The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 118 Sewer Pipes (Bonus Chapter, Please Subscribe! 13)

[August 5, 1000 of the Lost Calendar, Longjin City, after the rain has cleared.]

The first month after arriving in Longjin City, the first day of Golden Oak's opening.

Thanks to the intensive promotional efforts, the opening day was a resounding success.

Many people wanted to try the Star Plum Wine, which drew away some regulars from other taverns...

Personally, I don't think these bosses need to worry about this.

Because they'll soon be our regular customers.

The streets of Longjin City are intricate and complex, and the Shenjing District, which is located near the mountains, is also full of narrow and dark alleys.

The extensive sewer system and the cleaning work by sanitation workers have left only a fresh jasmine fragrance in the streets and alleys.

Yesterday's rain only managed to seep into the gaps between the stone bricks, allowing the newsboys to walk lightly on the road without worrying about water splashing onto their curled-up legs.

The deep well area is always noisy in the evening.

The place was filled with noise from vandalism, hawking, and insults.

But I've forgotten when it started, those buzzing sounds like flies in a dark corner, mixed with childlike, lighthearted singing:

"If you want to forget the hustle and bustle of life, come to Golden Oak!"

If you want to escape boredom and repetition, come to Golden Oak!
The haunted house that bothered you has been erased, but the music will forever accompany you as you dance!
Whether you are poor or rich, here you can find fair-priced Star Plum Wine.

For just 1 gold coin, relieve your fatigue and bring you satisfaction!

The song is not complicated; the melody is repetitive and catchy.

Almost on the third time I heard it, it was like 'a bug crawling into my ear,' playing over and over again.

Even when busy at work, I can't help but hum a few lines of a melody without lyrics.

Fortunately, the song changes every seven days. Last time, these newsboys sang "The Little Newspaper Seller," which was said to have been taught to them by a bard from Golden Oak.

It shouldn't annoy the residents who hear the singing.

"Whether you are poor or rich, here is fair-priced Star Plum Wine—"

For just 5 silver coins, relieve your fatigue and bring you satisfaction!

“Cut off his goatee, little girl! Could you please avoid my street when you're promoting your tavern?!”

As Jasmine sang the ballad again, she suddenly heard a rough call. She turned around and looked around, but couldn't find anyone.

"Look! Here, here."

Damn it, can you just lower your head?!

The shout drew the little girl's attention, finally allowing her to see clearly a dwarf in a bartender's uniform with a bow tie around his neck, standing in a recess leading underground, his entire head exposed—

His scraggly, brown beard was unkempt and curly, and he couldn't help but wave at the passing newsboy, Jasmine.

“Oh, Mr. Bronzebeard. I’m so sorry, but if you were on the ground, I would have seen you immediately.”

After all, they both seem to be the same height.

Jasmine thought to herself.

Copperbeard knew the little girl really hadn't seen him, so he couldn't help but blow on his unruly beard and stomped up the stairs in a huff.

Looking down the steps behind him, you'll see a door leading directly to the tavern, and a huge manhole cover.

The manhole cover appeared to be brand new, gleaming with a metallic sheen, and had the words "Theft Prohibited" written next to it.

Opening the manhole cover leads you into a completely black metal pipe, directly to his tavern, the [Sewer Pipe] beloved by adventurers and even dwarves alike:
"I mean, if you want to promote a pub, could you please avoid my street?"

"Promoting 'Golden Oak' is just a side job; my main business is still selling newspapers—would you like a newspaper?"

"Any noteworthy news recently?"

"There's one thing you might be interested in, and it's about dungeons."

"Okay, one serving, please."

After handing Jasmine five copper coins, Copperbeard immediately began searching for the underground news article.
"Oh? Someone seems to have found a secret treasure chamber while digging for mushrooms? But due to the sudden change in the dungeon, they were moved to another location before even stepping into the chamber..."

"Ha, a secret chamber containing some of the dragon's treasures? That's quite rare in dungeons."

"Yes, maybe this will make your [sewer pipe] business more prosperous."

"Hey, you reminded me—stop singing that Golden Oak ballad when you walk down this street. You're stealing all my customers!"

One gold coin for a glass of Star Plum Wine should be a standard 500ml glass, right? Normally, a glass of Star Plum Wine like that would sell for a whopping four gold coins!

Remembering his business, Copperbeard couldn't help but stomp his foot.

Before Jasmine could say anything, a drunken adventurer staggered up the steps behind the dwarf.

He was initially quite sleepy, but upon hearing the dwarf's roar, his eyes lit up:
"Star Plum Wine for 1 gold coin? I'd like to try it and see what's going on."

Most taverns keep a small amount of Star Plum wine on hand to entertain patrons who crave a sophisticated taste.

High-end means expensive.

It's not that we can't afford the price of 4 gold coins, it's just that the dark beer with 1 silver coin is more cost-effective.

This makes many adventurers curious about its taste, but too lazy to spend a lot of money to savor its aroma.

However, while 1 gold coin isn't exactly cheap, it's already within their acceptable price range.

