CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 101: FIRST TASK

Seris moved quickly to prepare the items, wrapping and boxing them with practiced hands.

Leonard raised an eyebrow. " And what’s the price for all this?"

Kael didn’t answer immediately. He folded his hands behind his back, the corners of his mouth barely tilting upward.

"For you, my lord," he said gently, "whatever you’re happy to pay."

Leonard blinked once, surprised—but not displeased.

"That’s dangerous," he said. "Some merchants say that when they want to be cheated politely."

Kael’s tone remained smooth. "I trust your judgment. And I suspect your generosity isn’t easily underestimated."

The room fell quiet for a beat. The guards exchanged glances, and even Mayor Lysandra looked uncertain.

Then Leonard laughed—not loudly, but with genuine amusement. "You’re bold."

He pulled a leather pouch from his waist and unfastened the cord. The weight of the coins inside made a satisfying clink. He reached in and pulled out a fistful of gold coins—no less than twenty—and placed them one by one on the counter.

"For the goods," he said. "And for not flattering me like a child."

Kael bowed slightly. "Your trust is well-placed, my lord."

Leonard then faced the adventurers lingering near the rear tables, where they’d been quietly observing the exchange.

"Adventurers," Leonard addressed them directly, his tone shifting into something more formal, more commanding. "I have a proposition for you."

Leonard stepped forward, his boots sharp against the wooden floor. "As you may know, I’ve been tasked with overseeing security and stability in this region. Ginip lies too close to wild forests and dangerous wastes. It’s necessary that we patrol and map key parts of the forest nearby. You’re experienced, well-equipped, and, judging by your presence here, disciplined."

He nodded toward them with slight approval.

"I wish to hire your teams. Immediate employment. Patrol duties, hazard mapping, potential escort work. Gold will be paid upfront for the first rotation. If you prove reliable, a long-term contract can be discussed."

The Red Band and the Sand Hunters exchanged looks. Bram crossed his arms slowly, and Darien raised an eyebrow.

"Appreciate the offer, my lord. But... you’ll need to speak to our employer about that."

Leonard blinked. "Employer?"

Bram gave a polite nod and gestured toward Kael. "That would be him. Master Kael."

Kael hadn’t moved from the counter. His hands were clasped neatly behind his back, his expression unreadable. Leonard turned toward him slowly, surprise flickering through his gaze.

"You employ two full adventurer teams?" he asked, voice carefully measured.

Kael offered a mild smile. "They’ve agreed to work under me for now. Ginip’s changing. I needed dependable people to support the transition—and protect my interests."

"You’re not a noble," Leonard said calmly.

Kael’s voice remained smooth. "Nor do I claim to be. But I pay well. And unlike some, I don’t delay wages behind a missing treasury."

A flicker of tension passed through the air at that, and even Lysandra tilted her head slightly, lips thinning. Leonard didn’t react outwardly, though his posture shifted ever so slightly—straighter, more still.

"I see," he said. "Then allow me to speak to you directly."

Kael stepped forward. "Of course, my lord. Let us speak openly."

Leonard nodded. "I need your adventurers. For a scouting mission through the outer forest. It’s not a political move—it’s to secure potential routes and confirm safety. There’s been word of strange movements near the eastern glade."

Kael didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he moved past the counter and leaned against one of the long display tables. His arms folded. His eyes, sharp and calculating, studied Leonard carefully.

"And what are you offering?"

Leonard arched a brow. "Payment, of course. Gold for two days’ work. Provisions if needed."

Kael tapped the table lightly with one finger. "These aren’t Adventurer anymore, my lord. They’re contracted partners under Kaelmart operations. If I release them for your use, I’ll need compensation—not just for their time, but for the disruption to my logistics."

Leonard exhaled quietly. "How much?"

Kael raised two fingers.

"Forty gold coins."

The room fell silent again. Even Seris stopped packing boxes. Bram and Alenia gave Kael a sidelong glance.

Leonard didn’t respond right away. He stepped to the side, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his saber—not threatening, just thoughtful.

Leonard didn’t respond right away. He took a step aside, resting his hand casually on the pommel of his saber. It wasn’t a threat—just the reflex of a man used to commanding both men and moments.

"Fifty gold, was it?" he said, as if testing Kael’s resolve.

Kael didn’t blink. "Fifty, yes. For a full week of patrol coverage—two teams, armed, supplied, and familiar with the terrain. They’re not locals off the street. They’ve trained under me, work under modern discipline, and operate with coordination your own guards can’t match."

Bluf

Leonard studied them again—their gear, their confident postures, the sharpness in their eyes. These weren’t your average inn-dwelling mercs. They were professional—Kael’s version of a modern, mobile militia.

"And what does that include?"

"Scouting. Area mapping. First-responder combat against monsters or irregular threats. Daily reports delivered to your command tent or wherever you assign. No escort duties, no caravan security—pure perimeter control."

Leonard gave a slow nod. "And they’ll follow orders?"

"They follow my orders," Kael replied. "But so long as you’re paying me, and your instructions don’t conflict with mine, there won’t be a problem."

There was a beat of silence. Leonard glanced toward the counter, then withdrew his coin pouch again—this one larger than the first, marked with his family crest and closed with a silver clasp.

Without ceremony, he placed it on the counter with a faint metallic thump.

"One hundred gold. Fifty for the patrols. The rest to secure your continued cooperation. I’d rather not renegotiate every time we speak."

Kael’s fingers tapped once on the counter. "Accepted."

Seris stepped forward and picked up the pouch with both hands, visibly surprised at the weight. "I’ll count and record it."

"Do," Kael said. "Every coin."

Leonard turned toward the adventurers. "I’ll expect your people at the east gate before dawn. You’ll receive sealed maps and field instructions."

Bram gave a short salute. "Understood."

Darien nodded as well, though her smirk betrayed a flicker of amusement. "Looking forward to it, Lord Leonard."

Leonard gave a final glance around the room, then turned to leave, his cloak brushing the floor with silent precision. His guards and the mayor followed him out.