Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Tavern Turmoil Part Two
Seeing this scene, the adventurers in the tavern were stunned, and even Barrett, who was usually quite knowledgeable, was greatly surprised.
Wood's arm was nearly four times as thick as EeDeChi's. He twisted EeDeChi's arm with his rough, bulging hands, trying to break it, but it was as ineffective as trying to twist dough around an Adamantite rod; the arm didn't budge an inch.
Wood's face turned red, and the scar on his face grew more menacing. He clenched his fists, which were as big as small pumpkins, and began to pound EeDeChi's face with heavy blows, "Boom! Boom!" resonating through the room!
Barrett had seen Wood swing his heavy blood-streaked battle axe and slice an iron-armored fire lizard in half. He had also clashed with Wood over loot division, so he knew the immense power contained in Wood's fists, which were as large as an Ogre's.
Yet, EeDeChi seemed like a statue cast in the ground. Despite taking blow after blow to the head, she held Wood's neck with her arm straight, showing no reaction.
She sneered and said, "It's quite good outside the tavern. You should go there."
With that, EeDeChi made a throwing gesture, and Wood flew out like a projectile from a siege engine, soaring over the heads of the adventurers inside the tavern, shattering the tavern's waist-high door, and crashing heavily outside.
"Ouch!" Wood's distant scream revealed he hadn't just fallen outside the tavern but probably landed across the street.
Several burly adventurers hurried outside to assist Wood. They were teammates from the same adventuring group, but they clearly didn't dare to confront EeDeChi for an explanation.
"Scarface Bladebearer" Valent quietly retreated into the crowd of patrons, and the people in the tavern resumed their discussion, shifting their focus back to the topic they had been discussing before Barrett walked in.
EeDeChi calmly adjusted her collar, as if the recent altercation was nothing more than a trivial distraction. She continued to address Barrett, "I need a guide to take me through Mistwood to Golden Sheaf City on the other side. I think you're a good fit. The payment for this job is 40 gold coins, but if that's not enough, I can offer more."
An orichalcum-level adventurer wants to hire me as a guide? Barrett instinctively wanted to refuse. Typically, orichalcum-level and adamantite-level elite adventurers have a reliable and well-coordinated team, and they wouldn't want an outsider who isn't accustomed to their ways to join in, as it could delay their progress or disrupt the team's rhythm.
Moreover, for an orichalcum-level adventurer team, crossing Mistwood should be a piece of cake. Why would they need to hire him? Even a temporary team of mithril-level adventurers from Montell could easily make a few trips through Mistwood.
Barrett waved his hand, signaling that he wasn't interested.
"80 gold coins," EeDeChi said, doubling the offer without hesitation.
Eighty gold coins wasn't a small amount; it was enough to buy a large estate with a garden in Montell. But Barrett still didn't want to take the job. What puzzled him was why EeDeChi, with so many adventurers around at Marina's Tavern, had specifically chosen him.
What Barrett didn't know was that in EeDeChi's view, the Justice Value above his head was 146, while the only person in the tavern with a higher Justice Value was the receptionist, with a score of 154. EeDeChi's primary method of evaluating people was almost entirely based on the Justice Value displayed above their heads.
"95 gold coins!" Seeing Barrett's hesitant expression, EeDeChi increased the offer once more.
"Barrett, just accept her offer. With that kind of pay, even I'm tempted! After you finish this job, you can go with this lady to the monastery. She'll be a nun, and you can be a priest. No more dangerous work for you!"
Hearing EeDeChi continually raise the offer, a chatty short adventurer next to them couldn't help but chime in. Judging by EeDeChi's stern and mature demeanor, he assumed she must have been a nun before.
EeDeChi shot a cold glare at the man with a Justice Value of 52, scaring him into shrinking his head and returning to his black rye beer.
Barrett refused again. Honestly, the higher the reward, the more wary he became. Higher pay usually meant greater risk, which was a universal rule in most adventuring careers.
If he became EeDeChi's guide, who knows if this formidable and peculiar girl might one day throw him into the air like she did with Wood!
"120 gold coins!" EeDeChi arched her elegant black eyebrows and raised the offer once more.
Seeing EeDeChi frown with what seemed like rising anger, Barrett felt a sense of dread.
He placed his right hand lightly on the hilt of his sword and took a small step back with his left foot. If EeDeChi decided to act out like she did with Wood, he would either counterattack immediately or run for the door.
After nearly twenty years in the high-risk adventuring industry, his survival relied on constant caution and vigilance! Unlike some rookie adventurers who sacrifice limbs or even their lives for a few coins.
Of course, frequent risk-taking means occasional setbacks; he had recently lost part of his body.
"150 gold coins!" EeDeChi sighed heavily.
"Deal!" Barrett shook EeDeChi's right hand firmly, his blue eyes earnestly meeting her dark ones. "I guarantee I'll get you through Mistwood safely!"
After all, who would turn down shiny gold coins?