"Dragon Tail Pass, sir." "It's a bit far, but we can take a look along the way."

The adventurer walked away with unsteady steps, muttering to himself.

Copperbeard blew his beard and glared, saying:

"How can you lower prices like that? This is practically malicious competition!"

Jasmine said somewhat innocently, "But I've already agreed to the tavern's publicity work. If you have any objections, shouldn't you question them?"

"I'll give you some money, but you're not allowed to sing this song again when you pass by this street in the future."

"But I might not be the one coming to this street tomorrow. Will you still have to give them money then?"

Bronzebeard scratched his balding head, then realized it was pointless to do so.

But he couldn't very well do anything to a young girl, so he could only wave his hand angrily, clutching the newspaper in his hand as he returned to the tavern.

After passing through the tunnels and entering the tavern lobby, Copperbeard noticed that there were significantly fewer drunkards tonight than in the previous days, probably because they had all been lured to Dragon Tail Pass by the gimmick.

A strong smell of alcohol, mixed with a hint of vomit, wafted through the air.

Although there are ventilation vents connected to the ground, the drainage pipes can sometimes be left uncleaned, leading to a poor environment.

Upon seeing the dwarf slumped drunk on the table, with a seemingly brand-new bloat of vomit beside him, Bronzebeard couldn't help but exclaim:

"Stone Breaker, you damn bastard, can't you tone it down a bit?! I can smell your drunken burps every single day!"

"Huh? I've paid you! You haven't had enough to drink yet, keep the drinks coming, keep drinking!"

"Do you fucking still have money?"

"Yes, yes?"

Gravel groggily opened his eyes, reached into his pocket for his money pouch, shook it, and a few copper coins fell out.

"Mmm, I'd like another one!"

Copperbeard kicked the wooden block under his buttocks:

"I don't accept credit. I think you should probably find a job."

"Screw you, those locusts have practically plundered all the mushrooms in the dungeon. Do you think I'll even earn a single gold coin if I go down there?"

If he had found a suitable job, he wouldn't have spent a month drinking ale in the tavern and squandering his entire savings.

He doesn't have the leisure to save money like Black Snake.

In the world of dwarves, there's only making money, buying alcohol, and drinking!
Copperbeard slapped the newspaper he was holding onto the gravel's face:
"Who told you to go picking mushrooms? Look at this—a part of the dragon's treasure trove! I don't need to tell you how valuable it is, right?"

The newspapers even published a bounty for the location of the treasure vault, meaning that even if you didn't manage to enter the vault, as long as you could confirm its approximate location in a short time, you would be able to earn a commission of 500 gold coins.

Before the alcohol completely numbs your brain, why don't you grab a hammer and go downstairs to look for it?

"Sounds good, but where am I supposed to find teammates? I'm so fed up with those rotten apples!"
I encountered a "Rust Monster" underground, and they actually dared to ask me why I didn't smash it with a hammer—

That thing could even corrode all my equipment. Why would I do something so unprofitable and fight it head-on?

Over the course of a month, Shatterstone joined several temporary teams.

It is quite easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but going from extravagance to frugality has caused him great suffering.

After experiencing so many ups and downs and dangers, teaming up with a bunch of greenhorns only fueled his nameless rage, and he cursed Tang Qi, who hadn't even published a book yet.

"If only he had published the 'Guide' sooner, and let those worthless scoundrels even glance at it, I wouldn't be so furious!"

The sewer system is over seventy years old. Copperbeard has seen countless adventure teams of all names and identities over the years, and he understands the current predicament of Shattered Stone.
That's why I'm telling you to read the newspaper carefully!
It says it right here: Wendy, the eldest daughter of the Silver Shield family, is recruiting experienced adventurers to form a team to delve into dungeons and explore treasure vaults.

Aren't you just the right fit?

"Come on, this sounds like a no-go. I have no interest in playing some noble lady's adventure game or pretending to be a child..."

"20 gold per day, enough for you to go mushroom picking in the dungeon for 20 days."

"...Nobles are a bunch of lovable bastards."

The pebbles' eyes suddenly cleared.
Where should I apply for a job?

"Adventurers' Guild".

A pebble slammed onto the table:
"Quick, get me another shot of dark beer, and once I've spent the last few copper coins, I'll go see what's going on!"

Copperbeard took a glass of wine with a huff and slammed it down in front of him:

"Consider it my treat, finish your drink and get out of here."

"Ha, Copperbeard, you're the most amiable brother I've met in the last few months! Only you're willing to buy me drinks without telling a bunch of boring, lame jokes!"

"Because I'm a dwarf too!"

Copperbeard roared, and as he watched the stone shards down the dark beer in one gulp, his face turned greenish and strange.

He immediately glanced at the pile of vomit beside the rubble and realized something was wrong:

"Damn it! Don't you dare throw up on me..."

"vomit!!!"

……

In the 'Mushroom Cellar' beneath the Golden Oak, Tang Qi, seeing that Little Dragon Iu still couldn't vomit, couldn't help but sigh:
"Still can't do it... Is [Breath] really that difficult to master?"

(End of this chapter)