"It’s not exactly a secret."
Ale lowered her head and continued, "I was raised in an Elven family, and for Elves, you only become an adult when you’re one hundred years old..."
"A hundred years from now, our sons will probably be dead," Kase blurted out.
Colin nudged him with his elbow. "Don’t interrupt."
"After every Elf comes of age, they’re expected to become independent. They have to leave their family to start their own lives. So before that, we have to travel and adventure in the mortal world to gain our own experiences and develop our own perspective on the world."
"Sounds a lot like our coming-of-age ceremonies. You know, hunting a beast when you become an adult to prove your strength," Kase said, nodding in agreement.
"Yes, exactly," Ale said. "That’s why I wanted to investigate the recent abnormal winter disaster. I hoped to achieve something so I could earn my parents’ approval."
"And what happens if you don’t get their approval?"
"They’ll... they’ll probably be a little disappointed," Ale said.
Colin asked casually, "I get the feeling your family is pretty wealthy, right?"
"How did you know?" Ale looked over, her face a mask of surprise.
’Probably because I’m not blind,’ Colin thought wryly. Aloud, he said, "Maybe it’s because I’ve met a lot of people."
"You’re really amazing, Colin," Ale said. "My family does have some influence around Silver Star Court and the Supreme Forest, and of course, some enemies. That’s why I came to travel around Thousand Masts City, to avoid being recognized."
"So that’s how it is," Colin said.
’So she really is a rich kid. Her parents must be really laid-back to let a daughter like her just wander around. If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t be able to rest easy.’
Kase asked curiously, "So how much money does your family have?"
"Well..." Ale thought for a moment before saying, "At first, I just thought Gold Coins were pretty, nice-smelling rocks. That is, until I spent all the money I brought with me."
After she said that, the others didn’t know how to respond.
A sad, thick wall had just been erected between them and the fifty-year-old Half-Elf.
Colin cleared his throat and said softly, "Let’s split the money we just got from selling the equipment. The Dragon Beast hides and Dragon Heads have been preserved with Antiseptic Oil for now. We’ll ask Donkexes what to do with them when we get back to Thousand Masts City."
He divided the 192 Gold Coins and some loose change from the sale into several pouches and handed them to the others. Each person received a little over forty-eight Gold Coins.
Of course, this didn’t include the payment for the mission itself; it was just a bit of extra income.
"Your ship isn’t here yet?"
Yuri’s voice came from behind them. The group turned to see the Paladin walking over, weaving around a few dockworkers shouldering heavy sacks.
"The refugees have all been settled by the Five-Stringed," he said in a low voice. "I’m heading north to continue tracking those bastards."
"That’s good. You’re probably about to set off now, then."
As he spoke, Colin thought of the handsome young Cultist with the expensive Swift Sword and the Smoke Bomb he had seen at the docks... ’What comes next definitely won’t be simple.’
He spoke up, "You should be careful."
"Careful? Of course." Yuri gave him a mysterious smile.
He walked over to Colin, flipped open his Cloak, and revealed a Smoke Bomb strapped to the inside.
Yuri said smugly, "This thing can shatter my Shield, so its power is definitely nothing to scoff at. If I run into any villains I can’t handle, I can give them a big ’surprise’!"
"That’s not what I meant..." Colin was at a loss for words.
"This is a new supply requisitioned by the Five-Stringed. I got one for you, too. As for how to use it, I probably don’t need to explain, right?"
With that, Yuri shoved a Smoke Bomb into Colin’s hand.
[Smoke Bomb / Ordinary Item]
[Explosion: Deals 22-34 Force Field Damage and 1-6 Flame Damage to everything within a six-meter radius.]
Colin took one look and quickly stashed the good stuff away.
’This thing is way more useful than my current Magic.’
He then added, "What I meant was, be careful. Watch out for your own safety."
"Hm? Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind," Yuri said dismissively before turning and walking away.
’I just hope the next time I see him, the Paladin isn’t dead or rotting in a jail somewhere,’ Colin thought to himself as he watched Yuri’s retreating back.
The group waited a while longer, and a ship appeared, sailing up from downstream.
Long oars on either side of the ship cut through the water, while haulers on the bank pulled it along, fighting the current together to slowly guide the vessel into the harbor.
The moment they saw the ship, Colin and the others couldn’t look away.
It wasn’t because of the Thousand Masts City insignia flying on the merchant ship, but because the upper half of a Giant’s body was sticking out from the deck.
The Giant had blue skin and white hair; one look was enough to tell he was a Frost Giant.
The Giant wore thick Armor made of metal plates and Beast Hides, in a style similar to the Phantom Armor from Kase’s Frenzy. A Helmet like Colin’s Viking Helmet hung from his shoulder, though this one was topped with a pair of massive beast horns.
A commotion immediately broke out on the docks, a clear sign that such a sight was a rare one here.
A few members of the port watch quickly began to maintain order, ensuring the work on the docks wouldn’t be delayed.
Once the ship was steady, the Giant immediately bellowed toward the docks, "Colin! Where is Colin?!"
His voice was loud and deep, like rolling thunder.
"I’m here!" Colin quickly called back, hoping to avoid becoming the talk of Three Bays City by tomorrow.
A wooden plank was lowered from the ship’s side, creating a gangway to the dock.
Colin and the others hurried over, flashed their rings, and then walked up onto the deck.
Once they were steady, the Frost Giant bent down and pulled on something—possibly the anchor—and the ship immediately began to turn and head downstream.
Colin surveyed his surroundings.
The deck was also crowded with figures who were obviously Adventurers. Compared to the Black Robe squad from the award ceremony, this group included a greater number of different races.
At the same time, they were curiously sizing up Colin and his party as they came aboard.
The Frost Giant who had been shouting so loudly, however, paid them no mind. He propped his elbow on the deck railing, resting his chin in his hand as he watched the scenery on the shore.
An old man in a purple robe walked over.
His purple robe was embroidered with intricate, gold-trimmed patterns. A mane of naturally curly white hair was casually swept back, and he had a long, thick beard, much like Donkexes’s.
"Ah, Colin." The old man looked the group up and down. "I’ve been wanting to meet you for a month now."
"Me?" Colin was a bit surprised.
’There was something unusual about the man before him.’ He had a feeling the man was most likely a high-ranking Mage or a nobleman.
"Yes. Edwin has high hopes for you. Oh, and he also mentioned that you have a high regard for money." The old man smiled benevolently, then reached into his sleeve and pulled out a pouch.
Colin gave an embarrassed cough.
He took the pouch and weighed it in his hand. It was filled with a very dense metal; they felt like pre-cut gold bars.
’I wonder how much the reward is this time...’