Ten gold coins were not a small sum. Li Xi alone didn't think ten was much, but for a mercenary group of ten like Xinis, it was one hundred gold coins. One hundred gold coins could be spent by an ordinary person for two lifetimes. This was why the equipment business was willing to pay such a large commission.
"Okay, I haven't been to other cities yet."
After informing Ais, Li Xi said he was going to Aby City to do a mission. Ais gave him a concerned look and then went back to her own affairs.
After accepting the mission, Li Xi left the city with Xinis and the others. They met the merchant Robert at the city gate.
Merchant Robert actually had some connections with the city lord, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to do the equipment trade. No matter when or where, the arms business was always a profitable industry.
Robert was not well-built, but he had a pair of shrewd eyes.
Xinis led Li Xi to introduce him to Robert, "Mr. Robert, this is the E-class mercenary Li Xi I recommended to you. His strength is absolutely guaranteed."
Robert carefully observed Li Xi. He was too young, seemingly just come of age, wearing loose enchanted leather armor, riding a mixed-breed warhorse, and looking like he hadn't woken up, yawning constantly. His first impression was: is this reliable? Isn't Xinis trying to trick him out of a commission?
However, out of consideration for Xinis and his good reputation, Robert hesitated, "I trust anyone introduced by Brother Xinis one hundred percent. We'll set off after a few more people arrive." Soudan Novel Network
"Sir, you've also found other mercenaries?" Xinis knew Li Xi's first impression wouldn't be good, so he didn't emphasize it too much.
"Yes, the medicinal herbs I'm transporting this time are very important. To be safe, I've also hired the White Lion Mercenary Group."
Hearing the name White Lion, Xinis's expression immediately soured, like stepping on dog shit on the street.
Robert didn't care. Originally, the White Lion charged ten gold coins per person, but after hearing that he had hired the Black Tiger Mercenary Group, they voluntarily gave him a discount. Such a good thing was rare. If he could save money, he wouldn't care what Xinis thought. Anyway, he had accepted the mission, and if he wanted to back out, he would have to pay the penalty.
Li Xi noticed Xinis's strange expression and asked in confusion, "Is there a problem with the White Lion Mercenary Group?"
Xinis pondered for a moment, "This matter originally had nothing to do with Brother Li Xi, but since we've encountered it, I'll tell you about it."
"You can tell from the name that the White Lion Mercenary Group specifically opposes our Black Tiger Mercenary Group, and they always want to prove who is better. Because I didn't want to delay the mission, I always let them have their way. I didn't expect to run into them again this time."
"Oh, I see. Do you need me to help you deal with them?" Li Xi pretended to be ruthless, making a hand chop in the air, accompanied by a slight crackle of thunder.
"No, no, no, it's not that serious between us." Xinis quickly stopped Li Xi, truly afraid he would make a move. Xinis knew that this person was a man of his word.
While Li Xi was teasing Xinis, a group of eleven people walked towards the city gate, all riding mixed-breed warhorses, strutting towards Xinis.
"I say, Xinis, why are you all still riding ordinary warhorses? Doesn't that tarnish the reputation of your Black Tiger Mercenary Group?"
A mercenary, also a Rank 4 Earth Warrior, said mockingly from his warhorse.
Xinis tightly gripped Li Xi's hand, afraid that Li Xi would suddenly erupt and kill someone the next second.
"Tychi, the affairs of our Black Tiger Mercenary Group have nothing to do with your White Lion. You shouldn't meddle. Just mind your own business."
Tychi no longer dwelled on the warhorses, but looked at Li Xi, who was being held by Xinis, "Yo, you've recruited a new member again. So, we should recruit one too."
"Pfft."
Li Xi chuckled. No wonder there were eleven people in the White Lion, it was to outnumber the ten people of the Black Tiger. These two mercenary groups didn't seem like competitors, but rather were engaged in a feud.
Li Xi's laughter angered the members of the White Lion Mercenary Group, who glared at him. "What are you laughing at?"
Li Xi suppressed his laughter, "Sorry, I couldn't help it."
Xinis was also helpless. Tychi's actions were not at all like something an adult would do. What was the difference between him and a three-year-old?
Xinis pulled Li Xi along, "Don't worry, this isn't our mercenary group. We can't afford a master like Brother Li Xi."
Tychi still wanted to chase after them to continue bickering, but Robert walked over, "Since everyone is here, let's set off. I'll treat you all to drinks when we safely reach Aby City."
"Don't worry, Mr. Robert. With the White Lion Mercenary Group here, I guarantee there won't be any mistakes."
Then, looking at Xinis and the others, he said, "As for the Black Tiger Mercenary Group, just follow behind."
Xinis and the others seemed accustomed to it and didn't argue, as if resigned, they followed behind the caravan to guard the rear, while the White Lion led the way.
Robert's caravan was long, with more than forty large carts. It wasn't just their own caravan; there were also some small itinerant merchants.
These itinerant merchants usually didn't dare to travel alone, so they followed large caravans, only paying a small fee for guaranteed safety.
Despite Robert hiring Xinis and Tychi's two mercenary groups for a whopping two hundred and twenty gold coins, most of the commission was squeezed from these itinerant merchants. He himself only paid less than thirty percent, and with the discount from Tychi's White Lion Mercenary Group, the money spent was even less.
Li Xi looked at the White Lion Mercenary Group in front, who seemed triumphant as if they had won, and found it amusing. "Xinis, isn't the White Lion Mercenary Group a bit funny? For the sake of pride, they're doing all the dirty and arduous work in front, while you seem to be enduring it but are not exerting any effort behind. Are they really that foolish?"
