Chương 287: Chapter 283 - Remuneration

A sharp, impressed whistle pierced the air beside Scarlett, prompting her to turn her head slightly.

"Now that's what I'd call a dragon's hoard worth its salt," Rosa said in approval.

"Well, a small dragon's hoard, maybe, but it still counts." Before them, in the center of the room, lit by the soft glow of green crystals embedded in the walls, lay an impressive display of wealth and magical artifice. Tables were laden with chests, exotic reagents in colorful vials, and an assortment of artifacts that shimmered in the gentle light.

"Dragons usually don't have real hoards," Fynn noted, arms crossed as he stood to their right. Rosa shot him a sharp look.

"Well, maybe not the boring dragons you've encountered." The white-haired young man simply nodded.

"Exactly."

"…Fine, then let's call it a veritable treasure trove," Rosa huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Better?"

"Doesn't 'treasure trove' kind of imply we stumbled upon this by chance?" Allyssa asked, head tilted. This earned her a light scowl from the bard. Rosa turned to Scarlett, an exaggerated look of indignation on her face.

"Hey, boss lady, they're belittling your new acquisitions. Are you really just going to stand there and let them get away with it?" Scarlett's expression remained impassive as she eyed the woman for a moment before returning her gaze to the extravagant collection.

"I do not particularly mind." Rosa clicked her tongue in disappointment at failing to rally an ally, but Scarlett wasn't sure what she expected, honestly. Allyssa's chuckle rang out while Fynn and Shin stepped closer to inspect the treasures. A trio of wizards clad in rich brown robes stood off to the side of the chamber, having been responsible for assembling and presenting this generous offering.

Fynn lifted a peculiar, teardrop-shaped crystal that pulsed with a faint inner light, studying it with a look of curiosity. Shin ran his fingers over the spine of an old tome, its cover adorned with intricate silver filigree, while Scarlett approached an ornate chest at the edge of the display.

This collection before them represented the rewards—or payment, depending on one's perspective—that the Rising Isle's council had promised Scarlett and her companions in exchange for revealing the secrets of the Astral Sanctum. Or at least half or so of the agreed-upon compensation. While many of the items were those Scarlett had specifically requested, the Isle's wizards had also included some additions of their own.

To start things out, Scarlett knelt and deliberately opened the small chest, the lid revealing a sea of glittering coins. There was a collective gasp as the sight of gold filled their vision. Another appreciative whistle sounded behind her. Rosa leaned over her shoulder.

"Any chance of us seeing some of this bonus treasure coming our way in the near future?" she asked, likely only half-joking. Scarlett glanced back briefly before refocusing on the chest's contents. If she were to make a rough estimate, there were roughly two thousand or so coins inside, each bearing the stamp of a hundred-solar piece.

This chest alone contained somewhere around two hundred thousand solars, and with four similar chests nearby, the total sum hovered around one million — a fortune almost matching what she'd received for the ashenwraith dragon and its parts. Frankly, she was somewhat surprised that the Rising Isle had such a substantial amount of imperial currency at their immediate disposal, especially given that it wasn't their primary means of exchange.

Then again, considering their extensive reach, maybe acquiring funds like these might not be as difficult for them as it would be for others. While the amount was certainly impressive to a minor noble like Scarlett, for a faction of the Isle's standing, it likely paled in comparison to the potential magical secrets hidden within the Sanctum. For Rosa and the others, however, this represented wealth beyond anything they could get close to in several lifetimes if it hadn't been for today.

"I believe your current compensation is quite generous," Scarlett remarked in reply to Rosa's comment.

"That said… Additional rewards may be considered in the future, should circumstances warrant it."

"Um, does that include the rest of us as well?" Allyssa asked from her spot by a table of alchemical ingredients.

"Yes, Miss Astrey." A barely contained smile of excitement spread across the young Shielder's face.

"I knew there was a reason I stuck around," Rosa said, nudging Scarlett's shoulder lightly.

"Who would have thought it'd be the promise of riches?" Scarlett simply shook her head as she closed the chest and moved to examine the items on the next table. Her gaze swept across the assortment of vials and other containers that held various rare reagents and materials, with tiny, neatly written labels identifying their contents: Glimmerrot Sap, Embervine Resin, Dragonscale Powder, Frostleaf Petals. Some were familiar to Scarlett from the game, while others she recognised from her studies.

Each item was relatively difficult to obtain through conventional means, but useful for numerous professions. Scarlett had requested most of these from the Council with specific plans in mind: enhancing the Loci, crafting powerful equipment, and more. Though she couldn't pinpoint an exact worth for everything laid out before her, she wouldn't be surprised if the total rivaled—or even surpassed—the gold in the chests. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road.

If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The next table held the alchemical ingredients that had captured Allyssa's rapt attention. While these items weren't quite as numerous or rare as those on the previous table, Scarlett had taken care to consult Allyssa on potentially useful components before finalising her list for the Council.

This included a few ingredients that they'd struggled to procure themselves, yet which were essential for some of the alchemical recipes Allyssa had discovered in the Veiled Library. Scarlett could practically see the gears turning in the young alchemist's mind as she envisioned the experiments she'd soon be able to conduct. Moving past Allyssa's table of wonders, Scarlett approached the next display, which held a selection of enchanted items.

Her attention moved over each piece, noting their appearance and reading the small placards describing their functions. Given the opportunity to request nearly anything from one of the world's foremost magical factions, it would have been foolish not to include something like this. This table likely represented the lion's share of the day's value, which said a lot.

