Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 167 Newme Sewers

Nium is one of the most commercially developed cities in the Panyun Province of the Kingdom of Servia.

It has an extremely large scale and a population size far exceeding that of ordinary towns.

This also requires the government to adjust its development strategy to absorb the ever-expanding labor force.

On the other hand, the vast majority of ordinary people in this world have never received a good education.

Professions such as carpentry and blacksmithing have particularly high learning thresholds set by master craftsmen because of their unique nature as a craft that can sustain a person for a lifetime.

If they are not related by blood or are very close, many people have to be apprentices for many years before they are allowed to get close and observe and learn some of the most basic skills.

In this situation, for ordinary civilians in Newme who have neither wealth nor connections, especially those living in slum shacks.

The only jobs available to them were manual labor jobs with low barriers to entry, such as porter, unloader, and hired driver.

Correspondingly, jobs that rely solely on physical fitness and earn money through physical labor naturally don't offer very high incomes in today's world with its limited productivity.

Even if you work yourself to the bone all day, you can still fill your stomach without much trouble.

However, if you have to feed a few more people, plus the cost of living in Newme, then you'll find it a bit difficult to make ends meet.

In this context, as a result of the chain reaction.

Some young people, who see no hope for improvement and feel that no matter how hard they work, they can barely support themselves, start to have crooked thoughts.

Some of the more ambitious ones took the scrap metal their families had scraped together and went to River Valley Town to become adventurers.

The vast majority turned into nutrients that nourished the soil of the Misty Forest, while a few barely survived, becoming part of the drunken crowd in the town's tavern.

Those who were relatively afraid of death or had little hope for the future stayed in Newme, becoming idle vagrants who spent their days on the streets, living off some shady income.

Furthermore, this world is characterized by the existence of supernatural forces, the presence of individuals with combat abilities far exceeding those of ordinary people, and the neglect and inaction of the Newm authorities.

Over the years, gangs of all sizes have sprung up around the slums.

The Badger Gang.

It is one of those that is neither too big nor too small.

Perhaps it's because of the gang leader's influence, but in the fierce environment of the lower city where forces can be wiped out every day, this gang has maintained a steady growth over the years.

Currently, its sphere of influence includes a small part of the slums and several streets in the western district.

The "Iron Bucket Toad" is currently within its sphere of influence.

Furthermore, because the tavern has been frequented by a large number of adventurers over the years, the Badger Gang has maintained relatively close ties with some of them due to various factors.

The "Strainer" Book
The former cook at the "Iron Bucket Toad" tavern, Buck's teammate, and a somewhat skilled and experienced adventurer.

Their relationship with the Badger Gang can be described as very ambiguous.

According to an unnamed source, this adventurer, who is quite capable, often accepts commissions from the Badger Gang to help them solve minor troubles.

If you want to get Ben's address, the Badger Gang... is definitely one way.

"Sir, what a coincidence, we meet again."

Iron Head stared stiffly at the two men in front of him, a few drops of cold sweat already seeping from his bald head.

I felt nothing but bad luck.

Yesterday, I was collecting protection money as usual, but I was a little careless and forgot to investigate their background beforehand.

Unexpectedly, the tailor shop owner, who looked so honest, turned out to be a tough nut to crack.

Not only did he have a connection with the stubborn donkey of the Iron Bucket Toad, but he also happened to run into a friend who seemed to be a professional visiting.

It's just that I reacted quickly; otherwise, I'm afraid I would have at least lost an arm in the store.

On the way back, I saw a rookie adventurer and thought I'd make a fortune. But the guy acted like a crazy madman who didn't care about his life. Even he himself seemed to be affected by something and lost control of his body.

He prayed at a church overnight, and the next day he caught a fat sheep and got the good stuff that the gang leader had mentioned before.

Believing that he had been cleansed of his bad luck under the divine light, he happily returned to the tavern with his underlings, intending to have a good drink.

They unexpectedly ran into the black-haired adventurer they had met at the tailor shop yesterday.

He even had a companion by his side.

