"Fifty coins? Mario, you've already withdrawn a total of one hundred gold coins the last two times. And now you want this much again?" Thomas immediately turned into a miser.
"Thomas, my lord brought back more than thirteen thousand people this time. Even if each person eats less than half a pound of black bread a day, that still takes six thousand pounds every day!"
"And a pound of wheat costs ten copper coins, so fifty gold coins only buys fifty thousand pounds of grain. All of what I withdrew last time was spent on grain, and even with this batch, it can only last a little over a month at most!"
"Fine! Mario!" After hearing this, Thomas knew Mario had no choice either, so he could only pinch his nose and go fetch the gold coins.
Before long, Thomas placed fifty gold coins on the small table in the hall. After handing them over to Mario, he had Mario sign for the expenditure.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Just as the two finished signing, the sound of a bronze bell rang out from the castle tower.
The two exchanged a glance and immediately headed for the inner castle gate.
"Steward Thomas, Administrator Mario, my lord has returned!" The moment they stepped out of the inner castle gate, Raymond called out with delight written all over his face.
"My lord has returned?" Joy instantly appeared on both their faces as well.
"Quick, Wool Hal, Grassroot Mili, go prepare hot water and towels at once. Oh, and the red carpet too. Stone Bri, you go prepare the red carpet. My lord is returning in triumph this time—we must welcome him with a red carpet, one that stretches all the way to the foot of the castle slope!"
"Also, notify all the other male