Harvest

"Kasuga Vasaramaini Vanessa." Perhaps thinking that merely giving her common name seemed insincere, Casca also told Gagnor her two Holy Names.

"Gagnor." The girl's appearance made Gagnor hesitate briefly, but in the end, he still did not reveal his Holy Name. It was an awareness and habit he had developed in the church.

The two chatted for a while.

Gagnor asked, "Don't you have any companions?"

Casca scratched her head, a hint of embarrassment and frustration appearing on her face. "I did. We originally agreed to come to the Tidal Lands together, but she changed her mind at the last moment."

"Your companion gave up. Why did you still insist on coming here?"

"I... I want to make money." The girl's answer was blunt. She then added, "Isn't that what most people who come here are thinking?"

"Indeed," Gagnor said. Even his own motives for entering the Tidal Lands had included a desire to make money, to some extent.

He glanced at the sky. "We should hurry back. The moon is about to rise."

"Don't we still have a day left?" Casca was startled, then suddenly understood. "Oh, I see. You're third-tier. No wonder you were able to defeat that Water Elemental!"

Third-tier?

Gagnor realized that the Serpent's Cut Line's level restriction had risen to third tier last night. That meant he could stay here for another day.

If the Serpent's Cut Line's level restriction still had not dropped by tomorrow night, he could continue staying.

But Gagnor did not want to remain any longer. So, in response to Casca's words, he did not deny it and rose to leave.

A trace of hesitation flashed through Casca's eyes. In the end, she said, "Forget it. I'll leave with you too. This place really is dangerous."

The two then set off together on the return journey.

On the way, Gagnor learned more about Casca and found out that she worked under Loha.

Her job was underground boxing.

No wonder her hair was so short. If a fighter dared to grow long hair, it would probably get yanked off her head until she was bald in the ring.

Professional boxing might restrict moves like hair-pulling, but it went without saying that Loha, who ran a ring in the slums, had set fairly unrestrained rules for his matches. Gagnor had heard a little about that as well.

Several hours later, the two successfully left the Tidal Lands.

"Casca!"

As soon as they crossed the Serpent's Cut Line, a blonde girl with wavy hair ran over. Seeing Casca's sorry appearance, covered in water and dust, her eyes reddened. "I'm sorry. I should have gone in with you."

Casca shook her head. "It's nothing. You were right. It's dangerous in there, and I didn't get anything..."

The blonde girl then noticed Gagnor nearby. "Who's he?"

"His name is Gagnor. He saved me," Casca said.

"Thank you." The blonde girl thanked Gagnor.

"It was nothing." Gagnor smiled and waved his hand, then turned and left.

Watching the handsome young man in a pharmacist's robe with a bow on his back and a sword in hand, the blonde girl suddenly fell silent for some reason.

"Ellie?" Casca's voice brought her back to herself. "What's wrong?"

The blonde girl shook her head slightly, a trace of wistful emotion mixed into her voice. "I just feel that you may have gained something very important..."

Casca blinked, baffled. "Huh? What did I gain?"

"How can you be as dense as a man?" the blonde girl said irritably.

Casca was even more confused. The blonde girl could not be bothered to explain, and the two left just like that.

Meanwhile, Gagnor had barely walked a few steps when the Gray Eagle Mercenaries' captain stopped him. "Inspection of your spoils!"

Only then did Gagnor remember that according to the Gray Hawk Mercenary Group's rules, mercenaries had to hand over part of the spoils they obtained.

His thoughts turned. "I'm a pharmacist. My contract contains no spoils clause."

"This..." The captain was suddenly unsure what to do.

Fortunately, Ryan arrived in time. "Gagnor is right. I was there when he signed his contract, and pharmacist contracts indeed contain no spoils clause."

"All right." Only then did the captain let the matter drop.

Gagnor and Ryan walked to one side.

"Why did you only come out now? I thought you had died in there," Ryan said.

"Something unexpected happened, but fortunately, it was dangerous without causing any real harm." Gagnor only said, "How are the others?"

Ryan sighed. "Aside from John, many people still haven't returned. I heard you encountered more than a dozen Forest Trolls?"

Gagnor said, "There were also those Heretics you mentioned. I didn't expect them to attack us together with the trolls."

"That's what Yemen's followers are like," Ryan said.

After a moment, he asked, "So, did you gain anything from this trip?"

Gagnor did not waste words. He took out everything except the Blood Elf relics. "Just these."

Ryan picked up a Bloodsail Pirates badge and looked somewhat surprised. "Where did you get this thing?"

Gagnor briefly recounted how he had rescued Casca.

Ryan's expression turned strange. "You mean you defeated the 'Water Elemental' by yourself?"

Gagnor said nothing and merely nodded. He also realized that this achievement seemed rather impressive.

"Looks like my previous impression of you wasn't accurate." Ryan laughed and clapped Gagnor on the shoulder. "Either way, well done!"

Although the Bloodsail Pirates and the Gray Hawk Mercenary Group both officially belonged to the Duchy of Nordanlun and were followers of Mosa, they had always been at odds privately. Most of the Gray Hawk Mercenaries wished the Bloodsail Pirates would just die already.

Gagnor said, "I think I heard earlier that Bloodsail Pirates badges can be exchanged for money?"

"That's right, but you have to exchange them at the Black Market." Ryan nodded. He examined the three Bloodsail Pirates badges. "These two aren't worth much, but the 'Water Elemental's' badge can be exchanged for dozens of silver coins. That fellow wasn't some nobody."

"Oh, right. There's also this map of the Shattered Isles. It doesn't look like a public map, so it should be worth some money too." He continued, "Although you didn't get any Everlasting Moss, you still gained quite a bit from this trip. At least it went much better than my first trip to the Tidal Lands."

Gagnor asked, "Where is the Black Market you mentioned?"

"Raven Inn. Anything in South Sea Town that can't see the light of day is basically there," Ryan said. "I can take you there to have a look, but not recently. I have to deliver a letter in a few days."

The two chatted for a while longer, after which Gagnor returned to his tent to rest.

He had not slept for dozens of hours.

But he was not tired now. On the one hand, it was because he had drunk another Pain Relief Potion a few hours ago. On the other, he needed to level up first.

Experience: 455/400 (Level-up available)

Full of anticipation, Gagnor decided to level up. Just like last time, the available Holy Names appeared before his eyes like stars filling the sky!