Chapter 26: Holy Water Went Crazy on Sale, but the Gray Wolf Felt a Bit Weak

Early the next morning.

Oak Town was in an uproar.

Why?

Because the auction house had hung up a huge sign at its entrance, written in bold gold letters:

【Rare Treasure! Pure Holy Water! Only Five Portions! Highest Bidder Wins!】

The news spread like wildfire—

Whoosh, whoosh—across every street and alley of Oak Town.

“Holy Water? For real? Same as the one that guy showed yesterday?”

“It’s posted by the auction house! How could that be fake? I heard the purity is really high too!”

“Heavens! Could there really be a town blessed by angels, specially producing Holy Water?!”

In the tavern.

Reed was gnawing on hard bread with his brothers.

As they drank bland ale, their ears were filled with all sorts of chatter.

His deputy leaned close, lowering his voice, unable to hide his excitement.

“Boss, it worked!”

“The auction house released the news right on time!”

“With your performance last night, the effect’s just perfect!”

Reed leisurely took a sip of ale, smacking his lips.

Then—

His face suddenly froze.

An expression of utter shock exploded across it.

His voice shot up so loud the whole tavern could hear him: “What?! Holy Water being auctioned?!”

He slammed the table and stood up.

His eyes bulged wide as if he had just seen a ghost.

“Damn it!”

“Other than us, someone else went to Holy Light Town? And even got Holy Water?!”

“Th-this is impossible!”

“Didn’t the Angel say they only blessed those with good hearts? Could there be another way?!”

Reed’s reaction—

Was simply flawless!

Shock, confusion, and even a trace of indignation at having his business stolen.

His acting was top-notch.

The tavern fell silent in an instant.

Everyone turned to stare at him.

Only the members of the Gray Wolf Mercenary Corps twitched their lips.

Their boss really had gotten addicted to acting…

Nearby, a tall, skinny mercenary swallowed hard.

“Brother Reed, didn’t you say yesterday that Holy Water was a lifesaving treasure and not for sale? Then how come the auction house…”

Reed’s face filled with sorrow as he let out a heavy sigh.

He sat back down, looking slightly annoyed.

“Ah, don’t mention it!”

“The bit I had was indeed for saving lives!”

“But who could’ve thought someone else also went there—and even got Holy Water!”

“This… the Angel’s will is truly beyond guessing! However…”

He added with a sly grin, “This does prove one thing—I wasn’t lying!”

“Holy Light Town truly exists, and you really can get Holy Water there!”

“It’s just that… there might be more than one way to do it, heh heh.”

Once Reed said that—

The tavern erupted like a bomb had gone off.

Those who were still half-doubting yesterday now looked at the auction house’s sign.

Then hearing Reed—the supposed firsthand witness—speak so “shocked,” all their doubts vanished completely.

Holy Light Town.

Angel’s blessing.

Deep within Mistwood.

Who cared?!

As long as Holy Water could make money, that was what mattered!

The news spread like wind.

Not only across the mercenary taverns but even to the lord’s castle.

Lord Old John, Oak Town’s famously “stingy but fair” nobleman,

Was stroking his few sparse whiskers as he listened to his butler’s report.

“Holy Water for sale at the auction house?”

A glint of light flashed through Old John’s cloudy eyes.

He was old; his body grew weaker by the day. What he feared most were plagues and injuries.

Holy Water—what a precious thing! It could truly save lives in critical moments.

“Is the news reliable?”

“Absolutely, my lord,” replied the butler.

“It’s a sign posted by the auction house, and the Gray Wolf Mercenary Corps’ Reed confirmed it at the tavern.”

“There really is such a place as Holy Light Town, and the Holy Water flows from there.”

Old John pondered for a moment.

He was stingy, yes—but he cherished his life and had no desire to break Oak Town’s rules.

What was sold at the auction house—

Had to follow the auction house’s rules. Even the lord could not simply seize it.

“Hm… in that case,” Old John said slowly, “send someone discreet, carrying my crest to the auction house.”

“Say the castle needs some purification potions for storage. Bid according to the rules.”

“Yes, my lord,” the butler understood immediately.

The lord wanted both dignity and results.

……

On the day of the auction.

The Oak Town Auction Hall was packed with people, filled with those either here to spectate or to buy.

