Baron Cook’s face suddenly changed as he looked at Flamenco. Flamenco nodded his head slowly. He had a vague understanding of Aini’s background. Saleen was not lying. The Clyde clan would not stand for any harassment from outsiders.
"I do not care how you want to manage your soldiers, but I cannot tolerate anybody challenging the dignity of mages before me. Aini is a mage, and in my country, there is only one outcome for humiliating a mage," Saleen said, remembering the scene when Jason had saved him from the dungeon. A murderous look flashed in his eyes.
Aini lifted his head and smiled sarcastically, saying, "Saleen, I have not done wrong in having you as my friend. Flamenco, I have employed you. Now that someone wants to kill me, what do you intend to do?"
Flamenco looked unusually embarrassed. He looked at Baron Cook, whose expression was stiff as he also did not know how to handle this matter. To kill Ken? What would the soldiers think? Kill Aini? Saleen was obviously not easy to persuade. That female Caucasus warrior with him was very intimidating. If he made any moves, the people around him would suffer.
"Baron Cook is also my friend," Flamenco said with much difficulty.
The mocking look on Aini’s face deepened. He said coldly, "Great, so the contract between us is useless. I hope that you do not regret it, as it is not a good thing to go against a contract with a mage."
Saleen was filled with resentment. Aini had been too harsh with his statement. Originally, Flamenco’s people could have been won over. Wouldn’t saying that push the Nut Mercenary regiment towards Baron Cook?
Flamenco let out a legitimately loud laugh and said, "Alright, so what? I am willing to accept the punishment for breaking the contract. I will never go against Baron Cook." He had now secretly formed a murderous plan to go all in and kill everyone here. Would any of the soldiers dare reveal anything?
Just as he said that, a red light flashed on everyone in the Nut Mercenary regiment. Then, a magic pattern appeared on each of their foreheads. This red pattern was very small and looked as though fine threads were seeping into their skin.
Aini wiped off the bloodstains on the side of his mouth and said happily, "Flamenco, you are the one willing to accept the punishment for breaking the contract. I did not force it on you."
As he said that, he pointed with his finger, and the red magic pattern on Flamenco’s forehead suddenly became extremely vivid. Flamenco gave a loud, painful groan, dropped the heavy sword in his hand, and fell to the ground tossing about continuously as he clutched his head.
As Aini used his finger to touch each mercenary gently, the magic patterns on the foreheads of the mercenaries became eerie-looking, as though penetrating their brains. Instantly, the five of them tumbled onto the ground.
Because the scene was so sinister, none of the surrounding soldiers around them dared to make any moves. Aini, who was a mage apprentice, could already control the five swordsmen of the Nut Mercenary regiment.
"Contract magic?" Saleen said softly without much suspicion. Agreement magic was considered an unpopular magic, and the soul bond between him and Nailisi was also a form of it. However, those like Aini’s were definitely rare.
It was actually possible for a common employment contract to be turned into contract magic. The Clyde clan was not to be underestimated.
He had been staring throughout and had not even noticed when Aini had made the alterations. It was no wonder that Aini had entrusted his safety to these mercenaries. Even if this matter had not come up, should the people of the Nut Mercenary regiment have harbored any bad intentions during the journey, they would have probably been killed by Aini.
Aini waved to Flamenco. Flamenco stood up involuntarily. While his head no longer hurt, the fear he held in his heart was becoming increasingly uncontrollable.
Aini coughed a few times, looked at Flamenco, and asked, "Now do you understand the price you must pay for going against the contract?" Flamenco nodded his head. Aini smiled and said, "Now, let me ask you. Lord Baron is thinking about killing me. What do you intend to do?"
The magic pattern on Flamenco’s forehead had spread out, and even both of his eyes now showed red veins. He answered in a coarse voice, "Kill him."
"Then go ahead," Aini said. He retrieved a metal cube from the leather bag on his back and twisted it with his hands. It became a weapon in the blink of an eye. The four mercenaries who had fallen onto the ground climbed up, lifted their eight-faceted Qin swords, and charged at Baron Cook.
Saleen was stunned. Although he had been aggressive, it had only been to take control of the situation. He had only wanted to reach an agreement that Baron Cook was comfortable with. Since this fight had started, they were heading towards the point of no return.
Sijia hesitated for a moment, then drew her sword, planning to go around Saleen to attack Aini. Because the distance between her and Saleen was so close, Sika did not bother with what Sijia was thinking. As long as she wanted to get close to Saleen, she would need to get through her first. As Sika’s cudgel struck right away, it brought along the sound of a ghost howling.
With the few days of rest coupled with the healing from Saleen’s restorative water, she had finally fully recovered from her injuries. Aside from the loss of her magic beast soul, she had almost fully recovered her battle power. Sijia tried to raise her sword to block, but Sika’s strength was too strong and she dropped her sword. The boomerang in Sika’s left hand took advantage of this and went straight for Sijia’s throat.
