Miserable Reincarnation

47 – Mission Request (3)

“……Academy?”

“More precisely, the graduate school. They claimed to have developed a groundbreaking magical affinity model, so I’m going to check it out myself.”

Magical affinity model… Can 11-year-olds these days casually throw out such difficult words?

I doubt it.

Lian inwardly clicked her tongue.

‘So this is how it feels.’

It felt as if her mercenary comrades were looking at her in a certain way.

“The reason I have to go with you?”

“Because I’m your employer.”

I can confidently say that she won’t refuse the request.

“It’s something I learned from my grandfather. He said if you want to attract a cautious opponent, at least call them ten times more than before.”

“….”

Lianne didn’t bother asking who her grandfather was. As a member of the Owner family, there was likely no one she would address as her grandfather with such reverence.

“Layton.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Leave us. We want to talk alone.”

“Understood.”

As Layton disappeared, Riley spoke.

“Layton is on the side of my grandfather. Under the guise of guarding the Owner family, he monitors and reports on all activities.”

“….”

“My grandfather favored me, so he settled with just Layton. Some cousins failed to prove themselves and were chased away.”

“Prove themselves?”

“That’s right.”

Even if you’re called a child or a granddaughter, it seems you’re cast aside if you can’t prove your worth.

While Riley didn’t know about other things, she was certain about the reason why Lyle left the skilled members of Decard and chose to hire her.

“You didn’t think I was already employed by Chairman Decard?”

Riley chuckled self-deprecatingly.

“You pushed me off the cliff.”

“….”

“If my grandfather knew that fact, he wouldn’t have let you walk around with two legs. He absolutely wouldn’t tolerate that.”

In effortlessly uttering eerie words, it seemed as if she had lived some peculiar life.

Riley chuckled, as if refreshing the atmosphere.

“And mercenaries who don’t even use formalities with their employers, where do you find them? If you wanted to act, you should at least pretend to call me ‘Chairman.'”

At Riley’s words, a contract had appeared at the tip of her fingers, seemingly out of nowhere.

Her hand trembled subtly. She had said it with such nonchalance, but it was nerves.

“Well, the commission period is one month, and the contract fee is fifty million cells. Do you have any additional requests?”

“Not really.”

If she wanted, she could have negotiated more, but in the long run, it was better to yield once and leave a slightly better impression.

It didn’t feel like robbing a child of their piggy bank, after all.

Ironically, Lianne had no awareness that she herself was even younger.

Hmm.

Riley silently observed Lianne, who was reading through the contract with a hint of concentration.

Certainly different.

Riley thought so. The elementary school she attended was, of course, a private school where the children of high-ranking officials and legal professionals thrived.

Her classmates were destined to become giants in Turas someday.

Despite receiving higher education from a young age, they were naturally smarter and more discerning than their peers, but among them, there was no one as exceptional as Riley.

Except for the boy in front of her.

Despite realizing that he belonged to the Owner family, he didn’t flinch. He was wise and mature. Even just looking at him reading the contract, his demeanor was no less professional than any expert.

“…Is that something you’re born with?”

Riley recalled the memory of stepping into this building for the first time. Her heart pounded, and it was difficult to lift her head.

The atmosphere was overwhelming. Father said it was natural.

But it didn’t seem so to Lianne.

Jealousy naturally arises. Of course, that wasn’t the whole story. When looking at that concentrated face, memories of the time she fell downstairs while being embraced in his arms resurface.

Then, a corner of her heart starts to itch.

Of course, Riley didn’t understand the nature of such emotions yet. Naturally, because no one had told her.

“We signed.”

“…Already?”

“Check it.”

Handed the contract, Riley suppressed the smile trying to break free.

In truth, Riley knew little about the mercenary industry. Initially, her field of expertise was research and management, not related to mercenaries.

Nevertheless, she successfully concluded her first contract. With the help of an expert, but she partially crafted the contract herself. Naturally, she couldn’t help but feel proud.

Sure, if one waves money around, what mercenary would refuse a contract? But at least they didn’t engage in pointless bargaining, which was meaningful enough.

“Wanna take a look around before leaving?”

“No. I have other things to do.”

Lianne recalled the conversation she had with Berta a few hours ago. A proposal to participate in research conducted at the Tura’s Academy. Since the location of Riley’s current escort mission was also the academy, accepting that proposal didn’t seem bad either.

‘After all, I accepted almost all the conditions they presented.’

From Noble mtl dot com

If she proposes to participate in research after the escort mission, around evening, without affecting the schedule, she could collect all the rewards offered by both sides.

“May I get up first?”

Riley nodded and sent a message to someone.

“Tell them to meet me at the place we met today tomorrow morning. Come on that.”

“…Really?”

“Trust me. It’ll be much better than getting searched while riding any random car.”

Riley asserted, arms crossed.

If she, being at the top of society, said this much, there must be a valid reason.

It’s probably because she can’t enter the Academy through conventional means.

“It must be some kind of top-tier educational institution.”

Lian nodded, seeming to understand.

*****

As soon as he arrived home, Lian called Berta.

After explaining the conditions he wanted on this side, Berta responded in a composed voice.

“I see. I’ll make sure to let Michaela know.”

It wasn’t the reaction he had expected. There couldn’t possibly be another candidate found in just half a day.

“Does that mean it’s not confirmed yet?”

“Didn’t I say? There’s only one potion that can be used for the experiment.”

Furrowing his brow, Lian read through the data Berta had sent him through the cyberspace.

⌜To find the most suitable candidate, additional tests will be conducted on the population…⌟

Though it was written in a verbose manner, the summary was something like this.

[It seems like there wasn’t just one person recommending me from the beginning.]

Berta’s voice, as she spoke, carried a hint of anger. Understanding was inevitable.

If Mirella had fully trusted her insight, she wouldn’t have sought the help of other mages in the first place.

Of course, Lian refrained from voicing those thoughts. No matter how understanding a mage might be, even if they were considered academically superior, such matters wouldn’t simply end with mere notification.

“They must have proposed something more from that side.”

At those words, Berta involuntarily let out a bitter laugh.

This one sure catches on quickly.

[No matter how you look at it, you’re on our side. Not a physical adept.]

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

[Anyway, the lab proposed three major rewards. You’re supposed to choose one you desire.]

Either receive royalties for the paper, additional payment in the form of a mercenary contract, or…

The last proposition caught her eye.

“What’s this?”

[Personally, I find it the most favorable offer. Assuming, of course, you have enough funds.]

The right to freely visit the archival repository.

Considering the way Berta emphasized it, it probably meant being able to access restricted information within the archival repository.

Honestly, it was the most appealing proposal.

⌜Today, you owe it to me.⌟

Since she didn’t know when she would encounter Atyx’s paladin, Aliana, she needed to learn at least a bit about the Atyx Paladin Order beforehand.

‘I should probably look into the continent to the east as well.’

Even the elixirs received as a reward for participating in this research were created by the Sichuan Group.

“Understood for now.”

[Alright. I’ll let you know as soon as I get the interview schedule.]

Lian hung up and sprawled on the bed.

*****