Chapter 18: Does the Lord Know Everything?

  Matthew maintained a calm expression, ign Ralph’s request for approval, and nodded with a smile. Uhe soldiers’ subtle gnces, he spoke loudly:

  "Injured and ied, step forward. your wounds under your cloaks, and then we will distribute the spoils."

  "Don’t worry, I remember ead every one of your tributions clearly."

  "Top tributor: Knight Ange."

  "She ahe battle and killed 512 mutated fish-men. For her signifit tributions, she is awarded 10% of the total spoils, receiving 50 gold s!"

  "She killed 26 mutated fish-men herself, earning 30% of the kill reward, totaling 7 gold and 80 silver s."

  "She heavily injured 16 fish-men, earning 15% of the injury reward, totaling 2 gold and 40 silver s."

  "For participation in battle, she receives 1 gold, 20 silver, and 96 copper s."

  "Aotal reward is 61 gold, 40 silver, and 96 copper s."

  "As the top tributor, I also reward her with a healing potion worth 10 gold s."

  Ange, feeling bewildered and overwhelmed, stood uhe gaze of her rades and Ralph’s urging gnce. She stepped forward and accepted the shiny gold s and potion in front of everyone.

  She never imagihat her first earnings over 10 gold s would e from this battle during their journey.

  However, many soldiers were skeptical. While Ange’s tributions were undeniable, Matthew’s precise calcution of tributions and rewards, down to the st copper , sparked doubt among them.

  Even Ange herself couldn’t quite recall how many mutated fish-men she had killed or injured during the heat of the battle.

  "Is the lord just making things up?" some thought to themselves.

  A few soldiers exged uain gheir excitement tempered by skepticism.

  But Matthew seemed oblivious to their doubts, tinuing with calm fidence:

  "Sed p tributions: Myself."

  "I killed a total of 64 mutated fish-men, earning 30% of the kill reward, for 19 gold and 20 silver s."

  "I heavily injured 51 mutated fish-men, earning 15% of the injury reward, fold and 65 silver s."

  "For participation in battle, I receive 1 gold, 20 silver, and 96 copper s."

  "Total: 28 gold, 5 silver, and 96 copper s."

  The soldiers watched as Matthew ted out the s in his hand with precision.

  It was now clear to everyohat the lord wasn’t just saying things at random. At the very least, he wouldn’t tell such easily disproved lies to the entire group.

  After all, it wasn’t unheard of for o go ba their word...

  Yet in their hearts, the soldiers hoped that Matthew was gerag their tributions and rewards accurately.

  Some even reassured themselves that, regardless of discrepancies, at least the collective reward of 1 gold, 20 silver, and 96 copper s should be accurate.

  "Third pce: John Karls."

  "Fourth pce: Sean Radley."

  "…”

  "Thirty-sed pce: Medley. You killed two mutated fish-men, earning 60 silver s."

  "You heavily injured four mutated fish-men, earning 60 silver s."

  "For participation in battle, you receive 1 gold, 20 silver, and 96 copper s. Total reward: 2 gold, 40 silver, and 96 copper s!"

  Hearing his name called, Medley jumped up excitedly, proudly raising his as he boasted to his taller rades:

  "Haha, I told you I killed two of those fish-men! Good thing the lord saw it. Hmph..."

  His rades watched as he eagerly stepped forward to collect his s, their eyes filled with a mix of envy and admiration toward Matthew.

  "The lord didn’t miss a thing! Incredible!"

  "The lord is a mysterious and powerful Arist; of course he sees everything we do."

  "Exactly! Just like that assassin—Lord Matthew surely sensed his malicious i long before he fell into the trap."

  "Absolutely, the lord’s abilities are amazing—he knows everything!"

  As each soldier, militiaman, and porter firmed their rewards without any objes, everyone began to reach a sensus: their mysterious and powerful lord truly knew everything!

  Those who had harbored doubts felt relieved, though there were always a feereirely satisfied.

  "…”

  "Eighty-sixth pce: Catrin. You tributed to one kill, earning 30 silver s, and one heavy injury, earning 15 silver s..."

  "Wait, Lord Matthew, that’s nht! I killed two of those fish-men, and I i least three! My rades saw it!"

  Catrin shouted incredulously, scratg his head and looking to his rades for support.

  One of his rades, wearing a sheepish grin, nodded nervously before speaking up:

  "Yes, that’s right. Catrin definitely killed two fish-men. I killed three, not two. Gannon saw everything."

  Gannon, a tall, skinny militiaman, nodded quickly in agreement.

  "Yes, we were all excited at the time, w how much gold we’d get for killing those fish-men. But none of us know how to t or write..."

  Gng nervously at the silent Matthew, Gannon’s voice wavered as he added:

  "It was during the oil-pitg... maybe the fish-men’s bodies burned up? Perhaps, Lord Matthew, you made a mistake?"

  Instantly, the entire camp fell into a heavy silence.

  Everyoared at the trio in stunned disbelief, occasionally sneaking g the lord to gauge his reaatthew stood still, seemingly deep in thought.

  Even old John, who was repairing a wagon, paused with a cold smirk on his lips.

  o him, Leon blinked in fusion before blurting out:

  "No way! The lord hasn’t been wrong before!"

  To everyone’s shock, Matthew calmly patted his head and said:

  "You're right. I made a mistake."

  The camp erupted into murmurs of surprise and disbelief.

  Ralph’s eyes flickered with a cold gleam as he bellowed, "Silence!"

  The group immediately quieted down. The three men instinctively lowered their heads, their faces breaking into small smiles beh their masks.

  "See? He’s not all-knowing! Just a kid after all."

  "Should’ve asked for more while I had the ce..."

  "Wait... why did he admit it?"

  The thoughts varied among them—some feeling relieved, rowing greedy with new ideas.