After the battle, it's time to deal with the aftermath. Adam and his team interrogated the two captured enemy and tied them up.
From their interrogation, they learned that there are two leaders in their group and those two were the two people who tried to escape towards the cave and later was shot dead by Mercy. They also learned from the two captured enemy that Adam's guess was entirely correct, the stolen goods were really being kept in the cave.
Learning of that, Razlov, Adam, and Mercy went to the cave. And what they saw inside the cave was not only the stolen goods but also prisoners. There is a total of ten prisoners in the cave and all of them are female. When Razlov talked to them, he learned that they are being kept here then they would later be sold as slaves and they also haven't been touch by the bandits; as the bandits said that 'damage goods would lose its value'.
Razlov ordered Mercy to check and make a list of all the stolen goods then report it to him later. While Razlov and Adam went to where the female prisoners and freed them, he also gave them food and shelter cause currently, it is still night; two of the tents that were previously used by the bandits.
After Mercy was done with the task she was given, she went towards Razlov and made a report.
"Commander, I've already finished checking the bandit's stolen goods. After checking all the goods I've confirmed that there are 800 gold coins, 30 different types of jewelry, 50 precious stones, 100 iron ingots, a bunch of weapons and armors, and perishable goods; that's all."
"That concludes my report"
When Razlov heard the report, he fell into silence.
Mercy who noticed that Razlov was not talking tried to call out to him.
"C~Commander?"
"Hehe"
"HAHAHA!!"
"I'm rich! I'm rich! I'm f*cking rich!"
"HAHAHA!"
The sudden outburst of Razlov shock Adam and his team, especially Mercy as she was nearest to Razlov; even the rescued females was shocked at him that most of them drop the food that they were eating.
"Umm, Commander, shouldn't we return the goods since they were stolen"
As Razlov was laughing to his heart's content, he suddenly stops when he heard what Mercy said and stared at her in disbelief; unable to believe that she would suggest that.
"Why?"
Razlov suddenly asks her why she would suggest that.
"B~Because it is the right thing to do"
Razlov stared at her further in disbelief, he looks around and could see that she and her team have that same opinion as they nodded at Mercy in approval. Razlov feels like having a headache at his subordinates naivety and idiocy.
"Idiots!!"
"We are not good samaritan or saints; for God sake! So why should we return it? In the first place, if you look closely at the request paper, there is no indication that we should return the stolen goods, so why should we; Haa?"
"And the weapons and ammunition you used to complete this mission and keeps your life intact, do you think it just came out of nowhere? It cost an astronomical amount of money; Goddammit!"
When Razlov pointed that out, Adam and his team finally realize it that the weapons and ammunition they're using must have cost a sum of money; especially the ammunition, during training and even right now, they must have consumed thousands upon thousands of rounds of it and it must have cost a fortune.
As Adam and his team realize that, they finally understood why their commander was being greedy that he was not willing to return the stolen goods.
For 5 minutes, Razlov keeps scolding Adam and his team's naivety and idiocy. While Adam and his team just keep looking down accepting the scolding they are receiving.
"Just remember this: everyone in this world consciously or sub-consciously working for their own benefit; even me."
"I know what you all are thinking; what about those that care for their families and friends?"
"Well, they are people that consider their wife, husband, children, father, mother, brothers, sisters, friends, part of themselves. So anything that they did for their families and friends can be considered working for their own benefit."
"Remember that"
"Do you get me!?"
" "WE GOT YOU, SIR!!" "
"Good, now let's prepare and rest, for tomorrow we will move out and return to Sanloris"
Then they move out all the stolen goods out of the cave, to prepare for tomorrow's departure. When Razlov saw the shining gold coins, a bunch of jewelry, and precious stones, he couldn't help but smile and feel elated.
"Hehe, just imagining it that all the equipment that we currently needed will be acquired is making me excited and happy at the same time."
Seeing their Commander's greedy look and evil smile while uttering, they could only smile wryly at him. Even though they have not seen the equipment that their Commander was talking about, they also feel excited about it. Just the rifles, handguns, and frag grenades they are using are already mind-boggling to them, what about the equipment that their Commander was talking about?
-
The next day, when the sun had already risen, Razlov, Adam and his team, plus the ten rescued females, were already on their way back to Sanloris. They also brought the two captured bandits and the corpse of their leader 'Python'.
When they arrive at Sanloris, Razlov ordered Carl and Cassie to take the goods they have acquired and bring it back to the Inn. While Razlov and the rest went to the guard to turn over the captured bandits, their leader's corpse and the ten rescued females and get the confirmation paper for completing the request.
After completing the procedure, Razlov learned from the guard captain that it's not in their jurisdiction to receive and help the rescued prisoners return to their homes. When Razlov told them what the guard captain said and they told him that they all understood and they will just find their own way to return to their homes. Razlov hesitated for a second, in the end, he gave them money to spend on their food, lodging, and their journey back to their homes. Then Razlov left them and went to the guild to show the confirmation paper that he already completed the request and receive the reward and bounty.
Receiving a total of 400 gold coins from the reward of completing the request/job and from the bounty of Python the bandit leader, Razlov was elated that his funds had increased cause after a month he would already be bankrupt if he didn't get any money but that's not the case now as he has already additional funds and more are coming.
Razlov went back to the Inn with a smile on his face but before going back to the Inn he searches first an illegal trader to sell all the stolen goods he acquired; except for the iron ingot cause maybe later he would find uses for them. After searching, he finally found one and talked to the merchant about his plan to sell the goods, they keep negotiating until they reach a consensus that benefited each other.
When Razlov arrives at the Inn, he greeted Selina then gave her a kiss and after that, he ordered Adam and Mike to take the goods and follow him then they went to the merchant Razlov has a transaction with. After selling all the goods, Razlov receives a total of 900 gold coins from selling jewelry, precious stones, weapons, and armors.
With the reward from completing the request/job, the bounty of the bandit leader, and the money and goods that they looted and just sold right now, totaling 2100 gold coins plus the 160 gold coins left, their total funds have risen to 2260 gold coins.
With this amount of money, Razlov is excited about the prospect of acquiring additional equipment with this money.