"You guys... really break my heart. What were you thinking, grabbing all their weapons and armor?" After fleeing the scene and finding a safe spot to rest, Thunder began inspecting the loot inside the spatial bag. At first glance, he nearly choked in frustration.
They were complete rookies—utterly clueless about the ways of the world.
The petite woman's twin daggers, Yellow Sparrow's greatsword, the axe-wielder's massive battle-axe, even the archer's bow and arrows—Sisi and Eric had hauled it all back.
"We can sell them for money! These are high-quality goods!" Sisi blinked innocently, propping her chin on her hands as she gazed up at Thunder.
Currently perched on a large rock, Thunder's tattered mage robe hung open, exposing his belly in a comical manner. Sisi and Eric crouched in front of him like eager students, while Mentor Maria stood nearby, watching the trio with an amused smile.
"You guys... Ugh, I don't even know what to say." Thunder picked up the greatsword—heavy as expected. "Let me put it this way: What kind of group was the Silver Serpent mercenary band? We don't know. Were there only six of them? We don't know that either. But we killed them. Every mercenary has a signature weapon—like this greatsword. If we try to sell it and someone recognizes it, what do you think they'll assume?"
Sisi and Eric exchanged glances, suddenly realizing the gravity of their mistake. They shrank back, necks stiff.
"So what do we do then?" Sisi whined, reluctant to part with such fine weapons. "Just throw them away?"
"Even if they were made of gold... Of course we can't just toss them! But it's better to ditch these things. We can't take the risk. One of the mercenary rules: Avoid making enemies whenever possible."
"Fine, I get it." Though unwilling, Sisi had to admit Thunder made sense.
"Let's leave it at that for now. Once we're back, we'll find a safe way to sell them and split the profits."
"Bro Thunder is the best!"
"Huh? This mage's staff is actually top-tier." Thunder pulled out the advanced mage's staff and handed it to Maria. As the authority on staves among them, Maria examined it and nodded. "This is premium work—far better than mine. It's even embedded with a sixth-tier wind-attribute magic crystal."
That poor mage had been the first to die—decapitated by the axe-wielder in a gruesome fashion.
"How much could this staff sell for?" Thunder asked.
"My old staff and its crystal cost 10,000 gold. This one? Probably around 30,000. Sixth-tier crystals aren't that expensive—it's only when you reach eighth-tier that prices skyrocket. The real value lies in the staff's material, craftsmanship, and the engraved magic circuits that channel elemental energy. Not just anyone can make something like this."
**30,000 gold!** Thunder and the siblings exchanged stunned looks. *This kind of money comes way too easy! We've been in the Breton Forest for almost a month and haven't made half this much from hunting. What kind of world is this? Life, huh...*
"You think 30,000 gold is a lot?" Maria chuckled softly. "Legend has it the most valuable staff material is called Arcanewood. It naturally forms intricate magic circuits as it grows, requiring minimal refinement to become a supreme-grade staff. Those aren't just rare—they're practically priceless."
A mage's staff had two key components: the base material, which affected mana output and could enhance casting speed and spell power, and the magic crystal, which stored additional energy for prolonged battles. High-tier crystals could even seal a powerful spell inside.
Only now did Thunder realize why mages were called the most resource-intensive profession in Atlans. Early on, the costs seemed manageable, but at higher levels? Without decent gear, you'd be too embarrassed to show your face. And top-tier magic equipment? Tens or even hundreds of thousands of gold—impossible to afford without backing from a major family.
"Let's dismantle and sell it when we get back. The engravings are all wind-based—I can't use them," Maria said, returning the staff to Thunder.
"Got it." Tucking the staff into a corner of the spatial bag, Thunder continued inspecting their haul. His eyes immediately locked onto an object—a breastplate-like mirror emitting a faint elemental glow, its surface etched with impossibly complex, indecipherable patterns.
"Magic gear?" Thunder's grin nearly split his face. *This haul just got even better.*
Unlike staves, which were mass-produced and sold by magic guilds when mages advanced to intermediate rank (assuming you had the coin), magic gear was far rarer. These enchanted items only circulated in auctions, and their prices could be described in one word: **extortionate**.
Magic gear came in three types: offensive, defensive, and auxiliary. Technically, staves counted as offensive gear. But this breastplate mirror? Clearly defensive.
"Where'd this come from?" Thunder asked, glancing at Sisi.
She shook her head and looked at Eric.
"Took it off the archer," Eric said with a sly grin—clearly aware of its value.
"So that's why!" *No wonder my Paralysis Bolt didn't work on him. No wonder a point-blank Thunder Palm didn't kill him. I thought my magic was weakened from exhaustion, but this guy had defensive gear negating the damage.*
**What other secrets does the Silver Serpent's loot hold—and who might come looking for it?**