Chapter 20

Second update, once again requesting favorites, votes, and flowers! As for the issue that wo94shuaige mentioned about not seeing the featured content, well, I can see it!

"But I still have to do things for Lady Lori!" A flash of inspiration struck Cook, and he replied helplessly.

"What kind of things? Do you need my help?" The guard patted his chest and said.

"That's not a good idea. After all, I am Lady's attendant, and if you anger her..." Cook hesitated and said.

"That... is true!" The guard had originally intended to agree immediately, but thinking of Lady Lori's wrath, he wisely concurred.

"It's not impossible, though. If Mitchi could put in a good word, it might work. But Mitchi is just a magic apprentice, so she needs a lot of magical materials, which you know are very valuable." Cook said in what he thought was a tactful tone.

"Haha, you mean gold coins. I didn't realize you were so quick-witted, Cook. How about this: you ask for free, and I'll promote you. Two gold coins per request, how does that sound?" The guard laughed. Anyone who could become a mage's follower must be smart.

"You're ruthless!" Cook was speechless. He hadn't expected his thoughts to be so easily exposed, and worse, to be taken advantage of.

"Your mount is very worried about its children." After communicating with the mount, Cook replied.

"Um, tell it that if we return safely this time, we'll retire and won't go to battle anymore." The guard thought for a moment and said.

After Cook relayed the message, the guard's mount visibly perked up, licking its master's cheek repeatedly, looking very happy.

"Cook, your skills could make you rich. You might not know what a mount means in battle; it means the life of us knights. So, get ready to make a fortune!" The guard, noticing the change in his mount, patted Cook on the shoulder and said.

"Ha ha!" What could Cook say? He could only laugh it off.

" Mitchi, Mitchi!" Cook ran over to Mitchi and whispered.

"Um!" Mitchi, seeing it was Cook, smiled and nodded.

"I have a way to get rich. If Lady Lori looks for me this afternoon, can you cover for me? I'll make sure you get a share." Seeing Mitchi's reaction, Cook felt a jolt and said mysteriously.

"Get rich? What way?" Mitchi, who had nothing to do, thought Cook had a secret when he approached her so mysteriously. She didn't expect it to be about getting rich.

"Lady!... They strongly requested it, saying it would boost their combat power." Cook looked at Lori with frustration, thinking, "You, a woman, eavesdropping on your students!" But he had no choice but to explain.

"What? Two gold coins? My attendant's talent is only worth two gold coins?" Upon hearing this, Lori immediately hit Cook on the head with her staff, a light wooden stick with a gem on top, and said angrily.

"Ouch!" Cook's head rang from the hit.

"Lady, that's not little. There are thousands of people here." Cook quickly explained.

"Fine, two gold coins. But as my attendant, you should contribute some, one gold coin. And the share for Mitchi is fifty silver coins, and fifty silver coins for you." Lori's eyes twinkled as she said with a smile.

"Deal!" Cook calculated and agreed, half a gold coin per person, which would be over a thousand gold coins.

"Fine, I'll collect the fees!" Cook was stunned by Lori's next words.

"Lady, Lady, you won't overcharge, will you?" Cook's mind slowly caught up.

"Hmph, I'm a mage; they should give me at least ten gold coins. After you two, I still have eight, enough to buy some clothes." Lori puffed out her chest proudly and gave Cook a look that said, "You're smart."

"Hurry up!" Cook was stunned. Was this naked exploitation? But before he could protest, Lori had already waved her delicate hand and led the way.

"Um, your mount wants more to drink."

"Your mount can't stand your body odor."

"Your mount complains that it's not clean after bathing."

"Your mount wants a family."

"Your mount's hooves are broken, making it uncomfortable to walk."

"Your saddle is too tight."

"Your mount seems sick, saying it has a stomachache."

"Stomachache? What should we do? Can you help check it, Cook?"

"Um, I'll ask more carefully."

"It seems to be caused by moldy hay."

"Damn squire, switching the hay. I'll cut off their heads; this is a companion who has been with me for six years."

...

Cook was speechless. Lori sat on her mount, collecting money as they walked, while Cook walked alongside, constantly talking to the mounts. He also learned many unexpected things, like who was gay, who liked gambling, who liked prostitutes, who loved drinking, and the most hilarious was a mount complaining that its owner always talked in their sleep, waking it up.

As for the magic apprentice and her mentor, and the mage and her guard, Cook also knew a lot. Actually, mages and their students often developed a certain relationship, as they shared the same profession and language, and the teacher-student bond was much stronger than other relationships. It was said that Lori's father was once her mother's mentor, though Cook didn't dare to verify it. Of course, there were also those with different motives.

"Lady, it's done." Cook looked around and, seeing no more guards, quickly approached Lady Lori.

"Um, 2150 people in total. You earned 1000 gold coins. Here are ten gold coins; you can use them first. I'll keep the rest for you." Lori tossed ten gold coins to Cook without hesitation.

"Lady, I can keep them myself." Cook had a bad feeling.

"Um, can you? Do you know how heavy 1000 gold coins are? They weigh more than you. You want to carry them into battle? I'm thinking of your safety." Lori explained kindly.

"Uh, can you give me a receipt?" Cook weakly requested.

"Um, I can, but can you read?" Lori asked with a strange look.

"Uh! Fine!" Cook was speechless. It was better not to have a receipt, in case it became a trap.

"What about Mitchi's share?" Cook asked again.

"Mitchi is my student. Why should an attendant like you worry about it?" Lori asked with a bad expression.

"Lady, I'll take my leave." Cook quickly left, tightly gripping the ten gold coins in his hand.

"Rich, rich, over ten thousand gold coins in hand. Father, Father!" Cook didn't know that as soon as he turned around, Lori rode her mount to Magister Melif.

"What's wrong? That's not ladylike." Melif sat on a large lizard, a second-level earth elemental beast, but it ate grass.

"Father, I made money." Lori pulled down her hood and said proudly.

"Money? Did you sell magic scrolls?" Melif asked in surprise.

"No, you know how my scrolls are; they don't even cover the cost of materials. It was my attendant, Cook. He helped me make over ten thousand gold coins. Look, I used three pack mules to carry the gold." Lori explained with a smile.

"Oh, so you came to me to...?" Melif had a strange look, as if the ten thousand gold coins didn't impress him.

"I came to exchange them, for purple gold coins, no! For diamond coins, just a dozen, very convenient to carry." Lori's face showed two dimples.

"Good, I didn't expect your first fortune to come from an attendant's help. It seems our Lori has grown up." Melif nodded, and someone helped Lori put down the gold coins and gave her fifteen diamond coins.

"Of course, who do you think my father is? That guy initially wanted two gold coins. Do you think those guards care about two gold coins? Only this bumpkin thought two gold coins were a lot." Lori then told her father about Cook.

"Rich, rich, this must weigh at least three taels. How much would it cost to buy? Gold is reliable; I need to find a good place to hide it." Cook tightly held the ten gold coins and looked around for a place to hide them.

Ha ha, I admit I'm a clickbait title. It's Lori's first fortune, not Cook's!

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