Chapter 125 Hiring

The sun rose fully, but it failed to dispel the haze that shrouded Golden Harbor.

The nobles' hasty and chaotic preparations for escape continued, with horses neighing, wheels creaking, and a scene of chaos and confusion.

Amidst this chaos, there is an anxiety and despair that is difficult to conceal.

"With just these guards, we can't reach the capital safely!" A usually pampered marquis, his forehead covered in sweat, his voice trembling. "We could encounter those monsters in the wilderness and the orc vanguard at any time! We're going to die!"

"But, who else can we rely on besides them?" Another viscount looked around in despair, his eyes full of confusion.

The city guards have collapsed, the nobles' private soldiers are insufficient in combat power, and the adventurers have either fled in such a dangerous situation.

Even if there are people who ask for exorbitant salaries, there is no guarantee that they will be provided with adequate security.

Everyone's gaze finally fell on the villa in the distance where orc corpses were piled up like a mountain.

There, "Jack", who showed extraordinary power last night, became their only hope.

After some anxious and whispered discussions, several of the most prominent nobles in Golden Harbor - including the highly respected Count Reinhardt, the wealthy Baron Fabio, and General Brandon, who held the final military power - formed a temporary delegation.

They straightened their messy robes, suppressed their inner fears, put on the most humble smiles on their faces, and walked cautiously towards the "Residence of Dawn".

When they arrived at the door of the villa, Benjamin had already taken care of the things inside the villa and was standing at the gate, watching them approach with calm eyes.

His robe was spotless, forming a sharp contrast with the bloody battlefield behind him.

"Lord Jack!" Count Reinhardt stepped forward first. Although he was old, he bowed deeply and respectfully. His gesture was even more pious than when facing the king.

"I am truly sorry to bother you again, sir. However, this is a matter of life and death for our family, so I hope you will forgive me."

"My Lord Earl, what can I do for you?" Benjamin asked calmly.

Count Reinhardt stood up straight, a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face, and then was replaced by determination.

He took a deep breath, as if making up his mind, and said in a deep voice, "Sir, you saved our family last night. We will never forget this kindness! But you also know that the orc army is about to arrive at the city. Golden Harbor is in danger. We have no choice but to abandon the city and flee to the capital."

He glanced at the anxious Baron Fabio and General Brandon beside him and continued, "However, the journey from Golden Harbor to the capital is long and full of dangers. There are unknown magical beasts along the way, and there is a greater possibility of being pursued and ambushed by orcs. Although my family has some private soldiers, they are far from enough to withstand the real danger."

"So..." Baron Fabio took over, rubbing his hands anxiously, his fat face full of pleading, "So, we beg you, sir! We beg you to... to escort us to the capital! As long as you are willing to help, my family is willing to give us everything we have as a reward!"

General Brandon also stepped forward. Though he had once commanded a large army, he could only bow and clasp his fists. "Your Excellency's bravery is unparalleled in the world! If you can escort us safely to the capital, our family will not only offer countless ounces of gold and silver, but also all of our treasured magical artifacts and ancient books! Once we reach the capital, we will introduce you to the royal family and the highest officials in the government, and secure for you the most prestigious titles and even fiefdoms! Your Excellency will not be disappointed on this trip!"

Money, magic items, secret treasures, titles, fiefs, and even direct introductions to the royal family.

These temptations, which are usually enough to drive any adventurer crazy, now surge towards Jemin like a tide.

What they can give is the highest resources they can mobilize as top nobles.

Benjamin listened to their conditions quietly, his face moved slightly, and he seemed to want to remain calm, but he subconsciously revealed a hint of greed.

As smart people, these few people captured this scene very accurately. They looked at each other privately and their expressions showed joy.

As long as there is still desire, it will be easy. In this world where individual strength varies greatly, the wealth accumulated by the nobles over generations is far beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

It doesn’t matter if the desire is big, there are plenty of ways to satisfy it!

However, none of them noticed that there was no emotion in Benjamin's eyes.

Looking at the people in front of him, Benjamin's thoughts surged like the tide.

This is a fantastic opportunity, the perfect opportunity!

He established his authority in Golden Harbor as "Jack" and killed many villains, but his identity did not have a sufficiently reasonable explanation.

Now, accepting the escort mission of the nobles and becoming a "guard hero" is the best way for him to whitewash his identity, rationalize and legalize himself!

