The story of the black silk female knight

"How much commission do we get for each ghost we discover?"

Old Winston asked with some anticipation.

"Don't worry, I won't treat you unfairly."

Since they've already started asking about the price, it means this deal is probably going to be finalized.

Valencia never skimps on spending money where it's needed most.

She quoted a price that old Winston simply couldn't refuse.

For each ghost found, the Winston family earns roughly the equivalent of 20 days' worth of income for other Icefield Hunters working on the Icefield.

If it were a typical Icefield Hunter, they might have to think twice before accepting this price.

Because there are differences among Icefield Hunters, some less skilled Icefield Hunters may not be able to guarantee that they will find a Ghost every 20 days. This commission settlement method is far less effective than charging by time and receiving a basic living allowance.

But the Winstons were different; their specialty was searching for ghosts, and they were very confident in their skills.

One ghost is equivalent to 20 days of commission settlement. Some people may lose money, but old Winston thinks that if he and his two sons go all out, they can earn about half a year's income in a month, or even more!

This business is practically tailor-made for us!

"Is there really no upper limit to commission rates?"

Suppressing his excitement, old Winston finally confirmed with Valensa.

"No upper limit."

Valensa waved her hand with great flair:

"Don't worry... My budget can at least cover the commissions of a normal Icefield Hunter for two years. If you three are capable, then make all of my money."

"it is good!"

Old Winston finally stopped hesitating and agreed.

The fact that the Winston father and his two sons had never accepted aid from the Church of the Sun shows that they still dreamed of turning their lives around. Now, Valencia's business deal could very well be their first pot of gold for a turnaround, and old Winston couldn't think of a reason to refuse.

Once things were settled, old Winston immediately locked up his small shop and went to two other shops to bring back his two sons who were working odd jobs there.

Both Big Winston and Little Winston were introduced to Valensa and the others by Old Winston.

Valensa's expression was somewhat strange when she saw Winston Jr.

Contrary to Valensa's expectations, the Winston brothers are quite different in age and appearance.

Old Winston looks to be in his 50s, and Big Winston looks to be in his 30s. Both are of average appearance; they can't be called ugly, but they certainly aren't handsome either.

As for young Winston, he looked like a handsome young man under 20, with delicate features and fair skin, a complete heartthrob. In Valensa's previous life, he would definitely be the kind of guy who could make countless female fans call him "brother" while frantically tearing at their clothes.

Of course, this is a magical world. Because of the nourishment of bio-energy, there are far more handsome men and beautiful women than in technologically advanced civilizations. In fact, it can be said that cultivators who reach the Pearl level are not ugly.

So there's really nothing wrong with these kinds of celebrity-level handsome guys.

The problem is that both Old Winston and Big Winston are standard rugged wilderness heroes, while Little Winston is a cute, innocent young man, which seems too mismatched. It's like having characters with different art styles in a game, giving the feeling of Azur Lane ship girls randomly appearing in Diablo.

Old Winston and Big Winston were clearly not used to this situation before. Seeing the surprise on Valensa and Tia's faces, they naturally explained that Little Winston was different from the two of them, looked like his mother, and that Old Winston's wife was also a great beauty, which was why they were like this.

To increase credibility, old Winston even treasured a video crystal and showed Valensa and Tia what his wife looked like when she was alive.

Valensa glanced at her curiously. She was indeed a beautiful woman, and she looked a lot like Winston. It was easy to tell at a glance that Winston was her son.

The problem is that Winston Jr. looks too much like his mother... so much so that if Winston Jr. dressed in women's clothing and put on makeup, no one would doubt that he and his mother were twin sisters.

It can be said that Winston Jr. inherited almost no of Winston Sr.'s tough-guy genes; he was almost entirely a clone of his mother after she underwent gender reassignment surgery.

This was a bit strange, and Valensa made other discoveries, so she suddenly became interested in Winston.

She had a hunch that the key to the Winston family's high efficiency in finding the Hades might lie with young Winston.

However, Valensa wasn't one to meddle. As long as the Winston father and his two sons could get things done, she didn't care about the specific methods they used.

So Valensa did not doubt this somewhat far-fetched explanation and began to discuss the specifics of entering the ice field.

Although Valensa was very confident in herself and Tia, the advice of a professional guide was always invaluable when venturing into any unfamiliar environment.

In preparation for entering the ice field, Valensa humbly listened to the opinions of Winston and his two sons.

