Harvest

When the study door of Lawrence Manor was pushed open, Sir Cooper Lawrence was sitting behind his desk, holding a brass goblet in his hand.

Hearing the noise at the door, he looked up, a habitual smile rising to his face.

“Ah, Miss Rosie, you're back so—”

He cut off mid-sentence.

For he noticed that when Rosie walked in, she was carrying three swords in addition to her own gear.

Rosie placed the three swords side by side on the desk.

Lawrence’s gaze fell upon the three swords; they looked very familiar.

“The spiders have been taken care of,” Rosie said. “These are Carl's and his men's weapons.”

Sir Lawrence's fingers tightened slightly around his goblet. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke:

“Why do you have Carl and his men's weapons?”

Rosie’s response was brief and direct: “Because they're dead. I killed them.”

Silence settled over the study for two or three seconds.

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, while the wind blew faintly outside the window.

Lawrence slowly set down his goblet and leaned back against his chair. The expression on his face transformed from initial shock and confusion into something far more complex:

“When those three told me they had something to take care of earlier... they meant taking care of you?”

“That's right,” Rosie said.

“What's more, the adventurer you hired before to deal with the spiders was also killed by them. The nest of spiders in the mine was brought in by them as well. Their goal was likely to cause a mine accident, forcing you to halt operations and pushing you to beg Baron Rorick for help.”

Lawrence’s face darkened bit by bit with every word Rosie spoke.

Only after a long while did he open his mouth, his voice carrying an uncontainable rage:

“I knew that bastard Rorick was behind this. That fellow has coveted my mine for a long time, constantly trying to force his way in, but I've always fended him off. I never expected him to buy off Carl...”

Rosie didn't respond. She waited a few breaths for Lawrence's emotions to settle slightly before speaking:

“Sir Lawrence, I have no interest in the feud between you two. My commission is complete, please pay me my reward.”

Lawrence snapped back to reality and took a deep breath.

He pulled open a drawer, retrieved a gold coin, and set it on the desk. His fingertips paused on the coin for a moment before he reached into the drawer again, pulling out a second one. Stacking the two gold coins together, he pushed them toward Rosie.

“You didn't just solve the spider problem, you also helped me root out a traitor by my side, saving me a deal of trouble. This is the reward you deserve.”

Rosie reached out, picked up the two gold coins, weighed them in her palm, and gave Lawrence a brief nod. “Thank you, Sir.”

“I wonder if Miss Rosie might be willing to stay?”

Lawrence's tone was much more sincere than before, carrying a hint of persuasion.

“The mine is currently in need of a captain of the guard. Although it isn't a high position, the pay is far more stable than wandering around taking odd jobs. I desperately need talent like yours.”

Rosie shook her head. “Thank you for the offer, but I have my own matters to attend to.”

Lawrence looked at her, a tinge of regret flashing through his eyes, though he didn't press her further:

“Very well. Since you have your own plans, I won't force you. Then I wish you a smooth journey ahead.”

“Farewell, Sir Lawrence. I wish you all the best as well.”

With that, Rosie offered a light nod, turned, and walked out of the study.

She didn't leave the manor immediately, instead making a turn back to the guest room where she had stayed for the night. She took down her woolen cloak hanging on the coat rack and wrapped it around herself.

The thick cloak wrapped around her figure; then, adjusting her backpack, she pushed open the manor's front door.

The cold wind outside blew in, swirling with tiny grains of snow against her face.

Rosie followed the gravel road outside the manor, heading south.

She had no intention of returning to Spade Town.

After all, she had just ruined someone's scheme, and there was no telling if trouble might follow.

In this world, the power struggles among nobles were as pervasive as the winter wind.

She had no interest in them, nor did she wish to get dragged in.

Being a passing outsider who finished the job, took the money, and left was the least troublesome choice.

Besides, this knight was far too stingy.

She had solved the spider issue and rooted out a lurking traitor on the side, yet he had only given her two gold coins in total.

Although it was a bit more than the hundred silver coins originally agreed upon, compared to the risks involved in this mess, it was hardly generous pay.

Being so stingy, it was no wonder Carl betrayed him.

Rosie reached out and patted the pouch at her waist, which had puffed up significantly.

The money on Carl was far more than she had anticipated—she had found ten gold coins on him alone.

On top of that, from the two young guards, Bill and Jack, she had salvaged two gold coins and dozens of silver coins each.

Fourteen gold coins plus dozens of silver coins—that was hardly the wealth a guard in a remote mine should possess.

Without a doubt, most of this money was funds provided by Baron Rorick for their operation.

But Rosie didn't care; once it was in her hands, it belonged to her.

And besides the hard gold coins gained, the most important reward from this trip was the quest reward itself.

As she walked, she pulled up her status panel to take a look.

[Skills: Level 2 Unarmed 80/200, Level 2 Swordsmanship 105/200, Level 2 Throwing 65/200]

[Combat Skill: Level 1 Heroic Strike 70/100]

Then she turned her gaze to the newly appeared entry.

[Combat Skill: Severing Strike — Launch a slash targeting a limb of the target, attempting to sever it. Stamina consumption depends on the strength of the limb.]

This was another skill without an explicit level, meaning it didn't require accumulating proficiency through repeated use to increase its power like Heroic Strike did.

Its effect was linked to the user's stats and current condition—the stronger the strength, the sharper the weapon, and the weaker the target's defense, the higher the success rate of severing the limb.

This move was particularly useful against enemies that couldn't be killed in a single strike.

Where ordinary attacks might only leave superficial wounds on certain large magical beasts, this strike offered the chance to sever the opponent's mobility.

Rosie pulled her cloak tightly around herself and walked briskly through the falling snow, filled with a satisfying sense that "this trip was well worth it."

The cold wind blew across the open wilderness, making the hem of her cloak flutter wildly while the fur trim along her hood trembled gently in the breeze.

She had the money, and she had obtained a new skill. It was time to find a proper place to replace her gear with a decent set of armor.

The old leather cuirass was truly uncomfortable to wear; it was tight across her chest, making her feel breathless every time she bent over.

Across the snow-white land, Rosie's wrapped figure gradually faded into the distance.

Her footprints stretched out behind her in a broken line, soon covered in a light layer of white by the freshly falling snow.