NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 90: Distribution of Benefits
Chapter 90: Distribution of Benefits
With the fall of eleven second-tier minotaurs, the war finally came to an end. Many collapsed on the ground, especially the Official Knights and pioneering lords who had borne the brunt at the start. No one could truly understand the immense pressure they had faced.
Although they knew Thor had laid an ambush, and had even witnessed it with their own eyes, there were still over four thousand minotaurs remaining. If they had failed to defeat them, these minotaurs could have wiped out everyone, including those lying in ambush. Many had even considered fleeing, but in the end, they persevered.
The result was satisfying to all. The minotaur invasion had not only been repelled but also decisively resolved. Over four thousand minotaurs, including more than a dozen second-tier ones, were all buried in the Maine Valley. Their joy was almost impossible to contain, and the heavy burden weighing on them vanished instantly.
“Gentlemen!”
“It’s time to clean up the battlefield.”
Thor chuckled lightly, standing up and surveying the battlefield before him. The scene had completely changed. A river, over a hundred meters wide, now flowed in front, its waters calm but filled with sand, trees, broken structures, and the bodies of minotaurs, various magical beasts, and wild animals. The once fertile lowlands were now covered by the river’s waters. However, Thor was unconcerned; the Maine Valley's natural environment meant that most of the surrounding land remained suitable for farming, requiring only some time for reclamation. It was not a major issue.
Following Thor’s words, the pioneering lords nodded with smiles and began tidying up the battlefield. In truth, there wasn’t much left to clean up—only the eleven peak second-tier minotaurs. The rest had been swept away by the flood, making the cleanup quite simple.
Thor headed towards the area where he had fought the peak second-tier minotaur. The creature’s body was soaked in blood, and several Official Knights from Eagle Ridge were searching it. Thor soon noticed something on the minotaur’s waist.
“What’s this?”
With a hint of doubt, he approached and pulled out a half-exposed scroll of parchment from the minotaur’s chest. When he opened it, he found a map with strange markings.
“Titan script?”
Thor examined the map and the peculiar text on it. He didn’t recognize the Titan script, but after a moment’s thought, he tucked the parchment into his coat. Not long after, the area was fully cleared, and the group started heading back to Eagle Ridge.
The war was over, and it was time to distribute the spoils. Though the battlefield had been mostly destroyed, the bodies of the second-tier minotaurs, particularly the three peak second-tier ones, still held valuable items. Over three hundred second-tier magic cores were found, along with a third-tier core, which left Thor stunned. However, considering the minotaur tribe was a third-tier community, such a large stockpile was unsurprising.
Thor wasn’t the only one amazed; everyone else was even more so. Many were visibly excited. Though second-tier magic cores weren’t as valuable as those from special magical beasts like stinger fish or pig-beasts, each was still worth about one hundred gold coins. And there were three hundred of them—totaling thirty thousand gold coins. Not to mention the third-tier core, which alone was worth over ten thousand gold coins. In all, they had accumulated over forty thousand gold coins, a massive fortune for the entire northern province. Even Marquis Raymond would be tempted by such a sum.
Beyond the financial reward, there were also merit points. A second-tier minotaur earned ten merit points each; with eleven slain, they amassed a total of one hundred and ten points, enough for a pioneering lord to be promoted to baron. These were immense rewards. The five pioneering lords’ eyes were tinged with red, barely containing their greed. If it weren’t for Thor’s formidable presence and the binding contracts, they might have already made a move.
Thor, of course, was aware of their thoughts.
In the castle at Eagle Ridge, everyone gathered. Thor, Pape Lawrence, Graton, Valmy, and two other pioneering lords, Saatchi and Jas Aubi, sat in the hall. All eyes were fixed on the glittering pile of magic cores before them.
“Lord Thor, you led us to victory against the minotaurs. These should go to you!” Jas Aubi said earnestly, his gaze lingering on the cores before he turned to Thor. The others hesitated but ultimately remained silent. They knew that without Thor, they couldn’t have even held off the minotaurs, let alone defeated them. Their fervent hearts cooled somewhat; they knew that if Thor claimed all the spoils, they couldn’t object.
All eyes were on Thor, filled with a mix of emotions—some flickered with envy, some were uneasy, others tense. Understanding their thoughts, Thor pondered briefly before speaking.
“Gentlemen, in that case, I won’t hold back!”
“I only want the third-tier magic core. The rest of the second-tier cores I don’t need, but I want all the minotaur merits. Is that acceptable?”
His words left everyone stunned. A few widened their eyes in disbelief, barely concealing their delight. Clearly, Thor’s proposal was beyond their expectations.
“Lord Thor, are you serious?” Saatchi couldn’t help but ask.
“Lord Thor, you contributed the most to this victory. Just these?” Pape Lawrence hesitated but spoke up, gritting his teeth.
“Yes, Lord Thor, you could take more,” added Baron Graton.
Others smiled, some staying silent. Thor glanced at each person, then shook his head and spoke again.
“Everyone, this is sufficient. You’ve all contributed significantly, so let’s leave it at this. Moreover, isn’t the greatest wealth the Maine Valley itself? We are now the sole masters of it.”