On the third day after the battle, the atmosphere in the Meeting Room of the Lord's Manor in Newborn Town was utterly different from the tension before.
The fire blazed in the hearth, the wood crackling softly as warmth spread into every corner of the room.
"My right arm still feels numb from the recoil of those steel cables." Ola gulped down a mouthful of ale and grumbled in his rough voice, but he could not hide his grin. "But it was worth it! Damn well worth it!"
"Better than getting sprayed all over by that monster." Barrett cracked a rare joke. "That lad Barton still smells funny."
"Hahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter.
Roland sat quietly in a corner, wiping down his longsword.
When Veylin entered the Meeting Room, the noise immediately died away.
He wore simple Linen Clothes and carried a stack of parchment documents.
"It looks like you've all recovered well." Veylin took the seat at the head of the table.
"Then let's begin the meeting."
He looked at Caroline.
Caroline stood and opened the ledger in her hands.
"This operation consumed an enormous amount of supplies."
"The three Eyes of the Storm, their accompanying bolts and steel cables, and the repairs and material losses came to a total of one thousand three hundred and fifty Gold Suns."
"Research and production costs for the various potions amounted to three hundred and ten Gold Suns."
"With the remaining logistics, food, and compensation for the wounded... total expenditure came to two thousand one hundred and thirty-seven Gold Suns, eight Silver Moons, and four Copper Leaves."
She closed the ledger.
"It is worth noting that none of our combat personnel were killed. Thirteen were wounded, three of them seriously, but all are now out of danger."
Two thousand Gold Suns in