Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 172 Other Rewards
In his slightly cloudy eyes, the two faintly textured horns of the [Sheep-Deer Statue] were reflected, as if they were hidden in the depths of darkness.

Eight Fingers was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with a visible surprise, and even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes gathered together.

Realizing his men were still standing in front of him watching him, the leader of the Badger Gang quickly suppressed his joy, forced a straight face, and coughed twice:
"Ahem, are you sure this statue has a clean provenance?"

"Speak properly, don't lie to me!"

His tone suddenly became extremely serious.

"This thing is no simple matter... Whether it's those two professionals from earlier, or any other big shots, if you offend them, the entire Badger Gang will have to clean up your mess!"

Upon hearing this, Tie Tou's previously playful expression turned serious.

Not daring to hide anything, he told the other party everything he had experienced in the [Iron Bucket Toad].

"That drunk guy is called 'Walker,' he used to do hard labor at the post station."

"His wife died from drinking sewage, his son sold newspapers to support the family, and his youngest daughter is sick and bedridden."

“Even some of his old friends from when he worked with him have run away after he borrowed money from them until they were afraid he would run away. He has no connections whatsoever.”

At this point, Tie Tou took two steps forward, leaned closer, and lowered his voice, saying:
"Boss, don't worry, I did it cleanly and there won't be any loopholes. I also talked to all the brothers in the gang who were with me at the time, and they kept their mouths shut."

“Drunkards like this die every day in the city, and nobody cares.”

Upon hearing this, Eight Fingers' expression softened considerably.

After thinking for a moment, still feeling uneasy, he pulled Tie Tou aside and carefully instructed him:
"Here's what we'll do: tonight, find two brothers and catch a few lone gray rats to take up with you."

"These rats have been eating like crazy lately, they'll eat anything."

"Dispose of the body, understand?"

Tie Tou was no fool to have risen to the rank of a minor leader.

He had only spoken halfway through his sentence when he understood what the other person meant.

He nodded knowingly.

"No problem, boss, I'll definitely take care of it!"

It's not that Eight Fingers was being overly cautious, but rather that the [Sheep-Deer Human Statue] in his hand was simply too hot to handle.

What I just said is by no means an exaggeration. Given the current dangerous situation with undercurrents in the city's upper echelons, if the statue really involves one of the big shots, the entire Badger Gang will be buried with it.

If it weren't for the fact that his own image was too obvious and he was afraid of making things worse, Bazhi would have even wanted to go up and handle it himself.

Carefully unwrap the soft cloth covering the statue and gently remove it from the wrapping.

My left hand is supporting it from below, and I'm holding it with my right hand, not daring to use too much force.

By the bright light of the torches on both sides, he carefully examined the statue in his hands.

I scanned it from top to bottom, back and forth, several times.

The expression on his face looked somewhat strange.

He was an adventurer by origin, and later, by chance, he returned to Newme and established the Badger Gang, whose members were all uneducated thugs.

He certainly couldn't appreciate this small, unremarkable statue with its dull and ordinary appearance.

In Eight Fingers' opinion, it wasn't even as nice as the cheap decorations on the tavern walls.

If he didn't know how popular it was among the city's elite, he wouldn't have wanted it even if it were given to him for free.

But since it is known that this style of statue is sought after by noble lords and important figures who have achieved professional ranks...

Eight fingers' mind also started to wander.

Coinciding with the annual "Moon Feast," the West District, home to the "Serenne" Moon Goddess Church of the Moon Maiden, will host numerous high-end banquets in celebration of the festival.

At that time, whether it is the priests in the church, the noblemen dressed in gold and silver, or the pot-bellied rich merchants, they will all appear at the banquet.

To this end, he spent countless gold coins through various channels and prepared for nearly half a year before finally managing to obtain an admission ticket to one of the banquets through the influence of a fallen nobleman.

He had originally planned to collect some money from his gang members, along with the gift money he had prepared specifically for this purpose, to see if he could curry favor with one of them.

Now that we have the statue, things seem to have become much simpler.