Xinis sighed, "Alas, I don't want to, but I've been used to it for so long. Yes, they are that foolish."
"I think you're a bit gloating."
"Hahaha, am I?" Xinis couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The entire caravan had nearly three hundred people. Hardly any wild beasts dared to attack, and even magical beasts without Rank 4 strength wouldn't dare to charge the caravan. Therefore, the mission, under normal circumstances, would be very safe.
In the evening, when they set up camp, it was all handled by the White Lion members. Although they were still teasing Xinis and the others verbally, Xinis and the others didn't retort, making the White Lion members feel smug.
"Hey, little brother, do you want to join our White Lion Mercenary Group? Our strength is much greater than Xinis's. You'll have a future following us."
In the camp, Tychi loudly tried to recruit Li Xi.
Li Xi chuckled, "Guild Leader Tychi, you guys are truly amazing. You've arranged the caravan so orderly today. Unlike me, I don't know anything."
This familiar tone told Xinis and the others that Li Xi was messing around again.
"Brother, what's your rank?"
Li Xi widened his eyes, quite proud, "I just got promoted to E-class mercenary. I just turned sixteen the day before yesterday. My strength seems to be only a little weaker than an intermediate warrior."
Tychi was speechless. Only a little weaker than an intermediate warrior? Isn't that a beginner warrior? There are so many people like that, more than donkey droppings on the ground.
"I have some other things to attend to, I'll leave now. We can talk about joining the group another time."
Tychi didn't dare to recruit someone like this, otherwise he would be laughed at by his peers. Tychi, scared away by Li Xi's words, fled in disarray. Xinis and the others burst into laughter. If Li Xi's strength was only at the beginner warrior level, then there would be no gods in this world. But seeing Tychi embarrassed, they wouldn't remind him.
The peaceful time continued for another two days with the rumbling of the carriage wheels. The journey was more than halfway through, and they would reach Aby City in less than two days.
Li Xi sat on his horse, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he said to Xinis, "Xinis, are there any magical beasts that act in groups around here?"
Xinis looked at Li Xi in surprise, "No, why do you ask?"
Li Xi pointed to a distant hillside, "There are at least over five hundred of them there."
Xinis looked in the direction Li Xi pointed, and his face changed greatly, "Those are not magical beasts, they are bandits."
Then he spurred his horse and ran towards the front of the caravan, shouting, "Stop, stop!"
When Xinis mentioned bandits, Li Xi remembered that there were many missions about bandits in the mercenary hall, but they were all small E-class missions. Li Xi had never paid them any mind. He didn't expect to encounter them this time.
The caravan stopped because of Xinis's shouting. Li Xi saw Xinis and Robert talking to Tychi for a while. The leading carts began to spread out to the sides, connecting the wooden boards behind the carts to form a defensive line. A few agile mercenaries stealthily moved towards the direction Li Xi pointed.
The caravan's accompanying personnel began to take out their weapons and armor and deployed along the defensive formation of the caravan. Even the itinerant merchants were fearless and took out their weapons, ready to fight.
Before long, the mercenaries who had gone to scout galloped back, followed by a dense mass of bandits. It was unclear whether the scouts had alerted the bandits, or if the caravan's halt and defensive posture had alerted the bandits, causing them to abandon their stealth and attack desperately.
Li Xi widened his gaze and clearly saw the bandits in this alien world. They were a group of well-equipped bandits, advancing and retreating in an orderly fashion, supporting each other. Although their horses were not as good as Li Xi's, they were all warhorses. They looked like regular soldiers, completely different from the scattered rabble Li Xi had imagined.
Looking at the thin defensive line in front, Li Xi looked at the Black Tiger Mercenary Group members beside him, "You guys go too, I'll handle the rear."
They naturally knew Li Xi's capabilities. With him here, no matter how many bandits came, they couldn't break through to the caravan from the rear.
"Then we'll trouble you, Brother Li Xi."
"Hurry up and go."
The bandits' overall actions were intimidating, but their individual strength was not strong. Most of them were Rank 1. The ranks of Rank 2 and Rank 3 were severely lacking, with very few people. The highest was a bandit leader of Rank 4. With the Black Tiger and White Lion mercenary groups present, the caravan was basically out of danger.
The situation was as Li Xi expected. Before the bandits even got close to the caravan, Xinis and Tychi slid down from the air and landed in the bandit group. Their two great swords cut down many, and within moments, ten people fell beneath their swords.
It was indeed bullying to have Rank 4 fighters against Rank 1 and Rank 2. It was like cutting through melons and vegetables. As the bandits got closer, the archers in the caravan began to shoot. Most of these archers were ordinary people from the caravan, but the two mercenary groups combined had six archers of Rank 2 or higher. Their arrows flew fast and accurately. For every arrow an ordinary person shot, they could shoot four or five arrows, and every arrow hit its mark. In terms of killing speed, they were not much slower than Xinis and the others.
By the time the bandits truly approached the caravan's formation, they had already lost about a tenth of their manpower. Coupled with the carriages, which were more than a person high, and the spears protruding from the middle, the caravan was like a hedgehog that couldn't be attacked.
The bandit leader saw that the situation was not good and that it was a tough bone. He waved his hand and led his men to turn and flee.
Xinis and the others, mindful of the caravan's safety, did not pursue them. They sent people to clean up the battlefield and returned to the caravan.
The danger passed, and Li Xi rode his horse to the front. He heard Tychi's booming voice, "I killed seventeen bandits. Xinis, I counted yours, and it seems to be one less than mine. You lost to me again, hahaha."