There was no doubt that this proud veteran thief, "Quick Hand", indeed had an excellent strength that matched his pride.
But Gerrard did not simply accept his suggestion and chose to work with him.
Experienced adventurers all knew that the first thing involved in the choice of teammates was not their strength, but their character.
Adventurers' teammates often needed to help each other and sometimes should also entrust one's life to each other. If the teammates were a bit weak, then it would be okay if you carefully selected tasks with smaller profits and risks. But if your teammates had a terrible character, it was simply a tragedy!
Similarly, when Sui Xiong played teamed games before his space travel, it didn't matter whether the teammates' level was a bit lower, but what he feared most was that they cheated him. The so-called saying of "no fraternity after any plot against companion" had even become a famous allusion.
Although Gerrard had never heard of such things as "black equipment", as an experienced adventurer, he would never make mistakes that only novices would make. He would rather not let in teammates whose characters had not been clarified!
"Please check the mission record of this Mr. Ryan, 'Quick Hand', for me." He said to the waitress of the Association of Adventurers, "Check how many missions he has taken, how many teams he has joined in, how he gets along with his teammates and has he completed the missions?"
Ryan's eyes slightly narrowed and flashed a glimmer of coldness.
At the first glance, the young giant seemed to be innocent, but he was not as honest as his appearance seemed to be. He was unexpectedly sophisticated, which made him feel that things were a bit complex.
Although he had been prepared so that he would not let his flaws be spotted in terms of these things. However, when encountering a cautious opponent, he was a bit worried whether the original plans could be successfully implemented.
The young waitress soon returned from the file room with a piece of worn document.
The document clearly showed: Ryan, nicknamed "Quick Hand", is extremely smart. He is not only one of the top pickpockets, but also good at tricks, traps, moving stealthily and fighting. He has repeatedly participated in well-known adventure teams and assisted teammates to successfully complete their tasks. With an outstanding performance, considered among the most powerful thieves in the four towns. Retired about twenty years ago and came back six months ago for unknown reasons, with a declined fighting capacity but superb skills still."
Gerrard looked carefully at the document, which was a special service provided by the Association of Adventurers. A document was made for every adventurer when they registered and accepted tasks. This document was the most reliable proof when needed.
According to this document, Ryan was very reliable but Gerrard was still a bit worried for no reason, except out of mere intuition.
"My predecessor Ryan, you had earned enough money twenty years ago and retired, so how come you have come back?" He asked.
Ryan kept silent for a moment, bowed his head and sighed deeply, but said nothing.
Not far away, a group of middle-aged adventurers were drinking, among whom was a gossipy man who told others the reason. "He did that just for his son! That bastard is badly educated, as he provoked a powerful man and was cursed by a very powerful curse. In order to withdraw the curse, he not only owed his old acquaintances a big debt of favor but also owed a lot of money. He had no solution. As Gerrard's hands had not begun shivering, he began to try hard to earn some money."
Gerrard was surprised. He turned around and looked, but found that Ryan did not deny it. He only had a bitter look, showing a desolation that a hero had when he was old.
He must be a mighty man previously as he was able to leave the description "strongest" in the documents of the Association of Adventurers. Who dared to hurt his family when he was in his prime! Now, however, he had to use up all his money to save his son and because of that, he owed money to others. That was why he, at an old age, had to come back to lead an adventurer's life again which was full of danger. This was not only desolate but also extremely abject.
Gerrard also noticed that Ryan's record of completing missions during the past six months was hardly worth mentioning. In other words, he had not been able to find some decent jobs despite his return to his hometown.
During these days, he was under considerable pressure!
Thinking of this, Gerrard, who had also been so desolate, could not help but also sighed deeply. He patted the shoulders of the old thief.
"Do not worry, everything will turn out alright!"
Ryan nodded and forced a laugh, "I usually wait here for some work. If you are ready, please come and call me, as I am ready to go."
"I do not think you are like a rookie. So I won't explain what we need to prepare before we leave."
Saying this, he walked to an empty table next to him, sat there still and did not even order a glass of wine.
Gerrard was silent for a moment and turned away.
Now he already had teammates, so preparing for things that they needed for leaving was the last thing to do.
"Be careful!" Sounded Sui Xiong's voice in his heart, "Although I could feel that these people are not lying, don't you think things are odd?"
Gerrard was shocked, it was the first time that he had ever seen that Oscar, His Majesty, hesitated. It was like he went to a Korean net bar to watch a practice game participated by a professional player of electronic games, whom he worshiped, but saw his idol disastrously defeated by a game commentator from China.
At the moment, the whole person was not good.