That strange state of having an extremely low profile, as if he would disappear from sight if you weren't careful, clearly indicates that he is a seasoned adventurer who has obtained a professional level.

"Damn it, could it be because I didn't shower before praying last night and angered the gods?"

"Is it still that old geezer in the church who took a kickback and is just giving me the runaround?"

Iron Head complained inwardly, but his face became even more respectful. He didn't even dare to raise his head, but just lowered his head and looked at the two pairs of leather boots on the ground.

"Gentlemen, may I ask... what can I do for you?"

Having lived in Newme for many years, I've had contact with all sorts of people through my work.

It's clear that you absolutely can't give these bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong a friendly look.

Wood's face was stern, the dagger at his waist slightly unsheathed, flashing a chilling glint in the air, as he said in a cold voice:

Do you recognize the "strainer" book?

No sooner had he finished speaking than the bald, burly man in front of him suddenly raised his head, a somewhat exaggerated expression on his face. He pounded his chest with his right hand, which was holding a cloth bag, and boasted:
"Of course! Big Brother Ben and I have known each other for years..."

The words were just half spoken.

Iron Head, who was thinking of befriending a "big shot" whose name he knew in order to escape his current dangerous situation, suddenly realized that the two professionals in front of him might have some kind of relationship with Ben.

If it's an enemy, wouldn't trying to build a relationship with them like this just get me into big trouble?

He quickly suppressed his smile, lowered his head, and his loud voice instantly dropped as he continued:

"I only met Mr. Ben once a few years ago, and we haven't talked much since..."

"Where is he? Take us to see him."

Xia Nan and Wood are certainly not fools.

Given the bald man's behavior just now, how could he not know that the other party's answer was concealing something?

It can be assumed that he did indeed know Otsuka's address.

Xia Nan stood to the side, silent, his expression equally indifferent, his face devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

They're not ordinary residents living peaceful lives, so it's better to be direct with these street thugs who run rampant on the streets.

"No, I really..."

Tie Tou opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to make some excuse.

But when his gaze, which had been wandering due to his guilty conscience, caught sight of the silent, black-haired youth to the side, and their eyes met those deep, cold, dark eyes, he...

For some reason, he suddenly felt a chill creep up his neck.

It circled lightly around the skin in front of my throat, raising goosebumps.

A chill ran through me, and I trembled violently, shivering violently.

Daring not to hide anything any longer, he forced a bitter smile onto his stiff face.

"To be honest, I do know Mr. Ben—I used to work for the boss and I was his assistant."

"But where he lives... I really don't know!"

"As you two probably know, adventurers with a bit of status in the city never want to get involved with people like us."

"Therefore, it's only when Mr. Ben is doing something that the gang sends a few underlings to help out with small tasks." "Normally, the only person he contacts most is the boss."

"If you don't mind, I can pass on a message, or I can simply take you two to see him so you can talk amongst yourselves?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Nan frowned.

Tie Tou nervously wiped the sweat from his forehead, instinctively wondering if he had said something wrong.

Assuming the bald, burly man wasn't lying and genuinely didn't know Daben's address.

Neither of the two solutions he offered was a safe bet.

Regarding the former, let the other party relay the message.

Putting aside factors such as efficiency and accuracy, what if the other party uses this as a cover and runs away?
Newme is such a big city, and the other party is a gang leader who has been active in the lower city for many years. If he really wanted to hide, he would not be able to catch up even if he searched for several years.

As for the other option, follow them to their hideout, meet the leader of the Badger Gang, and have a face-to-face conversation...

Is this a bit dangerous?

While pondering, Xia Nan turned her head and looked at Wood beside her.

But then he saw the other person nod almost imperceptibly at him, before turning to look at Iron Head in front of him and coldly shouting:

"lead the way!"

Suddenly, it dawned on me.

Yup!

I couldn't remember for a moment.

Although he was just an ordinary adventurer who had only recently arrived in Newm, Wood was the personal bodyguard of the young master of Lord Wycliffe's family.

Even amidst the chaos caused by high-level personnel changes, they are still undoubtedly figures with status and connections.

