The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

-Present Time-

Desmond arrived with a somber expression, finding his mother and Clementine standing before him.

"What's wrong, Mother?" Desmond's mood was already sour after hearing the previous maid's words. He noticed his mother turning around and gazing at him with a look of admiration.

Curiosity piqued, Desmond furrowed his brows. As Leona turned around, Clementine followed suit, catching a glimpse of Desmond from behind her fan. With a chuckle, she stepped away from the group.

Bastian approached his son and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Forgive your father for neglecting to teach you the importance of saving money," he said, his face resembling that of a living corpse. After uttering those words, he positioned himself behind his wife, gazing at the sky.

Desmond had a hunch upon witnessing this scene. He attempted to sneak a glance at what lay behind his mother, but she promptly blocked his view and regarded him with a serious expression.

"Son, I just want to confirm. How much money did you receive from selling the wine?" Leona crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, her tone indicating her seriousness.

In response to her question, Desmond looked at his mother expressionlessly. "Not much, around 50,000 gold coins," he casually replied.

It was only when he observed his mother's shocked reaction that Desmond managed to catch a glimpse of the scene behind her. Ah, they have indeed arrived, he thought inwardly. However, the number of mercenaries present was less than he had anticipated.

He also noticed Katrina waving her hand subtly as their eyes met. After answering his mother's question, Desmond headed straight towards her.

"Good morning, Ms. Katrina," Desmond greeted, extending his hand.

"Good morning, Master Desmond," Katrina responded, grasping his hand and presenting the scroll she had brought. "This is the agreement that has been mutually agreed upon by both parties."

"We apologize for our guild's shortcomings. We could only summon a limited number of mercenaries to protect you," Katrina explained, pausing to take a breath. It was evident that she hadn't put in much effort in recruiting additional forces, opting to hire whoever was readily available in the guild.

"Many declined, stating that 'this mission is akin to suicide' given the news of the roaming Beast Races in the kingdom," she continued, swallowing nervously and straightening her posture.

This implied that Desmond had a substantial amount of money at his disposal. Instead of him, why didn't he hire them? This thought crossed Katrina's mind, though she kept it to herself.

"I see. Thank you for your assistance, Ms. Katrina," Desmond said, offering a faint smile before shifting his attention to the mercenaries he had acquired.

Most of them were Novice or Disciple-level, indicating that they belonged to the ranks of Low-Class Mercenaries. Desmond's gaze swept across the room, taking note of another group of mercenaries who stood out from the rest. Their opulent attire and attractive faces suggested a higher status.

Ah, those must be the mercenaries who escorted Alice to the Academy, he thought to himself. Among them, he recognized a familiar face—a female mercenary who had left a peculiar impression on him.

Veronica, the leader of the Steel Legion, felt a pair of eyes on her and turned around, catching sight of a boy with a face that seemed both familiar and enigmatic. His expressionless gaze intrigued her, prompting her to break into a smile and wave at him.

Veronica's action caught the attention of the other members of the Steel Legion. "Sis, who are you talking to?" one of the women asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's just a polite gesture," Veronica replied, maintaining her smile and waving until the boy's attention shifted to the other mercenaries.

"Oh, that boy is quite handsome, and he seems to possess a strong physique," remarked one of the female members of the Steel Legion, her eyes lingering on Desmond. "Although his aura and charisma appear average, there's something intriguing about him."

After Desmond finished inspecting the mercenaries, he approached his mother, who regarded him with a curious gaze.

"Are you done mingling with those mischievous flowers?" Leona asked, her expression serious.

Desmond's countenance soured once again. "It's just business," he calmly replied, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Observing her son's cold expression, worry crept into Leona's eyes. She reached out and gently held Desmond's cheeks. "Are you feeling unwell, son?" she inquired, her concern evident.

"I'm fine," Desmond averted his gaze and let go of his mother's hand. "I want to discuss something further with the guild staff," he added, pointing towards Katrina before walking away from Leona.

As she watched him leave, Leona's eyes welled up with tears. However, amidst her sadness, she suddenly felt a surge of warmth that eased her troubled heart. "Perhaps he's still going through his teenage years," she murmured to herself, trying to find solace. "Or maybe not. My son is a wealthy man! I should ask him for my share later..."

Bastian arrived and immediately embraced his wife upon witnessing the conversation he had with their son. He, too, sensed that their son had undergone an abrupt change two days ago, without any apparent reason.

