Chapter 36: Baron Tony’s Enthusiasm

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Baron Tony's Enthusiasm

Chapter 36: Baron Tony's Enthusiasm

The steward Zeman led the group into the castle. The castle appeared to have some age to it, with ivy covering one side, giving it a sense of the passage of time.

Although the castle wasn't particularly large, compared to the colossal ones that could occupy entire hilltops, it was well-equipped with all the essentials: walls, stables, training grounds, and so on.

William and his group were ushered into the castle's banquet hall, where a sumptuous dinner awaited them. Standing before the table was a man dressed in fine clothes, his face showing signs of worry, his belly protruding slightly.

"I presume you're the famous Nichole's Adventurer Party. Our territory's fate against the monsters now rests on you heroes!"

This man was Baron Zet Tony, the owner of the territory. He appeared to have had several sleepless nights, evident from the prominent dark circles under his eyes.

As the representative of the adventurer party, Nichole stepped forward to greet Baron Tony, saying, "You're too kind. I am Nichole. Since we have accepted your commission, we will naturally carry out the task properly and help you eliminate the monster."

"I know, I know. I'm counting on all of you!" Baron Tony finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Nichole's assurance. These past few days had really taken a toll on him.

"You've all had a long journey today. I've already prepared dinner and a place for you to rest." Visitt novelbin(.)co/m for the latest updates

Not seeing Nichole introduce the other members, Baron Tony didn't mind and promptly invited William and the others to take their seats.

He had prepared this lavish dinner in advance today and even sent the steward Zeman to the town to greet them.

All of this was arranged by a friend who had helped him post the task at the Canlight City Mercenary Guild. His friend had specifically instructed him yesterday that the individuals who accepted the commission to exterminate the monster in his territory were not ordinary.

Initially skeptical of his friend's words, Baron Tony had his doubts, especially since there had been Silver-ranked mercenaries who swore to complete the mission but ended up losing their lives. However, the last words of his friend dispelled all his doubts.

"Several mercenaries came over a few days ago, wanting to exterminate this monster, but many of them couldn't find it. Then, on the same night, a Silver-ranked mercenary was ambushed and killed by this monster, causing many mercenaries to be scared off and abandon the mission."

"You are my last hope. If you can't solve this, I'll have to report to the king and request military intervention," Baron Tony said helplessly. He really didn't want to alarm the kingdom; otherwise, he might not even be able to keep his baron title.

But not reporting was not an option either. If the monster continued to harass the territory without being dealt with, aside from his own safety concerns, the entire territory could decline rapidly in a short time. Then, what would be the point of being a lord?

So he gritted his teeth and offered a reward of one thousand gold coins, which was the annual surplus of his plantation.

William and Jason got a rough idea after hearing this. Jason then asked the baron, "What species is this monster? What does it look like, and have you confirmed any details?"

"I'm not sure because the monster only appears at night, and those who returned alive didn't get a clear look at it. They said it's a black quadruped monster, similar to a leopard or wolf, attacking townspeople and mercenaries."

"It initially occurred near the vineyard on the east side of the territory, but last night, it attacked people in the town. Everyone is terrified, staying home today, and I've ordered the guards stationed outside the town to call them back. Now, everyone is staying in the castle. Except for the guards guarding the castle, everyone else is patrolling the town."

William glanced at Baron Tony upon hearing this, surprised by how responsible this lord was towards his subjects and how well he had arranged everything.

"I understand. Leave the rest to us, Baron," Nichole assured the baron.

The baron repeatedly urged Nichole and the others to ensure safety. If even a Gold-ranked warrior couldn't handle this, he would be at a loss. Should he pray for the monster to leave on its own?

Jason gathered everyone and said, "You've all heard the baron's description of the monster. What do you think it is?"

"It sounds like a nocturnal monster. I think it's highly likely to be a feline monster, such as a night panther or shadow panther. Of course, it could also be a terror wolf," analyzed Elena, being familiar with monster types as an elven hunter.

The others nodded in agreement, acknowledging Elena's perspective.

"I also have some thoughts," William spoke up.