Mercenary Wars

Chapter 69 Holy Name Contract
Gaugano didn't answer, but instead asked, "How much do you pay for slaves?"

“At least ten times the value of the contract.” The slave trader pointed to the blank Holy Name Contract in Gao Jiano’s hand. “Of course, I don’t just take any slave. They have to have some skills, like this one.”

As he spoke, he pointed to a slave beside him.

The slave flashed and instantly appeared several meters away.

"The blessing ability 'Flicker,' how about that, isn't it amazing?" the slave trader said with some pride.

Gaucano was secretly surprised; he couldn't understand why someone with the ability to blink would be captured and enslaved.

The slave trader seemed to have guessed his question and offered to explain: "This guy sold himself willingly—he owed a lot of money. Of course, his contract is a little different from that of a regular slave."

Gao Jianuo nodded in understanding.

After leaving the slave trader, he headed towards the dungeon entrance, pondering how to get in.

The rocks that had originally blocked the dungeon entrance had been completely opened, and two guards stood on the left and right sides to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering.

Aside from the guards, it seems that only mages and craftsmen can enter.

Since the vulnerability of the rejection magic circle has been discovered, the best way to deal with it is to build an easily defensible "underground gate" at the location of the vulnerability.

In fact, according to what Gaucano had heard, large towns and fortresses would specifically identify the vulnerabilities when constructing magical facilities, and then build city gates for tight defense.

In other words, Prestor Castle wasn't up to a very high standard, and the inspection of its magical facilities wasn't thorough enough, which is why there was such a hidden loophole.

After observing for a while, Gao Jiano noticed that there were very few mages entering and leaving the dungeon, but many craftsmen. Every now and then, a craftsman would enter or leave with his tools, and the guards were already numb to it.

This reminded him of a joke he'd heard in his past life: a man carrying a ladder can go anywhere.

Although it was a joke, it wasn't entirely without reason.

Many people have tried it, and carrying tools like ladders can indeed lower the guards' guards' guards. Among those who tried it were even some famous historical figures, so Gaugano was very impressed by it.

Why don't you... give it a try yourself?
Thinking about it carefully, the defenses here aren't actually that tight. After all, the war is over, and there's nothing of value inside. The guards are mainly there to facilitate construction. I guess this tactic has a pretty good chance of success.

Even if it doesn't work out, Gao Jiano is quite confident in his ability to escape; at worst, he can just run away.

With this in mind, Gaucano immediately made a decision.

He immediately bought a ladder, then a dirty set of stonemason clothes, and with the disguise of blood, he instantly transformed into an honest, hardworking stonemason exposed to the elements.

With the face of a stonemason, he swaggered toward the dungeon entrance.

Surprisingly, everything went smoothly. The two guards didn't ask a single question; they just glanced at him and let Gaucano enter.

The dungeon was unguarded, and the craftsmen, sorcerers, and others were all in the underground caves. So Gaucano went straight to the room with the pyre racks, found the necromancer, and revealed his identity.

"Thank God, you've finally arrived!" The recent series of changes had clearly made the necromancer quite anxious. Fortunately, neither Yuris nor the craftsmen who had been coming and going frequently cared about a skeleton that had been dead for decades. "Quickly, unlock the chains on me!"

Instead of rushing to rescue him, Gao Jiano chuckled and said, "Have you forgotten something?"

"Wh...what?" The skull's face was expressionless.

Gaucano leaned closer and said, "When you told me the location of the treasure, you didn't mention that there was also a witch's curse hidden inside."

The skeleton was silent for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "But you don't seem to be affected at all."

“Because I spent a lot of money to remove the curse from my body,” Gaucano said.

The skeleton's voice betrayed a lack of confidence: "There's some money in the tomb..."

Gaucano: "You already gave me what was in the tomb. And you still want that cloak, which means you want to trade a useless magic wand for my rescue?" The skeleton was speechless for a long time before finally saying, "What do you want me to do?"

Gaucano: "It's very simple, be my servant."

"...What kind of servant?" the skeleton asked.

Gaucano: "You just need to explain some magical knowledge to me—you're a mage, aren't you? And do some simple tasks for me."

The skeleton thought for a moment: "That sounds alright."

Gao Jiano produced the Holy Name Contract.

The skeleton was taken aback, then said angrily, "This...this is a contract for slaves!"

Gaucano: "Do you really think that the relationship between humans and the dead can be bound by a commercial contract?"

The skeleton remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, "Alright, I know I have no choice, but I have one condition. If you agree, I will willingly become your servant—not a slave. If you don't agree, then just grind me into bone powder."

"What conditions?"

The skeleton said, "You must allow me to go and find my father, or I will work for you for ten years."

Gaucano's brow twitched slightly: "Your father is 'Fan' on the tombstone?"

"Yes."

Are you sure he's still alive?

Skeleton: "He can make Elder's Elixir, so he should still be alive."

Gao Jiano nodded: "Okay, I promise you."

He never intended to enslave the other party long-term; his main purpose was simply to learn magic and, incidentally, find himself a servant to do odd jobs.

He then took the contract to the skeleton.

The skeleton hesitated and asked, "Is this the only kind of contract you have?"

"Yes."

The skeleton hesitated for a moment: "I must emphasize again, I am a servant, not a slave, and you must allow me to search for my father, or at most allow me to work for you for ten years."

“Of course, I promise,” Gao Jiano said.

The skeleton then began to chant its name: "Daris Hydashia Hypatianus Sindragosa Torra".

The covenant was in sync, and the names of the four saints appeared in succession: Hydashia Hypatianus Sindragosa Thorra.

As for "Dallis," it is clearly just her common name, so the contract did not respond.

After the contract was signed, Gao Gano didn't waste any words, put the contract away, and then helped unlock the chains.

After being freed from her restraints, Darlis hesitated and said, "Could you give me the cloak of disguise? Without it, others might easily discover my identity."

Gaucano handed her the cloak of disguise.

Darlis quickly put on the cloak, then used her disguise magic to transform into a slender girl with blue hair and blue eyes.

(End of this chapter)