Chapter 486 - 485: A Handsome Reward

Chapter 486: Chapter 485: A Handsome Reward

"The future Earl must have sent you. Your timing is impeccable." Albert smiled and stepped aside, gesturing to Colin and the others behind him. "After receiving my orders, I took these skilled fighters straight to the scoundrels’ den. This victory is all thanks to them."

A few of the nobles looked toward Colin and the others standing in the back.

Their expressions were fine when they saw Ale and Colin, but when they looked at the others—especially Mog—their faces clearly stiffened.

At that moment, a young man from behind the nobles stepped forward and whispered a few words to them, and their expressions immediately relaxed.

"Welcome to Wolf Castle, Dragon Slayers." The noble Knight who had been speaking to Albert stepped forward. "I was wondering what kind of squad could have possibly entered the Beastman Camp alone to kill their Chief and his reserves. Now that I see it’s you, it’s not surprising at all."

"It was still a hard-fought battle for us," Colin said with a nod.

Just then, the gate in the inner wall of Wolf Castle slowly opened.

All the nobles looked toward the gate, nodding slightly in respect. The next moment, another "Albert" walked out with several fully armed Adventurers from his Close Guard.

Colin glanced at the real Albert beside him, who was disguised as someone else.

’Don’t tell me he snuck out all by himself without telling anyone... And he even arranged a body double in advance.’

The "Albert" who had just appeared stood in the bailey and gave an inspiring speech to the crowd below. The heavily armored noble Knights and soldiers below responded enthusiastically with applause and cheers.

At that moment, several Orcs burst out from behind the gate.

This group of boisterous brutes shouted Kase’s name in the Orc Language as they pushed their way through the crowd. They surrounded the party, all talking at once, but with their thick Northern Lands accents and all the noise, Colin couldn’t understand a word they were saying.

Their appearance caused the atmosphere in the bailey to drop by several degrees.

Fortunately, these Orcs had been fighting alongside the garrison for some time, so the surrounding Warriors weren’t too hostile toward them.

Then, "Albert" shouted toward Colin and his group, "Mikhailo! I saw what you all did around the Orc Chief’s tent! What are you waiting for? I’m eager to talk with you."

"Alright, Albert, we’re on our way," the real Albert replied.

Kase waved at the Orcs and said, "Alright, I’ll talk to you all later."

The group then followed Albert toward "Albert."

The party walked into the inner bailey of Wolf Castle and made their way to a door inside the main keep.

"Albert" said to the few Close Guards beside him, "Alright, you may leave."

"But..."

"Albert’s" tone grew sterner. "Are you suggesting this Half-Orc gentleman is an Orc spy? That’s hardly a polite assumption. These are good Orcs with noble intentions."

"Then we will take our leave, my lord."

The two fully armed Close Guards nodded in acknowledgment, then strode away.

"Albert" then led the group into the room behind the door.

The entire room was built of rough stone blocks, and a Flame was crackling in the fireplace.

A bearskin was spread on the floor, with several long benches covered in Beast Hides set before it. A few mounted wolf heads hung on the walls, giving the room a rugged style befitting the North.

In the corner of the room stood a bookshelf and a wide oak desk, making it look like an office.

After confirming the door was closed, "Albert" whispered urgently to Albert, "By the Morninglord, you promised! You promised you would be back within a week! Where on earth have you been?!"

’So he really did leave without permission...’ Colin glanced at Albert with a sense of resignation.

"Don’t be so tense, Mikhailo. I’m back now, aren’t I?" Albert said with a laugh.

The next moment, a gray Magic Radiance flashed across the faces of the two men. After the light faded, they had each taken on the other’s appearance—or rather, they had reverted to their original appearances.

"I swear, I couldn’t have kept this up for a few more days! What were you thinking? How was I supposed to give a flawless performance with just those few words from your daily [Sending]?" Mikhailo waved his hands frantically. "If my father finds out I’m helping you with this absurd scheme, he’ll hang me from a tree like the vilest of traitors."

"Alright, everything’s still under control, isn’t it? Making such a fuss isn’t very becoming of a warrior of the Northern Lands," Albert teased.

Mikhailo sighed in resignation.

He then turned to Colin and the others. "You must be the Dragon Slaying squad, right? I’ve heard of you. Thank you for putting up with Albert’s recklessness."

"We were just doing a job for pay," Colin said.

"Alright, let’s discuss the division of the spoils. I know that’s what you’re most interested in." Albert paused for a moment, then added, "Actually, wait a moment. I’ll be right back."

He then quickly led Mikhailo out of the room.

Colin and the others sat in front of the fireplace and waited for nearly twenty minutes before Albert and Mikhailo returned to the room, panting.

Both of them had taken off their Full Plate Armor and changed into practical riding attire.

"Finally, I can get out of that damned tin can," Albert said, tugging at his collar. "I’ve been wanting to do this for a while."

"That ’damned tin can’ is the lifesaver that saved you a few times," Dorn quipped.

Mikhailo spoke up, "Saved his life how many times? Forgive my presumption, but where exactly did you go?"

"Nowhere too far. We took a trip through the Supreme Forest, fought an Orc Warband, and then came back and fought an Orc Chief and his Guard Corps," Kase answered honestly.

Hearing this, Mikhailo crossed his arms and silently stared at Albert.

Albert coughed twice and said, "About the spoils... everything in the Orcs’ tents is yours. Of course, if you want to sell any of it, I can offer you a good price.

Then there’s the reward for escorting me here. Taking into account your efficiency and my personal satisfaction, how about five hundred Gold Coins per person? That’s two standard gold bars each. How does that sound?"

Hearing this, everyone swallowed hard.

—Two standard gold bars, five hundred Gold Coins each!

’That’s three thousand Gold Coins in total,’ Colin thought to himself. ’This is probably the highest-paying reward our squad has ever gotten.’

At this exciting moment, he keenly noticed Mikhailo’s face twitch.