Chapter 312: Rewards and the permit
As they stepped out of the house where, according to the man, his reward was waiting, the man spoke with an easy smile.
"My name is Kruger, by the way. I serve as the Chief’s attendant." His demeanor was a little easy now to deal with.
Now that Luke was standing beside him, his earlier reactions finally made sense. It was no wonder the man had been so animated back then. He was a dedicated man at job.
"Okay," Luke replied simply, seeing no reason to introduce himself again.
"I’ve been to your village before. When Baldon became Chief, I personally escorted Gary there after appointing him as the Head Barter."
"You know Gary?" Luke asked, genuine surprise slipping into his voice.
Kruger chuckled. "Of course. We meet often because of work. I was the one who taught him the value of toras and lives. Once he proved himself, he earned enough trust to become a barter."
Luke gave a quiet nod, unable to hide his respect.
Becoming a barter was no small achievement. Gary answered directly to the Head Village, and every tora he distributed to hunters or collected from them ultimately fell under the authority of the Chief who governed all the tribes.
It turned out the position of a barter was scrutinised far more carefully than that of a village chief.
"Well, he’s doing his job perfectly," Luke said with a nod. "He’s impartial. When it comes to toras, he doesn’t care who he’s dealing with."
That was simply the kind of man Gary was.
If the issue involved money, he would argue even with Baldon himself. Just recently, he had firmly opposed holding the hunting contest, insisting the village was still recovering from the magical creature’s ambush.
Had Baldon not chosen to personally fund the event, the contest would never have taken place.
Kruger smiled faintly. "I chose him because of that strict, stubborn nature above everything else. And having grown up in a place where people kill each other over a piece of bread, he understands the value of every single tora."
Luke’s curiosity was immediately stirred, but before he could ask what Kruger meant, the man slowed to a stop.
"Here we are."
Waiting outside was a carriage far larger than the one they came here. Two well-fed black horses stood harnessed to it, their coats gleaming beneath the daylight.
The carriage itself was spacious enough to seat nearly twenty people. A glance inside revealed cushioned benches lined with soft fabric stretched over thick cotton padding.
Compared to the one they had arrived in, this was luxury.
"You’ll also have someone to drive it and care for the horses. His name is Fin," Kruger said, gesturing towards a man who had just walked over. Fin greeted Luke with a respectful nod.
Luke frowned slightly. "How much would I have to pay him? And where would he stay?"
Kruger shook his head. "I’ll speak with Gary. He’ll arrange both. If you’re satisfied with Fin’s service, you’re welcome to reward him from time to time."
Luke folded his arms, his gaze drifting back to the imposing carriage.
Truthfully, he wasn’t even sure how often he would be travelling. Owning such a large carriage might end up being less of a reward and more of a burden.
Kruger seemed to read Luke’s thoughts from the look on his face.
"If you don’t find much use for the carriage or Fin, you can hand them over to Baldon," he said with a faint smile. "I’m sure he’d be delighted to have a more comfortable ride."
Luke gave a casual shrug. "I’ll think about it."
Kruger nodded. "Come with me. There’s one more thing."
He led Luke a short distance away as a warrior approached, carrying what looked like a sword wrapped in cloth.
"Here," Kruger said, presenting it to him. "Forged by our finest. He crafts weapons exclusively for our lord, so you should understand just how valuable this is."
Luke smiled wryly at the grand introduction before drawing the blade.
The moment the steel cleared its sheath, his expression changed.
It was a broad, double-edged sword with a sturdy build, yet the weight settled naturally into his grip. The balance was exceptional. It felt as though every ounce had been placed exactly where it belonged.
Luke gave it a few slow swings through the air. The blade cut forward effortlessly, carrying just enough momentum without feeling sluggish. With the proper angle, slicing through a tree trunk, or a man’s neck, would take little effort.
"Hmm... nice." A hint of approval crept into his voice. "I like this one."
Even so, he doubted it would see much use.
As fine as the weapon was, it simply wasn’t enough for the creatures he hunted inside the dungeon.
Perhaps it would at least be useful for showing off in front of his mates during a hunt.
The thought drew a faint grin from Luke.
Kruger caught the expression and visibly winced before producing another item.
"Here. Take this plate."
Luke accepted the rigid circular plate and examined it. An eagle’s head was engraved at its centre, the craftsmanship precise enough to make the emblem seem almost alive.
"This is..."
"A permit," Kruger explained. "It allows you to enter the Head Village without being questioned or stopped. It’s only issued to people the Chief considers both important and trustworthy."
With a dismissive scoff, he added, "Even Baldon doesn’t have one, so don’t lose it."
Luke nodded and slipped the plate into his pocket as casually as if it were an ordinary trinket.
Kruger let out a weary sigh before motioning ahead.
"Come with me."
Luke blinked. "There’s something else?"
He had assumed the carriage and the sword were already generous enough. Even if they weren’t particularly valuable to him, most hunters would have considered either one a remarkable reward.
Surely that should have been everything.
Instead, Kruger lowered his voice.
"There is one last thing. But I can’t give it to you out here."
Luke’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
The carriage, the sword, and now a permit that even Baldon lacked.
Just what was this man planning to hand him next?
Luke’s caution proved unnecessary.
The moment they stepped back inside the house, away from prying eyes, Kruger reached beneath his cloak and produced a large leather pouch.
"Here."
The familiar rattle immediately told Luke it contained toras. Yet when he loosened the drawstring and looked inside, he paused.
The coins were different.
Larger, heavier, and cast in a darker metallic shade than the toras he was accustomed to.
"...What are these?"
He could have asked the system, but Kruger was standing right in front of him.
The attendant folded his arms with a smug look. "Not surprising you don’t know. These are called Roh. A single Roh is worth one thousand toras."
Luke froze.
One thousand...
His eyes drifted back into the pouch.
There had to be at least twenty coins inside.
Twenty thousand toras.
For a brief moment, even he struggled to stay composed.
’Damn... I don’t think I’ll have to worry about money for a long, long time.’
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A/N: I hope you liked the Chapter. Please leave a comment