Orcs' Plight

"We came from the Northern Highlands. We were once the giants' slaves. Even after escaping, nothing could be changed..."

Lynn did not know much about Orc history. He only knew that they had wandered this continent for centuries. Cruelty and bloodlust were in their nature, and even with legal restraints, they found it hard to be accepted by other races.

Gray continued, "I've been a three-star Adventurer for many years. To be honest, I've saved quite a bit of money... But Yaxia law states that only citizens can purchase property here."

So that's it... Lynn understood. Because he was unwelcome due to being an Orc and could not obtain a Yaxia Kingdom "green card," he wanted to clear his name through volunteer work.

Still, the Yaxia Kingdom was already considered relatively tolerant. It was itself a multiracial nation, also known as the "Mixed Kingdom."

"Indeed." Lumi flipped to the bottom of the file and found Gray's personal record. "You've been doing volunteer work for so many years? Aren't you short on points?"

"More or less enough, but I also plan to get married." Gray raised a claw-tipped finger and scratched his chin, his gaze somewhat evasive.

"Get married..." Lumi wore an expression that said it was hard to put into words, but in the end, he softened and forcibly swallowed the harsh words on his tongue.

"Wait." Elaine suddenly interjected, blinking her bright green eyes. "Mr. Gray, could your beloved be Ms. Becky?"

When Gray nodded awkwardly, she immediately launched into an enthusiastic chatter. "The news that you confessed to Ms. Becky caused such a stir in Roan City back then! It even made the most popular Roan Daily. Everyone talked about it for ages. Ms. Becky is a wonderful person. You two will definitely find happiness..."

The Orc's expression was somewhat strained. "Miss Elaine, thank you..."

Then he changed the subject, seemingly unwilling to discuss his relationship any further. "However, I may not be able to help you search for that friend for now."

Lynn immediately voiced his doubt. "Did you really see Elaine's friend?"

He had never understood it. If this had been an ordinary job, why had Gray asked Elaine to join? Healing mages had few offensive methods.

"Of course." Gray's tone immediately turned cold. He had clearly understood Lynn's implication. "She was a beautiful blonde woman. My team saw her deep within the Whispering Forest.

"Miss Elaine asked me to take her there, but I was worried that she lacked combat experience. This mission was meant to be an assessment. Only if she passed would my team accept the commission."

"So, did I pass?" Elaine desperately wanted a good answer. If a three-star Adventurer team was willing to assist her, things would become much easier.

"No, Miss Elaine. That is no longer important. I will not enter the Whispering Forest again for the time being, and I advise you not to go either. Accidents have been happening in the forest lately."

Lumi had been pacing about the small room to ease his irritation. At that moment, he suddenly spoke sternly:

"That won't do. You lost three mages. In the name of the Magic Association, I demand that you join the search-and-rescue team and bring them back!"

As he spoke, he took out a map of the Whispering Forest from his robe and spread it before Gray. "You should remember exactly where the incident occurred. Mark it out. Oh, and mark Miss Elaine's friend's location as well."

This guy is pretty considerate. He knows about Elaine and Barton's relationship, so he's deliberately trying to ingratiate himself... Lynn thought silently.

When Gray heard him claim to be from the Magic Association, his face instantly turned extremely grim.

After a long while, he gave a quiet "Mm," accepted the pen Lumi handed him, and circled two locations on the map.

Lynn secretly observed him. The location he marked for the Crystal Monster incident on the outskirts of the forest was indeed correct.

Lumi took back the map and looked it over. After confirming it with Lynn and Elaine through a glance, he immediately prepared to discuss organizing a search-and-rescue team with the vice president.

Before leaving, he said to the two of them, "You've both worked hard. Go back and get some proper rest."

In other words, there was nothing left for the two of them to do.

Though they were victims too, they had not suffered any substantial losses...

Ugh, I barely even have enough money for dinner! Lynn frowned in worry.

"Lynn... right?" Gray suddenly called out to him.

When Lynn turned around, a dark shadow flew toward him.

"What's this?" He touched the pouch that had landed in his arms, and his expression immediately turned delighted. "Coins?"

"Two hundred and twenty silver coins. This is your reward. I traded the Crystal Monsters' eyes for it."

The Adventurer's Guild's reward exchange process was simple. Only one participant in a mission needed to bring the proof items to claim the reward.

These proof items were usually distinctive but relatively unimportant parts from magical creatures.

For example, the Crystal Monsters' glass-marble-like eyeballs. Worth mentioning, each Crystal Monster had only one eye.

Lynn opened the pouch for a look and was nearly blinded by the gleaming silver coins.

There were not only silver coins. Some dirty, unidentifiable objects were mixed in as well.

"Three pieces of Crystal Hard-Armor and a Mana Tentacle from a Mana-Sucking Monster. You killed them all, so your luck was pretty good. Oh, that Mana-Sucking Monster wasn't quite dead, so I finished it off for you."

The odds of low-level magical creatures leaving behind magical materials after death were very low. The value of these items alone far exceeded two hundred and twenty silver coins!

"But," Lynn asked conscientiously, "shouldn't I have only killed nine Crystal Monsters?"

Obviously, this also included the kills of the other three mages.

"They're yours. They aren't coming back... When I was trapped by those Skin-Rot Vines, I heard their screams." Gray's face darkened.

"Then why didn't you tell the Guild and Mr. Lumi about this?" Lynn asked.

The Guild and the Magic Association clearly did not know about it. Otherwise, they would not have been preparing to search for those three.

The tall, brawny warrior with an ugly face and a wild aura took a deep breath and said:

"I was afraid...

"If I said those young people died in front of me, they definitely wouldn't believe it. Instead, they would think I had some ulterior motive.

"This is the plight of Orcs. In other people's eyes, Orcs are always harboring sinister intentions.

"I had planned to join the search-and-rescue team and perform well... It could count as making up for my mistakes..."

The light in his eyes dimmed. He had been doing volunteer work for many years, but whether at the Adventurer's Guild or in town, he encountered judging eyes and questioning voices everywhere.

Only his teammates were willing to trust him.

Just as Elaine had read in the newspaper, he had indeed confessed to a woman he had admired for a long time. Yet her reaction had been completely different from what she had shown in the newspaper.

Her eyes had been full of disgust, and she had looked at him as though he were livestock. Even in bed, she used insults in place of moans of pleasure, as if he were merely an animal she kept.

"Lynn," Gray said slowly, "I beg you to testify for me. Because of your report, the Magic Association people will definitely keep suspecting me. You may know that those arrogant people have always looked down on us Orcs because we are born without even the slightest magical talent... They might casually find an excuse to expel me from this country!"

A trace of despair showed in his eyes.

Elaine was moved. She looked at Lynn. "How about we help him?"

Lynn also felt somewhat reluctant. Did I really misunderstand? Was Gray innocent?

Then this had been a random magical creature attack...

He suddenly felt that it had been incredibly lucky for Elaine and him to survive the attack.

But Lynn could do nothing about it.

"Mr. Gray, we were merely victims unfortunate enough to be caught up in an accident. We know nothing and simply cannot testify for you. Perhaps we can only hope that the Magic Association investigates all this fairly."

After saying that, Lynn sincerely thanked the Orc warrior, then took Elaine by the hand and left.