Scoring a Bargain (4k)

Earlier, he and Larry's group had killed a total of twelve goblins in Lorraine Forest.

Five of them had just been submitted to the Adventurer's Guild as proof of qualification, so he still had seven left.

When the seven goblin left ears were lined up neatly across the table before him, even the staff member could not help clicking his tongue.

Even an adventurer party of three or four people might not be able to kill seven goblins in a single hunting trip.

One person, seven goblins, and not a single visible wound on him...

He could not help feeling fortunate that he had changed his attitude quickly enough and had not offended this young adventurer, who was likely quite formidable.

"Please wait a moment..."

As he spoke, he examined the seven ears. After confirming there were no issues, he opened the cabinet by his left foot, took out seven Silver Coins, and handed them to Lin Mo.

"This is your reward. Thank you for your contribution to Roland Town."

His attitude was clearly much more respectful than before, but after putting away the Silver Coins, the young adventurer showed no intention of leaving.

"May I ask if there is anything else—"

His words abruptly stopped. His eyes widened as he stared at the item the young man pulled from his bag.

"Shh—"

Lin Mo raised a finger to his lips. The man immediately understood, nodded, steadied his breathing, and quickly accepted the noticeably larger goblin ear from Lin Mo's hand.

As a public official responsible for this sort of work, he had seen plenty of monster trophies.

There was no doubt about it. This was the ear of a Mutated Goblin!

He slowly let out a breath and looked at Lin Mo with shock and gravity in his eyes.

A Mutated Goblin was a monster that even formally employed class holders could not guarantee they could defeat unharmed.

He counted out forty Silver Coins from the cabinet beside him, placed them in a cloth pouch, and handed it to Lin Mo.

"This is your bounty. Please keep it safe."

Lin Mo opened the pouch and glanced inside. From the corner of his eye, he watched the staff member before him. There was nothing unusual in his expression, so he probably had not tampered with it.

Lin Mo nodded, took the pouch, and turned to leave.

Only after passing the corner did he take a detour into an alley, open his bag, and count the Silver Coins.

"Pretty valuable..."

The bounty for one Mutated Goblin was worth forty ordinary goblins!

He now had a total of 1 Gold Coin, 51 Silver Coins, and 88 Copper Coins.

That was already a huge sum for an ordinary commoner, but in the world of adventurers, that might not mean much.

Leaning against the wall, Lin Mo took out the Roland Town Map Strategy Guide and began flipping through it.

Forge Shops and Weapon Maintenance... 17–21

For adventurers, a sturdy, practical weapon could greatly improve combat ability and safety, ensuring that they would not fall into danger because the weapon in their hands failed them when danger struck.

If you were wealthy and had no shortage of money, then the Association shop, where quality was guaranteed, would be your best choice. Head to the second floor of the Association, where the saleslady would enthusiastically introduce the types and prices of weapons to you. Weapons purchased from the Association generally had no quality issues and came with corresponding after-sales guarantees—such as one free comprehensive weapon maintenance service per month, as well as polishing and restoration at a thirty percent discount afterward.

But if your funds were not so plentiful, it was still more advisable to visit Route 21 on Copper Hammer Street. The young Dwarf blacksmith Edgar was more than willing to sell his carefully forged weapons at somewhat lower prices, hoping to make a name for himself among adventurers. Of course, Edgar was still young, so his craftsmanship could sometimes be unstable. He produced both nearly flawless, truly high-quality pieces and defective goods that looked fine but were actually all show and no substance. You would need to judge for yourself.

If you wanted something more reliable, you could also choose Route 25 on Copper Hammer Street, not far from his shop. Old Rell, who was already 150 years old this year, was an experienced old blacksmith. His prices were a little higher than Edgar's, and while his weapons would not give you any huge surprises, they also would not disappoint you in most cases.

The guide was extremely detailed, carefully describing the strengths and weaknesses of the five forge shops in town.

After comparing them carefully, Lin Mo ultimately set his sights on the first two.

He went to Old Rell's Forge Shop first.

Just as the guide described, Old Rell was a little old man with a grizzled beard. He was around four feet tall, with rugged features and a solid build—the very picture of a Dwarf.

"Look around yourself. Pick whatever weapon you want."

Old Rell was clearly not very interested in business. At his age, he had long since earned enough money. Forging and running a shop had become hobbies, so he naturally no longer had the drive he possessed in his youth.

Still, just as the guide said, the quality of his weapons was quite good and consistent. Naturally, the prices were not so pleasant.

Lin Mo's gaze was drawn to a bright silver one-handed sword. It was roughly four feet long, its blade exceptionally sharp and glinting with a cold light. It was in a completely different league from the piece of junk currently wrapped in cloth and carried on his back.

But one glance at the price was enough to make him give up immediately.

3 Gold Coins and 70 Silver Coins.

Even if he sold everything he owned, he could not afford it.

Is there anything cheaper...

Lin Mo continued looking farther back. Any weapon that was even remotely presentable cost at least 1 Gold Coin and 20 Silver Coins.

He could barely afford one, but spending that much would nearly drain his savings and leave him unable to buy anything else.

Shaking his head, he could only give up helplessly.

If even Old Rell's shop was like this, he could not imagine how expensive the weapon shop on the second floor of the Association would be. No wonder only wealthy people could afford to buy from there.

Lin Mo reluctantly put down the sword in his hand and turned to leave.

Old Rell remained reclined in a chair he had forged himself, a paper-rolled cigarette dangling from his mouth. He did not look up at Lin Mo again throughout the entire time.

At least a hundred customers like Lin Mo, who only came in to browse, visited every day. Old Rell had long grown accustomed to it.

After leaving Old Rell's Forge Shop, Lin Mo saw a young, strong Dwarf standing at the entrance of a shop not far away, holding a weapon and calling out to passersby.

Unlike Old Rell's quiet forge shop, there were clearly far more adventurers gathered around this one. He patiently answered every customer's questions, looking as though he had endless energy.

Lin Mo slowly walked over. Before he even entered, the enthusiastic owner waved to him. "Hello, customer. Is there anything you need?"

"I'll look around first..."

Lin Mo waved his hand. He was not used to such proactive service.

"Sure thing. Take your time."

Lin Mo entered the shop. Rows upon rows of weapons sat on the shelves, clearly far more numerous than those in Old Rell's shop. Small groups of adventurers stood before the shelves, examining them carefully. Some had even come with their entire parties.

"Evan, you've been using that sword for almost two years, right? You made quite a bit of money on the last job. Aren't you considering replacing it?"

The young man named Evan scratched his head. He looked at the sword in his hand, which had several chips in it, and hesitated. "Forget it. It looks a little worn, but it still feels good to use. Besides, the money I have isn't enough to buy any decent weapon. I'll save up some more..."

After saying that, he turned to the short-haired girl in a fitted emerald-green outfit beside him. "Miriam, is there a weapon you like? If you don't have enough, I can lend you some."

Miriam carefully examined the shelf in front of her. Three rows of wooden bows of varying quality were displayed there, and because they were made from different materials, their prices varied greatly.

The bows on the top row were made of sturdy Iron Thorn Wood. They were entirely black, sleek and glossy, and very beautiful.

But they were also extremely expensive, costing a full 5 Gold Coins!

The middle row was made of white oak. The bows were entirely white and equally sturdy and durable.

Their price was 1 Gold Coin and 80 Silver Coins.

The bottom row held more ordinary Mulberry Wood Bows, the most common type of bow, costing only 90 Silver Coins.

Miriam had previously used a Mulberry Wood Bow. During their last mission, however, a goblin had gotten too close. She used the bow to block its attack, and it was smashed apart after only a few blows.

If Evan had not rescued her in time, the next things to break would probably have been her bones.

Because of the shadow that incident had left behind, Miriam truly did not want to buy another ordinary Mulberry Wood Bow.

But the Iron Thorn Bow on the top row was far too expensive. A price of 5 Gold Coins was simply too distant for a Black Iron rank adventurer.

The White Oak Bow in the middle, at 1 Gold Coin and 80 Silver Coins, was at least barely within reach.

She took out her money pouch, counted it, and looked at Evan beside her. "Can you lend me 80 Silver Coins?"

"Of course!"

Without another word, Evan handed her his money pouch.

The party leader, the middle-aged Knight Bern, helplessly shook his head. Still, he was no longer surprised by this.

Everyone, including Miriam herself, could see what Evan was thinking. One was willing, and the other was willing to accept it, so there was not much he could say.

Young people...

Lin Mo withdrew his gaze and looked at the weapons before him.

Compared to Old Rell's shop, the young Dwarf forge shop indeed had a certain price advantage.

The cheapest swords could be bought for only 40 Silver Coins, but they were not much better than the broken sword Lin Mo already had, so they were not worth considering.

