Chapter 37: Request, Arrangement, and Changing Situation

Bailis gently bumped Ed with her shoulder.

“Ed, that guy’s coming our way.”

Ed nodded without moving. “I see him.”

“But we don’t know him, right?”

Ed shrugged slightly.

“But someone wants us to know him.”

“Who?” 

The girl shrank back alertly.

Ed didn’t answer further, because the young adventurer had already reached them.

“Hello…” 

He hesitated, then extended his hand. 

“I’m Kelta, a level-two adventurer.”

Ed also reached out, grasping the palm covered in rough scratches.

“Ed.” He said concisely. 

“A swordsman.”

The two hands parted after a brief touch.

The young adventurer named Kelta had an obvious tension about him, which seemed to ease slightly after Ed said his name.

He forced a stiff smile.

“Then… can I call you Mr. Ed?”

This was quite a respectful address, so respectful that Ed even felt a bit unaccustomed.

“Mr. Ed~” 

Bailis giggled softly behind him. 

“Sounds so weird.”

“Uh…” 

Ed hesitated in his reply. 

“Whatever you like—titles aren’t important.”

This answer relaxed the young adventurer a lot, as if giving him enough courage.

So he took a deep breath and spoke again:

“Mr. Ed, I just heard from Uncle Wilfred and Uncle Leo that you’re very strong.”

He lowered his head. 

“Could you let me and my partner join your team?”

“…”

“…”

A bit too straightforward.

Ed silently evaluated.

Even Bailis behind him widened her eyes, looking at the young adventurer with an expression like “what rare species is this.”

Who just comes up and asks to join someone’s team! 

The girl inwardly complained.

Kelta seemed to realize his behavior was improper, his face immediately turning red.

“I… I can help a lot!” 

Perhaps due to nervousness, he stammered. 

“You two look like you’re from out of town. I-I can be your guide! I know every hill and every pond around the town like the back of my hand! A-and the lairs of those powerful beasts, I have accurate info too…”

The young man rambled on and on, practically laying out all his advantages from childhood to now in front of them.

“So—”

He bowed deeply once more.

“Please let me and my partner join you!”

The girl furrowed her brows in some dilemma. 

She shifted a bit more behind Ed, confirming the young adventurer couldn’t see her movements, then quietly poked Ed’s waist with her finger.

“What do we do? Agree?” she whispered.

“Wait a bit.” 

Ed discreetly brushed off the girl’s restless finger and turned his head slightly, replying softly. 

“Not yet—let’s learn more first.”

Ed turned back, looking again at the young adventurer still hanging his head.

“We do need a guide.” 

He smiled.

Kelta jerked his head up.

“But.” Ed continued. 

“You know the area around town isn’t very safe. Casually letting you join could end up getting the whole team killed.”

Kelta opened his mouth anxiously.

“I…”

“Next time.” 

Ed interrupted directly. 

“When we meet again next time, maybe I’ll change my mind.”

The young adventurer was stunned for a moment, then his face suddenly darkened as if understanding something.

“I… I understand. Thank you.” 

He said softly, turning and slowly walking away.

The young adventurer’s figure finally disappeared at the town entrance.

“Your words are basically no different from rejection.” 

Bailis chuckled softly behind Ed. 

“You weren’t teasing him on purpose, were you?”

“No.” 

Ed didn’t even blink.

“He just seemed a bit too hasty. Whether for the one joining or the one being joined, that’s not a good thing. Let him cool down.”

“Oh~” 

The girl drawled.

At this point, the two middle-aged adventurers who had been watching for quite a while came over again.

“Um, Kelta’s actually pretty capable—just a bit reckless sometimes. Don’t mind, don’t mind.” 

The middle-aged man with the thick beard smiled awkwardly.

Wilfred hadn’t expected that right after he said it, that Kelta kid would rush up so eagerly.

According to his plan, at least wait until these two were also trapped in town by beasts. 

By then, Kelta could more easily join Ed’s team relying on his familiarity with the surroundings and his little girlfriend’s potion-brewing skills.

But by the time he noticed Kelta was gone, they were already chatting, and he could only watch anxiously from the side.

Fortunately, in the end, nothing unexpected happened.

The middle-aged adventurer sighed in relief, starting to think of excuses to get these people to meet later.

“So, you two, now that we’re at the town, what are your plans next?” 

Leo, seeing Wilfred spacing out, quickly took over. 

“Need us to take you to the church in town? They provide free food and water for ‘great transfer’ victims like you.”

Bailis tugged at Ed’s sleeve.

Ed nodded understandingly.

“We’re not going to the church.” 

He told Leo. 

“Is there an inn in town? We need to rest temporarily.”

Leo’s facial muscles twitched at that—he was quite interested in those dozens of copper coins from the church. 

That money could let him drink good wine at the tavern for several days without getting kicked out for bad stories.

But no matter how unhappy, he didn’t dare show it in front of these two.

“Of course.” 

Leo could only sigh inwardly, forcing a smile. 

“Then we’ll guide you?”

“Trouble you.” 

Ed nodded.

He fumbled in his bosom for a moment, pulled out a few silver coins, and tossed them to Leo. 

“Divide them as you see fit—consider it payment for the introductions and guidance along the way.”

Leo’s back immediately straightened.

“You got it!” 

He caught the silver coins, his smile clearly more genuine. 

“I’ll definitely find you the best inn in town!”

Inside the town mayor’s residence.

“Sir.” The guard called softly.

The young town mayor slowly woke from his sleep.

“It’s Light.” 

He sat up from the sofa, rubbing his head. “I just dreamed I was rewarded by the old emperor for good governance… Tsk, hard to say if that’s a nightmare or a sweet dream. Speak—what mess do I have to handle this time?”

The guard didn’t dare comment on whether his town mayor’s dream was sweet or not. He could only lower his head and continue reporting:

“Wilfred and Leo just brought back five demon wolf corpses.”

Wilfred and Leo?

Silean recalled the images of the two middle-aged adventurers.

He remembered they were both level-two adventurers.

The Loren Town mayor yawned sleepily.

“Yawn~ Such a small matter—don’t bother me with it. Your good town mayor hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in days, you know?”

“But among the demon wolf corpses they brought back, there’s an alpha wolf.”

“Alpha wolf?” 

Silean woke up a bit, sitting straight. 

“That means being attacked by a pack of no less than ten demon wolves—when did those two have the strength to chop off an alpha’s head from a wolf pack?”

“Maybe it wasn’t them, sir.” 

The guard said with head lowered. 

“When Wilfred and Leo returned, there were two outsiders following them. I suspect those two are survivors of the ‘great transfer,’ and killing the alpha and driving off the pack is their doing.”

Silean understood why the guard woke him for this.

“You’re saying these two who popped up suddenly might be able to deal with the beasts around town?”

“Yes, sir.”

Silean pondered for a moment, then waved his hand.

“Then order someone—no, you go personally. Bring them here to me—I want to talk with them properly.”

“Yes.” The guard accepted the order, turned, and left.

The young town mayor watched his departing back, a barely noticeable excitement flashing in his eyes.

“Maybe those beasts’ good days are over.” 

He murmured softly. 

“And for me, Silean Carl, my good days are coming back.”