Mercenary Harem in Murim Novel

Leo didn't know the Emperor's real name, but he knew his nickname from the novel. The Sly Shadow, someone who controlled the Empire from the shadow and was actually crazy enough to leave the surface affair to his subordinates. That kind of someone could make Ming Yuchan nervous.

"Please, I am no Emperor." The Emperor shook his head and laughed, "Just call me Sheng. No need to be formal with me. Besides, you're not a native here, are you? There is no need to honor me as I am not your ruler."

"True, but respect is earned and not something you're born with. I know what you did for your country, and you have my respect for that. So I shall call you Master Sheng. Is that fine?"

"Hahahaha, it's good." The Emperor laughed and patted Leo's shoulder. "It's rare for me to meet a foreigner who knows how to behave in a polite manner. As much as I want to see your 'real' face, I understand that you have a reason not to reveal yourself. So let's just drop it and I will call you Master Yang just like how Yuchan calls you."

"Very well."

Leo nodded his head and took a seat. He knew the Emperor was a dangerous individual and that his purpose in meeting him was unknown. He looked at Ming Yuchan who ostracized this meeting with a discontent gaze, and he wondered why he was here.

'What does he want from me?'

From the information he gathered by looking at the situation, the Emperor wanted something from him. And it seemed like it had nothing to do with the current state of the Murim.

So, what did he want?

Leo gestured for Jessica to record everything secretly for later use. She smiled softly, standing right behind him as they faced Emperor Sheng and Ming Yuchan. The latter gestured for the servant to leave, and when the door closed, Emperor Sheng spoke.

"Since we are all here, let's get straight to the point. Master Yang, or should I say, the infamous Mercenary Union Leader. You're a very mysterious individual, and there's a lot of rumor about you and your group. Even my shadow guard can't get everything about you. It's truly impressive."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Thank you, Master Sheng. It's an honor to receive a compliment from you."

Leo replied politely, not wanting to get impatient.

"So, I have a proposal for you."

The Emperor looked at him, his gaze sharp and his smile sly. The way he immediately talked about the important business showed his decisive nature and his impatience.

Leo easily guessed the current situation wasn't ideal for the Empire. No one wanted to have a war in their territory. One that could destroy cities and harm civilians.

As the Ruler of the Empire, the Emperor should have a lot of worries and pressure on his shoulders.

"What do you have in mind?"

Leo asked, his gaze unwavering.

"As you may have heard, I take every job as long as there is a payment. And I shall stay at the side of those who give us better dealings."

Leo wasn't afraid to be honest with his purpose. After all, he had no intention of being loyal to a single person. That was something a naive MC in a novel would do, and Leo had no time for that.

Emperor Shang was a client in his eyes. A rich and powerful one, but still a client.

"Yes, I have heard that. That's why you're the one I chose. Your group is known for your neutrality and ability to do the job efficiently." Emperor Shang nodded his head, his expression turning serious. "However, there is one problem."

"What is it, Master Sheng?"

"The war."

As expected. The conversation would go that way no matter what happened. Leo was glad the Emperor brought it up quickly so they didn't have to waste time with small talk.

"What can I do about it, Master Sheng?" Leo asked, his expression calm and unwavering. "I am not the one who started the war, and my group is just defending ourselves. We cannot decide when to end it."

"I know, and I have no intention to blame you. But, I have a way to end it. A perfect solution, to be exact."

Leo narrowed his eyes and gestured for the Emperor to continue.

A perfect solution to stop the war? If there was one, then Leo would like to know what it was.

'Not even I know how to end it without destroying the ones sitting behind the shadow. How could Emperor Sheng think of a way that was not even on my list? I am curious'

He wondered and waited for the answer.

Sensing curiosity, Emperor Sheng crossed his legs. He didn't show his impatience, and he looked like a king, his authority clear and strong.

"You see, the Murim Alliance has been doing as they pleased in the past decades. I don't know who holds the authority anymore, they or the court. I believe you understand the problem. So, I am willing to pay you to take care of it."

"And by taking care, you mean..."

Leo blinked a few times. He had no idea what Emperor Sheng meant by that.

No, he understood what he was trying to say, but this was just too absurd to believe. The way he said it was too light and casual, as if he was asking someone to clean the trash instead of killing a group of dangerous martial artists.

"Yes, I want you to destroy the Murim Alliance. Our interest allign, and there is no perfect solution than this. You can do it peacefully or violently. Whatever you choose, just make sure they can't cause more trouble. If you can do that, I will compensate you accordingly. Your fee will be paid, and you can do anything else you want to do here."

Listening to the Emperor's explanation, Leo's mind spun rapidly.

Destroying the Murim Alliance? That was not something he could do in a short time.

They had been around for decades, and their strength was not something a small mercenary group like him could handle.

Not to mention, there were the Supreme Evil followers that backed these guys from the shadow. They weren't just orthodox sect, but also a cumulation of many Sects and martial artists that had been hiding in the Murim for a long time.

It was not a job he could handle.

Then, Leo remembered the words he heard from the Emperor himself.

'He wanted me to destroy them and he has the way.'