Synthesis-type adventurers

Chapter 29 New Orders for the Working Class

"How's your recovery going?" Rod closed the ledger, picked up the chipped enamel mug next to him, and took a sip of cold water. "Those potent painkillers cost me a fortune."

In reality, those so-called "potions" were just water mixed with some cheap herbs and ingredients, but Rhodes didn't intend to tell the truth.

"I'm fully recovered," Avira said, stretching her shoulders. "I'm even stronger than before I was injured. Your potion... works like an absurd thing."

She peered at Rhodes through the gap in her visor, her eyes revealing an instinctive awe.

In her knightly knowledge, such an injury, even if she miraculously survived, would leave her bedridden for several months, ultimately resulting in a body with a lifelong disability.

However, Rhodes simply poured the strangely colored potion into her mouth, followed by some kind of magical healing.

In just a few days, she was not only able to walk, but also able to wear the heavy plate armor to carry heavy loads and conduct high-intensity tactical training.

Just how many hidden cards does this man still hold?

"That's good." Rhodes stood up, stuffed the boning knife into the hidden pocket inside his trouser leg, and patted the dust off his trench coat. "Now that you've recovered, it's time to get back to work. I don't support idlers, not even beautiful female knights, who can just be taking in and not giving out in the ledger."

He walked to the door, put his hand on the door frame, and glanced back at Avira, who was still standing there like a statue.

"What are you standing there for? Put your helmet on—unless you want those drunks outside to admire your shiny bald head." He paused briefly. "Grab your sword and shield. Today we're going to the guild hall to find you a job that will earn you money to pay off your debts."

"Yes, sir."

With a click, Ivyra fastened the clasp of her visor, picked up the finely crafted heavy tower shield, and strode after him.

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The Adventurers' Guild branch in Rust Harbor is always the most chaotic organ in the city.

The place reeks of fermenting sweat, the pungent smell of cheap alcohol, and countless greedy faces.

A large crowd gathered in front of the notice board.

The adventurers, clad in greasy leather armor and carrying various cobbled-together weapons, huddled around the newly posted quest list like vultures eyeing carrion.

"Hey! I saw that ghoul-hunting quest first!"

"Get out of my way! That's mine!"

"..."

Arguments, shoving, even drawing swords against each other, followed by being thrown out by the guild guards, are as commonplace as breathing here.

The noise was broken by a heavy metallic clang.

Avira walked at the very front, her heavy plate armor carving a path through the crowded wall of people.

The steel shell that looked so rough it was almost painful to look at, and the longsword on her back whose scabbard seemed to be covered in the smell of blood and rust, instantly silenced the adventurers around her who were about to attack, their eyes filled with fear.

Those who understand the times are wise. In the survival rules of rusty harbor, no one wants to mess with a heavy-duty canned goods container that looks like a killing machine.

Moreover, the heavy plate armor he was fully armed with was an expensive piece of equipment that most adventurers could only dream of, which was enough to show that the other party was no ordinary person.

Rod followed behind Ivira, hands in his pockets, looking like a down-on-his-luck nobleman walking a vicious dog. He strolled leisurely to the front of the notice board, his eyes quickly scanning the densely packed parchment.

[Urgent! Defeat the mutated giant rats in the sewers. 5 silver coins per ear.]

Only a novice fool would do such dirty work; the sewers are full of germs and toxins, and the treatment costs are often higher than the reward.

[Seeking substantial reward! Fresh two-headed snake gallbladder. Price negotiable.]

—A classic double-cross trap. "Negotiable" means that the other party will decide whether to pay or kill and rob based on your fighting ability.

Explore the depths of an abandoned mine in search of the missing exploration team.

Finding missing persons usually means facing unknown dangers, dealing with corpses, and most of the time what is found is a corpse, with the bounty hunter only paying half or less of the money.

Rhodes shook his head, his gaze sweeping over each item on the rough paper of the task list until it settled on an inconspicuous pale yellow parchment.

Anomaly Investigation of Magic Nodes on the Outer Edge of the Darkwood

[Quest Level: Bronze (Recommended for team play)]

[Mission Objective: Proceed to Observation Station 3 on the western edge of the Darkwood, inspect and reset the magic detection node. No need to venture deeper; simply place the data logger and bring back the readings.]

[Reward: 50 Orim + Node maintenance allowance.]

"This is it."

Rhodes' eyes lit up, and he reached out and tore off the mission sheet.

"My lady," Avira's voice came from deep within the helmet, "the Darkwood is a heavily polluted area. Although it's only the edge, the monsters there usually have corrosive bodily fluids that cause extreme damage to equipment..."

Before she could finish speaking, Rod raised an index finger and shook it in front of her.

"Look at this reward, 50 orim. For a fetch quest that doesn't require you to fight like crazy, that's already a premium."

Rhodes neatly folded the task sheet and stuffed it into the inner pocket of his coat.

"Moreover, that area is a high-incidence zone for relics of previous civilizations. The so-called 'magic node anomaly' usually means that something underground has been exposed. It could be a fragment of an ancient magical artifact, or it could be the nest of some kind of mutated creature."

He silently added in his mind: or perhaps the ground was covered with entries.

"We don't need to fight at all. We just need to do what we're told. If anything happens, we can just run away. There's basically no risk involved."

For Rhodes now, this place, where he can both make money and safely "procure goods," is practically a promised land flowing with milk and honey.

"As for equipment wear and tear?" Rhodes reached out and patted Ivyra's shoulder armor. "Don't worry, if we can dig up even a single piece of ancient alloy, the money from selling it will be enough to plate your tattered iron armor with two layers of gold."

Avira was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, "I will follow your arrangements."

The two turned and walked to the counter to register.

Just as Rod handed his ID card to the yawning clerk behind the counter, the loudspeaker hanging above the lobby suddenly emitted a piercing electrical sound.

"Buzz—Announcement! Announcement!"

The previously noisy hall fell silent instantly, and everyone looked up, their eyes focused on the dark metal speaker.

"We have received an urgent order from the Guild Executive Department! The 'Old Hansen Waste Recycling Station' located in the South District of Ruigang is suspected of illegally possessing highly polluting and prohibited substances, which is a serious violation of Article 17 of the Guild Safety Act!"

"Effective immediately, the Executive Department will conduct a complete lockdown and surprise inspection of the Southern District! All unauthorized personnel are strictly prohibited from entering!"

"I repeat, going there is prohibited!"

"Anyone who obstructs or conceals information will be considered an accomplice and executed without exception!"