Green Monster Epic

Chapter 236: Mission and Teammates (6,000 words!)

Allen raised his head, glanced at the smiling human woman, then lowered his head again, not intending to pay her any attention. She had been full of vigilance towards him before, and now she suddenly came over to strike up a conversation, which definitely didn't bode well.

“Why are you so petty? Wasn't it just a misunderstanding before? I even pointed you in the right direction. You didn't thank me, and now you're pulling a face. Is that really necessary?”

Kaiya was a little embarrassed, not expecting that he would ignore her. This made her lose face, and she immediately pouted her red lips and complained to Allen.

“Thank you.”

Allen didn't want to pay attention to her, but after hearing her complaint, he suddenly realized that was the case. He then raised his head and said coldly.

“Is that all?”

Kaiya widened her eyes, watching Allen lower his head again.

“Ah, what else do you want me to do?”

Allen looked back at her, his eyes showing a bit of confusion.

“Hmph, who cares!!”

Kaiya rolled her eyes at Allen and turned to leave, leaving Allen completely confused, unable to understand the reason for her actions.

Before long, the number of adventurers in the garden reached 20. After that, no more heads appeared from behind the corridor, but the person in charge still hadn't shown up, making the group in the garden wait anxiously.

Allen seemed to be looking down, but in reality, his eyes were secretly observing the team of 20. Most of them were in groups of 3-5, likely partners who knew each other well. Lone wolves like Allen were not many. Roughly speaking, including Allen, there were only 5-6 people, including the human woman Kaiya.

Among the lone wolves, the one that Allen was most concerned about was the human male spellcaster holding a staff that was 1.4-1.5 meters long, completely red, and inlaid with 4-5 bright gems. He was wrapped in a felt hat that covered his entire face, and even Allen, a native, felt hot for him.

There was also a lone elf, slender with gloomy eyes. A dagger in his hand flew between his fingers as if it had a life of its own. Allen seemed to see traces of Saru on him, so he was likely a shadow talent.

As for the others that Allen was paying attention to, there was a group of 5 led by a troll shield warrior with a confident look in his eyes, influencing his 4 companions. His companions were not kind either, all of them burly and strong, no less than ogre berserkers. At the same time, they looked at the others with contempt in their eyes.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, the gate of the stone fortress in front of the garden slowly opened, and an ogre like a mountain of meat walked out slowly and with some difficulty.

“Sorry, everyone, for making you wait a bit longer.”

The person who came had a rough voice. Although his self-introduction was amiable, the expression he revealed was very arrogant.

“I am Miller, the city guard supervisor of Mansa City. This time, I will come on behalf of our city guard lord to explain this mission to you warriors, as well as the reward issue.”

“As you all have probably heard, three days ago, the rats of the Owl Eagle Raider Gang intercepted a shipment from the Oak Trade Company. The Oak Trade Company's manager in Mansa City issued a strong protest to our city guard lord, asking the city guard lord to give them an explanation. Therefore, the city guard lord, in order to appease the Oak Trade Company's manager, has this time invited you warriors to come and crusade against the Owl Eagle Raider Gang.”

“The mission requirements are very simple, that is, to recover the goods robbed from the Oak Trade Company, and to eliminate as many members of the Owl Eagle Raider Gang as possible.”

“Bringing back the looted goods will give everyone 1,000 gold coins. This is the basic reward. In addition, there are a total of 45 registered heads of the Owl Eagle Raider Gang. Bringing back a member's head will get you 10 gold coins, and each of the 3 leader's heads will get you 50 gold coins.”

“As for the head of the Raider Gang leader, Owl Eagle Klieg, in addition to his original 500 bounty, there will be an additional reward of 150 gold coins.”

“This is the information about the Owl Eagle Raider Gang collected by our city. The leader, Owl Eagle Klieg, is a level 15 human fallen paladin. The object of his evil god belief is unknown, but it is said that he has already touched the threshold of legend.”

“One of the leaders, Michel, a level 15 gnoll berserker…”

“……”

Allen listened intently to the information given by the city guard supervisor. This was his first real contact with the mercenary and adventurer profession, so he had to learn and understand many things. Many adventurers around him didn't seem to care about the information given by the supervisor, because they had their own sources of information, even more detailed than the information Miller told them, but they wouldn't share it with others.

“Tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock, everyone will gather at the north city gate.”

“Everyone's names have been registered clearly. When the time comes, as long as you can bring back the goods, this mission will be considered complete.”

“Everyone, I wish you success. I look forward to your triumphant return here.”

After a brief introduction, Miller made a gesture to see them off. The 20 high-level combatants who had stood for half a day were dismissed so easily. Before leaving, many adventurers couldn't help but complain: “Since the mission is so simple, their city guard mansion only needs to post the mission on the mission board, and we can take it. Why did they call us here to create so many things and waste everyone's time?”

