The Butcher of Sargon (LoL x Arknight Fanfiction)

Upon arriving in Trimounts, the complex entry procedures were skipped over for brevity.

Vehicles entering the city first had to undergo disinfection, followed by inspections for contraband—especially for convoys like Rhine Lab's, returning from foreign lands. Their vehicles would be temporarily impounded.

The entire process reminded Garde of customs inspections from his past life. In Trimounts, companies were ranked by credit scores—the higher the credit, the less time and scrutiny required to enter the city. Naturally, increasing one's credit score depended on the amount of money paid.

"Whisperain, get out of the car! We're here!"

At the underground parking lot of Trimounts's entry checkpoint, Muelsyse gestured toward the car. A little girl, appearing to be around seven or eight years old, peeked cautiously toward the back of the vehicle before quickly following Muelsyse out.

Behind them, Garde struggled to extricate himself from the back seat of the car.

"I'm never riding in one of these again," he grumbled.

Muelsyse rolled her eyes at him, crossing her arms. "If you hadn't come with me, you wouldn't have gotten in this quickly. Didn't you see everyone else obediently undergoing inspection?"

Privileges existed everywhere. As the Director of R.L. Ecological Department, Muelsyse had the perk of skipping the city's lengthy health inspections upon entry. However, a medical report still had to be submitted afterward, and if anything went wrong, Muelsyse herself would bear the responsibility.

"Hurry up, our ride should be here soon. I've already spoken with the CEO—we'll head straight to meet them," Muelsyse said while holding a file folder in one hand and Whisperain's hand in the other.

"Oh, I almost forgot—how much did you get paid for bringing Saria and the others to the Hotlands? I'll bring it up with finance so they can settle the payment. You can't get by in Columbia without money."

While handling Garde's banking details in Melun City, Muelsyse had seen his savings in a Sargon bank—roughly 500,000 Columbian Gold certificates. That sum would last years in the lower or mid-tier districts, but in Trimounts's upper-tier districts, it would seem meager.

Still, going to a dangerous place like the Hotlands must have earned Garde at least a few hundred thousand—maybe even a million. No one would risk their life for less than that.

Adding it all up, it should be barely enough.

Muelsyse had no intention of covering Garde's living expenses in Trimounts—she wasn't about to end up sponsoring him.

"I didn't ask her," Garde admitted. "But it should be mentioned in the letter she gave your CEO."

If Saria hadn't summoned the tribe's warriors to aid him when he fought the Seaborn alone, preventing him from accepting Renekton's wrath too soon, Garde wouldn't have taken Rhine Lab's people to the Hotlands at all.

As for money, Garde always felt that having enough to get by was sufficient. Otherwise, when he left, he wouldn't have just handed Inam a few red gold ores to exchange at her discretion—he would've had her load up a truck with all the red gold he had mined and haul it to the city.

"You didn't negotiate payment with Saria?"

Muelsyse stared at Garde as if he were a lunatic. Who takes on a job without discussing the pay first?

"Sigh, but you don't need to worry," she reassured him. "Knowing Saria, if you contributed in the Hotlands, she definitely won't shortchange you."

"Anyway, welcome to Trimounts!"

Muelsyse said cheerfully as they stepped out of the underground parking lot. The harsh sunlight made her instinctively shield her eyes with a hand—only to be met with a flurry of camera flashes.

A swarm of reporters had been waiting at the entry checkpoint. As soon as Muelsyse emerged, some of the bolder ones pushed past the barriers, nearly shoving their microphones in her face.

"Director Muelsyse, is that you? We've heard that Rhine Lab discovered a cure for Oripathy in the southern Hotlands of Sargon. Is this true?"

"Director Muelsyse, have you just returned to Trimounts? Are you carrying the cure with you?"

"Why are you alone? Where is Director Saria? We heard she was in charge of this mission."

"..."

Somehow, word had gotten out, and the reporters swarmed the checkpoint, cameras flashing so intensely that Muelsyse could barely keep her eyes open.

Behind her, Whisperain was so frightened that she clung to Muelsyse' dress, peeking anxiously at Garde.

