Rayven then closed the system notifications, as he already felt satisfied with the confirmation of the mission completion...
At this time, the wagon moved steadily along the road, its wheels creaking softly against the packed dirt, and Rayven couldn’t help but consider helping with the creation of a better suspension for a more comfortable ride.
Nonetheless, the road had soon changed to a paved one, showing that they were getting close to the city.
Rayven sat near the back with his cloak pulled tight against the wind. Miki also moved to a comfortable seat beside him. She also seemed sleepy at this point and wanted a better spot.
They hadn’t spoken much since leaving the valley, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable.
After a while, Miki turned to Rayven, who looked so serious up until now.
Well, she wasn’t seeing the system notifications after all.
"Still thinking about the altar?" she asked.
Rayven paused for a moment before he nodded. "Yes... I wonder if that place is connected to the nearby Dungeon. Maybe there’s even an Elite Beast there..."
Miki didn’t reply. She shifted her weight and let her head rest lightly against his shoulder.
Rayven glanced at her but didn’t move. This was quite unexpected, but he assumed that she was just tired.
She wasn’t asleep yet, but her breathing had slowed... Until Rayven realized that she had already fallen asleep.
He then stayed still as he didn’t mind. Miki and even Nara were definitely tired as they were also working as guards in the shop, aside from their daily training every morning to improve their skills as sword practitioners.
Miki murmured something he didn’t catch, then went quiet again.
Soon, the wagon passed through the outer checkpoint of Hesa City without incident. Rayven showed his guild token to the guards, who nodded and waved them through.
Just like that, the city gates opened, and the group passed into the familiar streets.
After unloading their gear at the estate, they headed straight to the guild branch.
Inside, the hall was busy.
Adventurers moved between counters, bulletin boards, and lounges. Rayven walked up to the front desk and handed over the mission report.
Stella, the receptionist, greeted him with a nod and took the documents. She scanned the summary, then paused as she reviewed the sealed evidence container Rayven placed beside it.
"This looks more serious than the original mission description..." she muttered.
She left briefly and returned with another officer. It was a middle-aged man in a dark vest with a guild crest on his shoulder.
He reviewed the report and inspected the items. After a short discussion with Stella, he signed off on the mission and adjusted the reward.
"This wasn’t just a ruin or abandoned shelter. It was a ritual site. That changes the classification..." he said. "We’ll add a bonus."
Stella processed the payment.
"Mission complete. Base reward issued. Additional compensation approved."
Rayven received 30 silver coins.
Afterward, they moved to the trade counter and sold the beast cores they had collected. Most were low-grade, but the mutated ones had better density. The clerk weighed them, assessed the quality, and offered 6 silver coins per core.
Then they sold the leftover materials like claws, hides, and bones that weren’t useful to them. Some would be used for crafting. Others would be broken down for reagents.
By the time they finished, Rayven received a total of 118 silver and 50 copper coins and distributed them to others.
Not bad for a short mission.
Soon, Miki was already browsing the job board. Nara had gone to check the potion stock, while Thyruz was talking to a clerk about spell catalysts, probably used by Enchanters. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝕟𝕖𝕥
After informing them that he planned to visit the shop, they just nodded and replied that they would follow and visit the shop later.
Near the southern gate, Rayven saw his shop, Eterna Script Trading. At this time, there weren’t a lot of people going in to purchase their Fountain Pen or ink. However, Rayven wasn’t worried since he knew about the custom-made orders they received.
Just those orders alone, he already knew that he wouldn’t have to worry about their earnings for a few months.
The bell chimed as he entered the shop.
Inside, the shelves were lined with writing tools, ink sets, and some paper bundles to test their product.
At the center was a display case featuring some highly intricate Fountain pens with gold designs if they were made for kings.
It had been more than a month since the launch. Sales had started slowly, but the initial buzz had stabilized.
Rayven approached the counter and greeted Hannah.
The latter immediately greeted the boss and informed him that Gene had just left.
"I’m here to check the earnings..." he said.
Hannah swiftly nodded and retrieved the ledger. After working here for some time, she was no longer just assigned to deal with the customers but also learned how to process payments and write on ledgers.
Rayven scanned the numbers. Steady sales. No major spikes, but no losses either. The margins were holding. After deducting production and shop fees, the net profit was listed clearly.
He could withdraw 212 gold coins, and it was only their earnings for four days...
’Uncle’s connection is really helping.’ Rayven muttered as some Merchants from various cities connected to Golden Coast Trading had also started ordering in bulk.
They’d sell it in other cities for a higher price, but at this point, Rayven didn’t mind.
Anyway, he would need these gold coins soon, so he took out exactly 200 gold coins.
Spell purchases weren’t cheap, especially after Tier advancement.
Rayven then returned to the estate of Golden Coast Trading. The streets were still busy, but he didn’t stop for anything else.
Upon arrival, he spoke briefly to the head servant.
"Don’t let anyone disturb me for the next hour..." he said.
The servant nodded without question.
Rayven entered his room, locked the door, and wore comfortable clothes...
He hadn’t sat yet. Instead, he stood near the window and looked out toward the city wall before closing it...
Then, he turned back and opened his system.
[ Tier Advancement Available: Tier 1 to Tier 2 ]
[ Warning: All system functions will be temporarily disabled during advancement. Spellcasting, Skill Market, and other features will be locked until the process completes. ]
[ Confirm Advancement? ]