Chapter 257: Rewards and Redemption (Part 1)

Chapter 257: Rewards and Redemption (Part 1)



Soon, a capable-looking young woman in a military uniform with a pair of golden branches and two crescent moons on her shoulder pads entered.

"Are you Lord Rayn? I'm Olenna Field, Deputy Commissioner of the Task Hall. Greetings, Lord Rayn." The young woman greeted Rayn politely with a smile.

"Greetings, Deputy Commissioner Olenna," Rayn smiled and rose from his seat.

"Lord Rayn, we were just about to send someone to find you. Now that you've come to the Task Hall, do you have time to answer some questions regarding your recent task?"

"Perhaps you're unaware that this is a standard procedure for upgrading task ratings," Olenna added, noticing Rayn's hesitation and confusion.

"Sure, is it here?" Rayn nodded.

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

"Lord Rayn, your clearance has been elevated to the Gold Rank," Olenna smiled and gestured.

At this moment, the young female clerk sweetly handed Rayn two scrolls of parchment containing the recorded spells.

"Is there a chance for better spells to choose from?" Rayn asked, "Please check for me, all defensive Fire Magic that I can redeem."

Leaving the Task Hall, Rayn immediately headed to the Redemption Hall.

Rayn, a man of importance or not, had no bearing on his own abilities. He quickly signed the documents with a quill pen.

The burly man at the entrance had been at the Swordsman Division for two years, and Olenna, the Deputy Commissioner of the Task Hall, was familiar to him, though they had never interacted before.

Rayn was slightly surprised, never expecting that someone from the Jagged Bear Squad had recorded the images of his battle.

"A metal door?" Both of them were surprised.

"The intelligence you provided may point to a very likely target!"

The High Rank Technique 'Crushing Hammer' had transcended the framework of Tokkar Hammer Technique, a dual-handed hammer technique, reaching a level where any hammer, be it dual-handed or single-handed, could be wielded.

As the woman entered, Rayn glanced at her shoulder pads, noticing she was an Imperial Major.

After all, he had barely gotten used to the Silver Rank emblem, and now it was changing to the Gold Rank.

Four Golden Medals?

When Yuma and Olenna saw dozens of White-Scaled Fishmen fanned out like a field of cut wheat, falling in unison towards the outer side, the two were amazed at such a formidable display. There was no need to see more.

The young clerk handed Rayn a rectangular, brown wooden box, "My Lord, this contains the fog condenser."

Usually, a Gold Rank task would not warrant such attention.

"Lord Rayn, according to the agreement between you and Boulder Squad, you will receive four Golden Medals and four thousand Merit Points as a reward."

"Lord Rayn, this is our Task Hall official, Lord Yuma Litel. He was also very concerned about your task. Additionally, per procedure, at least two people must be present for the inquiry," Olenna introduced.

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

At least in Minster, within the Swordsman Division, they had never heard of such a talented young person.

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

"Please wait a moment," the young clerk quickly searched through the scrolls.

Rayn's eyebrows raised, and his heart filled with joy.

The burly man at the door was a bit stunned. In less than a minute, a man in a military uniform with a pair of golden branches and a sun on his shoulder pads entered the meeting room.

"So, with a High Rank Technique, there's a chance to hold your own against a Title Knight." Yuma seemed to understand.

"Titles have existed since ancient times, and the one you encountered, the Gargantuan Naga, his name should be Roorgatz."

He never expected the information about the mysterious metal door to be so important.

"Also, as this is your first time redeeming a spell scroll, there's a confidentiality agreement that requires your signature. It mainly concerns clauses for personal use."

"Since you encountered a Title Knight-level enemy, the 'Sea Surge Stinger' you mentioned, the task reward is increased from three Golden Medals and four thousand five hundred Merit Points to four Golden Medals and five thousand five hundred Merit Points."

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

"Lord Rayn, I'm not clear on the definition of a Title Knight, but the Gargantuan Naga was much larger than a typical Male Blood Curse Naga."

"Lord Rayn, you're so young! First, thank you for supporting Boulder Squad and rescuing the survivors of the two Earthshaker Squads."

"Yes."

Rayn took the wooden box and nodded.

"At the time, I also saw some special scenes, but I can't guarantee their authenticity.

"

"We're curious about the fact that Lord Batista, the peak Grand Knight and captain of Boulder Squad, was seriously injured during the confrontation and is currently undergoing treatment. How did Lord Rayn manage to escape unscathed?"

The young female staff member served each of the adults a cup of fragrant Yorton tea before standing by the door of the conference room, acting as an attendant.

"If you plan to consume it, you can consider doing so in the meditation room of the training hall. Should any discomfort occur, you can immediately contact a physician for treatment."