“You know nothing, they're doing this for the Oak Trade Company to see. Do you really think the city guard mansion cares about the Owl Eagle Gang?”

The troll shield warrior that Allen was paying attention to patted the head of his companion, an ogre berserker, and said in a rough voice.

“Didn't I hear that the city guard mansion also invited Lord Munch to take action? How could they not care?”

Everyone walked out of the corridor side by side. Someone heard the troll's explanation and couldn't help but retort.

“You're so stupid!!”

The troll looked at the speaker with a contemptuous look: “If they could persuade a legend to take action, why would the city guard mansion find us? Wouldn't that waste thousands of gold coins for nothing, as if they have too much money?”

“To put it bluntly, the person who spread the rumor that the city guard mansion persuaded Lord Munch to take action must have a very deep relationship with the people in the city guard mansion. They're just tricking guys like you into taking the bait!!”

“If that's the case, then why did you, Nathan, still fall for their trick and take on this mission?”

The person who was looked down upon was not easy to deal with, and once again retorted to the troll, while also letting Allen know the name of this seemingly shrewd troll shield warrior.

“Our Woking Adventurer Team just happens to have nothing to do recently. Besides, although the missions given by the city guard mansion are often a bit of a trap, the rewards are still good, worth doing.”

The troll Nathan answered the question with confidence and ease. Then, changing the subject, he began to promote to the other adventurers: "Everyone, the guys from the Owl Eagle Mercenary Group are quite strong. If we want to take back the goods they robbed, we still need everyone to work together. Our Vokin Adventurer Team is quite well-known in Mansa City, and my partners are quite skilled. If you are willing, we can join forces this time. When we get the goods back, we'll split the 1000 gold coin reward per capita, how about it?"

After Nathan left the City Lord's Mansion, he began to extend an olive branch to the people present. Many people were hesitant about whether to join forces with Nathan's Vokin Adventurer Team.

Allen did not act, he was observing the actions of others to see how they would choose.

Half of the Owl Eagle Mercenary Group's 45 members are high-level combat professionals, and the rest are advanced professionals. This may be their style of only recruiting elites, rather than relying on numbers to fill their ranks like other looting teams. This made Allen very aware that he could not threaten them with his own strength alone. Perhaps only by uniting everyone would there be a chance of success.

However, the City Lord's Mansion would probably send a team to lead the hired teams; otherwise, if these adventurers were left to fight on their own, it would be extremely difficult to complete the task.

Of course, whether this rabble can be integrated into a tacit team in the end depends on whether the steward sent by the City Lord's Mansion tomorrow has the ability.

Several loners left the scene one after another, completely unmoved by Nathan's speech. Only Allen did not leave, standing a little further away from Nathan and the others, watching several people walk towards Nathan to communicate.

Light footsteps came. Allen retracted his gaze and scanned towards the source of the footsteps. What appeared before him was Kaiya, who had left proudly before.

"How about it? Are you interested in working together?"

Allen frowned. The other party's invitation came suddenly. Looking at the other party's female identity and overly slender figure, Allen doubted her strength. Although he clearly showed his rejection, the suspicion in his eyes towards Kaiya really made Kaiya a little unhappy.

"Take this!!!"

Kaiya was also a person with self-esteem. Feeling Allen's contempt, she flicked her left hand behind her, and the longbow hidden by the hat appeared in her hand. An arrow, completely beyond Allen's perception, shot at the tip of the leather boots at his feet, sticking to the ground without any difference, and the entire arrow was buried in the solid stone slab.

"I'm a ranged archer, so I need a close-combat teammate to protect me. If I didn't think you were skilled, do you really think I'd be idle enough to partner with a hairy guy like you?"

It seemed that Kaiya was really stimulated. After shooting the arrow, she didn't spare Allen in her words, looking at Allen's hair, which was actually not that prominent, with disgust.

Allen put his right hand on the trembling arrow on the ground, used a clever trick to easily pull the arrow out, and casually threw it back to Kaiya.

"How about it, my strength is not bad, right?"

Kaiya's slender fingers gently grabbed the thrown arrow and put it into the quiver under the hat at her waist, looking at Allen smugly.

"So, do you want to form an alliance with me?"

Allen spoke at this time, at least the other party's strength won his respect: "Your archery is very good, but as for the alliance, I still have to think about it."

"Whatever, don't blame me for going back on my word when you figure it out."

The smile on Kaiya's face disappeared, and she snorted lightly like a face change, then turned around and walked away, leaving Allen on the spot, bringing a gust of fragrance.

Allen didn't feel anything. Turning his head and looking at the square in front of the castle gate again, the figures of Nathan and his party had gradually disappeared.

