Welcome to the Fold

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

A hearty laugh echoed as Wells patted the dirt off his backside and stood up from the ground.

"Will, you're quite good. You almost hit me."

Havent switched the wooden sword to his left hand, shaking his slightly numb right hand. At the last moment, if he hadn't pulled back his wooden sword to block Wells's attack, he feared he would have been hit hard while striking.

"Hahaha, Uncle Wells, you're pretty good too. I really thought I had you just now."

Wells twisted his neck and said to Havent with a smile:

"Kid, your strength is good. Do you want to continue?"

"Then, did I pass?"

Wells slowly shook his head.

"No, kid. Although you're good, you're still just a child. I can't afford to be distracted protecting you during a fight."

Hearing Wells's words, Havent curled his lips in disdain.

"Then why did you say so much? Let's continue. Uncle Wells, I won't hold back this time."

"Hahahahahaha, bring it on, Will. Let me see how strong you are."

With that, he held his sword with both hands, took a half-crouch, and faced Havent, his smile gradually disappearing, his eyes bursting with intense fighting spirit.

Baki, watching his boss strike a fighting pose, quietly said to his companion beside him:

"The boss is getting serious. Tsk, tsk, but this kid is indeed impressive. If you had gone up, you would have probably fallen long ago."

A member of the Gale mercenary team, hearing Baki badmouthing him, elbowed him.

"You're talking nonsense. As if you could beat him."

On the other side, after the numbness in his right hand disappeared, Havent switched the wooden sword back. His feet constantly shifted, and he squinted at the now serious Wells.

"Uncle Wells, you'll have to keep up with my rhythm."

A cloud of dust kicked up as Havent swung his wooden sword and attacked rapidly. However, Wells, who was prepared, calmly blocked Havent's slash.

After a few dull thuds, Wells looked at the helpless Havent and smiled, saying:

"Will, since your attack is over, it's my turn now."

With that, he swept his sword horizontally, pushing Havent back. He held his sword with both hands in front of his chest and launched a series of thrusts at Havent. However, contrary to his expectation of Havent panicking under his assault, Havent handled his attacks with great ease, as if he had predicted them in advance.

Watching Havent dodge his attacks as if he were a butterfly dancing, Wells grew increasingly alarmed and involuntarily sped up his offensive rhythm.

"Good, good~ Uncle, faster, faster, even faster!"

Seeing Wells's rhythm falter, a glint flashed in Havent's eyes.

After blocking Wells's attack once more, he closed in and landed an elbow strike to the latter's chest.

Wells let out a muffled grunt, his face quickly turning red. Havent, having landed a hit, followed up with three quick and powerful slashes, forcing Wells to retreat.

However, after blocking these three blows with his wooden sword, Wells, with his strong physique, quickly regained his composure.

But it was clear that Havent wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by. Taking advantage of the opening, he delivered a powerful knee strike to Wells's abdomen.

Instantly, the latter arched his back uncontrollably, like a cooked shrimp.

Following up, Havent grabbed Wells's left shoulder and pulled down forcefully. He spun around the latter, jumped high, and swung his right wooden sword rapidly towards Wells's back.

With a loud bang.

Havent was sent flying into a nearby thatched hut. He struggled to get up from the roof and looked at his right hand. The wooden sword made of hard pine was now only half its original length.

"Hey, Uncle Wells, you promised! How can you cheat?"

Havent sat on the roof of the thatched hut and shouted indignantly at Wells below, who was emanating a faint yellow battle qi.

Wells looked at Havent and gave an embarrassed laugh, tossing the wooden sword in his hand aside.

"Hahahahahaha, it was an instinctive reaction, my body reacted instinctively. I have to say, your swordsmanship is truly impressive. If this were a real fight, I might already be dead. You win, Will."

Hearing the explanation and his victory acknowledged, Havent didn't press the issue further.

He jumped down from the thatched hut and gave Wells a swordsman's salute.

"Not at all, not at all. You're still more skilled, Uncle. I just took advantage of something you weren't expecting."

Wells looked at Havent with a sigh and then threw back the wallet that had contained 30 Silver Grols.

"Winning is winning. I'm really getting old. Perhaps after this trip, it's time for me to retire."

He then took a badge from his pocket and tossed it to Havent.

"Welcome to our ranks. Kid."

Havent caught the badge. It was made of brass, with an abstract pattern of a rushing gale. Seeing nothing special, he put it in his pocket.

"Thank you, Uncle Wells. I'm very happy to join you. Consider these thirty Silver Grols as my treat for everyone."

Looking at the money pouch back in his hands, Wells became even more emotional.

"This kid, honestly..."

Seeing Havent's smiling eyes, Wells put away the money pouch.

"Let's go, Will. We'll rest inside for a bit. I'll introduce you to the other team members when they get back."

Badian Tavern

After a few drinks, everyone's relationship quickly warmed up. Just then, the team members who had gone shopping also returned.

Upon hearing that the young fellow in front of them had defeated their boss in a sword fight, they repeatedly expressed their surprise. After all, their boss was a level 27 Shield Swordsman. While he was more adept at defensive counter-attacks, it didn't mean a beginner could actually defeat a higher-level opponent head-on. At least, they themselves couldn't.

Although Havent consistently stated that it was just a coincidence that his style countered the uncle's, and that Uncle Wells had gone easy on him during the match, allowing him to win by luck.

Wells, however, seemed unconcerned about his defeat. He had been a mercenary for over thirty years, and the hardships of his life had long since stripped him of his youthful impetuosity. Living and earning money was all that mattered.

'Old Wells' current thought is to earn as much money as he can for the village youngsters while he's still able to move around. It would be best if those who aren't married could get married quickly. That way, he won't be letting down the Village Chief, who took care of him when he was young.'

Watching Havent, who had already blended in with his teammates and was chatting and laughing, Wells raised his head and finished the dark beer in his mug.

'Youth is truly wonderful. Perhaps I should retire in another couple of years. This job should be enough to build a nice stone house for Little Paimon. That daughter of Dakoman's, she looks like she'd be a good mother.'