11 – The First Mission (3)
Lian, who was about to take Riley outside, came to a halt with a puzzled expression. Perhaps due to the intense leap just moments ago, the staircase leading downstairs had completely collapsed.
‘I can’t jump out through the window either.’
Lian turned his head and looked at Riley. Slightly shorter in height than himself, but due to an overall slim build, Riley didn’t appear too heavy.
Faced with a yard strewn with adult men knocked down, giving up on carrying just one child seemed impossible.
Now, unable to cancel the request and having to endure some effort, he sighed.
“Relax your body since I’m going to carry you inside.”
“…What?”
Without explaining further, Lian abruptly embraced Riley. Fortunately, Riley was much lighter than expected.
“…!!”
Seemingly taken aback by the sudden situation, Riley blinked rapidly as he looked up at Lian.
Jump down? Just like that?
Riley had a vague suspicion that Lian might be one of the mercenaries hired by her father. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known her name.
Mercenaries were familiar; there were quite a few among those who guarded her father.
Of course, she had never seen such a young mercenary before.
And the person who hugged her so abruptly, Lian, was also a first.
“I’ll take you down, so hold on tight.”
“Wait, stop…!”
Riley closed her mouth.
‘That’s…’
Unseen in the eyes of peers, a calm and chilly gaze.
Gulp.
The moment Riley locked eyes with eyes identical to Grandpa’s, she realized she couldn’t stop Lian.
‘…’
Crack.
Quickly resigning, Riley tightened her grip on Lian’s body even more.
“Jump.”
She should consider herself fortunate that he at least indicated when to jump.
After inhaling a deep breath, Riley tightly shut her eyes.
The next moment, a profound sense of falling. How long had it been since she felt the eerie sensation of her mind and body separating?
“Now, will you let go?”
-It’s over.
Only now did Riley realize that she was still holding onto Lian’s body. To be terrified by falling from just the third floor. Riley descended to the ground with a grimace.
Not mourning, just for such a thing.
Ignoring the stinging slap on her cheek, Riley spoke.
“…. How old are you?”
“10 years old.”
“….”
He’s even a year younger. Feeling sorrow anew, Riley rubbed her face vigorously.
Never once did she think there would be someone more mature among her peers, but that thought just got flipped.
“What’s your name?”
“Why does it matter?”
“Well, I might need to request your services again later.”
Lian chuckled and replied, “You planning to pay well?”
“I’ve got the money.”
“Is it yours, or is it your father’s?”
“…It’s my dad’s.”
Lian smirked.
Still, he didn’t seem to consider his parents’ money as entirely his own. Despite being from an affluent family, he appeared to have received proper upbringing.
“Well educated,” he thought.
Of course, in terms of financial sense, he didn’t seem much different from his peers. Children always thought their parents were the most amazing in the world.
Of course, his father was a deputy director in a company as big as Deccard, so he must have some abilities. But even then, he was just a deputy director. It’s unlikely he had the capacity to repeatedly make payments in the range of millions.
“Well, at least tell me your name. We don’t know what might happen in the future.”
“Just Lian. No last name.”
“Lian…”
Leaving Riley behind, lost in thought about his name, Lian headed straight out of the factory.
As he escaped the stuffy interior, a voice from the side caught his attention.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
Lian pointed to Riley, who was following behind with a slight dirtiness on his clothes but no signs of any injuries.
Harang had a satisfied look on his face as he contacted someone.
“The transport vehicle will be here soon. The payment will also come at that time.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“How are we going to divide the shares?”
“Why divide? You found it, and you saved it. Of course, you should have it all.”
The tone of it was natural.
Lian was slightly surprised by Harang’s willingness to give up his own benefit without any hesitation.
Of course, Lian knew very well that Harang wasn’t just standing there quietly.
He must have taken measures to block the escape route and prevent any external interference.
The men scattered around without any order were evidence of that.
“Is it because he has plenty of money or because he lacks greed?”
Of course, it wasn’t that simple. There must also be his personal desire to establish a relationship with promising talents.
