There was nothing but silence, as no response came back from Lukento. After a moment, he broke the silence with a frustrated sigh.0

“Is that important?” Lukento’s face reflected annoyance. “We came all this way for the princess. And yet, you keep nitpicking.”0

“But that princess is rejecting your offer.” Ketal shrugged. “So, you have no intention of explaining. That only gives me more reason not to trust you.”0

Ketal had wondered whether the knights had used teleportation, which could explain why Ketal could detect them, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Even if Lukento managed to convince him, his attitude wouldn’t change since he had already accepted the escort request.0

Lukento scowled. “You believe that delusion? As expected of a barbarian.”0

“If a mercenary doesn’t believe their clients, who would?” Ketal asked.0

“Are you willing to turn us into your enemies over some trivial contract?0

“If I wasn’t prepared for that, I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place.”0

“The princess has deceived you…”0

“Even so, I took the job.”0

A request was both a contract and a promise. Ketal’s task was to escort Elene and Aron to the Denian Kingdom, no matter what obstacles arose along the way. “If I were to abandon my contract and run away just because the opponent is stronger or more numerous, how would I be any different from a common pickpocket skulking through...1