Their conversation felt more natural than before. The distance between staff and explorer had faded, replaced by something closer to familiarity.
Elena leaned forward slightly, curious.
"So… what surprise do you have for me today?"
Arthur waved a hand casually.
"Nothing special. Just the usual. Though I picked up something extra. Not sure if it's worth anything."
He began placing the loot on the counter.
Monster cores, broken fragments, and various materials gathered during the battle. Compared to his previous haul, the amount was smaller. The spoils had been shared among many explorers, so he couldn't keep much for himself.
Even so, it was still valuable.
Elena examined each item carefully, her fingers moving with practiced precision as she calculated their worth. Many of the cores were damaged, cracked from being used to stop the vine monster's advance.
"These lost a lot of value," she said gently, "but they're still usable."
Arthur nodded. "As long as they sell."
