Squad Games [Squad Building LitRPG] [Book One Complete]

Lothar entered The Anchor. He'd got news of fresh mercs arriving by ship. He no longer had to compete for them against the Golden Blades. But old habits die hard, and he'd wasted no time in coming to check them out.

The inn wasn't busy, and he spotted a group of six had taken over a table. At first sight they looked well-armed and experienced. He made his way over then stopped short.

No. It can't be. But I'd recognise her anywhere, even the back of her head.

She turned at that moment and caught him looking over. She gave a little smile and said something to her companions.

Anke got to her feet. Lithe as ever, she made her way over.

Snap out of it, Stiff, he told himself. She'd always had the power to befuddle him. But times were different now. He was the big name in this part of the world, not her. He had Rosalind now. He took a seat at the nearest table and waited.

She sat opposite him, that same little smile on her face. "Lothar Sauer. It's been a while."

"That it has." She was still captivating, her blue eyes making his insides melt. But that didn't mean he couldn't see the changes. More lines on the face. White strands of hair beginning to replace the blonde. We've all got older. "You're still looking good."

"And you're not as decrepit as I imagined. Heard all kind of things back home about a merc captain in Gal'azu by the name of Stiff."

"Yeah, well. I suppose you could say I've been fortunate."

She gave a little snort. "Don't start being modest, Stiff. It doesn't suit you."

"And what in Gehenna brings Quick Anke to the new world?"

That wiped the smile off her face. "Things turned sour for us in a big way. Backed the wrong horse in Hargony, and staying wasn't an option. Thought to myself, 'Why not a fresh start? Like Old Stiff?'"

Thought to yourself, Lothar corrected in his mind, if Stiff can find success out there, it must be a doddle.

"Sorry to hear things went bad." He looked across at her mercs. "I see Hild."

"She's still with me, loyal as ever."

"Peter?"

"Didn't make it."

"Ah. My condolences."

"There's only the six of us. The rest are either dead or switched to some other captain. I don't blame 'em. Well, I did at the time. But the sea voyage gave me some perspective. A new start could be a good thing for us."

"Well, the good news is I can slot you all in straight away. And you've just avoided a very unpleasant episode involving a necromancer. So the first missions should be more straightforward. I'll need to see your stats and everything, of course."

"That's a kind offer. I'll consider it."

"Consider it? What's to consider?"

Anke looked a little uncomfortable. "Well, you know…whether to go it alone. It's what I'm used to, Stiff. Don't know how good I'd be at taking orders. Even from you."

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Lothar kept his cool, hiding his disappointment. So, that was her game. Come over here and set up a rival company. I should have known. And no doubt she expects she can run rings around me and end up on top. Well. She might just find that more difficult than she expects.

"By all means, think about it. I'm easy to find." He got to his feet. "Good to see you again, Anke. I'd resigned myself to never seeing anyone from my chequered past ever again." Would have been quite happy for that to remain the case.

"Thanks, Stiff. It's good to see your success. You deserve it. Whatever I decide, I'm sure we can renew a good working relationship."

"Of course."

"You're muttering, Stiff," said Rosalind. "I can't tell if you're talking to yourself or me."

"I went to The Anchor to check out the latest arrivals. It was Anke."

"I don't know who Anke is."

"From back home. Said she ran into trouble and came here. Not so much trouble that she's thinking twice about setting up a rival company to the Apples."

Rosalind stared at him. It made him a little uncomfortable. "You've a thing for her, haven't you?"

"What? No."

She continued to stare. He was worried she was using magic to read his mind.

"Maybe in the past. A little."

"Huh." She considered the situation. "Might not be so bad having a second company in Gal'azu."

"Not so bad? For whom? It's bad for me! And aren't you the one who was keen to limit the power of the Blades?"

"The Blades were a threat."

"The Apples aren't."

"Maybe. Maybe not now. But you're a powerful organisation, Stiff. No harm in having some balance."

"No harm for who? I sometimes wonder whose side you're on."

"The people's."

"How about being on my side once in a while?"

"I am on your side, Stiff. Don't be silly. I think this Anke is bringing up some self-respect issues from your past. Just remember who you are now. Talking of which, we have a meeting with the mayor."

"Foberoy? What does he want now, for the gods' sake?"

"The Bowman arrived in the city while you were catching up with your old flame."

"Rosalind, she's not—"

She laughed. "I can see I'm going to have fun with this."

He gave her a wounded look. "The Bowman?"

"News from Kuthenia. Important news."

"This is important," Urkal informed them, waving a piece of parchment. He'd sent Christoph off, leaving just the three of them in his office. "General Fei wants us to raise a force to send into Kuthenia to fight with his troops. It's vital that we develop our alliance with him."

"Is it really?" Lothar asked. "What if the other side wins? We might find ourselves facing repercussions."

"If the empire wins, they will expand west regardless of our stance," the mayor countered. "This civil war will keep them out of our affairs for a while, at the very least. Gives us time to strengthen. If Fei somehow wins, it will make us much safer. I must accept his request. I hoped the Apples would be able to respond."

"What kind of terms?"

"He will pay all the wages."

"What kind of pay? I need to know the fine print."

"Every soldier we send will get paid their daily wage, every day they are in Kuthenia."

"Wait. You mean they'll get paid every day, whatever they're doing?"

"Exactly. The general is quite clear about that. Even if they sit around in the barracks all day, they get paid."

Lothar whistled. That was something else. He paid his mercs when they were on mission. The rest of the time they had to fend for themselves. It was all he could afford. Fei was offering a small fortune. "What else?"

"He wants at least a hundred."

"Well, I don't have anything like that number. At this point I've no idea who would want to go."

"We'll make up the numbers with the Silent Warriors we freed. We have at least a hundred here in the city. Most of them are getting fed and housed for free while we work out what to do with them. Sending them east would be a nice solution for the city."

Lothar rolled his eyes.

"What? They're decent fighters, are they not?"

"Maybe. But they're not mercs. I don't know them. I can't rely on them."

"Stiff," Foberoy said. "This is your chance to build a real mercenary company. Your own private army. All funded by someone else. You'll never get that kind of opportunity here. We're too small scale."

Lothar had no answer to that. Because Foberoy was right. "Let me think about it."

"Fine. One more thing. A private matter, you understand?"

"You have our discretion," said Rosalind.

"Why did you let that rascal Raimy Molleker head out west?"

"Rake?" said Lothar. "I needed to put a squad together. He was willing."

"It's his marriage in five days! I wanted him kept in the city. I thought you realised that?"

"They'll be back soon. In plenty of time."

Foberoy seemed to wrestle for a while with what to say next. "She's pregnant."

"Clara?" Rosalind asked.

"Yes."

"And Rake knows?" Lothar asked him.

"Yes."

Lothar put his head in his hands. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"We wanted it kept in the family. What do you think? Will he come back? It's your fault if he does a runner, Stiff!"