Rewinding time a little, it happened when Léopold and his assistant went ahead of Alex.
''Uncle, why did you accept that man's offer when you could have refused? Isn't Adventurer's job to rescue us from bandit? Why would we pay them even when they are coward?"
To the man words, Léopold couldn't help but shake his head, blaming himself for his nephew current mindset, he was too sheltered, not knowing how the real world outside works, it was his first time following him, and unfortunately for him, their caravan got attacked, the guards killed, two of the guards hired as Adventurers fled for their lives leaving their clients behind, since that moment his nephew became a little bit hostile toward Adventurers.
The reason he and his nephew are still alive was because, the bandit did not find where he hides his money even after searching him and his nephew bodies, they left the two starve in the prison in the hope of one of them spilling the beans, something came up and most of the bandits left the hideout, guess it was at that moment they encountered Alex and his group that wiped them out before coming here and rescued them.
Léopold heaved a sigh before asking his nephew, ''What is Adventurer's job, Clotus?"
To his uncle's question, Clotus immediately answered, ''They work for money by taking requests from guild or clients.''
''Good, they work for money. Those Adventurers attacked the bandit's hideout on the Guild order and rescued us, they even give us back our merchandise but asked a little compensation and you are dissatisfied with it? Do you think they are running a charity foundation?''
Clotus could not answer because he couldn't find the right words, he almost said the guild must have promised them money for killing the bandits but thinking about it he didn't voice out because this reward must not necessarily include saving possible hostages. If he was in their shoes we would have done the same thing, because they risked their lives to kill bandits and saved hostages that weren't included in their request.
Seeing his nephew finally understanding the situation, Léopold continued.
''Don't blame them, the leader, that green eyed young man have done what a good leader should do. You haven't noticed it but firstly when he ordered the Elf girl to give us back our merchandise, others were dissatisfied. Fortunately for them, he was not planning to give back the merchandise without compensation, the compensation is for him and more importantly to calm his party's members.''
Hearing his uncle's explanation, Clotus nodded his head in understanding.
''I understand uncle. I apologize for my earlier outburst.'' Clotus apologized.
Waving his hand Léopold said while counting his merchandise, Lucien was at the entrance observing them, however, he couldn't hear what they were talking about, not that he cares.
''It's good that you know. All Adventurers are not the same because one is rotten. And it's understandable for one to flee when your life is in danger, I only paid them half of the commission for the escort mission anyway. Let's move and quickly finish counting our weapons before leaving this damned place to return home.''
''I understand uncle.''
Clotus started helping his uncle count the weapons, soon they had counted all weapons, Indeed there were fifty weapons here.
Suddenly, some of the weapons started disappearing, only the high-grade ones, though. Twenty high-grade weapons to be exact.
Clotus dumbfoundedly stared at his uncle, the latter smiled not saying anything, the thing that happened was simple, Léopold had stored those weapons in his storage space, his storage space was in form of an earring he was wearing on his right ear. This type of storage equipment was extremely rare hence nobody knows it can be used to store things, if the bandit's leader knew this he would have spurted blood because he had searched everywhere but forget to check this earring, for him it was like a middle-aged man wanting to act tough by wearing an earring.
As for the reason why Léopold had not stored everything inside his storage earring was first because of its limited capacity (space) and second because there was already a lot of items inside the storage, it was almost full.
From Clotus surprised expression it was not hard to guess that even himself wasn't aware of the fact that, the earring his uncle was wearing was in fact a storage ring, who knows if he knew, he wouldn't have spilled the beans when the bandits would start torturing them after starving them.
The two continued doing their job when Alex came in and started checking the other items. Léopold saw him when he threw that Sword at the swordsman, he even saw how others reacted.
Suddenly, he decided to befriend this young man and who knows maybe in the future he may patron him. After coming to a decision, Léopold moved toward Alex intending to buy the remaining magic items or jewels even if he was not interested in them, they were not worth much.
.....
~Back to the present.
Suddenly, Léopold who was checking his merchandise came and asked,
''Young man can I buy the magic items and jewels if you don't mind?"
Alex turned his head in Léopold's direction and asked.
''How much are you paying?"
''10 gold coins for the three magic items and 5 gold coins for the jewels, it makes a total of 15 Gold coins, how about it?"
Hearing Léopold's answer Alex stayed silent as if contemplating however secretly he was staring at Eleonora, asking the latter her opinion on the matter because among all of them she seemed the more knowledgeable when it comes to this kind of thing.
Eleonora nodded her head to indicate that the price offered was okay, that he should accept.
Finally, Alex talked, ''Okay, I accept.''
He then gave Léopold the remaining Magic items and the jewels while receiving the 15 Gold coins, after exchanging handshakes with Alex and saying he hoped to continue working with him in the future, Léopold left with his nephew after loading their merchandise into a carriage.
After making sure that there was not anything left Alex called out everybody, it was time to split the loot.
They have gained a total of 33 Gold coins and 78 Silver coins, (15 Gold coins and 78 Silver coins from the bandits and 15 Gold coins from their earlier deal with Léopold.)
The loot had been split like this:
Lucien= 4 Gold coins and 10 Silver coins
Meera= 4 Gold coins and 10 Silver coins
Eleonora= 6 Gold coins and 10 Silver coins
Sebastian= 3 Gold coins and 10 Silver coins
Golfak= 3 Gold coins and 10 Silver coins
Gracier= 3 Gold coins and 10 Silver coins
And lastly, Alex took 10 Gold coins and 18 Silver coins.
The money had been divided according to each person's contribution, Sebastian should have received at least 5 gold coins, however, Alex decided against it because he had already received a Magic sword in advance.
Nobody showed dissatisfaction with how the money has been divided.
''Clean the hideout. I'll see you outside.''
To Alex's order, Sebastian and Golfak nodded their heads, and with Lucien and Eleonora helping them, they stacked the dead bodies together before setting fire on it.
They left the cave and joined Alex and others outside.
They saw Conrad conversing with Léopold while Alex was chatting with Gracier and Meera.
Having seen them come out, Alex stopped the conversation and asked.
''You finished already?"
They nodded their heads.
''Good let's go.''
Just when Alex finished talking, Léopold approached him and asked.
''Alexander can I have a moment?"
''Yes, what is it?" Alex spun around and asked.
''Well, I was wondering if you and your group can escort us back? Don't worry I'll pay double the price.''
To Léopold's offer, Alex didn't immediately respond, he glared at Conrad who whistled by the way when he saw Alex glaring at him.
Shaking his head Alex focused his attention back on Léopold.
''Sorry, it's will not be possible. We are on a mission, we just eliminated the bandits because we come across them, it was not a request. Go talk with that man over there, he will find a solution, he's a guild staff after all.''
Conrad's lips twitched when he heard Alex's words, Léopold's eyes widened for a moment, earlier when conversing with Conrad he had not said anything like that, Léopold mistook him for another Alex's party members guarding the entrance and looking after a captured bandit, guess he was wrong.
''It's shame. Thank you, I'll follow your advice.''
Léopold said before leaving with his nephew who by now showed no more hostility toward them especially now that he heard Alex's and co were not commissioned to clean the bandits.
Alex noticed the change in attitude but choose to ignore it.
After chatting with Conrad, the two seemed finally to agree.
Alex and the others returned to their carriage and left Léopold, his nephew, and the tied-up bandit near the highway. From what they learned, Adventurers had been dispatched to come to fetch them asap.
Waving at Léopold, Alex's carriage departed toward their destination.