Chapter 425 - 70: Who’s the Bigger Scoundrel
When Yue Jinghua led a few members of the Second Generation Soldiers and entered the Five Saints Mercenary Branch again after three months, she thought the negotiation would definitely go smoothly.
She even imagined herself throwing down the bag of Star-falling Diamond Sand in a grand gesture and witnessing the expression on Luo Lin’s face at the reception.
Indeed, Luo Lin was surprised when she saw the bag of Star-falling Diamond Sand, but she soon resumed her composure, accepted the sand, checked it, and handed a beast skin map to Yue Jinghua.
"Wait, the prestigious Five Saints Mercenary Branch actually faking the registered mercenaries’ collateral?" Just by holding the beast skin map, Yue Jinghua felt something was off, even before opening it.
The beast skin in her hand was very new, she could even catch a whiff of the fresh scent left from dyeing.
The treasure map left by the Compass’s mother, not to mention whether it was truly the Ancient Hero’s treasure, should at least have several decades of history, not something almost new like this street vendor item.
Luo Lin still wore her usual smile and calmly said, "Captain Yue, don’t get upset. This map is indeed not the original treasure map, but the one I provided is also genuine. It’s a transcription from the original, not missing a single word; it’s absolutely real."
"Snap," Yue Jinghua threw the map onto the ground and raised her voice, "Everyone, come see how the Mercenary Branch arbitrarily replaces the task’s collateral. This is a deceit, don’t think that they can take advantage of us just because we’re all newcomers."
At that moment, inside the Mercenary Branch, there were clients and some mercenaries who came to take new tasks, hearing this, everyone hurriedly crowded around.
"Captain Yue, please look carefully at the second last clause of the pawn agreement. It clearly states that if the pledged item is accidentally damaged, lost without cause, or suffers other losses, the Mercenary Branch only needs to provide an item of equivalent value in replacement. The former captain of the Second Generation Soldiers, Compass, had agreed to this," Luo Lin pushed the pawn document under Yue Jinghua’s eyes with a smile still on her face.
Yue Jinghua looked carefully, and indeed, there were two sloppy characters at the end of the document.
Unexpectedly, such typical "Overlord Clauses" also existed on the Canglong Continent, leaving Yue Jinghua feeling powerless, realizing she had been cheated by the Mercenary Branch.
Weiwei, who was next to her, also felt suffocated upon hearing this. She squeezed through the crowd and said discontentedly, "The age of that map was preserved by Compass’s mother using special methods, even soaking in water or a fire couldn’t damage it."
Luo Lin was getting impatient too, glancing at the crowd furious, she pouted, "Let me tell you the truth, that map was decided by the branch to be sold to someone else. You don’t need to argue and criticize the branch. During the last mission, Compass did not follow the specified route and lost a batch of Ancient Xuan Beast Eggs. Considering all the deductions from the Second Generation Soldiers by the branch, you’ve already caused enough trouble for the Five Saints Branch. This copied map, in terms of utilitarian value, doesn’t differ from the original. You have to take it whether you want it or not. Otherwise, I can disqualify your squad on the spot based on the branch’s rules without waiting for the year-end Mercenary Assessment."
Luo Lin’s words were threatening and full of disdain.
Yue Jinghua realized something was amiss. The last time she visited the Five Saints Branch, Luo Lin had a standard attitude, how could her demeanor have changed so drastically this time?
And that treasure map, how could it suddenly be sold? Could it be that the story about the Ancient Hero’s treasure is true?
Suddenly, Yue Jinghua noticed Li Rui standing among the mercenaries gathered around.
Looking at Luo Lin and then at Li Rui, Yue Jinghua fully understood what was happening.
For the Mercenary Branch, one side consists of rookie squads that only cause trouble, and on the other side are well-documented Five-star Mercenaries; no wonder Luo Lin suddenly changed her attitude.
From Luo Lin’s recent words, Yue Jinghua sensed something amiss and called over Weiwei in a low voice: "What did Luo Lin mean by ’year-end assessment’ just now?"
Yue Jinghua had some impression of the Mercenary Assessment; it seemed that during a conflict not long ago, she had heard a female mercenary mention it.
"It’s an annual routine assessment for Mercenary Groups, organized by the local Mercenary Branch where the group is based. If they score negative points or the core team members are insufficient in number, the mercenary organization must disband," Weiwei almost forgot about this.
In fact, before Yue Jinghua arrived at Five Saints Town, including Weiwei and Qin Dongting, none had considered the end-of-year assessment. In their minds, ’Second Generation Soldier’ was already irrelevant.
But since Yue Jinghua had arrived, the situation had noticeably improved, and none of the members wanted to disband now.
"Captain Yue, have you thought it through? From the performance assessment, your squad has negative points, already over four hundred, and your core team members have been less than five for several months," Luo Lin looked at Yue Jinghua with pride.
Recently, due to the excessive activity of the ’Second Generation Soldier’ team and cooperation from the Helen Tavern, some citizens of Five Saints Town had started to turn to the tavern to complete some simple tasks.
Initially, tasks at the tavern were those that the branch did not want to accept, but now the townspeople had bypassed the branch and went directly to the tavern, which made Luo Lin feel a sour difference. With the agitating influence of Five-star Mercenary Li Rui, Luo Lin became even less friendly toward the ’Second Generation Soldier’ Mercy Team.
"Shalman, get our Mercenary Performance Manual," Yue Jinghua placed the performance manual in front of Luo Lin, "Look clearly, our current mercenary points are negative 298, and we still have half a year until year-end. In this half-year, I will turn the performance points into 500, our goal for the end-of-year assessment is to be a Two-star Mercenary Squad. As for the shortage of hands, we will also recruit new members."
Contrary to expected fury, Yue Jinghua became unusually calm, her words giving Luo Lin an urge to burst into huge laughter; turning negative points into 500 points in half a year, without being able to accept tasks through the Mercenary Branch, was nearly impossible.
Yet Yue Jinghua’s almost icy gaze gave her a sense of disquiet as if facing a hidden edge.
Somehow, facing this Two-star Mercenary made her feel more uneasy than facing a Five-star Mercenary.
Luo Lin scoffed coldly twice, almost mockingly said, "I really want to see how you will obtain over 700 points in half a year. For Helen’s sake, I am willing to accommodate you greatly. As long as you agree to take this treasure map, I will temporarily remove you from the branch’s blacklist, and starting today, your small team can accept mercenary tasks from the Mercenary Branch."
After much contemplation, Yue Jinghua bent down, almost humiliatingly picking up the copy of the treasure map, "Fine, I accept this map."
Luo Lin and Li Rui revealed smug smiles.
Following that, an action by Yue Jinghua immediately struck Li Rui and Luo Lin as if they were hit by lightning.
Yue Jinghua lifted her face, revealing an exceptionally harmless, extra-large smile, "Qin Dongting, post this map marked with the location of the Ancient Hero Treasure on the town’s notice board. In our hometown, there is a saying that ’It’s better to enjoy with others than alone.’ I believe all the mercenaries in Mercenary Town will be very happy to see this treasure map."