"We're going south to fight the orcs!"
Laura's eyes widened, an expression somewhere between surprise and confusion forming on her face. She remained silent for a moment, trying to digest Maxime's words.
"Fighting orcs?" she repeated slowly, as if making sure she'd heard correctly.
"You want to take the whole group south, into the middle of orc-infested mountains? Have you gone mad, Maxime?!"
Maxime, still serene, stared at Laura with unwavering determination.
"No, it's not crazy. Think about it for a moment, Laura. We need something bigger than simple skirmishes or local contracts to make our name."
"The orcs represent a threat that the entire south dreads, and if we become the ones to repel that threat, we'll have proven that we're much more than ordinary mercenaries."
Laura crossed her arms, her gaze skeptical.
"And you really think charging headlong into a war against orcs is the best way to prove our worth? I remind you that they're numerous and organized!"
