Armipotent

Chapter 1927: Noble Court (1)

Tang Shaoyang managed to raise his rank without completing a contract. That was another reason why he did not hide anymore. He knew that making himself known would help him with the rank because the Guild Leader would raise his mercenary rank to an appropriate rank. The Sorcerer Mercenary Guild Leader also no longer made a fuss despite the ultimate defeat she suffered against Gianni.

In fact, it was she who recommended that Alves put them all into Gold Rank. However, Alves was not willing to put them all into Gold Rank, but still gave them Red Rank. Then they created a team, and he chose the same name as his Administrator Team, Team Reds.

The two Guild Leaders misunderstood him, thinking he chose the name because they were all Red Rank. Both reminded him that the process to change names was quite long and troublesome.

"You— They beat them?" Aella exclaimed in disbelief as they entered a private room.

She picked a room so they could eat together in a nearby restaurant. After seeing all the knights were registered under the Mercenary Guild, she made sure to treat them in a nice place in the guise of a celebration.

Aella took a seat, then she realized something weird. Tang Shaoyang was the only one sitting while three knights stood behind Tang Shaoyang, and two knights stood near the door. She blinked her eyes a few times as a realization slowly sank into her brain. It took her a while to accept that the five knights were serving Tang Shaoyang, not on equal terms with Tang Shaoyang. This told her that Tang Shaoyang might be a big shot who even five God Ranks serving under him.

"Come on, guys. Don’t make it awkward for me. Let’s sit and eat together," Tang Shaoyang gestured to the five to take their seats. Out of five, Nikolas was the only one who was comfortable doing so, as he immediately took a seat next to Tang Shaoyang.

Gianni furrowed his brow at his grandson’s behavior but said nothing since it was Tang Shaoyang’s order. Four of them were reluctant to sit together because they felt it was inappropriate to do so.

"We only have thirty minutes. The two Guild Leaders want me to meet with the three successors of the Sorcerer Monarchy," Tang Shaoyang said directly to Aella. Let’s hear about your request."

Aella was being casual and at ease around Tang Shaoyang before the debacle in the Mercenary Guild, but everything that happened changed her perspective of Tang Shaoyang. She realized that Tang Shaoyang was someone above her status, not someone with whom she could act casually.

"I— I-I am not asking anything..." Aella became nervous all of a sudden as she failed to make coherent words. She took a deep breath and said out her request, "C-can you bring me and my brother out of this tower? That should not be hard for you, no?"

Tang Shaoyang was not surprised by the request, but he was curious as to why she wanted to get out of the tower. She was doing well on this floor, even though her brother might not be a reputable person on this floor, but her brother at least made a name for himself in the Raven Monarchy. He did not see them having a difficult life.

"May I ask why? Are you in danger?"

Aella was silent for quite some time. "We are not in danger, but I am tired of living with limitations. Many people might be content and accept the limitations put on us, but I am not. As you can see, we have a lot of Demi-God Ranks here, but not much of the God Rank. There’s a specific requirement for us to reach the God Rank, and each individual has a different requirement."

Tang Shaoyang recalled all the mercenaries and the soldiers. She was right that he met a lot of Demi-God Ranks. With the number of the Demi-God Ranks, there should be more God Ranks. However, it seemed like the System in the tower worked differently from how they got the God Rank. Requirement aside, the system might put a limit on how many God Ranks could exist on each floor.

"And as you can see, even though we are not in danger right now, we will be once the war breaks out. The God Ranks from The Dominion would not keep us alive, and the people from the Sacred Kingdom would not be so accepting toward us as well."

"I have my people who will screen the people, whether you are safe for the empire or not. You just need to follow the procedure, and you can join us if you pass the screen process," Tang Shaoyang did not guarantee her that he would bring her outside.

"Empire?" Aella was surprised at first, but then everything made sense. She scanned the five knights, and she confirmed that the man in front of her was a big shot for sure.

"The Tang Empire. You can mention your name to my people, and then you only need to follow the process."

"How long will it take for them to get here? Can you just get my brother and me out here right away?" Aella did not want to stay longer in this place. Especially with the approaching war. Her stupid brother would not want to stay behind; he wanted to go to the front so they could reach a higher mercenary rank.

