PS. Thanks to reader "Summit of the Mountain" for the fifty thousand reward, there will be another update tonight!
Laine squinted his eyes, his expression a mix of a smile and a non-smile, exuding an aura that was both chilling and authoritative: "You understand High Gothic Language?"
"Yes, and I also know the Disguise Technique, Mr. Laine, I am willing to follow you to repay your kindness." Amelia said softly, a blush fleeting across the girl's face.
"Pff~ Hahahahaha!" Veronica, standing nearby, suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard the flowers seemed to sway. The Jialan Witch fished out twenty-five Gold Dinars from her small bag and handed them directly to the captain: "Alright, alright, you all need not take out more money, I've paid this sum, and Miss Amelia here has acted as a guarantor. In exchange, she will now belong to me."
"No, Amelia!" Viert was incredulous, the deputy leader quickly stepped in front of the girl: "You don't have to do so much for us..."
"This is my choice, Deputy Leader, let me call you Deputy Leader for the last time." Amelia stood still and bowed towards the Vice Leader of the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps in front of her: "Thank you Mercenary Corps for taking me in all these years, I am very grateful."
"Ah~ you all don't think too much, this money is just the fee for hiring Amelia. After the end of the employment period, whether she wants to return to your Mercenary Corps is up to her." Veronica patted Amelia's tender shoulder: "Come along my Little Mercenary... no, my Little Maid."
The captain, having taken the money, had nothing more to say. The Sea God Priest, seeing the dispute settled, said: "Then you may discuss the remaining matters privately."
Upon leaving the Sea God Church, the Jialan Witch instructed Amelia to first pack her luggage and then meet up with the two.
Seeing Veronica still laughing all the way, Laine reproached: "Veronica!"
"Hahaha~ Laine, oh Laine, really, what am I to say to you?" The Jialan Witch laughed back and forth, while Laine was also quite helpless: "How was I to know she actually knew High Gothic Language?"
"Hahaha~ Who would have thought that a random female mercenary would see right through you, hahahaha~ Ouch~" Just as Veronica was about to laugh further, her indescribable part was pinched hard by the man: "Alright, tell me why you spent that money?"
"Isn't the house just short of a maid? I think this girl is very suitable." Veronica held her chest, looking very aggrieved, tears welling.
"Alright then, the Disguise Technique." Veronica finally spoke the truth: "This little girl is very skilled in the Disguise Technique, she made her pretty face so plain, we really need this kind of disguise skill, and I can tell she lacks a sense of security, especially in Marinburg, she seems extremely cautious and fearful of everything around her. Don't think she proposed following you just out of helplessness."
"Was it all part of her plan?" Laine now perked up.
"She craves a sense of security, I can conclude, from the moment this girl first saw you, she believed that only you could give her that security. Even if this matter hadn't happened, she would have found some reason to try to follow you." Veronica now became serious, crossing her arms: "So taking advantage of this to leave the Mercenary Corps was already in her plans." Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel⟡fire.net
Hearing this, Laine nodded. He had always felt this matter was somewhat unusual, Amelia's behavior was too... natural. From the incident to Laine's intervention and then to Amelia proactively leaving the Mercenary Corps to repay her debt, the entire process seemed too fluid: "What do you think is the reason for her lack of a sense of security?"
"I don't know, maybe... because she's very pretty?" At this point, even Veronica seemed a bit unsure, but she spoke in an indifferent tone: "But that's not important, we only need her Disguise Technique. As for whether you keep her by your side after this matter is up to you, the house just needs a maid, and as you said regarding your journey in Nord, this Amelia from the Mercenary Corps is brave and smart, she's probably not a bad person."
"In what circumstances could she feel secure in a remote Nord with rampant demons but not in Marinburg, the largest port of the Old World with so many military guards?" Laine touched his chin, finding it very strange.
"Before that... what did the girl say to you?" The more Veronica thought about it, the more interesting she found it.
"She uttered my true name! A surname I never made public..."
The reason for not visiting the Aesthetic Society in the morning was that Laine and Veronica learned that the president of the Aesthetic Society, Agneda, had an errand in the afternoon, so they deliberated and decided to make a special visit when Agneda was not present.
Visiting the Aesthetic Society was a crucial step in investigating this organization because no matter how many rumors you hear, seeing is believing.
However, plans couldn't keep up with changes. After being followed, Laine knew he couldn't investigate the Aesthetic Society openly.
After an ambiguous morning of shopping, he confirmed that Agneda had left the Aesthetic Society due to some personal matters, and being followed, the two naturally toured the whole Shield Coin District before heading to the Aesthetic Society, which wasn't all that strange.