Everyone Had a Bright Future

Friendly Arm Inn was the largest building in town.

Over a hundred years ago, it had still been an evil fortress, used as a base by the followers of Bhaal, the God of Murder.

Fortunately, an adventuring party led by a gnome illusionist couple drove out every last cultist and converted the fortress into an inn.

Friendly Arm Inn occupied an excellent location beside the Coast Way, making travel convenient. Two days west lay Cloakwood Forest, filled with dangerous creatures and ancient ruins.

Naturally, it became the largest gathering place for adventurers in the southern wilderness of Baldur's Gate.

The town had gradually developed around Friendly Arm Inn as its center.

Though it had no official name, everyone called it "Friendly Arm."

When Marvin entered Friendly Arm Inn, the usual stench of alcohol, smoke, and sweat—and the adventurers' symphony of arguments and laughter—had all vanished.

Only a sparse scattering of guests quietly enjoyed their meals in the corners.

"Hey, now this is a rare sight. I thought every adventurer in town had gone to the square to sign up and become a hero who saved the knight's daughter." The gnome proprietor beckoned to Marvin. "Come here. Let me buy this unconventional wizard a drink."

Marvin walked up to the bar. "Mint tea will do."

"I understand. Wizards can't let alcohol affect their thinking. Sorcerers are different. I once saw a sorcerer chugging whiskey while casting spells, babbling, 'A pleasant buzz makes my magic stronger!'"

Marvin took a sip of tea, savoring the cool sensation rushing up his nose. "I'm here to clear out the cellar."

"Oh, thank Garl Glittergold's protection, an adventurer finally answered my request. The first adventurer who took the commission ran off. Then the duchess issued her decree. Now everyone wants to rescue the knight's daughter, and nobody wants to help me deal with those damned rodents. Luckily, I have you. Otherwise, I probably won't even be able to finish renovating the cellar by summer... Oh, right. My name is Bentley Mirrorshade, the same name as my father. You can call me Little Bentley, or Bentley the Second. And you?"

Marvin gave his name, sipping his tea as he picked out useful information from the gnome proprietor's incessant chatter.

After a while, seeing that Marvin's cup was empty, the gnome proprietor said, "No more dawdling. I'll take you to the cellar. I'm sick of those rats!"

"Don't rush." Marvin raised a hand, stopping the gnome proprietor in his tracks. "You said the first adventurer who took this job ran away?"

"Yes. The guy was named Bob, a level-three rogue. Hmph, I should never have trusted people with sticky fingers!"

Marvin pondered for a moment, then said based on the information provided by the system, "I think there's another possibility: Bob didn't abandon the job and run away. He may already be dead in the cellar."

"How is that possible? What rat swarm could kill a level-three adventurer?"

Marvin stood up. "Don't do anything rash. Wait for me to return."

The gnome proprietor shrugged, thinking the wizard was making a mountain out of a molehill. Is he deliberately exaggerating the difficulty of the job so he can squeeze more money out of me? Hmph! With Garl Glittergold watching over me, I may not be sixty yet, but I'm no gullible fool.

Five minutes later, Marvin arrived at Waukeen Street on the south side of town.

In the Sword Coast, nearly every sizable human settlement had a street named after Waukeen, the Goddess of Wealth.

You could find all kinds of shops here to meet your shopping needs.

He entered a shop called Eastern Warehouse.

This shop's specialty was its comprehensive selection. From adventuring supplies to all manner of magical items, weapons, and armor, it had nearly everything.

It also often carried exotic treasures imported from Thay and Mulhorand.

"Boss, do you have any [Find Familiar] scrolls?"

"Cough, cough, cough... Twenty-five gold per scroll." The pale, bald middle-aged man behind the counter replied.

Marvin froze awkwardly.

Whatever was in the cellar could kill a level-three rogue. He had no desire to venture into such danger himself.

Using a familiar to scout for information was the safest approach.

Who would have thought that a first-circle [Find Familiar] spell scroll would cost twenty-five gold coins?

That was equivalent to twenty-five goats!

And every time he summoned a familiar, he would also need incense worth ten gold coins as a spellcasting material.

Marvin had only two gold, seven silver, and two copper coins in cash altogether.

That was far beyond what he could afford.

"Hmm..." Fortunately, Marvin quickly thought of a second-best option. "Do you sell white mice?"

These little creatures made excellent test subjects for spells and were in high demand. Almost every magic shop sold them.

"Cough, cough... Three copper coins each."

"I'll take one."

Marvin paid, picked up the mouse cage, and was about to turn and leave when a customer entered the store.

Marvin gave the man a once-over. He carried a ruby-tipped staff, his robes embroidered with golden patterns, and faint ripples of magical power stirred around him as he walked.

A very wealthy wild sorcerer.

"Boss, I'll take every healing potion in the store. And all spell scrolls below the third circle except necromancy spells. For third-circle spells, I only want Fireball! Don't worry about the money. To save Miss Ailei, I'll spare no expense, even if it empties my savings!"

The sorcerer lavishly slammed a bulging coin purse onto the counter, and several diamonds rolled out.

"Cough, cough, cough... Please wait a moment, sir." With such a major customer at his door, even the sickly-looking shopkeeper perked up.

The sorcerer glanced at Marvin, who was about to leave, gave him a condescending appraisal, then suddenly called out, "Friend, my party is going to carry out the duchess's commission. We're short a wizard. Interested? Don't worry. You're too weak, so you won't need to fight. You'll only be responsible for minor tasks like scouting and keeping watch. Leave the enemy-killing to me. My spells are invincible! Fifty gold coins a day. What do you say? Given your financial circumstances, that's already a very generous offer. I'll even throw in a bonus. Once I rescue Miss Ailei, I'll generously allow you to attend our wedding. Someone like you will probably have only one chance in your life to enter Baldur's Gate's Upper City."

Marvin silently did the math.

It would take seven days on foot to travel from Friendly Arm Inn to the Bonebreaker Tribe deep within Cloakwood Forest.

That made fourteen days round trip, for a total of seven hundred gold coins.

That was seven hundred goats!

Unfortunately, if Marvin had not possessed his golden finger, and his only ambition in life had been to earn enough money to retire as a rancher, marry a big-bottomed country girl, and live a quiet pastoral life, he might have been tempted by those seven hundred gold coins.

"I'm sorry, but I've already accepted another job." Marvin pointed at the white mouse in his hand.

"You were given an opportunity, yet you couldn't seize it. That's why your staff is just an ordinary oak stick, while mine is worth a fortune." The wealthy sorcerer wore an arrogant expression. "Forget it. Go play house with your white mouse."

Marvin smiled faintly and paid him no mind.

You were throwing around fortunes to save the knight's daughter.

I was carefully budgeting to clear out the cellar monsters.

Everyone had a bright future.