The Storm Caravan’s campsite had been set up in the middle of an open plain, wide and flat in every direction. Above them stretched a night sky completely clear of clouds, with stars scattered across it and a moon half full casting a soft glow across the land in place of the sun.0

Leon took a deep breath as he absorbed the view. He wasn’t too surprised that things had unfolded this way.0

Adventurers and mercenaries were the two groups that made up the Guild. Tension between them was one of its oldest, most chronic problems.0

Well, I get it, Leon thought.0

Adventurers had to handle all sorts of situations, while mercenaries mostly dealt with combat against other people. The two roles were fundamentally different.0

Unlike adventurers who came from diverse backgrounds, most mercenaries were former soldiers. Their culture was far more hierarchical and vertical. Seniority meant a lot more to them than it did to adventurers, so it was no surprise that a young man like Leon earned their scorn.0

Also, traveling with a beautiful A-rank woman probably didn’t help either.0

Though that very beauty is currently starting up a gambling ring… Leon thought as he looked toward one side of the clearing, his expression unimpressed.1

“I’m putting...0