I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

'....we're being watched'. Raph turned around and walked towards the other Mercenaries.

"I will stand guard first", He said, startling the others as they glanced at him in unison.

Azby raised a brow. "Um, Kael. That will be a little difficult" she said with a wry smile.

'Oh?' Raph thought while his thoughts lined in order. He has an inkling of an idea of why they wouldn't let him.

"We don't trust you", Rodrick stated with a bland tone in his voice. "Quite frankly, we don't even need you. It would be best to act like you weren't even here".

Raph sighed. 'As I thought'.

Do our differences matter right now? I think we're being watched, and I am better skilled than most of you. Wouldn't it be better to let me handle it?"

Their expressions twisted in annoyance as he finished his statement.

It became painfully clear that they didn't like him one bit with their current expressions.

Rodrick for one, seemed eager to start a fight as he was evidently fuming in anger while the others just stared at Raph with a bitter expression.

'What? It's the truth. I learned some techniques in the Academy, and I beat them all in a minute. What can they do about it?' He wondered. '...and besides, isn't it natural to leave things for the strong?'

"Look, Kael. We appreciate your presence, we really do….but, we're mercenaries ourselves. We can handle it just fine". Azby said with a sigh.

There was a tense silence that hung between them for a moment until Raph sighed and walked away.

"suit yourselves". He said as he headed towards the Merchants, who were setting up camp and preparing a meal.

The five Mercenaries stared at his back as he left to join them, their gazes flickering with emotions.

"I don't like him; what was Shyna thinking?" Rodrick stated with a disappointed tone.

"He's such an Asshole…just because he defeated us once", The fire mage, Lucky, a female with black hair and eyes, said with venom laced in her voice. "We were caught off guard. That was it".

"Well, honestly. The way he fought back with fluidity was kind of cool". Colyn said as he stroked his go area when his teammates gave him the stink eye.

He smiled wryly and looked away.

"It's the boss's decision. We have to put up with him till he gets to the east". Azby said with a sigh. "And just in case, Rodrick and Lucky, take watch first. Stopping a bunch of assassins or followers should be easy".

Rodrick and Lucky nodded while they went their separate ways.

As much as the Merchants had tasks that needed to be accomplished, so did the mercenaries. Of course, some went over to the camp to get a meal as well, but others decided to check the parameters and their equipment.

While they went about their various activities, Raph was seated across the fire and boiling an iron pot of soup that was being distributed. He may have walked away from the group, but his ears had not. He could hear their conversations clearly, thanks to his intricate manipulation of aura.

'What a bunch of sissies, ' he thought to himself with a bitter tone when one of the Merchants, a chubby man with hairy hands and a stout appearance, walked up to him and sat next to him.

There was a brief silence before a young boy came over to them to distribute the plate of soup and bread.

"Thank you," The man said as he took it, while Raph did the same.

The man glanced at Raph, and then at the other Mercenaries. "Sent out of the Team?" He asked with intrigue

Raph remained silent as he gulped a spoon of the delicacy. "What's it to you?"

The man chuckled at his response. "Well, true, but you see. I know every mercenary that has ever worked for us, and you seem new. I wouldn't be surprised if they sent you off". He bit through the bread, his gaze flickering as he stared at the crackling fire.

"True. It can't be helped, I'm from the West".

The man raised a brow in confusion. "So? Are you saying your place of origin should be a cause for limitations?"

Raph paused in his action, before continuing to take a bite from the bread. "I find it hard to understand, Cause for Limitations?" He asked.

"Yes, these days, racism between humans has become commonplace. I'm asking if you're someone that thinks that's okay, just because you're from another Region".

Raph found this difficult to understand for the first time. He glanced at the man to observe his features, and perhaps gain some insight from his looks.

The man looked like how one would expect from a rich merchant. Chubby, and dressed in expensive laces. However, this man's dress seemed particularly off the charts. Why? Because his lips were a shade of purple, and beneath his eyes were purple mascara. He had a ridiculous number of rings, and golden chains…accessories meant for women.

"Sorry, who are you?" He asked. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

The man laughed out, nearly choking on his bread. "So, now you ask?" He said, his tone laced with playfulness, and something else Raph did not want to tap in. "I am Malen Ritcoff." The man stretched his hand for a shake, and Raph responded in kind, though his thoughts sparked with familiarity on hearing that name.

'Where have I heard that before?' He wondered, unable to pin it down. 'Definitely from my past life….somewhere across' he continued his meal, unable to find it, the reason why the man seemed familiar.

"won't you introduce yourself?" Malen asked with a raised brow.

"Oh, well, I'm Kael," He replied with a lax tone before turning towards the fire that danced brilliantly in the middle of the camp. He scanned the people gathered, noting down the people.

"We have four loaded carriages, and there's a total of six merchants…" He glanced at the boy who had been serving them "....including the boy".

He then turned towards Malen. "Why are there so many merchants? Isn't one enough?" He asked.

Malen raised a brow. "You should have been briefed, right? But we're not all stopping at the same point. There are different sectors that require these goods".

'I see. So more like units….the eastern empire was well prepared….but, no matter how well prepared they are, they can never defeat the King'. Raph thought while he looked away. 'That's why they stretched the war for so long while damaging their resources'.

"It's a pity. The Eastern empire and the Western Kingdom can achieve so much more if they were to form a treaty". He said with a sigh.

Malen glanced at him as a result, before a smile formed on his face. "Maybe, but strong people tend to want the same things. It would be difficult to keep a treaty between Societies controlled by greedy leaders".

"Yes, it would have been best if one of them was wise enough to know all this is meaningless. And over What? Fight for land?" Raph clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Malen laughed out loud, his face staring at the st as he did so. "Yes. You are right. Both sides are wrong…..and that is why they should be joined".

"What? Joined?" Raph's gaze widened in surprise, as he glanced at the man, his thoughts lining in order. "What do you mean, join?"

"The Eastern Empire and the Western Kingdom are not that much different. They need a sovereign leader who will bring peace, and maintain it for a long time. After all, humans are the superior creatures; it is only right we lead each other properly". Malen sighed before he continued. "The way they rule is wrong. There is no peace in conflict; neither is there peace in equality. Conflict will rise again and again until Humans come to accept it. There is only peace in autocracy and dictatorship. A man that knows what humans need, and gives it to them. That is what we need".

'This man… how he speaks….Why is it so familiar?' He wondered when he scanned the man one last time.

"Oops. Look at me, talking about nonsense again" Melen said with a light chuckle as he continued his meal, and it was then it clicked in Raph's head.

He noticed his rings and one of them looked too familiar, too ominous, and too subtle that he nearly didn't recognize it.

A blood-red color with a black dot in the middle. The eye of the Red-eyed Devil.

He looked away and continued his meal, but he recognized him now. '...this man is a member of the Red Peacemakers'.