In the Orlando Mountains under the cover of night, danger lurked at every turn, with the faint glow of wild beasts' eyes flickering in the darkness and the occasional eerie cries of birds sending shivers down one's spine.

The Blue Siren Mercenary Group did not light any torches. The mercenaries, carrying their spoils and a group of young beasts, groped their way through the mountain in darkness.

Their journey was fraught with difficulty, with treacherous paths in the dark leading to frequent falls among the mercenaries, and large wild beasts occasionally launching surprise attacks.

However, beasts that attempted to approach the group were quickly dispatched by arrows shot from the darkness. Those that managed to get close were instantly consumed by Adeline's flames.

After nearly an entire night of continuous movement, the group stopped for the first time at dawn for a rest.

Even so, the stop was forced upon them as the captured young orcs could no longer move, despite how much the mercenaries whipped them.

All the orcs had collapsed on the ground, and only after setting up a simple watch did the mercenaries take turns resting.

Arthur observed the mercenaries' actions silently along the way, some of which he couldn't understand, yet he made a point to remember them.

The exhaustion from the battle and the overnight trek quickly sent the mercenaries into deep sleep, even those on watch duty couldn't help but nod off, convinced that the danger had passed with the break of dawn.

Unknown how much time had passed, the mercenaries were awakened by a scream. They instantly grabbed their weapons, ready for combat.

"Tony, what the hell are you howling about?" Cain yawned as he sat up.

"Boss, the little lion has escaped!"

"How did it escape? Didn't I tell you to tie it up tight?"

"Look at the cut marks on the rope. Someone rescued him!" Tony showed Cain the neatly cut pieces of rope.

Cain frowned slightly, "Did any other young beasts escape?"

"No, just that little lion."

"Let it be then. We'll rest a bit more and then continue on. Best to leave this place before it gets dark again."

"Ah!" Tony's jaw nearly dropped, "Boss, how can we just let it be? That little lion was our biggest catch this time! Plus, I suspect there's a traitor among us. No one else could have bypassed our guard so easily." Tony's gaze shifted towards Arthur.

Cain waved his hand dismissively, "No need to investigate. The little lion's escape might actually be a good thing."

"A good thing?" Tony scratched his head in confusion.

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"Didn't you notice the color of his battle aura? That was the 'Sunfire Gold,' a top-tier battle aura of the Golden Lion clan, and only those eligible for succession in their family can cultivate it. The Golden Lions are one of the most powerful clans among the orcs, with their influence spreading even into human territories. What do you think they would do if they found out their heir was being sold as a slave to humans?" Cain's seemingly calm tone carried a heavy implication.

Tony, Angus, and the surrounding mercenaries all gasped, realizing this could lead to another war between humans and orcs.

Cain gave Arthur a meaningful wink, which was met with a polite smile from Arthur.

...

Three days later, the Blue Siren Mercenary Group emerged from the Orlando Mountains, everyone breathing a sigh of relief.

Arthur suddenly noticed an additional person in the group. It was a slender, handsome man with a large bow wrapped in green vines and engraved with beautiful patterns. His pointed ears peeking through his smooth golden hair revealed his elven heritage.

He was the archer who had been hidden in the shadows.

Although humans and elves were not enemies like the orcs, elves rarely ventured into human lands, and humans were not allowed into elven territories. Arthur was very curious about how this elf named Ilaya became a member of the Blue Siren Mercenaries.

Seeing Arthur staring, the elf Ilaya nodded and smiled at him, his every move exuding an elf's politeness and elegance.

Two days later, a towering city appeared before them.

The city walls, made of gray basalt, stood twenty meters high, with watchtowers rising seven or eight meters and giant ballistae mounted between the crenellations. Soldiers armed with weapons patrolled the walls.

The city gate's drawbridge lay flat on the ground, with a long queue forming at the huge arched entrance as a team of soldiers meticulously checked those entering and leaving.

This was Huoalesi City, the headquarters of the Blue Siren Mercenary Group, located on the border of the human kingdom of Isaac.

Huoalesi served as the first line of defense against orc invasions. The city had fallen and been reclaimed multiple times throughout history, with the scars of battle and dark brown bloodstains on the walls serving as a testament to its turbulent past. Thus, even in times of peace, the city's defenses were never relaxed, with a reinforced guard of five thousand stationed within.

Staring at the massive city, Arthur was awestruck. From his small village to the orcs' dilapidated camp, this was the first time he had seen such grand and majestic architecture.

The mercenary group did not queue; led by Cain, they headed straight for the city gate.

"Captain Cain, you've made quite the haul this time, haven't you?" The gate captain, clearly familiar with Cain, greeted him warmly without any inspection.

"Luck was on our side, caught a few orc cubs, enough for a round of drinks for the brothers." Cain casually tossed a few gold coins to the lead captain, earning compliments from the gate soldiers.

Mercenaries held a status second only to nobles and merchants within the kingdoms. Due to their duty to assist in defending the cities during wartime, all cities welcomed the presence of mercenary groups, especially the large ones. An A-grade mercenary group's strength could even surpass that of a human army's division.

As the largest city on the border, Huoalesi thrived in peacetime. The Orlando Mountains offered abundant resources, from rare ores to precious herbs and magical beast materials, with even smuggled goods from the orc wastelands available in large quantities. The streets were lined with apothecaries, weapon shops, and trading houses, bustling with activity.

Arthur, who had never seen so many people, was dazzled by everything around him.

The presence of the young beasts attracted much attention, with bold children even throwing stones and spitting at them. The conflict between humans and orcs was deeply ingrained, passed down from generation to generation.

In a corner of the southern part of Huoalesi City, a huge courtyard enclosed by bluestone walls stood before them, guarded by a large, fat man.

The fat man, with a stern face and layers of fat, sported a protruding belly like a small hill. He had only one arm, with the other sleeve cut off at the shoulder.

As the group approached, the fat man stepped forward to greet them, his face breaking into a smile, "Brothers, welcome home!"