The air was thick with tense greed.

When five tiny bottles—made of delicate crystal, radiating faint warmth and a sacred aura—were brought out,

The entire hall held its breath for a moment.

As soon as bidding began—it went mad!

“Five gold coins!”

“Ten!”

“Fifteen!”

“Twenty!”

The price shot up like a rocket.

Finally—

When the knight sent by Lord Old John, expressionless and bearing the lord’s crest, calmly called out, “Fifty gold coins,”

The entire place fell silent.

Fifty gold coins!

For just five small bottles of water!

That price—

Even the auctioneer almost bit his own tongue.

His hands trembled as he struck the hammer, stammering, “S-sold! Congratulations, my lord!”

When the news reached the Gray Wolf Mercenary Corps’ lodging, the whole room exploded with excitement!

“Fifty gold coins?! Dear heavens!”

The deputy slapped his thigh in delight.

“Boss! Did you hear that? Fifty gold coins! For five bottles!”

“That’s more than double our twenty-coin estimate!”

“We’re rich! We’ve really struck gold this time!” a young mercenary said, eyes reddened with emotion.

With that money—

His aging parents and siblings could finally live a better life.

Reed grinned from ear to ear, his heart bursting with joy.

That price far exceeded his expectations!

What Lady Liz wanted could be bought dozens of times over with this money!

Dozens of times the profit!

“Brothers, don’t celebrate too soon!”

Though Reed was pleased, his mind stayed sharp.

He tapped the table, calming the excited crowd.

“This price—it’s only because it’s the first sale!”

“It’s the novelty! The rarity!”

“Think about it—if Holy Water becomes common later, could we still sell it for that much?”

The mercenaries cooled down a bit.

True.

When good things became common, they lost their value.

The deputy rubbed his chin, eyes gleaming. “Boss, then we just make sure it doesn’t become common!”

“If selling too much in one place drops the price, we can spread out the sales!”

“Sell some in Oak Town, some in Maple Leaf Town, and a little in Lemon Port and White Rock Fort…”

“Make those noble lords and rich caravans compete to buy!”

“That way, the price stays high!”

The idea sounded brilliant!

The mercenaries’ eyes lit up again.

But then—

An older, more experienced mercenary frowned deeply.

He spoke with concern, “Sounds right, but… Boss, this business is too big!”

“Fifty gold coins! Just for five bottles of water!”

“If this news spreads, won’t jealous wolves come swarming?”

“With our small Gray Wolf crew—can we guard such a gold mountain?”

Those words fell like a bucket of cold water, dousing everyone’s excitement.

The room fell silent.

True—money was great.

But they had to live long enough to spend it.

The Gray Wolf Mercenary Corps had some reputation in Oak Town, sure.

But across the entire territory of Earl Rad, they were just a third-rate squad with no real fame or power.

To possess treasure without strength—was to invite disaster. Everyone knew that truth.

Reed’s smile faded.

After a long silence, he finally lifted his head, his eyes resolute—like he had made a major decision.

“Damn it! Fortune favors the bold!”

He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, “We can’t handle this on our own.”

“We need a backer—someone strong enough to hold the fort!”

He swept his gaze across his brothers, speaking each word clearly: “I plan to find our old captain—Brother Daniels!”

“Old captain?” the deputy blinked, then his eyes lit up. “You mean the ‘Rock’ Daniels?”

“Exactly!” Reed nodded firmly.

“When our Gray Wolf crew used to follow the old captain—what fame that was!”

“Later, he retired, but I heard his strength didn’t decline—instead, he advanced to Third-tier, becoming an Earth Knight!”

“That’s Third-tier! A noble guest wherever he goes!”

The more Reed spoke, the more animated he became. “And the old captain was a bold, righteous man—he always looked after me back then.”

“With him backing us up, let’s see who dares touch our business!”

“Plus, the old captain’s well-connected. Expanding our sales points will be even easier!”

He looked around the room. “Brothers, what do you think?”

The room fell quiet for a moment.

Then erupted with cheers of agreement.

“Good! Find the old captain!”

“With him around, we can rest easy!”

“Boss, go! We’ll wait here for your word!”

Seeing the rekindled hope in his brothers’ eyes, Reed finally felt at ease.

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