Path to Becoming the Greatest Space Mercenary-Chapter 176 Avery’s Counter

Regina was astounded by the fact that Avery had not only stood up to her so fiercely but even gone so far as to threaten her.

Seeing this, she had to wonder if it was this grit that had allowed him to earn the achievements he had in such a short amount of time.

Still, as impressed as Regina was, and wanting all the more for him to join her side along with Jasmine, she could not just take his words lying down.

As the leader of an entire world, her pride would not allow her to be bossed around by a mere mercenary. In this place, she held all of the power. And while she had wanted things to be resolved amicably, she was willing to exert her authority to get what she desired.

"I see that you can talk big but have a lacking sense of danger. What possible reason could I have to fear by simply keeping the three of you here for a few days? By the time this is all over, I'll have convinced all of you to stay here."

"You'll see that living on Azade is for the best. You won't have to be worried about being vaporized by pirates or terrorists or eaten by space monsters. This planet that is a perfect natural environment and has been cultivated for the last five centuries, will be an ideal home. Positions of authority and abundance of luxuries are within your grasp. It is honestly foolish to continue refusing."

Regina really could not understand her daughter's and her companions' reluctance to her offer. They had the chance to gain things that most people would kill for. And all they had to do was stay on Azade and follow her.

Nevertheless, she was confident that she could make the three of them see reason. A bit more negating and probably a few more concessions, and she would have them. She could tell already that all she needed to do was ensnare one of them. It mattered not which one. Then the others would follow. Their bonds were strong, but it also tied them to each other.

Yet Avery was hardly daunted. He doubted that Regina would do anything as drastic as putting implants into their heads like Iniquus had to the mercenaries he had captured. Even if she did have her guards confine them, he had prepared countermeasures for such an occurrence.

"I've instructed a member of my team to contact the connections I've made in the Alliance Police, and the Mercenary Association if I don't return by the end of the day. There are no caveats to this, so even if you send a sham message, it will go on deaf ears. I may not be the highest ranking or most famous mercenary, but I've still made a decent name for myself. If I go missing, I made sure that it won't be quietly." Avery said, his eyes filled with defiance.

He knew that even a world leader like Regina did not want to be on the bad side of two of the more powerful organizations in the entire Alliance.

In terms of military might, both the Alliance Police and Mercenary Association made up around ninety percent of the forces within the Dramid Alliance. Certainly, they would not attack Regina and Azade on Avery's account, but gaining their ire would detrimental for anyone.

As a four star mercenary and recipient of the Silver Cross of Heroism, Avery held enough sway to get both organizations to move on his behalf in the right situation. Regina detaining him and his crew certainly counted for such an occurrence.

The higher the rank a mercenary achieved, the more those in positions of power wanted to recruit them.

There were plenty of recorded instances where wealthy CEOs and high-ranking officials had tried to force a capable mercenary to work for them indefinitely. In those situations, it was best to leave it up to the upper brass of the Mercenary Association. Otherwise, things typically turned violent, as every mercenary hated being forced into servitude for what they considered unreasonable and unjust reasons. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Ah, and there's also another major player that would be upset if you confine me here. I've got a contract with Storren. Corp that will need to be fulfilled soon. If I'm not there, it could potentially cost them tens of billions of Krenin and their reputation. I doubt that they'll want to do business with you, and by extension Azade, if that happens."

Regina had managed to hold her poker face up until Avery mentioned Storren Corp.'s possible involvement in this affair.

She had already expected some possible pushback from the Alliance Police and Mercenary association if she held Avery, Jasmine, and Kasandra for a few days. But she had no idea about his job with Storren Corp.

Since his dealing with the company had been completed before Jasmine joined him, it had not been something on her radar.

As one of the top three largest spacecraft building companies in the entire Alliance, Azade had purchased a number of vessels from Storren Corp. in the past.

Most of their Protectors of the Peace piloted ships bought from the company, and even Regina's own personal craft had been designed and made by them.

And while the largest branch of Storren Corp. was its shipbuilding, they had their hands in other industries as well. It was safe to say that the massive company was one of Azade's largest trade partners.

'Did he dig up this information and decide to use it as a bluff?' Regina thought, staring intently at Avery.

However, there was not a hint of weakness in his gaze. He meant everything that he had said.

"Of course, you could just throw me and Kasandra out and keep Jasmine here. That might cause less tension with the Alliance Police, Mercenary Association, and Storren Corp. But I assure you, if you do so, I will make the biggest fuss I can. Every favor I am owed and all of the influence I have will go into getting back at you. I don't care if it's petty. I'll do everything in my power to make your life difficult if you cross the line."

"Jasmine is part of my team and I'm willing to do anything to protect her. So, really think about what you want your next move to be. Do you really think making an enemy of me is the best for Azade, chancellor? And what about your daughter? Are you such a controlling parent that you have to force your will on her at every moment? You may think that the life you've lived is for the best, but that's not what Jasmine wants. She's not been a child for a long time now, so it should be your duty to support her rather than impose your will on her. If you really imprison us here, that means you're not any better than people like Iniquus."

Avery's words cut deep, and for the first time Regina was starting to falter.

She was ready to call her guards to come in at any moment and detain Avery, Jasmine, and Kasandra, but she had yet to send the signal.

Right now, her words were only a threat. So long as she did not act, the retaliations Avery promised would not come to pass.

Of course, she had her own cards to play.

She could drum up charges against Avery and Kasandra. Perhaps even going so far as to claim that they attempted to assassinate her.

But would doing so really get her what she wanted?

Jasmine would undoubtedly hate her for the rest of her life, and the only way to force her to become complaint would be to break her mentally until she was nothing more than a doll that followed orders.

If she wanted, Regina could do so. She could escalate things until Avery, Kasandra, and Jasmine were broken. With no choice but to give in to her.

Yet the last words Avery had just spoken to her echoed through her head.

Naturally, she had heard about what Iniquus had done. It was a high-profile case involving an individual that held a notable amount of status and power.

The news about it had echoed through the upper crust of the Dramid Alliance, and Iniquus' domain and the planet he had called home caught a great deal of criticism and backlash.

To the public, it seemed that the deputy chief of the Alliance Police in charge of the Phregon System had sniffed out and put an end to Iniquus' scheming, but Regina knew the truth since Jasmine had been involved.

Avery and his team had singlehandedly resolved the issue.

'How can they compare me to that monster? I just want what's best for my daughter.'

As Regina reeled from Avery's words, Jasmine took a deep breath and worked up her own resolve. It was finally time to end this. Not by running away like she did in the past, but by facing her mother head on.