Bargaining with a Tiger

"Good, good. Decisive enough! Go on, hand it to the Deepwater Flood Dragon Worm. I look forward to your good news."

The meaning in the old woman's gaze deepened further.

Decisiveness was a very good quality. She simply did not know whether this young fellow would attempt what he knew was impossible, or protect himself and build up his strength while waiting for an opportunity.

She had no need for the former. The Sword of Light was already under the oppressive weight of the "Sakas Empire." If someone who insisted on attempting the impossible joined them, they might die without even knowing how.

What they needed was someone who would protect himself, build up his strength, and wait for an opportunity, with fate on his side.

After the old woman left, Zhou Heng took the badge off the wall. The corresponding quest notifications then appeared on his retinas...

[You have accepted the quest "The Deepwater Flood Dragon Worm in Deepwater Cave"]

[Quest description: Travel to Deepwater Cave within the agreed time and deliver the "Light and Sword" badge to the Deepwater Flood Dragon Worm.]

[Quest duration: Within the agreed time]

[Quest reward: Unknown]

After reading the quest description, Zhou Heng's gaze flickered. According to the "Fate Hint," what he needed to do was not risk his life in "Deepwater Cave," but slack off and while away the days, and the quest would complete itself after three days?

With that thought, Zhou Heng left the old woman NPC's wooden cabin, closed the quest panel, and continued exploring Little Bird Town. "Deepwater Cave"? Whoever wanted to go could go...

Wandering around, Zhou Heng arrived in front of a relatively tall, detached building.

"Father, you must be mad!"

A clear, bright female voice came from inside the detached building.

"Anyone who's been to Frost City knows exactly what the Black Bear Guild is! How could you dare cooperate with them!"

"They started buying up Blackwater Grass without restraint the moment they arrived. As the Old Town Mayor, you know better than I do what that stuff is used for!"

"Are you trying to drag all of Little Bird Town into this?"

"Father, what exactly are you trying to do?"

When the female voice fell silent, a powerful male voice rang out.

"What does a little girl like you know! Little Bird Town's finances are tight. If we can't collect enough 'taxes' this month, when those above hold us accountable, you and I will both be fed to the Snakebirds. Do you want to watch them peck the flesh off your body piece by piece?"

"Besides, didn't I tell you not to come back to Little Bird Town?"

"Get back to Frost City right this instant! You're not needed here!"

Crash! Bang!

The sound of things being smashed.

"Father, you'll regret this! Colluding with the Black Bear Guild is like bargaining with a tiger for its hide."

The angry rebuke came from inside the building. The next second, a young woman around 163 centimeters tall, with faint freckles and Western features, walked out. Her face full of anger, she strode up to Zhou Heng, shoved him hard to one side, and walked away.

"My young friend, sorry you had to see that. The Black Bear Guild is a guild formed by newly arrived players like yourselves. Not only are they powerful, they also possess exceptional foresight. Cooperating with them won't harm Little Bird Town's interests. You can all rest assured of that."

[Fate's cunning assails you at this moment. You would never believe that the seemingly kindly Little Bird Town Mayor knew long ago about the Deepwater Flood Dragon Worm's corruption.]

[Fate offers you hints.]

[Fate Hint 1: Bargain with a tiger and put your intelligence and abilities to the test. You have three lives, after all. In this vast "Boundless Endless," who else but you?

Strike up a conversation with the Old Town Mayor and praise the Black Bear Guild to obtain an opportunity to join them. This concerns a decent little opportunity awaiting you later.]

[Fate Hint 2: Refute the Old Town Mayor with ringing conviction. The Black Bear Guild? What a load of crap. They're nothing special.]

After reading the hints on his retinas, Zhou Heng spoke with wholehearted agreement.

"Mayor, you're right. The people in the Black Bear Guild are good people. All I've heard on my way here is praise for them."

"I wonder if I might have a chance to join the Black Bear Guild and do my part to help it grow."

The mayor looked Zhou Heng up and down. Seeing that he did not appear to be lying, he suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a smile.

"My young friend, what random talent did you get? Would you mind telling me? I work with the Black Bear Guild. If your talent is good, I might be able to put in a word for you."

A flicker of amusement passed through the depths of Zhou Heng's eyes. He immediately put on an honest, bitter expression.

"Mayor, at the risk of making you laugh, my talent is absolute trash. It just gives a one-time permanent increase of 15 attack and 60 health and mana, with no other effects whatsoever. Sigh... it's only useful early on."

Understanding appeared on the mayor's face, along with a trace of pity and disdain in his eyes. A talent like that was only useful in the days immediately after arrival. After a little time spent developing, it would become increasingly worthless as time passed.

After all, other people got percentage increases, while he got a fixed numerical increase, and such a small one at that. A little multiplication, addition, and subtraction made it obvious which was stronger and which was weaker.

Still, with an extra 15 attack and 60 health and mana, the Black Bear Guild presumably needed a workhorse like him. After all, arranging something like this was barely any effort for the mayor.

With that thought, the mayor gave a meaningful smile. "Young man, your talent is extremely useful early on. If you really want to join the Black Bear Guild, I can introduce you."

Zhou Heng froze for a moment, then put on a look of delighted surprise. "Really? Thank you so much, Mayor. My respect for you is like a surging river, flowing without end~"

The mayor burst into laughter at his words. Though the boy's talent was poor, his skill at flattery was quite good. Presumably, the Black Bear Guild would need an "expert" like him. With that thought, the mayor wasted no time and summoned a guard to take Zhou Heng to the Black Bear Guild's branch headquarters in Little Bird Town.

"Black Bear Ba, the mayor sent this member over for you. His talent isn't bad: a permanent increase of 15 attack and 60 health and mana."

The guard brought Zhou Heng to Black Bear Ba and briefly explained his circumstances.

Looking at Zhou Heng, who was clearly one of the new generation, Black Bear Ba swallowed the words he had been about to blurt out: "Get back wherever you came from. The Black Bear Guild doesn't take trash." He stood up, walked over to Zhou Heng, and patted his shoulder. "Kid, what's your name? Since even the mayor thinks highly of you, our Black Bear Guild is more than happy to welcome a capable, ambitious fellow like you."

Faced with Xiong Ba's enthusiasm, Zhou Heng put on a very bashful expression. "To answer your question, Brother Xiong Ba, my name's Zhou Heng. I'm from the Xia Kingdom. Hehe~"

Xiong Ba's eyes curved into crescents. He loved hearing people call him Brother Xiong Ba. "Good, good, good. Little Heng, from now on, you're a member of our Black Bear Guild."

[The Black Bear Guild's Little Bird Town branch has sent you an invitation to join. Accept?]

[Invited by: "Black Bear Ba"]

Without a second thought, Zhou Heng selected "Accept."

When Black Bear Ba saw the invitation accepted on his panel, he grew more pleased with Zhou Heng by the moment.

Who wouldn't love a disposable workhorse like this? For one, he would speed up Black Bear Ba's quest progress; for another, taking him in did the Old Town Mayor a favor. Why not?

"Little Heng, your Brother Xiong Ba has a difficult task for you. Want to take it on?" Xiong Ba asked, looking at Zhou Heng with a beaming smile.