Friendly Arm

The journey to the Friendly Arm was uneventful, save for a few stray goblins and mad apes. These unfortunate creatures were less an attack and more a diversion for the soldiers, like the crude jokes of an old pervert.

Zhang Yuan himself struck while the iron was hot, seizing an opportunity to kill a goblin. When the poor creature, fleeing from other soldiers, blundered into him, it was a swift end with a single sword stroke.

Despite getting a kill, the person who acquired the head felt no joy. There was no luck involved, and his status panel remained unchanged.

With his last shred of hope extinguished, Zhang Yuan finally gave up. He cleaned his longsword, gathered his spoils, and continued on his way.

As evening approached, just before the sun's last rays dipped below the horizon, everyone finally reached the Friendly Arm.

Perhaps due to its strategic location, or perhaps because the nearby Sharp Teeth Forest was too restless, the Friendly Arm's appearance was vastly different from a typical inn. The tall buildings were square, constructed from solid blocks of granite, and a stone wall nearly three meters high enclosed the entire courtyard, stables, servant quarters, and a Temple of Wisdom.

Yes, there was a temple as well. The head priest of the Temple of Wisdom was the innkeeper Banterley's wife, Galana Mirrorimage. It was no wonder the place was so famous; the Friendly Arm seemed to cater to every need of merchants and adventurers.

By the time Lady Night Shar made her grand entrance, everyone had already entered the Friendly Arm's inn.

Pushing open the main door and parting the hanging curtains, a scene that exuded romance – depicting journeys, adventures, rest, and joy – unfolded before their eyes.

The grand hall's high ceiling was adorned with hanging red lanterns and colorful ribbons. Round tables were laden with fragrant, tempting food and rich, aromatic wine. Waitresses, like butterflies, flitted between guests and tables, occasionally letting out a coy gasp of feigned shyness when encountering a lecherous touch.

A bright flame blazed in the fireplace to the left, the burning charcoal crackling and popping, with sparks restlessly leaping above the roasting rack. A golden-brown roast chicken diffused its delicious aroma, mingling with the warmth of the fire throughout the hall.

To the right stood a small stage built of wooden planks, where beautiful women in vibrant dancing dresses performed an energetic jig dance, accompanied by a minstrel playing his lute.

The cheers of the surrounding audience, the toasting of the diners, the banter and laughter among adventurers, and the polite smiles and flattery exchanged between merchants filled the air.

This was what a stranger saw and heard upon their first visit to the Friendly Arm. This fortress-like inn was leagues beyond any inn in Baldur's Gate.

Even having visited Elven Song, the most luxurious inn in Baldur's Gate, he had never witnessed such a throng of boisterous guests, such a grand and magnificent layout, and such alluring beauties.

Weaving through the crowd were not just waitresses, but also charming women dressed to the nines. Some flirted raucously with their chosen partners, others scanned the room for potential clients, or perhaps…

"You old fool, you want to save even this little bit of money? Go home and find a cow to live with." A disheveled woman grabbed a man with somewhat graying hair.

"No, others only charge three or four silver coins, why do you want a gold piece for just one afternoon?" the unfortunate man tried to explain.

"What's that got to do with me? If you were any good, I wouldn't mind a few times, but you're a weakling who can't even manage one. Pay up!" This particular worker in a special industry was quite feisty and wouldn't be cheated.

Seeing how everyone's attention was gradually drawn to the woman's shouting, and people started pointing at him, the man, too embarrassed to bear it any longer, quickly paid and fled shamefacedly.

"If you don't have the 'capital,' don't come to me. But if there's any confident good man, hmm~" As she spoke, the woman let out a long, alluring hum that tickled the heart. "I'll accompany you to the very end~" After saying that, she deliberately leaned forward, her loose collar unable to conceal the two soft, lively mounds of creamy white.

Scandalous! Utterly scandalous! Zhang Yuan, staring intently at the scene, severely criticized the woman's licentious behavior in his heart.

As a person of high education and upright morals, he was almost eager to offer this woman some guidance and forcefully criticize and correct her actions.

But he stopped himself, because he had no money.

Money, the root of all evil, had once again obstructed the spread of advanced thought and culture, and once again caused the already low moral standards of Faerûn to slip further into the Abyss.

The ex-committee chairman of otherworldly moral (and common sense) inspection, leaving in resentment, could only go and wait with his teammates for the captain and the innkeeper's negotiations.

Zhang Yuan, who thought he wouldn't be needed for anything, was still looking around with his teammates, commenting on the pretty women, when Skar suddenly approached him. "Kid, had enough of looking at beauties? Something more interesting awaits you." With that, he patted the back of his rookie's head.

Having nothing else to do, Zhang Yuan followed Skar to their destination and found himself by the counter, where the owner, Banterley Mirrorimage, stood.

His cheap captain walked up and exchanged a few words with Banterley, then beckoned Zhang Yuan over.

The obedient Zhang Yuan inwardly grumbled, What a waste of time, not looking at beautiful women to look at an old male gnome? What's so interesting about this?

"This is the master of the Friendly Arm, Lord Banterley Mirrorimage, and also a level 11 Archmage," Skar introduced him solemnly.

"Ah, don't brag about old Banterley for me. What Archmage am I? I've only just reached the threshold of being a high-level mage," the innkeeper explained very humbly. "Is this the young mage you mentioned who went to be a mercenary, Charnem?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yuan, who now roughly understood why Skar had sought him out, first nodded at Skar, then respectfully replied to Banterley, "I am Charnem. It is a great honor to meet you, sir."

After speaking, Zhang Yuan felt a flicker of anticipation. This was his first opportunity to interact with another high-level spellcaster. What if the other party recognized his exceptional talent and entrusted him with their legacy? Should he accept, accept, or accept?

However, such easy things don't happen in the world.

Banterley said, "I also sell some magic items. As a junior mage, you might want to buy some scrolls for self-defense. I can give you a discounted price; you won't get this treatment elsewhere."

This was an unexpected surprise. Zhang Yuan hadn't considered buying spell scrolls before, but the price was beyond his means. Even the cheapest level 1 scroll cost five gold coins, and his entire fortune could only buy three scrolls, not to mention robes and other magic items.

Banterley didn't say much more and tossed a scroll over. Upon receiving and examining it, Zhang Yuan realized that this enchanted scroll was remarkably similar to an electronic menu from his previous life.

On the small piece of parchment, as his finger slid across it, various items were displayed, constantly changing. Not only did it include detailed descriptions of the items, but it even allowed browsing by category.

The sheer variety of items on the scroll made Zhang Yuan's eyes widen, wanting to buy everything. But a glance at the prices quickly calmed him down.

He'd stick to scrolls. Zhang Yuan, whose poverty instilled a sense of self-awareness, resolutely skipped over the other items and browsed the spell scroll section.