures before, having traveled through several large cities, he'd noticed that most people lingered around Levels 5 or 6. Level 6 seemed to be a watershed, and once someone reached Level 7, they could ascend to a higher echelon.
But even reaching Level 6 wasn't easy for ordinary people. A mercenary warrior who had crossed that threshold had seen all sorts of things.
"I don't have much time. Since you insisted on meeting me in person, you can speak now." Sean ignored their vaudeville-like performance and asked.
"Barnier, hurry up, don't keep the Earl waiting. The Earl is busier than you," the blonde girl said.
"But we're here to negotiate—"
"What's there to negotiate? We just need a place to stay."
"Sigh, Ratina, you're messing up our plan."
The four of them started talking over each other again.
For a moment, Sean even wondered if these four had just been thrown together randomly, not actually members of a real mercenary squad.
"I get it. You came with conditions, didn't you? So, tell me, what do you want?" Sean asked, giving them a chance.
"We need enough food."
"Just a house will do."
"I want to become a member of the Earl's personal guard."
"..."
Even their demands were all different.
Sean glanced at Joseph beside him, who was also frowning.
"Milord, maybe we should just forget it. Give them some money as a standard mercenary guild mission transaction, have them tell me where the rebels are, and I'll take the men there."
"No need."
Joseph's words must have been overheard by the four. Suddenly, the only male in the squad stepped forward and said, "We've made up our minds. This time, we really have," the man raised his hand and said loudly.
"Then let's hear it."
"We want you to give us a stable job, Milord."
"Yes, that's right. We just need a stable job where we can eat our fill," the blue-haired girl beside the man added.
It was then that Sean seemed to understand. This mercenary squad, made up of Orderer Level 6 individuals, seemed to be in a state of just coasting through life.
It reminded him of a certain period in his own past.
"And the rebel matter?"
"If you trust us, Milord, we can accompany the Sergeant Major to handle it. I once saw someone near the mercenary guild inn, and I'm sure he's one of the rebels," the man said.
He then explained why he was so certain of the man's identity.
The man's name was Barnier. Since he was a teenager, he had taken up the dangerous yet potentially lucrative profession of a mercenary. Over the past decade, he had traveled to many places, including the North. He had often crossed paths with the rebels there, and they had even invited him to join the Revolutionary Army. But he had always preferred a life of ease and laziness, so he refused. However, during that time, he had seen many members of the Revolutionary Army.
"That man is named Ulysses. On the surface, he looks like a refined gentleman. But behind the scenes, he's a liaison for the Revolutionary Army—no, the rebels. He's probably around Orderer Level 5. I saw him several times when I was in the North, and just a few days ago, I spotted him on the street near the mercenary guild inn." Barnier didn't hold back and told everything he knew.
"A rebel member from the North?"
"Yes, Sergeant Major."
"Why would he come here?" Joseph's instincts kept him alert.
"I don't know that either. Logically, the North is more favorable for rebel activities. I have no idea why he'd risk coming here," Barnier said, puzzled.
While no one really understood the rebels' movements, Sean was the only one who truly wanted to know the reason.
His city had only recently been established, and having these imperial opposition forces gathering here was ultimately bad news. Sean had repeatedly sent Asrant to interrogate the three imprisoned rebels, but they were tough nuts, refusing to say anything about the purpose of their mission.
"In that case, Joseph, take some men and go with them."
"Actually, we don't need too many people, Earl," Barnier suddenly said.
Sean looked at him. Although the four of them had seemed amateurish when bickering among themselves, they were now acting very serious.
"We will personally arrest the rebels and bring them before you, Earl. At the same time, we hope you'll consider our earlier request."
"As long as you deliver results, I'll naturally arrange suitable positions for you."
"Earl!"
Joseph, standing nearby, interjected, but Sean stopped him.
They were mercenaries, free agents.
Such people weren't fit for military work—they could easily corrupt discipline. However, the four had decent levels, especially this man named Barnier, who was already at Level 6 and a half. With a few years of training, he might even reach Level 7 or above.
Rather than recruiting high-level individuals, it was better to cultivate them from an appropriate level. Otherwise, he might end up with a situation similar to Count Hammel's.
The four couldn't join the military, but they could become his intelligence agents. And right now, that was exactly what he lacked.
"I can agree to that. But in return, you need to show me you're worth keeping around. Otherwise, with such a lazy attitude, I won't keep you." Sean then had Joseph fetch some money.
A few hundred gold coins.
As a reward equivalent to a mercenary guild mission. Since they had provided the location, they would naturally receive the bounty. It was both a mission requirement and a matter of his credibility as an Earl.
When they saw the gold coins, the four clearly showed excitement and longing.
"We'll get it done, Earl. No matter who it is, we'll catch him. Even if they don't go, I will!" said the blonde girl, the only one among them who seemed to admire him.
So she's a fangirl.
Looks like I really do have fangirls.
"What's your name?"
"Ah, Ratina. My name is Ratina. I live in a small town near Rietis. I became a mercenary at fourteen, but I always worked alone. I only teamed up with others later. No, actually, I was always alone. If they hadn't said they needed a close-combat fighter, I wouldn't have joined."
The girl kept emphasizing that she was alone, making Sean feel a bit awkward.
Give me a break.
"You want to go capture the rebels, right? I'll be waiting for your good news."