After the double doors closed tightly behind the backs of the five Black Axe party members, now, the only ones left standing before the receptionist were Calian, Wolvin, and Eralio.
As an imperial prince who bore great responsibility, even though he was currently disguised and doubling as an adventurer, Calian felt he could not simply relinquish his duties just like that. He wanted to make sure once more regarding the fate and comfort of the dozens of people who were about to be sent home.
Calian stepped a little closer to the counter desk and looked at Milla.
"Milla," Calian called out in a very calm tone, "does the guild have any lodging facilities directly affiliated with you in this city? Those people need a safe place to rest and recover their physical condition. And as for the cost, let me handle everything right now."
"Of course we do!" Milla answered quickly without the slightest hesitation, showcasing her professionalism.
Then, the woman turned her head for a moment, visually counting the number of people sitting in the waiting area in front of her colleague's desk.
"Calculated in total, there are exactly twenty-three people that you have saved." Milla said, looking back at Calian. "For the lodging facilities, would you like us to rent separate rooms for each person, or a large room with two or three beds to be more economical?"
"Please book one separate room for each of them." Calian answered without hesitation. "They just experienced trauma from being locked up in a dark cell. They need private space to calm themselves."
Hearing the instructions from the purple-haired youth in front of her, Milla's eyes moved to stare at an empty parchment. Her brain worked at a highly impressive speed. Without using any calculating tools whatsoever, the woman instantly calculated the total lodging cost required for twenty-three people with sharp precision.
It took less than five seconds for the woman to complete her mental calculations.
"The grand total cost for twenty-three rooms is 4,600 Lens without dining facilities, and 6,800 Lens if it includes a breakfast, lunch, and dinner package." Milla explained fluently, looking right into Calian's eyes.
"Is that nominal the total cost per night for all the rooms?" Calian asked to confirm.
"Yes, you are right!" Milla answered firmly. "Considering the administration process for the cross-regional return route to Sellon City requires time for processing travel documents and wagon preparation, if counted until their departure day, they will need to have rooms rented for at least three or four nights."
Hearing the structured and very detailed explanation, Calian immediately nodded in agreement and promptly handed over the 3 gold coins he had received earlier. The total amount of money he placed on the desk was valued at 30,000 Lens.
"I will rent for four full nights with complete meal package." Calian said as he pushed the coins in front of Milla. "The total bill should be 27,200 Lens. And as for the excess change, please just take it as a tip for your help and fast service."
Milla stared at the remaining change of 2,800 Lens. Even though as a guild staff member she was very reluctant and hesitant to accept excess money from an adventurer, she ultimately decided to accept it.
"Very well, thank you very much for your generosity." Milla said while taking the coins from the desk. "I will immediately handle their room rentals and transportation to the inn. You do not need to worry about their safety while they are under the guild's supervision."
The receptionist immediately took her quill from its inkwell and deftly began noting down the reservation form for the twenty-three rooms on a sheet of parchment.
Seeing that, Calian felt that all his business at the guild had finally been thoroughly completed. He wanted to leave immediately to settle a much more important matter with Eralio.
"Is our administration business finished, and are we permitted to leave this guild building?"
Hearing the question, Milla instantly stopped writing. She lifted her face and gazed at the visage of the purple-haired youth standing in front of her. The woman carved a sincere, friendly smile, not just a smile demanded by her job.
"Of course, please go ahead. All your matters have been completed perfectly. Once again, thank you very much for your hard work and kindness today."
Calian returned the smile with a small nod. "Yes, you are welcome. And I leave the safety of those people entirely under the guild's protection."
"Just leave everything to us!" Milla answered firmly.
The answer given without hesitation instantly made Calian feel very relieved. He could finally focus his attention on immediately settling his business with the merchant.
Then, together with Wolvin and Eralio, Calian turned around and began stepping away from the counter desk, heading toward the doors of the guild lobby.
However, their movement was noticed by the captives sitting in the waiting area. As the three of them walked past the crowd of saved people, emotional voices began to echo. They all stood up and bowed their heads, expressing their deep gratitude to Calian and Wolvin.
