Chapter 37 - 16: [Assassin Elliot and the Super Arrogant Twin Knights]

Chapter 37: Chapter 16: [Assassin Elliot and the Super Arrogant Twin Knights]

Silence. Randall had been thoroughly chewed out.

"I... I can give up my share of the reward," Randall hesitated.

"How much are you going to give up, Riska?" Elliot asked. "Five thousand divided by five is one thousand each. Five thousand divided by seven is seven hundred each. Four people are short three hundred Gold Coins each, which makes one thousand two hundred. Even if you don’t take a single penny of your seven hundred Gold Coins after this mission is completed, you still can’t cover the difference for your teammates. What? Are you going to pay five hundred Gold Coins out of your own pocket? You finally saved up some money, and you can’t wait to waste it on something like this?"

He snorted.

"I am older than you and higher in level. I don’t need you paying out of pocket to compensate me. I’ll forgo my three-hundred deficit. Forget about me, go discuss it with the other teammates, Riska. If the other three agree to lose three hundred for no good reason, then go right ahead." He leaned back in his chair, lazily withdrawing from the discussion. "Or, you can tell those two damn Knights to get lost right now. What kind of adventurers wear heavy armor anyway? You can’t even walk in heavy armor!"

Randall sighed.

"I want... to be absolutely foolproof." He scanned Swordsman Glad and Mage Selena on both sides of the long table. "I’ve seen too many adventurers die because they weren’t adequately prepared... I truly value everyone here. I... I hope we can be a team for the rest of our lives.

"Every mission is fraught with danger, and accidents can happen at any time.

"It’s just like how I habitually buy a lot of extra supplies before every departure. Beast-Repelling Torches, antidotes, and arrows—I’d rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

"Elliot, you are a level-four Assassin and cat burglar. Perhaps for you, working alone through stealth and assassination, you have many means to kill bandits from the flanks and the shadows. But you are not the entirety of this team. I have to consider the others. They don’t have your experience or your capabilities. When facing bandits, they are ultimately novices.

"If the mission fails... as a level-four Assassin and cat burglar, with your skills, you have absolute self-preservation capabilities even in defeat. But the others are different, and I must take care of the whole team. Those who are weaker cannot be left behind.

"Bandits are ultimately highly dangerous, unknown enemies. These two Knights act as an insurance policy. At the very least, they can absolutely guarantee our safety.

"If any of you are short on money and need it, feel free to take from my share of the seven hundred. If it’s not enough, I’ll pay another two hundred myself. I just hope everyone can return safe and sound."

He looked around the long table.

"That won’t be necessary." The Heavy Swordsman shook his head. "Seven hundred is fine."

"You’re always like this, Randall... Seven hundred is plenty, everyone still makes a profit," the Mage said briskly. "Besides, you haven’t factored in the loot from the Bandit Camp. Even if it’s just battered second-hand weapons, plenty of merchants are willing to buy them. We could even sell them as scrap metal to the Blacksmith to melt down and reforge! With all the odds and ends added up, scrounging up another one or two thousand won’t be a problem."

"Thank you." Randall took a deep breath. "Next, we just wait for Ruby to bring those two Knights back..."

He pondered for a moment.

"Also, Elliot, I think you’ve underestimated the strength of those two Knights," Randall chuckled softly. "Even though they wear heavy armor, they can still move freely even during long treks. You’ll see when you meet them with your own eyes."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. A rhythmic knocking sounded at the door.

"Ruby brought them here... Please come in!" Randall called out as he stood up to welcome them.

The door to the studio opened.

"Welcome. The... uh, Garbage Beasts of Luojie City welcome the two Knights." Ruby awkwardly assumed a guiding posture, trying her best to read out the bizarre name with composure.

"Welcome to the team, you two Knights." Randall clapped his hands lightly in greeting.

Swordsman Glad and Mage Selena followed suit, standing up to applaud.

Assassin Elliot snorted and did not move.

However, the next second, the two figures behind Ruby bowed their heads slightly to lower their height. As they squeezed their towering frames through the doorframe, Elliot froze. He narrowed his eyes, sizing them up, and after a moment of hesitation, slowly stood up to applaud.

"Welcome... to the team, you two Knights." He stared at the two Knights thoughtfully, then turned his head to cast a deep look at Randall.

Randall smiled.

"Oh, oh, oh, thank you, thank you. Good morning, everyone... You really don’t need to be so enthusiastic, I’m a bit embarrassed..." the Copper Armor Knight with a sword and shield, draped in a tattered cloak, greeted them repeatedly. He nodded in return to each of them, bobbing his head like a Split Claw Bird pecking at grain.

The slender Black Armor Knight did not move, merely nodding slightly.

"Please have a seat, Knights." Randall reached out and pulled out the chairs beside him. "Apologies, something came up this morning, and I had a discussion with my teammates that delayed things. I’m truly sorry."

"Before we get into any pleasantries, we need to make one thing clear," Talia suddenly said. "We are ascetics on a journey of penance. We have our own travel route and destination, and we will not stay in your team for long. We joined your team merely to earn some travel expenses, and to repay the kindness of this Sewage Worker captain along the way."

"Alternatively, if you’ve accepted a mission that requires traveling to the Ederic Empire, we can tag along and provide assistance." Samael rubbed his hands together and added, "But after entering the borders of the Ederic Empire, I’m afraid we’ll have to part ways. It’s truly a stroke of luck to be able to spend time with you all. The thought that we’re destined to part in the future... really breaks my heart."