Chapter 56: Fire Fox Mercenary Company

On the border of the Shiva Empire stood Crutel, the Skeleton Knight Lord. 

In the previous life, this elite undead legion from the Shiva Empire had been the sharpest blade wielded by Archduke Demont when he launched his rebellion. Their appearance signaled that the old man had completely steeled his resolve and taken the first step down a path of no return.

However, compared to the timeline Nolan remembered, this had happened a full six months earlier. Faced with this deviation, his heart gave a slight jolt, though he showed none of it on his face. 

When the battle ended, everything returned to calm. Nolan glanced at the panel, feeling a surge of satisfaction at the more than thirty thousand experience points he had gained. The greatsword in his hand let out a metallic hum as its expanded blade rapidly contracted, reverting to the form of an ordinary longsword. 

Sheathing his weapon, he walked toward the red-haired female warrior still kneeling on one knee. He extended his hand. “Can you stand?” 

Rehanna’s thoughts were pulled back to reality. She looked up at the young face before her, her heart still pounding violently. 

She had survived. The realization struck her mind with a dizzying sense of relief after catastrophe. But more importantly… Renee. 

The thought of her frail, sickly younger sister waiting for her return reignited the fighting spirit that had nearly gone out, replaced now by an even stronger desire to protect. Not only did she need to live, she needed to live well. 

Without hesitation, she planted her longsword into the ground, grasped Nolan’s broad, powerful hand, and used it to rise. “I am Rehanna, captain of the Fire Fox Mercenary Company. Thank you for saving my life.” Her voice was slightly hoarse, but her tone had regained the steadiness expected of a captain. 

The surviving mercenaries couldn’t help but whisper among themselves when they saw their captain take the initiative to make physical contact with a man and even state her name. After all, their captain had always been aloof toward men, holding herself above them. 

Rehanna shot them a sharp glance, and the group that had just crawled back from the brink of death immediately fell silent. 

Nolan knew of the Fire Fox Mercenary Company, but in his previous life, he remembered its captain as a man. This woman was strikingly beautiful, yet he had no impression of her. Perhaps she had been the former captain, like most of the kingdom’s inhabitants who had been left with nothing but a tragic end in that timeline. Fortunately, he had arrived in time this time. Saving even one more person was a good thing, Nolan thought with quiet satisfaction. 

“It was nothing,” he said as he released her hand, his posture relaxed. “We heard the sounds of battle from about a kilometer away. Luckily, we made it in time.” He pointed to himself. “I’m Nolan, from Shire Town in Veli. I didn’t expect to run into one of the strongest mercenary companies in Demont Province here.” 

At his words, Rehanna curled her lips in self-mockery, clutching her still-bleeding left arm. “You’ve heard of us? The strongest… yet we were helpless against a few tough opponents and nearly wiped out. Do we really deserve that title? At this rate, those guys from ‘Iron Rhino’ will laugh themselves to death.” 

“Don’t belittle yourself,” Nolan said, his gaze falling on the wound on her arm. “Holding out against three Black Knights for so long already proves your strength, especially when you were at such a numerical disadvantage.” 

A flicker of surprise passed through Rehanna’s eyes. His words were not condescending pity, but equal recognition. That understanding precisely soothed the last trace of unwillingness in her heart as a strong warrior. 

She couldn’t help but take another look at him. Though he appeared a few years younger than her, his composure and bearing far surpassed that of ordinary people. 

…He really was a rather special younger man. 

As the two spoke, Hank and the others had already ridden over, while Anna’s carriage slowly approached.

Mercenaries were desperadoes who lived on the edge of the blade, long accustomed to life and death. At this moment, there was no wailing or crying, only silent collection of the belongings of their fallen companions. 

“Vivi, go see if there’s anything useful,” Hank instructed. He dismounted as well. 

“Got it!” Vivi replied crisply. 

Little Donnie jumped off his horse and ran over, taking the initiative to help the mercenaries carry the bodies of their comrades. 

Anna stepped down from the carriage. Her gaze passed over the crowd and met Nolan’s. 

Nolan understood the look in her eyes and gave her a slight nod. 

Relief blossomed into a smile on Anna’s face. She turned and said a few words to Kayan and Leus behind her. 

