Chapter 257: Rewards and Exchanges

Chapter 257: Rewards and Exchanges



Soon, a young woman in an army uniform with a pair of golden branches and two crescent moons on her shoulder patches entered the room.

"Is this Lord Rain?" the young woman asked politely with a smile. "I'm Deputy Secretary of Mission Hall Affairs, Olena Field. Lord Rain, nice to meet you."

"Hello, Deputy Secretary Olena," Rain smiled and stood up.

"Lord Rain, I was just about to send someone to find you. Now that you've come to the Mission Hall, do you have time for us to ask you a few questions about the mission?"

"Perhaps you're not aware, but this is a regular process for upgrading mission ratings," Olena added, seemingly noticing Rain's hesitation and confusion.

"Okay, is it here?" Rain nodded.

"It's in the meeting room here. Please follow me." Olena smiled and nodded.

The female staff member quickly ran to the employee passageway and pulled open the barrier, allowing Rain to enter the inner Mission Hall.

Then, Olena led Rain to a meeting room inside the hall.

After they settled in, Olena said with a smile:

"Lord Rain, please wait a moment. Mission Hall Affairs Officer Yumaz Little will be here soon. He's also very interested in the mission you've completed."

Rain had been a Swordsman for two and a half years, so he naturally knew Olena, the Deputy Secretary of Mission Affairs, but they had never interacted much.

It was said that for a normal Golden-rank mission, this officer wouldn't usually be involved.

But after meeting the Deputy Secretary, she smiled and personally invited the young man in front of her to the meeting room.

The burly man was stunned for a moment.

In less than a minute, a man in an army uniform with a pair of golden branches and a sun on his shoulder patches entered the room.

"Damn, what's going on here?" The burly man realized he had underestimated the young man earlier.

However, looking at the empty counter ahead, he couldn't help but feel speechless!

"Is this for real? I waited in line for so long, and there's no one to handle it."

Suddenly, the female staff member quickly ran out again.

This made the burly man feel a bit relieved.

Big deal, small deal, what does it matter if others are more capable than me?

After waiting for so long, it was finally his turn.

But when the female staff member came over, she quickly took a sign from under the table and placed it on the desk, with the words 'Temporarily Unavailable' written on it.

After saying this, she quickly ran towards the meeting room.

Damn it!

Looking at the female staff member's departing figure, the burly man was in a foul mood!

Inside the meeting room.

The female staff member served each of the adults a cup of fragrant Yorton tea and then stood at the door of the meeting room, acting as a server.

"Lord Rain, this is our Mission Hall Affairs Officer, Yumaz Little. Your mission has caught his attention, and according to procedure, we need at least two people present to ask some questions." Olena introduced.

"Hello, Officer Yumaz," Rain greeted with a slight bow.

As soon as the other party entered, Rain glanced at their shoulder patches and saw that they were an Imperial Brigadier.

"Lord Rain, you're so young. According to the report from the Earthshakers Squad, you killed two female Naga Overlords, and their combat strength reached the Great Knight level. Although you are a Swordsman, the division still needs to verify this."

"Lord Rain, I'm also a part of the Swordsman Squad. This is what I should do."

"Lord Rain, I'm glad you think so."

"Lord Rain, as a result, Officer Yumaz is very concerned about your mission. So, according to regulations, there are some areas that need further verification. Simply put, we need some evidence to corroborate."

A Diamond-rank mission?

Rain's eyebrows slightly raised, "Okay, Officer Yumaz, please ask."

"First is the strength of the enemies encountered. According to the Earthshakers Squad's report, you killed two female Four-Armed Nagas, and their combat strength reached the Great Knight level. Although you are a Swordsman, the division still needs to verify this."

"As for witnesses, the members of the Earthshakers Teeth Bear Squad and Raptor Squad who were rescued can all provide testimony."

Yumaz nodded and said, "You mentioned Miss Alasha from the Royal Alchemist Association, she should be able to as well." Rain added.

Yumaz was slightly taken aback, glanced at Olena, and Olena nodded.

"Okay, Lord Rain, Officer Yumaz means, do you have any related evidence?" Olena asked.

