Chapter 126: Recruiting Momon
Barbro hadn't expected Baron Chenako to answer — he was already talking to himself.
"That lolicon Lucian Aindra only has eyes for little girls. Once Renner comes of age, she'll be no different from any other woman on the street in his eyes."
Baron Chenako nodded repeatedly, the fawning smile deepening.
"Your Highness is truly far-sighted!"
Barbro made a dismissive sound and let his gaze drift to the large Kingdom map on the wall.
All he could do was wait for Renner to grow up and for Lucian to lose interest in her. At that point, he would extend the olive branch — as the throne's heir, he could promise Lucian a higher position, and more to satisfy his particular tastes besides.
The corners of Barbro's mouth lifted slightly. He was just settling into this pleasant self-consolation —
When the high-pitched voice at close range buzzed in his ears like something scratching directly inside his skull, nearly turning his stomach. He held it down. Royal life had trained him well in the art of keeping a composed surface.
It was Baron Chenako speaking.
The thin, bony man was saying something in that fawning register of his. Barbro hadn't been listening — he'd been subjected to so much of that flattering nonsense that his ears had long since developed an automatic filter for it.
But a few key words slipped through.
"Adamantite... Darkness... stronger than Blue Roses..."
Barbro's gaze left the map and settled on Baron Chenako's smile-stacked face.
"What did you say?"
Baron Chenako felt the First Prince's attention finally swing toward him and visibly perked up. He moved half a step forward and lowered his voice.
"Your Highness, I've recently learned that a new Adamantite-ranked adventuring team has emerged in the Kingdom." Those small eyes gleamed. "They go by the name Darkness. Only two members."
Barbro's eyebrow moved.
An Adamantite-ranked team with only two members.
In the adventurer hierarchy, Adamantite was the highest rank — reaching it required an accumulation of feats far beyond anything an ordinary adventurer could manage. The entire Kingdom had previously had only two Adamantite-ranked teams.
"Go on." Barbro picked up his wine glass and swirled it slowly, his thoughts sinking in.
Buoyed by the First Prince's attention, Baron Chenako's voice rose a few degrees.
"Apparently this Darkness team dealt with the undead siege crisis in E-Rantel. At the time, thousands of undead had risen from the cemetery — the guards couldn't hold them — and these two went in alone and killed the one responsible."
He spoke while watching the First Prince's reaction.
Barbro, when discussing serious matters, kept his responses well in check.
"And?" Barbro asked.
"And skeletal dragons!" Baron Chenako described it with full dramatic investment, as though he had been personally present. "Two skeletal dragons! Magic-resistant — ordinary mages can't even scratch them. And Darkness's two members killed them both!"
He held up two fingers in the air, as though the two enormous creatures were right there before them.
Barbro's brow finally furrowed. Skeletal dragons were not ordinary magical creatures. Even the Kingdom's Warrior Captain Gazef would have a difficult time against two of them at once. And these two had killed them both...
"And there's more." Baron Chenako had no intention of stopping, counting off on his fingers one by one. "They also subdued the Wise King of the Forest and the Western Serpent — two of the three great magical beasts of the forest north of E-Rantel — and rode them into the city. Quite the sight."
He gestured broadly, his tone full of exaggerated amazement.
"Apparently the entire city of E-Rantel was cheering, and the adventurers' guild master came out personally to receive them. Oh, and they killed the Eastern Giant as well."
Barbro set down his wine glass. His gaze rested in the middle distance for a moment, as though absorbing the information.
The Wise King of the Forest, the Western Serpent, the Eastern Giant — those three names weren't unknown to him. They weren't civilization-ending threats, but they were far beyond what any ordinary adventurer could handle. To subdue two of them and kill one — that level of strength...
"You said earlier," Barbro spoke slowly, "that this Darkness team is stronger than Blue Roses?"
"I can't say for certain, but quite a lot of people are saying so." Baron Chenako rubbed his hands together.
Barbro was quiet for a moment, that square-jawed face with brow slightly furrowed — clearly working through some decision.
Baron Chenako didn't dare interrupt, maintaining the posture of someone ready to receive orders at any moment.
After some time, Barbro spoke.
"Chenako."
"Here, Your Highness!" Baron Chenako straightened up immediately — though on that lean, bony frame, straightening produced little in the way of presence.
Barbro's gaze settled on him with an unusual seriousness.
"How did you come to know all this?"
The question threw Baron Chenako for a beat. His small eyes blinked rapidly. The smile at the corner of his mouth stiffened for just a moment, then recovered.
"Well, you see..." He forced out a dry laugh. "Seeing that Your Highness has had so much on his mind of late, I've been making a point of keeping an eye out for anything useful."
Chenako stole a glance at Barbro. Seeing that the First Prince had no intention of pressing further, he quietly exhaled.
In truth, he had only heard it moments ago in the corridor while waiting, from a passing servant.
He had found it slightly odd that a servant could obtain such detailed information about a freshly promoted Adamantite team so quickly.
But that didn't matter. As long as it came from his lips, the credit was his.
Barbro's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest in a measured rhythm.
"Chenako."
"Here!"
"Go to E-Rantel."
Baron Chenako's small eyes lit up instantly.
"Your Highness means..."
"Hire Darkness." Barbro had made up his mind. "Price is no concern. If they're willing to work for me, any terms are on the table."
His gaze hardened.
"This time, I'm moving before Zanac and Renner."
Baron Chenako could barely contain his excitement.
"A brilliant decision, Your Highness! I'll begin preparations at once and set out for E-Rantel immediately!" He turned and headed for the door, his steps carrying a faint, barely suppressed skip.
"Wait." Barbro's voice caught up from behind.
Baron Chenako stopped, the fawning smile still in place.
"Is there something else Your Highness requires?"
Barbro looked at him, a flicker of something complicated passing through his eyes.
"Be careful." The First Prince said. "Don't let Zanac's people track your movements."
Baron Chenako answered without hesitation.
"As you command, Your Highness."
40+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces