Chapter 121: Conditions

Chapter 121: Conditions

At ten o’clock in the evening, inside the Swordfish Bar.

Having waited an entire afternoon without receiving his bounty, Klein deliberately went out and made a round in front of Urs Kent. He received the answer that the process had already been completed, but the money would not be released until the next morning.

Along the way, he changed his appearance and participated in the private transactions among adventurers inside the Swordfish Bar. Unfortunately, he failed to find the main ingredients for the Marionettist potion or any suitable mystical items.

Changing back to his original appearance, Klein pressed down on his top hat and tried to squeeze through the crowd, leaving the bar at its loudest and liveliest hour.

At that moment, one gaze after another swept across his face. Most of them first froze, then visibly lingered for two seconds, as though trying to identify something.

All at once, they withdrew their gazes and retreated from Klein, like a tide being parted.

Gehrman Sparrow’s appearance and strength had already become known to them through newspapers and rumors. More details had gradually spread through the places where adventurers, pirates, and gang members gathered, allowing quite a few people to roughly understand the situation back then. They knew of the mad act of Gehrman Sparrow instantly drawing his gun and firing the moment he discovered the Silver-Tongued Misor King. Naturally, everyone consciously kept their distance from this dangerous fellow.

The trader Ralfe was drinking at the bar counter when he suddenly sensed something unusual over there. Instinctively, he half turned and looked over.

Very quickly, he saw a silent gentleman with a thin face and sharp contours, and the corresponding portrait published in the News Report naturally surfaced in his mind:

Gehrman Sparrow, the man who had hunted the Silver-Tongued!

Immediately afterward, Ralfe thought of the conversation he had had in the evening with the rebel leader Kalat. He confirmed that this mad adventurer did not reject Sea God and had even witnessed the secret transaction between the rebels and Vice Admiral Iceberg.

Perhaps I can develop him into a believer of Sea God… Even if he has no interest in the archipelago’s future, perhaps he will provide help in certain matters… Ralfe clasped his hands in front of his mouth, making a gesture as though he were blowing a conch. It was one of the gestures used when praying to Sea God Kalvetua.

Then he abruptly rose, took his beer mug, and walked toward Gehrman Sparrow.

At that moment, Klein also noticed Ralfe approaching and recognized who he was.

He was the devout believer who had once wanted to donate one-third of his twenty-thousand-gold-pound fortune to Sea God!

He was the former pirate and current merchant Klein had sent off to establish a children’s charity fund!

Through the news about that charity fund and Ralfe’s always-devout prayers, Klein could be said to understand him in many aspects. Because of this, he was rather puzzled as to why the other party was trying to make contact with Gehrman Sparrow.

A commission? Something the rebels cannot do for various reasons? Klein looked at Ralfe and slowed his steps.

“Mr. Gehrman Sparrow?” Ralfe raised the beer mug in his hand.

Klein nodded slightly and naturally maintained his persona.

“I do not know you.”

“Haha. Among adventurers, acquaintance is always easy. Perhaps all it takes is a glass of beer.” Ralfe pointed toward the bar counter. “Interested in a drink?”

“Alright,” Klein answered simply, hiding his confusion.

After sitting down at a corner of the bar counter, he ordered a glass of Southville beer and looked at Ralfe while drinking, not taking the initiative to speak.

Being silently stared at by a pirate admiral-level powerhouse was not a pleasant experience. Ralfe drank a mouthful of beer, concealing his highly strung nerves, and laughed.

“I heard of you before today’s matter. I knew you were a true gentleman who did not discriminate against the colonial natives.”

Lines flashed through Klein’s mind one after another before finally settling into a few words relatively fitting for his persona.

“Get to the point.”

…Ralfe nearly choked. He coughed lightly twice and said, “May I have the honor of introducing our god to you—the savior of the archipelago, the one favored by the sea, Kalvetua?

“You know, the sea is so vast, and storms are so terrifying. Relying on oneself alone, even figures at the level of the Four Kings cannot guarantee that they will surely overcome every difficulty and survive. At such times, we need a deity—a deity who can respond to you and who holds authority over the sea and storms.”

Introducing myself to me, then asking me to believe in myself… Klein controlled the slight twitch at the corners of his mouth and instead said, “I am more interested in whether you have any mystical items. Something very powerful and very offensive.”

Ralfe revealed a sincere smile.

“We do not.

“But as long as you devoutly believe in Sea God, perhaps one day you will receive a corresponding bestowment.”

I do not have one… Do not make random promises on my behalf! Klein was both annoyed and amused.

He felt that the conversation could not continue. He drained more than half his Southville beer in one breath and said, “I will consider it.”

Just as he was about to leave, the bartender suddenly leaned over with a fawning smile.

“Mr. Gehrman Sparrow, there is a commission here looking for you.”

“What?” Klein glanced at Ralfe.

The latter tactfully took his beer and left his seat.

Ralfe was already quite satisfied with today’s result, because he had never thought he could turn this mad adventurer into a believer of Sea God in one attempt. His goal was merely to let the other party know such a possibility existed and to make him think about the pros and cons on his own.

Once the corner of the bar counter regained its quiet, the bartender hurriedly smiled and said, “He claims to be an Apothecary you know. He has a mission he would like to commission you for. If you are interested, you can wait here. We will contact him by the agreed method.”

An Apothecary I know? That plump Darkwill? The Darkwill who keeps a plump owl? What kind of commission would he have? Rescuing his teacher, Roy King? I cannot do that. The risk is far too high… As thoughts flashed through his mind, Klein decided to first hear what the other party’s commission was.

“Alright.”

…

Near eleven o’clock, Klein met the timid, shrinking fat Apothecary Darkwill inside billiards room number three of the Swordfish Bar.

The other party had changed out of that relatively conspicuous countryside witch-doctor robe and was dressed like a local: a taraba shirt, wide-legged trousers, and a thick coffee-colored jacket. Meanwhile, that round-faced owl quietly perched on Darkwill’s right shoulder, staring fixedly at the adventurer opposite it.

That gaze feels a lot like when Miss Justice observes the other members of the Tarot Club… This owl may truly be a Beyonder creature of the Spectator type? Klein made his judgment inwardly, but outwardly remained unmoved. In a deep voice, he asked, “What commission do you have?”

“It is like this.” The fat Apothecary kept his left hand in his pocket, tightly gripping the ring box. “I am about to take a trip to another island. Heh, it will probably take three days. Because of certain matters, I may encounter danger. Of course, I may not. In any case, I need a bodyguard, and you are the best candidate I can think of.”

The way you say that makes it sound like I am not actually that impressive, and you just know too few people… Not rescuing his teacher, but leaving Bayam. Is he going to find help? Or has Roy King already been rescued, and the danger comes from the military pursuing him? While guessing the truth, Klein calmly asked, “How dangerous?”

Darkwill’s lips moved a few times before he said, “I cannot be certain. If, if the danger exceeds the range of your abilities, you may hand me over directly. That is the promise we are making right now. It will not damage your reputation.”

If I did not know you are always bad at saying things pleasantly, I would think you were trying to provoke me into accepting… Klein thought for a moment and said, “What kind of payment can you offer?”

Darkwill had intended to say the answer he had already considered, but he suddenly hesitated. The matter was indeed dangerous, and if the stakes were insufficient, it would be difficult to move Gehrman Sparrow. He feared a Councilor appearing, and feared that before the situation became hopeless, his bodyguard might already abandon resistance. That was exactly why he insisted on hiring a powerhouse.

Klein swept him with a glance and said coolly, “You may think about it first.

“I will go to the washroom. Tell me your answer when I return.”

With that, he turned, walked to the door, turned the handle, and stepped out.

This response appeared seasoned, carrying the casual confidence and coldness of an adventurer and bounty hunter. But in truth, he had no real intention of giving the fat Apothecary time to think. He was only looking for an opportunity to go to the washroom and divine above the gray fog.

That was the key to whether he would accept the mission or not!

After leaving the billiards room and arriving at the washroom entrance, Klein waited in line for a while before finally finding a toilet stall empty.

After going in, he immediately frowned, nauseated by the filth and foul odor of the environment, nearly turning around and leaving.

Forcing himself to close the door, he pressed the flush button in disgust. While lamenting how terrible the divination environment was, he took four small steps counterclockwise and began the ritual.

Inside the card room, Darkwill waited until Gehrman Sparrow’s back had completely vanished. Only then did he nimbly close the door and ask the owl on his shoulder, “Will he sell me out?”

“No,” the owl mumbled. “Also, when asking me questions, you need to be polite. Please call me Mr. Harry.”

The fat on Darkwill’s face trembled.

“Mr. Harry, what kind of payment do you think he will accept?”

“It is difficult for me to see through him. He is very good at hiding his expressions,” the owl answered frankly.

Damn Mr. Harry—no, damn stupid bird! Darkwill cursed inwardly and paced back and forth, thinking about his bargaining chips.

After a while, Klein returned to billiards room number three and asked, “Have you thought it over?”

He had already divined above the gray fog. The danger level of this mission was acceptable, and he happened to want to leave Bayam in the near future as well.

“Eight hundred pounds for three days, plus our friendship—I mean the friendship of my teacher and his friends,” Darkwill said without much confidence.

Klein remained silent for several seconds before saying, “One thousand pounds for three days.

“In addition, your organization will help me obtain a powerful offensive mystical item. I will pay a reasonable price in cash.”

One thousand pounds? I do not have that much… Darkwill hesitated, then said, “I will pay three hundred pounds in advance. The rest can be paid once we arrive at the destination and find the person I want to find.”

He planned to have his teacher’s teacher pay off the remaining balance.

Klein nodded calmly.

“Deal.”

The fat Apothecary Darkwill immediately let out a breath of relief. Then, thick-faced, he smiled.

“May I understand that protection begins from this moment?”