People riding on horses approached Zich and his companions. They wore thick leather armor lined with hard metal and carried sharp weapons. Their almost bursting muscles and serious eyes indicated they weren’t just wanderers but skilled mercenaries. Yet, skills and good character often didn’t go hand-in-hand with one another. Lyla let out a small sigh. From far away, she could just tell these guys would not pass by without making a fuss.

Lyla wondered if she could avoid them. She didn’t like people who made provocations; thus, she hoped that the mercenaries would calmly pass by them and prove her wrong. However, in cases like this, her expectations often failed.

The mercenary closest to them shouted, “Hey! You there!” He was clearly addressing Zich and his companions. They turned around to look at the mercenaries. There were twenty of them. Considering their significant number and rough demeanor, most people would have felt great pressure from facing them. However, Zich and his companions weren’t ordinary people. 

Zich and his crew stopped in front of the mercenaries. The man in the front took one step forward; he was the man who had yelled at them before. Although the...