Although Amberser did not offer them drinks, he tossed several Gold Coins to the Dwarf Singer.
This could be considered a generous reward, and Amberser instantly became the biggest tipper on the Dwarf Singer's list in recent years.
The little old man's eyes lit up with joy as he said respectfully, "Wow, generous Undead lord, let me sing a dirge for you."
But Amberser replied, "No need, that tip was to shut you up."
At that moment, the patrons who had been cursing just now burst into cheers.
The Dwarf Singer glared angrily at Amberser. It was a naked insult—he should've thrown the Gold Coins back in his face and scolded him loudly, but... he had given too much.
Amberser felt a surge of satisfaction. Earning money and not spending it is like having no money at all, and the feeling of being a tycoon with someone else's money was exhilarating.
Of course, Amberser didn't forget what was important. He took out another Gold Coin and handed it to the Orcish Bartender.
"I need a guide for the sewers, top-notch, and preferably quick."
Alchemy City dumped its waste Magic Potion materials directly into the sewers, and the longer it went unattended, the more mutation monsters would emerge. Once the number of monsters increased, powerful individuals would begin to surface.
If left unchecked, it's very likely that a monster could ascend to Legendary status within, and that would spell big trouble.
Moreover, the Paladins of Laine Empire had suddenly come here, and even if they say it's for training, Amberser felt there was some hidden secret. Something big must be coming up in the sewers, and if he didn't hurry, it might interfere with the progress of his experiments.
The power of money is strong, and after Amberser threw out that one Gold Coin, three distinctly different guides appeared before him as the sky was about to lighten.
Standing before Amberser were two men and a woman, whose professions could be guessed just by their attire.
"Let's see, one Thief, one Ranger, and one... young lady, are you a Druid?" Amberser asked curiously.
Both the Thief and the Ranger were suitable guides, but what was the deal with a Druid?
Although Alchemy City was welcoming to all races, Druids were an exception.
Druids revered nature, believing that everything in the world has its natural order and should not be interfered with unduly, and that the balance of all things must be maintained.
As for Alchemy City, one could tell from the creation of creatures like Mercury Slimes that these madmen were capable of anything.
These are two completely opposing beliefs. It would not be strange to call Druids and Alchemy City sworn enemies, but since Druids are few and scattered across the continent without a strong alliance, they haven't had any major conflict with Alchemy City.
However, Druids usually do not enter the vicinity of Alchemy City, even avoiding affiliated cities and strongly resist interaction with people from Alchemy City. This kind of resistance is a bit like a child saying "I won't play with you". Alchemy City, on the other hand, has never issued an edict prohibiting Druids from entering.
Regardless, the appearance of a Druid in Alchemy City is quite rare.
"That's right, I am a Druid. Don't you need a guide? I have been into the sewers of this city; I know where the most Slimes are."
This human girl looked to be about twenty years old, possessing a fit body that matched the Druid's natural and wild style quite well.
"Don't be hasty; things should be done in order of arrival. I'll talk with these two first."
The Thief elder brother was ruthless, setting a firm price of three hundred Gold Coins and only responsible for leading the way to two Slime Gathering Grounds, without any guarantee that there were actually slimes present.
"Nowadays, the sewers change daily. Although I'm certain that those two places had slimes before, it's hard to say now. Anyway, it's a flat rate of three hundred Gold Coins. I won't participate in any fights, and if there's danger, I'll make a run for it myself."
What a straightforward and shrewd contract for swindling money.
Just the fact that there's no guarantee of finding slimes is scammy enough. Maybe he'll just point to a random place, claim slimes were there once, then take the money and leave.
This type of contract is clearly a n00b trap, and Amberser couldn't even be bothered to haggle with him. This guy might be more than just a common scammer.
The second Half-Elf Ranger seemed much more upright, starting off with five hundred Gold Coins.
"Five hundred Gold Coins, and I can promise to help you find at least a hundred slimes. Of course, I can only ensure that you encounter them. The capturing is still up to you to handle. Should we run into danger, I can summon my wild beast pals to cover our retreat, but I will assess the situation and choose to evacuate if necessary, with my own safety as the top priority."
The terms were pretty reasonable, but the price was too steep.
If it's just hiring a guide, then the price is downright outrageous. Amberser's budget was two hundred Gold Coins; the discrepancy was just too big.
Amberser tried to negotiate with this ranger, but this Half-Elf, who might have Dwarven blood for all his stubbornness, would not budge a single Gold Coin after a long discussion.
"Sir, isn't it time to hear my offer?" the Druid Girl said a little anxiously.
"You're still here?" Amberser said in surprise. "You heard what I said just now, right? I'm Undead. And you, a Druid, still want to work with an Undead?"
The Druid Girl crossed her arms and said with an air of course, "Why not? Isn't Alchemy City known for being open and tolerant? When in a place, follow its rules. Druids can cooperate nicely with Undead here."
Amberser didn't buy it at all.
Undead Creatures are beings who have utterly reversed the laws of life and death, which is in direct conflict with the Druid's teachings. Amberser had been upfront about his Undead status when chatting with the other two to prevent them from coming up with some "fraud" excuse to scam money.
He had thought that this Druid Girl would have turned tail and left by now. Who would've thunk she was actually pitching herself? It was clear as day there was an ulterior motive.
Amberser could tell this Druid had some secrets, but the last thing he wanted right now was to get involved with more secrets. The more trouble he attracted, the more it would delay him.
Common sense told Amberser to reject the Druid Girl outright. However, as if she was a seer, she blurted out something he couldn't possibly refuse.
"I won't charge you a penny!"
Those words landed with a thud, each syllable striking Amberser's soul.
"What did you say?" Amberser asked incredulously.
The Druid Girl pushed the other competitors aside, leaned on the table with her hands, and said in a very assertive tone, "I said, I won't charge you. I guarantee I'll help you find plenty of slimes, and I won't run away. If there's danger, I'll cover your rear to ensure your safety."
Amberser looked at the Druid Girl, thinking, "This time I really have come across a paper-burner at a graveside––someone trying to hoodwink a ghost."
To offer guidance for free, to cover one's retreat when in danger—anyone with more brains than a slime wouldn't believe it.
You're trying to con an Undead, too? Don't be too ridiculous.