?


    Calm settled over the woond as the sky glowed pink and gold with the dawn''s first rays. The sounds of a city awakening could be heard in the distance, and the midnight symphony that had filled the air began to fade. The group drove back to the city with the enormous haul Erik had amassed on his own.


    Breaking the contemtive silence, Fan couldn''t help but express his amazement from the backseat. "Forty Mistlynx in less than a day, and all by yourself, Erik? Are you even human?"


    Erik looked back, his eyes dancing between modesty and pride, and offered a yful half-smirk. "Just another day at the office for me."


    Sylviughed, and it was a happy, natural sound. "I''ve seen teams of people have a hard time defeating 10. Besides, the Mistlynx often appear to have been through a war and have returned with the scars to prove it."


    ra said, her eyes pratingly weighing up Erik with a newfound reverence. "And all on your own. Amazing doesn''t even begin to describe that."


    Erik, ttered but embarrassed, scratched the nape of his neck. "There wasn''t any cause for concern."


    As he drove, Bram, who usually maintained a calm conduct, wrinkled his brow thoughtfully. "I have to know—what''s the rank of your brain crystal power? "


    Erik hesitated, a look of difort crossing his features. "I''d rather keep that private if it''s all the same to you."


    The rest of the crew sent him knowing looks but ultimately epted his need for privacy. "Fair enough," Bram said, nodding in agreement.


    Erik looked to Thorne to change the subject of their heated conversation. To put it another way, "So, what''s the average price for a Mistlynx these days?"


    Thorne thoughtfully stroked his beard as he considered his response. "The average rate for a Mistlynx carcass is about 2,500 Eurems, which goes up if there is less evidence of a fight. However, your kills are in such excellent shape that they may sell for 3,500 Eurems or more."


    Erik''s eyes widened in a mix of astonishment and gratification. "That''s an unexpected news."


    ra, ever the quick thinker, did some rapid calctions. "For all forty, thates to an astounding 140,000 Eurems. You may expect to walk away with around 126,000 Eurems after we take our 10% cut for the job."


    Erik whistled in approval. It was "Not a bad haul for a day''s work."


    In a hopeful tone, Thorne said, "A promising start to what I hope will be many more sessful coborations."


    The atmosphere inside the car was upbeat and buoyant as it set off on its drive back to the city; it was filled with the warmth of sharedughter and newly found friendship.


    It felt like the group, including Erik, had known each other for years rather than just a few hours. However, as soon as Erik could see the city walls, his serious stance returned,pletely recing the lighthearted mood that had been there just seconds earlier.


    He then shifted his attention to Thorne after clearing his throat. "Once we get back to the base, what steps are required to sell the Mistlynxs?"


    Thorne started outlining the stages while leaning backfortably in his seat. "It''s not too difficult for beginners toprehend. To begin, we will stop at the administration office at the city entrance so that you may have your mission verified. After that, you will have several alternatives to choose from on how to proceed."


    Erik gave Thorne his full attention as he held a finger and began describing the possibilities. "To begin with, you can sell to us directly at the current market value—no haggling, no hassle."


    Thorne pointed his index finger upward and said, "Alternatively, you might find a trustworthy merchant in the city. You must deal with every aspect of the bargaining process to obtain a better price. As ast option, you can sell items through the guild''s administrative center stall. They will likewise provide value rtive to the market, but rather than private businesses such as ours, the city will benefit from the materials."


    Erik''s expression was one of deep thought as he considered the avable options. The prospect of engaging in a drawn-out negotiation did not pique his interest. After a moment''s reflection, he concluded.


    "I''ll sell you the Mistlynx if you''re interested. After such a hard day, I''d much rather not get mired down in theplexities of a trade."


    Thorne showed his approval by giving a knowing nod and smiling simultaneously. "That was a clever decision, particrly for your first business in town. The excessive amount of bureaucracy may be a genuine pain. By doing it in this way, not only will you receive an excellent deal, but you also save some time."


    Sitting next to Thorne, ra added her two cents by saying, "City merchants can smell inexperience from a mile away. They will attempt to pay you less for your catch if they believe they can get away with it."


    Bram chuckled as he thought back on an earlier incident. "Oh, you are very much correct. Remember when they attempted to get away with giving those Thunder Smanders a lower price to the ck Cats?"


    Suddenly, Sylvi broke outughing. "Oh, what a day it turned out to be! Their captain came dangerously close to flipping the table over."


    Fan grinned and said, "I wish I''d been there to see it!"


    Erik felt a blend of fatigue and fulfillment as the vehicle steadily approached the city. The day had been both grueling and rewarding, and he was thankful for the support from the Porter Company, particrly Thorne''s guidance.


    With heartfelt sincerity, Erik said, "Thanks for everything, Thorne. I''m d our paths crossed today."


    Thorne looked back at Erik, his eyes radiating genuine warmth. "The feeling is mutual, Erik. Here''s to the beginning of a prosperous partnership."


    The remainder of the trip was filled with humorous talk, with the initial air of formality giving way to a developing sense of camaraderie nurtured by the shared adventures. As they got closer to the city gates, Erik had an overwhelming feeling of self-satisfaction and looked forward to the exciting times ahead.


    A couple of hourster, Erik sessfully traversed the bureaucratic maze at the administration center to sell the Mistlynx to the Lustrous Haulers. It took only a short time until his payment waspleted, which served as a gratifying capstone to a day that had already been profitable.


    ———————————————


    -Sender: Etrium''s Bank.


    -Message: 126,000 Eurems have been redited to your ount.


    ———————————————


    <These will be handy.>