“What will you do once you receive 5 million cells?”
“It seems like they won’t deduct any commission.”
“That’s because they have already deducted the price.”
Well, it’s a major mercenary group, so it’s natural that they won’t deduct any commission.
After a moment of thought, Lian spoke up.
“First, we need to get some equipment. Pistols and daggers… things like that.”
“What about your staff and robe?”
“……?”
For a moment, there was a question mark hanging in the air. Lian, who understood the meaning behind Harang’s words, let out a hollow laugh.
“It seems like you’ve misunderstood something. I am not a magician.”
“What?”
Lian pondered for a moment.
His shabby physique clearly made it difficult to see him as someone with physical abilities.
“I don’t need to reveal that I come from a martial arts background.”
If he suffered any losses, so be it. There was nothing to gain by revealing it.
“If you can’t believe me, I’ll show you later.”
Harang didn’t say a word, but Lian didn’t miss the way Harang was staring at Riley with intensity.
After just coming out of the factory and watching Riley for a while, Harang let out a faint sigh and scratched his head.
“Sigh… never mind.”
“Is there a problem?”
“No. No problem. It’s my mistake for misunderstanding.”
Harang spoke with a complicated expression, tilting his head.
“Forget the request. Let’s have a match next time if you have the time.”
As far as Lian was concerned, it was a proposal that couldn’t be bad.
For the next few years, I’ll be doing mercenary work, and I can’t expect to only receive easy missions like today forever.
Sooner or later, the time will come when I have to face strong individuals like Harang.
To prepare for that, it wouldn’t hurt to have some experience fighting against the strong beforehand.
It’s also good to observe the fighting style of a martial artist while I’m at it.
Not long after making the agreement for a duel, the sound of a car engine could be heard from somewhere.
Vroom-!
At the same time, a black limousine appeared on the road. It was a luxurious car that didn’t match the abandoned factory at all.
Harang, who was watching the elegant body of the car, let out an exclamation.
“Oh, I thought it might be, but they really sent a recon to the abandoned factory.”
Recon was one of the transportation companies located in Tulas, and their main product was a luxurious limousine taxi, synonymous with luxurious and comfortable travel.
Not only did the bulletproof body easily withstand rifle bullets, but the chauffeurs also had excellent security skills, making it a popular choice among high-ranking individuals.
Lian said with a slightly surprised expression.
“The client sent it?”
“Looks like it.”
Do executives at major companies make that much money? Lian briefly thought so, but she turned her head casually at the gaze she felt from the side. Riley was standing there with her arms crossed, looking at them with a proud face.
“How is it?”
“…What?”
“This car. Our dad sent it.”
“So what?”
“…It’s boring.”
Riley protruded her lips and glared at Lianne. Isn’t she curious about what my dad does? Even as Riley got into the car, she couldn’t help but think about Lianne’s indifferent face.
“Go.”
“Do I need to say it for you to leave?”
With a clank, Riley shut the door. It felt like she had lost for no reason. Exhaling, she saw a familiar face of a bodyguard inside the car.
“Miss, Mr. Lee will not tolerate such jokes again.”
“Don’t call me ‘Miss.'”
Riley turned her head and looked out the window. Lianne was still staring in this direction.
“At least, not yet.”
Just in case someone might hear. Despite the soundproofing, she wasn’t sure it could block the sensitive senses of physical abilities.
“Do you have the money to hire me?”
“Is it you? Or your father?”
Recalling Lianne’s words, Riley squinted her eyes. It’s quite a young topic for someone who is just a year younger.
“How annoying.”
That little money, save it up.
About 5 million cells, you should be able to get it if you shake down the grandfather a few times. Regardless of the process, in the end, it’s the money I gathered.
Revealing my true identity comes next.
Right now, I look dirty, using a fake identity, and people don’t know I’m someone precious. But when that time comes, thoughts will surely change…
The car carrying Riley disappeared into the distance. Watching that sight, Lianne moved toward the antique shop.
It’s time for settlement.