Chapter 26 The Emperor's Gift

"You... you're that female bandit!" The Marquis's wife pointed at EeDeChi, roaring, flecks of saliva flying, "Lowly adventurer! I'll have you sent to the gallows!"

A young guardsman thrust his sword forward, aiming at EeDeChi's chest. EeDeChi sidestepped slightly, grabbing the guardsman's arm clad in bracers, and gently tossed him aside.

The guardsman leading the charge fell with a cry onto the street, while the others took two steps back, dispersing their encirclement and tightening around the noblewoman. 

There was also a Magic Caster nearby, poised to take action, but wisely chose to slip away quietly upon witnessing the scene.

"My family and I won't let you off the hook. Soon you'll know the consequences of offending the Luffman family of the empire!" The Marquis's wife's tone rose, but her left foot involuntarily took a step back. 

After witnessing EeDeChi's powerful act of throwing the guardsman with one hand, this noblewoman appears tough on the outside but is timid within.

EeDeChi snorted coldly, raising the giant sword behind her. Barrett hurriedly grabbed her, "Captain, let it go, let it go. We don't need to stoop to their level."

He knew very well that if they killed another noble in the imperial capital, they definitely wouldn't get away with it.

EeDeChi sheathed her sword, turning to Barrett, "Barrett, there's a saying, 'Difficulties are like springs. The weaker you are, the stronger they become; the stronger you are, the weaker they are. You have to be tough to avoid being bullied by your opponents, understand?"

"Yes, yes, you're right." Barrett led the girl, who was full of strange talk, out of the encirclement, and the surrounding guards involuntarily made way for them.

Ignoring the noblewoman, who was gnashing her teeth behind them, the two passed through the surrounding guards and onlookers, heading outwards.

The recently lifted wanted notice seemed to still have an effect. Many ordinary citizens and merchants followed them stealthily, but no one dared to cause trouble for them, so the road ahead was unobstructed.

However, as they walked out of the city gate, a finely dressed knight blocked their path.

"Is it Lord EeDeChi the Hero?" The knight took off his waist sword respectfully, inquiring. Barrett carefully examined the golden emblem on his chest and realized he was a royal knight.

"Yes, I am EeDeChi, but I'm not a hero." EeDeChi replied with her arms crossed. Barrett quietly informed her that this was a High-tier Royal Knight, making her wary of Emperor Jircniv.

The knight bowed, "His Majesty has ordered us to wait at the major city gates of the capital. If we encounter Lord EeDeChi, we are to present some gifts." He gestured to two attendants behind him, who brought forward a large sandalwood box. The box looked quite heavy, bending the waists of the two attendants.

"These are just a few gifts from His Majesty, please accept them." The knight said respectfully.

The royal knight then took out an exquisite small box, silver in color with exquisite imperial patterns engraved on it. He faced EeDeChi, bowing respectfully and presenting it with both hands.

EeDeChi took the small box, opened it, and inside the red silk cushion lay a delicate golden ring.

"Are you proposing to me?" EeDeChi held the box, stunned for a moment.

"AH?!" The royal knight raised his head, also showing confusion. Obviously, he didn't expect the esteemed Lord EeDeChi to respond like this.

"This is a spatial ring!" Barrett couldn't help but cry and laugh at the captain's words, his eyes filled with envy. "And it's the highest-tier quality!"

"Oh, I see." EeDeChi shrugged, stuffing the exquisite spatial ring into her pocket.

She already had a spatial ring on her hand, a gift from the local lord in Montell City when she eradicated the bandit group there.

EeDeChi lifted the heavy sandalwood box from the ground with one hand and stored it in the spatial ring. Then the two bid farewell to the respectful royal knight and walked out of the city.

Outside the city gate, they saw Sean and Stella anxiously waiting. Each of them held a little girl and nervously scanned the crowd. Upon seeing EeDeChi and Barrett emerge unscathed, they excitedly ran over.

The twin girls they saved, Ureirika and Kuuderika, were somewhat stabilized under Stella's professional care as a cleric. However, to some extent, their origins were unknown, and it took a great deal of effort to deal with the inquiries of the law enforcement officers. Fortunately, Sean was quick-witted and managed to bluff their way through with Stella.

The four of them walked outside, chatting and joking, or EeDeChi giving orders while the others listened. They hired a carriage and, along with the twin girls, went to a nearby inn outside the city to rest temporarily and plan their next move.

