They stood in the hallway for a mont, the low murmur of the cafeteria drifting out each ti the door swung as people entered or left.
Rowan leaned against the wall, folding his arms while Wade and Ingrid mirrored him on either side.
For the first ti since the battle, none of them were in a rush to be anywhere.
"So," Rowan said, clearing his throat, repeating the question they’d been pondering, "two point two million coins each. That’s... a lot of money."
"A ridiculous amount," Wade agreed. "I’ve never held that much wealth before. Makes a man think."
Ingrid answered with her usual blunt calm. "Sa."
Rowan rubbed his chin. "Alright, let’s think responsibly. Priority one, gear. We can now afford better armor and stronger weapons."
"You know our current gear can’t even scratch the skin of so executives, not to talk of higher leveled monsters. Maybe we can buy them now before prices spike again."
Wade raised a brow. "Rowan, we just survived a war. Can we not start by talking about work?"
"Fine, fine," Rowan conceded with a wry smile. "Then... land?"
Ingrid blinked. "Land?"
"Yeah," Rowan continued. "Buy a small house outside the city. Or a bakery. I’ve always wanted one. My sister runs one near the capital. Could be nice to have a family business to fall back on."
Wade chuckled. "You? A baker?"
"You’d be surprised!" Rowan defended himself. "I can make a an loaf of bread."
Ingrid actually looked interested. "If you buy a bakery, I want free pastries."
"You and Wade both," Rowan snorted.
Wade shrugged. "I wasn’t going to say no to that."
Then Ingrid turned to Wade. "What about you? What would you buy?"
Wade opened his mouth, then stopped.
He frowned a little.
"I... have no idea."
Rowan laughed loudly. "Co on! You must have sothing. A dream? A goal? A plan with real money?"
Wade hesitated, glancing down at his hands. "Honestly? I’ve been so focused on surviving, paying debts, and not dying in dungeons... I never really thought this far."
Ingrid nodded quietly, her gaze distant. "Sa."
Rowan raised both hands. "Okay then, let’s brainstorm."
"With two million coins, you could buy a house. Or two. Or an entire shop. Or start a business. Or get training from a master outside the guild."
Wade scrunched his face. "I don’t want a shop. I’d prefer to go wherever business takes than to be stuck in one place."
"I definitely don’t want a house yet. I can already see enemies in my future." He chuckled. "I wouldn’t want them to know where I live."
"And I’m definitely not interested in paying soone to train . Especially when I almost died to make this money. That’s enough training for ."
"Then invest!" Rowan said, snapping his fingers. "Put your coins with a rchant company and let them multiply."
"No," Wade said imdiately.
"That was fast."
"I’m not trusting my entire fortune to soone else," Wade replied. "Besides, rchant companies are basically ordinary humans’ version of guilds with extra paperwork."
Rowan winced. "Good point."
They turned to Ingrid.
She blinked. "Don’t look at . I have nowhere to put money."
"What would you like to do with it?" Wade asked.
Ingrid paused, longer than usual, before answering. "Maybe travel. See the southern isles. Visit the mountains. I’ve been fighting since I was young. I’ve never left Vasaria."
Rowan’s eyebrows rose. "That’s actually a good idea."
Wade thought about it. "Travel, huh..."
He could almost see it. New cities, new markets, and new dungeons. Places untouched by guild influence. Filled with untapped opportunities.
"It’s tempting," he admitted.
Rowan grinned. "See? We’re getting sowhere."
"Are we?" Wade asked dryly.
Rowan sighed dramatically. "Okay, fine. Maybe we’re not."
They all stared at one another, three millionaires who had absolutely no idea what to do with their money.
After a long beat, Wade spoke. "Well, that was productive."
Rowan snorted. Ingrid shook her head.
And the three of them, having accomplished nothing except confirming their own confusion, finally let out tired, genuine laughter.
Then Rowan broke the new silence as sothing occurred to him.
"Even if we wanted to travel," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "there’s no way the guild would let us, is there?"
Ingrid didn’t even hesitate. "They won’t."
Wade sighed. "Yeah. They’ll say we’re crucial to rebuilding the city’s defenses. Or that we still owe service because of the war. Or so other excuse to keep us working."
Rowan nodded grimly. "Exactly. After losing so many adventurers, the guilds won’t let their remaining assets wander off. Not unless you buy your contract out... and that costs a fortune."
Wade exhaled, rembering the amount. He needed 50 million coins. Only then would he be free to walk.
’Soon,’ he told himself. ’Very soon.’
Silence settled among them again, but this ti, it was one of tired acceptance.
Rowan stretched. "Alright. Let’s et here tomorrow morning. And I want ideas on how one spends their newfound millions. Got it?"
Ingrid nodded. "Fine."
Wade smiled. "See you both then."
They walked till they were out of the building and parted right there, each one heading their separate ways.
He exhaled, adjusted the strap of his bag, and began the slow walk ho through the quiet streets of Hiving.
He soon got ho and shut the door behind him with a slow exhale.
The silence of the apartnt was particularly comforting today.
He moved to the stove and cooked sothing simple for himself. After eating, he moved to his bed, drifting in and out of sleep through the afternoon.
By the ti he stirred again, night had arrived.
Wade rubbed his eyes, pushed himself up, and crossed the kitchen. At the far end, neatly lined and sealed, were ten barrels of honey ad.
His ad.
He ran a hand over the cool wooden surface of the nearest barrel, rembering how he’d rushed to make them before leaving for the ridge.
They had aged perfectly, just over two weeks, and by now, if the bar owner had any sense, the single jar Wade had sold him should have been quickly snapped up.
aning the man would be eager. And eager buyers paid more.
Wade smirked. "Ti to make a profit."
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