Mastery Is Earned

“What are you planning?” After Martin had been sent away, Marcus tapped his fingers against the desk and looked curiously at Raymond.

“Nothing in particular. I simply want to learn more.” Raymond smiled faintly. “If possible, I think we should disguise ourselves as those bandits and continue trading with the gnolls. Some things need to be investigated firsthand. Don’t you agree, Sheriff?”

“Continue trading?” Marcus looked surprised. After thinking it over carefully, he still found the idea troubling. “Trading with them will only make the gnolls stronger. I see no benefit in it.”

“Information matters too, Sheriff,” Raymond pointed out. “We can continue the trade while arranging for others to follow the gnolls. That will tell us whether they really come from the Blackstone Mountains or are hiding somewhere else. If they’re concealed deep inside Blackpine Forest, I think it would be an even better opportunity to wipe them all out at once.”

After hearing the broad outline of Raymond’s plan, Marcus fell into thought again.

“Besides, if these gnolls truly come from the Blackstone Mountains, then we need to prepare even sooner,” Raymond added. “The mountains have always been forbidden territory, and few people have ever managed to set foot there. Yet not only have goblins fled from the mountains, but gnolls can now move wagons of goods in and out freely. I think learning the true situation there is also important.”

“Yes. You’re right.” Marcus no longer objected, though one concern remained. “But impersonating the bandits still seems risky. If the gnolls discover the deception, they’ll become wary.”

“I actually checked that.” Raymond smiled and pointed at the kobold. “It says gnolls aren’t good at telling human faces apart. Of course, that alone doesn’t guarantee our safety. During the trade, they’re more likely to identify their contacts by scent, build, wagons, and the agreed procedure. Martin has taken part in these exchanges before, so he can deal with them directly. The rest of us don’t need to impersonate the old bandits. We can pose as newly hired guards. And as you know, Martin is very afraid of dying.”

Seeing how thoroughly Raymond had considered the matter, Marcus nodded with satisfaction. “You really are talented. Perhaps you should join the town guard. It would be much better than working as a mercenary.” He rubbed his chin. “It seems I’ll also need to find several wagons to carry the goods. Mm, perhaps I can borrow some from a caravan.”

At this, Raymond could no longer suppress his smile. “As it happens, Sheriff, Henk and I own three wagons. They’re the very ones the bandits left behind. Using them might make the gnolls even less suspicious.”

“Ha! You brat. I knew you were after something again.” Marcus burst out laughing. “You want the gnolls’ goods, don’t you? It’s only some poor-quality ore and pelts, but I suppose I can give you a share.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure, Sheriff,” Raymond reminded him. “You may not know what that ore is actually worth.”

There was no point hiding it. With Bob involved, Marcus would learn the truth sooner or later.

“Is that so?” Marcus narrowed his eyes but did not question Raymond further. Instead, he turned his attention to the kobold. “Does this little fellow know anything about the goblins?”

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t.” Raymond sighed and shook his head.

“Those goblins fled the Blackstone Mountains and entered Blackpine Forest. Sooner or later, they’re going to cause a disaster here!” The thought of them alone was enough to give Marcus a headache.

“The gnolls may know something. Perhaps we can ask during the trade,” Raymond suggested.

“Perhaps.” Marcus did not seem optimistic. He looked at the kobold again. “This creature is important. Leave it here as evidence. How much do you want for it?”

Raymond looked troubled. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Sheriff. I promised it freedom in exchange for the information.”

“It’s only a monster.”

“But I gave it my word.”

“So you mean to release it? Let it roam outside and threaten Blackstone?”

“I won’t simply abandon it in town,” Raymond said. “It will stay with me for now, and I’ll take responsibility for its actions. Once this matter is over, it can decide for itself whether to leave or remain.”

The kobold hurriedly nodded beside him.

“Fine. Do as you please.” Marcus waved dismissively, signaling that they could leave.

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Raymond exchanged a glance with Henk and sighed. He had no choice but to wrap the kobold up again and carry it away.

It was already dusk when they emerged from the town guard’s headquarters. As the sky darkened, Raymond and Henk hurried to the stables. They brought the wagon carrying their goods to the entrance of the Blackstone Inn. Raymond sent Henk to see to the kobold, then called Sophie outside.

Sophie’s reaction was not what Raymond had expected. Faced with a wagonload of goods, she looked neither pleased nor angry. For a moment, he could not tell what she was thinking.

He carefully noted her reaction before saying, “I bought all of this in Brightwater. Is there anything you’d like, Sophie?”

“I like all of it. I’d gladly take everything.” Sophie sighed and looked at him. “This time, I’ll buy it all at the market price. But I won’t do so again. This isn’t a business you should get involved in. Other people might not cause trouble for you, but they will cause trouble for me.”

Raymond fell silent. He had not expected the local merchants’ grip on trade to be so complete, nor had he considered that his actions might bring trouble to someone else.

