As the soldiers led the three of them toward the armory, Jennings was as excited as a child, constantly speculating about what their reward would look like.
Janice appeared far calmer, though a trace of anticipation flickered in her eyes as well.
The armory was heavily guarded. Two Golems stood at the entrance, clad in heavy magic steel, red light flowing through their eyes. They were clearly defensive magical constructs capable of attacking independently.
As soon as the three approached, an armory administrator dressed in a dark blue robe walked out.
He was a middle-aged mage with meticulously combed gray-white hair and a metal token at his waist signifying his status as an armory manager.
"Jennings Chuanpei and Viscountess Janice Gibor, come with me." His tone was cold and his speech steady.
The two exchanged a glance, nodded in mutual understanding, and followed him.
They were soon brought to a side chamber with a heavy stone door.
The mage lightly waved the staff in his hand. A cyan-blue glow appeared on the door, and the magic array slowly unlocked, revealing a long, narrow weapon storage room beyond it.
The administrator did not let them choose for themselves. Instead, he directly took out two longswords wrapped in leather sheaths patterned with magic runes.
"Fine-grade Enchanted Weapons, standard Imperial issue. The runes have been uniformly calibrated. Take them."
Jennings froze and blurted out, "We don't get to choose?"
The mage shot him a sidelong glance, his expression practically saying, You think you're qualified to choose? He did not answer, merely coldly handing over the swords.
Jennings had wanted to say more, but at Janice's soft cough of warning, he could only awkwardly shut his mouth, his face flushing and paling by turns.
Though he felt somewhat unwilling, he knew that within the