The barriers did little to stop the reporters from jostling forward. Just as they were about to be surrounded, Garde raised his hand and effortlessly blocked the approaching journalists.

"Apologies," he said. "Due to the complexity of the situation, Rhine Lab will be releasing information in due time. Director Muelsyse has had a long journey and is too exhausted to answer any questions at the moment."

To the gathered reporters, Garde seemed like a giant. The male journalists hesitated, intimidated by his muscular frame, while the female reporters looked like they were about to swoon.

So tall!

So big!

So strong!

In the direct afternoon sunlight, every scale on Garde's body gleamed. Clad in loose casual wear, he gave the impression of a celebrity rather than a bodyguard.

But there was no record of such a handsome Adakrys actor debuting in Columbia.

Could he be from Sargon?

No one suspected that he was simply a bodyguard—whoever heard of a bodyguard this attractive?

If they existed, the reporters thought, they'd each take a dozen!

Some of the sharper journalists had already begun speculating about Garde and Muelsyse' relationship. If they couldn't get the scoop on Rhine Lab's latest discovery, they could at least dig up some juicy gossip.

By the time Garde finally managed to escort Muelsyse and Whisperain through the crowd, his pants were nearly pulled off in the chaos.

"Did your company not arrange for secrecy?" he complained.

"Eh, you'll get used to it." Muelsyse stuck out her tongue playfully.

"We're a research company, after all. Isn't it natural to have spies in our ranks? Now that people know we might have a cure for Oripathy, the number of spies trying to infiltrate our company is only going to increase."

"It's not a cure, but a suppressant," Garde corrected.

If Aletog blood could cure Oripathy, his mother wouldn't have died three years ago.

At least for now, Garde didn't know of anything that could completely cure Oripathy.

Could that Vampire Doctor from Rhodes Island do it?

Garde didn't know.

Next, boarding Rhine Lab's special transport, Garde arrived at Rhine Lab's headquarters in Trimount, a vast campus located at the edge of the city's mid-tier district, close to the upper-tier district.

Upon entering the floor housing Rhine Lab's Component Control Section, he found a blonde-haired Perro woman already waiting for him.

With a cool and clean, aloof face and a neutral business shirt, Kristen Wright—founder of Rhine Lab and a friend of Saria—sat in her office, smiling as she greeted Muelsyse, who had returned from Sargon after a long journey.

"Welcome back, Muelsyse. You've worked hard on this mission."

Facing the blonde woman before her, Muelsyse didn't dare take any credit, quickly responding, "Not at all, not at all. I barely did anything. The success of this mission was entirely thanks to Director Saria."

Before entering, she had deliberately created a water clone outside to watch over Whisperain, ensuring that she didn't bring a child into the company's central office.

Garde wasn't sure whether Muelsyse's attitude toward Kristen was out of respect or fear. But with just a glance, he could tell that Kristen was nothing more than an ordinary person without much combat ability.

Noticing Garde's gaze, Kristen finally looked at him.

"You must be Garde. Muelsyse has mentioned you before. Thank you for your contribution to this mission. Regarding your payment, I will have the finance department settle it for you later."

With a businesslike smile, Kristen glanced at Muelsyse, who immediately said, "Then I'll step out. You two can talk first."

After the sound of the door closing, Kristen continued, "Mr. Garde, I heard from Muelsyse that you have a letter from Saria?"

"Yeah."

Just as Garde was about to hand the letter to Kristen, a cylindrical AI robot rolled over from the side. Instantly, he understood Kristen's intent.

Placing the letter in the robot's hands, Kristen smiled politely at Garde and gestured toward a seat.

"Please, Mr. Garde, make yourself comfortable."

Garde sensed a hint of disdain from Kristen, much like how some city dwellers look down on rural folk. Although she didn't make it obvious, it was clear that she didn't particularly like him.

If it weren't for the letter from Saria, Garde was certain Kristen wouldn't have taken the time to meet with him.

This personality was completely different from Saria's.

Just based on this, Garde's impression of Rhine Lab had already dropped several levels.

Considering what might happen in the future, he could now roughly understand the root of the conflict between Kristen and Saria—there was little chance they could truly understand each other.

