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Chapter 220 : Reaching Cooperation
Chapter 220: Reaching Cooperation
Perhaps catching the suspicion in Gauss’s eyes, the dwarf Soren also realized that what he said didn’t sound quite right, and he quickly waved his hands.
「Oi oi! Dragonborn lad, what kind of look is that! I, Soren·Shan Bronze, am a proper Five-star Adventurer, I only do legal work! Misdeeds like that, I’d never commit!」
He hurriedly explained.
At the side, the female mage Nancy let out a sigh.
Ě_nûm а̇
「This isn’t the place for chatting. If you’re interested, come find us later at the Silver Flower Tavern on the north side of town. We’re staying there for now.」
「We’ll still be in Canopy Town for a few days, no rush to leave just yet.」
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Soren quickly nodded in agreement: 「Right, right, right!」
「Alright.」
Gauss watched the three of them turn and leave, Soren still speaking loudly at Nancy.
He turned to exchange glances with Arya and Serandur.
Ê n̂üm а
「Have you ever heard of the Ironheart Clan?」 Gauss asked.
Just earlier, when entering the second floor, he had overheard other adventurers discussing Soren’s background.
「Mm, I’ve heard of them.」 Arya nodded, organized her thoughts a little, then recalled the information in her mind as she spoke. 「The Ironheart Clan is quite famous even among the Dwarven Kingdom. They’ve been rooted for generations in a mountain called Molten Iron Peak. Because of this, they are extremely skilled in using volcanic environments and rare materials for forging. The equipment they produce is priceless.」
「This is the first time I’ve met a dwarf from the Ironheart Clan myself.」
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Gauss nodded.
Earlier, Soren and his companions hadn’t left a bad impression.
Ѐn̄ ūm̈а́.
Of course, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that they were acting in front of him, but if that were the case, their acting would be extraordinarily convincing.
「Their reputation in both the forging world and among adventurers is solid.」 Serandur added in his raspy voice. 「I’ve visited a few border markets in the Dwarven Kingdom. The Ironheart Clan’s name carried weight. Their credibility is good. At least on the surface, I’ve never heard of any treachery.」
Serandur paused.
「And that Soren·Shan Bronze—his surname, Shan Bronze, is not a simple one. In dwarven clans that place utmost importance on heritage and forging, to bear the name of such a rare and mysterious metal means his direct family background is anything but ordinary.」
Shan Bronze…
?
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Gauss couldn’t help but recall a description of the material he once read in a book.
It was a special magical metal, its sheen like molten gold. Once solidified, it was far harder than ordinary steel, and possessed fine affinity with magical energy, able to perfectly bear and amplify enchantments. It was an extremely rare forging material, more precious than gold itself. Usually, only in the deepest layers of ancient veins could it be found in small quantities.
Other rare minerals included Blackiron, Adamantine, and Mithril...
「A dwarf with such a surname is almost the equivalent of a noble in human society. They usually hold family honor and credibility dearer than life itself.」
「Understood.」
Gauss nodded, his doubts eased slightly.
Е̂ ǹ üm а̃.і̆ d
「Then we should make time to visit the Silver Flower Tavern and learn more about the situation.」
Whether to accept the invitation or not would depend on what information they gathered.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
They walked out of the Adventurer’s Guild building.
At the entrance, Gauss scanned the crowd a few more times.
After confirming that the prickling sense of being watched was no longer there, he raised his brows.
He led Arya and Serandur toward the inn.
Ӗ ň u̇ mа̌ .ì d
It wasn’t until noon that Andini, who had been summoned to a meeting, returned to the inn with an unhurried stride.
When she pushed open Gauss’s room door, the three of them were seated around a small table, a rough map of Canopy Town and notes spread across it.
Andini pulled down her robe’s hood, found an empty spot, hopped onto it, and casually grabbed a washed fruit from the table, taking a bite.
「Senior Andini, how was the meeting?」 Gauss handed her a glass of water.
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「Just some officials bickering.」 Andini yawned. 「But two things were basically confirmed.」
「First, this monster disturbance wasn’t only aimed at Outpost Eleven—several other outposts were hit too. Second, the provincial capital will be sending reinforcements.」
Е n̊_u m̈ а̂.іd̂
「You three youngsters need to be especially careful while moving around the area these days.」
Andini stretched lazily.
「Got it.」
「Oh, right, Gauss. I might be leaving tomorrow.」 she suddenly said.
「Tomorrow? Something urgent?」 Gauss asked, surprised.
From what Andini had said before, she should be on a leisurely journey without pressing matters.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
「No helping it, I accepted a commission.」 Andini shook her head.
「Sorry, can’t reveal the details of the job.」
Though she tried to look troubled, the curve of her lips betrayed her.
Clearly, the employer had offered a reward too tempting to refuse.
Although Andini had officially retired from adventuring, retirement didn’t mean total detachment from conflict and adventure.
When the reward was lucrative enough, this powerful halfling mage still chose to occasionally stretch her limbs, a way to add more to her retirement savings.
Enũm̌ ӑ
「No problem, if you have business, go ahead.」 Gauss inclined his head, showing understanding.
