154: Chapter 155 We Can't Afford to Offend

The next morning, as the Mercenaries filed out of the Mercenary Guild hall, each squad had something new at its front.

A flag.

It was a wooden pole with a cloth flag tied to the top. It wasn't large, about three feet square, with a background of the same dark red as the Flower City crimson gear, and a single large character in the center— "Hua."

The character was written by Lei Lie. It wasn't particularly beautiful, but the strokes were heavy, as if each one had been carved with a blade.

As the Mercenaries marched down the street carrying the flags, the common folk by the roadside stopped to watch.

"What is this?"

"It's a flag. A flag for Flower City."

"Oh! They look just like a regular army!"

"Even more impressive than a regular army!"

Some cheered, some applauded, and children ran after the flags for a stretch.

With these flags, the Mercenaries unconsciously straightened their backs a little more.

At this moment, Zhou Yun was in the courtyard of the City Lord's mansion, talking to Nuan Nuan. Hearing the commotion on the street, he walked to the entrance and took a look.

Squad after squad passed by the gate of the City Lord's mansion. The dark red flags unfurled in the morning breeze, the "Hua" character catching the light, its color deep and vibrant.

Zhou Yun watched for a while and smiled.

"Who designed this flag?"

Nuan Nuan shook her head.

Zhou Yun turned to look and happened to see Lei Lie turning the corner, walking toward them with long strides.

He had come to see the Mercenaries off. When he passed by the gate of the City Lord's mansion and saw Zhou Yun standing there, his steps faltered for a moment, then he steeled himself and walked over.

"City Lord."

He performed a salute, standing straight, though his expression was a bit tense.

Zhou Yun looked at him: "Was the flag your idea?"

Lei Lie's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Replying to City Lord, the flag was designed by this subordinate, and it was also my decision to have each squad carry the flags out of the city."

He did not explain his reasoning.

He had thought about what to say all night, but once he was actually in front of Zhou Yun, he felt there was no need to explain so much.

What was done was done.

Zhou Yun showed a gentle smile: "Very good, very impressive."

Lei Lie's back, which had been tense all night, finally relaxed.

...

Carrying the flags out of the city certainly felt different.

The flags were very conspicuous in the wind of the wilderness.

The dark red cloth stood out sharply against the gray-yellow withered grass and rocks, visible from far away.

A few Mercenaries felt uncomfortable— "It's like putting up a target."

Everyone immediately disagreed.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"This is called Aura! Do you understand Aura?"

"Exactly! How impressive it is!"

...

Those who had finally managed to earn the qualification to carry the flag hoisted the pole onto their shoulders, walking at the very front with their heads held high, their strides larger than anyone else's.

They soon encountered the first wave of Demonic Beasts.

It was no different from the previous days—the Demonic Wolves appeared, were surrounded, and eliminated within a few breaths.

But what was different was that after the fight, the flag remained planted in the ground, a few drops of wolf blood splattered on the cloth, snapping and fluttering in the wind.

As the Mercenaries were walking back carrying their prey, they ran into a few scattered hunters on the road.

Those hunters saw the group—over three hundred people, with uniform equipment, dragging a trail of Demonic Wolf corpses, and a flag at the front with a "Hua" character on it—they were stunned for several breaths, then... silently stepped aside to the road.

In their eyes, there was surprise, fear, and something undefinable.

After the group passed by, one hunter whispered to his companion: "Flower City? Which Flower City?"

"Never heard of it."

"The equipment is quite good..."

"Don't look, we can't afford to provoke them."

"Every single person is a Professional. Could it be they were sent out for training by some lower-level city?"

"Very likely!"

...

The group of over three hundred people walked past them, the flag in the lead, the prey dragging a long trail of blood behind.

After walking a long way, the Mercenary carrying the flag suddenly looked back.

Seeing that those few hunters were still standing by the side of the road, motionless.

He grinned.

...

But the day wasn't all satisfying.

In the afternoon, a two-hundred-person Mercenary squad encountered a mining team from another city at a mineral vein.

The other side had about four hundred people, including nearly a hundred Professionals, and the rest were ordinary miners.

