The journey was long, and Dongdong slept deeply along the way, while Su Mo habitually stayed alert, fully awake throughout.
It wasn't until the Rusted Wall of New Moon City appeared at the horizon's end, when familiar scenes jumped into view, that his nerves slowly began to ease.
Passing through the Rusted Wall Inspection Station, Su Mo took Dongdong back ho.
It was midday, KK was wearing an apron and preparing lunch. Hearing the knock on the door, he ran to open it: "Big brother and Dongdong are back?"
The mont he opened the door, he saw Su Mo covered in dirt, along with Dongdong, missing an arm, and KK was shocked to the point of speechlessness: "My God! What happened to you?! Future! Future, co quickly!"
Future yawned as she walked out of the kitchen: "I'm coming, I'm coming, don't yell, what's gotten you so agitated."
She looked at Su Mo and Dongdong, and was also taken aback: "My God! What happened to you?"
For a mont, Su Mo was at a loss for where to start: "Uh, it's a long story, I'll shower and change first. Future, can you check Dongdong's body? Iron Blood did a preliminary treatnt, but I'm not confident, could you check again?"
Dongdong went to the basent with Future.
After showering, Su Mo walked into the basent and asked: "How is it?"
Future: "Everything is fine, the treatnt was very professional, no issues."
Dongdong lay on the dical bed, looking at the severed arm, sighed: "Ugh, it was just fitted a few days ago, and now I'm a one-ard hero again, it's really frustrating..."
Su Mo laughed and said: "Out with the old, in with the new, you'll soon have sothing better as a replacent."
Not long after he spoke, the phone rang.
Su Mo glanced at the contact on the screen and smiled: "Look, here it cos."
He cleared his throat and picked up the phone, deliberately speaking sarcastically: "Hey there, isn't this the legendary Old D!"
"Seeing your call makes so happy! When I was getting pumled by the chanical Ferocious Beast at TL730, I thought I'd never see you again~"
On the other side, Dress toned down his usual flamboyant manner, apologetically saying: "Old Su, I'm really sorry, I never thought things would turn out like this..."
"I originally thought it was just a regular exploration mission, at most dealing with so wild beasts from the Land of No Master, who knew the Black Domain Group would get involved..."
Su Mo stopped the sarcasm and addressed the matter: "So what's the follow-up?"
Dress replied quickly: "Your commission will be settled normally, Iron Blood also asked to convey their thanks to you."
Su Mo said displeased: "Don't give this useless gratitude, can gratitude be eaten? Let them give so tangible benefits."
Dress: "Uh... they should prepare a bonus for you, about 50,000 moon coins."
Su Mo was furious: "50,000? Is that for beggars?! I can earn more than 50,000 from a fight for Lady Countess!"
Dress tried to soothe: "Old Su, calm down, such large corporations have procedures, their initial budget only covered this much, there was no way to exceed it."
"That 50,000 is even coming out of the project leader's own pocket. Money is money, after all, isn't it? And you should be happy, because you made owe you a huge favor!"
Su Mo: "Oh? How's that?"
Dress: "You have no idea, when those exploration teams went completely missing, Iron Blood directly sent people to my house to cause trouble!"
"They thought I was collaborating with others to trap Iron Blood! I really had no way to explain it, there was nowhere to cry..."
"Now it's fine, you captured a traitor and brought back intel, Iron Blood stops bothering , my reputation is preserved, I won't socially die in the rcenary Realm, I can continue being a middleman. It's all thanks to you~"
This wasn't just Dress exaggerating; it was actually true.
In the rcenary Realm, the existence of a "middleman" is quite unique.
Theoretically, as long as the price is agreed upon, rcenaries can connect directly with employers for missions, no need for a middleman.
However, direct mission connections are extrely risky.
Due to rcenaries' information channels, it's tough to discern if the employer is reliable.
The reverse is also true for the employer.
In the early days of the rcenary industry when the middleman role hadn't yet erged, it was common for employers not to pay afterward, or rcenaries to abscond after getting the deposit, deceit, fraud, and sitting on inflated prices.
The existence of middlen is to prevent these chaos, leveraging their reputations to recruit good rcenaries for employers and good employers for rcenaries.
Reputation is a middleman's most valuable asset.
This ti, all other exploration teams were wiped out with no intel returned.
If the TL730 exploration team had also been wiped out without Su Mo's valuable intel, Iron Blood Alliance might indeed suspect Dress of foul play.
If that happened, forget about establishing oneself in the rcenary Realm, if unable to explain, Iron Blood could easily make Dress vanish.
So, it's no exaggeration to say Su Mo saved Dress's life this ti.
Su Mo languidly and deliberately appeared indifferent: "Old D, your favor is that valuable?"
Dress seriously said: "Of course! Absolutely! Haven't you heard the saying—in New Moon City, the happiest thing is having Old D owe you a favor, because he'll help you with anything."
"I'm serious, Old Su, if you ever need help, just call , as long as it's within my abilities, I'll do my best to assist you."
Su Mo was waiting for this, his tone relaxed: "Alright, then let's leave the unpleasant things behind. I don't need help now, but surely will in the future, just don't forget your promise."
Dress's mood turned joyful: "Aha! I knew Old Su was a generous person! Don't worry, I never go back on my word."
Su Mo: "By the way, don't forget to handle Sun Min's posthumous affairs, they died for Iron Blood, so at the very least, return their bodies for the families to bury properly."
Dress seed puzzled: "Hm? Sun Min? Which Sun Min?"
Su Mo said helplessly: "The Thunderclap rcenary Corps who went with this ti."
Dress then rembered, indifferently said: "Oh oh oh, them. The posthumous affairs aren't my responsibility, body recovery and death benefits will be handled by Iron Blood Association, there's a standard procedure for this, you don't need to worry."
Upon hearing this, Su Mo couldn't help but sigh.
A few days ago, they were all drinking together, laughing and talking.
Now, they've been completely forgotten.
This is Dress; his reputation and fa are real, yet he's soone disingenuous inside and out.
Dress, the streetwise, and Audiana, a noble-born, are two extres.
Audiana's attitude towards soone is entirely reflected in her actions.
For those she doesn't value, she'll appear cold and disinterested, reluctant to say much.
Send her a ssage of hundreds or thousands of words, and she'd reply hours later with a single "Hmm" or "Oh".
But for those she values, like Su Mo, she'll reply instantly to any ssage, always paying attention, often offering advice and suggestions.
Your status in Lady Countess's mind is evident, she won't act for show nor does she care to.
Dress is the opposite; always with a welcoming smile, outwardly kind to all.
Yet you never truly know what he thinks of you inside.
You think he invites you for drinks, all smiles and calling you "old X" as if you're brothers?
It's just his professional habit, treating everyone this way.
When he needs you, you're a good brother.
If you die and are of no use, then sorry, we're not acquainted.
Su Mo has no doubt that if he had died at TL730, if soone asked Dress, he'd likely say: "Su Mo? Which Su Mo?"
For people like this, the best way is to both trust and be wary.
Setting aside the hypocrisy, Dress is indeed an excellent middleman, with formidable business skills.
As long as there are mutual benefits, calling each other brothers isn't impossible, associating as needed without moral purity.
Yet, one should never open up to soone like him.
Sincerity and true feelings should be reserved for soone like Audiana.
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