If I could take this opportunity to present the statue to some important person and make good use of it, not to mention how much money I could make, the influence of the Badger Gang he founded could also be expanded a little further.

Perhaps, they can even snag some quick-money business from casinos.

Then, we won't have to lead the gang members to huddle like rats in this dark, sunless sewer anymore.

Thinking of this, no matter how much he wanted to maintain the dignity of his gang leader, Eight Fingers couldn't help but show a hint of joy on his face.

He smiled and patted Tie Tou on the shoulder beside him, praising him:

"Yes, you did a good job this time."

"Let's not talk about anything else for now. After the Moon Feast is over, I'll give you a few gold coins so you can have a good time for a few days."

Iron Head, who didn't know the actual value of the wood carving but had kept it in mind because the boss had mentioned it before, scratched his head and grinned sheepishly when he heard Eight Fingers say this.

"Sigh, I'm getting old. I can't even chop down a few mice anymore."

Eight Fingers deliberately rubbed his shoulders, speaking with a pointed tone.

"When I retire, I'll have to hand over the Badger Gang to capable young people like you before I can feel at ease."

Having grown up in a slum and never having held a proper job, Tie Tou couldn't stand such words.

He immediately straightened his back, patted his chest, and made a series of promises.

It was as if the Badger Gang was going to be handed over to him tomorrow.

In response, Eight Fingers squinted and offered a few words of encouragement, then patted him on the shoulder affectionately before letting him go about his own business.

This kid claimed that he had no connection with the two professionals from earlier, and that he just happened to run into them.

But after such a long journey, who knows what they talked about or whether they developed any friendships?

If you treat him well, you might be able to get in touch with those two.

With these thoughts in mind, Bazhi withdrew his gaze.

My fingertips gently traced the texture of the statue's surface, feeling the cool touch emanating from my fingertips.

For some reason, the wood carvings that he originally found extremely ugly have become pleasing to the eye after only a short time in his possession.

The blurred outline, the smooth and natural lines, the simple and textured workmanship...

It actually made Eight Fingers feel a mysterious and indescribable beauty that he had never experienced before.

Roar--

A deep, distorted, strange roar emanating from the depths of the pipe gallery interrupted his gradually immersing concentration.

I subconsciously looked up and glanced in the direction from which the sound came, but all I saw was a deep and long darkness.

He complained under his breath:

"This godforsaken place..."

……

When Xia Nan and Wood followed the thug known as "Crooked Neck" through a winding path, crawling out of the sewers and leaving the slums to return to the city.

It was already evening.

The sky was overcast, with crimson clouds drifting across the horizon, and wisps of twilight peeking through the eaves of distant buildings.

Wood maintained his stern and serious expression, but his words revealed a hint of concern.

"I have to go back to the young master's place. Be careful tomorrow and don't let your guard down."

“While the environment inside slums may not be as dangerous as the sewers, dangerous individuals wanted and wanted by the association often hide there.”

"With your current strength... if you're careful, there shouldn't be any major problems."

Xia Nan nodded seriously, indicating that she understood.

In fact, the other party doesn't need to say much; he will be extra vigilant.

To some extent, since he arrived in Newme, even in the relatively safe streets where Jeff lived, things have been much better.

Whenever he goes out, he is always fully armed, never forgetting even the small dagger at his waist.

They did not become complacent just because they had obtained a professional level; on the contrary, they became even more cautious because of their heightened perception after the upgrade.

"If you encounter any particularly difficult problems, you can seek help at the Church of the Moon."

Since their time together was short, and fearing that Xia Nan might suffer because he was unfamiliar with the city, Wood took advantage of the last bit of free time before leaving to add to his message.

"The followers of the Moon Goddess are not stingy in helping those who are in dire straits, and with the Moon Feast approaching, they also possess a sufficiently reliable fighting force under the goddess's gaze."

As he spoke, a strange and interesting expression suddenly appeared on his serious face.

“When necessary, even if you don’t know the enemy’s detailed identity or their purpose.”

