I Have a Task Log

The moment he finished speaking, more plates laden with food floated over from the side.

’That’s it? I don’t need to swear an oath or do anything else?’

Thinking this, Colin looked down at his food.

The meal included a plate of thick-cut smoked pork, over-easy eggs, and two slices of wheat bread, plus a classic traveler’s stew and, finally, a foamy mug of beer.

The traveler’s stew was made with beef brisket, beans, and carrots stewed with potatoes. As it was served, the distinct, beefy aroma wafted straight to his nostrils.

This was a fairly classic Thousand Masts City meal.

Colin glanced at the food in front of the others.

In front of Kase was a whole rack of smoked ribs—from what animal, Colin couldn’t tell. Beside it was a dish of blueberry jam, classic Northern fare.

Orelia received a bowl of stewed lamb shank with some black bread. The meat was sprinkled with spices like chili and cumin—something someone from the South would likely enjoy.

Moreover, the dishes in front of the other teams were all suited to their individual tastes; judging from the selection, they were practically tailor-made.

"In any case, sit back and relax, everyone." Asvir said from his chair, a kind and amiable smile on his face. "You have food before you, not a hangman’s noose."

"Honestly, there isn’t much of a difference." Edwin shrugged. "At least, that’s certainly how I felt the first time I was here."

Morel, holding his wine glass, chimed in with a teasing smile. "I remember your face was ashen back then. You were clutching your Holy Emblem so tight I thought you were a spy who had infiltrated Thousand Masts City to assassinate a Black Tower Mage."

The banter between the powerful figures broke the ice, and the entire hall visibly relaxed.

The members of the surrounding teams began to speak up, chatting about topics like family estates and merchant guild trade routes, occasionally drifting to things like coffee, cake, and fashion.

Colin could sense the excitement from the other teams at meeting the Master of the Black Tower. Everyone wanted to say a few words to make a good impression.

After all, most mortals would go their entire lives without ever meeting such a powerful Mage.

Fortunately, most of the people at the banquet had a sense of propriety.

Although everyone wanted to speak, the conversation still progressed in an orderly fashion, never descending into a chaotic or unruly scene.

Colin had no interest in such matters, so he simply focused all his attention on the food in front of him.

Kase and the others were much the same. They weren’t very talkative to begin with and usually avoided speaking to strangers for fear of causing trouble. Now, they were even more reticent.

Colin tore off a piece of bread and dipped it into the stew.

The soft, fresh bread instantly soaked up the rich gravy. The moment he put it in his mouth, it practically melted.

That first bite was like a starting gun. Colin quickly grabbed the spoon in his bowl and began to devour the stew.

The fat from the brisket blended perfectly with the potatoes that had been stewed down to near-mush. The beans were also soft, but they retained a slight firmness, adding a pleasant complexity to the texture.

Finally, there was the thick-cut smoked pork. It had clearly been smoked over a wood fire; with every bite, a rich, smoky flavor filled his mouth.

As Colin was enjoying his meal, a small shadow suddenly dropped from above, and the hall instantly fell silent.

A closer look revealed it to be a fat gray rat.

The rat whispered something in Asvir’s ear.

The Master of the Black Tower then announced, "A small matter has suddenly come up. Please, continue to enjoy your meal. We must step away for a moment."

"Of course, the award ceremony is over. If you have urgent business, you are free to leave," Morel added.

With that, the three of them rose and left the office.

With the hosts gone, the atmosphere immediately cooled.

Colin felt that even the aroma and warmth of the food seemed to have diminished somewhat.

"I presume that since we are all seated here, it means we are all elite, the most capable fighters among the Field Staff. That much is beyond question," said one of the men from the military-uniformed team. "I believe we should get to know one another."

The words had barely faded when a noble from the traditionalist faction stood up to introduce himself. "Good day to you all. I am Karen Valenza, second son of the Valenza family. Our family estate is renowned for its Warhorses, which I assure you are no inferior to those from near the Holy City Cadopolis. Should any of you require them, feel free to send someone to contact me."

After him, the other nobles in his team introduced themselves in turn.

The six of them belonged to six different families, all of which had estate-based holdings. They were bona fide traditional nobles, in roughly the same camp as the Weston Clan, and none of their families were considered weak.

’But... I can’t make such a simple judgment.’

Colin mused internally. ’Even among families of the traditional nobility, all sorts of conflicts exist. The books in the Great Dome won’t tell you about that stuff. Who knows what the real situation is between them?’

’This was one of the hassles of dealing with nobles.’

After the six traditionalists finished, the six new nobles also stood and spoke at length.

These nobles spoke for much longer than the traditionalists, their family enterprises mostly related to industry and commerce.

For example, the Dwarf was the third son of the blacksmiths’ guild master, while the Halfling’s father ran the spice market.

The Gnome in their team was the son of an Adventurer; his father had used the fortune he’d amassed from his adventures to buy the title and estate of a declining noble family. It was a classic example of fortunes being reversed.

Their self-introductions were so long that Colin basically didn’t remember any of the details.

Then came the team in military uniforms.

Surprisingly, they almost all hailed from the lands surrounding the Holy City, and every one of them was a Paladin from the Morninglord Sect. It seemed likely they were here because of Edwin.

After they finished speaking, Ale slowly rose from her seat.

She gave a slight nod, her fingertips gently lifting the hem of her pale green dress as she executed a perfect curtsy, one befitting a lady of Thousand Masts City.

Then, Ale spoke, her tone gentle and composed. "Good day to you all. I am Alessandra Golden Flame, of the Aurelian family. My clan has resided in Silver Moon City for generations, where we have long been in the business of gems and jade. Should you ever have need of appraisal, I would be happy to offer my humble assistance."

’Now that’s playing to one’s strengths,’ Colin thought.

The new and old nobles alike looked surprised by Ale’s display, a hint of confusion in their eyes. They likely hadn’t expected to find someone who understood such formalities among a group of country bumpkins.

"Name’s Kase. From a tribe up North." As soon as Ale sat down, Kase shot to his feet, his bared tusks glistening with grease. "Since I got here, I’ve killed Winter Wolves, giant ants, Gnoll Paladins, flying scorpions..."

He rattled off his list of kills as if ordering from a menu, and the Paladins didn’t even have time to process the strange creatures he mentioned.

After the Half-Orc finished his recitation, Colin quietly stood up and said, "Colin. From the slums."