Rachel grabbed the active communication crystal that glowed blue and Fermin whimpered like an injured dog.

Rachel glanced at her before speaking into the communication crystal.

“It’s you, right?”

She felt certain the person on the other end was Xtra.

— Yeah.

However, she didn’t expect him to admit it so easily. He must’ve anticipated this.

“You’re quite brazen, aren’t you? I’m pretty sure I told you last time—”

— Yeah, I know. Can you stop being so hardheaded?

She didn’t expect him to come out so strong and briefly stood in a daze before a vein popped out on her forehead. Rachel pretended to not be affected.

“Hardheaded? That’s the first I’ve heard of that.”

She wasn’t joking. No one had ever called her that before, which made her angry the more she thought about it.

I’m hardheaded? Me? How can he say that? Does he even know me?

— Heh… Sure, sure.

The mercenary sneered and struck a nerve again. Rachel bit her dry lips.

— Anyways, this is something Dake requested. He was willing to pay double out of his own pocket.

“…”

The English Royal Court had already fired Dake. This meant he no longer received any support for hiring this mercenary. However, that didn’t deter him from hiring Xtra despite carrying all the burden.

Rachel didn’t understand why Dake trusted this mercenary so much. What made this mercenary so special?

— He made the right choice in hindsight since all of you would be going around in circles without me.

Of course, she knew that as well. The mercenary only worked with them for 12 hours, but he already proved his worth when it came to pathfinding.

Despite her reluctance, Rachel acknowledged that she needed Xtra’s help right now.

—...