Deal With A Thief!

Raymond couldn't help but smile as he watched Sylph and Lorene's reactions. He nodded and said softly, "Yes, you should have recognized it. This stone is the magic-guiding material 'Black Iron', but it's still in its raw ore form."

Once Raymond confirmed it, both Sylph and Lorene exchanged a look of understanding. They now realized why Raymond had been so serious about this.

Lorene, still processing, let her hand drop from Sylph's shoulder. She stared at the black iron ore on the table and said, "Even though it's raw ore... this piece is probably worth over a hundred gold coins!"

"Raymond, how did you get it?" Sylph asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I found it in the territory of the crazy baboons and brought it back along with these weapons," Raymond explained briefly.