"Enn," Leona responded with a soft moan, relishing in her husband's warm embrace for a moment before pulling away in haste.

"I've checked everything, and this should suffice for my journey. Thank you once again," Desmond said, slightly lowering his head.

Katrina had indeed fulfilled her promise, albeit with only a few mercenaries. Nevertheless, Desmond appreciated her efforts and knew the importance of gratitude.

"It's not a big deal. I'll make the announcement about your departure now," Katrina replied, her previous hesitation subsiding. Desmond's usual courteous demeanor reassured her that her efforts were worthwhile.

"Wait a minute, Ms. Katrina," Desmond interjected, stepping in front of Katrina to impede her progress. He continued, "My mother mentioned that she had also arranged for someone to accompany me on this trip."

"Very well, then. If possible, please make arrangements for them to have proper accommodations if the journey extends for an extended period," Katrina replied.

"Thank you once again, Ms. Katrina," Desmond expressed his gratitude with a slightly awkward smile, glancing at the mercenaries. He considered himself fortunate that it was nighttime; otherwise, they might have been grumbling since earlier.

Desmond then noticed Katrina walking through the midst of the mercenaries, capturing their undivided attention. Despite the distance between Desmond and Katrina, he couldn't discern her words clearly. However, the silence and focus among the mercenaries implied they were eagerly listening to her.

"Ouch, my head." Desmond's attention was diverted as the main door opened once again, revealing Diana with her disheveled clothes and unkempt hair. "Why do I feel so weak?" Diana, supported by one of Desmond's maids, struggled to walk.

Witnessing this, Clementine grew instantly concerned and hurried over to her daughter. "What happened, Diana?" She meticulously examined every inch of Diana's body but found no signs of injury.

Clementine then turned her gaze toward her friends, Leona and Desmond. "Can someone explain this?" Her glare, directed primarily at Desmond, carried a mix of worry and accusation.

Leona felt perplexed about how to address the situation, but she soon saw her son approaching Clementine.

"I'm sorry. She unexpectedly entered my room while I was experimenting with a new spell, and it caused her to faint," Desmond apologized, his guilt evident on his face.

"Is that true, Diana?" Clementine didn't immediately believe Desmond's words. She scrutinized her daughter, who appeared to be in a semi-conscious state.

"Ah? Yes, Mother," Diana responded, her recovery still incomplete, rendering her memory hazy. Her answer came more from instinct than a clear recollection of events.

"I see," Clementine's expression softened, and she looked at Desmond with a hopeful smile. "Is it possible for us to be friends again?" She extended her hand towards Desmond, a gesture of reconciliation.

Clementine added, her voice tinged with sadness, "Honestly, I've wanted to apologize to you, but I lacked the courage. Instead, I ended up sending my daughter, which only caused trouble for you during your spell practice." Her smile carried a touch of regret. Three years had passed, and their relationship remained as cold as ever.

"Let's start over?" Clementine's gaze fixed on Desmond's hand, her heart pounding with the fear of rejection.

Initially, she had only seen Desmond as a suitable match for her daughter and their families' future. But as time passed, the idea of him being a mere "candidate" grew rapidly, fueling her desire to see him with Diana. However, that limited their relationship to mere business partners seeking mutual benefit.

Over the course of these three years, she had come to realize that she already considered Desmond her son-in-law and her own son.

Leona's arrival had stirred up a hint of jealousy within her, making it even more difficult for her to convey these feelings to anyone.

Meanwhile, Desmond observed all of this with his usual impassive demeanor. He remained calm, his true thoughts hidden from the prying eyes of those around him.

Truth be told, I was also mistaken. It was just a minor issue, but my pride wouldn't allow me to let it go until my own mother urged me to accept Clementine's request.

Well, I still desire to leverage Clementine's connections in the future, Desmond thought to himself, pondering the situation carefully.

After weighing his options, Desmond extended his hand and shook Clementine's, his voice steady. "No problem, my friend." He offered a faint smile, evoking tears of joy from Clementine.

Meanwhile, Diana observed the scene, unable to fully comprehend the complicated relationship between her mother and this enigmatic young man. However, when she witnessed her mother's radiant smile, she realized that they had made amends.

Just as they were reconciling with their handshake, the sound of horse hooves resonated in the distance. All eyes, including the mercenaries positioned at the forefront, turned towards the approaching sound.