Chapter 9: Sophien Yuliken

Mann approached the puppet whose body had been largely blown away. With trembling hands, he reached out for that discomforting mask.

A somewhat rancid smell entered his nostrils. After hesitating for a moment, he still removed the mask.

It was a face stitched together from the fur of various animals; its original features were unrecognizable.

The limbs were also of varying lengths. Without a doubt, this was also a stitched puppet.

However, on closer inspection, it seemed extremely careless, showing a visible gap compared to the puppet he had first seen.

“Sir, is there anything else you need?”

Mann looked back. Two Griffin mercenaries were carrying a stretcher, staring at him with strange looks.

‘Damn it. These two will definitely think I’m a pervert…’

“Uh… sorry.”

Mann tactfully stepped aside, but the unease in his heart grew stronger.

‘I wonder if Father received my warning…’

Thinking of Viscount Matthews, Mann couldn’t help recalling past memories.

‘Looking back now, if Father hadn’t stood up for me, I, as a bastard son, would probably have been thrown out long ago. Even though he rarely spoke to me, he always tried his best to fulfill my requests.’

He wanted to be a good father, but his position didn’t allow it.

Not long after the original owner died, he was framed for colluding with the Evil God Cult. The viscount, who had campaigned far and wide, eventually became a prisoner.

‘Ah, he’s a pitiful man too.’

click clack A sound of metal rubbing against metal interrupted Mann’s thoughts.

The visitor was fully armored Sophien.

“Sir Mann Matthews, please come with me.”

Soon, the two arrived at a simple tent.

Sophien casually set up a barrier that isolated them from the outside.

Then, the pure white armor on her body began to gather, contracting layer by layer like scales.

Finally, it formed the shape of a white dragon before slowly sinking into her fair right arm.

Mann roughly appraised Sophien, looking at this woman who was about the same height as him.

A neat silver ponytail hung down to her waist. Her blue-and-white form-fitting outfit looked extremely capable, while also outlining attractive curves.

Her eyes were sharp and lively; crimson pupils dotted her somewhat delicate face, giving her an inexplicable air of authority.

However, her appearance was not that of a princess—she must have used magic to conceal it, though he didn’t plan to expose that.

She smiled and extended her hand to Mann.

“Pleasure to meet you, Messenger of the God of Time. I am the leader of the Griffin Mercenary Corps, and also the messenger of the Pale Dragon God Polutini. Just call me Sophien.”

“Mann Matthews. Pleasure to meet you.”

Mann thought to himself, becoming more cautious around Sophien.

‘In the original novel, the Pale Dragon God also represents absolute power. In terms of combat strength alone, it is the strongest among the four gods. The endless magical power also matches her exaggerated performance.’

“Now it seems you deliberately lured us over here, didn’t you?”

The tone sounded somewhat accusatory.

“Yet because of that, we achieved these results, isn’t that right?”

“Yes, indeed.” Sophien neither confirmed nor denied.

“But I still want more information. After all, you are the Messenger of the God of Time. You should be able to see parts of the future.”

“Haha, I’m sorry to disappoint you. My god has a twisted sense of humor—he only shows me the scene of my own death.” As Mann said this, he helplessly spread his hands.

“But I can make some guesses based on the available information.”

“Oh? That sounds interesting. Why don’t you share your guess?”

“And what would you be willing to trade for this information?”

“That’s just a guess of yours. You want to use a guess to gain benefits? Don’t you think that’s ridiculous?”

Facing the mockery, Mann just looked at Sophien seriously.

“Then let me offer a guess about you—for example, your other identity.”

“Her Imperial Highness, the Second Imperial Princess.”

Upon hearing this, Sophien’s pupils rapidly dilated, but soon returned to normal.

Although she showed no big reaction on the surface, Mann could see that her heart was shaken.

“Go ahead. State your terms.”

“Before I do, would you mind removing your disguise?”

“That won’t affect our conversation.”

“Is that so? What a pity.”

“I have my reasons. Please allow me to decline.”

Seeing that she didn’t want to reveal herself, Mann didn’t press. He simply ended the topic and stated his conditions.

“I would like you to protect the Viscount’s territory and people from the Evil God Cult.”

“Oh? Is that all? I thought you would seek personal gain.”

Mann slowly shook his head.

“This is all I ask. After the incident is settled, I will pay according to the rules.”

“…Haha, you really are interesting.”

After a brief silence, Sophien finally couldn’t hold back and laughed, covering her mouth.

“Is this your reason for dumping the mess on outsiders, Mann Matthews? I must have misjudged you!”

“Please… let me finish.”

“I will go to Viscount Campbell’s territory to investigate the Evil God Cult. If my guess is correct, the cultist riot that even my father went to deal with is connected to them.”

“Viscount Campbell, the one your family has a political marriage with? You suspect him?”

“Yes. If that’s the case, the mercenary corps can prepare in advance to avoid being caught in a pincer attack.”

This was indeed the truth. In the original novel, although Viscount Campbell distanced himself from the Evil God Cult, they were the ultimate beneficiaries. Saying they might be related to the Evil God Cult is not rigorous enough. It’s more like they are definitely related!

Sophien thought it over and finally relented.

“I agree to your proposal, but in return, you must agree to one condition.”

“I want you to join the Griffin Mercenary Corps.”

This statement exactly hit Mann’s sweet spot.

He agreed immediately, so fast it seemed to bypass his brain.

“Okay, I accept.”

“?”

Sophien was shocked, even doubting if she had misspoken.

‘He agreed too quickly!’

Although she felt tricked, words once spoken were like spilled water—they couldn’t be taken back.

“By the way, Captain…”

“…”

“You don’t want me to go to Duke Campbell’s territory and die, do you?”

“Eh? Was this your real goal all along?”

Sophien was completely speechless. She had never seen someone so thick-skinned.

“Duruf and the others happen to be returning to Duke Campbell’s territory. I’ll have them protect you, but you must follow his orders.”

Mann didn’t speak; instead, he stared straight into Sophien’s eyes, his look full of anticipation.

Sophien felt a bit creeped out by his gaze.

“What… why are you looking at me like that? Is there something else?”

Mann wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity. Although he wanted to investigate the Evil God Cult, he absolutely wouldn’t accept any risk to his own safety.

“Not enough!”

“…Fine, I give in.”

In the end, Sophien handed a Royal Emblem to Mann.

Although it was just an emblem, showing it meant that he was acting on behalf of the royal family.

In the original novel, once this emblem was revealed, even a duke had to show respect.

Without Sophien’s permission, he couldn’t mobilize the elite royal knights stationed in various places, but for saving his life, it was more than sufficient.

After thanking Sophien, Mann walked away triumphantly.

“Ah, what a strange guy. But…”

Sophien watched Mann’s back and chuckled softly.

“Not bad.”

At the logistics area, the mercenary corps’ corpse disposal point.

“Report. The Evil God Cult bodies have been disposed of, and the two puppets have been properly recovered.”

One of the mercenaries who had encountered Mann earnestly reported to his superior.

“Good, thank you for your hard work.”

“But there is one more thing… We found a letter on that puppet.”

With that, he respectfully handed the letter over.

The superior looked at the bloodstained letter. Fortunately, the signature was still clearly visible.

Mann Matthews.

“This… this is…!”