Negotiation Check Failed

The performance ended.

Coins clinked, applause rose and fell, and the bard returned laden with rewards before trudging over to sit beside Marvin.

Slicked-back Hair snatched the coin pouch from the bard's hand. Seeing it stuffed full of earnings, he burst into delighted laughter, as happy as if he had received a kiss from the goddess Waukeen.

"Well done, Scumbag. We've got startup funds for our next adventure, and enough to treat your wounds too."

"As a core member of the squad, it's nothing. Even if I've lost my combat ability, I can still contribute to the team with my charm." A hint of pride appeared on the bard's pale face.

The rogue Toad let out a coarse snort of derision, clearly unimpressed.

The dwarven warrior was still lost in an ocean of liquor, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.

Slicked-back Hair, the captain, reined in his miserly nature and got down to business with Marvin. "Marvin, you've seen Scumbag's condition. He was poisoned by a goblin arrow, and he can barely walk normally, let alone fight. For our next adventure, we're short-handed and badly need a spellcaster. Would you be willing to team up with us temporarily?"

Slicked-back Hair knew Marvin was cautious by nature and seemed to prefer working alone, so he did not ask him to formally join the squad.

"Where are you planning to go?"

"To treat Scumbag's injury, we need a plant called Blue Glowcap Mushroom. I've asked Banlit to investigate. Wherever we can find that mushroom, that's where we'll go."

As it happened, no sooner had they mentioned Banlit than the gnome proprietor appeared at their table.

"Complimentary snack: black pepper chicken bites with Anauroch Desert mayonnaise." The gnome proprietor set down a steaming plate of fried chicken, then looked at the bard. "That performance was wonderful, Scumbag. Want a regular spot at the Friendly Arm Inn? We can discuss the pay."

"No, I'm a wanderer..."

Scumbag was about to refuse with a world-weary expression when Slicked-back Hair immediately covered his mouth. "Of course he does, Boss. We happen to be short on money. Performing on a grand stage like the Friendly Arm Inn is more than we could ask for."

The gnome proprietor nodded. Ignoring the ugly sight of an artsy young man being forced into labor by a heartless capitalist, he said to Marvin, "My dear friend, I'm afraid I won't be earning those three gold coins of yours. Eruien may be young, but his lips are tightly sealed. He doesn't want to reveal Blue Creek Valley's recent situation. And the other female members of the Sacred Eternal Sun Squad completely obey Eruien."

"That's fine." Marvin picked up a steaming chicken bite, dipped it in mayonnaise, and tossed it into his mouth.

Mmm. It was far tastier than the fried chicken from KFC or McDonald's.

As expected, prepackaged food could never compare to freshly made cuisine.

After somewhat satisfying his stomach's craving for food, Marvin said, "Even if they didn't reveal anything, I've learned at least one crucial piece of information: something major must have happened in Blue Creek Valley recently. It has to be profitable enough for adventurers that Eruien is keeping his mouth shut."

The gnome proprietor gave Marvin a thumbs-up.

Then he looked toward Slicked-back Hair.

The latter had just "persuaded" the bard with hands strong enough to swing a warhammer and smash a goblin's skull, making him agree to perform at the Friendly Arm Inn every night.

"Priest, the information you asked me to look into has yielded results. According to intelligence from the proprietor of Witch's Cauldron, Blue Glowcap Mushrooms are grown in the druids' herb garden in Blue Creek Valley."

Upon hearing the good news, the bard immediately burst into tears. "Wonderful! Emma, Sophia, Oliviera, Isabel, Charlotte, Luna... you won't have to keep your beds empty in the future!"

No, just how many women was this guy involved with?

Captain Slicked-back Hair was helpless in the face of this squad member's talent for chasing skirts. He sighed and looked at Marvin. "Though I'm rather hoping every Blue Glowcap Mushroom in the druids' herb garden has already been picked, so this fellow stays limp forever. But my friend, he is still my squadmate. It seems we'll have to make a trip to Blue Creek Valley."

"Perfect. I also accepted a task to gather herbs in Blue Creek Valley, so let's go together." Marvin and Slicked-back Hair hit it off immediately.

Then new information appeared on the quest panel:

Quest changed. Refreshing status...

Quest: Go to the Blue Creek Valley herb garden and gather herbs (twenty acorn truffles, twenty mugwort, ten woven mosses, one Blue Glowcap Mushroom)

Difficulty: Low

Scale: Village/town level

Base reward: Upgrade one expert-level skill to master level. Upgrade another proficient-level skill to expert level.

