Endri also saw the appearance of a Transcendent oddity, the ‘Stone Monster’s Heart,’ for the first time.
No, to be precise, there should be very few people in the world who have witnessed the appearance of a ‘Stone Monster’s Heart.’
After all, creatures like the digging stone monster haven’t appeared in the imperial territory for many years.
The majority of ‘Stone Monster’s Hearts’ come from outside the imperial territory, in places like primeval forests and hills.
Therefore, almost every ‘Stone Monster’s Heart’ can fetch a sky-high price at auctions, naturally much higher than a thousand imperial gold coins.
This isn’t even at an auction in a place like Meister County, but at the provincial-level auctions held by the major provinces.
The ‘worth a fortune’ he had previously mentioned was, of course, just a way to encourage everyone to fight.
Especially for those in need, its value is actually difficult to estimate.
Like the other Night Watchmen, Rein was staring wide-eyed at the miraculous scene before him.
It was Hamilton who reacted first, laughing and saying to Rein, “It seems we’re in luck!”
“Rein, as the ‘prime contributor,’ you go and collect the Stone Monster’s Heart. We should retreat first!”
Now with heavy losses on our side, lingering in Elim Mine is definitely not a good idea.
Who knows if there’s another digging stone monster lurking in this mine!
“Yes, Lord Hamilton!” Rein replied with a smile and a nod.
Facing such a rare treasure, Rein naturally wanted to feel it up close as well.
Immediately, he stepped forward quickly and swung his fine steel greatsword at the chest of the digging stone monster.
Perhaps because the digging stone monster was already dead, when Rein’s fine steel greatsword hacked down, the thick layer of hard rock at the monster’s chest actually crumbled away like debris.
This made it easy for Rein to carve open the monster’s chest.
Soon, a heart about the size of an infant’s head, emitting a gentle yellow glow, appeared before Rein’s eyes.
This was also Rein’s first encounter with a so-called Transcendent oddity. He hesitantly set down his fine steel greatsword and took the ‘Stone Monster’s Heart’ out with both hands.
A warm sensation with a special rhythm came from his fingertips and palms.
It was a strange feeling, and Rein had never experienced anything quite like it before.
[Ding! Host has come into contact with the Transcendent oddity ‘Stone Monster’s Heart,’ triggering the special advancement profession—Giant Stone Guardian (Transcendent)!]
[Prerequisites for advancing to Giant Stone Guardian are: ???….Current conditions not met, advancement to Giant Stone Guardian failed!]
Rein was immediately taken aback!
“Eh! It’s a special Transcendent combat profession!”
“But what the hell does the three question marks for prerequisites mean?”
“Does it mean the gap between me and this special advancement profession is too great?”
“Or is it because there’s some element of uncertainty between me and this profession?”
After being stunned for a few seconds, Rein came to his senses, realizing that this Transcendent oddity seemed to be of great use to him.
Without delay, Rein turned eagerly to Hamilton and said, “Lord Hamilton, may I directly purchase the ‘Stone Monster’s Heart’?”
Hamilton, supported by Weilun, approached and examined the ‘Stone Monster’s Heart’ emitting a gentle yellow glow, laughing, “I, too, am seeing the legendary ‘Stone Monster’s Heart’ for the first time.”
“Rein, what made you think of wanting this? The price isn’t cheap, you know?”
“Even if valued at a thousand imperial gold coins, you need to pay three-tenths of the spoils to the empire, which means you need to fork out 300 gold coins.”
“Then, out of the remaining seven-tenths of the spoils, you still need to distribute at least 200 imperial gold coins to others, including myself.”
Although Hamilton did not know why Rein suddenly took a liking to this, he did not object, merely stating that Rein needed to pay a considerable sum of money.
Rein had already anticipated this point.
Since the last time he had robbed ‘Hound King’ Kol, he could immediately come up with three hundred gold coins.
As for the remaining two hundred gold, scraping them together by hook or by crook was estimated to be not a big problem either.
“Of course! It’s only fair.” Seeing that Hamilton was not opposed, Rein couldn’t help but express his elation.
Hamilton looked at Rein with surprise again. He had not expected Rein to want it so badly—five hundred imperial gold coins was no small amount.
At that moment, Endri whispered something to Schmidt at the side.
Then, the butler named Schmidt suddenly interjected, “Wait a moment!”
“According to the Night Watchman’s Empire spoils distribution regulations, this ‘Stone Monster’s Heart’ should have three-tenths belonging to the empire, and only the remaining seven-tenths can be distributed as spoils. Lord Hamilton, is this correct?”
Upon hearing Schmidt speak, Rein’s heart sank.
Remembering some of Endri’s previous actions, he already had a vague idea of what they were up to.
“Damn shameless, both Endri and Schmidt, thinking of running away when the battle situation seemed unfavorable, and then wanting a share when the tides turned.”
“And now, do they want to meddle in the distribution of the spoils?”
Hamilton’s face also darkened, well aware of the noble’s schemes. He quickly understood their intention.
However, their question was straightforward and fair, and though they hadn’t been much help during the fight, they were representatives of the county town, the Earl, and the Viscount, so he obviously could not ignore them.
