As the sunset gradually sank into the valley, night swallowed the small town with its curling cooking smoke, leaving only scattered lights on the street where the Adventurers' Guild stood.
Old farmers who had toiled all day were heading home from the fields, while exhausted adventurers left the dungeon in twos and threes.
Ever since Thunder City's branch had raised the priority of Silverpine Town's commissions, the number of adventurers active in the area had suddenly multiplied like frogs by a pond after rain.
Old Ya Bo, hoe slung over his shoulder, was listlessly killing time while calculating when his neighbor's dinner would be ready.
It was not that he wanted to mooch a meal. The incident where he had run off and lost his shoes the day before yesterday had utterly humiliated him. Now people laughed whenever they saw him, and he truly had no face left to meet his neighbors' eyes.
Just then, he suddenly spotted Captain He Ba Er standing at the street corner and waving at him.
Out of curiosity, Old Ya Bo walked over.
Before he could ask what was going on, He Ba Er took the initiative with a mysterious look on his face.
"Want a drink?"
The booze craving in Old Ya Bo's belly was instantly stirred awake, and he nodded without a second thought.
"Yes, of course... but I don't have any money in my pocket, so don't get any ideas."
"Heh, listen to yourself. Am I that kind of person?"
He Ba Er chuckled, stuffed a stone necklace into his hand, then repeated to this seemingly honest but actually very dishonest fellow what the captain had taught him.
"I don't have money either, but those outsiders do... I'll teach you how to scam food and drinks."
Meanwhile, on another street across