The administrator examined each slime core with practiced efficiency, holding them up to the light one by one before dropping them into a collection jar.
"Twenty-three cores," he said, his tone flat. "Standard payment is thirty silver for completion. Eight additional cores beyond quota... here's your forty coppers bonus."
He counted out the coins and slid them across the counter.
Kyle scooped them up immediately, his face lighting up.
"Yes! We're rich!"
"We're not rich."
Kyle didn't care. He turned and threw his arms around me in a crushing hug, lifting me slightly off the ground.
"I can't breathe, idiot."
"Sorry!" He released me immediately, still grinning like a maniac.
I straightened my jacket, glaring at him, then stretched out my hand.
Kyle blinked. "What?"
"My share."
"Oh! Right!" He divided the coins carefully, counting them out into two piles.
"Fifteen silver and twenty coppers for you. Fifteen silver and twenty coppers for me."
