Strongest Hammer God

Chapter 222 The Dwarves

The team traveled back to Starkhold without incident and marked their mission as complete.

A day later, they got the confirmation from the client that the mission was completed, and they received their payment.

Everyone gathered at the bar, and Horatio accepted the payment.

Ten Ether Stones.

If divided by five, everyone would get two Ether Stones.

But that was not how the distribution in a team went.

Due to the responsibility, the leader got two shares instead of one.

Because of that, everyone would get 1.66 Ether Stones, while Horatio would get 3.33.

Kyle looked at his share of the loot and raised an eyebrow.

”I think there was a mistake,” he said. ”I got two shares.”

Horatio just smiled. ”Have you not realized it yet?” he asked with a chuckle. ”You were our leader.”

”Eh, what?” Kyle asked. ”But you were the leader.”

”Oh? And what decision did I make?” he asked.

”Eeehhh,” Kyle said, thinking back.

He tried to think of a time Horatio made a decision, but Horatio always asked Kyle for everything and simply went with what Kyle said every single time.

”Why?” Kyle asked. ”Why did you go with everything I said?”

”Why not?” Horatio asked. ”It was the right decision every single time. I simply deferred to your experience and judgment. The only thing I did was to take on the responsibility.”

”Yes, and thatʼs exactly why you get more shares,” Kyle said. ”If this mission went tits-up, you would be the one in the most trouble.”

Horatio laughed. ”Yes, and I also had the power to override your decisions, but I didnʼt. You know why? Because none of your decisions had been wrong.”

”If I had overridden even one of your decisions, I would be taking the extra share, but I didnʼt need to.”

”You were a good leader. So, you deserve a leaderʼs share.”

Kyle frowned.

”Was all of this to teach me something?” he asked.

”Maybe,” Horatio said with a laugh.

Kyle sighed. ”Alright, I get it. Maybe I can actually be a leader.”

”You really lack confidence in your judgment,” Horatio said. ”You obviously know what youʼre doing, but when there is responsibility attached to your decisions, you seem to lack confidence.”

Kyle scratched the back of his head. ”Guess I do.”

ʼPretty sure thatʼs because of Theodorʼs constant abuse. Guy always tells me how stupid I am.ʼ

Yet, Kyle still pushed the leaderʼs share to Horatio. ”This time, I still want you to take your fair share. Officially, you were our leader. You had the responsibility. I will take the leaderʼs share when I am officially the leader. Being the unofficial leader is not enough.”

”Well, I wonʼt say no,” Horatio said, accepting the leaderʼs share. ”Thank you.”

”No, thank you,” Kyle answered with a smile.

Everyone else also accepted their shares.

”So, how are we going to call our team?” Falk asked.

Bormine looked at the others with interest as he scratched his chin.

Tracy looked at Falk with confusion.

”What do you mean?” she asked.

”This mission worked out pretty well despite the unforeseen circumstances, right?” Falk asked. ”Our abilities also fit each other very well. Why not make this an official team?”

Tracy seemed to think about that for a while.

”I would be happy to join,” Horatio said.

Bormine glanced at Kyle before nodding. ”Iʼm also in.”

Naturally, Falk was the one who suggested it, which meant he was also willing to join.

ʼNot sure,ʼ Kyle thought. ʼIf I join a team, I will lose my status as a free agent, and I canʼt really help the other members of the Stark Brotherhood anymore. My Ether Stone income will drop.ʼ

ʼHowever, with a team, my contribution points income will increase.ʼ

Kyle thought about his investigations.

ʼAlso, isnʼt my purpose to become stronger? Iʼm not here to become rich.ʼ

ʼI need experience and tough battles. With a proper team, I can take on harder missions.ʼ

ʼI think itʼs worth it.ʼ

”Iʼm also in,” Kyle said.

Everyone looked at Tracy.

Tracy threw a glance at the place where Wyveria usually sat.

Right now, she was not here.

Wyveria had planned for Tracy to join a team with exclusively women when she became an Early Fighter.

It would be nice to join such a team.

Yet, when she looked at the four men, she felt different.

She knew these people.

She had a lot of respect for Horatio, and Kyle was very capable and had helped her in the past.

She didnʼt know Falk or Bormine very well, but they seemed to be good people.

Falk was maybe a bit cowardly, but he was also very honest.

Even more, when Falk thought he was running to his death, he still followed orders despite his relative cowardice.

He was just very honest with his feelings.

Would every Fighter have charged to their death?

She couldnʼt get a proper read on Bormine, but Kyle seemed to trust him.

”Iʼm also in,” Tracy said.

She had fought with the other four, and they had all been excellent.

”Then, itʼs decided,” Horatio said.

”Whoʼs the leader?” Kyle asked. Everyone looked at Kyle.

”What?” Kyle asked.

”What a dumb question,” Bormine commented.

Kyle took a deep breath. ”I assume you all want me to be the leader?”

Everyone nodded.

Kyle grew a bit nervous.

This was a lot of responsibility.

If he made the wrong choice, some of his teammates might die.

This was not about strength but about decision-making.

ʼIʼm not smart,ʼ Kyle thought. ʼI got a high school diploma. I didnʼt even go to college.ʼ

ʼAnd yet, the four of them seem to trust me.ʼ

Kyle ruffled his hair in annoyance.

”Fine!” he shouted. ”Iʼll do it! But donʼt blame me if you die!”

”Of course I will blame you,” Falk said. ”Youʼre the leader. You donʼt get to have the freedom of choice while having no responsibility.”

Kyle groaned. ”Canʼt you take it easy on me?”

”No,” everyone said.

Kyle just rolled his eyes. ”Fine, but if youʼre making me your leader, I also get to decide our name.”

”Thatʼs only fair,” Bormine said.

The next moment, Kyle smirked.

He remembered how the other four all had small True Bodies.

ʼIʼm a half-dwarf, and the four of them look like dwarves with their True Bodies.ʼ

”From today on, we are The Dwarves!”

Silence.

”I shouldnʼt have agreed,” Bormine commented.

”Well, itʼs what we chose,” Tracy said with a sigh.

”I regret my decision,” Falk said.

”I think itʼs funny,” Horatio said with a smile.

”Seriously?” Bormine asked.

”Yes, why not? We are all quite small with our True Bodies,” Horatio said.

Falk rolled his eyes. ”Fine, guess weʼre The Dwarves.”

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