Looking at the brightly lit manor, Caius chuckled.

  "Quite the lively scene, huh."

  Zachary’s estate was enormous—just the courtyard alone was larger than a football field. At the moment, it was filled with long banquet tables and delicacies, meticulously decorated, with a live band playing music to liven the mood.

  Mercenaries and bounty hunters gathered in groups, some drinking and chatting, others dancing to the rhythm, a picture of merriment.

  After presenting their mercenary ID cards and stating their intentions, the manor guards didn’t give Caius and Kiki any trouble, letting them through without a hitch.

  It was clear that anyone willing to participate in this operation was welcome to join the party.

  And when Caius entered with Kiki in tow, many eyes were immediately drawn to them.

  This time, it wasn’t just his towering physique catching people’s attention.

  It was his reputation.

  “Look at that big guy—that’s Caius!”

  “The new mercenary?”

  “He single-handedly wiped out the Serpent Gang!”

  “No way, seriously?”

  “Of course it’s real! Didn’t you see how Sean from the Crab Gang acts around him? Like a dog seeing its master.”

  “Then this guy must be at least Platinum-ranked, right?”

  “Not sure, but I heard he’s Gold…”

  “No chance. A Gold-rank couldn’t possibly eliminate the Serpent Gang. I’m betting he’s Platinum, or that whole thing is just a rumor.”

  Caius listened to the gossip swirling among the mercenaries without the slightest concern. He walked up to a long table, grabbed a bottle of wine, and took a hearty swig.

  Even though he’d just eaten, his appetite was far from satisfied. His stomach had room for more, and he wasn’t about to waste this opportunity.

  Soon, he ran into someone familiar.

  “Big bro, you’re here too?”

  Hearing that, Caius looked up to see Sean standing in front of him, grinning from ear to ear. Two of his underlings stood beside him, nodding and bowing respectfully toward Caius, showing a noticeably humble demeanor.

  Caius raised an eyebrow. “You here to pitch in too?”

  “Yeah, Baron Zachary’s commission is paying well. I brought a dozen or so of the boys along.”

  “If there weren’t tier restrictions, I’d have brought all two hundred of them.”

  The Crab Gang had now grown to over 250 members. After absorbing the Serpent Gang’s assets, they had expanded rapidly, drawing in many young and able-bodied men.

  One could even say Sean was more influential now than ever before.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Of course, he knew exactly who was responsible for all this. That’s why he dared not put on airs in front of Caius.

  And with a gang that big, the number of mouths to feed had grown too. Though they’d taken over the Serpent Gang’s businesses, those still needed time to generate profit. So here he was, leading his boys to pick up work and earn some quick cash.

  If they could survive the growth phase, the Crab Gang had a real shot at becoming the sole dominant gang in the outer city of Ocean City.

  He might even earn the right to move into the inner city, standing shoulder to shoulder with major factions like the Wargs Gang.

  “That so,” Caius nodded. “Go have fun. Don’t mind me, I’m just here to enjoy the scene.”

  “Hehe, got it. If you need anything, just say the word.”

  “I will. Off you go.” Caius waved him off, indicating he wanted to drink in peace.

  He then picked up another bottle of wine and a plate of pastries, leaned against a tree, and began drinking, snacking, and observing the crowd.

  He was looking for his mission target—Okot.

  He’d seen the man’s portrait in the Wargs Gang’s files, but hadn’t spotted him yet.

  No matter. He’d drink first.

  Kiki, meanwhile, was darting around the estate, peeking here and there. She’d never been in such a luxurious manor before and was bursting with curiosity. Plus, the food was incredible—and every table offered different dishes. She had to sample them all.

  Such a little glutton.

  Caius didn’t mind. She was still within his line of sight, and with him around, no one would dare lay a finger on the little Catgirl.

  That was the advantage of fame as a mercenary.

  There was another benefit too.

  Just by standing there drinking and nibbling on snacks, Caius attracted a crowd of people wanting to talk.

  Most were just trying to make friends, though a few were there to offer commissions.

  Given the sheer number of mercenaries and bounty hunters—at least five to six hundred by rough count—some of Ocean City’s smaller middlemen had slipped in, looking to network or hand out tasks.

  Mercenaries and bounty hunters welcomed this kind of interaction. After all, who would turn down a job delivered to their doorstep?

  Caius would, though. These middlemen didn’t have anything big to offer—nothing above Gold rank. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be stuck scraping up business at a party like this.

  Still, Caius didn’t outright reject them. He turned them down with a few lighthearted jokes.

  These minor middlemen may not be much now, but they were nimble, adaptable, and often better informed than the brokers at mercenary taverns. He knew better than to burn bridges.

  As a result, Caius came off as warm and approachable. Everyone who chatted with him got at least a few lines in, maybe shared a tall tale or two, and soon he was blending in seamlessly with a crowd of mercenaries and bounty hunters.

  That, in turn, made Caius a little frustrated.

  He’d just wanted a quiet drink and some snacks—how did he end up the center of attention again?

  Ah, this damned charm of his.

  Before long, the party reached its midpoint—and that’s when the manor’s host appeared.

  A dashing middle-aged man in a top hat.

  He was accompanied by a noble lady, a few attendants, and a young woman.

  Caius recognized that girl immediately—after all, half of her teeth were broken by him.

  That’s right. It was Manasa.

  But the current Manasa bore no trace of the pitiful state she’d been in before.

  She wore an elegant evening gown, held her chin high, and her face—free from swelling or bruises—had a seductive charm to it.

  Caius was genuinely surprised—were Ocean City’s healers really that good?

  The damage he caused shouldn't have healed in just a few months. She shouldn't even be able to chew.

  But now, her smile revealed pristine, white teeth, as if nothing had ever happened.

  He almost thought he’d imagined the whole thing.

  Of course, he knew better—this was Magic.

  Baron Zachary was wealthy enough to hire a mage to heal his daughter. Given that, a recovery like this in a few days was entirely possible.

  After saying a few words to win hearts and minds, Baron Zachary began making rounds with a wine glass in hand, chatting with all the notable mercenaries and bounty hunters, exuding a friendly air.

  But Caius remained unimpressed.

  Why hold the party outside in the courtyard, despite the manor’s size? Because of the crowd?

  Hardly. The truth was, nobles like him still looked down on mercenaries and bounty hunters from the bottom of their hearts.

  This whole act was just for show. And sure enough, when less-famous mercenaries tried to toast the baron, he simply ignored them.

  So yeah—this was all a performance. No reason to take it seriously.

  Still, Caius was pleasantly surprised to spot—Okot—standing right beside Baron Zachary.

  No wonder he hadn’t seen him before. He’d been at the baron’s side the entire time.

  Seemed like their relationship was closer than expected.

  Or, perhaps, it was because Okot was one of the few Platinum-ranked individuals present.