It doesn't involve life-or-death issues; he's just the leader of a medium-sized gang, so they're definitely willing to give him some face.

The fact that this wanderer, who had worked as a guard for many years and was always reliable and meticulous in his work, acted this way suggests that he was confident he wouldn't put the two of them in a dangerous situation.

Thinking about this, Xia Nan felt much more at ease and let the other party negotiate.

"Gentlemen, this way, please follow me."

The oppressive atmosphere, which had been somewhat suffocating under the watchful eyes of the two older men, eased slightly.

Tie Tou visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned around, waved to his bewildered underlings behind him, signaling them to temporarily disband and go about their own business.

He then carefully led the way for Xia Nan and Wood.

……

……

"right here?"

Xia Nan stared at the dark sewer inspection well in front of him and asked with a suspicious look.

It had only been a little over an hour since the group left the iron bucket toad.

Following Tie Tou, we wandered around the alleys beside the street for a long time. As the surrounding environment became increasingly dilapidated and dirty, we gradually approached the slums.

They stopped again at the end of a hidden alley.

Having already stuffed the blood-stained package into his arms, Tie Tou gripped the manhole cover he had just lifted from the ground, a starkly awkward smile appearing on his muscular face.
"Sir, you overestimate us. The slums are neither small nor large. Our Badger Gang only occupies a small area, but the number of people living there is probably more than several streets in the West District combined."

"We can't just rob the houses of the poor, can we?"

"Moreover, there are people coming and going all the time up there, making it inconvenient to do anything."

"Although the sewers are a bit smelly, they are spacious and well-hidden, so there's nothing more suitable."

After hearing what the other person said, it actually made some sense.

He nodded and took two steps forward to go down into the well.

Wood, who was standing next to Xia Nan, suddenly reached out and stopped him.

"Don't worry."

His left hand slid across his belt, and silently, a short dagger gleaming with a cold light was firmly grasped in his hand.

Years of guard work had honed his sharp eyes, which coldly swept over the bald, muscular man.

"I'll go first, you're second."

"Xia Nan, you're the last one."

The Newme sewers are a complex network, and it's easy to get lost without a guide.

If Tie Tou goes first, and he manages to escape using the complex environment of the sewers, the two of them will most likely be unable to catch him.

If the manhole below is a trap that the other party set up in advance, taking into account the current situation, then walking at the back and closing the manhole cover after the two people go down will cause even more trouble.

By leaving Tie Tou in the middle of the group, he and Xia Nan could react and handle any situation that might arise.

As for why he was the one leading the most dangerous group, while Xia Nan brought up the rear...

The reason is actually very simple.

Just like Wood was willing to sacrifice his vacation time to actively participate in helping Xia Nan complete his mission.

That adventure in the misty forest happened months ago.

In the encounter with the monster "Corruption Monster", he failed to fulfill his responsibilities, putting the young master in danger that could threaten his life.

At the critical moment, Xia Nan withstood the pressure and came to the young master's rescue.

This is precisely why Young Master Hai'an was willing to use the favor left by his mistress to persuade Mr. Fugang to help.

It almost caused a major disaster, and Wood attributed it to his own negligence, which he still regrets to this day.

As for Xia Nan, who saved his career and prevented him from living with regret for the rest of his life...
What kind of attitude they will have is enough to predict.

This overly young adventurer hadn't even stayed in Riverdale for a full year before arriving in Newm on a guild mission.

As the host, I should treat them well.

Unfortunately, the master was in trouble at the same time, and undercurrents were surging, so neither he nor the young master dared to make any big moves.

Even daily activities are restricted.

After his "vacation" ends, he must immediately return to his post.

Since I have some free time right now, I'd be happy to offer them a small favor, so there's no reason to refuse.

A cold glint flashed as he reversed his grip on the dagger.

Their gaze shifted away from Tie Tou's tense expression.

Wood looked at Xia Nan beside him, his expression as serious as ever, just like when the two first met.

"Be careful."

"Focus."

(End of this chapter)