Chapter 33: How Many Gold Coins to Buy Them All?

The threat of the demon snakes has been lifted, and the castle has returned to peace.

Of course, Gravys must also reward his subordinates for their merits.

Clear rewards and punishments better motivate the soldiers’ enthusiasm.

As agreed, the five guards with the most enemy heads were promoted to knight attendants.

Each of them killed more than four enemies; notably, only one among these five was a new recruit.

This new recruit achieved such results not only due to his strong physique but also because of some luck.

That is why Gravys chose knight attendants in stages—otherwise it would have been far too unfair to new recruits.

Of course, the merits of others besides these five will not be forgotten.

Everyone who participated in today’s battle, even without any enemy heads, will receive at least five pounds of smoked fish meat; those with heads will receive an additional silver coin per head.

Knights, due to their greater role, receive greater rewards.

Lei Meng was rewarded thirty silver coins and five pounds of meat; Mi Gen and others each received ten silver coins and five pounds of meat.

……

“My lord, Captain Laurent reports that a force of over three hundred unknown individuals is approaching the town from a dirt road three li south!”

At dusk, Knight Mi Gen hurried into the parlor to report.

It’s no wonder they were so tense—the south leads either to the Death Mountains or the Chaos Wastes, and every group that’s come these past days has brought nothing but trouble.

Gravys immediately formed a judgment in his mind.

Calculating the time, this group could only be the slave caravan mentioned in the intelligence!

And among that slave caravan is a female slave with golden blood, along with ten longbowmen!

These are all scarce combat assets.

“Tell the guard squad not to panic—Zhui Yue already informed me. It’s likely a slave caravan. Go prepare the horses—we’re going to the town!”

“Yes, my lord!”

Meanwhile, Cooper was leading his group at full speed.

In the Storm Domain, known as a land of death, the wilderness after nightfall is extremely dangerous, so they must reach Wheatfield Town before dark.

“Hurry up those pigs—we must reach Wheatfield Town before nightfall!”

At Cooper’s urging, the air filled with the crack of whips, forcing the already staggering slaves to grit their teeth and push forward.

“Boss, next time we return, don’t take this easternmost route—it’s damn far and dangerous.” The subordinate complained as he swung his whip.

“Do you think I want to? Every other route loses us a few slaves. Only this easternmost path is deserted—these bastards can’t even run away! Enough complaining. Once we reach Wheatfield Town, we’re safe. Then I’ll treat you all to a good meal!”

“Wheatfield Town has hardly any people—no wine, no women, only dry, bitter black bread!” the subordinate sneered.

“You damn mouthy bastard. The Storm Domain has none of that—wait till we get to Mil Lord’s territory, then you can eat. Hey… wait. This time Wheatfield Town’s gates aren’t closed? Last time we had to beg for half an hour just to get in!” Cooper exclaimed.

“Boss, look at the number of guards—over twenty. Maybe they’re not afraid of us anymore! But they’re way too full of themselves. Don’t get me wrong, this tiny town? Our forty men could wipe them out three times over!”

Cooper nodded. “Enough talking. Don’t provoke anything. They’re still royal guards, after all.”

Then Cooper changed his tone, holding out a royal travel token in one hand and thirty copper coins in the other. “Captain, we are the Black Bear Trading Company. We intend to stay in Wheatfield Town tonight—please grant us your favor.”

Laurent took the token, examined it carefully, confirmed its authenticity, then returned it. “Welcome. Rest at the town square—they sell food there.”

“As for these copper coins… keep them. The Storm Domain forbids bribery.”

“Uh…”

Cooper had seen plenty of naked women, but a guard who refused a bribe? He’d never seen one before.

Two words: strange.

“Boss, maybe he’s just scared of our numbers and daresn’t take the copper coins?”

Cooper also found it odd—but just then, they reached the town square, and one of his men suddenly screamed, “Ah!”

Cooper jumped. “What the hell? What are you yelling—” He stopped mid-sentence, his body stiffening in shock.

There, in the town square, stood a five-meter-tall corpse bound to a wooden stake, on display.

Around the corpse lay a mound of over a hundred demon snake heads.

These were swamp ogres and monsters!

Not even a normal baron’s domain could handle such a threat, let alone the decayed Storm Domain.

What the hell had happened to the Storm Domain?

The subordinate who had just mocked the Storm Domain’s guards swallowed hard. “B-Boss… is there something wrong with this town? It doesn’t look anything like the Storm Domain we visited last year.”

Cooper agreed—it felt strange, almost unnatural.

As he considered leaving, a cavalry unit appeared on the road leading toward the castle.

The cavalry moved swiftly; as they drew near, seven magnificent warhorses emerged.

Cooper was stunned again.

“F-Firehorses?!”

These were living gold coins!

“Could some noble heir have come to the Storm Domain?”

Cooper thought it likely.

That would explain the swamp ogre’s corpse too.

“Your noble lordship, I am Cooper, one of the managers of the Black Bear Trading Company,” Cooper bowed low in greeting.

“Cooper, eh? I am Gravys Gail, Lord of the Storm Domain. Welcome to my territory!”

“Lord of the Storm Domain?” Cooper was stunned, but quickly recovered—noble heirs often traveled to train, build their own domains, or seek adventure.

So it was not strange for a noble heir to come to such a dangerous place as the Storm Domain.

Though Gravys noticed Cooper’s odd gaze, he gave it no further thought.

His focus was entirely on the golden-blooded girl and the ten archers.

The slave caravan trudged in chains, each one filthy, ragged, and disheveled—Gravys could not identify the girl named Evlan.

But that didn’t trouble him. “Cooper, how many slaves are in your group total?”

To an ordinary noble, Cooper wouldn’t have been so fearful.

But before this noble heir, he answered respectfully: “Lord Gravys, we brought back two hundred thirty-five slaves this trip.”

“Is that so? How many gold coins would it take to buy them all?”

Buy them all?

No wonder he was a noble heir—he spent money like water.

But this was the kingdom’s border; slave prices here wouldn’t match those in the heartland.

Cooper spoke cautiously: “Lord Gravys, we intend to take these slaves back to the imperial heartland. Buying them from us would be very unprofitable—you’d have to pay heartland prices.”

“I suggest you go to Iron Wolf City and buy from slave traders who specialize in border commerce.”

“No need. Tell me the price.”