Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?-Chapter 311 - 109: Finding Fault
Chapter 311: Chapter 109: Finding Fault
"Our price isn’t cheap," Alfred said.
"Price is not a problem," the other party responded, "but the target is quite tricky. We need the strongest Transcendent in Innsbruck City."
"Then you have no other choice," Alfred said coldly, "because the strongest ones are all here."
Indeed, this was the truth. After receiving the Earl’s favor and becoming the Viscount of Innsbruck, his first action was to pay tribute within the city—he challenged every well-known and named Transcendent in Innsbruck territory, regardless of whether they were mercenaries or in some other profession.
He managed to establish prestige through sheer strength, and Alfred then gathered the strongest dozen Transcendents to join the City Guard, assembling his own trusted team.
In other words, even in front of the Earl of Innsbruck, Alfred could confidently proclaim that the strongest Transcendents in the entire territory were all under his command.
The person on the other side seemed to have heard of the formidable reputation of Alfred’s Transcendent squad. After a moment of thought, they said:
"I don’t quite understand how to compare the strength of Transcendents. But if your squad really is the strongest in the whole of Innsbruck, then of course we will not be stingy with the corresponding reward."
"Hmph," Alfred scoffed, showing disdain for the question.
After preliminarily agreeing on the reward and advance payment, the employer led Alfred’s team through the tunnels towards the Quarantine Zone.
"This time, the ones you need to deal with are actually from the Hospital Knight Order."
"The Hospital Knight Order?" Alfred had some understanding of them. They originated during the previous Crusades, a group of armed doctors, or knights skilled in healing—either description was apt.
These people were consecrated by the Church Court, so most countries and lords didn’t dare to touch them for fear of offending the Church Court and causing trouble. However, now that Emperor Divine Luo had openly confronted the Pope and Bavaria had confirmed its allegiance to the Emperor, dealing with a member of a Church-certified Knight Order was no longer a significant issue.
Not to mention that, based on the employer’s information, these people didn’t all appear to be knights judging by their equipment, and their numbers were less than ten—in all likelihood a charity organization affiliated with the Hospital Knight Order.
Alfred had no particular opinion on charitable medical aid. It was admirable for them to willingly save people without payment, but that was all. Business is business, though; since you’re obstructing my employer’s money-making, we’ll have to teach you a lesson.
Considering they had no prior grudges, it would be ideal to avoid the use of force. First, he would try to scare them off with his official status, and if that didn’t work, they would find another way.
After all, this was also Innsbruck territory, which had its own rules. No matter whether you’re a Hospital Knight or a Temple Knight, even a strong dragon won’t crush a local snake.
Upon arriving at the scene with the employer, Alfred realized there were quite a lot of people; one might even say it was unprecedented, with a line stretching from one end of the street to the other, then winding back around in a loop.
However, that was of no concern. They were just ordinary sick people—what could public outrage do, anyway?
He darkened his expression to a serious and stern look and directed his subordinates to push aside the sick blocking the path, while he carried himself with poise, proceeding slowly and deliberately.
"Who allowed you to set up here?" he raised his voice to ask.
He aimed for an early advantage with imposing momentum. By pulling out his official title, indeed, the surrounding crowd began to disperse.
"Where’s your health inspection certificate? Medical practice license? Drug safety permit? Have you registered with the officials? I’ve heard you are members of the Hospital Knight Order—do you have any identity documents issued by the Church Court? Nothing at all, and you come to Innsbruck to deceive people—aren’t you too bold, hmm?!"
Alfred skillfully recited a string of official jargon, locking eyes with the nearest staff member, who turned out to be Eleanor, dispatched to maintain order.
Their gazes met in mid-air, both expressions experiencing a momentary lapse.
"Oh no! Posing as the Hospital Knight Order, and we run into someone who knows our identities!" Eleanor thought to herself, apprehensively.
"It’s over! Why did it have to be that mercenary group? And it’s none other than Her Highness Eleanor of the Weisbach family!" Alfred’s expression was equally stiff.
The two fell silent, and the surrounding crowd also stood in silence. After a moment, Eleanor awkwardly broke into a forced laugh:
"So, we need to make a report, do we?"
"Uh, yes," Alfred’s mind raced, quickly devising a plan for self-preservation—if he truly offended Her Highness, and the news reached the ears of the Innsbruck Earl, his future as a noble would be doomed.
"Of course, we must file a report, we are just doing our jobs," he said with a forced laugh, trying to relieve the awkwardness on his face.
The bosses who were following him felt relieved upon hearing this.
They were used to being black market merchants and knew that those ruffians who became fierce on sight were mostly bluster more than bite, pretending bravado but actually timid and easily intimidated;
But people like Alfred with both background and power, when they really took an impartial and businesslike attitude, could thoroughly devour their opponent without spitting out any bones and leave no fault to be found in the process—this was the true mark of a master measurer of men.
This time they had definitely found the right person.
"So, do we need to fill out any forms?" Eleanor asked with difficulty.
"No need," Alfred said, "Let me take a look first."
He was going to personally smash up the stalls! The bosses exchanged silent glances behind him. Ruthless, truly ruthless.
Alfred led his men forward, and the plague sufferers around them parted in fear to either side.
Sigrdrifa silently reached for the axe handle, but Aske held her back.
"We’re not here to make trouble," he whispered. After all, the Intuition Sequence had given no warning, and Medea was silent.
Reaching the stall, Nora and Peggy were seated behind the long table and recognized the guy in front of them, the City Guard Captain who had lost 1000 silver marks before, making them a bit nervous.
The latter silently reached for the Hot Melt Blade leaning against the wall, which Nora restrained.
"Wait for the Squad Leader’s command," she whispered. After all, the Squad Leader had not spoken yet.
"What’s the matter?" Medea walked over from the side.
Seeing the red-haired Mind Mage who could read minds, Alfred felt somewhat uneasy, and quickly concentrated, starting to meditate in his mind:
"I was patrolling the city today and received a report saying you were practicing medicine without a license, so I came to see what was going on... "
He fixated on replaying this sentence over and over in his mind, not knowing if the other party had read his thoughts or not, only to see the beautiful redhead curling the corners of her lips:
"Are you here for an inspection?"
"Yes," Alfred said, "Do you have a medical practice license?"
"We do," Medea smiled.
"Where’s the license?" a boss behind them demanded sharply, "Show it to us!"
"Shut up!" Alfred suddenly turned and yelled, startling the bosses into a shiver, leaving them with puzzled and aggrieved expressions.
"I didn’t bring the certificate," Medea said with a smile, "Should I go back and get it?"
"No, that won’t be necessary," Alfred said sternly, "Just remember to file a follow-up report at the castle."
He left briskly with his subordinates, leaving a bunch of disoriented black market pharmacy owners standing in the wind.
"What about you guys?" Medea grinned, "Are you all here as patients in need of treatment?"
"No, no," the bosses hastened to turn and leave.
"If you’re not patients, try not to roam around," Medea shouted after them, while initiating her Desire Manipulation ability, "There are a lot of sick people here, be careful of getting infected!"
The bosses immediately felt a tickle in their throats and their faces turned as pale as death, too scared to pretend otherwise, they hurriedly picked up pace and sprinted away.
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