Ark Undead

The blond, red-eyed, silly dog ​​lowered its head in grievance.

But that thing looks really good!

Volume Three: Traveller's Tale of Terra

Volume Three: Traveller's Tale of Terra

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59. The Strange Bounty Hunter

In February, the chill of winter still lingers.

It was still deep winter in the villages near Shelag.

In this country covered in snow all year round, it is common for snowfall to even close mountains and roads.

Therefore, the people living in Shelag also habitually refer to their beloved homeland as "Snowy Land".

They believe in gods and have their own religious culture.

And it seems that precisely because of the existence of the god they speak of, Sherag has hardly suffered from natural disasters.

Therefore, Sherag became one of the few nations on Terra that did not rely on mobile cities for survival.

It is precisely because of the existence of religious culture and the weather that snows all year round.

This has resulted in limited communication between Shelag and the outside world, and the cities and villages here are still in a less developed stage.

Fortunately, in recent years, a company called Karan Trading has emerged, bringing more advanced technology and home appliances from the outside world to Shelag, which is gradually changing the status quo of Shelag.

But this small village called Youquan still retains a relatively primitive atmosphere.

Wood and stone bricks are almost everything that makes up the village's buildings.

Thick layers of snow covered the rooftops and the ground, and anyone wanting to move around the streets had to endure knee-deep snow to get through the village.

ding ding ding...

The wooden door was opened, and the bells hanging on the roof beam were whipped up by the wind and snow blowing in from outside, making a crisp sound.

A traveler returned from afar. After closing the door, he took off his hat, shook off the snowflakes, and placed it on the bar table.

Pulling over a stool, the traveler rubbed his hands together, then exhaled with a trembling breath.

"A cup of hot milk tea, remember to add two drops of sesame oil. And a serving of stewed meat, please."

Would you like some cheese?

"Double."

He placed a few coins on the table and pushed them towards the owner across the bar.

The boss counted the items, then turned and called out twice to the inner room.

He then lifted the lid of the iron bucket next to him, and steam and aroma wafted out, causing the visiting travelers to sniff.

Hot milk tea is poured into wooden cups and served on the bar.

"This is unbelievable! The snowstorm today is exceptionally strong; it almost buried me outside!"

Halfway through his sentence, the traveler picked up the hot milk tea and, without even blowing on it, drank half of it in one gulp.

"ha..."

He sighed contentedly, then half-closed his eyes, revealing an expression of extreme enjoyment.

"Honestly, without your hot milk tea and stewed meat, I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. I might even freeze to death outside."

"Come on, no matter how much you try to please me, I won't give you the slightest discount."

The innkeeper turned around with a smile, placed a plate of stew in front of the traveler, and then, right in front of him, threw two pieces of cheese from the side of the plate into the stew.

"Here, two pieces."

"Hahaha! I'll start eating now!"

The traveler rubbed his hands together, sucked back the saliva that almost spilled out, picked up the spoon next to him, scooped up a piece of meat, and put it in his mouth.

The originally tough chunks of meat have become very tender after being stewed for a long time. They can be easily mixed with the broth with a gentle bite.

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.

The traveler picked up the bowl of stew in front of him, drank every last drop of the broth, then put down the bowl and spoon, slumped on the bar, and sighed contentedly.

On such a cold winter day, enjoying a bowl of steaming stew and finishing with a cup of hot milk tea is the most beloved way for the people of Shelag to enjoy themselves.

The wind and snow were kept out by the house, and the stove inside warmed the air, making it easy to fall asleep as long as you stayed in a place with some support for a while.

But the traveler clearly had other things to do; he sniffed and pulled a letter from his pocket.

Here, this is what you wanted.

The traveler placed the letter on the table. It was already late at night, and there was no one else in the shop, so there was no need to worry about the matter being discovered.

"Um..."

The innkeeper picked up the letter on the table, skillfully put it in the counter, and then took out a money bag from the cabinet next to him.