When the Hua City Mercenaries arrived, the other side hadn't started mining yet—previously, this area was occupied by Demonic Beasts, and they hadn't dared to approach.

The Hua City Mercenaries had cleared out the nearby Demonic Beasts over the past two days and had come today, just preparing to mine.

As a result, the two groups bumped into each other at the entrance of the mineral vein.

The opposing Guard Captain was on horseback, looking down at the Hua City Mercenaries, his tone very aggressive.

"Who are you people? This is the mineral vein of our Qinghe City!"

The leader of this Flower City squad was a sturdy man in his early thirties, carrying a greatsword, and he frowned upon hearing this.

"Qinghe City?"

"That's right! This entire mountain area within a twenty-mile radius is Qinghe City's territory! Where are you from? How dare you break ground here?"

Upon hearing this, the leader's hand tightened instinctively on the hilt of his sword.

The Mercenaries behind him also stopped their movements, their expressions unfriendly.

A wild squad.

This term... was incredibly grating!

The leader took a deep breath, instinctively wanting to speak with strength.

After all, the other side had an aggressive Aura, looking like they would attack if they didn't back down.

As for whether they could win?

Of course they could win! Without a doubt!

Those nearly one hundred Professionals on the other side had shallow Auras, and their equipment was uneven.

His two hundred people were all Black Iron Rank, with uniform equipment.

Comparing the two sides, whether in quality or quantity, they possessed an overwhelming advantage.

The other side perhaps felt that since they were close to their own city, they had nothing to fear.

But he knew his own strength, and if they really fought, the other side might not wait for reinforcements.

But... the second thought that flashed through his mind immediately suppressed the first.

That was... Zhou Yun.

What kind of person is Zhou Yun?

Abolishing the execution line, distributing spirit rice, taking in refugees...

Anyone with eyes could see clearly that Zhou Yun does not like killing.

So... if they fought with others outside and word got back to the city, what would Zhou Yun think?

Would he think the Mercenary Guild is a trouble?

Would he think that letting them out was a mistake?

And would it... make Zhou Yun feel disappointed?

Thinking this... the leader's hand loosened from the sword hilt.

"... Forget it."

He turned his head and said two words to the Mercenaries behind him.

"Let's go."

The Mercenaries were stunned.

"Captain?"

"Go."

The leader did not explain, just turned and walked away.

The Mercenaries' expressions were very ugly. Some clenched their fists, some gritted their teeth, and some turned back to glare fiercely at the other side.

But no one stayed behind.

Looking at the leader's somewhat heavy back, their expressions shifted rapidly, as if they had figured something out too.

So they followed the leader and silently left the mineral vein.

Behind them, the laughter of the Qinghe City Guard Captain was not loud, but it could be heard clearly in the wind.

"Hmph. So much for Flower City."

Everyone heard it.

But no one looked back.

...

That evening, the returning Mercenary squads were quieter than usual.

It wasn't because they were tired, but because they felt blocked.

There was something stuck in their chests, unable to go up or down.

Throughout the day, several squads had encountered similar situations.

It wasn't just mineral veins; it was the same for herb fields.

Some cities had attitudes even worse than Qinghe City, directly calling the Hua City Mercenaries "robbers" and "bandits," and some even drew their blades, posturing to fight.

The Hua City Mercenaries all endured it.

They did talk back, but they gave up all the resources and did not let any conflicts erupt.

However, when they returned to the Mercenary Guild, the atmosphere in the hall was completely different from the previous two days.

The previous days had been full of laughter, scrambling, and competing to see who killed more.

Today, it was silence.

Someone threw their prey on the ground, sat down on their bottom, and remained silent.

Someone leaned against the wall, arms crossed, their face gloomy.

No one was shouting, no one was making a fuss, but a stifling atmosphere permeated the hall, like the gloom before a storm.

Lei Lie saw it all but said nothing.

He knew what had happened—he had asked each of the fourteen squads that returned today and encountered outside city troops individually, and the situation was about the same.

But what could he say?

How could he not be feeling stifled himself?