Returning to the Oak Tree Temple's residence, Allen didn't have anything to prepare. Besides asking the temple's chefs for some dry food, there was nothing else. During these days of living in the temple, besides having some friendship with Redel, the only people who could chat with Allen were the cooks who cooked the meals in the temple.

After a night of rest, and the morning meditation, Allen recovered to his best condition. After learning the bloodline circulation method from the crystal, Allen did not give up his immature method, but gradually pondered and improved it on this basis to make it more suitable for himself. After all, the bloodline of the remnants of the ancient magic goddess may not be compatible with the hobgoblins. Perhaps the main arteries and veins are basically similar, but the branching small blood vessels may not be.

Arriving at the North City Gate, it was just before 6 o'clock, and half a round of crimson sun had already appeared on the eastern horizon, illuminating the clouds in the sky with patches of color. The city gate was already crowded, with many people coming and going, and local natives carrying burdens of fresh fruits and vegetables into the city, with strange heads, but they seemed so harmonious.

At 7 o'clock sharp, the 20 adventurers had all arrived, but the person sent by the City Lord's Mansion was still nowhere to be seen. Allen's eyebrows frowned slightly.

Taking advantage of the fact that the City Lord's Mansion's steward had not arrived, Captain Nathan of the Vokin Adventurer Team, who should have agreed to cooperate with someone yesterday, had gathered more than half of the team, introducing each other, while Nathan also gave friendly smiles to Allen, Kaiya, and other loners, greeting them politely.

Allen politely returned a smile, and then a sarcastic female voice came from beside him: "Oh, you've taken a fancy to the strong strength of their team and want to go over and form an alliance?"

Allen smelled the familiar fragrance and knew who was coming without turning his head. He just stood there without saying anything, quietly waiting for the City Lord's Mansion's steward to arrive.

"How about it, have you considered partnering with me?"

For some reason, Kaiya was fixated on Allen. Judging from her tone, she hadn't given up.

"Look at the people surrounding the Vokin group. If we want to share the reward for retrieving the goods, we won't get much. The only way to make some money is from the heads of the Owl Eagle group. If we two cooperate, you'll be close combat and I'll be ranged, and we'll definitely take down a lot of heads, earning no less than them."

"Why do you insist on forming an alliance with me?"

Allen finally spoke, looking at Kaiya seriously and asking.

"Because I think you are strong enough to be my teammate."

Kaiya smiled slyly at Allen: "I saw you fighting Alba yesterday. You were able to block Alba's shot without preparation. Your strength must have reached the threshold of contacting the legendary level, right?"

Allen realized that this human woman was interested in his strength, but why did she think he had reached the legendary threshold? His strength was only level 13, just entering the ranks of high-level combat professionals.

"But I don't know much about you. What advantages do you have that are worth me forming an alliance with you?"

Allen did not refute. If the other party misunderstood, then so be it. He gently pointed to Nathan and his party in front and said: "If I run over to cooperate with them now, at least I should get a share of the 1000 gold coin reward, and the risk should not be great."

"Then go cooperate with them!"

Kaiya shrugged her shoulders, seemingly indifferent: "But don't blame me for not reminding you, when the time comes, you'll only get half of the reward for the heads and the retrieved goods at most, and you might even be used as cannon fodder by that guy Nathan."

Allen concentrated, his gaze towards Kaiya filled with doubt.

"Do you really think Nathan is making such a big show of winning people over just to make the task easier for everyone? Based on my understanding of him, he's not as generous as he appears. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve!"

Seeing Allen's curiosity, Kaiya was secretly delighted, and then began to reveal Nathan's secrets.

"This guy, whenever there's a team-based mission, he teams up with several other familiar teams, deceiving those who don't know the details into forming alliances and cooperating. After the alliance is formed, he, with his larger numbers, naturally becomes the leader and directs the team's actions. During the mission, he deliberately assigns many difficult and dangerous tasks to those outsiders, and after the battle, he deliberately skims off the spoils. Do you think such a teammate is reliable?"

What Kaiya said was exactly what Allen was worried about. Although Allen himself had not experienced a mercenary career, after communicating with Regis, Saru, and the others, he was not unaware of what treacherous teammates might do.

"It's different if we form an alliance. We can complement each other's strengths, and we'll divide the spoils equally, absolutely fair!"

"Why do you think I'm trustworthy?"

Allen asked, looking directly at the woman in front of him.

"Someone who can live in the Oak Shrine for free probably wouldn't do anything too despicable!"

Kaiya looked confident, as if she had already figured out Allen's background.

Allen was surprised. He hadn't mentioned living in the Oak Shrine to anyone. How did she know?

