Upon a closer look, this scene does seem familiar, and I feel like I just saw it not long ago. The only difference is that there are not as many enemies, and the surrounded individuals are not as few as in the book I just read.

But the proportions are roughly similar.

"Should we go over and help?" Aliyah asked.

"In theory, we should, after all, Monty is also our friend."

I looked at Oyado.

"And Oyado's apprentice is also inside their encirclement."

"Yeah!"

Oyado nodded eagerly.

"However, directly intervening might instead trigger a battle on both sides. It might be better for us to wait and see, to understand what is really happening."

"That makes sense."

With that said, we seamlessly blended into the crowd watching nearby, focusing our gaze on the two groups on the field.

"Monty, oh Monty."

A warrior with Mendes written on his head stood in front of the other group, speaking to Monty.

"I thought you were eaten by wild beasts in the mountains. I never expected to run into you here. And you've resumed your old job as a sailor. Seems like you're going backward as you age!"

"Mendes, I know you still hold a grudge for us taking the God's Nail back then, but that item has long been handed over for our mission. Moreover, you had so many people chasing us all over the Modell Forest back then, wasn't that enough?"

"Enough?"

The other side smirked.

"What are you joking about? We and your squad received that mission at the same time, yet you managed to complete it first. Where does that leave our reputation? If we don't wipe out your mercenary squad, how can the Icy Wind Mercenary Group continue to survive on this continent?"

…

I glanced at Oyado, then at Aliyah.

"Don't you find these names quite familiar?"

"Yeah..."

Aliyah and Oyado nodded simultaneously.

"Of course, the Icy Wind Mercenary Group is one of the most notorious mercenary groups in several neighboring countries."

A sailor-looking guy next to us whispered.

"Due to their extremely poor standards of behavior, they have been wanted by several neighboring countries. Originally, our Gothic Ase Principality did not intend to let such a mercenary group enter the country, but due to the need for combat power, they were incorporated into the vanguard. These guys are fearless and readily agree, but now that they have ranks, they have started causing trouble in the city. Other mercenary groups are busy preparing for the emergence of the new continent, so they don't have time to deal with the Icy Wind Mercenary Group, which has made them even more brazen than before."

"Even so, doesn't the city guard interfere?"

I asked with a feigned worried expression.

"Who can manage them? The stronger city guards have already been enlisted into the real army to fight, leaving only some green recruits who are the opponents of these rascals."

"I see."

I nodded.

And just then, two people rushed over from afar in a frenzy.

Upon closer inspection, these two individuals were the ones who slipped through the net in the morning, and it seems they did not fare well with a knight carrying a dagger when they had fewer people, as their equipment had become tattered.

"Boss!"

The two individuals reached the warrior named Mendes, their faces full of fear.

"Something terrible has happened. Someone killed all of Dengdu's group. They lost contact while looking for someone. Later, I heard that several bodies were found in the alley. I rushed over to take a look... They... all died in a gruesome way."

"What! Are you saying all five of them...?"

"Yes!"

"What did you guys do? Didn't I ask you to go shopping? How did it turn into a search mission!"

"Well..."

The man looked around and then whispered something.

"You troublemakers! Always causing problems!"

Mendes slapped the man to the side and then glared angrily at Uncle Monty.

"Come, let's go see Dengdu's body. You, go tie up Monty's group! Monty, I advise you to surrender, otherwise, with so many people, things can get messy. Be careful for your son's life."

After hearing this, Uncle Monty pulled his Kodo behind him.

"What now? Are we going out to eliminate all of them?" Aliyah asked.

"Then wouldn't we become real bandits and murderers?"

"Aren't we already?"

"..."

I looked at her with contempt.

"Tacky, we are called heroes."

I was impressed by my own wit.

"Alright, alright, noble hero. What do we do now?"

"Good question."

I glanced at Mendes and his men leaving, then continued.

"See, the Frigid Wind Mercenary Group, they look like bad people, and they are blocking our way back to Lost Continent."

"So?"

"So we follow them back to their headquarters, assess their numbers, and then make a surprise move to at least temporarily prevent them from going after Uncle Monty."

"Good point."

Aliyah nodded.

"They probably have many treasure chests at their place."

Can't you have a little dignity? Who still just loots treasure chests all the time these days? It's faster to just fight them, drop money and equipment...

Of course, as a person with principles, I think randomly fighting is not good. If you really have to fight, it should be against those troublemakers who harm society.

Look, a squad is approaching right now.

"Alright, let's follow them."

Watching Uncle Monty's group being taken away, we nodded at each other and hastened to catch up.