He didn't need to verify its authenticity; the lacquered seal on the envelope spoke for itself.

In the country of Shelag, no one would forge His seal, because no one would dare to do so.

"This is your reward. Take a good rest before the heavy snow stops. You'll have a lot to do afterward."

The innkeeper checked the amount in the purse again, then tossed it to the traveler and refilled his cup with hot milk tea.

"Thank you."

The traveler took the cup, held it in his hands, and enjoyed the slightly hot temperature, as if his palms were soaking in a hot spring, which dispelled the last bit of chill.

"Speaking of which, how's business at your place lately?"

The traveler didn't rush off after receiving the money pouch; he didn't need to work that night anyway. He could steal a moment of leisure before finishing his cup of hot milk tea.

"The heavy snow has blocked the way and erased all traces, so business must be good, right?"

The traveler curiously leaned against the bar, getting a little closer to the manager.

“You know I’m not talking about the hotel business, old Seto.”

"Since you already know, why ask when you already know the answer?"

The shopkeeper, known as Seto, glanced at the traveler in front of him; this guy couldn't stop talking once he had a moment to spare.

"The heavy snow has blocked the roads, but business is booming. I'm raking in commissions non-stop, but I don't really have anywhere to spend them."

Yes, this is not just an inn, but also a mission point that provides quests and rewards to passing bounty hunters.

Bounty hunters will also see the notices posted on the bulletin board inside the store.

Bounty hunters are typically focused on finding treasure. But these days, where are there so many treasures for bounty hunters to slowly search for? As a result, many bounty hunters have become mercenaries who travel between regions.

They continued their work of murder and robbery, and occasionally helped protect goods and escort people.

In short, as long as you have money and they have a reward to receive, they will do everything they can to complete the task.

The heavy snow that blocked the mountains buried all traces of their actions. Now was the perfect time for murder and robbery.

Those bounty hunters with exceptional physical abilities also choose to make a good profit during this season, and then leave Sherag two months later when the snow gradually stops to look for business elsewhere.

"In the past few days, I've increased the commission percentage by five percent. That's the norm at this time of year."

Old Setu's lips curled up slightly; it was clear he had made a considerable amount of money.

"Fifteen percent? You're really ruthless."

The traveler took a sip of hot milk tea and savored the lingering milky aroma in his mouth.

"Is there anything worth talking about?"

"Hmph, something worth talking about? Banga, you know my rules."

Old Setu snorted coldly, clearly displeased with Banga's words.

While Old Seto certainly rips people off, his methods justify the price. Neither the employer nor the bounty hunter ever breaks the rules by leaking information to either side.

Besides, there are already plenty of orders at this time of year. Bounty hunters take on more orders and earn more, so they won't care about the extra 5% that Old Seto takes.

"Rules are rules, and people are people. Besides, I didn't expect to learn those things from you."

Banga smiled ingratiatingly, then added a couple more sentences.

"Just say whatever you can say, I'm really bursting with pent-up emotions. I can't go on like this without talking!"

He hadn't had a proper conversation with anyone in far too long. For a chatterbox like him, it was a disaster.

He had been traveling back and forth for almost half a month for this business trip. At this time of year, even delivering a letter could earn him a considerable amount of money.

Otherwise, the traveler wouldn't have made this trip for old Seto.

"Hey, there really is."

Old Setu thought for a moment, then nodded, scooped up a spoonful of hot milk tea for himself, and began talking to Banga in front of him as he drank it.

"Two days after you left, a strange guy came."

"Strange guy?"

Banga immediately became interested. Old Setu had been doing this for decades, and someone whom Old Setu called a strange guy must be extraordinary.

"Tell me more about it?"

Old Seto picked up a piece of cheese, took a bite, and chewed it for a long time, making Banga's teeth itch with anticipation.

He slowly swallowed it before opening his mouth.

"He's a bounty hunter, and he looks like one, but he doesn't take any money."

"It's free?"

Banga's eyes widened.

"There are bounty hunters who don't get paid? What do they need then?"