...

"Captain, what's in this box? Is it really from the emperor?" EeDeChi took out the heavy sandalwood box from the spatial ring and placed it on the table. Sean and Stella gathered around, curious. Even Barrett, who was not usually curious, stood by.

The sandalwood box was bound by Adamantite strips at the corners, with intricate silver patterns on the lid, and a steel round lock hanging on top, blocking everyone's curiosity.

"Let's see what goodies the emperor has given us." EeDeChi rubbed her hands.

To be honest, she wasn't particularly interested in what was in the box. The Empire had concentrated the best financial and material resources to create the famous "Empire Four Knights," who were not her match. Therefore, Emperor Jircniv couldn't offer her any weapons or magical items that would be meaningful to her.

Stella blinked her lively brown eyes and asked, "But how do we open the box? Didn't they send a key?"

"I've learned a bit of thief skills before, shall we give it a try?" Sean pulled out an iron wire from somewhere, eager to try.

EeDeChi reached out, grabbed the sturdy steel lock, and twisted it. Like twisting a soft slime, she twisted the lock to pieces.

"This..." Barrett, Sean, and Stella widened their eyes, staring at the steel lock in the captain's hand, which was as soft as mud.

Stella was particularly astonished because she could sense that the lock still had the magical property of "indestructible." Was this still human strength? Even a troll couldn't do this.

EeDeChi casually clapped her hands, removed the lock still bearing her fingerprints, and lifted the sandalwood box.

Under the bright candle chandelier, dazzling golden light burst forth, dazzling everyone's eyes. Gold coins! A whole box of gold coins! Neatly stacked Baharuth Empire gold coins!

"Jircniv is quite generous." EeDeChi looked at the box of gold coins with satisfaction. This was exactly what she needed at the moment. Regardless of the place or world, money was always a scarce resource.

"Such a large box of gold coins... There must be at least three or four thousand." Sean swallowed hard, trying to estimate the number.

EeDeChi slapped the box of gold coins with her palm, causing a few coins to fall to the ground and roll around. Barrett hurriedly bent down to pick them up.

The adventurous captain, suddenly enriched, exclaimed, "Let's start with everyone's salary. Each person takes 80 gold coins."

"Thank you, Captain!" Sean exclaimed in surprise, amazed at EeDeChi's generosity. Stella's smile widened, her eyes crescent-shaped with excitement as she rushed towards EeDeChi and hugged her tightly.

EeDeChi sniffed the faint fragrance of tea flowers in the cleric's chestnut hair, took a deep breath, and the fragrance lingered in her nose. She pushed Stella away with one hand. "Okay, stop acting like a lesbian."

"Oh, Barrett," EeDeChi called out, taking a bag of coins from her hand and then removing the spatial ring from her finger, tossing it to Barrett.

Barrett caught the spatial ring with both hands, feeling puzzled. This ring contained the main supplies and weapons of "The Last Defender of the Way" adventurer team, and EeDeChi had never taken it off.

EeDeChi tapped the table, gesturing for everyone to look over. "I officially nominate Barrett Monde to be the vice-captain of 'The Last Defender of the Way' adventurer team, also serving as map navigation specialists, also serving as logistics manager, also serving as a warehouse custodian, also serving as a procurement officer. Any objections? Raise your hand to vote." 

With that, she raised her hand.

Sean and Stella were still immersed in the excitement of the 80 gold coin salary, looking at their captain. 

EeDeChi cast a stern glance at them, causing them to raise their hands immediately.

"Very well." EeDeChi applauded. "No objections, unanimous approval. From now on, Barrett, you are the vice-captain, holding this spatial ring, responsible for the procurement, storage, and distribution of all materials within the team. And I will use the new ring sent by the emperor."

There are only four people in the team, is it necessary to have these vice-captains, specialists, logistics managers, warehouse custodians, and procurement officers? It's not like we're a knight's order. Barrett grumbled inwardly. Besides, isn't it usually his responsibility to handle buying and selling things? And even if he has so many positions, will he receive different salaries for each position?

EeDeChi looked at the three of them counting their gold coins joyfully, raised her arm and clenched her fist. "Our next goal is to find the Great Tomb of Nazarick, defeat the demon king Ainz Ooal Gown, and rescue the twin sisters' sister, Arche!"