Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys

Chapter 1092: Chapter 377: Metal Cage (Part 2)

But, this time it’s different.

With just a quick glance, he saw the words "Fine Gold Level Sword Bearer" written in large characters, which caused the Guard Captain’s heart to tremble.

The Guard Captain’s expression immediately changed, and he quickly stood at attention and saluted Rein.

"Lord Rein!"

Rein waved his hand and said: "Where should I report to?"

"Gavin! Accompany Lord Rein to the administrative building’s reception to report." The Guard Captain shouted, and soon a capable guard came running over quickly.

"Yes, Captain. Lord Rein, this way, please."

"Thank you!"

However, Rein didn’t notice that among the eight guards at the gate, one of them’s eyes briefly flashed with a bright light upon hearing his name.

Half an hour later.

At the Sword Holder Headquarters, in a Secret Silver Level Sword Bearer suite.

"Young Master Greenwood, someone from our family just informed me that the young man named Rein has already arrived at the headquarters."

"Oh? He’s finally here!" Greenwood’s face lit up with delight, as he had been waiting for Rein for many days.

"Have Mia, Nathan, and Chandler come over at once."

A quarter of an hour later.

A woman about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, wearing a fitted noble hunting outfit with a curvaceous figure and bright red lip color, walked into the room, chatting leisurely with two noble-looking men.

During non-mission times at the headquarters, most Sword Bearers were in casual attire.

All three were part of Greenwood’s circle, with Chandler being from the lowest family status, yet still the second son of an Earl from the Imperial City.

It’s not that Greenwood’s social circle was so small.

It’s just that these people happened to hold positions at the Sword Holder Headquarters and were part of Greenwood’s leadership circle within the noble circle of the Imperial City.

There were, of course, noble heirs of higher rank at the headquarters, but Greenwood couldn’t command them; rather, he had to visit them personally to ask for favors.

"That person is here."

"Oh? Is it the young Fine Gold Level Sword Bearer you mentioned last time, who wounded you?" The only female present, Mia, said with a slight glint in her eyes, quite interested in Rein, who had wounded Greenwood.

"Is it this Rein you’re talking about?" Nathan also asked.

"Indeed."

"Then let’s proceed as planned; we’ll show him that the Imperial City isn’t an easy place to navigate." Chandler, looking quite gentlemanly, shook the red Bordeaux Liquid in his hand and said with a smile.

"Mia, you and Chandler should go and make contact with him first; if you can gain his trust, that would be ideal," Greenwood suggested.

"Sure, no problem, he’s at the administrative building’s reception now, right? Chandler, let’s go have a ’chance encounter’ with Lord Rein," Mia giggled sweetly.

...

At the administrative building’s reception.

Due to Rein’s status as a Fine Gold Level Sword Bearer, the reception duties were personally handled by Anthony, the department head, a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair.

"Lord Rein, due to your outstanding performance in the Marn Province, clearing out the Wailing Wind Fjord’s Sea God Sect base and killing three Legendary Strongmen and Quasi-Legendary Cult masters, you have earned three Secret Silver Medals and sixteen thousand five hundred Merit Points."

"Oh, and there’s more...." Department Head Anthony’s squinting eyes suddenly widened as he spoke.

On the Wisdom Tablet before him, the words ’Top Secret’ stood out, and a long passage of text was obscured, though the final reward amount was visible.

"You also provided a piece of top-secret intelligence, earning two Fine Gold Medals and ten thousand Merit Points."

"So, Lord Rein, you’ll receive a total of one Fine Gold Medal and three Secret Silver Medals, plus twenty-six thousand five hundred Merit Points."

"Do you have any objections to this?" Department Head Anthony said with a smile.

Rein raised an eyebrow, feeling a surge of satisfaction.

He had anticipated that information about the Nether Sea Goddess Hela might be important, but he hadn’t expected it to be so valuable.

It even surpassed the rewards for eliminating the three leaders of the Sea God Sect.

Indeed, matters involving the Divine are no small things.

"Of course not, thank you, Lord Anthony." Rein slightly bowed in appreciation.

At that moment, a female staff member came over quickly.

In her hands was a tray, and atop the tray lay a shimmering, palm-sized circular emblem.

Rein picked up the Fine Gold Emblem from the tray and handed his Diamond Star Emblem to the female staff member.

The hefty Fine Gold Emblem bore the image of a knight standing with a sword, vivid in detail. From Rein’s understanding of metals, he could tell the emblem was indeed crafted from precious fine gold.

Yet, compared to the honor and authority the emblem represented, the fine gold itself seemed trivial.

"Do you need someone to show you around, Lord Rein?" Department Head Anthony said with a smile.

"No, thank you. I’ll explore on my own." Rein smiled and politely declined.

"Very well, Lord Rein, if you encounter any issues at the headquarters, feel free to reach out to me."

"Thank you, goodbye, Lord Anthony."

...

Minutes later, Rein left the reception.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Department Head Anthony’s smile was extremely insincere, giving him an uncomfortable impression.

However...perhaps this is a common trait among the Empire’s bureaucrats, Rein thought while shaking his head slightly and dismissing the thought.

Soon, following the signs he encountered along the way, he arrived at the headquarters’ exchange hall.