"Your Majesty...I will be more careful..."
Sui Xiong nodded and yawned, not going further into this topic.
The wind was too warm and the sun was too bright. He was sleepy and half awake.
Gerrard went to prepare for things needed for adventures, which were primarily equipment for camping, the underground cave items, and a variety of consumables.
The three space bags seized from Cavalry of Orcs and Wolves were very helpful, so he purchased foods that were sufficient for ten people to eat for two months at a stretch and filled out the three space bags.
As for the commonly-used syrup for treatment and detoxification, as well as a low-level magic scroll, he didn't buy much of these things because of their high prices. Although he had made a fortune, he was still a poor man himself and did not to spend money like water.
After buying consumables, he went to the smith again. The dwarf "Wrought Iron" had been there for a short while. This dwarf who had promised to make a weapon for him was helping to cast some simple ironwork to restore his feeling as a blacksmith. When Gerrard visited him, he said he had not fully recovered and could not create a satisfactory weapon for the time being. He could only make one of inferior quality.
Of course, Gerrard did not oppose it. An object of inferior quality made by a dwarf was, in fact, a good weapon. At least, it was enough for normal use.
Dwarves were not inherently good at iron forging, but they generally had a strong body and were more adapted to high temperature, which was a good foundation for the craftsmanship of a blacksmith. In addition, the dwarves' average life expectancy was almost double that of humans, which meant that young dwarves had more time to hone their skills and older masters could teach more apprentices throughout their lives.
Because of these reasons in all aspects, his golden reputation of "objects forged by dwarves will be a boutique" was formed.
Wrought Iron was not old because a dwarf at an age of not more than fifty years was still considered young. His iron forging skills could only be considered good. Compared with ordinary human blacksmiths, he had greater strength. He was able to forge more fine ironwork, close in texture, and create more solid weapons. He had not been able to grasp the brilliant skills that really required years to be developed.
What he built for Gerrard was a huge tomahawk, with its axe handle being built with a whole log. Before it was finally finished, it had been peeled, burned and carefully polished and it had been wrapped in animal skins to ensure that it was held firmly in my hand. The core of the axe was made of wrought iron, while the blade was made of exceptionally sharp baotou steel.
"In fact, I should first have built the core of the axe with steel and then wrapped it with iron so that it could transmit force better," Wrought Iron said with some regret, "But it would take quite a lot of time to make that kind of tomahawk. As you seemed very anxious, make do with it please."
Gerrard paid 1,300 gold coins for this axe, 400 gold coins for the purchase of the wrought iron, 600 gold coins for the steel, 100 gold coins for the log, 100 gold coins for consumables such as charcoal, and the last 100 gold coins for paying the craftsmen's wage.
However, Wrought Iron took nothing from that money. He only told Gerrard to use this axe to kill more evils.
"When you fight, also kill some on my behalf," Wrought Iron said.
When Gerrard left the smith, he had already put on a solid coat made of canvas. A special solid leather belt formed a hook on his back which enabled him to carry that ridiculously huge tomahawk easily on his back, not hindering his movement at all.
The tomahawk weighed almost two thousands kilograms, which was terrifying. When it was being wielded, even giant dragons had to evade it. It was also rare to see any giants known to have such unique strength who could actually use such a heavy weapon. However, its weight appeared appropriate in the hands of Gerrard; neither too heavy to make him inflexible nor too light to make it difficult for him to exert force. It was just appropriate.
When Gerrard returned to the Association of Adventurers with this giant tomahawk, everyone there was dumbfounded. Some young adventurers could not help but approach him and talk to him, just to take a closer look at this huge and unheard-of weapon.
"With this one, you can even launch a fight against a dragon!"
"Are you kidding me? What is it like to 'launch a fight against'? Anything will be half-dead once cut by this axe, even a dragon!"
"A large portion of a city wall may also subside once hit by the blunt side of this axe...No wonder the giant is called 'a living city-sieging vehicle', it's that they are really too powerful!"
"If I had this power, how wonderful would it be!"
"Stop dreaming. If you were as powerful as him, then I'm afraid you couldn't have had food sufficient for three days even when you had sold all your belongings..."
Amid laughter and blessings, Gerrard handed the bar attendant several gold coins, saying loudly, "Will you raise your glasses and wish me luck?"
Amid laughter and blessings, he left the Association of Adventurers with Palin who was a bit dizzy because of reading, and Ryan who was unsociable and eccentric. Then they set off towards the secret place where Cavalry of Orcs and Wolves secretly hid their treasures by referring to the place that Sui Xiong sought from the memory of "Bloody Hand" Ruhr.