Hero of Darkness

Legolas suddenly decided to discuss the payment for the job in front of the client after accepting it. However, this tone was unclear about what exactly he meant by his previous words. 

However, the two sons of the Exalted Noble named Lord Horik revealed a gloomy and hateful expressions. Because they understood that Legolas was going to rip them off because of their precarious situation. 

"Are you trying to raise the price?" asked the son who stood on the right of count Horik. 

"Hmph! Why am I not surprised… People in your profession always demand more than they deserve based on the situation. 

I think we made a mistake calling you here." said the son on the left as he openly revealed his grievance. 

"Shhh!! Silence! 

Let him speak." spoke count Horik as he raised his right hand in the air and signaled his sons to shut up. 

"My, my… please don't be too quick to judge us, young lords. 

Based on standard rates and the severity of the job… we should be asking you for 60 million Itikar. 

But since we take half payment in SS Rank cores… it should cost you only 30 million. 

The rest… you can pay easily in cores given how vast and flourishing your territory is even with lacking funds and damage caused by those monsters. 

Isn't that why you came to hire us instead of going to some other guilds?" iterated Kahn confidently. 

The expression of all 3 men changed the very next second. 

Because this was nothing but the truth. 

"Are you implying that we can't pay you?" asked one of the sons. 

"No, it's just how I do business. 

Let's make some alterations in the payment method instead." he said and looked at the old noble in his eyes. 

"Instead of paying us in half with Itikar… we'll take only the SS Rank cores. 

As for the other half… I want something else in return." replied Legolas, his gaze firm and his countenance that of someone with upper in this deal. 

"Once the monsters are dead… I want all 4 of their cores." he proposed in a loud voice. 

"What?! Why do you want that?" asked count Horik in a hoarse tone. 

"Even if you sell them in the market, they can fetch you 20 million at best. But I'd let go of the extra 10 in 'good faith' if you give me the cores instead of money." responded the elf leader. 

"Think about it. It saves you money… saves the lives of your soldiers and also the ammunition you would need to kill them by your own means. 

This is a complete win-win situation for your side." said the elf as he presented the most appealing offer to the clients. 

Kahn had Ranobes' core already. They didn't leave it for anything after killing the 3rd stage saint summoner. 

Because last time when he had saint cores, he had used all the cores to create new subordinates for Kassandra's safety. 

On the other end, his body had yet to absorb Axel's divine key completely and Kahn expected to receive another breakthrough in the upcoming months. 

Ranobes's core was something he wanted to boost his levels once he became a 3rd stage saint. 

As for Rathnaar's core… Kahn couldn't even absorb it unless he became a 4th stage saint first. Thus, arranging for greater quality resources was the top priority. 

As for the other 4 legendary rank cores… why did he desire them and suddenly changed the terms of their deal on the spot? 

Because currently, many of his generals were still stuck at their levels. 

Only Ronin didn't need cores because he still had the souls of Hero's Party members and Axel's soul too. His abilities allowed him to use them as a source to level up. 

But he too would need some time to see tremendous growth. 

This time, Kahn decided to not go for the bodies. 

Kahn himself already had too many abilities and he only used the most powerful and handful of them. Even looting the corpses to create new subordinates was extremely risky. 

So he had no interest in new ones unless the monsters were mythical rank beings who naturally had plenty of legendary rank skills. 

Thus he made the proposition of the cores only.

Also… Kahn's subordinates were one of the main reasons why he was able to kill Axel and Hero's Party in the first place. 

Thus, investing and making arrangements to rise the rank of his subordinates was also a main priority for Kahn in the long run. 

As for the money… Kahn already had half a billion. This was enough to run the guild for many years unless he expanded the guild to greater numbers and territories. 

On the surface, he was losing a lot in this sort of transaction. But in reality… 

He would be the biggest winner. 

----------------

After spending a dozen minutes discussing among themselves, the count and his sons came back to Kahn. 

"We accept this deal. Let's sign on it first." spoke count Horik. 

They had already called an employee of the Mercenary Association to facilitate the contract. This individual was actually an underling of Logan Vargr, Kahn's biggest ally in that department. 

Finally, both sides shook hands on the deal. 

"Who is going to do the work then?" asked one of the sons. 

Just then, a white-haired, bare-chested man with two katanas who stood behind Legolas walked forth. 

Without standing at the ceremony, he revealed his aura of a 3rd stage saint being. 

"I'd like you to meet my right-hand man." introduced the elf proudly and revealed the person who was going to finish the job by himself. 

"Raiden Hrodvitsson." 

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1 warship arrived at the northern end of this Exalted Noble's territory, a region that was currently devasted as a Legendary Rank monster was inhibiting it. 

This was the border between two separate regions and the monster had entered through this side of the territory and already destroyed a few towns and killed thousands of citizens. 

As the warships were heading towards the site of the battle, Legolas and Ronin saw too many remains of destroyed ships, troops and corpses that were beyond recognition. 

Legolas then turned his head to the right and talked with the count and his sons with a grim voice. 

"Leading 4 different legendary monsters isn't easy. Especially not for weak force and thousands of soldiers." he iterated. 

"What do you mean?" asked count Horik. 

"Leading a legendary rank monster to the direction of your region can't be done just by attacking them. 

Because normally, any legendary rank monster would most likely retaliate and kill the armies of their attackers. 

Once enraged, they'd go on a rampage and might as well even destroy their territories out of rage." he explained. 

"So you mean, this is the work of an external force? Of only one individual at that?" asked one of the sons. 

"Yes. If my assumption is correct… then all these 4 nobles surrounding either have at least a 3rd stage saint on their beck and call… or rather… 

They hired people like us." spoke Legolas without restraint. 

His reasoning was sound because he had hunted plenty of legendary rank monsters himself. 

"Don't be so cryptic. Are you saying that it's the same person?" asked count Horik hurriedly. 

"Maybe or maybe not.

But one thing is sure. It's an enemy you can't fight on your own." 

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The warship stopped 15 kilometers away and landed in a grassland. 

"From here on… it's all on you. 

If your people die or something bad happens. It's not our responsibility." said Horik in an authoritative tone. 

"Perks of the job. No need to worry. We won't be asking for any compensation." said Legolas and turned to Raiden. 

"Make it quick. We have to return to the guild by night." said the elf. 

Raiden's figure flickered and he disappeared from the spot. The noble clients couldn't even see an afterimage or where he went. 

In just 5 minutes, Raiden aka Omega appeared a few hundred meters above the ground and sensed a mighty and dreary existence in front of him. 

GRRRGRGGG!! 

A grunting noise resounded in the surrounding 2 kilometers of the region as a massive 100-meter-tall body woke up from its sleep as soon as it sensed an enemy who suddenly appeared in the sky out of nowhere. 

ROARRRR!! 

An ear-deafening battle cry resounded in the atmosphere as a massive green body stood up. 

This was the first time Raiden and Legolas, who was seeing the scene through the former's eyes had seen it in their lives. 

This monstrous creature had no eyes. But every part of its body was filled with vines and yellowish liquid dropped from their ends. 

Sizzle! 

Sizzle! 

Everywhere the liquid dropped, the ground sizzled as if it was some sort of toxic venom that could even melt metal easily. 

[System, what monster is this?] queried Kahn. 

[The species in front of the subordinate Omega is named Salvikan. A boss-level monster only found in high-tier dungeons.] reported the system calmly. 

After the battle cry, Raiden then unsheathed Raijin and took an offensive stance in the air. 

Just then, Kahn's command rang in his head. 

"Commence the hunt."