Leus immediately understood. Calling over his son, Kreil, the two of them worked together to drag a heavy wooden chest from the carriage. With a loud thud, it was opened, revealing hundreds of neatly arranged dark green potions inside. Without hesitation, he took out a third of them and handed them to a stunned mercenary. 

“Healing potions. Use them on the wounded.” 

Meanwhile, Kayan had already walked to where the injured were most concentrated. He struck the ground with the heavy cross-shaped staff in his hand, and the crystal at its head emitted a soft white glow. There were no lengthy prayers, no complex rituals. The sacred light spread outward, enveloping all the wounded within it. Within the forest, the glow felt especially warm. 

“My injuries… my wounds are healing!” 

The wounded stared in astonishment as the grotesque gashes on their bodies began to close and scab over at a speed visible to the naked eye. 

Rehanna let out a soft cry of surprise. The sword wound on her left arm, deep enough to expose bone, had already stopped bleeding. Soon, only a faint red mark remained, and even the pain quickly faded away. 

She recognized this spell—it was the third-circle hymn, Mother Goddess’s Solace. A genuine sacred art of the temple, and it had been cast without chanting. 

A storm surged within her heart. Hymns, as a special form of magic, drew their power from sacred words and faith. A priest capable of casting one without reciting those words had to possess extraordinary devotion and a profound understanding of doctrine. 

What kind of team was this? 

A scout who could detect the sounds of battle from a kilometer away. A young man whose strength completely overwhelmed Black Knights. Companions who could effortlessly shatter skeletons and precisely eliminate rear-line corpse mages, each of them at least at the Silver rank. And now, a high-ranking priest capable of casting hymn-based sacred magic without chanting. 

Not to mention… they possessed an entire chest full of healing potions. 

As far as she knew, on the black market, a single bottle of such a potion cost enough to cover a normal family’s living expenses for an entire month. 

Unable to hold back any longer, Rehanna voiced the question that had been on her mind all along, “You… are you really a special task force sent by the Mother Goddess’ temple to purge the undead?” 

Nolan was taken aback. He looked at her with a slightly odd expression. “No, we’re not.” He pointed to himself and then to Hank and the others. “If I had to say, we’re kind of in your line of work. You could call us a mercenary group.” Seeing the look in her eyes that clearly said You must be joking, he pointed toward Kayan in the distance and added, “Oh, him? He really was a temple priest once. But, well… he got into a fight with the captain of the Templar Knights and was kicked out.” 

Rehanna found herself at a loss for words. Such an elite mercenary group? Her entire worldview felt shaken. 

Taking a deep breath, she said solemnly to Nolan, “No matter what, thank you for your aid. As long as the Fire Fox exists, you will always have our friendship and support.” 

At that moment, the previously terrified, disheveled fat merchant had regained his composure. He hurried over at a trot, paying no attention to the dirt staining his expensive overcoat. 

With an agility that belied his size, he rushed up to Nolan in just a few steps, rubbing his hands excitedly. “Hero! I am Maide, president of the local Mining Guild! You just said… you’re a mercenary group?” His eyes gleamed as he spoke, spittle flying. “I-I can hire you long-term! Name your price!” 

After saying it, he seemed to realize something was off and quickly turned to bow apologetically to Rehanna. 

“Captain Rehanna, please don’t misunderstand! I’m just afraid of dying. The more strength I have on my side, the safer I’ll be!” 

Rehanna showed understanding and did not take offense. But behind her, the mercenaries were already looking at Nolan with undisguised envy. 

President Maide was known for his generosity. The Fire Fox and Iron Rhino had nearly come to blows in private just to secure this escort contract. And now, this overwhelmingly powerful Mr. Nolan had been offered a deal where he could name any price. He was about to make a fortune and rise in one step to the top. 

However, Nolan’s next reply left everyone stunned. 

He shook his head. “Thank you for your trust, Mr. Maide. But we have a more important mission, and the goal we pursue is not personal gain or safety. I’m afraid we can’t accept your long-term employment.” 

The ecstatic expression on Maide’s face froze instantly, disappointment written all over him. 

Nolan looked at him and added, “That said, where is your destination? If it’s along the way, I wouldn’t mind traveling together.” 

Maide’s expression shifted from gloom to delight in an instant, and he nodded eagerly. “That’s wonderful! Wonderful! We’re heading to Silverglow Town, near Coldsteel City!” 

Silverglow Town… 

At the mention of that place, Nolan raised an eyebrow. 

What a coincidence.