Chapter 49 |
From that explosion, Mick had already gained a clear understanding of Baruk’s tribe’s combat power.
To put it bluntly, if the hit Baruk had taken had landed on him, there would basically have only been a bit of shattered residue left.
“The biggest difference between you and adventurers is that you can take on long-term commissions! In the past, you were busy with trade routes, so you couldn’t stay in one place for long. But now that you want to develop in Coral Thorn City, naturally you’ll be stationed here long-term.”
“That way, you can try joining the Silver Moon Chamber of Commerce’s patrol teams, or establish your own high-end guard unit, specializing in serving caravans escorting important goods.”
“With your teamwork, formations, and martial strength, I believe quite a few people would be willing to pay a high price to hire you!”
In Coral Thorn City, high-end combat power was not lacking, but high-end combat power that could remain long-term, steadily, and with a good reputation was very scarce.
Powerful adventurers rarely stayed in one place for a long time. They were more likely to roam across the world adventuring and seeking opportunities.
As for the bearman tribe, because of their innate advantages, the proportion of them who became class-holders was far higher than among ordinary people, and they were also much stronger than class-holders of the same rank.
“How much can that earn?” Baruk embodied the principle of asking whenever he did not understand, humbly seeking guidance and absolutely refusing to stew in silence.
“Take the Silver Moon Chamber of Commerce’s patrol teams as an example. The patrol teams are divided into three squads: the sea squad handles maritime security, the trade route squad handles land caravans, and the city district squad handles patrols inside the city.”
“The stipends for these three teams are all different, but when carrying out high-difficulty missions, there are also substantial bonuses…”
After talking at length until his mouth was dry, Mick finally managed to explain the ins and outs to this old bear.
And yet this silly bear, along with the attendant beside him, did not even pour him a cup of water…
Baruk, whose mind was full of everything Mick was saying, found his eyes growing brighter and brighter the more he listened.
He had not expected the Silver Moon Chamber of Commerce’s treatment to be so good. If all fifty of the tribesmen under him could join, then just from normal wages and benefits alone, they would earn around 500 magic crystals a year. And if they could complete some high-difficulty missions, then…
The more he thought about it, the more excited Baruk became. He almost wanted to rush straight to Mills and beg to be taken in!
But Baruk was not stupid either. High benefits also meant higher risks and responsibilities. This was not something he alone could decide.
He still needed to discuss the feasibility of the plan with the chief and the other elders, but that did not stop him from feeling grateful to Mick.
The other party could already be said to have done everything an ally could do, and had even taken the initiative to fight for their interests. He absolutely had to find a way to repay this kindness.
As he spoke, he tore off the crescent totem amulet hanging around his neck, made of some unknown material, and stuffed it into Mick’s hand.
“This is an ancestral amulet worshipped by our tribe for generations. It contains the bloodline mark of my tribe’s ancestors. With this amulet, you can apply for a spot in the secret realm of my bearman ancestral land, or enter the inheritance pavilion of the ancestral land and choose one supreme inheritance!”
Then, disregarding the fact that his injuries had not yet healed, he forcibly squeezed out a drop of heart-blood and dripped it onto the amulet, merging into it the memories and will of Mick’s help to their Blackrock tribe.
Holding that amulet, still carrying Baruk’s body warmth, Mick was momentarily stunned. He had not expected Baruk’s repayment to come so quickly and so urgently. It could only be said that this truly was the bearman tribe.
Sure enough, the old ancestors’ experience had not deceived him. The fastest way to see a person clearly was sincerity.
***
While Mick and Baruk were discussing subsequent cooperation in Coral Thorn City and the tribe’s future development.
O’Brien stood before the main entrance of the Artisans’ Association headquarters, looking thoughtfully at the bustling stream of carriages and people coming and going, busy beyond measure.
Along the way here, he had already learned what major events had recently happened in Coral Thorn City.
This made him think even more highly of Kyle, that vampire.
That man had practically toyed with all the major forces of Coral Thorn City in the palm of his hand. And now he had even offered future opportunities that the other tribes could not let go of.
Thinking of the illusion Kyle had shown them, it was obvious that he truly wanted to build Coral Thorn City into a city where multiple races and multiple cultures gathered.
A strange sense of urgency arose in him. It seemed he too had to speed up his actions. He could hardly let a vampire laugh at him.
“Come, we’re going to the Adventurers’ Guild.”
O’Brien withdrew his gaze and said to Dean, who was watching in fascination.
He needed to prepare a suitable new identity for the plans to come.
“A-alright, Mentor!”
Dean reluctantly took another look at the vividly lifelike carved character statues before quickly following after O’Brien.
He thought to himself that it would be wonderful if he also had such skill. Then he could carve one for his older sister, and she would definitely be very happy!
Imon, who was carefully moving the statues, was excitedly chatting with his companions about the wondrous experiences of the past week.
Although their first day’s encounter had been extremely terrible, everything afterward had gone smoothly.
Not only had they successfully joined the Artisans’ Association, they had also luckily won the favor of a certain master and been accepted as apprentices.
And in their very first week, they had already received an order to carve character statues. Although it was only an ordinary decorative order, Imon and the others still put in one hundred and twenty percent enthusiasm and focus.
The group had stayed up through several all-nighters and finished the task a full three days ahead of schedule. At this moment, they could not wait to ask their mentor to inspect and accept it.
***
President Mario’s mood these past few days had been like a roller coaster.
The Association’s predicament and his friend’s death had once left him extremely dispirited. Their fruitless return from the dungeon had only added insult to injury and had nearly pushed him into complete collapse.
Then the very next day, Coral Thorn City underwent a world-shaking upheaval! The Shadow Guild had actually been uprooted directly!
In his eyes, that overbearing great power had been erased overnight.
This made him both respectful and fearful toward the powerful existence behind the control of Coral Thorn City. What kind of terrifying being would it take to accomplish that?
He had also gone to watch the trial assembly, but unfortunately had not heard any information whatsoever about the murderer who had killed his friend Adrian.
And with the fall of the Shadow Guild, their Artisans’ Association had welcomed a massive flood of orders.
Countless houses and streets had to be replanned and readjusted. Large numbers of merchant groups, wealthy people, and nobles wanted custom gifts made to build relationships and probe the political winds.
Some foreign tribes intending to develop in Coral Thorn City had poured into every industry in large numbers as well. The joining of newcomers and outside craftsmen had filled the previously dispirited Artisans’ Association with renewed vitality.
The Artisans’ Association had now become busier than ever before.
Even he, the president, now had to spend a great deal of time every day personally tailoring gifts for those ‘distinguished guests.’
The private custom orders in his hands were already scheduled half a year into the future, yet people still used connections hoping he would increase his order volume. Some even offered high prices to cut in line.
Now he sat before his friend’s coffin, the expression on his face too complicated to describe. He did not know whether he should laugh or cry…