Their meeting had only been a coincidence. To have enjoyed her protection for a while was already fortunate—he couldn’t expect her to follow them around like a nanny.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Adventuring was always accompanied by encounters and farewells. On the road, one made new friends and parted from old ones. Such was the norm.
Andini looked at the three. Though she hadn’t spent as much time with Arya and Serandur as with Gauss, after fighting side by side at the outpost, she still felt somewhat reluctant to part.
She rummaged through her storage pouch, then pulled out three small pendants strung on silver chains, tossing them over.
「Here.」 She spoke casually. 「A farewell gift—one-use, trigger-type short-range teleportation charms. Crush them to activate a protective barrier, and afterward you’ll be teleported randomly within a few hundred meters. Not expensive trinkets, but should come in handy.」
Е n ũm а
「This…」 Gauss hesitated. 「This seems too valuable.」
The item didn’t sound cheap. Compared to the teleportation scrolls Gauss had acquired before—which consumed spells and required a steady channeling state—these charms only needed to be crushed to work, with the added bonus of generating a protective barrier.
Not the worthless trinket she made it out to be.
「Take them.」 Andini insisted, guiding the charms to fall before them. 「Next time we meet, I want all of you alive.」
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「Then… thank you, Senior.」 Gauss carefully put the charm away.
「Thank you, Senior.」 Arya and Serandur followed suit.
Ѐ ṅ um.а
「It’s nothing.」
While she was still around, Gauss asked her about Soren, including the suspicious invitation.
「You can go check it out this afternoon. Most dwarven brothers are trustworthy. If you feel uneasy, you can come back and consult me—I’ll still be here until tomorrow morning.」
Andini lingered a little longer in Gauss’s room, mainly to remind them of things to stay cautious about during adventuring.
「Alright, I’ve said what needed to be said.」
She hopped off the chair and waved casually.
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「I’ll head back to my room to pack.」
Watching Andini’s small figure disappear into the corridor, Gauss resumed the discussion with his companions.
「Let’s prepare too. To the Silver Flower Tavern, let’s see what this is really about.」
After lunch, the afternoon slipped by.
After asking some locals for directions, the three arrived before a secluded building.
They pushed the door open.
Е̌n̊ u m̊а
The tavern inside was quiet and refined.
After giving Soren’s name, they were soon guided by a waiter to the private booth reserved by his team.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Soren sat there, and though it was daytime, several empty jugs already sat on the table—clearly, he’d had a round already.
His cheeks were flushed, but his eyes were clear, showing little drunkenness.
Truly dwarves were a race that could drink strong liquor like water.
When he saw the three of them, Soren immediately stood up energetically from the booth, his booming voice greeting them: 「Hahaha! Dragonborn lad! You’re here, come, sit, sit!」
W ё b̈ nо̆ v ѐ l̀ .Е̃n ũ mă
「Miss Waitress, bring my friends more drinks—the finest fruit wine, ale—put it on my tab!」
His face was flushed, but his words came out clear.
Still, perhaps due to the alcohol, his familiarity grew even stronger.
「Soren, skip the drinks. We still have business to handle in the daytime.」 Gauss waved the waiter away and found a seat on the cushioned bench with his companions.
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「Hahaha, fair enough, business comes first!」 Soren didn’t insist. He glanced at the mage Nancy across the table.
Nancy understood. Her slender white fingers tapped lightly in the air, muttering a short, rapid incantation under her breath.
Ѐn u m̄ а.і d
Soon, a faintly distorted transparent rhombus-shaped barrier appeared, quietly enclosing the booth and isolating sound inside and out.
「Alright, now it’s convenient to talk.」 Soren nodded in satisfaction.
The short but sturdy dwarf leaned back into the soft seat, his expression turning serious.
「Dragonborn la… Gauss, and these two…」
「Arya, Serandur.」 Gauss briefly introduced them.
「Then I’ll get straight to the point.」
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He pushed the jug and cup aside, tapping the tabletop with his thick fingers.
「The “big job” I want to invite you to join is the exploration of some ruins.」
「Ruins?」 Gauss repeated. That was far more proper than the possibilities he had imagined.
「That’s right.」 Soren instinctively lowered his voice. 「It’s a location marked in the records of our Ironheart Clan. It lies somewhere within the Emerald Forest. In the past, the area was crawling with monsters, so we never had the chance to go.」
「But with the recent incident at the outpost, the upheaval among monsters in the Emerald Forest has shifted their nesting grounds.」
Nancy added from the side: 「More precisely, it’s likely a lost dwarven forge once belonging to a forgotten branch of the ancient Dwarven Kingdom. It could hold unique forging knowledge or completed weapons.」
Е nu_m̊ӓ
「Dwarves in the forest?」 Gauss interrupted with suspicion, judging the credibility of the intel.
Dwarves usually lived deep within mountains, caves, volcanoes, or mines—since their lives depended on forging and smelting. A forest hardly fit.
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「That was long, long ago. Our ancestors’ footprints spanned the continent. To seek rare ores and geothermal fire, they established forges in places you’d never imagine. Back then, this land wasn’t even forest.」
Gauss turned to Arya, who gave a light nod.