"My information channels are very well-informed. If you form an alliance with me, I'll also tell you some more detailed information about the Owl Hawk Gang!"

Kaiya was very proud. After setting her sights on Allen yesterday, she had spent a lot of effort on him. Coming to chat with Allen today showed that she was determined to succeed.

"Okay."

Kaiya's strength was not bad, and she had a strong source of information. Even if she had ulterior motives, he was confident that he could counter-kill her. After Allen finally decided to form an alliance with her, he no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement.

"You should have done this sooner!"

Kaiya smiled happily, a layer of red frost appearing on her beautiful face.

The people from the City Lord's Mansion arrived late. The leader of the dozen fully armed teams was actually Miller, the ogre supervisor who had introduced the mission to everyone yesterday. Seeing Miller's appearance, Nathan, who had gathered the most confused members in the distance, had a flash of gloom in his eyes, and then returned to normal, welcoming Miller and taking the initiative to greet him: "Supervisor Miller, so it's you leading the team!"

"Yes, the City Lord attaches great importance to this mission, so he sent me over to help everyone communicate and coordinate, and strive to complete the mission beautifully."

Miller didn't walk, but sat on a strong ground sloth. With each step the sloth took, the赘肉 on Miller's body would shake a few times. Facing Nathan's polite remarks, Miller also waved his hand helplessly.

Someone of Miller's tonnage wouldn't want to go out and suffer unless it was necessary, but the City Lord had given the order, and Miller, as his subordinate, couldn't disobey, so he had to bite the bullet and make the trip.

"With you in charge, our mission will be much easier this time, right everyone?"

Nathan said, his face full of gratification and joy. As soon as he finished speaking, several of his teammates and several other adventurers echoed him.

"Alright, alright, is everyone here?"

After exchanging pleasantries with Nathan, Miller squinted and glanced around, asking.

"Everyone's here, just waiting for you to arrive."

Nathan quickly replied.

"Now that everyone's here, let's get on the road. It's best to reach the Leishan border before sunset, and tomorrow we'll break through the Owl Hawk Gang's lair."

"Okay!"

Nathan shouted, and the mercenaries who had formed an alliance with him walked to the fence near the city wall, leading their mounts, while others moved their own legs and began to slowly move towards the north.

As for lone wolves like Allen, they didn't say a word from beginning to end, just watched the conversation and actions between Nathan and Miller, and then followed the large group.

"You should borrow a horse from the temple to travel. Walking will inevitably consume your energy!"

At this time, Allen realized that his temporary teammate Kaiya was riding a beautiful red horse, flaunting her power around Allen, not caring about the restless emotions of the horse under her.

"I'm used to it!"

Looking up and around again, Allen was stunned to find that everyone except himself in the lone wolf group seemed to have a mount, and only those who had formed an alliance with Nathan and the others were walking on their own two legs like Allen.

"Hmph, eat dust!"

Kaiya proudly raised her head, gently kicking the horse's belly with her calf, and the crimson horse began to gallop, leaving Allen far behind.

Allen followed unhurriedly behind Supervisor Miller's team, while scrutinizing this team of nearly 20 people beside Miller. The members of this team were no simpler than the hired mercenaries and adventurers, and almost mixed all the faces of the wilderness natives: trolls, earth goblins, bear goblins, lizardmen…

Their equipment was complete, wearing excellent chain mail, making a rustling sound as the horses under them moved. However, judging from their expressions and the way they held their weapons, Allen always felt that their skills were perhaps not that strong. Since Allen advanced to the high level, his perception of the surrounding aura had undergone subtle changes, such as a certain person's veins popping out, a certain person's hand muscles wriggling, etc. Although it had not been clearly verified, Allen could vaguely assess a person's strength through some superficial features.

Like this team in front of him, perhaps they were all advanced, but most of them were probably just preliminary advanced professionals. Their skills were perhaps stronger than low-level professionals, but not much stronger.

Allen didn't quite understand why such a large Mansha City needed to issue missions to adventurers and mercenaries instead of mobilizing the city's guard forces to suppress this group of robbers. Instead of wasting so much money on mercenaries and adventurers, it would be better to directly arm the army and improve the army's strength.

Having witnessed the heroic posture of the Elf Kingdom's border army in battle, Allen believed that as long as a slightly scaled army was dispatched, it would be stronger and more efficient than this group of mercenaries.

With these thoughts, Allen originally wanted to withdraw from this mission, but later he heard that if people who had registered at the City Lord's Mansion regretted not participating in the mission, life in Mansha City would be very troublesome next.

Allen didn't have the habit of staying in Mansha City for a long time, but from a long-term perspective, offending the City Lord's Mansion was not a rational thing. With confidence in his own strength, Allen finally joined the team and continued this somewhat strange mission.