This caused Lord Rayn to reveal a look of relief.

That would be ideal.

Lord Yuma nodded and said, "What about the Tide Piercer?"

"My apologies, but based on the information we have, the female Naga Overlord's strength has reached the peak level, while you, Lord Rayn, despite your impressive performance during the Swordsmen assessment, still have some doubters within the division."

"The second question is, as mentioned by Boulder Squad, did you encounter a giant Naga with the strength of a Title Knight at the end of your mission?"

The correct version can be read on the 69 Book Bar! 6=9!

Suddenly, the young female staff member hurriedly ran out again.

"Previously, we knew that the Sea Tribe's attack had the backing of the Sea God Cult, but their true intentions for this assault weren't entirely clear."

Lord Rayn carefully examined the Wisdom Tablet again.

Within the Swordsmen division, even without considering the probability of enemy infiltration, revealing one's strength appropriately would bring more benefits than drawbacks, and would likely earn more attention from the higher-ups of the Swordsmen.

Moments later, Lord Yuma, having regained his composure, spoke, "Lord Rayn, when did you comprehend the Advanced Technique? During the Swordsmen assessment, you didn't possess it, right? Otherwise, the Obsidian Giant wouldn't have simply fallen."

The girl spoke while handing over a scroll emitting a magical glow.

"Lord Rayn, if this information is all you have, it's insufficient to warrant a reward. You know that we already have this information in our possession," Lena said, assuming Lord Rayn had finished speaking, and apologized.

Additionally, he had only revealed a portion of his current strength.

"Hmm, and Alisha from the Royal Alchemist Association should be able to as well," Lord Rayn added.

"According to the Griffin Knight, Lady Alexandrina initially didn't want to provide it. She wanted to keep it for herself," the female staff member said, her fair face blushing slightly.

The woman had encountered many knight prodigies.

After making two consecutive left turns, Lord Rayn arrived at the special item exchange hall of the Swordsmen division—a majestic three-story white stone building.

"Alright, now let's discuss the division's evaluation of your mission."

"Yes, my lady."

"Understood. As for witnesses, members of the Earthshaker Squad and the Swift Dragon Squad who were rescued can all testify," the woman said.

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

However, Lord Rayn looked around and asked, "Is there a hammer?"

The girl was slightly taken aback, seemingly surprised by Lord Rayn's youth and possession of the golden emblem, but she quickly accepted it with both hands and placed it into a specially designed slot.

"They were attempting to unlock a seal from ancient times, a seal of the Monsoon and Ocean Goddesses, which we commonly refer to as the Forbidden Gate."

"First, regarding the strength of the opponents, according to Boulder Squad's report, Lord Rayn, you defeated two female Naga Overlords? Is there proof of this?"

A Diamond Rank task?

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

"Alright, Lord Rayn, Lord Yuma means to ask if you have any physical evidence?" Lena asked.

"My lady, as a member of the Swordsmen, this is what I should do."

The heavy golden emblem bore a more vivid design, and of course, the gold itself wasn't important; it was the honor and privileges it represented.

"Currently, we have Boulder Squad's report," Lena added.

"Forbidden Gate?" Lord Rayn asked, puzzled.

Lord Rayn picked up the golden emblem from the tray and handed the silver emblem to the female staff member.

However, as the young female staff member approached, she repeatedly bowed in apology, saying, "My apologies, sir, but I'll have to ask you to proceed to another window." She quickly grabbed a sign from under the table that read 'Temporarily Unavailable'.

"Sir, you currently hold Gold Rank privileges. According to the rules, you can view up to Gold Rank exchange items. There are currently two items available. Please check the Wisdom Tablet," the female staff member said.

Reveal his strength?

However, after mastering the Advanced Technique 'Crushing Hammer', Lord Rayn felt he could put it to use.

After speaking, she hurriedly ran back to the conference room.

"Shells and conchs?" Lord Yuma exclaimed, standing up in disbelief.

However, he felt he could share what he knew, leaving the truth and importance of the information to be judged by the higher-ups.

Lord Rayn was aware of Boulder Squad's report.

"What?" Lord Yuma's cheerful expression suddenly froze.

His privileges had just been elevated.

"Of course, Lord Rayn, please go ahead. As for the authenticity of the information, there are specialized personnel to verify it.

"Ever since I learned that Lord Rayn has mastered the Master Technique, Sir Umaz's respect for him has grown even further. With a smile, he said, 'I suggest that Lord Rayn go to the Exchange Hall later to contact the blacksmith masters and order custom-made weapons. Although it will take some time, ordering early will ensure an earlier delivery.'"

