Farewells

The next day.

While the villagers were engaging in their daily routines, a helicopter suddenly hovered above their village, making them subconsciously look up and let out a surprised gasp.

It was a large helicopter with an extravagant style, with a rapidly spinning chopper, it slowly flew around the village and lowered down, landing outside the village area.

"A helicopter? Who are they…?"

"Such an extravagant helicopter, I wonder from which rich family in the city this belongs?"

"Mommy! look, it's a helicopter!"

While the villagers were enamored by the vehicle, Harris came out of his house with his granddaughter and Elias with his group.

"Village chief, is that perhaps the city envoy? Why are they in a helicopter?"

A villager approached them with a worried look. Harris smiled at the person and waved his hand in dismissal, reassuring them.

"Don't worry, we're still safe for one more month before the envoy comes again. This helicopter is not them, they're here for our friends here."

The villager looked at Harris' left and widened his eyes in surprise. He nodded at Elias and his group and sighed in relief.

Elias nodded back and turned to look at Harris and Alysa with a genuine smile, expressing his gratitude.

"Sir. Harris and Ms. Alysa, we are immensely thankful for your hospitality this past month and a half. I promise in my name that you will all be repaid for this kindness and generosity."

"Now, now, it's my job as the village chief to accommodate guests from far away. And it's not like we didn't take advantage of you people. You helped us in gathering monster carcasses, materials, and labor work."

Harris shook his head lightly, much to Elias' amusement.

"Let's go, Sir Harris. I'm sure you will be quite surprised."

***

While they were talking, the luxury helicopter outside slowly opened and countless men wearing double-breasted suits came out of the entrance.

Leading them, a handsome man with long black hair and a monocle walked out with his hands behind his back.

Sebastian called out to two people to bring something out of the helicopter. A few seconds later, two men came out while holding a pair of heavy suitcases in their hands.

Outside the village, Harris and the group of villagers just came out and watched the people with slightly puzzled expressions.

Sebastian moved his eyes, looking through the group of people outside the village. Soon, he spotted a young black-haired man with an intimidating presence.

Under the other villagers' gaze, Sebastian quickly approached and bowed to the man with his hand on his chest.

"May I confirm if you are Sir. Sanchez's godson, Elias?"

"Corleone, then indeed. As for these people, these are my subordinates. If I'm not wrong, you should be sent by Uncle Sanchez, right?"

Elias affirmed while he pointed at the five people behind him. Donato and the rest were watching Sebastian with curious and guarded gazes.

Paying no heed to it, Sebastian nodded while politely bowing his head.

"That is correct, young master. I am Sir. Sanchez's personal butler, Sebastian Ciel. Under my master's orders, we are to bring you and your subordinates back to the Sanchez family."

Elias nodded slightly.

"I have no problem with that, but have you brought what I told you to bring?"

Hearing that, Sebastian lightly clapped his hands and the two men with briefcases immediately came forward. Elias looked at the men before turning his attention to the briefcases.

"How much is this? These are my benefactors. I hope Uncle Sanchez didn't stint on his rewards."

"Rest assured, the amount is…"

Sebastian leaned forward and whispered an amount. Elias whistled and nodded in satisfaction. At this moment, Harris and Alysa suddenly came forward and approached them.

"Sir. Elias...?"

Elias suddenly turned around and looked at them with a smile. He clapped his hands and spoke.

"Perfect timing. Sir. Harris and Ms. Alysa, I was just about to look for you two."

"Is there a problem, Sir Elias?"

Hearing that, Alysa asked in confusion.

Elias shook his head lightly before snapping his fingers. Behind him, the two men holding the briefcases came forward and opened the briefcases, revealing the contents inside the briefcases.

Harris and Alysa's eyes suddenly widened in surprise.

It was a large amount of cash, filling the briefcases entirely. For both of them, it was an amount they perhaps could never witness in their entire lifetime combined.

"S-sir Elias, w-what could be the meaning of this?"

Harris snapped out of his daze and immediately looked at Elias with a stunned expression.

Instead of Elias, it was Sebastian who came forward and answered.

"This is your enumeration for taking care of our young master during his stay here. Its total is fifty million in cash. You don't have to worry about its authenticity. Furthermore, our master discussed with the mayor of the nearby city and told them to exempt your village from taxes for a year."

Hearing that, Harris was shocked in disbelief and immediately shook his head.

"W-we can't accept this!"

"Sir. Harris and Ms. Alysa, please accept it."

Elias suddenly said, patting the man's shoulder. He persuaded them calmly.

"This is my gratitude towards the village for taking care of us. As I promised, I will repay your hospitality countless times more. If not for you and the others, where would we be? We would be starving in the forest with no way to go."

Harris suddenly fell silent. Of course, that was not true. They were Rankers, not ordinary people, Elias and the rest could've survived just well.

But it wasn't like he didn't understand.

If he rejected the gift, it would seem like he was rejecting their kindness. If the other party were to be offended by it, wouldn't he just be endangering his own village?

In truth, he was just overthinking things. Elias would never recklessly act just because he was offended, he wanted to compensate for their help and also show that he had basic principles he adhered to.

After a while, he raised his head and wore a difficult expression. He clenched his hand tightly before he sighed quietly.

"...Can I exchange it with something else?"

Sebastian frowned, looking at Elias before nodding slightly. Harris sighed in relief, he looked at the still-dazed Alysa before speaking out his thoughts.

"Can you bring along my granddaughter instead?"