....
Far south of the town there was a ruin that has been around for a very long time, normally when it comes it ruins there would be ancient monsters or treasures around waiting to be looted but this ruin was looted ages ago by a band of bandits. They were lucky that the guardian was guarding the ruins were turned to ashes centuries ago due to old age, although the ruins didn't have anything really valuable it was already enough for a band of bandits to live their lives with comfort for 2 decades.
"Boss, these are the loot for the day." The scar-face man said as he placed a pile of alz in front of Brentan.
"These are the protection fees that you have collected today? Why is it a hundred alz short? Tell me " Brentan said as he kneaded his forehead.
"The old woman that was selling kebabs suddenly closed and was nowhere to be found, we search the town but we didn't even spot her shadows. It seems that she escaped or went into hiding." scar-face said with a terrified look on his face.
Normally when their boss is in a good mood, they can get anything they like and do what ever they want. These days he was constantly in a bad mood and it's about the failed ambush that we set to that blader that killed their brothers but the one thing that their boss was feeling bad about was that they can't even get their revenge on their brothers because the blader was a force to be reckoned with.
Even with the combined efforts of their elite members, some of them still died in the hands of the blader.
"Send 6th bro and 5th bro to find her and did the announcement that no one would mess with that blader relayed to every one?" Brentan said as he furrowed his brows.
He was on the edge lately and really want revenge for the death of his underlings, but he don't want to sacrifice more of his brothers for vengeance since it was also their fault.
"Yes boss. There were some disagreement here and there but it was immediately dissipated after I told them that it was your decision." Scar-face said with a gloomy face.
"That's all for now Galos, go and gather everyone in the hall 4 hours from now. I have an important announcement to say myself." Brentan said as he waved his hands and Galos went out of the room.
....
"You said your name was Yuan?" Jackson said with a calm face but inside he was excited a hell.
'Well who won't be excited to see the Legendary NPC Blader which costs so much to buy even with real money.'
"Yes, I'm a wandering mercenary and I have roamed these lands for a long time and know my way around it and if it is a guide you want I'm confident in my abilities." Yuan said with a smile.
'Ugh, this is Yuan? I thought she was a cool woman, there goes my expectations. I never expected her to be a cheerful one.'
"Okay, but how much do you want me to pay you?" Jackson said as he tested Yuan's purpose.
If she said that she would do it for free or as for a high price, he won't accept her even if she was one of the famous NPC's in the game.
"I only ask for a one on one fight after the job is done." Yuan said as she held out her hand, gesturing Jackson for a handshake.
'I guess it's not considered free if she has a request.' he justified himself in his thoughts.
"Interesting, you have a deal then." he said as he tried shaking Yuan's hand but was unable to shake it even a little, he just smiled and took back his hands but inside he was astonished.
If it was before he recovered his previous stats then he won't have any complaints, although he didn't put all of his stat points it was still the standard requirement to equip the 2nd highest level armor in the game it was still far from his previous strength and he already equipped his Drei Frame set and just wore a costume of the normal martialset so that people won't bother with him.
"Zac, I won't be hiring the tour guide that you have suggested and just want to hire her. Do I still have to pay?" Jackson said as he turned around to look at the receptionist who was still staring at them.
"No need, If there are no services then there will be no payment and this miss here is not of the mercenary guild so we don't have any rights to collect any payment." Zac said as he smiled, although they were a bunch of unruly people they still follow by the rules and that made them different from bandits.
Jackson was glad that Zac was a good man, he was worried since the guy has an evil looking face that he normally sees in animes in his previous world.
"Here's for my service fee, and thank you." He said as he put down a bag of alz in the table.
Zac was surprised since the guy was taking a long time looking at the list earlier while finding the lowest price for each mercenary was actually giving him a bag of alz which most likely in the thousands.
Zac accepted the alz since he didn't demand it and it was given to him by the guy. "Thanks. Here take this, it's a book I found a long time ago. I don't know what are it's uses but " he handed a book to Jackson.
'DING'
[Explorer's Journal]
Character level Restriction : 110-180
Description: A cave located in the middle of the desert where The Desert Worm stays.