"Caedith, ah Caedith. Turns out making promises is a bit like gambling. Good thing this time it paid out, and now I have the chance to build something from here." mumbled Kaede while admiring the two artifacts the party was hiding. One of those was an odd burr puzzle that Kaede had no knowledge about; whereas the other was, according to the Low Grade Tools Catalog, a Glassteel Moonar, namely a lantern capable of storing a specific kind of fire that heats at 181°C¹ without ever burning anything. Perfect for baking cookies and anyone below the Golden Bone Stage. As one would imagine it was quite a terrifying artifact, at least for most people.

As for the three elves, it was indeed odd that they would even think of bullying anybody when they were barely in the Marrow Washing Stage. In hindsight it only made sense they had some trump cards up their sleeves. The question then was how did they manage to get their hands on such items. Certainly not through legitimate means, Kaede couldn't imagine robbers being able or willing to pay money for a Moonar.

In any case Kaede had no intention to let them keep something so dangerous after what happened. Their bags were also stocked with petty trinkets and resources, which suggested he wasn't their first target. Curiously, the only one who was carrying a provisional license from the Adventurer's Guild was the girl.

As rotten as they were, Kaede never felt they deserved death. And certainly not before understanding what was going on with them. The Marna Valley could become dangerous after nightfall, thus leaving them as they were was essentially synonymous with murder. Carrying them? Although he felt no pain, Kaede was still recovering from the wounds Siciha left him, so no chance for that either.
"Guess I'll wait until the first of them wakes up, then."