Since the princess and her entourage moved into the village, everyone has been having dinner together unless they have a mission to attend to. Now, we have a new member at the dinner table.
So let me formally introduce the core members of the Princess's Ascension Company.
First, the chairman, Krinhild. Six months ago, he was ousted from the Moen headquarters by his two elder brothers and opened this branch office in this remote countryside.
Next, the security captain, Roland, sitting to the chairman's left. Although this Golden Knight is only twenty-eight years old, his unshaven face and gloomy expression make him look thirty-eight. But this doesn't stop him from being a winner in life. After the coup, he abandoned his comfortable civil servant job, left his wife and children, and resolutely escorted the chairman on his escape.
Then there's the deputy security captain, sitting to the chairman's right. This dashing young woman is already a Great Knight, her talent not inferior to her teacher, Roland. Unfortunately, she's not very bright and is often tricked by the major shareholder.
Next is the company mascot, the genius magician, the half-elf boy Darren. He's very cute.
Finally, the major shareholder, Siegfried, sitting opposite the chairman, symbolizing the company's bipolar structure. Although he joined less than three days ago, he has already become the most powerful person under the chairman through extraordinary means. He is arrogant and domineering, and his favorite things are abusing informants and bullying the deputy security captain.
Oh, I almost forgot to introduce the pet. Standing beside us watching everyone eat is Bobo the gardener, an informant planted by Director Roderick. After being caught by the major shareholder, he suffered immense physical and mental torment and now serves as the major shareholder's personal male servant.
And now, the company welcomes a new employee.
Yang Jing sat quietly beside Siegfried, silently eating her food, completely ignoring the curious glances from the four people opposite her.
This woman is just as independent in this world as she was on Earth. She's not socially anxious; she's just simply too lazy to bother with you.
Unless something unexpected happens, she will be appointed as the company's intelligence department director and the major shareholder's bodyguard, thanks to the introduction of the major shareholder.
Deputy Security Captain Katarina couldn't help but ask, raising her hand:
"Sir Melan, who is this assassin lady?"
The next second, the boss and all the employees looked at Siegfried, making him feel like he was giving a presentation at a department meeting.
He had previously concocted a story with Yang Jing to deceive the company's core members. The excuse used on the villagers wouldn't work on these shrewd people.
[Deceptive Talk]is powerful, but it's certainly not omnipotent. Its effectiveness is affected by multiple factors, including the background environment, the speaker's own state, and the target audience.
For example, if Siegfried were on Earth and told someone that he could punch a ten-meter-thick steel plate to pieces in a fit of rage, the other person would laugh at him for being a fool.
But in this other world, let alone a ten-meter-thick steel plate, even if Siegfried said he could break the undead overlord's teeth with his bare hands, people would believe him. At least Katarina would.
The story was made up by both of them, and Siegfried was the one telling it.
He stood up, his palm facing upwards, his five fingers together, extending towards Yang Jing. Then he cleared his throat, looking exactly like a leader giving a speech.
"Her name is Xing Mei. She's my… companion."
The word "companion" was a last-minute change by Siegfried. Originally, it was "friend," but he felt that word was too distant and didn't reflect the relationship between him and Yang Jing.
However,
The air in the dining room froze.
Krinhild even dropped his knife and fork in surprise.
(Companion? He just said companion? Not friend? Companion?)
Roland broke out in a cold sweat. He recalled Siegfried facing off against his entire army with just himself and a sword two days ago in the wilderness.
(No wonder he dared to stand in front of us alone; he already had a companion!)
For ordinary people, there's not much difference between a friend and a companion.
But if that person is Melan, the word "companion" no longer has its usual meaning.
Every generation of heroes has a tradition: before they become heroes, they travel around the continent as adventurers.
There are two purposes for this journey: to hone their own holy sword and to gather their [hero's companions].
Including the hero, each generation of hero teams consists of five people of different classes.
These companions are the best and brightest from various countries and races. Under the hero's leadership, they will break the limits of biology, obtain their own special classes, and become legendary powerhouses.
And for the hero, each additional companion will multiply their strength. When all four companions are assembled, the invincible [Hero] is born.
(No wonder, no wonder I couldn't feel his aura…)
The Golden Knight's senses allow Roland to detect a rabbit in the grass fifty meters away.
