Chapter 72: Stop—Are You Pulling a Fast One on Me? (4)
Who could have guessed that the owner of a small tavern in Liqueur was the legendary Mercenary King? Even Joyray himself never saw this coming.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Me, the Mercenary King? Seriously?”
Joyray, who had his hand poised on a knife handle, suddenly let out a deep sigh, resting his hand on his forehead.
“Well, it’s not like I have no connection to the Mercenary Association... But calling me Ray? That’s ridiculous.”
“I guess you’re really not him. But you are involved with the guild, right?”
“Yeah, technically. But you... What made you think I’m Ray?”
“Honestly, no solid proof. The only prominent figure I know in the mercenary world is the Mercenary King, and he’s conveniently missing. I just assumed he was biding his time here in Liqueur, building strength for revenge. You know, a story like that.”
That was a lie. Keter knew Joyray’s identity perfectly.
In his past life, Keter had paid a million gold to the Mercenary Association for assistance, and Joyray was the helper they sent. He was not just a major figure in the guild but also someone who knew the secret of leaving Liqueur.
The reason Keter asked for Joyray’s cooperation was not because he doubted his ability to take over the Liqueur Mercenary Guild but because it would be a problem if Joyray opposed him.
So, what Keter was doing was informing him in advance and asking whether he had a problem with him taking over the mercenary guild. It wasn’t that Keter avoided lying; he would happily tell a full-blown lie if necessary. But if the other party could never uncover the truth, then to Keter, the lie was the truth.