Current success rate: 380% (open the drop-down menu for details)

[Personal strength]: As a level 2 mage, you are more than capable of handling the beasts that roam Blue Creek Valley. However, be careful. The situation here has changed recently, and you may encounter new types of enemies. (Success rate +70%)

[Weapons and equipment]: Before lead bullets, all are equal! All right, a flintlock's power isn't quite that exaggerated. Still, your current damage output surpasses that of most low-level mages. (Success rate +100%)

[Prepared supplies]: The consumables on you can only handle ordinary battles. You still need to make targeted preparations for this quest. (Success rate +50%)

[Relevant intelligence]: The intelligence on Blue Creek Valley needs updating. (Success rate +50%)

[Teammates and servants]: It is not wise for a low-level mage to spend the night alone in the wilderness. Fortunately, you have joined a reliable adventurer squad to complete this quest together. (Success rate +110%)

[Environmental effects]: None. (Success rate +0%)

Although Marvin had already stacked the quest's overall success rate to 380%, he still felt it was not enough.

Especially now that he knew something had changed in Blue Creek Valley, Marvin felt that he could not rest easy without uncovering the truth.

Perhaps that was a kind of obsessive-compulsive tendency.

"Friends, since everything has been settled, I suggest we set off tomorrow and embark on the great journey to save the Sword Coast's greatest bard!"

Scumbag excitedly rose to his feet, apparently seized by the urge to perform again.

Marvin hurriedly stopped him. "Don't rush. I suggest we first gather enough intelligence, find out what enemies we may encounter on this quest, and make targeted preparations. It won't be too late to leave afterward."

"I agree. Scumbag, let your Emma, Sophia, Oliviera... wait a little longer." The half-elf rogue was the first to support Marvin's idea.

"I also think it's better to be cautious, even if it's only a herb-gathering task..." Captain Slicked-back Hair nodded, a lingering fear visible on his face.

The lesson from their last quest had been far too painful.

Even the dwarf still clutching his wine cup made an indistinct sound, indicating his agreement with Marvin's suggestion.

Scumbag shrugged. He could only yield to the majority.

In order to resolve his lower-body injury as soon as possible, he decided to exercise some initiative.

Although he could not take part in this adventure, he could still use his charm and eloquence to gather intelligence for the team.

"During this time, every adventurer group in Friendly Arm has accepted the Duchess's quest and headed for Cloakwood Forest. Only the Sacred Eternal Sun Squad, who came from elsewhere, has visited Blue Creek Valley a few times." As the bard spoke, he could not help glancing at Marvin.

Compared with the Sacred Eternal Sun Squad, this mage who had stayed in town the whole time, busy clearing the gnome proprietor's cellar, was the truly unconventional one.

"If we want the latest intelligence on Blue Creek Valley, we can only ask the Sacred Eternal Sun Squad. Since the warm and hospitable gnome proprietor couldn't get anything out of them, it's up to me."

Scumbag picked up half a glass of wine and drained it in one gulp. Then he tidied his hair and clothes and confidently headed toward the Sacred Eternal Sun Squad's table.

"Watch closely, everyone, and see how I wield my charm!"

However, despite Scumbag's confidence, he failed his negotiation check this time.

Forget Eruien, the "hero" who acted like an alpha male determined to monopolize quality women—even the three female members rendered the bard's negotiation skills completely useless.

The aloof Drow did not say a word.

The tiefling girl looked at Scumbag with utter disdain.

The pure and adorable priestess had eyes only for Eruien's heroic figure and did not spare Scumbag a single glance.

After talking for a while longer, the bard, who had never received such cold treatment from women before, seemed to grow impatient. Their conversation fell apart, and the atmosphere gradually became tense.

Eruien suddenly stood up and stared fixedly at the bard. One hand rested on his sword hilt as he raised his chin and said something.

Scumbag raised both hands to show that he meant no harm, then retreated with a somewhat humiliated expression.

Captain Slicked-back Hair let out a breath and removed his left hand from the holy symbol on his chest—this was the standard opening motion for a priest about to cast divine magic.

The dwarven warrior lowered his battle axe and continued drinking.

The half-elf rogue quietly put away his hand crossbow.

Even Marvin relaxed his tensed muscles.

He had already been prepared: if a conflict broke out, he would pull a scroll from his storage ring and give everyone in the Sacred Eternal Sun Squad a dose of Tasha's Hideous Laughter.

Behind the distant bar, the gnome proprietor watched the scene and wiped away a bead of sweat.

Business at the Friendly Arm Inn had only just started picking up. Nothing else could go wrong.