It just so happens that the Winston family hadn't been to the ice field for two years... Although they were very confident in their abilities, some tools and equipment still needed to be replenished and updated.

It was already evening, and many shops in Arland were closed. The Winstons suggested that Valensa and Tia go with them to buy equipment tomorrow and then set off the day after.

Winston and his son's suggestion clearly indicated their intention to get Valensa to spend more money on their equipment.

Valensa didn't really care, but Tia clearly didn't want to be the prey anymore. She secretly pinched Valensa's waist and took over the conversation.

Afterwards, Tia negotiated a bit with Winston and his son, and they eventually reached an agreement.

Valensa's previous promise remains unchanged; the two women can also contribute to tomorrow's equipment purchases in advance... After all, the Winston father and son have been quite poor these past two years, and they can't afford many pieces of equipment.

However, these equipment cannot be given away for free; they can only be considered as loans, and the cost of purchasing them will be deducted from their commission in the future.

If the Winstons' final commission is insufficient to cover the cost of the equipment, then all the equipment must be returned.

The Winston father and his two sons didn't really care, as long as Valensa and Tia agreed to lend them money to buy the equipment first, whether it was a gift or a loan.

If we can deliver it, great; if we can't, then we'll deduct the commission.

The father and his two sons were very confident in their abilities. As long as Valencia paid them the commission as agreed, they were confident that they could seize this opportunity to make a fortune.

Valensa is not afraid of paying high salaries; what she wants is work efficiency.

After agreeing to go together to purchase equipment early the next morning, they parted ways.

The Winston father and his two sons were making plans for their trip on the ice field, while Valensa and Tia returned to their hotel room.

After taking their showers, the two women didn't rush to sleep. Instead, they lay on two rocking chairs, one wearing a pink nightgown and the other an orange nightgown, along with black stockings and white stockings, and slowly ate fruit and snacks.

Quietly, Valensa brought her black-stockinged feet close to Tia's white-stockinged feet, gently tracing the soles of Tia's feet with her toes, and chuckled:

“That little Winston… Hmph, there’s something wrong with him.”

"Yeah, I can see it too."

While casually playing a foot-fighting game with Valensa, Tia opened her small mouth, bit open the skin of a crystal grape, and then sucked it in with a slight effort, slurping up the soft, sweet flesh. She chewed it slowly and then yawned.

"He is very different from his father and brother, and it can't be explained simply by saying he looks like his mother... I suspect he is not his biological son, but is likely the product of his mother's affair with some young man."

Old Winston was, after all, an ice hunter, and he was away from home for several months every year. It was quite normal for his wife to make a mistake or two out of loneliness.

"Hey?"

Valensa put down the peach she was holding and turned slightly to the side upon hearing this:

"Tia, your idea is a bit dangerous... It's normal for a wife to make mistakes occasionally when her husband is away from home for long periods of time, because she can't stand the loneliness? So, if I get busy in the future, Tia, you'll also be unable to stand the loneliness and find someone else behind my back?"

"hehe."

Tia raised her hand and threw the grape skins at Valensa, sneering:

"Don't you feel ashamed when you say these things? Don't forget, in the future you will have Britannia added to your surname... which means that legally speaking, you are the wife who couldn't stand being alone and would make mistakes!"

I have this thought: I'm clearly thinking of you, but you turn around and criticize me?

"Goo~~"

Valensa's defenses were breached in an instant, and she cried out in surrender as a female knight, quickly admitting her mistake to Tia.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he changed the subject:

“Tia, your guess about Winston does have some merit, but what I meant by him possibly having problems is something else entirely, umm…”

Valensa paused for a moment before speaking:

"He had a strange smell; he smelled a bit better than a normal person."

"??"

Several question marks appeared above Tia's head, and her expression gradually turned to disdain:

"When did you develop this kind of interest? I admit that young Winston is kind of handsome, but do you really need to pay attention to his scent? And you've actually started to be interested in men?"

"It's not what you're thinking... Don't worry, I'll only ever like girls in my life, I'll never have those kinds of thoughts about men, no matter how handsome they are."

Valensa first offered a wry smile and then, after a moment's thought, picked up a green snake fruit from the table and then retrieved a piece of braised beef from her storage space, holding them side by side in her hands:

"As for the difference in taste that I mentioned, it's actually similar to the difference between the taste of meat and fruit... From the perspective of a gluttonous evil god, Little Winston tastes quite different from ordinary humans, and seems to taste much better."

"You mean..."