"Mastered the Master Technique?"

"I want to exchange for the Fog Condenser... Wait!" Suddenly, Rayn thought of something.

However, looking at the empty counter ahead, he couldn't help but feel speechless. Could it be that after waiting in line for so long, no one was there to attend to him?

"Well, that's a bit of a pity. We could have raised the reward even more," Sir Umaz shook his head slightly, feeling a bit disappointed. "Knock knock knock!"

Just then, he realized he had overlooked something in his haste.

Rayn took the scroll and opened it.

Rayn was slightly taken aback.

"Yes."

However, the Rayn Baron before him was known for his expertise in hammers. When did he also master a sound-based Master Technique? Truly a hidden talent! "Regarding your killing of two Naga commanders, I believe there should be no issues, Lord Rayn," Sir Umaz said with a smile.

Then, Olenna led Rayn into a conference room inside the hall.

"If Lord Rayn has any other information that is verified and deemed important, the reward can be further increased."

Alexandrina? The big-bottomed Great Knight? Well, although the image stone didn't have sound, the recorded footage was clear.

"It's said to have recorded a portion of Lord Rayn's rescue of them. The provider is Alexandrina Bulrock, an official member of the Earthshaker's Jagged Bear Squad."

"The pattern is quite complex, and from a distance, I could only barely make out what seemed to be shells and conches," Rayn nodded.

"That's because I've mastered the advanced hammer technique," Rayn replied confidently.

Leimer had briefly mentioned it, and the proof letter contained more detailed information.

"Does Lord Rayn have any objections to this?" Sir Umaz asked with a smile.

"Master Technique?" Lady Olenna's beautiful eyes widened, and her lips parted slightly.

Sir Umaz nodded and said, "We've already sent inquiries about the individuals you mentioned. Anything else?"

Damn! The burly man felt frustrated as he watched the female staff member's departing figure. Inside the conference room.

"In the depths of the cave, I saw a nearly transparent layer of water membrane emitting a faint blue light. Through the membrane, I could see another hall inside."

A minute later, Rayn shook his head slightly as the wisdom tablet still only displayed the Metal Transformation spell.

However, if the information is useful, the reward can be further increased.

Sir Umaz nodded.

At that moment, a knock sounded.

Rayn listened intently, deep in thought.

As Rayn entered the spacious Exchange Hall, he noticed that there were even more people coming and going than the last time he was there.

"Haha, Lord Rayn, even the Obsidian Giant couldn't withstand your heavy hammer. This is a conference room, and it definitely can't withstand your hammer either," Sir Umaz burst into laughter.

"Oh?" Sir Umaz and Lady Olenna exchanged glances, their expressions turning solemn.

The female staff member hurriedly ran to the staff passageway and quickly opened the barrier, ushering Rayn into the inner hall.

"However, this doesn't warrant much concern. Based on past patterns, most of the time when the Forbidden Gate is opened, it leads to some negative consequences or even triggers certain disasters."

"Thank you for the reminder. Sir Umaz, Lady Olenna, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Rayn said as he stood up.

He hesitated, wondering whether to mention the bronze door. After all, he had seen it through the water membrane, and he couldn't be sure if it was an internal scene or not.

Sir Umaz was taken aback and glanced at Lady Olenna, who nodded in agreement.

"We've received this information from other sources as well. Lord Rayn's intelligence further confirms the accuracy of this news," Sir Umaz said, his expression turning serious.

"However, the Empire's Title Knights are those who have reached a certain level of strength and have received official recognition and titles from the Empire."

"It's indeed the Sea God Cult."

Could it be that certain spells are exclusive to specific schools or individuals? After all, even the Swordsmen organization, as powerful as it is, couldn't possibly possess all spells.

After they sat down, Lady Olenna smiled and said, "Lord Rayn, please wait a moment. The task hall officer, Sir Umaz, will be here soon. He's also very interested in the task you've completed."

In other words, he could now access higher-tier exchange items.

He had misunderstood.

Truly, an unparalleled talent.

After all, Rayn had longed for the Fog Condenser, the defensive Level 1 fire magic, and the Metal Transformation spell.

"There, the Sea God Cult's followers surrounded an altar, with burning green flames in fire pits at each of the altar's four corners. In the center of the altar stood a seven to eight-meter-tall multi-armed Naga."

"Please exchange the Fog Condenser, the Resist Fire Ring, and the Metal Transformation spell for me."

"That's right!"

However, according to the information, the Baron Rayn before him was only sixteen years old!

The wisdom tablet still displayed the original two spells - Resist Fire Ring and Flame Barrier - and the Level 1 fire magic 'Flame Barrier' mentioned by Naya was not among them.

