After learning all this, I couldn't help but become interested in this mercenary mission.
Because it is said that the monster that accidentally invaded the nearby waters may actually be a monster that surpasses the ninth rank!
Although there is not much detailed information in the Thieves' Guild, just by being able to control so many high-level monsters, its strength is definitely not inferior to a ninth-level advanced monster.
Moreover, according to the experience of dealing with sea monsters on Dragon Island, every time a sea monster attacks, there will always be one or two powerful monster leaders. When on Dragon Island, there have been upper-rank sacred beasts.
Upper-rank sacred beasts are already beyond ordinary adult dragons, and ordinary adult dragons generally only correspond to middle-rank sacred beasts.
However, that was in the deep sea. Here, at most, it is likely to be the level of lower-rank sacred beasts. After all, in the past, there were at most only ninth-level monsters.
The magic crystal of the sacred beast is also very tempting to me. So far, I have only received one piece from Elder Dak.
Having made up my mind, I decided to stay in this small town for another two days, because the high tide was just two days away.
Anyway, Elder Ruth just asked me to get the Dragon Crystal, and didn't say when. Moreover, the Dragon Crystal is extremely hard and impossible to destroy. At most, it can only be used as a magic crystal when embedded in weapons or armor.
Since I decided not to leave immediately, I started leisurely drinking and carefully feeling the difference between here and the bars on Earth.
I don't have any aversion to the hustle and bustle of the bar, but the presence of many mercenaries with knives and swords gave me a completely different feeling.
Several licentious dancers danced wildly among the crowd, not caring at all about the mercenaries' hands touching their bodies, and the mercenaries cheered warmly from time to time.
Several busy girls were carrying trays shuttling through the crowd, occasionally jokingly scolding the customers who were wiping oil.
The boss is an old goblin. Goblins are a cowardly and weak race. They are generally small in stature, with dark skin and dark green long hair. They look ugly but have elf-like pointed long ears. It is said that in ancient times, goblins were a branch of the elf race.
Every goblin is a good businessman. If it weren't for their innate cowardly nature, they would undoubtedly be the richest race on the continent.
Sitting alone in the corner, I listened boredly to the boasting of several old mercenaries next to me, and laughed at their inexplicable excitement for killing a middle-rank monster in the past. However, their colorful life as mercenaries slowly attracted me.
Every old mercenary is a warrior who has experienced hundreds of battles and a knowledgeable traveler. Their footsteps cover the world, and I secretly decided to apply to become a mercenary later.
Opening the map just purchased from the Thieves' Guild, I checked my current location.
This map is very detailed, and I couldn't help but admire it when I saw it. It not only describes the terrain and topography in detail but also marks the sphere of influence of various countries. It even indicates which territories belong to which lords, and some cities' masters are also detailed.
However, its price of one hundred gold coins also deeply reflects the point that "good goods are not cheap."
Looking at the map, I found that the city where I am now is located in the small country of Carlanga, which is the territory of Duke William, known as the William family. I wonder if it is because I am in this city that the marking of the small town on the map is particularly detailed.
According to the above mark, the lord of the small town is the second son of Duke William, Chahar William. It is because the small town has been attacked by monsters for a long time that the duke will send his second son here to take on the responsibility of guarding.
Just as I was leisurely drinking in the bar and listening to the mercenaries around me talking excitedly, there were a few people in the lord's mansion speculating about my strength. These people were the old wizard who sent me into the city, the swordsman Mark, the lady owner of the equipment store Mrs. William, and the lord of the small town, Chahar William.
"Good! With these equipment made of monster skins, not only can we greatly enhance the reputation of our equipment store, but we can also greatly improve our strength, making it more certain for us to resist the monster attack on the city." The old wizard laughed happily.
"It's a pity that he only sold the skins and didn't sell the magic crystals together. Otherwise, it would have been much more helpful to us." Mrs. William said regretfully.
"Being human, one must not be too greedy, and the same goes for business; one should never be insatiable. It's already our good fortune that he sold us so much leather."
The old man cast a displeased glance at Mrs. William.
"Yes, father. I'm just a bit regretful; it's not like I have any ulterior motives," Mrs. William replied softly.
"Could that Dragon Cold also be a mercenary who took on the mercenary mission?" Lord William exclaimed eagerly.
"If he's the one who killed these monsters himself, then he might be a grand swordsman or even a Sword Saint-level expert. With his help, our chances of resisting this monster attack would be much greater."