The somewhat presentable ones cost around 1 Gold Coin, 20 Silver Coins cheaper than Old Rell's.

Still...

Novice Sword

Weapon Type: One-Handed Sword

Grade: Common (White)

Attributes: Endurance -20%, Durability -10%

Description: An utterly ordinary one-handed sword. Due to the young blacksmith's insufficient patience and still-immature craftsmanship, it may not be very sturdy or durable.

Compared to Old Rell's consistently reliable work, the young Dwarf blacksmith Edgar was indeed still lacking some polish.

Lin Mo shifted his gaze to the swords on the top shelf.

Compared to the swords on the middle shelf, the blades of the top-row swords were visibly brighter.

Not only were the blades different, but the materials used for their hilts were different as well. The guards were engraved with patterns representing Edgar's Forge Shop. They were clearly the owner's proudest works.

In terms of craftsmanship alone, they were not inferior to the finest weapons in Old Rell's shop.

But the prices on their labels made Lin Mo shift his gaze away without the slightest hesitation.

3 Gold Coins and 20 Silver Coins. Even selling himself would not be enough to buy one...

In the end, he focused on the swords on the middle shelf.

Lin Mo carefully examined them one by one. To outsiders, and even to Edgar himself, these swords did not seem all that different, but Lin Mo could clearly see the distinctions between them.

This one's not bad...

In the end, Lin Mo's gaze settled on the sixth sword in the row.

With Endurance +30% and Durability +10%, it was the highest-quality weapon in this batch, and the only one that surpassed Old Rell's craftsmanship.

The price of 95 Silver Coins was also acceptable. Even if he bought this sword, he would not have to worry about lacking money for other supplies.

Just as Lin Mo was about to pick up the sword and see if he could bargain down the price, a rugged-looking Half-beastman adventurer suddenly entered from outside.

"Boss, do you buy old weapons?"

As he spoke, he slapped the sword in his hand onto the counter. "I picked this up in a goblin nest during my last adventure. How much do you think it's worth?"

Edgar did not mind the Half-beastman's rough manner. He picked up the sword, inspected it carefully, ran his hand over the blade, and shook his head. "The sword doesn't look bad, but the workmanship isn't very good, and the material is mediocre. It also looks like it's been used for a long time. If you want to sell it, I can only offer 50 Silver Coins."

"50 Silver Coins it is!"

The Half-beastman's eyes lit up. It was already good enough that he could sell it at all. This price exceeded his expectations.

"Wait..."

Just as Edgar was about to take out the money, Lin Mo walked over and looked at the Half-beastman. "Since you're selling it anyway, how about selling it to me? I'll also offer 50 Silver Coins."

He then turned to the young Dwarf beside him. "Boss, you don't mind, do you?"

"Not at all."

Edgar waved his hand generously. "Honestly, I didn't really want to buy it either. It'd be a hassle to refurbish, and I might as well forge a new sword myself. If you want it, take it."

Lin Mo counted out fifty Silver Coins and handed them to the Half-beastman adventurer.

"Good, good."

The Half-beastman adventurer took the money and walked away with a cheerful grin.

Lin Mo picked up the sword and left the forge shop expressionlessly.

Only after walking some distance and turning into an alley with few people did he finally take out the sword, his eyes gleaming.

Flawed Cleaving Sword

Weapon Type: One-Handed Sword

Grade: Common (White)

Attributes: Endurance -30%, Durability -20%, Sharpness +10%

Hidden Attribute: Cleaving skill damage +5%

There was no doubt that Lin Mo had scored an absolute bargain!

Just as Edgar had said, the sword's material was mediocre, and the workmanship was not very good either. It had pursued sharpness too excessively, resulting in poor endurance and durability.

It had to be said that the Dwarves truly had sharp eyes when it came to weapons.

But a sword's hidden attributes were not something one could see just from its appearance!

Especially for low-quality weapons like this, where the improvement was not that obvious, one normally had to use them personally for a long time and compare them to other weapons before being able to tell.

But Lin Mo was different. He had a cheat. With a single glance, he could see this weapon's hidden attributes.

Although this sword was not very durable or sturdy, those problems did not matter if it was only used as a temporary replacement. Instead, he had gained 10% Sharpness, making it easier to cut down monsters.

Combined with the percentage bonus to cleaving skills, a trait perfectly suited to Lin Mo, getting a weapon like this for 50 Silver Coins was unquestionably an enormous profit.