After some consideration, Hamilton had no choice but to nod and say, “Yes, Butler Schmidt, that’s indeed the case.”
As soon as Hamilton nodded in agreement, the butler named Schmidt immediately became animated and said:
“As a representative of Count Habs and Viscount Hamadi of the county town, I have the right to take custody of and appraise this ‘Stone Monster’s Heart.'”
“Of course, the distribution of the seven-tenths of the spoils of war to the valiant warriors will not change!”
Schmidt seemed to enter a realm he was familiar with when it came to the distribution of spoils, a complete contrast from his previous state of utter panic caused by the mountain monster. It was like seeing two different faces!
This made Hamilton, Rein, and the rest of the Night Watchmen feel as nauseated as if they had swallowed a fly.
Indeed, it was the typical noble countenance. With minor interests at stake, one could afford to be magnanimous and give Hamilton face, just like with the crystal lizard incident earlier.
But when the interests involved were substantial, Hamilton’s face obviously didn’t carry the same weight.
Rein knew that all of this seemed to be instigated by the so-called Wandering Bard, Endri.
“You’ll be in charge of keeping and appraising?”
“After you return to County Town, whatever the appraised value, isn’t it entirely up to you?”
Besides, Rein knew from the moment Endri had seen the mountain stone creature and exclaimed “extinct” that even an auction house couldn’t immediately come up with an accurate price.
After all, it’s hardest to appraise something that’s out of print.
For a moment, the spacious minecart transfer station was silent.
The elite members of the Night Watchmen, although injured, glared at this steward Schmidt with fury.
Rein felt he had to do something. After all, if he left it to the other party for safekeeping and valuation, he—the ‘primary hero’—stood to lose the most!
Suddenly, a stroke of inspiration flashed across Rein’s mind.
He suddenly thought of why those three Bounty Hunters had rushed to attack the mountain stone creature so frantically?
Would the steward Schmidt be able to get involved if they had succeeded in killing it then?
Of course not!
Bounty Hunters abide by the most primitive rules of spoils distribution: whoever makes the kill gets the right to distribute, everyone else who assisted can only claim a small share.
That’s why, under these rules, Bounty Hunters are reckless and fearless!
Bounty Hunters, as the name implies, everything for the bounty!
Bounty is above all!
This is inscribed in the Empire’s code of law.
“Don’t forget, you yourself are a Bounty Hunter!”
With this in mind, a sly smile crept across Rein’s lips.
Immediately, Rein quickly fastened his Bounty Hunter badge to the front of his left chest and said, “That Schmidt… Lord Schmidt. I am actually a Bounty Hunter.”
“Therefore, according to the Empire’s laws, the Bounty Hunter who makes the final kill naturally obtains the right to distribute the spoils.”
“So, I’m sorry, but this ‘Heart of the Stone Creature’ cannot be entrusted to you for safekeeping.”
“Because, it is inherently my battle trophy!”
“How could that be!!!” Schmidt, red-faced and flustered like a duck whose neck had been squeezed, exclaimed.
“How… how could you possibly be a Bounty Hunter? Aren’t you a Night Watchman!!”
At this moment, even Endri was looking at Rein dumbfounded.
Rein’s cunning move had virtually dazzled the two men.
Rein smiled slightly.
He took off his junior Bounty Hunter badge from his chest, showed it to the two men briefly, and said, “This is a genuine Bounty Hunter badge, applied for by Lord Hamilton himself, and I just received it a few days ago.”
Rein’s statement also caught Hamilton and the other Night Watchmen nearby off guard.
Hamilton, however, had a sudden realization, with an air of ‘you sly dog, you got me monologuing,’ as if he had just thought of such a scheme himself.
Plus, seeing Rein making meaningful eye contact, how could Hamilton not know what to do?
After all, it’s better to have the spoils stew in one’s own pot, where anyone can eat.
But if even the pot is taken away by someone else, then there’s nothing left for anyone!
This logic was instantly clear to everyone.
“Right, I had completely forgotten, this mission, I invited Rein to help as a Bounty Hunter,” Hamilton smacked his forehead, and decisively affirmed.
When even the leader of the Night Watchmen in Flashgold Town acknowledged Rein as a Bounty Hunter for this investigation, what was there left to dispute!
This turn of events whitened Endri’s face with fury, his body trembling.
So, in full view of everyone, Rein cheerfully stowed the softly glowing yellow ‘Heart of the Stone Creature’ into his waist pouch.
Worried about offending the representative of the County Town, aren’t you?
Having the Transcendent treasure in hand, even if he couldn’t use it immediately, at worst he could trade it with Hamilton for a superior potion of the Giant Bear Breathing Technique, right?
Then, once he became a formal Knight, would he need to fear a representative?
Don’t forget, a representative is ultimately just that, a representative.
“As for the distribution of interests between myself, Hamilton, and the other Night Watchmen, that can naturally be negotiated with Hamilton after returning.”
“At least, the spoils cannot fall into the hands of outsiders.”
“On this point, my interests align with Hamilton’s!”
Having pocketed the ‘Heart of the Stone Creature’, it was only then that Rein remembered to check the system notifications.