Moreover, the capital of the human kingdom is one of the most central cities in the Elosia plane. It is not only the political and military center of the human kingdom, but also the place where the belief in divine power is most intense in the mortal world.

Countless believers pray there, and major temples stand there.

This was a great opportunity for him to delve into the divine belief network of the Elosia plane and observe the deeper influence of the gods in the mortal world.

Coupled with his previous behavior, it was enough to make everything develop in the direction he expected.

He raised his eyes slightly, and glanced at the group of nervous and desperate nobles in front of him. His lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

"Since the earls, barons, and generals are so kind..." Benjamin's voice rang out slowly, with a unique, undeniable magnetism, "Then, I will accept this 'business'."

Hearing Benjamin's affirmative answer, the nobles' faces instantly erupted with great ecstasy.

Count Reinhardt's lips trembled, tears welling up in his eyes. "Excellent! Excellent! My Lord! You are the savior of my family!"

"But..." Jieming's voice sounded again, pulling them back to reality from their ecstasy. The indifference in his tone remained unchanged, but instead carried a trembling sense of oppression. "My reward cannot be measured by the ordinary wealth you speak of."

Count Reinhardt immediately became nervous: "Sir, please speak up! As long as my family can afford it, we will not hesitate to help!"

"My request is simple." Benjamin's eyes swept across every noble present. "First, during the escort, I have supreme command of the team. This includes the route, camping location, defense deployment, and even the right to deal with anyone who disobeys my orders. Your private soldiers and mercenaries must obey my orders completely and not disobey in the slightest."

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of several nobles changed slightly. This was equivalent to handing the life and death of their families completely into the hands of Benjamin.

But thinking of his terrifying fighting power last night and the danger of being chased by orcs, they could only grit their teeth and nod.

"Second, all supplies, wealth, magical items encountered along the way... any spoils that do not belong to your private family will belong to me. Including any spoils obtained from orcs." Jieming added.

These materials may not be of much use to him, but they can enrich his "personality".

"This... this is natural! My lord, you are the leader, so all the spoils naturally belong to you!" Baron Fabio expressed his opinion hurriedly.

"Third," Benjamin said, his eyes deep. He paused deliberately, making the nobles' hearts jump to their throats. "Once we arrive in the capital, I want you to use all your connections to win me the royal recognition."

This condition sounded a bit strange, but the nobles exchanged glances among themselves, and an expression of "as expected" appeared in their eyes.

They had investigated "Jack" a long time ago, but naturally, they didn't find any useful information.

No matter how you look at it, the other party's past intelligence seems to show that he is just an ordinary adventurer.

Although the intelligence gathered by the spies seemed very real, they could not in any way connect it to the powerful man before them.

Coupled with some of the actions this guy took after arriving in Golden Harbor, the nobles of Golden Harbor naturally regarded Jack as a "hidden pawn" planted by some nobles.

And it is very likely that he is a hidden chess piece of the nobles of other kingdoms.

When several people were discussing just now, General Brandon also expressed his views.

He found that from the traces of battle around him, although this "Jack" was powerful, he did not seem to have mastered any powerful combat skills.

This is actually in line with the other party's background: the most important thing about a hidden chess piece is secrecy, not strength.

On the other hand, if a hidden player becomes too powerful, he may even arouse the fear and suspicion of the main player - just like this "Jack".

Judging from "Jack's" previous actions, the other party most likely wanted to arrange something in Golden Port in advance.

But there is no doubt that the orc invasion should have also disrupted his arrangements.

What is the best way for a hidden player who is feared by the master and fails in his mission to escape?

Of course, it is to whitewash one's identity!

So... this should be the other party's real purpose!

But it doesn't matter. It's good for them anyway. As long as he is willing to escort them, everything will be fine.

"This... this is not a difficult task! My lord! We will do our best to get all this for you!" Count Reinhardt promised almost without hesitation.

In their view, this demand was much easier to satisfy than titles and gold coins.

"Very good." Benjamin smiled faintly, a hint of satisfaction in his smile. "In that case, let's quickly prepare to leave. I am fully prepared and can leave at any time, but I don't want you to dawdle when the orc army arrives."

After taking a look at the huge package that Benjamin placed beside him, several nobles also laughed.

It seems that the other party had already planned to leave here.

That’s good!

Only when both parties have the same goals can they maintain consistent interests.

"Don't worry, we are ready and can set off at any time!"

(End of this chapter)