Kristen came from a prestigious family. Even after her family's decline, its legacy still allowed her to live a comfortable life.

On the other hand, although Saria's family wasn't poor, her parents were still only middle-class workers. Saria had been exposed to far more experiences than Kristen throughout her life.

So, Garde had already anticipated what would happen next.

As Kristen opened the envelope, she immediately recognized Saria's handwriting. A subtle, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her lips.

However, as she continued reading, that smile became somewhat stiff, and her eyes occasionally darted toward Garde, who was sitting on the office sofa.

Finally, she couldn't hold back and asked, "Mr. Garde, may I ask—have you read this letter from Director Saria?"

"No."

Garde shook his head. The letter might contain some personal exchanges between Saria and Kristen. Although he and Saria were lovers, his sense of control wasn't so strong that he would pry into her private correspondence.

"However, I do know about some of the contents."

Kristen's momentary loss of composure didn't last long. She quickly forced herself to calm down and resumed her polite smile.

"Mr. Garde, in this letter, Director Saria speaks very highly of your abilities and hopes that in her absence, I can appoint you as the acting Director of Rhine Lab Defense Division."

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Kristen maintained her smile.

"Personally, I trust Director Saria's judgment. She is not only my colleague but also my university friend. Together, we co-founded Rhine Lab and built it to what it is today."

"However, Rhine Lab is not a dictatorship. While Director Saria has recommended you, and I believe you are capable of fulfilling this role, such a sudden appointment might cause dissatisfaction among other employees."

"I'm sure Director Saria must have informed you of Rhine Lab's current situation before you came to Columbia—it is far from ideal."

"I hope you can understand that, under these circumstances, I must consider the potential repercussions of every decision I make. Some might suspect that appointing you as acting Director of Rhine Lab Defense Division is an attempt to undermine our great contributors at Rhine Lab."

"As Rhine Lab's leader, I wholeheartedly welcome you to our family and believe your skills will not disappoint me."

As Kristen spoke, she carefully observed Garde's reaction before delivering her final decision.

"Therefore, I can directly appoint you as the Head of Defense in Trimounts. Once Director Saria returns, we will conduct a formal review and elevate you to Vice Director of the Defense Division. What do you think?"

If this letter had come from anyone else, Kristen wouldn't have bothered explaining this much.

She didn't know why Saria wanted this Adakrys man to be the acting Director of Rhine Lab Defense Division, but in her heart, there was only one true candidate for that position—Saria. No one else could replace her.

At worst, she could compensate this Adakrys man later.

However, for some reason, Kristen noticed that after hearing her decision, Garde seemed relieved—his expression relaxed into a smile.

"Miss Kristen, I think you're absolutely right. To be honest, I was quite anxious about Miss Saria's recommendation because I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle the position, yet I didn't want to outright reject her goodwill."

"Actually, I have another letter here—it's a recommendation letter from Miss Saria for Trimounts Institute of Technology. My main purpose in coming to Columbia was to study the advanced technology here."

"So I've been worried that if I were to take on a position at Rhine Lab while also studying at Trimounts Institute, I wouldn't be able to manage both responsibilities properly."

A sincere smile—one unlike Kristen's—spread across Garde's face.

"So, a lighter position suits me just fine."

Kristen, sitting behind her desk, sounded slightly surprised.

"You came to Columbia… to study?"

As long as Garde didn't stubbornly insist on becoming the Director of the Defense Division, Kristen didn't particularly dislike him.

Her first impression of Garde hadn't been great. At first glance, she had assumed he was just another brute who only knew how to fight.

The moment she first saw him, it was as if she were looking at a wild creature that completely contradicted the principles of science—an affront to someone like her, who had dedicated her entire life to research.

But she hadn't expected Garde to come to Columbia for academic study.

"What field of study are you looking to specialize in, Mr. Garde? Rhine Lab has an existing talent exchange agreement with Trimounts Institute."

Kristen asked him directly.

"Even though Trimounts Institute's semester has already begun, we should be able to enroll you as a research student under the guise of academic advancement."

"Would Originium Applied Sciences be acceptable?"

