PS: The second update! Please vote!

This group is naturally the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps who once took on tasks together with Laine and Teresa in Nord.

Boris is a very common name in the Empire; from the great nobles to the common folk, many people are named Boris. For example, typical Imperial names like "Mueller," "Thomas," "Miller," and "Klaus." Calling out these names in a village might have dozens of people respond.

Boris is such a name. Historically, even an Emperor of the Empire was named Boris, so it's common for the Captain of the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps, Boris, to share a name with the White Wolf Prince-Elector Boris Todbringer.

Seeing this, Laine chatted with Boris. Times have changed, and the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps knows that Laine's status is not what it used to be, so they are now very respectful when talking to him, even too intimidated to meet his eyes directly.

The Blood Axe Mercenary Corps is not doing very well lately.

After a series of events six years ago, the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps suffered heavy losses, with the mercenary group dwindling from dozens to just a dozen members. In addition, they were tricked by Great Alchemist Geld, pushing them to the brink.

In the end, Amelia "sold herself" to Laine to help them through the difficult times.

Later, the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps worked twice for Geld, earning a little money, while Captain Boris recovered from his injuries in Frost City and sold off the headquarters there, choosing to relocate to the Empire's southern region where he saw more opportunities, as the residents were wealthier. They hoped the severely weakened Blood Axe Mercenary Corps might gain some opportunities.

After spending two or three years, Boris and Viert rebuilt the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps, restoring it to about forty members. With connections to the Imperial Royal Wizard Academy, the mercenary group now mainly operates in the Imperial Rick Territory, sustaining themselves by taking on tasks.

The Empire's southern region is rich and densely populated, so both residents and nobles like to use mercenaries or engage the Church to handle security issues outside the cities. Initially, through Geld's connections, the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps took on a few tasks and earned some money. However, as Geld's power surged, he began to overlook Boris and his group, leading the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps to accept contracts from the Rick Territory's nobility, combating bandits and small Beastman tribes.

"Laine knows this group of mercenaries?" Emperor Carl Franz asked Surya.

"Yes, six years ago, when Laine set out from the Nord Royal Capital to pursue the Fallen Hunter Belte, he acted together with Jialan Witch Miss Teresa, who had hired the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps at that time," the female knight elegantly introduced, being very polite in her explanation.

Recently, a knight known as Kaled set out from the Rick Territory on his Holy Grail Expedition, invoking the name of the Lake God. Riding with a blessed Divine Sword "Durandal" and mounted on a pure-blood Elf warhorse "Galipa," he roamed the Rick Territory's lands asking locals where he might find evil.

In a month, Kaled accumulated victories over two Cyclops, five Giant Demons, one Beastman Beast King, one Beastman Warband, one Dark Night Goblin Shaman, one Zombie Dragon in the Gray Mountain Range, one Mad Talk Beast, and one Four-armed Bull Demon in Rickward Forest. Then, the Expedition Knight left with a large bag of reward gold coins, leaving only his legend within Rick Territory.

"Lord Kaled is a close friend of Laine and me. After attending our wedding, he began his Holy Grail Expedition," Surya said graciously, showing a smile to the Emperor. "I'm delighted to hear news of him; he has always been a loyal follower of the Lady."

"Lord Kaled is truly brave and tenacious. After hearing of his deeds, I wished to meet him, but Lord Kaled politely declined and headed southwest." Emperor Carl Franz expressed some regret.

The personal martial valor of Brittania Knights is really strong. Laine is like that, and so is Kaled. In small battles or conflicts, Holy Grail Knights often resolve issues single-handedly. Even in large-scale wars, led by them, knights exhibit fighting strength of a different level.

It's widely known how powerful the charge of the knight group is. Many times, the strength of their charge depends on the first knight leading it. As long as the knight at the spearhead of the lance formation is strong and fearless, the knights following naturally dare to charge forward without fear.

(8 said, CHARGE!)

In the Empire, there are few such powerful warriors. When Emperor Carl Franz leads a charge, especially, he can feel the disparity; it's also the main reason Imperial Knights are not as strong as Brittania Kingdom Knights.

After chatting with Boris for a while, Laine casually asked, "Captain Boris, are you planning to take on jobs now? Isn't the Winter Festival coming soon?"

"Ah, speaking of it, it really is unfortunate, Lord Laine. Not to hide from you, the mercenary group is facing some difficulties," the Mercenary Leader sighed. "Recently, Rick Territory welcomed an Expedition Knight named Kaled, who took on many tasks and was unbelievably strong. The mercenaries' many jobs went to him, tightening our finances. We decided to take on one more job before the Winter Festival, but we encountered these unscrupulous merchants who ruthlessly undercut prices."

Laine secretly chuckled after hearing this. Expedition Knights indeed disturb the market operations, for Expedition Knights tackle various bounties and notices not to earn money, but to simply cover living expenses during their Holy Grail Expedition.

Put bluntly, even if Expedition Knights had great appetites, how much would living costs and repairing equipment require?

It's the mercenaries who suffer. After Kaled left Rick Territory, it's the mercenaries who faced hardship; the nobles and merchants seized the chance to cut prices madly, making tasks scarce and turning a buying market into a seller's one. The Blood Axe Mercenary Corps had to come out and take jobs, and from what the Mercenary Leader said, they were not celebrating the Winter Festival.

A bit miserable, thought Laine, realizing this as a consequence from Teresa's misfortunes imposed on the Blood Axe Mercenary Corps. Laine considered offering some help within his ability, but remembering they were in the Empire, not Brittania, he had to smile wryly and shake his head: "I must go now; till we meet again."

"No worries, Lord Laine, attend to your affairs." Captain Boris, noticing the Rick Guard and Emperor of the Empire behind him, quickly nodded ingratiatingly: "Not a problem at all."

Upon leaving the Mercenary Guild, Emperor Carl Franz commented with interest: "You actually know that group of mercenaries. In Rick Territory, there might be a thousand mercenary groups like that, just as you came to visit Rick Territory, you happened to meet them—it's the blessing of the Goddess of Fortune."

"No, actually, meeting me and Teresa is the worst luck for that mercenary group," Laine repeatedly shook his head. "Back when we pursued the Fallen Hunter, my partner, Jialan Witch Teresa, hired them, and the outcome brought them a terrible disaster, leaving only a dozen survivors from the entire mercenary group."

"At times, fortune is disaster; if impossible to grasp yet pursued forcefully, a precious chance may be a call to ruin," Emperor Carl Franz paused, turning his gaze toward the gloomy sky.

"..." Laine and Surya sensed hidden meaning in the Emperor's words.

"Tell me, Laine, from a human's perspective, is Lord Tygris's arrival a valuable opportunity for the Empire, or an ominous disaster?"

"Well..."