"I believe he should have the strength of a Sword Saint. Just a simple glance from him gave me the feeling that my spirit was being taken away. Even if he's only an upper-rank grand swordsman, he definitely shouldn't make me, a lower-rank grand swordsman, feel this way," Mark affirmed.
The old man asked in surprise, "Are you saying that this Edmund who declined my invitation is that young man? I couldn't sense his strength at all. Could he have already surpassed me? How could someone so young possess such great strength?"
"I'm sure it must be him. Even if it's not, that young man is definitely not simple. At the time, I didn't think much of it and assumed it was just my momentary carelessness that startled me. But now, thinking back, I was full of anger, and my fighting spirit was almost running through my whole body. Yet, I was scared by him, which can only mean his strength is definitely superior to mine," Mark asserted.
"Yes, Dragon Lonely is indeed a young man with deep blue hair and eyes. Ah! The swordsman's attire he wore, I'm sure it's made of the skin of at least an eighth-level monster. I actually misjudged him! It was his elegant demeanor that made me forget to notice his attire," Mrs. William recalled with certainty.
"That must be him. I didn't expect to misjudge him either. At the time, I just found him quite interesting. It seems he really hasn't traveled the continent before. When he entered the city, he probably couldn't even pay the city gate tax! I should find an opportunity to see if I can get to know him. If we could have such a master in our family, it would be a wonderful thing!" the old man enthused.
"Father, I'll immediately send someone to find out where he lives," the lord said decisively.
"Yes, as long as we know where he lives, that's enough. Don't take any other action. Tomorrow, I'll find time to personally meet him and gauge his intentions. Even if we can't recruit him into our family, we should establish a relationship with him," the old man said sternly, then turned to Mrs. William and said, "Send word that from now on, anyone related to the William family's properties must treat him as an honored guest. Any branch store that neglects him will be severely punished."
"Yes," the couple replied respectfully to the old man.
Ignoring the plans of the William family, I had originally intended to find an inn to stay in. Unexpectedly, due to the influx of mercenaries into the small town, all the inns inside were fully booked. Even if there were occasional vacant rooms, they had already been reserved by others. After circling around, I surprisingly couldn't find a place to stay.
Actually, not having a place to stay was just a minor inconvenience for me. After all, I had been meditating all along, and sleeping had been a thing of the past for years. So I didn't mind at all and decided not to look for another guest room, heading straight for the Mercenaries Guild instead.
Inside the Mercenaries Guild was a crowded hall, bustling with people.
On the front wall of the hall was a huge blackboard. I curiously looked at the words written on the blackboard.
1st: S-Rank Mission — Search for the Blood of the Undead Phoenix.
Find the Flame Cave in the majestic Idara Mountains and kill the Undead Phoenix inside to obtain its blood.
Reward: 100,000 Purple Gold Coins and the title of Bright Knight from the Holy See.
Time Limit: 224 years.
2nd: S-Rank Mission — Threat of the Poisonous Dragon Amo Didi.
The greedy Poisonous Dragon Amo Didi periodically raids villages on the border of the Salat Empire. Great warriors! Go help the innocent villagers and kill the evil dragon.
Mission Item: Dragon Crystal.
Reward: 100,000 Purple Gold Coins and the title of Count from the Salat Empire.
Time Limit: 220 years.
3rd: S-Rank Mission — Exploration of the Death Forest.
The Death Forest located on the border between the ancient Gus Empire and the Os Empire greatly obstructs the commercial development of both countries. Adventurers, go explore the terrifying Death Forest and uncover its mysterious veil!
Mission Items: Map of the Death Forest and Death Crystals.
Reward: 80,000 Purple Crystals and the title of Count from the ancient Gus Empire and the Os Empire.
Mission Time: 180 years.
From top to bottom on the blackboard were S and A-Rank missions that hadn't been completed for a long time. Looking at these missions, even with my current abilities, I wasn't confident that I could actually complete them.
You see, by the time you get there, dealing with just one sacred beast isn't as simple as it seems. In the sphere of influence of sacred beast powers, monsters are directly or indirectly controlled.
Under the siege of a large number of high-level monsters, it's not easy to deal with sacred beasts.
No wonder these missions have been around for hundreds of years and still haven't been completed by anyone.
"Register as a mercenary," I finally managed to reach the counter and said to the beautiful young girl inside.