People Look Down on This Old Woman from the Bottom of Their Hearts

After entering E-Rantel.

The Rock team's escort mission was considered complete. Next, they naturally had to head to the Adventurer's Guild here, submit the commission, and collect their payment.

However...

Under Tang Zheng's Healing Magic, the team leader, Dosari, had fully recovered. He exchanged glances with the others, their faces showing some shame, then hurried over to the carriage.

"Lord Bareare!"

"Thank you for taking care of us along the way. We didn't really help with anything, so we won't be claiming the payment for this commission."

Team leader Dosari gave Grandma Lizzie a deep bow and spoke gratefully.

If not for her dealing with those two Trolls, their entire team might well have died there in the condition they had been in.

Grandma Lizzie glanced lightly at team leader Dosari. For the first time, a smile appeared on her wrinkled face as she looked at the Rock team. "All right, I understand."

Clearly.

Saving a sum of money made Grandma Lizzie happy.

Team leader Dosari then thanked Nfirea, who was sitting in the carriage, before returning to the group.

"Tang, remember to come find me."

As the carriage departed, Nfirea waved toward Tang Zheng.

Tang Zheng's deliberate efforts to communicate with Nfirea during this period had already led Nfirea to regard him as a good friend.

"I will." Tang Zheng smiled and waved back, though his gaze remained completely calm.

To be honest.

Tang Zheng was filled with gratitude toward Nfirea.

Not only had he obtained the General Class Genius from him, but he had also obtained the two life classes Pharmacist and Alchemist.

Precisely because of this.

The longer Tang Zheng stayed in contact with Nfirea, the more likely it was that Nfirea would leak information about him in the future.

If that happened—

Tang Zheng's hand unconsciously rested on the short sword hanging from his waist, lightly pressing against the hilt.

Only after the fact.

The cool sensation of the short sword's hilt made Tang Zheng suddenly come back to his senses.

What was this...

Was the pressure too great?

"Huff."

Tang Zheng exhaled, then turned to look at the Rock team beside him. "Everyone, I should be going too."

"Hahaha!"

"We have you to thank for this journey as well, Tang. If you ever need anything, just ask."

The older twin brother, Land, patted his chest and spoke cheerfully.

Tang Zheng hurriedly waved his hand. "If anyone should be thanking someone, it should be me. I learned quite a lot from all of you."

Clink~ Clink~

"Take this." Team leader Dosari suddenly pulled a black cloth pouch from his clothes. The sound of metal clinking came from inside as he shook it.

Before Tang Zheng could react.

Team leader Dosari had already stuffed the black pouch into Tang Zheng's hands.

Feeling the familiar texture inside the pouch, Tang Zheng knew that it contained gold coins.

"This is..." Tang Zheng was somewhat confused. He raised his hand, wanting to push the money back.

"I don't have much money on me. Just don't complain that it's too little. There's no need to be polite."

"If it weren't for you, I'm afraid this leg of mine would have been ruined."

Team leader Dosari spoke with a serious expression. At the same time, he raised that leg and stamped it forcefully on the ground.

Considering that the leg had originally been completely crushed by the Troll, the Recovery Potions they carried could hardly do anything for an injury of that level.

They had been in the wilderness.

They had no idea how far away the nearest city was. Even if they could make it back in time and find a Faith-based System Magic Caster capable of using Healing Magic,

by then!

Even if his leg recovered, it would still have lasting aftereffects.

If not for Tang Zheng's timely treatment, team leader Dosari felt that he truly would have had to say goodbye to his adventurer career.

Seeing team leader Dosari's firm, unyielding attitude.

Tang Zheng fell silent for a moment, then stopped refusing out of politeness. "All right, I'll accept it."

After saying this.

Tang Zheng nodded to the members of the Rock team, then turned and left.

Watching Tang Zheng's back gradually merge into the crowd and disappear.

The cheerful look that had originally been on team leader Dosari's face turned pained and bitter.

"What a shame. This commission cost us an arm and a leg." The Archer Bask complained.

Land and Lerr exchanged glances and sighed at the same time.

They had maintained a friendly attitude toward Tang Zheng throughout the journey precisely so they could invite him after completing the commission.

But in the end.

They were almost at E-Rantel when something like that happened. Not only had they nearly been wiped out, they had even been saved by Tang Zheng.

In this situation, the people of the Rock team were clearly too embarrassed to invite Tang Zheng again.

"Why are you all hanging your heads?"

"Although we didn't manage to invite Tang, we've gotten to know him. There will always be opportunities in the future."

"Keep working hard and strive to advance to a Gold Rank adventurer team as soon as possible!" Team leader Dosari patted his cheeks, once again revealing a hearty smile as he spoke loudly.

"Yes, Captain!"

"Yes, Captain!"

"Yes, Captain!"

The three of them also grinned and replied.

On the other side.

The Bareare grandmother and grandson drove away in their carriage.

Grandma Lizzie glanced from the corner of her eye at Nfirea, who seemed somewhat dejected after parting ways with Tang Zheng, and shook her head almost imperceptibly.

Because of Nfirea's personality, her grandson had never had many friends.

That boy named Tang looked only a little older than her grandson, making them roughly the same age. In addition, he was a talented Magic Caster from the Faith-based System.

The two of them becoming friends or something would not be a bad thing.

However—

"Nfirea." Grandma Lizzie spoke faintly as she drove the carriage.

"Grandmother?" Nfirea raised his head.

"Unless necessary in the future, try to have as little contact as possible with that boy named Tang." Grandma Lizzie spoke.

Nfirea froze and was just about to say something.

"I know what you want to say, but this old woman still has a good eye for people. Your grandmother would never harm you."

Grandma Lizzie continued speaking. Knowing that someone Nfirea's age would easily become stubborn once he made up his mind about something, she added:

"That boy looks gentle and easy to approach, but in reality, he's exactly the opposite. What I mean is, that boy probably has a barrier between himself and outsiders deep down."

"The friendly attitude he shows you is probably just an act."

"On top of that, considering the wariness he reveals toward outsiders, someone like him either has a complicated background or is dealing with some serious trouble."

Upon hearing this, Nfirea straightened his upper body, his face slightly flushed as he tried to argue. "But, Grandmother..."

"Ah."

Grandma Lizzie sighed. She swung the whip in her hand, striking the horses with a sharp crack and interrupting Nfirea.

"Nfirea, did you notice how the Rock team acted after this old woman dealt with those two Trolls?"

Nfirea froze.

Naturally, he had noticed. In fact, it could not have been more obvious—the Rock team had been extremely respectful toward his grandmother.

Nfirea was not stupid. He knew that his grandmother was not talking about the Rock team's attitude, but Tang Zheng's.

He could not help recalling Tang Zheng's attitude.

Tang Zheng had been just as respectful!

But—

Now that Nfirea thought back on it, he always felt that Tang Zheng's respect had been somewhat different from the Rock team's, yet he could not put his finger on how.

"His acting is too poor."

"They look down on this old woman from the bottom of their hearts."

Grandma Lizzie spoke indifferently.

Nfirea opened and closed his mouth, then remained silent.