"Sorry, the situation was urgent, and I didn't have time to bring back the bodies of the two Four-Armed Nagas." Rain shook his head.

"Hmm, that's a bit unfortunate. We could have gained more," Yumaz shook his head slightly, feeling a bit regretful.

"Knock knock!"

At this moment, the female staff member who had received Rain earlier quickly ran in, holding a box in her hand. She came to Olena's side and said, "Ma'am, this is an Image Stone brought by the Earthshakers Teeth Bear Squad, depicting a Griffin Rider."

"It's said to contain partial image fragments of Rain's rescue operation. The provider is Alexandrina Bullock, a formal member of the Earthshakers' Bear Squad."

"According to the Gryphon Knights, Alexandrina was initially reluctant to share it and wanted to keep it for herself," the female staff member said, her fair face slightly blushing as she spoke.

"Hmm?"

Rain was also slightly surprised, never expecting that someone from the Bear Squad had recorded his battle.

Alexandrina Bullock?

The big-bottomed Grand Knight?

Alright.

As the recording played, although the Image Stone had no sound, the visuals were clear.

When Yumaz and Olenna saw dozens of white-scaled mermen lying in a large fan shape, like a field of harvested wheat, falling uniformly to the side, the two were taken aback.

Such a display of might, and yet Rain, the Baron standing before them, was known for his hammer skills. When did he master sonic-based High Techniques?

He was truly a hidden talent!

"Regarding your defeat of the two Naga Overlords, I believe there should be no issues, Baron Rain," Yumaz said with a smile.

"The second issue is that the Boulder Squad mentioned that in the end, you faced a giant with strength comparable to a Titled Knight, correct?"

A Titled Knight?

Is that a level above Grand Knights?

Rain's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he quickly replied, "Baron Yumaz, I'm not entirely clear on the definition of a Titled Knight, but that giant Naga's size far exceeded the norm."

"It seems that giant Naga is called 'Tide Piercer Rulgatz'."

Yumaz nodded, "Tide Piercer?"

"That's right!"

"Titles have existed since ancient times, and this should be the title of the giant Naga you encountered, with Rulgatz being his name."

"A Titled Knight, for example, is like Baron Rain's 'Master Siege Hammer,' which can be understood as a small-scale title." Olenna, standing nearby, explained with a smile.

"However, the Empire's Titled Knights are those who have reached a certain level of strength, gained recognition from the Empire, and been officially titled."

"We're curious about how you managed to retreat safely, while Knight Commander Battista, the leader of the Boulder Squad, suffered severe injuries and is currently undergoing treatment."

"Of course, if it involves any secrets you wish to keep, Baron Rain, you may choose not to answer, and it won't affect the task evaluation."

"There's nothing inconvenient to share," Rain said.

Reveal his true strength?

Within the Swordsmen Branch, aside from the likelihood of enemy infiltration, displaying his abilities would bring more benefits than drawbacks, earning him more attention from the upper echelons of the Swordsmen.

Moreover, he was only revealing a portion of his current strength.

If an enemy were to attack him based on this information, perhaps by then, he would have improved even further.

However, Rain looked around and asked, "Is there a hammer available?"

He had acquired the weapon from Volod, the 'Skull Crusher'—a single-handed hammer with a shrunken human skull as its head. Rain hadn't carried it with him.

But now, having mastered the Advanced High Technique 'Crushing Hammer,' Rain felt he could put it to use.

The Advanced High Technique 'Crushing Hammer' had transcended the framework of Tokkar Hammer Techniques, a two-handed hammer skill, reaching a level where he could wield any hammer, be it two-handed or single-handed, with ease.

"Hmm? Is it a combat hammer? No! No! You don't need to demonstrate, just a simple explanation will do," Olenna exclaimed, her face filled with surprise.

"Haha, Baron Rain, even the Obsidian Giants couldn't withstand your powerful blow, and this is a conference room; it definitely can't handle your hammer either," Yumaz burst into laughter.

Rain now understood.

He had misunderstood.

"That's because I've comprehended the Advanced High Technique of hammer techniques," Rain replied with a smile.

