Vixen

The boss's delay, and the business he mentioned, were both related to that fox-like woman.

The beautiful fox intended to find a team to escort her away from Lion City to Long River Town.

She found the tavern owner to act as an intermediary—this was a common practice. Taverns were rich sources of information, and most tavern owners knew many adventurer teams.

The reason the tavern owner was so eager was obvious: he clearly thought the woman was trouble and didn't want such trouble lingering in his establishment for too long.

Yet, he couldn't simply kick her out—the woman was a noble.

Of course, it wasn't impossible that the boss harbored some unrealistic thoughts about the woman himself...

"A woman like that must be quite famous? What's her name?"

Li Ang didn't want to stir up trouble, but curiosity was a powerful thing, and a certain male instinct compelled him to ask the question.

"She is indeed very famous... Her name is Sarah, 'Vixen' Sarah, a renowned traveling bard."

Li Ang blinked.

So she was Sarah...

A noble, traveling alone, a stunningly beautiful bard... coupled with a nickname like "Vixen," it was enough to indicate Sarah's style of conduct and unique abilities.

Having someone like her in the team could certainly bring unexpected help to the pioneer territory—especially when facing situations that couldn't be resolved by combat alone.

Li Ang decided to have a chat with that beautiful fox.

He then wolfed down his food and went downstairs with the tavern owner—not out of impatience, he was genuinely hungry.

Sarah was sitting in a corner of the tavern, gently strumming a pipa-like wooden instrument.

A mug of ale sat on the table.

"I am Li Ang Griffin, a Pioneer Lord. The boss said you were looking for a team to take you to Long River Town?"

Li Ang cut straight to the chase, sitting opposite Sarah and getting right to the point.

The boss thoughtfully brought over a mug of ale and placed it in front of Li Ang: "This one's on the house." He then nodded at a slightly bewildered Sarah, signaling that he had indeed spoken to Li Ang, before returning to his bar.

Sarah smiled faintly and studied Li Ang seriously. "What a handsome young man... Mr. Li Ang, I think I saw you this afternoon..."

It seemed Sarah had also been in the establishment when that unfortunate drunk had caused trouble earlier.

Li Ang pursed his lips. "Let's get down to business, Miss Sarah. Are you in some kind of trouble that requires you to leave Lion City?"

This was rather impolite for a noble. But the smile on Sarah's face didn't change at all, as if she didn't mind in the least.

"It's not exactly major trouble... It's just that there's a clingy fellow who intends to marry me, and he doesn't care whether I want to or not..."

Sarah spoke quite calmly, suggesting that this wasn't the first time she'd encountered such a situation...

Afterward, Sarah told Li Ang her story.

As a traveling bard, she had journeyed through various cities across the continent, her footsteps having covered half of it.

The funds that supported her travels came from the services she provided to nobles in different regions—she was an excellent singer with a melodious voice, highly sought after at various banquets.

Of course, if the reward was sufficient, or if she liked her employer, she could also 'entertain' in other ways—her charms weren't limited to her singing voice.

But such a life inevitably led to certain 'clients' becoming persistent...

Li Ang noticed the throwing knives and long sword at her waist, and the calluses on her fingers—only a skilled warrior would have such calluses.

Clearly, she had needed to resort to force to escape certain 'clingy' clients more than once...

This time, however, she had encountered a client who pursued her madly, and whom she couldn't escape using violence—it was the Duke's son.

Perhaps by coincidence, perhaps by fate, that client was none other than Foucher, the illegitimate son and Li Ang's client at the arena in Mistveil City.

"Miss Sarah, Foucher had an accident on the west coast—he's crippled... I don't think he'll be back in Lion City anytime soon, so you don't need to worry so much."

After careful consideration, Li Ang decided to tell Sarah the truth.

"Mr. Li Ang knows even that... It's precisely because I just received news of his crippling that I must leave as soon as possible. I believe you can imagine the reason."

Li Ang paused, then shook his head with a wry smile. "Alright, that's true enough..."

A dissolute young master, crippled and with nothing to do, would naturally have plenty of free time for things like forcing marriage upon a beautiful woman, and his family background would ensure his impunity.

By the time Foucher returned to Lion City, Sarah might indeed find it very difficult to leave.

"If that's the case, why don't you just leave on your own now? I believe, with your skills, it shouldn't be difficult to travel to Long River Town by yourself?"

Li Ang gestured to the sword on Sarah's person.

Sarah directly pulled out her purse and flipped it upside down, shaking it.

Only a few pathetic silver coins fell out.

Those were Dirhams, one Dinar, roughly equivalent to ten Dirhams.

In fact, in Pendor, Dirhams were the currency most commonly used by ordinary people. One silver coin like this could buy about two kilograms of bread.

The few silver coins in Sarah's hand were likely enough to sustain her at the inn for only one more day.

"Foucher's personality is rather unpleasant. Ever since he started bothering me, no noble in Lion City dared to do business with me... To avoid his household servants, I've even had to hide in this inn and only dare to come out at night."

Sarah's expression finally changed, showing a hint of helplessness.

The tavern was quiet at night, so the bard naturally didn't earn much.

A beautiful woman with no money, wanting to travel to Long River Town alone, would indeed face difficulties...

"So, Miss Sarah, are you looking for an employer?"

"Yes. As you've probably guessed, I can use a sword, and I'm quite good at it. I can also compose songs to spread tales of your pioneering achievements across the continent. Of course, there are other services I can offer—if you require them, Mr. Li Ang."

Sarah blinked her large, watery eyes at Li Ang.

Li Ang looked at the 'vixen' and, quite naturally, thought of the bed again.

He sat up straighter, pulled a handful of gold coins from his pocket, and began counting them.

"What I need are, of course, some more... special services, Miss Sarah."

Sarah also sat up straighter, propping her chin on her hands, her smile becoming even more alluring.

"I want you to be in charge of my team's social affairs—I need your knowledge of the customs and traditions you've encountered traveling the continent, your understanding of various heresies and mysterious faiths, and also information about nobles from different regions—detailed information, including the color of their underwear..."

Sarah was stunned, her delicate face filled with disbelief.

She didn't snap out of it until Li Ang finished counting his money.

"Here are one hundred dinars. I believe that's enough to hire you for quite some time?"

Sarah mechanically accepted the money, her expression still a bit dazed.

"May I ask your surname, Miss Sarah?"

"I'm very sorry... I cannot reveal my surname... it would only bring shame upon it. But I promise, this will be the only thing I hide from you, Lord Li Ang."

Li Ang nodded seriously, his eyes devoid of any lecherous intent.

" 'Vixen' Sarah has joined your team."