「So? Interested?」 Soren leaned forward, his eyes glittering with the dwarves’ innate passion for weapons and precious ores. 「Think about it, Gauss—a dwarven forge forgotten for countless years, possibly preserving lost forging techniques. Even without that, finding completed weapons, Shan Bronze ingots, or unique alloys would be a fortune. And, you would gain the friendship of the Shan Bronze family of the Ironheart Clan. Visit our homeland one day, and I’ll even give you discounts on weapon forging.」
Gauss didn’t answer immediately. He tapped the table absently, weighing risks and rewards.
Е̌n u m а̃
Both were obvious.
For him, though his strength wasn’t fully revealed, he knew he could fight on par with higher ranks if he went all out—something the others didn’t know.
「Why us?」 He looked up, asking bluntly. 「You’re a Five-star party. Exploring a known ruin hardly seems like something you’d need low-level adventurers like us for.」
He couldn’t rest easy without an answer.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
「Good question.」 Soren wasn’t offended, even nodding approvingly.
「First, the ruin is ancient. No one knows what lies inside. Unexpected dangers might arise. Gauss, you’re both a spellcaster and a capable melee fighter—such flexibility is precious in unknown environments.」
Е nu m̂ а̇ . id
「Second, the journey to the ruin isn’t near. We’ll face many monsters along the way. Our team only has three people—we want to be well-prepared. Your combat power isn’t that of an ordinary Tier 3 adventurer. We saw your strength that night.」
「Being too humble is just another kind of pride.」
「Lastly, we trust your character.」 Soren’s tone turned solemn. 「That night at the outpost, you escorted weaker adventurers and soldiers to safety. Not every adventurer would have done that. I don’t want powerful teammates who might stab me in the back.」
「Besides, I’m not after money. I just want to recover our ancestors’ lost craft.」
He tapped his temple. 「I, Soren, rarely misjudge people. You lot are reliable.」
Although Arya and Serandur seemed weaker, adventuring wasn’t just about levels. Special professions or skills could prove vital at key moments.
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「I understand.」 Gauss nodded. 「Let me discuss with my companions first.」
Though he sensed Soren’s sincerity, decisions like this needed the team’s consent.
The three quickly used Message to converse.
Soren and his team didn’t interrupt.
After a while, Gauss looked up again, his expression serious.
「We’ll need a more detailed plan.」
Ẇе́b̆n̂ o v е́ l Е_n̆ u m а̃
「Hahaha, good.」 Soren laughed heartily at his reply.
Nancy soon produced a map, spreading it across the table.
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「It’s an old map, the terrain may have changed...」
After discussion, the two parties finalized arrangements:
The route, possible monsters, preparations required, and most importantly—the division of spoils.
The forging knowledge would belong to Soren’s team, while all other gains would be split evenly.
W̌ ё b.n̂ ö ṽ el̇ Ě ň um̌ а̌
Soren cared most about the forging techniques. To him, other rewards were just extras.
For Gauss’s group, this was a generous deal.
Once the details were settled, Nancy lightly dispelled the barrier. The tavern’s ambient sounds returned.
She turned to Gauss.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
「We still need to wait for our channels to confirm monster activity in the Emerald Forest. Once the timing is right, we’ll inform you immediately.」
「Alright.」 Gauss studied her, realizing further that this party wasn’t ordinary.
Webṅо̇ v̌ё l̄ Е̌ ǹům̆ a
With the deal struck, Soren cheered, climbed onto his chair, slung an arm around Gauss’s shoulder, and called for more drinks. This time, Gauss didn’t refuse.
After drinking a little, he and his team bid farewell and left the Silver Flower Tavern.
Watching Gauss and his companions vanish at the end of the road,
the priest Elton, who had barely spoken, withdrew his gaze and looked to Soren with confusion.
He didn’t open his mouth, but his voice carried silently between the three of them: 「Is he really as strong as you say?」
「Mm.」 Soren patted the small bulge at the back of his head. 「Don’t underestimate my second brain.」
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「After that close contact, it told me there’s a terrifying power hidden inside him.」
Nancy calmly nodded, thought flickering in her eyes.
「Let’s hope everything goes smoothly. My birds have already spotted several major tribes moving in the Emerald Forest. Word is, the Xavier family’s youngest son had an accident at Outpost Eleven. The unrest may only worsen.」
「We must cleanse that corruption as foretold, and soon.」 Nancy’s tone hardened.
「Prophecies—do they still hold meaning? You prophesize, I prophesize your prophecy… this world is already chaos.」 Soren blew at his beard and sighed.
「That’s why they send pawns like us, isn’t it?」 Nancy smiled faintly. 「Remember, a butterfly’s wings on the Lorny Coast might stir a storm across the Eastern Continent. Even the smallest variable can shift fate when the moment is right—that’s our chance.」
Ĕ ṅu m a
「And each of us has our own unique skills. That’s why I didn’t stop you from deciding.」
Elton quietly traced a prayer sign over his chest.
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May the light guide our path and spare us from needless strife.
I only wish to bring peace.
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