"I think it's runes." Rowe didn't hesitate, then suppressed his inner expectations.
One hundred runes!
This was by no means a small amount. He had sold the hair restorer for so long before and had only saved up seventy runes.
If gold were used as a reference, one hundred runes converted into the currency of his previous life would amount to hundreds of millions—though he had been in this world for a while, Luo Wei still couldn't let go of his old way of thinking and constantly found himself converting values back to his previous world's currency.
Maybe he could propose a condition of higher value than one hundred runes, but that would be a bit greedy. The benefits might not outweigh the risk, and he feared it would attract resentment.
Heimdall was the future gatekeeper of Asgard, and Luo Wei didn't want to leave a negative impression on him.
"Take it, your reward." Heimdall personally handed the reward to Rowe.
As a reward for military exploits, the hundred runes were packed in an exquisite wooden box, crafted with fine materials and intricate carvings.
"Thank you, All-Father." Luo Wei accepted the wooden box with gratitude.
Just like receiving an imperial decree, although Heimdall handed it to him, the gratitude could only be directed toward the king of Asgard.
Afterward, Heimdall gave a few words of encouragement. It was clear he wasn't particularly eloquent, so his speech was neither long nor elaborate.
In contrast, Rowe was more intrigued by the look in Gus's eyes. For some reason, this warrior seemed quite unhappy with him, as if Rowe had stolen something valuable from him.
Rowe recalled that Gus was another warrior who had killed a Lord of Skrins. Perhaps he felt that their achievements being compared somehow diminished his own?
Rowe couldn't understand such a mindset, so he resolved to stay away from Gus in the future.
Leaving the council hall, Luo Wei was in a good mood. Upon returning to his quarters, he eagerly opened the wooden box, ready to enjoy the pleasure of counting his earnings. One hundred rune coins—a fortune!
But as he opened the box, he was taken aback.
Inside the wooden box, in addition to the runes, was a bronze medal from Asgard. The medal bore the image of Asgard, the name of the All-Father Kur, and words of commendation.
Kur Poulsen.
Looking at the name, Luo Wei fell into thought.
Kur, as Odin's elder brother and the firstborn son of the previous king, Bor, was supposed to inherit the throne of Asgard.
Yet, in reality, Kur's popularity in Asgard was far lower than Odin's.
Every king of Asgard had a title before ascending the throne. Afterward, they would be known as "Almighty God" or "All-Father."
Kur had once been called the God of Fear, while Odin was known as the God of the Sky. Just by their titles alone, Odin appeared far superior, which perhaps explained how he managed to seize power.
Looking at the medal, Luo Wei set it aside, then picked up the runes, feeling their weight in his hands.
"Wow."
They were heavy, metallic, and satisfying to hold. The sheer weight and clinking sound of the runes brought an indescribable sense of pleasure.
After indulging in the sensation for a while, he stashed the money away and opened the Book of Holy Deeds.
[Book of Experience: Graf Swifttooth (Rare)]
[Experience Level: Level 3]
Yesterday had been his first time participating in a real battle. It was high-intensity and gruesome. Normally, one would need time to recover from such an experience.
However, Luo Wei's spirits were now lifted, his negative emotions swept away, and his fighting intent rekindled.
This was the power of wealth.
Rowe rubbed his hands, tightened his grip on Verrigan's Fist, and entered the experience space.
The scene shifted, and he found himself on a hill, surrounded by scattered trees. The distant greenery bore a striking resemblance to Elwynn Forest from World of Warcraft.
"Ahhhh... fresh meat!" A gnoll wielding an axe howled and charged at him, bloodlust in its voice.
As his name suggested, compared to ordinary gnolls, Graf Swifttooth had an exceptionally sharp and deadly set of teeth, looking even more dangerous than the battle axe he carried.
Rowe gripped Verrigan's Fist and met him head-on.
Clang!
Their weapons clashed, sending sparks flying. Flames erupted from Verrigan's Fist, scorching Graf Swifttooth's hand.
"Ow!"
The gnoll let out a howl and quickly retreated, gnashing his teeth as he glared at Rowe, his rage intensifying.
They clashed again. This time, Graf Swifttooth was more cautious, wary of Verrigan's flames, avoiding them at all costs.
However, his caution came at a price, restricting his movements.
Rowe seized the opportunity to launch an aggressive assault, his warhammer swinging wildly, flames dancing as he pressed his advantage. The gnoll barely managed to parry, struggling under the pressure.
But gnolls were no pushovers. They were far more formidable than kobolds, and Graf Swifttooth was a rare elite among them. Though Rowe dominated the exchange, he found it difficult to land a decisive blow.
The battle dragged on.
Just as Rowe prepared to unleash a Holy Light Strike, Graf Swifttooth made his move first. The gnoll suddenly opened his mouth, his razor-sharp teeth gleaming coldly.
At first, Rowe thought he was about to be bitten, so he braced himself.
However, to his surprise, Graf Swifttooth let out a thunderous roar: "Owwww!"
The deafening sound sent a shockwave through the air. Rowe, caught off guard, felt a sharp pain in his ears, followed by momentary deafness. His mind went blank for a split second.
"Hahaha!"
Seizing the opportunity, Graf Swifttooth leaped forward, raising his battle axe high and swinging it down toward Rowe's head.
Clang!
Rowe barely managed to block the attack with his hammer, but the impact forced him backward.
Graf Swifttooth lunged again, his deadly teeth aiming for Rowe's arm.
Rowe yanked his arm away just in time, but the gnoll's axe struck his shoulder in the next instant.
The strike was powerful. If Rowe had been an ordinary human, his arm would have been severed instantly.
Fortunately, his Asgardian physique and bronze inner armor absorbed much of the damage. Still, he couldn't suppress a pained cry as agony shot through his shoulder.
"Fresh flesh!"
Graf Swifttooth saw an opening and launched a relentless series of attacks, gradually overwhelming Rowe.
Then, the gnoll clamped his teeth onto Rowe's neck, sinking them in deeply. Blood splattered.
At that moment, as Rowe was ejected from the experience space, he confirmed his suspicion—Graf Swifttooth's teeth were indeed sharper than his battle axe.
Reality snapped back into focus, and Rowe found himself in his cabin once more.
"Hah—"
He exhaled sharply, catching his breath, his mind racing as he strategized for his next encounter with the rare gnoll.
KNOCK KNOCK.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.