On his way to Columbia, Garde had learned a bit about some of Trimounts Institute's renowned programs. As one of Columbia's most prestigious universities, Trimounts Institute naturally had its own areas of excellence.

"No problem."

Kristen agreed without hesitation. Since she had denied Garde the higher position, she needed to compensate him in another way.

A single exchange student slot was nothing to Rhine Lab.

Although Rhine Lab's financial situation was still somewhat tight, with news spreading that Saria had obtained a potent Oripathy suppressant from the Hotlands, it wouldn't be long before their doors were flooded with investors eager to get a piece of the action.

So as long as the cost wasn't excessive, Rhine Lab could afford it.

"That being said, business is business. Mr. Garde, you helped us obtain a precious medicinal sample. Do you know how much Director Saria originally promised you as payment? I'll have our finance department double the amount."

"Saria should have written it in the letter."

Garde wasn't too concerned about money, but as Muelsyse had mentioned, it was impossible to get by in Columbia without it. The funds he had brought from Sargon might not be enough.

Unaware of the shift in how Garde addressed Saria, Kristen flipped to the last section of the letter, where Saria had specified the payment amount.

And the moment she saw it, she was stunned.

Had Saria hired an entire army when she entered the Hotlands? Even hiring a thousand-strong mercenary force for a month shouldn't cost this much!

"Mr. Garde…"

Kristen remained silent for a moment before laying the letter open in front of Garde, pointing to the string of numbers listed as his payment.

"Are you sure there aren't two extra zeros here?"

"I'm not entirely sure about that either."

Garde glanced at the number written on the letter, then casually asked, "Does Rhine Lab not have that much liquid capital right now?"

How could they possibly have that much?

Kristen almost wanted to say, Is Saria really trying to pay him, or is she planning to give away the entire company?

But the handwriting on the letter was indeed Saria's.

No, wait—handwriting could be forged.

What if this Adakrys in front of her had deliberately added two extra zeros?

"Apologies, Mr. Garde, but the company is currently unable to pay you such a large amount. Would you be willing to wait a little while?"

If Rhine Lab weren't struggling, tens of millions, even billions of Columbian gold certificates could be scraped together with some effort.

But right now, if they gave Garde that much money all at once, Rhine Lab would be one step away from bankruptcy.

The impact of Saria bringing back the suppressant from the Hotlands was still unfolding. This period was the most difficult time for Rhine Lab, and Kristen had to endure it.

'I'll ask Saria when she returns.'

Kristen had already made up her mind—she wouldn't hand over all of the company's liquid capital just because of one letter. Not unless Saria confirmed it in person.

As she spoke, she observed Garde's reaction closely.

If he had forged the amount on the letter, there was no way he would accept a delay in payment so easily. That would be her chance to expose his true colors.

However, Garde simply nodded, completely unconcerned.

"In that case, just give me the money when Saria returns. I don't need that much right away anyway."

'Of course you don't need that much money!'

If it were Kristen, the first thing she'd do with billions of Columbian gold certificates would be to invest in new research projects.

But what would Garde do with it?

Just stash it in a bank, collecting interest while doing nothing?

After a brief, casual conversation to confirm there was nothing else to discuss, Kristen nonchalantly asked, "Mr. Garde, do you have a place to stay? If not, you're welcome to stay in our Rhine Lab staff dormitory. Every management-level employee has their own suite."

"No need, I already have a place to stay."

"Muelsyse arranged it for you?"

Kristen didn't press for details—she wasn't particularly interested in Garde. If not for Saria's letter, she wouldn't have wasted her time meeting with him at all.

However, the contents of the letter had genuinely surprised her.

She trusted Saria, and if Saria was willing to pay Garde such a high reward, it meant he was truly worth the price.

When Saria returned, if she confirmed the promised payment was indeed that amount, Kristen wouldn't go back on it.

Even from thousands of miles away, Saria had once again fulfilled her promises—once again protecting Rhine Lab.

Once again… protecting her.

After Garde left, a rare, sincere smile appeared on Kristen's face.

"Since Saria hasn't come back, I'll just stay at her place again tonight."

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