The middle-aged man sat a little straighter when Evelyne and Mira took their seats across from him.
"My name is Robert Miller," he introduced himself cautiously. "I’m an A-rank Awakener. I’ve been working in Kragdeep for quite some time, mostly handling dungeon expeditions and escort missions."
His gaze briefly settled on Evelyne before moving away.
Although she was only thirteen, the de Roselle surname was enough to make him choose his words carefully. He had dealt with wealthy clients before, but negotiating with a noble girl of such a prominent family was another matter entirely.
Evelyne, however, seemed unconcerned by his nervousness.
"We need a team to accompany us into Kragdeep Dungeon for this two days," she said. "We would prefer people with practical experience who can protect us and help us deal with unexpected situations."
Robert nodded. "I understand. My team should be able to handle that, provided the dungeon conditions haven’t changed significantly. May I ask how much time you intend to spend inside?"
"That depends on what we find. As for the payment, I’ll offer one hundred thousand dollars for the entire task, payable after its completion."
Robert froze.
"One hundred thousand?"
He had expected a reasonable offer, perhaps a few thousand dollars depending on the requirements. One hundred thousand was considerably more than he had anticipated.
After all, he was only an A-rank Awakener. His wife was also an A-rank Awakener, but the other two members of his team were B-rank. They were experienced enough to handle ordinary dungeon expeditions, yet they hardly qualified as an elite team.
Nevertheless, the offer was far too good to refuse.
"Of course, Lady de Roselle. We accept."
"Excellent. Let’s settle the contract, then."
Robert quickly agreed to the remaining conditions, and Evelyne reviewed the document before signing it. Once Robert added his signature, the guild system registered the agreement, making their arrangement official.
With the formalities completed, Evelyne stood up.
"We’ll leave the preparations to you. Please let us know if there’s anything else we need to arrange before the expedition."
"Certainly, my lady. I’ll make sure everything is ready."
Robert rose as well, still looking somewhat dazed by how easily the negotiations had concluded.
Mira, who had remained quiet throughout the discussion, followed Evelyne out of the room.
Only after they had left the reception area did she begin to feel the weight of what had just happened.
One hundred thousand dollars.
The figure kept repeating itself in her mind.
She had heard wealthy people speak casually about sums of money that ordinary families could barely imagine. However, hearing Evelyne offer such an amount so effortlessly was an entirely different experience.
For Evelyne, it had been a straightforward business decision. She needed a capable team, and she was willing to pay for one.
For Mira, it was almost incomprehensible.
She had never possessed that kind of money. Even imagining what she could do with such an amount was difficult.
And Evelyne had offered it for a task that might ultimately turn out to be nothing more than an unnecessary journey prompted by a mysterious letter.
What if the letter led them nowhere?
What if there was no hidden secret, no important discovery, and no reason for them to have come to Kragdeep in the first place?
They would still have spent the money.
Mira lowered her gaze as she walked beside her friend.
She had only known Evelyne for about a week.
A week.
It wasn’t a particularly long time to know someone, especially when compared with the years Mira had spent with her childhood friends. Yet Evelyne had accompanied her without demanding an explanation for every strange decision, listened to her concerns, and helped her investigate a mystery that might not even have existed.
And now she was spending an amount of money Mira could hardly comprehend to make sure their journey was safe.
Mira’s fingers tightened around the straps of her enormous bag.
She couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.
It wasn’t that she resented Evelyne’s wealth. Nor did she think her friend was foolish for spending it. Evelyne had her reasons, and Mira trusted her judgment.
The problem was that she had nothing comparable to offer in return.
She came from an ordinary family in a relatively low realm. She possessed neither an impressive background nor the resources to repay such generosity. Even the money she had brought with her was limited.
For the first time since their friendship had begun, Mira became acutely aware of the difference between them.
Evelyne could spend a hundred thousand dollars on a task without hesitation.
Mira, meanwhile, would probably have spent the next several months worrying about whether such an expense was truly necessary.
She glanced sideways at her friend.
Evelyne was speaking with Robert about their departure arrangements, her expression calm and composed. There was no hint that she expected gratitude, much less repayment.
That somehow made Mira feel even worse.
She had never asked Evelyne to spend so much money. She hadn’t even known the offer would be that generous.
Yet Evelyne had done it anyway.
Mira quietly lowered her head.
’Someday, I’ll repay you.’
The thought came naturally, almost instinctively.
She knew that money alone might never be enough to repay what Evelyne had done for her. Kindness like this could not be measured by a number, and she understood that their friendship was not supposed to be a business transaction.
Still, she wanted to become someone who could stand beside Evelyne without feeling that she was merely receiving help.
Someone capable of offering support when Evelyne needed it.
Someone who could return the favor, even if only in a small way.
’I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll do my best.’
Mira made the promise silently, keeping it to herself.
She didn’t want Evelyne to misunderstand her feelings or think she was troubled by their differences. More than anything, she didn’t want to turn a sincere act of kindness into an awkward discussion about money.
For now, she would simply remember it.
And when the time came, she would do whatever she could to help her friend in return.
By the time the two girls left the Awakener Guild, the streets of Kragdeep City had become noticeably busier.
Vehicles passed along the broad roads, their engines blending with the chatter of pedestrians and the distant announcements from nearby shops. The glass buildings reflected the afternoon sunlight, while large digital displays advertised everything from enchanted equipment to upcoming Awakener tournaments.
Robert walked ahead of them, leading the way without saying much.
He had offered a few practical details about the expedition, explaining that he would need time to speak with the other members of his team and make the necessary preparations. Beyond that, he seemed content to let the girls follow him in silence.
Evelyne didn’t appear bothered by his reserved manner.
Mira, on the other hand, occasionally glanced at him, wondering what sort of person he was outside the guild.
He didn’t look particularly intimidating. His clothes were simple, his build was sturdy, and his manner was more cautious than commanding.
Still, he had reached A-rank.
That alone suggested he had experienced more than a few dangerous situations.
After walking for a while, Robert turned away from the main commercial street and led them into a quieter part of the district. The shops gradually became smaller, and the towering buildings gave way to modest establishments with signs hanging above their entrances.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a one-story building.
It wasn’t particularly large, nor was its exterior especially impressive. The walls were painted a warm shade of brown, and several wooden tables could be seen through the windows. A simple sign hung above the entrance, displaying the establishment’s name in neatly painted letters.
Mira looked at the building, then at Robert.
"This is where your team meets?" she asked.
Robert rubbed the back of his neck.
"Something like that."
For the first time since they had met, his expression softened into something resembling genuine pride.
He turned toward the two girls and gestured toward the entrance.
"This is a small tavern that I opened with my wife, Anna."