Mission Accomplished

Time ticked by slowly.During the wait,Vitente tried to lighten the mood among the group,not wanting everyone to be too somber because of his injuries.

"My wounds..."Suddenly,Vitente's face showed a look of surprise.He could distinctly feel a cool sensation emerging from his wounds,gradually dispelling the pain and the sticky feeling.

"What's wrong?"Caril and the others looked at Vitente anxiously.

"I feel like my wounds aren't hurting anymore,"Vitente said,almost thinking he was mistaken.

"The medicine is working.You're going to make it,"Vili said with a relaxed smile,relieved that his efforts had paid off.He removed the crushed herbs from Vitente's wounds and saw that the areas,which had been festering,had partially returned to their normal color.

"Vili,you actually know about alchemy?!"Vélin's tone rose involuntarily,her eyes filled with admiration.Alchemy was such a complex and intricate field of knowledge.

"It's not alchemy.I just know a bit about herbs,"Vili clarified,sticking to the truth.These were abilities granted by the[Beginner Gatherer]title and had nothing to do with alchemy.

"You know about herbs?"Lani seemed to think of something and asked tentatively,"Then do you know about Sweet Star Grass?"

As soon as Lani uttered these words,Vélin,Caril,and even the injured Vitente's eyes all brightened.Sweet Star Grass was the very reason they had ventured into this dangerous place—the target of their mission worth a hundred gold lumens.

"Sweet Star Grass..."Vili's gaze suddenly shifted to the pile of grass beneath Lani's seat,and a strange look appeared on his face.

Lani was taken aback,realizing that Vili was staring at her rear.She was momentarily speechless.

"Could you please move...?"Vili suddenly squatted down beside Lani.

Lani frowned,unsure what Vili was doing,but she moved aside as he asked.

Vili reached into the pile of grass where Lani had been sitting and pulled out a single blade.

"So that's what you've been looking for,"Vili said,finally understanding their mission target.

Sweet Star Grass was an extremely niche herb.For some people,it was a life-saving medicine;for others,it was as useless as a common weed.Despite its high market price,few people needed it,and it was hard to find,so almost no one bothered to gather it.

"My God!"Vélin was the first to react.She snatched the Sweet Star Grass from Vili's hand and examined it closely in her palm.

She compared the characteristics of Sweet Star Grass that the pharmacist had taught her with the blade in her hand and found them to be identical.

This was truly Sweet Star Grass!

"Our mission...seems to be accomplished,"Vélin said,handing the herb to Vitente.

Vitente was still in a daze.He had thought he would lose his life,but now he was not only alive but had also completed the mission.

Every member of the mercenary team stared at Vili in disbelief.They had searched for so long without finding it,yet Vili had discovered it with just one glance.

Was Vili some kind of miracle child?!

"Vili,could you sell us this Sweet Star Grass?"Although excited,Vitente remained clear-headed.

The herb had been discovered first by Vili,who was the rightful owner of the mission target.Moreover,Vili had saved his life.Vitente had no intention of taking the herb without compensation.

"You can have it,"Vili said nonchalantly.He wasn't particularly concerned.This trip to the Mors Forest had also brought him significant gains.Besides the initial reward of five gold lumens,he had,with Vitente's help,obtained the[Beginner Hunter]title,acquired new knowledge,and significantly enhanced his physical abilities.

"Do you know how much the client offered us as a reward for this Sweet Star Grass?"Vitente had no intention of hiding the information.

Vili furrowed his brows.In truth,he was quite curious about the market price for such a niche and rare item.

"A hundred gold lumens,"Vitente replied straightforwardly.

A hundred gold lumens?!

Vili gasped in astonishment.The price was incredibly high.If it weren't for the item's niche market,Vili would have considered selling it worldwide to make a fortune.

Seeing Vili's shock,Vitente continued,"If you sell it to us,I'll give you seventy gold lumens.How about that?"

He had no intention of profiting from this mission.The seventy gold lumens were to cover the costs incurred during the journey and the rewards for his team members.Otherwise,he would have given Vili the full hundred gold lumens.

"Everyone,are you okay with this?"Vitente finally asked Caril and the others for their opinions.

Caril,Vélin,and Lani shook their heads.Vili had already earned their respect.

Seventy gold lumens was a huge sum.Vili paused for a moment,contemplating.

"Ten gold lumens.I'll sell it to you for that,"Vili said,surprising everyone with his number.

It wasn't that Vili was trying to do a favor;it was the result of his own careful consideration.

Although he had found the Sweet Star Grass,it was purely by chance.If Vitente's mercenary team continued searching in the Mors Forest,they would eventually find it;it would just take more time.Vili's action had merely shortened their mission duration.

He didn't want to profit from this,especially since they were all partners who had faced life and death together.

"It's too low,"Vitente shook his head,but Vili stopped him from saying more.

"Without me,you would still find it by continuing the mission.I just made your task a bit easier.I'm already satisfied with these ten gold lumens,"Vili replied firmly and calmly.

Vitente,Caril,Lani,and Vélin exchanged glances,silently reaching a consensus.

"Then we'll have to take advantage of your generosity,"Vitente said with a hint of embarrassment.He knew Vili well enough to understand that he was an independent and wise person who wouldn't easily change his mind.

With that,Caril took out ten gold lumens from his backpack and handed them to Vili.Vili accepted them without any fuss.

"Since the mission is completed,let's get ready to head back,"Vili said after putting away the gold lumens.

"Back home!"Vitente,Caril,Lani,and Vélin's faces finally showed smiles of relief.