Seeing his expression, Sophie suddenly laughed. She gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder. “This is all good merchandise. I have to admit, you have a head for business. You just chose the wrong place to sell it. I’ll take everything, and I won’t let you lose money. About eighty-five silver in total. How does that sound?”

“Eighty-five silver? That works.” Raymond nodded.

He had spent sixty silver on the goods and sold them for eighty-five. After deducting taxes and other expenses, Bob would receive ten percent of the net profit, and Raymond and Henk would divide the remainder two to one. Raymond estimated that he would receive at least twelve silver, while Henk would get six.

It was certainly a profitable venture. Unfortunately, trade between Blackstone and Brightwater had long been monopolized by the local merchant guild. They could not keep doing this indefinitely.

Henk had finished getting the kobold settled and emerged from the inn at just the right moment.

When Sophie saw him, she gave him a pat. “That’s settled, then. All right, big guy. You two can move everything into the storeroom out back. You’ll have to handle the unloading yourselves. No objections, I hope?”

“Of course not.” Raymond grinned.

“Then get to work. I’ll make you something good to eat. You haven’t been back in a while. Tonight, have a proper meal and get a good night’s sleep!”

There was not much on the wagon. Once Raymond and Henk had moved everything into storage, they returned it to the stables. By the time Raymond entered the inn again, the table was already covered with fragrant, steaming dishes.

The moment Mira saw him, she hurried over happily, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.

The inn was at its busiest, and Anna could not spare a moment to greet them. She could only look over from a distance, occasionally smiling at them with genuine happiness.

Raymond wore a rare look of contentment as he tasted food he had not enjoyed in far too long. His favorite dish at the inn was the roasted steak. The seasoned meat was roasted until it ran with juices, which burst across his tongue with every bite.

“I’m telling you, I fought that bandit leader for ages. I wore him down until he had no strength left, and only then did Raymond find an opening. Otherwise, I’d be the hero of Blackstone.”

A familiar voice sounded from behind them. Raymond turned and saw Teddy drinking with several mercenaries who reeked of alcohol, boasting as he drank.

“Is that a half-orc? Is he Henk?” One of the mercenaries noticed Raymond looking their way and glanced over. When he spotted the imposing Henk, he suddenly called out.

“Yes, yes, that’s Henk!” Teddy’s eyes lit up when he saw them, and he immediately shouted.

His voice drew the attention of everyone in the inn. Every head turned toward Raymond and Henk.

While they had been away, the town guard had issued a public notice praising Raymond and Henk for acting on Sheriff Marcus’s orders to destroy a bandit camp and rescue the innocent villagers held captive there. With Marcus and the others deliberately spreading the story, their names had become known throughout Blackstone.

No one called Raymond “kid” anymore. Everyone knew his name now.

People still regarded Henk with some fear, but that fear now carried unmistakable respect. Everyone knew that this half-orc from the north was the man who had helped destroy the bandits and rescue their captives.

“To Raymond! To Henk!” Teddy raised his mug and shouted.

“To Raymond!”

“To Henk the half-orc!”

The inn erupted in cheers. Everyone began raising their drinks to Raymond and Henk.

Henk seemed never to have experienced anything like it. He lowered his head without speaking, then rather stiffly raised his mug and drained it.

Raymond stood, looked around at the crowd, and smiled. “To Blackstone! To the town guard!”

“To Blackstone!”

“To the town guard!”

Behind the counter, Sophie polished the tableware as she watched Raymond surrounded by the crowd. A gratified smile appeared on her face.

Anna was carrying dishes through the room. When she saw the two men at the center of the celebration, she could not help smiling softly to herself.

Mira, squeezed between Raymond and Henk, merely looked around in confusion, with no idea what was happening.

While everyone celebrated, Teddy threw an arm around Raymond’s neck. Raymond shoved him away without ceremony.

Teddy did not mind. With his usual cheeky grin, he asked, “You rascal, you went out and made another fortune without telling me. I’m telling you, the two of you are famous now. There’s more work than you could ever take. So, have you thought about joining my team?”

“Ha! Maybe another time.” Raymond laughed the suggestion off.

“Raymond, how exactly did you pull it off at that camp?” A drunken mercenary approached curiously. “Did the three of you really kill more than a dozen men?”

“Three?” Raymond glanced at Teddy.

Teddy grinned shamelessly and offered no explanation.

“Yes, tell us!” several curious patrons chimed in.

“The three of you killed all those men? What does it feel like to kill someone?” a boy asked.

The surrounding voices immediately fell silent.

The boy did not understand what he had said wrong. He glanced fearfully at Henk.

Raymond looked at Anna as she worked, then at Mira stealing roasted meat beside him, and smiled faintly.

“I didn’t feel like I was killing people. I only felt like I was saving people.”

“And it felt good.”