"That would be unfair for the other people, and while I have a good impression of you, I need to make sure you are safe for my empire. I will not endanger my people for you and your brother, Aella," Tang Shaoyang said directly.

He did not know the whole screening process, but it was to make sure that the natives did not make the same mistake that put them in this tower. It was a long process, but they must do so.

The disappointment was clear on Aella’s face. She made sure not to put high hopes on her request, but it was still disappointing when she heard it. It was not a rejection; there was still a chance for her to get out. That chance was high because she knew someone like Tang Shaoyang, but she did not know whether she would have the time for this team to get here before the war.

"Have you asked your brother? I don’t think he knows anything about me, no? He might not necessarily want to go out of the tower," Tang Shaoyang had an impression that Aelka cared for his team. Getting to Archon Rank might be his goal rather than getting out of the tower.

"He would not be able to resist the temptation to break free from the limitation. If he knew that he could get to God Rank quicker outside this place, then he would follow me," Aella knew her brother well, so that persuading her brother would be easier. She just needed an assurance that they could get out before telling the news to her brother.

"If you want your brother to be safe, then why don’t you persuade him to join my team instead? Working with us will be safer for you guys," Tang Shaoyang gave her an offer, not out of compassion, but for the future. He would prepare a mercenary team under him when his people arrived on this floor.

"I will eventually leave this place, and I will need people to manage the team. Instead of forming a small team, let’s make it big instead. You and your brother will manage the team when I am away, and you will get a benefit as well. You will be first in line to get into the screening process."

Aella’s eyes brightened because she knew this would not be an empty promise anymore. Tang Shaoyang asked her to create a base for his people when they arrived, and he was right that she would be the first in line to be screened or whatever it was.

She stood up from the chair and bowed toward Tang Shaoyang, "Thank you! I will persuade my brother to join you!" She left the room happily, of course, after she paid the bill.

"It’s about time to meet up with Hera and Alves," Tang Shaoyang said, leaving the room with his spirits as well.

"Do we really have to meet the nobles? I don’t have a good experience in a noble court. They would speak roundabouts annoyingly, they are selfish pricks, and I have a feeling that those brats would try to use them for their succession war instead of facing the actual war," Nikolas complained as they left the room, "Or I can go back to the Spirit World instead."

Gianni slapped Nikolas’ head from behind, "Watch your tone when you speak to Lord Tang Shaoyang, and you must attend the meeting, or you will make us look suspicious."

Gianni Lysvand was Nikolas’ grandfather, and Nikolas did not dare say anything, even though they were in the same rank right now. Mathias, Nikolas’ grandson, looked ashamed when he watched his grandfather be slapped.

"But—"

Nikolas was about to say something in return, but he swallowed it back when he met with his grandfather’s strict gaze.

"I understand."

It was some kind of entertainment for Tang Shaoyang, but he agreed with Nikolas this time. He did not like the noble court when he was not in the honor seat. He agreed as well that the three potential successors would reach out to them when they knew about Team Reds.

If not for doing a favor for Hera and Alves because they raised his rank to Red Rank, he would not have agreed to meet the nobles from this monarchy as well. Hera and Alves wanted to use their team to strengthen the mercenary presence in the court. They came for the meeting to talk about the war against the Dominion. The only reason the mercenary was allowed in the noble court was.

The nobles and the high-ranking officers came to the meeting with a fancy carriage pulled by a fine horse. It became a contest whose carriage was fancier, and the nobles would laugh, a small laughter when they looked toward the mercenary.

"We have become a laughing stock because of you. Why don’t you want to ride a carriage? You don’t have to spend a penny, the guild will pay for it!" Hera complained as another noble that just come down from their carriage let out a small laugh while looking in their direction.

That was right, Hera and Alves followed Tang Shaoyang walking to get to the castle because Tang Shaoyang refused to ride a carriage. After the battle, they respected Tang Shaoyang, and that was why they walked alongside Tang Shaoyang.

"Why would you care about them? I don’t think you can be embarrassed by something like this after your defeat against my g— Gianni," Nikolas almost slipped out, calling Gianni grandfather.

"I am not embarrassed, but I don’t like those snotty nobles who act smug like this. As if they will survive from the Dominion without us," Hera was annoyed that the nobles dared to act like this when their survival was in her hands. She was still the Sorcerer Guild Master, one of the key figures in this war. A single spell from her might decide the fate of the city.