Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 140 Ah, such blinding light, who's putting on airs?
“Bard and Münster are fine, but Lawrence…” Ska hesitated. “You have good taste, not only did you snatch away a duo, but you also set your sights on our team’s best rogue.”

Did you add an extra character? Although I knew that old pervert was skilled with his hands, I didn't expect him to actually be the best.

"Hehe, Captain, does our Flame Fist team lack thieves? Even if Lawrence leaves, we can just add a few more." Zhang Yuan said with a forced smile.

Speechless, I looked at the person opposite me who used to be a newbie. He has grown up now, but his shamelessness hasn't improved at all. He's become more and more like a seasoned veteran.

"What do you take a rogue for? A goblin in the wilderness? You can just grab a bunch of them at will? A skilled rogue is harder to train than a seasoned warrior."

"Last time, Grand Duke Belt owed our Flame Fist a huge favor, didn't he? Belt is in charge of the entire Thieves Guild in Baldur's Gate, so why would he need two more rogues?"

Zhang Yuan's seemingly kind reminder to his team captain was actually just a cover for his own poaching activities.

Ska was certainly aware of this, but he didn't bother arguing with the other party. He would simply go and plead with Grand Duke Iltan later. As for that kid...

"I can't believe that in just over half a year, you're already planning to set up your own team. Thinking back to when you first arrived at the base, it's hard to believe."

Hearing this sentiment, Zhang Yuan's mind was filled with memories of his time in Flame Fist, the days of training together at the base, filled with sweat and laughter, the long journey south to Xikai, and the battle that raided the bandit camp.

"Captain, I won't let Flame Fist down." Zhang Yuan looked directly at Ska in front of him, his gaze firm and confident.

Ska lightly punched Zhang Yuan in the chest and said with a smile, "Then go ahead and let me see how far you can go."

The three men who left the meeting room did not appear on the parade ground. Instead, they headed towards the basement of the barracks, which led to the squad's armory and storage room.

“I know that as a mage you must have your own methods, but you are no longer acting alone. You have to be responsible for your team.” Ska walked along, carefully giving instructions on some precautions for the team’s adventure and expedition, just like an old steward.

"As for weapons, I don't think we need too many. You and Bard already have your own full sets of equipment, and our team doesn't have anything better to replace them. However, it would be good for you to take a few as spare weapons, and also prepare more arrows. Your spell slots are limited after all, so it's better to be prepared."

Thinking of his three little sea monsters, the man nodded repeatedly.

Upon entering the armory, one sees a spacious storeroom neatly arranged with various types of armor and weapons. However, the number of armors is relatively small, mostly chainmail and leather armor.

The weapon racks were filled with all sorts of swords, spears, halberds, shields, axes, bows, and crossbows, their sharp edges gleaming. And these were just the standard weapons; there were many more, sealed and protected with grease and paper in the crates.

Not being overly greedy, and considering that he already had a certain amount of military equipment in his storage bag, Zhang Yuan only selected two pieces of inlaid leather armor, three short bows, two crossbows, corresponding arrows, a battle axe, and a two-handed sword as backup weapons.

Just as Ska and Nancy were about to help move the supplies, Zhang Yuan signaled them to stop and casually took out his storage bag.

Under the astonished gazes of the two onlookers, someone deliberately acted nonchalantly, putting his hands behind his back and gesturing with his chin to Scar and Nancy to put the items into the bag.

What's even more infuriating is that this guy was acting all high and mighty, saying things like, "It's just a storage bag, what's the big deal?"

Ska and Nancy, standing nearby, both turned pale. "What's with your sarcastic tone? And you tell us not to make a fuss? You've got the benefits and you're still acting innocent, haven't you?" They exchanged a glance and nodded. "If we don't teach this shameless, arrogant brat a lesson, he'll get too big for his britches."

While he was still pretending to be an old man with his hands behind his back, Nancy suddenly kicked his left knee, causing him to fall to the side.

"Ouch!" Zhang Yuan, who was kneeling on one knee, was about to turn around and settle accounts with his unscrupulous master when Ska tripped him and he fell flat on his face.

"Hey, what are you doing? Bullying the weak and outnumbering the strong, do you have any sportsmanship?" Suddenly realizing that something was wrong, the person understood that showing off comes at a price.

The two teachers had already decided to teach this unworthy disciple a lesson, so they held Zhang Yuan down and gave him a good beating. He ended up curling up in a ball, covering his face and sticking out his buttocks, with only his back exposed.

This move is quite intricate; one must focus one's energy in the dantian and maintain a state of unity, a technique euphemistically known as "Xuanwu Sunbathing the Back."

In addition, the mage secretly activated mage armor and shield spells, so that when the two men's fists, which were already half-heartedly fighting, landed on each other, they were already at their last gasp, almost like a massage.

After the commotion, the three of them packed the huge pile of weapons into a treasure bag no bigger than a ball, a sight that made Skater and Nancy stare wide-eyed.

“I’ve only ever seen a magical item like a storage pouch once before, at Grand Duchess Lila Jennas’s place. She treasured it like it was the most precious thing ever.” Ska exclaimed incredulously, “I never thought you could get one too. Did you recently take a great mage as your mentor?”

Zhang Yuan was also surprised: "You could have guessed that?"

After he finished speaking, the other two people's eyes widened even more, bulging out like the lion's head goldfish. The three of them huddled together, staring at each other with wide eyes.

Nancy could hardly believe her ears; her lips trembled slightly. "What did you say? You didn't mean to say..."

Although Skater didn't speak, the look in his eyes as he gazed at someone revealed the same disbelief as Nancy's.

Having gotten another chance to show off, Zhang Yuan didn't dare to be arrogant this time. He simply recounted how he had been favored by the Archmage Tyrantir and taken in as a disciple. As for the reasons behind it, he used a series of half-truths and half-lies to elaborate on the details.

Anyway, the two opponents were both ignorant of magic, so this person made up some nonsense, such as having a talent for construct research, an open mind, and advantages in conjuration magic, plus a few seemingly profound professional terms, which made Skaarl and Nancy completely confused and bewildered.

"Stop, you don't need to continue." Ska, who felt increasingly inferior to Zhang Yuan, quickly interrupted him. She then glanced at Nancy, both of them unsure of what to say.

It was Zhang Yuan who took the initiative to break the somewhat awkward atmosphere:

"Seeing how surprised you are, Master Tyrantir is indeed my mentor, but in a sense, aren't you also my teachers? It's not necessarily true that I became a different person after becoming the Archmage's disciple."

When this person said these words, there was a hint of pride on his face, but also a great deal of sincerity.

(End of this chapter)