Most of the rcenaries froze in place, their instincts halting them mid-step. A few, however, feigned ignorance and continued moving toward the entrance.
One rcenary leader strode up boldly, flashing a greasy grin. "My lord, could you step aside? Nature calls, you see."
Another chid in with an exaggerated bow. "We won't be long. If you'd like, we could even put it in writing—"
William chuckled, slipping his hand into the coin pouch resting on the table.
"Spare the pretense." He tilted his head slightly, amusent glinting in his eyes. "Sven received far more than he was worth. I wonder… how much would your lives be valued at?"
The color drained from the rcenaries' faces.
"Sit down," William repeated, his voice turning cold. "Or should I make another vow?"
The threat hung heavy in the air. It wasn't just words. He had already demonstrated what a single declaration could do.
The rcenaries hesitated. Then, in near unison, they scrambled back to their seats.
Satisfied, William tossed a few platinum coins onto the table and raised his voice.
"O eight gods above!"
"WE'RE SITTING! WE'RE SITTING!"
"We ant no disrespect, my lord!"
The ones closest to the entrance nearly tripped over themselves in their rush to sit back down. Others, having witnessed the spectacle, quickly followed suit.
William's gaze swept over them before he finally spoke again.
"The Imperial Liberation Front," he began, "has been causing trouble in the region. They should have been dealt with already, yet because of your negligence, they are running rampant."
A heavy silence fell over the room. No one dared to argue.
William continued, his tone sharp. "I ca here for one reason. You will fulfill your contract. Starting tomorrow, you will do the job you were paid to do. If I find out that you've been slacking off again, I will take action."
Several rcenaries exchanged glances, their expressions souring. It wasn't just their laziness at fault. The family had severely undercut their usual rates, treating them as if they were still in a ti of peace.
Though they had been unreasonable in their demands, it was equally unfair for them to accept such low pay when their skills were in high demand.
One rcenary finally spoke up. "With all due respect, my lord, this isn't just about greed. We—"
"I'll pay a platinum coin for every Imperial Liberation Front mber you take down."
The room tensed.
Eyes widened, disbelief flickering across their faces.
Compared to the sum used in his earlier declaration, it was much smaller, but for a bounty? It was an extraordinary sum. A single platinum coin was worth as much as the paynt for four or five normal contracts.
William let the words settle before adding, "And for every rcenary group that takes down at least five, I will add another platinum coin as a bonus."
A ripple of anticipation coursed through the crowd.
Five enemies. Six platinum coins.
That was enough money to retire comfortably—or at the very least, to fund the kind of lifestyle most rcenaries could only dream of.
The room remained still for only a few monts before a voice rang out from the back.
"Done! At that price, there's no reason to refuse!"
One rcenary group stood up.
The mont they did, hesitation broke. Others followed suit, their excitent growing with every passing second.
"We'll take that offer as well!"
"Just tell us where you need us!"
"Get ready, boys! We're going hunting!"
The shift was imdiate. The very sa rcenaries who had been lounging about, drowning in drink, were suddenly filled with purpose.
William let them have their mont before raising a hand to quiet them.
"Rest for tonight," he commanded. "I will give you your assignnts in the morning. But heed my warning—if I see even a hint of laziness, you will return every coin you've taken. Is that understood?"
A unified, resounding agreent filled the room.
William and his group left the tavern soon after.
There were a few lingering voices of discontent, but none dared speak too loudly. His warning had been clear enough.
Raymond, who had been silent up until now, swallowed dryly. "That… went better than expected."
William only smiled. "It wasn't too bad, was it?"
Raymond nearly scoffed. To anyone else, it seed simple. But what William had done wasn't sothing just anyone could pull off.
'He flipped the entire negotiation on its head with a single vow.'
Most wouldn't even realize what had just happened.
To the average observer, it would look as if William had spent an enormous sum just to get rid of a single rcenary. But in reality, the few platinum coins he had sacrificed were nothing compared to the advantages he had secured.
'By flaunting his wealth, he established himself as soone who could afford to pay outrageous sums. His vow erased any doubts about his credibility. And by forcing the rcenaries to turn on each other, he shattered their unity and made them fear him.'
What William had done wasn't just about money. It was about control.
Raymond exhaled sharply. 'Had Sven survived, or had the rcenaries stayed united, there would have been opposition. Soone would have refused the deal. But the way things played out, they had no choice but to accept.'
And it wasn't just the negotiation that had been perfect.
Even the final deal had been constructed with careful precision.
The overall pay remained the sa. The only difference was that instead of a fixed wage, it was based on performance.
To the rcenaries, it looked like they had won. In reality, Hern's side had gained everything.
Raymond glanced at William, who remained unfazed. 'This man… is terrifying.'
And yet, he couldn't help but feel relieved that they were on the sa side.
The Imperial Liberation Front was running wild across the region, but only because they believed the borders were weak. The mont rcenaries, now blinded by the lure of performance-based rewards, took action, the rebels would be forced to move cautiously.
As a secretive organization, they thrived on operating in the shadows. If they truly dedicated themselves to staying hidden, even skilled rcenaries would struggle to find them. A few might be caught in the beginning, but soon, their tracks would vanish entirely.
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