Tia instantly understood Valensa's meaning and frowned slightly:

"That little Winston might not be a pure-blooded human?"

"more or less."

Valensa nodded:

"But Big Winston smells just like an ordinary human, with no special bloodline. In addition, considering your previous speculation, Tia, I suspect that Old Winston's wife may have really cheated on him, and her lover was most likely not human."

Moreover, I suspect that the reason why the three of them, father and sons, are particularly adept at searching for the Netherworld Clan, and even the incident two years ago, is related to Winston's special bloodline.

"It is very likely."

Tia nodded in agreement with Valensa's analysis, then thought for a moment and said:

"But it doesn't matter. Whatever secrets Winston has, as long as they can complete our work as required."

"That's true, but it's always better to be a little more careful. It's always good to be prepared."

Valensa smiled as she first swallowed the braised beef in one gulp, then brought the green snake fruit to her mouth, quickly devouring it in small bites, leaving not even the pit behind.

"I know~"

Tia certainly understood the principle that it's always better to be cautious.

After that, the two didn't talk about anything serious. They chatted casually for a while and then went to bed.

They really went to sleep... Considering they would be entering the ice field the day after tomorrow, Valensa and Tia decided to rest well for the next two days to conserve their energy and avoid wasting their energy on pointless activities.

The next morning, when Valensa and Tia arrived at the slums after having breakfast at the hotel, Winston and his two sons were already waiting at the entrance.

It's clear that all three of them put a lot of effort into their appearance, probably getting haircuts, showers, shaving, and changing clothes last night. Old Winston and Big Winston looked noticeably more presentable, while Little Winston was even more handsome with his rosy lips and white teeth. With a little makeup, he could easily wear a dress and pass for a pretty girl.

Considering that the Winston family were all ace hunters and professionals, Valensa generously stated that she would respect their opinions on equipment procurement.

Old Winston didn't stand on ceremony. After finding out Valensa's approximate budget, he led the team directly to a store that looked quite professional for icefield supplies.

It was currently the dormant period for the Netherworld Clan, and many young men from noble families in America wanted to hunt one or two Netherworld Clan members on the ice plains to add some honor to their life's achievements. In particular, the recent arrival of many beautiful noble ladies from Fran had further fueled the desire of these young men to make a name for themselves.

So this icefield supplies store is quite busy; more than a dozen salespeople can't keep up with all the demand.

Several young men from wealthy families who were shopping saw Valensa and Tia and their eyes lit up, clearly wanting to strike up a conversation.

However, upon seeing Valensa's magnificent silver armor, which was clearly only worn by high-ranking paladins, the young men abandoned their plan to approach her.

Valensa's silver paladin armor was naturally formed from divine particles, but its style was still the same as her previous divine armor.

The Divine Armor is considered high-level equipment within the Church of the Sun. In most cases, only paladins with the rank of captain can wear it, but it is occasionally awarded to ordinary paladins who have made great contributions.

Valensa's Divine Armor was a reward for her outstanding performance in the Gray Rat incident.

However, only a few paladins can receive such a reward, so in most people's eyes, the Divine Armor Armor is basically equivalent to a paladin captain.

The captain of the Holy Knights will be at least a Star-level expert. The lifespan of a Star-level expert is greatly increased, so there will not be much difference between 20 years old and 200 years old.

To avoid flirting with an older woman, those young men from wealthy families hesitated and gave up on trying to chat up Valensa.

However, the staff at the Icefield Supplies Shop also noticed Valensa and her group. High-ranking paladins are never neglected, and this place was no exception.

Soon, a sales assistant came up to greet them and offered special service to Valencia and her entourage.

The Winston father and his two sons were well-prepared, and they immediately produced a list, instructing the sales assistant to prepare the goods according to the list.

This behavior clearly indicated a professional buyer, so the sales assistant didn't waste any more words and quickly prepared the goods according to the request.

Valensa glanced at the items and found they weren't expensive; they were mostly props similar to the professional outdoor gear she used in her previous life.

Old Winston bought five sets in one go, one for each of the three men, and kept the remaining two sets as backups instead of giving them to Valensa and Tia.

Valensa didn't say much about it. She and Tia had already made their own preparations, and these so-called professional equipment were of little use to them.

However, after paying the bill, Valensa, just to be on the safe side, asked old Winston again if he had any advice for the two of them.

"This……"

Old Winston scrutinized Valensa and Tia for a moment before speaking thoughtfully: