"We meet again, Young Lady Peng."
Leo smiled softly as he sat on the velvet sofa across from a girl who clearly looked displeased upon seeing him. Her expression was a mixture of embarrassment, anger, and confusion. She tried hard to not show how she felt on her face while she fidgeted on her seat while stealing glances at him occasionally.
The air around her felt tense and uncomfortable but Leo kept smiling casually as if nothing was wrong with this situation at all. Jessica stood behind him like usual while Anya was humming happily on the side while sitting on one of the armchairs with legs crossed.
"Hahaha, so you already met the Leader? I see, I see." Anya giggled merrily while looking at Peng Li-Yue's increasingly frustrated expression, "That means I did well and I can ask for anything? Right, Leader?"
"Of course. I will reward you later." Leo nodded and turned to the young lady in front of him while looking at her with interest. "I assume you want our help regarding your father? Or is it related to the marriage with the third son of Tang Clan that plagued you?"
Peng Li-Yue flinched upon hearing these words coming out of his mouth, "... How did you know?! Wait! That's a secret only a few people know!"
"Hehe. Our leader is super amazing, you know?!" Anya spoke again with a happy tone while boasting about Leo, "He has so many talents! You see, he knows everything, smarter, and is stronger than anyone. He can do anything."
Jessica nodded in the back. She was recording everything right now.
"... I see." Peng Li-Yue remarked after some hesitation, "So you have done your research on me before agreeing to help me? Am I right?"
Leo smiled without saying anything.
'I already know everything because I read the original story. And Peng Li-Yue's story was especially... entertaining.'
Originally, she was a very spoiled girl who often took out her anger on others by bullying them because she felt that no one paid attention to her. She was the exact definition of a sheltered Princess.
One day, her father got into an accident while traveling somewhere and lost his leg permanently, crippling him.
When he returned home, he became more strict and distant toward his children and started paying more attention to his eldest son. Peng Li-Yue resented this but kept smiling to be a good daughter. However, the days in Peng Clan only became worse after that.
Due to his crippled condition, the Peng Clan started losing influence, making their enemies come knocking at their door. To counter that, Peng Clan came up with a new idea to strengthen themselves; Marry the first daughter into the Tang Clan.
Normally, that was a good decision, but the one they chose as a groom was Tang Clan's third son who was famous for being lazy, fat, alcoholic, and a womanizer. Peng Li-Yue despised this since it was essentially giving her away as a marriage gift.
"That's the gist of it, no?" Leo asked again to confirm if he was correct.
Peng Li-Yue bit her lips before nodding weakly. "... Yes, I am really in a predicament here."
Smiling, Leo gestured for Jessica to prepare a drink. Now this cheeky young lady was a client, he didn't want to treat her disrespectfully. He could even ignore her act from before if it meant securing a job. Mercenaries held no hate toward anyone.
"Then, how about we discuss this matter in detail while drinking something to calm down." Leo said before adding, "Of course, please don't worry since what you say here will not leave this room. And if we reach a deal, we will help you solve your problems."
Hearing his words, Peng Li-Yue lifted her head immediately and looked into Leo's eyes with hope written all over her face. She was still skeptical, but he didn't seem like he was lying at all and was telling the truth. She remembered his skill as well as Anya's.
After thinking about it for a while, she slowly nodded and decided to trust him. She needed someone to help her at the moment anyway.
"It's a dirty job..." She warned him once again but Leo only grinned confidently, "Also, it is highly dangerous so do not regret it later."
"You can rest assured since I have led this group for a long time." Leo leaned his back against the sofa and crossed his legs.
"Mention one kind of job, and we have finished it already. If you have information on how to cancel your marriage, do tell us. Or maybe, you want to kill Tang Clan's third son? We can also do it. Just state what you need."
The way he spoke was too casual, making Peng Li-Yue shudder. She looked around the room while eyeing everyone in suspicion but stopped when she noticed there was something different about the two people beside Leo.
'They don't have any hatred or hostility in their eyes. Instead, I feel like they are more open than anyone I met so far... And somehow... I don't think they are lying.'
Which meant this group was way more dangerous than she initially thought. She was foolish. She trusted Anya just because she was so energetic and cute, even though she was strong. If only she knew that she was a part of a dangerous group, she might've not followed her.
'Are they a part of Hao Sect? Or maybe Huashan Sect? No, that can't be. Their clothing and behavior are too different from what I have seen from them. Then, a Demonic faction? That's also not possible. I can't feel any corruption surrounding them.'
Which meant they weren't from the Evil faction.
'Still, the thing he said before... Can he really solve my problem?'
Her thoughts raced within her mind as she pondered whether or not she should reveal everything to him.
"Hey, Peng Peng."
"Peng Peng? Are you referring to me?"
"Yes, you." Anya grinned happily, "Don't think too much. Just tell us what you want, pay us, and we will solve it. You will be able to enjoy meat better than before after that."
Peng Li-Yue froze for a moment before smiling wryly as she shook her head slightly at the absurdity of what just happened.
"Then, let me explain the details." She spoke at last while looking straight into his eyes with a serious expression on her face, "I want you to fight for me against the representative of the Tang Clan's Third Son in an upcoming Martial Arts Tournament."
Martial Arts Tournament... It was a yearly event that was held by a major clan and sect to display their strength to the world. It was also a good way to recruit talented youths into their clan or sect.
'This is it!'
Leo's eyes lit up the moment he heard that.
'We can finish her request if we join the tournament. We can also show our strength for our future client. This is a perfect chance to showcase Hallowed Insects.'
He decided to do it and replied without hesitation.
"Let's talk about the payment now."
The word 'no' didn't exist in the vocabulary of a mercenary after all.