Singing Apple Garden.
The air was filled with the aromas of ale, roasted meat, and a certain sweet, fruity scent.
That's the taste of the proprietress's special apple pie.
Several tables were scattered throughout the hall, with a few guests sitting here and there.
Some were drinking, some were chatting, some were dozing off, and some were staring blankly at the task board on the wall.
Higashino Makoto sat at a table in the corner of the hall, with a cup of warm black tea in front of him.
Illya sat opposite him, her long silver-white hair shimmering golden in the sunlight, her crimson eyes curiously looking around.
She held a piece of apple pie in her hand, eating it in small bites, crumbs sticking to the corners of her mouth.
"Big brother, this is delicious."
"Um."
Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup and took a sip.
The black tea was a little astringent, but had a sweet aftertaste, much like the simple yet warm feeling this hotel gave off.
Footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Four people came downstairs, two men and two women, chatting and laughing.
Leading the way was a young man with blond hair and blue eyes.
He was dressed in a magnificent and beautiful outfit, with two short swords with butterfly-shaped handguards hanging at his waist, along with a mace and a dagger.
His skin was tanned dark and healthy, he wore a confident smile, and his steps were light and powerful.
A woman was following behind him.
A half- Elf Kingdom, with ears about half the length of a forest fairy's.
She had a fierce look in her eyes, a slender figure, and her chest lacked the roundness typical of women.
She wore light leather armor, with a rapier hanging at her waist, and her steps were steady and composed.
The third one was a man.
His facial features were solid and rugged, his hair was neatly shaved, and his slightly grown beard was carefully groomed, giving him a refreshing appearance.
He wore full armor, covered with a robe bearing holy symbols, with the same holy symbols hanging around his neck and weapons at his waist.
Finally, there was a young girl.
She was seventeen or eighteen years old, with a slender figure and delicate features.
Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, shimmering softly in the sunlight.
His emerald green eyes were clear and bright, but they carried a hint of weariness, a mark left by long hours of hard work.
She wore a dark blue robe and held a staff inlaid with blue gemstones.
The four people walked to a table in the center of the hall and sat down.
The captain beckoned to the proprietress and ordered four glasses of ale and an apple pie.
"Alright, let's get down to business."
Hekkeran lowered his voice, his emerald green eyes sweeping over his companions' faces.
"You all know about this commission. Earl Femmell, investigate the ruins within the Re-Estize Kingdom. A structure suspected to be an underground tomb. The payment is two hundred upfront, and one hundred and fifty upon completion. The deposit is higher than the final payment; it's a very large amount."
He took a piece of parchment from his pocket and spread it on the table.
"An additional reward will be given based on the investigation results. All discovered magical items will belong to the Earl, but the discoverer has the right to buy them at half their market value. Gems, precious metals, or works of art will be appraised first, and then split 50/50."
The half- Elf Kingdom Imina picked up her mead and took a big gulp.
"The client has negotiated with other work teams, and it seems likely that more than one team will be involved in the investigation."
"Right."
Hekkeran nodded.
"Therefore, we need to act quickly. We can't let others get there first."
Roberdyck placed his hands on the table, his gray eyes looking at Hekkeran.
"Where is the ruin located?"
"Within the Re-Estize Kingdom, it's about two days' journey from the border. The Earl will be responsible for the round-trip transportation and provisions."
Roberdyck nodded.
"That's not a big problem."
Arche remained silent.
She sat in a chair, holding the ale in both hands, her bright green eyes fixed on the liquid in the glass.
Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were thinking about something.
"Arche?"
Hekkeran called her.
Arche raised his head.
"Um?"
What do you think?
Arche paused for a moment.
"I'm wondering why the deposit is higher than the final payment? This is unusual. Generally, the deposit is 30% to 50% of the total reward. But for this commission, the deposit is more than half. Moreover, if multiple teams are investigating simultaneously, the Earl's expenses will be enormous."
Hekkeran's brow furrowed slightly.
"You think there's a problem?"
"Have no idea."
Arche shook his head.
"I just feel like something's not right."
Imina put down her glass and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"You're being too suspicious. The Earl is wealthy and willing to give more; what's the problem?"
"Having money is not a problem."
Arche's voice was calm.
"The question is, why did he commission multiple teams at the same time? If he only wanted to investigate the ruins, one team would have been enough. Multiple teams mean he wants faster results, or he wants more manpower."
More manpower?
"Yes. Perhaps the monsters in the ruins are very strong, and a single team can't handle them. So he needs multiple teams to work together."
A glint flashed in Hekkeran's emerald green eyes.
"You mean, this ruin might be dangerous?"
"I'm just guessing."
Arche lowered his head and looked again at the ale in his glass.
But it's always better to be cautious.
Hekkeran looked at her for two seconds, then nodded.
"You're right. It's always better to be careful."
He picked up the beer and took a big gulp.
"For this operation, we will be fully prepared. We will bring enough medicine, enough scrolls, and everything else we might need."
"Good."
All four nodded at the same time.
Higashino Makoto sat at the table in the corner, listening to every word of their conversation.
His fingers tapped lightly on the table, his dark eyes fixed on the four people.
Hekkeran's confidence, Imina's sharpness, Roberdyck's composure, Arche's caution.
Foresight.
A reasonably competent team of workers.
Cannon fodder who appeared in the original work.
He remembered something. About the ruins. That "structure that looked like an underground tomb."
That's no ordinary ruin. That's the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Ainz's stronghold.
The palace of the Overlord.
And these people, these workers who risk their lives for money, will encounter things they could never have imagined in that grave.
"Big brother."
Illya's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Um?"
"You're watching them."
"Um."
"Why?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Because they're going to a place they shouldn't be going."
Illya tilted her head.
Where?
"A place you can never return from once you go there."
A glint flashed in Illya's crimson eyes.
"Should the big brother stop them?"
Higashino Makoto did not answer immediately.
He looked at the four men, at the anticipation for the future and the desire for money on their faces.
They didn't know what they were doing.
They didn't know what was in that tomb.
They didn't know that death was waiting for them there.
"Maybe."