"I understand," Yuma said to himself.

"Additionally, I personally feel that the altar at the end of the hall is for that bronze-colored metal door," he added.

"I'd like to exchange a few things," Ren said as he handed over his freshly minted Golden Emblem to the staff member.

"By the way, Lord Ren, I heard that your weapons were damaged during your mission?" Yuma asked.

"Title Knight, to put it simply, Lord Ren, your 'Maister Siege Hammer' can be understood as a small-scale title," Olenna explained with a smile.

Before long, it was Ren's turn.

Olenna, standing beside him, was diligently taking notes.

"Of course, if it involves any secrets that you'd rather not share, Lord Ren, you are not obligated to answer, and it won't affect your task evaluation," the staff member assured him.

"There was a group of people busy inside, and judging by the patterns on their robes, they seemed to be from the Sea God Cult," Ren continued.

"Source: Seth School."

Title Knight?

The female staff member who had attended to Ren earlier hurried in, holding a box and approaching Olenna. She whispered, "Ma'am, this is an Image Stone brought back by the Earthshaker Jagged Bear Squad's Griffin Knight."

"As for other usage instructions, please refer to the instructions inside the box."

"There's nothing inconvenient," Ren assured her.

Indeed, the box mainly outlined the regulations for rewards exchanged within the Imperial Swordsman, stating that knowledge gained, including but not limited to spells and supernatural techniques, were for personal use only and should not be disseminated without permission.

"Hello, can you help me inquire about Metal Magic?" Ren asked.

"Of course not, thank you, Sir Yuma," Ren bowed slightly in gratitude.

"Lord Ren, considering the task you completed with the Boulder Squad, it may be upgraded to a Diamond Rank Task. Therefore, according to the regulations, there are some details that need further verification. In simple terms, we need you to provide a statement to corroborate certain aspects of the task."

The young lady stood up and smiled.

Ren quickly glanced at the screen and felt a slight disappointment.

This meant that he no longer needed a loan and could pay for the Fog Condenser, Defensive Level 1 Fire Magic, and the required medals and merit points for the Metal Restoration Technique all at once!

Minutes later...

"Yes, ma'am!" The young staff member's eyes sparkled, as it was rare to see someone exchanging so many high-value special items at once.

"With the additional intelligence you provided about the Forbidden Gate, the rewards have increased to six Gold Medals and seven thousand Merit Points," the staff member added.

"Lord Ren, did you see any patterns on the door?" Olenna asked hurriedly.

"Yes, there are multiple Forbidden Gates, and they are all said to be sealed by the True Gods in legends. To be honest, I'm also curious about what's inside this Forbidden Gate?" Ren replied.

"Hello, how may I assist you?" the staff member greeted.

"Hello, Sir Yuma," Ren bowed slightly.

This put the burly man at ease.

Yuma straightened his body and smiled, saying, "Lord Ren, the intelligence you provided this time is extremely valuable."

Hmm? Only one level higher? Ren remembered that when he was at the Bronze Rank, he could view tasks two levels above his own. Could it be that higher-level tasks are more confidential? At that moment, the Wisdom Stone in front of Ren displayed several lines of text.

"Hmm?"

But just then, the Deputy Commissioner, with a warm smile, personally invited the young man in front of her to the conference room.

After such a long wait, it was finally Ren's turn.

"Source: Char School."

The female staff member hurriedly approached with a tray, upon which lay a golden circular emblem the size of a child's fist.

The hammer he obtained from 'Skull Crusher' Wolford, the Skull Hammer, was a one-handed weapon, and as Ren didn't usually carry it with him, he hadn't brought it along.

Ren raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Hmm, Sir Yuma, please go ahead."

Ren nodded.

"I'm sorry, the situation was urgent, and I didn't have time to bring back the bodies of the four-armed Nagas," Ren shook his head.

"My question is, Lord Ren, do you have any additional details about the task that you'd like to share?" Yuma asked with a smile.

"Hmm? Is it a hammer for combat? You don't need to demonstrate, just a description will do," Olenna exclaimed with a surprised face.

"Please come in!"

"I had an epiphany during the mission, to be precise, during the battle with the Naga Commander," Ren replied.

Ren thought he should ask someone about this.

"According to Alisa's translation of the Naga language, this Gargantuan Naga seems to be called 'Roorgatz, the Sea Piercer'."

"Do you have any other requests, my lord?" the staff member asked.

"No, thank you," Ren said as he stood up and left.

Minutes later, Ren returned to his room.

He placed the wooden box containing the Fog Condenser to the side and, after some thought, eagerly opened the scroll that held the 'Metal Restoration Technique' and began to study it carefully.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end