"What?" Yumaz's initially cheerful expression suddenly froze.

"An Advanced High Technique?" Olenna, the young woman, widened her beautiful eyes and slightly parted her lips.

Both had witnessed the talents of many knights.

But according to the records, is an extraordinarily talented young man.

After a few seconds, Yumaz regained his composure and asked, "Baron Rain, when did you comprehend the Advanced High Technique? It wasn't during your time at the Swordsmen Branch, right? Otherwise, the Obsidian Giants wouldn't have simply fallen; there would have been more to it."

"Yes."

"I comprehended it during my encounter with the Naga Overlord, to be precise."

"Indeed, with an Advanced High Technique, there's a chance to hold your own against a Titled Knight-level opponent." Yumaz understood.

Olenna, on the side, was diligently taking notes.

"I'm done with my questions.

Rain, a male, asked with a smile, "Sir Rain, do you have any additional information regarding the task?"

"Currently, we have a report submitted by the Boulder Squad," the efficient middle-aged woman, Olenna, added.

"If you have any additional information, Sir Rain, that is proven to be true and significant, the reward can be increased," Yumaz said with a smile.

Rain listened intently, deep in thought.

He was aware of the Boulder Squad's report, and Remir had briefly mentioned it, with more details in the verification letter.

He hesitated, wondering whether to speak about the Bronze Gateway.

After all, he had seen it through a water membrane, and he couldn't confirm if what he saw was the true scene inside.

However, he decided to share what he knew, leaving the authenticity and importance for the higher-ups to judge.

But at least if the information was useful, the reward could be further increased.

After some thought, Rain spoke, "I saw a nearly transparent water membrane deep in the cave, emitting a faint blue light. Through the membrane, I saw a hall inside."

Yumaz nodded.

This situation was quite normal, as most ruins had multiple halls.

"The people inside seemed to be Sea God Cult members, based on the patterns on their robes. They were performing a ritual around an altar, with fire pits at each corner, burning a greenish flame. In the center of the altar stood a stone multi-armed Naga, several dozen meters tall."

"Oh?" Yumaz and Olenna exchanged glances, their expressions turning solemn.

This situation hadn't been mentioned by the previous scouting teams.

"Additionally, I felt that the altar was related to a bronze metal gateway at the end of the hall."

"A metal gateway?" they exclaimed in surprise.

"Sir Rain, did you notice any patterns on the gateway?" Olenna asked eagerly.

"The patterns were complex, but I could make out shells and sea snails. It was a distance away, so I could only barely identify them," Rain nodded.

"Shells and sea snails?" Yumaz stood up, unable to contain his excitement.

"I understand," Yumaz muttered to himself.

After a few minutes, Yumaz straightened up, smiling. "Sir Rain, your intelligence is extremely valuable."

"Previously, we knew that the Sea God Cult was behind the Sea Race's attack, but their true purpose wasn't clear. Your intelligence may point to a very likely objective!"

"They are attempting to unlock a seal from ancient times, what we call the Forbidden Gate. It's said to be a seal of a monsoon and ocean goddess."

"The Forbidden Gate?" Rain asked, puzzled.

"Yes, there are multiple Forbidden Gates, all sealed by the true gods. Honestly, I'm also curious about what's inside this Forbidden Gate?"

"Broadly speaking, it's not worth the anticipation. Following past patterns, whenever a Forbidden Gate is opened, it often leads to negative consequences, even triggering disasters."

"Now, let's discuss the evaluation of your task."

"As you encountered a titled knight-level enemy, the 'Tide Piercer' you mentioned, the reward is increased from three Golden Medals and 4,500 Heroism Points to four Golden Medals and 5,500 Heroism Points."

"Adding the Forbidden Gate intelligence you provided, the reward is further increased to six Golden Medals and 7,000 Heroism Points."

"Sir Rain, according to your agreement with the Boulder Squad, you will receive four Golden Medals and 4,000 Heroism Points as a reward."

"Sir Rain, do you have any objections?" Yumaz asked with a smile.

Four Golden Medals?

Rain's eyebrows rose, and his heart filled with joy.

