Chapter 35: How a Mercenary Handles a Night Mission (3)
Joo, the plump and sturdy pigeon, was Regina’s carrier bird. Gael had personally brought him to her.
Joo seemed to love his owner’s touch, stretching his neck and cooing softly. He had almost been hunted by a hawk once, and ever since Regina saved his life, he followed her loyally.
“With Joo around, it’ll be easier for you to stay in contact with Persona.”
As Regina’s face softened at Joo’s affection, Gael casually stepped a little closer.
“More than that though… I barely recognized you.”
Regina had thought she was getting used to wearing dresses, but Gael’s words brought the awkwardness back. She gave a sheepish laugh and tugged at her dress.
“If Shanro or Uncle Maut saw me, they’d totally tease me.”
“No, they’d be stunned because you’re so pretty.”
Gael had long, fox-like eyes that curved up when he smiled. His golden eyes made his grin all the more charming, and Shanro often teased him for being a “sly little fox.”
Smiling brightly, Gael added one last thing.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
Regina chuckled at her childhood friend’s compliment, and Gael, without hesitation, pulled her into a hug. Since they were kids, this kind of closeness had become a habit.
“Hey, I told you not to hug me so tightly.”
“But it’s been so long.”
Regina poked his side playfully, but Gael didn’t budge. Instead, he closed his eyes and nuzzled against her shoulder.
So caught up in the moment, Gael didn’t notice Valentine approaching—until he felt a hand push his head away.
“…Who just hugs another man’s wife like that?”
“Valentin.”
Startled, Regina tried to step back, but Gael still didn’t let her go.
Didn’t sense him at all…
And it wasn’t just her—Regina hadn’t noticed either. Two top-tier mercenaries from Persona, yet neither of them noticed a limping man approaching?
“Wife? Don’t you mean employer and mercenary?”
Even as Gael continued holding her, Valentine’s amethyst eyes glinted with icy anger.
He glared at the arms still wrapped around Regina’s back, clearly displeased. He wanted to smash that head resting on her shoulder.
“We take this relationship seriously. Right, Regina?”
Regina always took her contracts seriously. Even if Valentine’s words sounded strange, she nodded and gently pried Gael off her.
He didn’t want to let go, but he finally did as her grip tightened.
“Regina.”
“We’re inside the duke’s estate, and I’m here on a job. We should avoid hugging for a while.”
Her calm reply split the mood in two. Valentine smiled in satisfaction, while Gael clenched his fists. Regina then turned to Valentine again.
“Sorry for showing something unprofessional during an active job. But please don’t lay a hand on my friend.”
Just like that, their expressions swapped again—Gael smiled, and Valentine’s eyes darkened with rage. He wanted to mess up that smug grin.
“Then I’ll talk with him for a bit and come back inside.”
“Where are you going?”
Regina could tell Valentine was not in a good mood.
Is he questioning my dedication to the job?
That idea annoyed her. And with the way the two men were sizing each other up, she knew she had to separate them.
“We’ll just talk in the garden for a few minutes. It’s about Persona business. Besides, you have a guest, don’t you?”
At her firm tone, Valentine had no choice but to let her go.
“…Alright then.”
With a nod, Regina led Gael away. Valentine watched her walk off, his gaze growing colder by the second.
“He really is handsome. That’s annoying.”
“Why are you annoyed?”
Regina gave him a playful punch in the chest. He looked calm, but she knew Gael was proud deep down. Still, he didn’t seem that upset about getting shoved.
Valentin, on the other hand, is definitely not okay…
Feeling his icy glare behind her, Regina kept walking forward.
In a quiet corner of the garden, Regina and Gael sat under the shade of a tree. The newly hired gardener had only just begun pulling weeds, so the flower beds still looked plain and messy.
She remembered the gardener asking her to choose flowers a few days ago.
“A night mission came in. That’s partly why I came.”
At the words night mission, Regina’s eyes lit up. Choosing flowers could wait.
“What kind?”
“A rescue mission. Someone got kidnapped by the Bolero Merchant Group.”
“…Bolero?”
Regina frowned as the name stirred old memories.
The Bolero group was notorious for buying and selling thousands of people. A few years ago, they were exposed, and their leader was executed. The remaining scum regrouped and continued operating under the same name.
Rumors said they were basically thugs and not even recognized as a real merchant group anymore.
“They must’ve gotten a large order recently. A noble’s youngest daughter got mixed in.”
“Why would a noble lady be there? Was she kidnapped?”
Even lowlifes usually avoided kidnapping nobility. If caught, everyone involved would be executed.
“It’s a complicated case. The client is her older brother. The mission is to rescue her and get her safely to the Garber border.”
“Something feels off… Gael, you know how night missions work, right?”
They were secret and dangerous. You always had to dig into the client’s background.
“Rosie handled that part.”
That was a relief. Rosie was good at reading people while pretending to be friendly.
“The girl was from a noble family that got wiped out a few days ago. The client came back from studying abroad and found everyone dead—his sister was already missing.”
“Wiped out?”
“By magical beasts. The imperial hunting squad rescued her… but no one knows how she ended up in Bolero’s hands. Still, the brother’s desire to save her seems real.”
“…Wiped out by magical beasts? That’s strange.”
If a whole estate was overrun, mercenaries would’ve heard. Magic beast parts—like their hides or hearts—sold for high prices.
“Sounds like family revenge. The nobleman wants to escape the Empire with his sister. He even hired a broker to take them back to their kingdom.”
“And this mission’s already been accepted, right?”
It seemed shady, but if it was already approved, they had no choice. Persona likely had everything ready.
“They’ll be passing east of Valmen. That’s where we’ll strike.”
“That’s close to the estate. I’ll help too. Where’s my mask?”
Rescue missions were tricky—full of unknowns. And Regina wasn’t one to sit back. Gael, expecting this, handed her a mask he brought.
It was plain white, like a blank face. Persona members always wore them on night missions.
“How many in the team?”
“Six total. Shanro, me, and Rosie will handle the rescue. The other three will secure the escape route.”
“Rosie?”
Rosie was okay for escort jobs, but too inexperienced for complex rescues. Mistakes could endanger everyone.
Gael knew that too. In fact, there had been debate about Rosie’s involvement up until that morning.
They were only short on people because of other missions.
“If you join, Rosie can step down. Shanro and I can handle getting the girl to Garber.”
“Do it.”
Gael pulled the mask over his face. He had to report back to Persona immediately.
But before he left, he looked one last time at his childhood friend and first love—so stunning now, almost unrecognizable.
He was glad the mask hid his expression. If Regina saw it, she’d definitely scold him.
I don’t like this at all.
It was a selfish, clingy feeling. Even if it was for a mission, the thought of Regina growing more beautiful by another man’s side made him furious.
And even though it’s a contract…
Valentin didn’t act like it was just business. His jealousy felt real—and it got on Gael’s nerves.
“What?”
Regina tilted her head at his intense stare. He tapped her forehead with his finger.
“You can’t come to Garber with us?”
“I can’t be away from Valmen for long. I have to prioritize this contract.”
That was part of the deal. And she couldn’t let anyone know that Persona took on night missions.
“Everyone misses you.”
“They’re probably too busy running around like wild monkeys.”
Regina laughed and patted his shoulder. She had already planned to visit Persona soon anyway.
“Go on. I’ll see you tonight.”
She gave him another pat, gently this time. Their light touch was normal between friends who’d known each other forever.
Though Gael felt heat rise where she touched him, and his smile crept up without him realizing… he was glad Regina was still too unaware to notice.