“When seeking help from the church, you can also obscure the enemy’s identity and background by suggesting that they are ‘cult members’ or ‘plotting a conspiracy that could endanger the entire town’s residents.’”

"This will make those in robes in the church pay more attention."

Xia Nan kept the key points the other party mentioned firmly in mind.

These are clearly experiences that can only be summarized by someone with a certain understanding of churches and who has had many dealings with them.

Whether or not you'll ever use it, it's always good to write it down.

“If the trouble is too great, or if it is related to the church itself…” Wood’s expression became hesitant, and his speech slowed down, as if he was considering whether what he was about to say was appropriate.

"You can come find me and the young master."

"At least in terms of personal safety, it can be guaranteed."

"But... for your own sake, unless absolutely necessary, it's best to minimize contact with us at this stage."

With the master now seriously ill, all eyes are on the position of the next city lord.

In this situation, it is easy for the lord's offspring to suddenly meet a strange professional, which could easily lead to a lot of unnecessary trouble.

"Understood, I'll visit you again when I have the chance."

From the newspapers and other people, Xia Nan roughly knew what was happening in Newme City. He understood that Wood's suggestion was also for his own safety, and he didn't mind.

With his current strength, he could easily kill a few goblins and chop down two gray rats, but when it came to this level of combat, he seemed somewhat inadequate.

He also had no intention of getting involved in such disputes.

Of course, even though he thought that way, Hainwood and the other man had helped him a lot.

Seeing that he probably wouldn't see them again anytime soon, he felt he had to say something, so he spoke up:

"I'll let it go this time, but in any case, within my capabilities, if you need anything in the future, you can come to River Valley Town to find me."

It was just a genuine sentiment mixed with a bit of politeness, a parting remark.

Xia Nan didn't think that the city lord's son, who could invite a high-level professional like the barbarian Fugang, had any difficulties that he needed to solve.

Unexpectedly, after hearing his words, Wood actually hesitated for a moment before slowly saying:

"Hmm... I feel like this might be a bit abrupt, but in a while, I might actually need to do you a small favor."

If it were before Wood met Xia Nan in the tavern, he certainly wouldn't have had this thought.

After all, in his eyes, the other party was just a novice adventurer who had just mastered a combat skill.

But right now, in just a few months, they have achieved a professional level at an astonishing speed.

This greatly exceeded his expectations.

If Xia Nan continues to improve at the speed he is currently demonstrating, in a few months, he may have already established himself as a professional and moved towards "extraordinary".

After saying that, worried that Xia Nan might misunderstand, Wood waved his hand and said:
"Of course, even if I really need to trouble you, it will definitely be some time later. There's no need to think about it too much now."

"Moreover, when the time comes, we will definitely entrust the task to the association in the form of a mission, and we will not take advantage of you."

As for commissions and such, since adventurers make a living from quest bounties, Xia Nan didn't have too many concerns.

What truly bothered or puzzled him was the information unintentionally revealed in the other person's words.

"Take advantage?"

"If I entrust the task to the association, they'll probably take a commission, right? If they really need my help, wouldn't it be cheaper to communicate privately?"

Upon hearing Xia Nan's question, Wood was taken aback for a moment before a look of understanding appeared on his face.

"I almost forgot, this is your advancement task. You can only go up to the second floor after you complete it, right?"

"I was being nosy; the association should have spoken to you about it."

"It's alright, you'll find out when you finish your mission and get back."

Hearing this, Xia Nan's expression became even more confused.

He only pondered it in his heart.

According to what the other party revealed, for adventurers who have already obtained a professional rank, in addition to the usual commission bounty, the association itself will also provide some other rewards.

perhaps……

Xia Nan shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the complicated thoughts.

There's no point in thinking about it now. Everything will be clear once we finish this mission and return to River Valley.

Walking side by side down the street, keeping in mind the precautions Wood had given them along the way, the two parted ways at a fork in the road.

Xia Nan returned to Jeff's house, where he was temporarily staying, and waited for the next morning when the Badger Gang would lead him to "Spoon" Ben's place.

(End of this chapter)