However, since Roland met Siegfried, he had never sensed any aura from him, as if the man wasn't even there.
Roland had only felt this bottomless, black hole-like fear in one other person.
The companion of the previous generation hero, a legend living in the present, who has been guarding the front lines of the human-demon war for years,
Known as the "Knight of Knights," the "Knight of the Lake"—Lancelot.
And now, two monsters of this level were sitting in front of him.
(If I had really attacked him back then…)
Cold sweat soaked through his shirt. Roland had never felt so close to death.
In contrast to Roland's fear, the half-elf Darren's eyes lit up.
The shy boy, unusually, shouted:
"Hero, can I be your companion? I want to be your companion too! My master always says I'm not manly enough. I think if I just stay by your side, I'll definitely become a real man someday!"
Siegfried was stunned. He never expected this reaction.
(What? You want to be my companion too? This… can wanderers join through internal referrals? Should I ask Shannon later?)
"Um, follow me for now. I'll… cough, observe your talent."
The half-elf boy's cheeks flushed, and tears of excitement welled up in his eyes.
For him, Siegfried's answer was almost equivalent to agreement.
Mascot Darren successfully became the major shareholder's second bodyguard.
Siegfried was dumbfounded to find that he didn't need to tell a story anymore. The atmosphere had become very strange, everyone looking at him with either shock or admiration.
Except for Katarina. This tigress finished asking her question and started attacking the roast chicken on her plate, not listening to the major shareholder at all.
But since the story was already prepared, it felt uncomfortable not to tell it.
Siegfried recounted the whole story of his and Ms. "Xing Mei's" meeting, their friendship, and their adventures, in a complete and passionate way.
But everyone was distracted and basically didn't listen to him. Siegfried experienced for the first time the feelings of a department manager giving a presentation to his team.
He glanced at the people with their various thoughts, knocked hard on the table, signaling that they were moving on to the main topic.
"What do you think we need most right now?"
"Money!" Bobo answered quickly.
"Right, money. And what else?"
Krinhild propped up her chin and said thoughtfully, "Personnel. We have too few soldiers; we're not enough to fight against my two brothers."
"Right!" Siegfried slammed his fist on the table and said solemnly, "To be precise, we need territory, talent, manpower, and funds."
The company currently lacks all four essential elements for starting a war.
"Of these four, the easiest to acquire is funding. Everyone… cough, does anyone have any ideas?"
He wasn't actually asking the four people opposite him; these four paupers hadn't even paid their village dinner bills yet.
This question was mainly for Yang Jing. She had been in this world for half a year and must have established her own intelligence network.
Sure enough, Yang Jing didn't disappoint him.
"As for money, I have some leads. I'll check the authenticity of the information tomorrow and give you an answer."
"Good, I'll leave it to you."
("As expected of our Wanderer Cross-Border Company, the quality of our talent is just different.")
"As for the territory, my father-in-law, cough, Pei Dinan, is a staunch supporter of the princess. We can seek his help and surely receive assistance."
The winner in life, Roland, revealed his advantageous background.
"No." Siegfried refused without hesitation.
"Why?" Roland's voice became heavier, annoyed that his suggestion was so decisively rejected.
"One, what you can think of, the enemy can also think of. If nothing unexpected happens, the entire Pei Dinan territory is now surrounded by enemy forces."
"Two, to get from here to your father-in-law's house, we have to cross the entire Constance territory. With our current manpower, how can we guarantee our safety?"
"Three, even if we really get to your father-in-law's house, how can Pei Dinan, a mere earl, resist the combined attack of two princes with his army?"
"Four, relying on seeking help from others is the most foolish thing to do."
Roland's face turned red and then pale. He didn't expect his proposal to have so many flaws. He was a general on the front lines, after all.
On the other hand, Darren's eye, not hidden by his bangs, sparkled.
(Mmm~ this is it, this is the kind of spirit, this is the manly image I admire most. (✧◡✧))
"Then where do you say we go?"
Siegfried glanced at everyone and looked out the window. In the vast wheat field, the green wheat seedlings swayed gently in the warm spring breeze, forming waves of green.
A cold smile slowly curved his lips.
"Nowhere. We'll stay here. In the Constance Earl's territory!"