This meant he could pay off the loans for the mist potion, Level 1 Defensive Fire Magic, and the Metal Transformation Technique without needing to borrow.

He hadn't expected the information about the mysterious metal gateway to be so valuable.

"Of course not, thank you, Sir Yumaz," Rain bowed slightly, expressing his gratitude.

(End)

Rain was slightly taken aback. After all, he had barely warmed up to the Silver Emblem, and now it was already being exchanged for a Gold Emblem.

The speed was indeed a bit too fast.

Rain took the Golden Emblem from the tray and handed the Silver Emblem back to the female staff member.

The heavy Golden Emblem had a more lifelike pattern, and while the gold itself wasn't important, the honor and privileges it represented were.

"By the way, Lord Rain, I heard that your weapons were all damaged this time?" Yumaz asked.

"Yes."

"I suggest that Lord Rain go to the Exchange Hall later. The Exchange Hall can contact Master Smiths to customize weapons. Although it will take some time, it's better to order early to receive them sooner."

"Thank you for the reminder. Then, Lord Yumaz, Lady Olenna, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Rain stood up and said.

After leaving the Quest Hall, Rain immediately headed for the Exchange Hall.

After all, he had long awaited the Fog Condensation Elixir, Level 1 Defensive Fire Magic, and Metal Morphing Spell.

After two consecutive left turns, Rain arrived at the Special Item Exchange Hall of the branch, a majestic three-story white stone building.

As Rain entered the spacious Exchange Hall, he found that, like the Quest Hall, there were slightly more people than the last time.

It wasn't long before Rain's turn came.

A young girl stood up and smiled, "Hello, sir, how may I help you?"

"I want to exchange a few things," Rain said, handing over his freshly obtained Golden Emblem.

The girl was slightly startled, perhaps surprised that Rain, despite his youth, possessed a Golden Emblem, but she quickly accepted it with both hands and placed it in a specially designed slot.

"I want to exchange for the Fog Condensation Elixir... wait!" Suddenly, Rain thought of a problem.

He had come in a hurry, seemingly overlooking something.

Now his access level had increased.

In other words, he could inquire about higher-level exchange items.

So, was it possible that there might be better wizardry to choose from?

"First, help me check what I can exchange, all Fire-type, Level 1 Defensive Wizardry."

"Yes, sir."

"Sir, you now have Gold-level access. According to the rules, you can view the list of exchange items up to Diamond-level. Currently, you can see the list on the Wisdom Slate." The girl said.

Hmm?

Can I only view one level higher? Rain remembered clearly that before, at Bronze-level, he could view two levels higher. Could it be that higher-level special items had different rules?

At that moment, the Wisdom Slate refreshed with several lines of white text.

After a quick glance, Rain felt slightly disappointed.

The Wisdom Slate still showed the original two items—Fire Ring Resistance and Flame Ward—and not the Level 1 Fire Wizardry 'Flame Ward' that Rain had heard about from Naya.

Rain looked at the Wisdom Slate.

Rain looked at the Wisdom Slate again.

"Source: Provided by the Seth School"

"Source: Provided by the Char School"

Could it be that certain wizardry was unique to certain schools or individuals?

After all, even the strongest sword-wielding organization couldn't possibly gather all wizardry.

This question needed to be asked. Rain thought.

"Hello, help me check Metal Wizardry."

"Yes, sir!" The girl quickly searched.

A minute later, Rain shook his head slightly.

"Exchange the Fog Condensation Elixir for me." The girl's eyes sparkled, as she rarely encountered someone exchanging so many high-value special items at once.

Soon, the girl handed Rain a rectangular brown wooden box.

"It's recommended that you use the Fog Condensation Elixir in a safe environment. If any discomfort occurs, you can immediately contact a physician for treatment."

"For other precautions during use, please refer to the instructions in the box."

Rain took the wooden box and nodded.

"Since this is your first time exchanging a magic scroll, according to the rules, there's a confidentiality agreement that requires your signature. The main content of the agreement is about clauses for personal use only."

As the girl spoke, she handed Rain a sheet emitting a magical aura.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end