Bounty and the Ghoul

Chapter 41: Bounty and the Ghoul

"Fifty-fifty split!"

Initially, when recruited, the agreement was seventy-thirty.

During the mission, because Han Dong made the correct deduction that there was an escape tunnel in the basement, Cas increased his share to forty percent.

Later, thanks to Han Dong's assistance, only one Ghoul was released, and Han Dong uniquely killed the Ghoul with his abilities.

Cas Martini, after submitting the bounty quest, directly gave Han Dong half a bag of heavy copper coins at the church entrance.

"This much?" Han Dong was a little surprised, as this bag contained at least a hundred copper coins.

"If it weren't for your help this time, Andewar, I wouldn't have only failed to complete the mission, but I would have been in mortal danger. This is what you deserve... Also, as you requested, I only mentioned my name when submitting the quest."

Cas didn't pry too much into why Han Dong wanted to remain anonymous. After all, everyone has their privacy... Cas guessed Han Dong had snuck out, and if the academy found out, he wouldn't get this bounty money.

"Mm."

Han Dong wasn't sure of the exact value of this half bag of copper coins yet.

"Friend Andewar, is your summoned creature a 'contract-bound type' or 'mind-controlled type'? It's so powerful!"

"The former, I suppose."

"It seems getting a Destiny Weapon wasn't a coincidence!

Could you leave me a contact method? In the future, if there are any bounty quests that require a team, or when an important 'Destiny Moment' arrives, we can tackle them together.

Don't mind that I was injured fighting the Ghoul earlier; I'm still quite formidable when serious."

It wasn't that Han Dong didn't want to team up.

Being able to get acquainted with a Crusader who had allocated 3 Destiny Points was very beneficial for Han Dong's future development.

However, Han Dong didn't know how to answer this question.

Contact information, naturally, referred to contemporary communication methods.

Yet, according to normal history, the communication methods of the steam era were still at the stage of 'paper letters'... Telegraphs only appeared at the beginning of the Second Industrial Revolution.

Han Dong had asked Nina about this point.

The result he got was that the Holy City - Nointena did not have 'electricity,' and consequently, no telegraphs, nor any subsequent wireless communication methods.

However, communication methods still existed.

Under the special historical background, the supernatural and steam technology collided head-on, and humanity in the apocalypse had developed an alternative communication method.

It involved copper parts and gears working together to output relevant signals.

Through precise magic circles, the signals were identified and transmitted, allowing for 'real-time transmission' and 'directed transmission.'

It was essentially a communication product born from the combination of magic and metal.

Han Dong didn't know what it looked like specifically.

Just as Han Dong was struggling to answer the 'contact information' question, Cas pinched the winding mechanism on his wrist with his index finger and thumb.

The winding mechanism, which originally looked like a watch, made a 'clicking' sound.

It folded and unfolded.

Precise copper keys emerged from the inside, allowing the winding mechanism to develop an operation panel similar to an old mobile phone, with copper keys from 1 to 9 providing a tactile sensation akin to a typewriter.

Han Dong immediately followed suit, and sure enough, the winding mechanism also sprouted an operation panel.

At the same time, a string of digital codes was generated at the bottom of the winding mechanism... this was its phone number.

Thus, the two exchanged numbers, and Han Dong officially got to know a Knight-Errant.

At least, based on the Ghoul incident, Cas Martini seemed like a good person, worth befriending.

"That's it for now. I need to get this armor repaired quickly. If anything comes up, we can contact each other anytime."

"Okay, goodbye."

To be honest, Han Dong, who had just escaped from the Destiny Space, hadn't had time to examine this winding mechanism.

He had been staring at it for quite a while, feeling like it was a masterpiece with potentially other hidden functions... activated as he became a Knight-Errant.

"Let's go home."

Using his status as a Knight-Errant, Han Dong left the church, passed through the Moslaby River guarded by sentries, and returned to the familiar Samael common district.

Nina had already completed the 'Knight-Errant' family registration at the Public Security Bureau. Their family would not be subject to the mandatory rules of this area and could move out of the slums at any time.

As soon as Han Dong arrived home.

Nina rushed over and hugged him tightly, speaking a bit incoherently with excitement.

After all, the changes Han Dong had brought to their family were immense.

"Brother... did you know!? After you were taken away, Officer Days personally came to apologize and gave us five copper coins! Now we don't have to worry about what to eat."

"Five copper coins is a lot?"

"It's a lot! Mom only earns ten copper coins a year working outside... I sometimes get one copper coin at the end of the month from my master when she's in a good mood."

"Oh?"

Han Dong placed the sack in his hands directly onto the table.

As the sound of metal clinking echoed from within the sack, Nina's body trembled slightly.

Han Dong said casually, "You and Mom can use this money. If we end up moving to the other side of the Moslaby River, you'll probably need to buy all new furniture, right?"

Nina remained silent.

Instead, she slowly approached the sack and opened it.

Piles of copper coins, more than Nina had ever seen, more than she could have ever dreamed of.

She stood there dumbfounded, unable to speak, her gaze even becoming somewhat unfocused.

After waiting for a long time, Nina hesitantly whispered, "Brother, did you... did you use the power you got to rob someone?"

"Don't worry, this money was acquired through legitimate channels."

"How... how much money is this!?"

"I don't know, I haven't counted it. Just keep it safe. If I need money later, I'll ask you for it. You can use the rest as you see fit."

"Brother... I, I." Nina was so anxious she was about to cry.

"Let's figure out how much money it is first, and keep it safe... We'll take it out and use it when we move to the other side of the Moslaby River."

"Got, got it!!"

Nina clutched the money bag, looking around nervously, afraid of being discovered with this fortune by strangers. She then quickly headed to the bedroom she shared with her mother.

First, she painstakingly counted each coin of this vast sum, then she placed the money bag at the very bottom of the wardrobe.

As for Han Dong, he returned to his room as usual, closed and locked the door… Nina would naturally call him when it was time to eat.

Han Dong wasn't too concerned about the copper coins. Since he could earn them through bounty missions, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

What Han Dong cared about was this time's [Unexpected Harvest].

This Ghoul incident was more than just earning a bounty.

Han Dong also acquired "Cellular Essence," a complete, mature Ghoul arm, and books related to 'Ghouls' that Chen Li found in the residence.

(Chen Li did not understand English, but her visual imagery could actively transmit information to Han Dong, who, under his guidance, found the relevant books.)

Han Dong read them rapidly, much like reviewing research papers.

He finished reading the related books in a short time, simplifying the information and organizing it in his notebook.

[Ghoul]

Cause of Formation: Graveyard work, moral decay.

Commonly found among graveyard workers or residents living near graveyards. When infected by graveyard fungi or invaded by Yin energy, their bodies enter a 'graveyard state.'

Common characteristics include anorexia, aversion to sunlight, and social phobia.

If such symptoms are discovered, it is necessary to go to the Chapel promptly to receive related holy baptism... One must avoid graveyards until the symptoms subside.

If not treated promptly, individuals have a 70% chance of death and a 20% chance of going mad.

The remaining 10% chance is that, during dreams at night, they establish a secret connection on a mental level with 'higher beings' outside the city walls, thus being influenced by 'degeneration' and evolving into Ghouls.

Newly formed Ghouls require graveyard moss, various fungi, and other gloomy substances as food.

They have a strong appetite and are only active at night. Their green skin and the putrid smell they emit make them easily identifiable.

Once they consume enough and are fully mature, Ghouls will possess sound reasoning abilities and attempt to reproduce, establishing Ghoul nests.