The weapon in Aini’s hand was extremely peculiar. It looked like a staff, but had four edges at both ends. It was hollow, and had magic patterns all over it. The middle part resembled the rapier used in a sword for chopping horses; it was slender, smooth, and just right to hold. This weapon was twirling in his hand while the hollow parts at the two ends began to spurt out fire.
He walked in front of Ken, looked into his eyes, and said, "If I do not die here, I will let your family off."
As he said that, Aini’s weapon swept over and smashed into Ken’s neck. Flames spurted out from the hollow parts of the four-edged metal. Ken was suddenly rooted to the ground, his whole head engulfed in flames.
Saleen felt a chill over Aini’s strong murderous intent.
The situation was out of control. The eyes of the people from the Nut Mercenary regiment were bloodshot. Under Aini’s directions, they charged at Baron Cook. Baron Cook was very regretful now. He had never thought that a Grade 1 mage and a mage apprentice would cause such serious trouble.
It was no wonder that before his death, his father had reminded him repeatedly to never offend any mages. If he made it out of here alive, Baron Cook would definitely pass down this advice to his son. However, the people of the Nut Mercenary regiment were already charging at him, and there was no soldier of swordsman rank protecting him. Swords crossed, and suddenly, more than ten soldiers were lying in a pool of blood.
Sijia’s long sword had been knocked away by Sika. With a leap, Sika’s boomerang flew out of her hand, the sharp blade eyeing Sijia’s throat as though it would not give up until she had chopped off her head.
Saleen had already killed before, and knew that this was a fact he could not overrule. Aini had the backing of his clan, and was not afraid of Baron Cook. Saleen, however, was alone, and if he did not kill these people, he would be in big trouble in the future.
At this time, the scarecrows had already climbed up the surrounding buildings and were charging towards the tower, passing the stone bridge. The soldiers on the platform were helpless, not knowing which side to deal with first.
Saleen ruthlessly deployed the Fog of Confusion. The Fog of Confusion swiftly dispersed. The soldiers lost their targets, and could no longer stay calm. They dashed out of the tower in succession.
The fear was uncontrollable when they could not see anything with both their eyes.
It was just that even if they fled beyond the range of the Fog of Confusion, they would be killed by the scarecrows anyways.
"Aini," Saleen whispered.
"I’m here," Aini answered steadily. The flame of the weapon in his hand extinguished.
"Do not kill the baron yet. He surely knows the route to retreat."
"It could only be below," Aini said calmly. Both of them had powerful mental power and were perceptive in the Fog of Confusion. Furthermore, Saleen could treat the fog as a part of his body, aware of every happening within its range like the back of his hand.
Baron Cook had already left the tower under the protection of his soldiers, and had retreated to the platform. It was foggy inside the tower, leaving only the people of the Nut Mercenary regiment, Saleen, and the others.
Saleen sighed and grabbed Sika, who had been about to charge out. He said to Aini, "Since you said so, you will be able to find a way out. Let’s escape before the black mage appears."
Saleen released the Fluorescence spell to illuminate their surroundings. Aside from the corpses in the tower, there was not a single soldier present. The spot in the center was a metal board leading downwards. Aini used his weapon to hack at the metal board a few times, flames shooting out. The metal board was very thick, and was locked from below. Saleen and Aini exchanged a glance, knowing that there may have been soldiers lying in ambush underneath.
Sika watched Saleen deploy some magic to create a massive amount of acid which which to corrode the metal board. She cleverly picked up a round iron shield and stowed away the cudgel she always used. Picking up a sword blade from the ground, she stood beside the metal board. She was waiting for it to be broken open, prepared to be the first to go down.
Saleen signalled Sika to wait. He outstretched his hand to Aini and said, "Pass me a poison pill."
Aini did not understand how Saleen had known that he had poison pills. Without blabbering, he took out a waxed pill and passed it to Saleen. Saleen carefully examined the magic pattern on the waxed pill. It was a commonly used magic pattern of detonation. Come to think of it, this was necessary because Aini had no magic chords, and thus naturally needed to make simple tools.
The acid speedily corroded a big hole in the metal board. Saleen injected a little elemental energy into the poison pill and threw it into the hole. The quarter below surely housed Baron Cook’s cronies. Nothing more needed to be said. Just poisoning them to death would do.
There was a crisp sound of an explosion below, the poison pill exploded, and the poisonous fog dispersed. With the exception of grand swordmasters, nobody would have been able to last more than ten seconds in that enclosed environment.
In less than ten seconds, Saleen could hear footsteps approaching the metal board from below. He moved aside while Sika came to the top of the metal board, listening carefully. Suddenly, the sword blade in her hand was thrown into the corroded hole in a flash.
Only a dull groan and the sound of metal cutting through bone were heard. This shot from Sika had immediately gotten rid of their enemies.
Saleen did not hurry downwards despite the sounds of battle on the platform outside of tower becoming unusually intense. He said calmly, "Aini, are we friends?"
"Yes," Aini gave a definite answer.
"Then tell me. What, exactly, is below this?"