Chapter 1

My mother left me nothing before she died except the mercenary organization she built―The Zenith.

She told me her old wounds were untreatable and that her time had long since come.

She said she had no enemies and told me not to seek revenge for her.

She asked me to take good care of the children she had rescued and brought into the fold.

Then, she breathed her last breath.

However, she neglected to mention that the world is currently at peace, and mercenaries can hardly find any work.

She also failed to mention that the organization doesn't have a single penny left.

I have no idea how I am supposed to feed this entire crowd of people.

1

My mother claimed to be the greatest fighter under the sun, yet she died in the dead of this winter.

The organization's doctor said it was because she had fought far too many battles in her youth.

Her old injuries had become impossible to heal.

So, she dumped a massive mess on me without leaving behind a single cent.

Her funeral expenses were scraped together by my younger disciples working odd jobs.

"Big Sis, Seventeen's clothes are too small now. Twelve and Thirteen need to pay their tuition fees to the academy."

"The Miller family from the valley came to propose last month, and Master accepted on behalf of Third Sister. Also…"

It was the first night after my mother's burial when my penny-pinching Second Sister knocked on my door.

I knew my mother's extravagant lifestyle wouldn't leave anything of value, but she still detailed every single expense for the coming year.

What kind of mercenary organization sends kids to private academies?

What kind of mercenary gets married and expects the organization to provide a dowry?

That was exactly the kind of thing my lovely mother was capable of doing.

"Sienna, do you really think if your Master had money, she would have let you scrounge for her funeral costs?"

"Master said before she passed that you've grown up. She believed you have the ability to take good care of us."

My mother's words were like a divine decree to them; they really showed me no mercy.

"Do I look like I have the physical strength to take care of you? You're older than me! How can you have the heart to send me out to work?"

My voice grew louder and louder until I finally broke down into a loud wail.

"Have some mercy, Sienna! I really can't do this… why don't we just disband right here?"

"Big Sister, what does 'disband' mean?"

The one who spoke was little Seventeen, whom Sienna was carrying in her arms.

She was a chubby little thing, and Sienna knew I wouldn't have the heart to say no once I saw her.

I immediately shut my mouth and wiped my nose, giving Sienna a reluctant thumbs-up.

She certainly knew how to play me. With a brain like that, I wondered why she didn't go down the mountain to make money herself.

I rubbed my temples and waved her away, which meant I was now officially responsible for this huge family.

I started to consider what skills I actually had to support them.

Cooking? Nope. Sewing? Not a chance. Robbery? The world was too peaceful, and I had never even killed a chicken; I didn't have the guts.

Selling my body? I looked at my beanpole figure with a miserable expression.

Oh, Mother, you skimped on my meals every day to feed those little brats. Now your daughter couldn't even sell herself if she tried.

Finally, I headed down the mountain. If I stayed any longer, Seventeen would starve until she looked like a skinny monkey.

I went to the local government office first, but I couldn't pass the civil service exam, so I climbed over the wall instead.

I was caught, and I didn't dare fight back. Since I was a woman, the guards just escorted me out.

I also went to a private security firm. The boss said there were no bandits these days, so nobody needed a convoy.

He added that having a woman in the crew would ruin their professional reputation.

I was starting to wonder how I would explain my failure to my mother in the afterlife when wealth literally fell from the sky and hit me.

It actually crashed right into me. I grimaced as I pushed the person off my back, catching a glimpse of a figure disappearing from a second-story window.

Who tries to take someone out from only the second floor? That's even dumber than our mercenaries at The Zenith.

You hit me and then try to run? I scrambled up to give chase, but something on the ground grabbed my ankle.

"Let go!"

I kicked out instinctively, and a groan of pain came from the ground. It was a soft, whimpering sound, like a puppy.

I looked down and saw a man lying there. His long fingers were gripping my leg tightly, and his eyes were welling with tears.

He reminded me of Seventeen when she was begging for treats.

I left a note and some cash for my sisters and followed Skylar.

Skylar was the man I saved that day.

At the time, he looked at the sword I was wearing and then at my sturdy build―which had remained unharmed after a hundred-pound man landed on it.

He tremblingly made a request.