Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 310

Chapter 310 A Mercenary’s Duty

Herman laid out his story, holding nothing back from Julie.

Finished

With each revelation, Julie listened in growing dread. “So if you go back and report to him, your guild leader will force you… to assassinate her?”

“Yes,”

“That flying knife earlier–it came for me, not you. It was a warning for you?” Julie asked.

“It was.”

“Who wants the lady dead?” she asked.

Herman shook his head, his expression turning grim. “I truly cannot say that. I’ve told you everything else I can.”

His eyes held an earnest plea. “All these years, I’ve trained myself hard–at first to get strong enough to protect my family. After they were gone, I was already in too deep. Life in the gang… there’s no real choice. You do what you must for a roof and a steady meal.”

“What gang is it? Are they powerful?”

“The Lynx Gang. ‘Powerful‘ isn’t the word. Around Breston, they have a certain reputation. They survive by taking contracts.”

Julie thought for a moment. “I’ve never heard of them. Are the people there… all wicked?”

Herman replied, “Not good, not evil. It depends on who walks through the door. Decent folk pays us to find missing kin–we take the job if the price is right. Vile folk pays us to silence someone–we take that job, too, if the price is right.”

“Then let me give you all the money I have. Take it to your leader. I’ll get more in time, I swear it. Tell him to drop this contract on Ms. Campbell’s life. If he calls it off, I won’t breathe a word to her.”

Seeing the desperate sincerity on her face, Herman lowered his gaze. “The leader has already accepted the down payment. There’s no turning back.”

“Return the deposit! Why can’t you? How much did the client pay? I’ll double it. I don’t have that much now, but I’ll work for it-”

“Julie, it isn’t about the money. It’s about honor. The gang’s reputation. Even if you matched the sum, the leader wouldn’t back down. And you don’t have that kind of gold,” he said.

Her anxiety tightened like a knot. “Then what do we do?”

Herman stayed silent.

Julie pressed, her voice trembling. “If you move against her, you become her enemy. And mine. For my

sake, at least… don’t do it.”

2:18 pm p

Chapter 310 Mercenary’s Duty

Finished

She stared at him, teary–eyed. “Leave the Lynx Gang. Walk away. Then you won’t be part of this anymore.

“You won’t have to hurt her. This isn’t just about protecting her–I’m worried for you, too! You know she’s under Prince Theodore protection now. Do you really think you can succeed against him? You’d only get yourself killed in the attempt.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt. No matter who wins, it would be a disaster for me.”

Herman said softly, “When I had nothing and nowhere to go, the leader took me in. He trained me himself and brought in masters to teach me everything I know. I swore my loyalty to him for life. How can I just walk away now?”

He let out a heavy breath. “This is my duty.”

“What kind of duty is that? You’re being a fool!” Julie shot back, frustration rising. “Why would a stranger take you in and train you for nothing? To turn you into his blade! Everyone in that gang is just a tool to him. If you died tomorrow, he’d just train another. Don’t you see that?”

“Even so, I owe him,” Herman insisted, his brow furrowed.

“You’ve repaid that debt ten times over! All these years following orders, doing who knows what… and where does the money go? Straight to him, doesn’t it?” Julie asked.

Herman said nothing.

Julie said, her tone sharpening, “So you’re just another hired hand to him. Training servants is what masters do–so they serve better. Servants work for pay/You work for scraps and risk your life. You’ve done enough.”

“You don’t understand,” he murmured.

“Maybe I don’t. But I don’t want you in danger. I don’t want you killing anymore. Herman, please. Just leave. Then you won’t have to be Ms. Campbell’s enemy.”

Herman just shook his head, words failing him.

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