The adventurer at the bottom is fantasizing again.

Lorraine withdrew the longsword that had pierced the young man's heart, and where Gary couldn't see, his fingertips were still trembling slightly.

To be honest, he had to thank this guy for reminding him.

Logically speaking, these things should have been spoils of war obtained through their hard work in clearing out the camp, so they naturally couldn't give them up.

But would Viscount Hermann care about that? Whether he was willing to give up these things or not, they would definitely come into his sights.

When that time comes, trouble will definitely come knocking.

Therefore, the best way is to keep this matter out of Viscount Hermann's sight and to keep him from knowing about Piper and his affair.

The caravans we sent out have lost contact? That's perfectly normal!

But they really needed someone to handle the spoils; it was too far from Shallow Beach Town, and their provisions wouldn't allow them to transport the goods there.

Now we'll have to see if Gary is truly sensible.

Lorraine decided to test him.

He mimicked Eileen's expression, looking blankly at Gary kneeling before him, and said, "Tell me, Viscount Herman, as a warrior, why would you buy these things?"

Gary half-knelt and took two steps forward, bringing himself closer to Lorraine. He wiped the blood from his face, smiled ingratiatingly, and said:

"Your companion is quite knowledgeable... However, you may be new here and not know this, but Viscount Herman has a mage advisor who often makes spell scrolls to sell for money."

Eileen gave a cold snort, which frightened Gary so much that he crawled back down.

However, he wasn't worried that the terrifying man would punish him for it.

After all, what man wouldn't want someone to call a beautiful woman his companion?

Having been in business for so many years, he has some insight.

"A mage advisor?" Lorraine asked, frowning.

He wasn't angry after all...

Gary looked up, chuckled twice, and said:

"Yes, sir. Many powerful nobles hire mages as their advisors. It's actually quite a trend."

Lorraine looked at Eileen, who was pretending to be angry with her arms crossed.

"Hmm," she said coldly.

"If a high-ranking nobleman does not have a mage following him, he will be suspected of having financial problems."

As for the Viscount... well, I guess he'd be alright.

Eileen mercifully offered Lorraine a word of explanation.

"I see..." He nodded.

He thought it was normal; everyone was using each other. One lacked money, and the other lacked ability, so it was normal for them to come together.

Moreover, the title of mage advisor sounds prestigious, so it's easy to imagine that nobles would flock to it.

Lorraine crouched down and gently placed the still-bloodied rusty throat on Gary's shoulder.

"You are certainly much smarter than this guy, but how can I guarantee you won't go to the Viscount to complain?" he said.

Gary lowered his body even further, almost touching his chest to the ground, knowing that his next words would determine his life or death:

"My lord, do you think Viscount Herman will believe me? That I'll just go back empty-handed and say that the goods were stolen by three adventurers, but I'm still alive and kicking?"

He'll kill me first, so my only chance of survival is to serve you.

"Then wouldn't it be the same if I killed you here? What reason do I have to spare your life?" Lorraine patted his cheek with her longsword and said calmly.

The cold blade struck his face, and Gary could even feel the thick blood splattering onto his forehead. He swallowed hard, his mind racing, and quickly said:

"You need someone to help you handle these goods. These furs are not commonly found locally, and if they appear on the market, Viscount Hermann will definitely notice something amiss."

The same goes for those spices. I've been with caravans for over ten years and know many black market merchants. I can help you dispose of them discreetly.

As for those...spell materials, your girlfriend should know what to do with them. If she doesn't need them, I have ways to sell them, but the price might be lower than the original price.

That way, even if the viscount finds out about this, he'll think I'm trying to embezzle the goods, and won't suspect you.

"You're right, but what if you just take the stuff and run away?"

Lorraine moved the longsword aside, grabbed his head with her other hand, looked at him intently, and said:

"Your family lives in the city, right, sir?"

Gary's heart skipped a beat. He looked up in horror, completely unaware of how he had revealed this.

The people in the tavern were right, spellcasters really are monsters...

"A guy wouldn't have the guts, nor would he think of a way to save his own life so quickly."

Lorraine slowly began to explain, then stood up, looked down at Gary, and said calmly:

Tell me your location, and I'll spare your life.

Gary gripped the ground tightly with both hands, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, as if he were having an internal struggle.

After a long while, he suddenly straightened his back and roared hoarsely:

Why, why!

I've already said all that, why won't you let me go?

Do you think toying with me like this will make your twisted mind any happier? You despicable bastard!

He angrily pointed at Lorraine and said:

"You want my life?! Come and take it!!"

"Zheng—"

Lorraine flicked his longsword and sheathed it.

He's someone who can be used.

"Very well, if you really want to betray your family in order to survive, I really don't dare to spare your life."

He extended his right hand to Gary and said:

"You are a good businessman; at least you've saved your life today. Get up."

Gary stared at him in disbelief, his finger still trembling in mid-air as he pointed at Lorraine, never imagining he would survive.

He asked tremblingly:

"You...are you willing to let me go?"

"Okay, if you still don't get up, then forget it," Lorraine nodded.

"Okay...okay."

Gary grasped Lorraine's outstretched hand and was pulled up by a tremendous force.

However, the repeated and intense emotional fluctuations, along with the prolonged kneeling, caused his legs to buckle, and he fell to the ground again.

"Since you're already dead, it's not convenient for us to take you back."

Lorraine ignored him, turned around, retrieved her backpack, took out two packets of dry food and a water bottle, tossed them in front of Gary, and continued:

"Find your own way back. I'll be waiting for you at the Hearthfire Tavern five days from now."

Lorraine waved to the two people who were standing there watching his performance, and said:

"Pack your things, it's time to go back."

At Lorraine's prompting, the two quickly got moving, and Gary, after a short pause, silently joined in.

They first dismantled the inscribed wooden crates and threw them all into the campfire to burn.

The spices and furs that had been taken out were neatly piled on the cart, and the spoils of this battle were also stacked on top, with a tarpaulin covering the top.

The magical materials were carefully placed into Lorraine's backpack, and all the original clutter was emptied out and stuffed into a large package.