[Amulet of True Sight (Epic)] {Illusions weave their deceptions, but this amulet guides its wearer to see the world as it truly is, unmasking the tricks of those who hide reality} The first item was a delicate silver chain suspending a bead-shaped crystal that shifted colors as Scarlett examined it. According to the placard, it enabled the wearer to see through most illusions and invisibility. Scarlett had specifically acquired it for Fynn to sharpen his already impressive perceptive abilities further.

[Whispering Cloak (Epic)] {The wind carries many secrets, but none hear your footsteps when wrapped in this cloak. Silence is the first step towards invisibility} A shimmering cloak that seemed to absorb the light around it, with its edges blurring as though attempting to fade from view, was the second item. It muffled footsteps and sounds, making the wearer harder to detect.

While it wasn't quite invisibility, which was very challenging magic to get your hands on, this would be good to have if any of Scarlett's party members needed to be stealthy in the future. [Belt of the Iron Stomach (Epic)] {The road is long and fraught with hazards, but this belt steels the body against the world's poisons and venoms, fortifying the wearer's resolve} The third item Scarlett inspected was a pair of sturdy leather belts inlaid with metallic designs that pulsed faintly green.

The placard explained that they gave resistance to poisons and toxins while allowing the wearer to consume most organic substances. These could be useful for a range of situations. [Pendant of Breathless Seas (Rare)] {The deep is as treacherous as it is vast, but with this pendant, the seas part some of their dangers and welcome you as one of their own} Another item was a collection of small azure gemstones on fine silver chains, their surfaces rippling like water.

They allowed for underwater breathing as well as increased mobility, and Scarlett had wanted to make sure she had several of these, just in case. Beyond these, the table held an impressive array of enchanted rings offering resistances and other enhancements, which Scarlett planned to distribute among her companions.

Additionally, there were a decent number of quality-of-life items: extra spatial bags with greater capacity than the [Bag of Juham], a delicate earring for projecting and amplifying one's voice, and a small trinket that could erect a barrier preventing outside sounds from passing through. Together, this collection represented items Scarlett had carefully selected to bolster her party's strength and versatility.

While there was a noticeable absence of heavy armor or gear, Scarlett found they were already well-equipped in that regard, and the Isle's wizards weren't blacksmiths or the like anyway. A small, content smile played on Scarlett's lips as she completed her inspection, casting one last sweeping glance over the tables and chests.

Considering that the Isle had managed to gather all of this in a relatively short time, she could only imagine what they might be able to provide with more time — especially if she offered them access to some of the Isle's deeper secrets beyond just the Astral Sanctum. She had yet to divulge any details about the Veiled Library, for instance, and she doubted Yamina had either.

Scarlett turned to one of the wizards stationed at the room's edge, who had been quietly observing her party's enthusiastic examination of their new acquisitions.

"These will more than suffice for the time being," she said.

"Please convey my gratitude to your superiors for this generous offering and, if possible, to the artisans responsible for crafting these items." Then, addressing her companions, she added, "Feel free to continue exploring the collection at your leisure. Fynn, I entrust you and Mr. Thornthon with the task of organising and storing these items once you are done. I have another matter to attend to, so I will be taking my leave."

With that, Scarlett exited the room, stepping into the hallway, where a grey-robed wizard stood in wait. She gave the woman a nod, signaling that she didn't need an escort, and made her way towards their current accommodations. Since the wizards had brought their rewards directly to them, it was a short walk. Entering her room, the crystals embedded in the walls automatically illuminated the space with their warm, ambient glow.

Scarlett's eyes moved to an ornate clock beside the bed before she moved to a sturdy wooden table tucked in the corner. There were still a few minutes to spare. Settling into the chair, she placed her [Pouch of Holding] on the table's surface and reached inside, drawing out a slender band of pale white metal. It was just large enough to fit comfortably around her head, its deceptively simple appearance belying its true nature.

[Crown of Flame's Benediction (Unique)] {Born through ancient forgotten rites, this crown harbors the unified essence of sacred and elemental flames, its true power waiting to be discovered} As Scarlett held it, faint crimson runes ignited along the circlet's edge, and a subtle wave of mental clarity washed over her. Though the Isle's items were undoubtedly valuable, none of them could truly compare to this. At least, that was her assumption.

She'd had little time to actually test the artifact since Mistress had created it for her, so its exact capabilities remained somewhat of a mystery, even if she understood its basic functions in theory. She had been planning to explore its potential during her next trip to Freymeadow, but the sudden detour to the Rising Isle had postponed those plans. She supposed she'd simply have to discover what it could do in the heat of combat when the opportunity arose.

She had to admit, a part of her couldn't deny the thrill at the prospect. For the next few minutes, Scarlett idly toyed with the artifact, conjuring small flames to test its fire-based body enhancement magic while her mind wandered over potential uses. Eventually, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden flash of light at the center of the room. Carefully setting the circlet aside, she turned to face the light, where a figure was slowly materialising.

The apparition glowed with a shimmering blue hue, like sunlight filtering through deep ocean waters. As it coalesced, familiar features began to take shape, with hints of colour shining through the blue radiance. A rich emerald robe adorned with golden accents came into focus, framing a head of deep purple hair falling just above the shoulders. Intelligent eyes peered from behind a pair of round, scholarly glasses, their gold chains glinting in the magical light.

The image of Yamina Ward stood before Scarlett, blinking a couple of times as she glanced down at her blue-tinted form before finally meeting Scarlett's gaze.

"It seems I've kept you waiting, Baroness," she said, a touch of apology in her voice.