After entering E-Rantel.
Rock Squad's escort mission was considered complete. Next, they naturally needed to head to the Adventurer's Guild here to submit the commission and collect their reward.
However...
Under Tang Zheng's Healing Magic, Captain Dossari had fully recovered. He exchanged glances with the others in the team, shame on their faces, and quickly walked over to the carriage.
"Lady Bareare!"
"Thank you for looking after us along the way. We didn't help much either, so we won't take the payment for this commission."
Captain Dossari gave Grandma Lizzie a deep bow and spoke gratefully.
If she had not dealt with those two Trolls, given their condition at the time, their entire squad might have died there.
Grandma Lizzie gave Captain Dossari an indifferent glance. For the first time, a smile appeared on her wrinkled face toward Rock Squad. "All right, I understand."
Clearly.
Saving another sum of money made Grandma Lizzie happy.
Captain Dossari 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 in Tang Zheng's direction.
Tang Zheng's deliberate efforts to communicate with him during this time had already made Nfirea regard him as a good friend.
"I will." Tang Zheng smiled and waved back, though his gaze remained very calm.
To be honest.
Tang Zheng felt deeply grateful toward Nfirea.
Not only had he obtained the General Class Genius from him, but he had also gained the two life classes Potion Maker and Alchemist.
Precisely because of that.
The longer Tang Zheng spent in contact with Nfirea, the more likely Nfirea would be to leak information about him in the future.
If that happened—
Tang Zheng's hand unconsciously rested on the shortsword at his waist, lightly pressing against its hilt.
Only afterward did he realize it.
The cold touch of the sword hilt jolted Tang Zheng back to his senses.
Was he...
Under too much pressure?
"Ha..."
Tang Zheng exhaled, turned to Rock Squad beside him, and said, "Everyone, it's time for me to take my leave as well."
"Hahaha!"
"We owe you a lot for this journey too, Tang. If you ever need anything, just say the word."
The older twin, Lander, patted his chest and spoke heartily.
Tang Zheng quickly waved his hand. "I should be the one thanking you. I've learned quite a bit of experience from all of you."
Clink, clink.
"This is for you." Captain Dossari suddenly took out a Black cloth pouch from his clothes. It made the sound of metal striking metal as it swayed.
Before Tang Zheng could react.
Captain Dossari had already shoved the Black cloth pouch into his hand.
Feeling the familiar shapes inside the pouch, Tang Zheng knew it contained gold coins.
"This is..." Tang Zheng looked puzzled and raised his hand, intending to return the money.
"I didn't bring much money with me, so don't think it's too little. And there's no need to stand on ceremony."
"If it hadn't been for you, this leg of mine would probably have been ruined."
Captain Dossari spoke with a serious expression. At the same time, he lifted that leg and stomped hard on the ground.
Considering the damage from when that Troll had completely crushed his leg, the Recovery Potions they carried would have been of little use against an injury of that severity.
They were out in the wilderness.
They had no idea how far they were from the nearest city. Even if they had managed to return to the city in time and find a Divine System Magic Caster capable of using Healing Magic.
By then!
Even if his leg recovered, there would still be lasting complications.
If Tang Zheng had not treated him in time, Captain Dossari felt that he truly would have had to bid farewell to his life as an adventurer.
Seeing Captain Dossari's unyielding attitude.
Tang Zheng fell silent for a moment, then stopped refusing. "All right, I'll accept it."
After saying that.
Tang Zheng nodded to the members of Rock Squad and turned to leave.
They watched Tang Zheng's departing figure gradually disappear into the crowd.
The hearty expression on Captain Dossari's face turned into one of pain and bitterness.
"What a pity. This commission was a complete loss." Archer Bash grumbled.
Lander and Ler looked at each other and sighed at the same time.
They had maintained a friendly attitude toward Tang Zheng throughout the journey because they had planned to invite him after completing the commission.
In the end.
Just as they were nearing E-Rantel, that incident had happened. Not only had they nearly been wiped out, but Tang Zheng had saved them.
Under such circumstances, the members of Rock Squad were obviously too embarrassed to invite Tang Zheng again.
"Why are you all hanging your heads?"
"Although we didn't manage to invite Tang, we know him now. There will be opportunities in the future."
"Keep working hard and strive to become a Gold Rank adventurer team as soon as possible!" Captain Dossari slapped his cheeks, regained his cheerful smile, and shouted.
"Yes, Captain!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The three of them, including Lander, also replied with grins.
Elsewhere.
The Bareare grandparents drove away in their carriage.
Grandma Lizzie glanced from the corner of her eye at the somewhat dejected Nfirea after the parting and imperceptibly shook her head.
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. Furthermore, he was a Divine System Magic Caster with some talent.
It would not be bad for the two of them to become friends.
However—
"Nfirea." Grandma Lizzie spoke calmly as she drove the carriage.
"Grandma?" Nfirea raised his head.
"In the future, unless it's necessary, try to have as little contact as possible with that boy named Tang." Grandma Lizzie said.
Nfirea froze and was about to speak.
"I know what you want to say, but this old woman has some eye for people. Grandma won't harm you."
Grandma Lizzie continued. Knowing that at Nfirea's age, once he had made up his mind about something, he tended to become stubborn, she added:
"That boy looks gentle and easy to approach, but in reality, the opposite is true. I mean, he probably has a barrier in his heart against outsiders."
"The friendly manner he put on around you was probably an act."
"Combined with the vigilance he shows toward outsiders, someone like that either has a complicated background or is caught up in some serious trouble."
Hearing this, Nfirea straightened up, his face flushing slightly as he tried to argue. "But, Grandma..."
"Ah."
Grandma Lizzie sighed, flicked the whip in her hand against the horses with a sharp crack, and interrupted Nfirea.
"Nfirea, did you notice Rock Squad's attitude after this old woman dealt with those two Trolls?"
Nfirea froze.
Of course he had noticed. Or rather, it had been impossible not to notice. Rock Squad had been extremely respectful toward his grandmother.
Nfirea was not stupid. He knew his grandmother was not referring to Rock Squad's attitude, but Tang Zheng's.
He could not help recalling Tang Zheng's attitude.
Tang Zheng had also been very respectful!
However—
Now that Nfirea thought back on it, he felt Tang Zheng's respect had been different from Rock Squad's, though he could not explain exactly how.
"His acting was too poor."
"He looked down on this old woman from the bottom of his heart."
Grandma Lizzie said indifferently.
Nfirea opened his mouth, then remained silent.
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