"Mr. Adventurers, thank you very much for everything!" said the female elf with a slightly trembling voice and teary eyes. "If the two of you had not coincidentally found us there and killed those cruel bandits, we all would surely have rotted to death in that cell without anyone knowing it!"
"You do not need to think too deeply about it." Calian replied casually without stopping his footsteps that continued moving toward the double doors, as if what he had done was no big deal. "It is already the duty and obligation of an adventurer to help people who are in need of assistance."
Behind her counter desk, Milla's hand that was holding the quill stopped in mid-air.
Hearing the innocent and honest words just uttered by the female elf, the puzzle in Milla's head was finally answered perfectly. It was right then that she fully realized that it was those two Rank A adventurers who actually had the absolute contribution to eradicating the S-class fugitive bandit gang without any interference from the Black Axe party group.
So, the two of them slaughtered all those terrifying fugitives all by themselves? Milla thought in awe, staring at the backs of Calian and Wolvin, which were beginning to disappear behind the doors.
However, the receptionist was also aware that she had no right to do anything, let alone correct the report. She knew for certain that the purple-haired adventurer was no ordinary person. The aura of authority surrounding the youth was too dense. Especially when she saw with her own eyes that a major, incredibly wealthy merchant like Eralio was willing to follow whatever the youth said without arguing.
....
As soon as they stepped out of the guild building, the cooling afternoon air of Gias City immediately greeted them. The sky had turned golden orange.
Amidst the noise of the city streets bustling with passing residents, Eralio, who was walking beside Calian, leaned his body in and immediately opened a highly surprising topic of conversation between them.
"Do you not intend to recruit that woman as well, Your Highness?" Eralio whispered very softly, ensuring his voice was only heard by Calian and Wolvin amidst the crowd.
The purple-haired youth's footsteps hitched slightly. He turned his head to look at the man beside him.
"Recruit that woman?" Calian repeated with a furrowed brow, not understanding the sudden and baseless recruitment suggestion. "Do you mean the guild receptionist named Milla earlier?"
Eralio nodded slowly, confirming the prince's words.
"Yes. That woman is not just an ordinary receptionist who is good at calculating." Eralio explained in a serious whisper. "Based on the assessment of my blessing, that woman possesses a very rare gift. She possesses the [Economic Strategy] blessing. I think she would be very suitable if you appointed her as the imperial minister of finance in the future."
Hearing the words and facts just revealed by the merchant, Calian and Wolvin spontaneously widened their eyes. Their footsteps halted completely at the side of the road, simultaneously staring at the middle-aged man's face with an expression of disbelief.
"What did you say?" Calian said in shock, truly not expecting that the young woman who worked serving adventurers behind a wooden desk possessed an economy-related blessing. "If she possesses that blessing, why didn't you tell me earlier while we were still inside, Mr. Eralio?"
"Of course I couldn't possibly say it openly in the middle of the crowded guild lobby, Your Highness." Eralio answered, providing a very logical explanation regarding their situation. "If I had said it there and suggested you recruit a minister, it is certain that your true identity as a member of the imperial family would immediately leak and be known by the public that very second."
The security reason given by Eralio made perfect sense, and Calian could not deny it at all. He glanced briefly toward the guild doors, thinking about the massive prospect he had just left behind. However, the youth quickly realigned his focus. He had to finish one matter before jumping to another. He had a main objective that was far more pressing right now.
"You are right!" Calian said, nodding in understanding. He resumed his footsteps. "The matter regarding the recruitment of that woman... I will handle it later after the important matter between the two of us is completely finished."
Eralio sighed in relief and nodded in agreement. "Very well if that is what you wish, Your Highness. Let us head to my residence immediately. We can speak freely there."
"Yes, Mr. Eralio!"
And then, the three of them quickly walked toward Eralio's line of caravan vehicles waiting in front of the guild. However, for the first time since their long journey began, Calian and Wolvin no longer sat in the cargo wagon at the back.
This time, upon the direct request and respect from the wealthy major merchant, the married couple was invited to climb aboard and sit with him inside his private carriage.