416: half-elf girl Servy

"Young Master Mike is right. These days, any stray cat or dog wants to be a mercenary," a burly human warrior carrying a broadsword on his back chimed in from the side, his expression sycophantic.

This warrior also emitted the aura of an early Second-Tier fighter.

The young mage named Mike snorted, ignored Shang Wan Ning, and turned to point at the quest board. "That quest to clear out the mutant rats in the sewers (E-Rank)—although the reward is a bit low, it's perfect for me to practice the [Earth Trap] spell I just learned. Geton, we're taking it."

"Yes, Young Master Mike is wise," the human warrior named Geton immediately agreed.

Shang Wan Ning withdrew her gaze, not bothering to pay attention to such small fry. Her eyes scanned the quest board, finally landing on an F-Rank quest slip in the corner.

She was new here and needed the most basic, inconspicuous quests to familiarize herself with the fundamental rules of this world and the surrounding environment.

Quest: Collect ten complete portions of Fluorescent Moss. Location: The small woods to the west of town. Reward: 15 Silver Coins. Client: Alchemy Apprentice Ed.

The quest was simple, the reward fit the F-Rank standard, and the location was close.

This was the one.

Shang Wan Ning reached out, just about to peel off the quest slip.

However, an arm with slender fingers wearing fingerless leather gloves beat her to it, pressing down on the quest slip.

Shang Wan Ning looked up and saw a tall Half-Elf girl carrying a longbow on her back.

She wore visibly worn leather armor, and her ears were longer and pointier than a human's, though not as perfect as those of a Pure-Blood Elf; human traits were faintly visible amidst her brown hair.

Her emerald eyes were clear, though they currently held a hint of apology.

"Sorry, I spotted this quest first," the Half-Elf girl's voice was cold and clear.

Shang Wan Ning raised an eyebrow, not having said a word yet.

The mage Mike, standing nearby, spoke up again in a sarcastic tone: "Oh my, isn't this the 'Half-Baked' Therese? What's wrong? Can't complete a single D-Rank quest, so you have to come back and snatch F-Rank chores?"

The Half-Elf female archer named Therese turned pale for a moment, pursed her lips, and offered no retort, simply continuing to stubbornly press down on the quest slip.

Shang Wan Ning looked at Therese, then glanced at the arrogant Mike, suddenly finding it interesting.

She let go and took half a step back, signaling she was withdrawing from the competition.

Therese looked at her with some surprise and quickly whispered, "Thank you." Then, she swiftly peeled off the quest slip and walked to the counter to register.

Mike, having been rebuffed, sneered and took his lackey, the warrior Geton, to go accept the sewer cleaning quest.

Shang Wan Ning watched Therese's retreating figure, her gaze lingering for a moment on the slightly worn leather armor and the well-maintained longbow.

A Half-Elf, a peak Second-Tier archer, called 'Half-Baked'?

Seems like there's a story there.

[Woman, you have caught the attention of the gods.]

Xiao Si, in the System Space, silently 'dubbed' the overbearing god's statement.

Shang Wan Ning searched the quest board again and quickly selected another F-Rank quest: Help the town baker, Hogg, transport a batch of fresh bread to the neighboring village. Reward: 1 Silver Coin.

Although the reward was meager, it was safe and reliable, perfect for observing the routes and local customs.

While registering with the clerk, the bald clerk who had been handling the registration earlier glanced at the quest she had accepted and muttered, "Delivering bread? That's safe enough."

It was rare for him to take the initiative to say more, and he lowered his voice: "Better than getting involved with certain people."

Shang Wan Ning took the quest voucher, showing just the right amount of confusion on her face: "You mean?"

"Hmph, the Half-Elf from just now," the clerk pointed with his chin in the direction where Therese had left. "She was originally a promising D-Rank, but unfortunately, she didn't have eyes in her head. Last time on a quest, she ran into Young Master Mike's team and insisted they stole the magical beast materials she had hunted."

"Young Master Mike is the brother-in-law of Viscount Morris. With just a word from him, she can't even get a decent quest anymore." The clerk shook his head and said no more.

Shang Wan Ning understood.

So, behind the 'Half-Baked' label was the suppression of the nobility.

She took the quest voucher and walked out of the noisy guild hall.

On the tree-lined path west of Chisong Town, Shang Wan Ning carried a large wicker basket filled with freshly baked rye bread from Hogg's Bakery.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled spots of light on her faded linen dress.

As she walked, she unobtrusively compared the terrain along the way with the system map.

Halfway through, a rustling sound came from the bushes by the roadside.

Shang Wan Ning did not stop, her divine sense having already swept over that area.

It was Therese.

The Half-Elf was squatting behind the bushes, carefully scraping the Fluorescent Moss from the shady side of a rock with a gathering knife.

Her movements were skilled and elegant, revealing a sense of rhythm formed by long-term training, her emerald eyes fully focused.

Shang Wan Ning did not disturb her and continued walking forward.

By the time she finished the bread delivery quest and accepted the silver coin as payment from the villager, the sun had risen to the top of the sky.

She turned into a simple eatery by the side of the road, spent twenty copper coins on a stew and hard bread, and sat in a corner to eat slowly.

The conversation of a few mercenaries at the next table drifted into her ears.

"Have you heard? 'Half-Baked' Therese took an F-Rank quest today, gathering Fluorescent Moss."

"Ha, she has a day like this too? She used to be quite arrogant, being a D-Rank mercenary."

"Offend Young Master Mike, and what good could come of it? The guild has given the word; whoever vouches for her to take high-level quests will be in trouble."

"If you ask me, she deserves it. A Half-Elf, actually thinking she's a Pure-Blood noble."

Shang Wan Ning put down her wooden spoon; more than half of the stew remained in the bowl. She fished out a few copper coins, placed them on the table, and rose to leave.

When she returned to Chisong Town, it was already afternoon. She did not return directly to the inn, but instead walked toward the "Broken Axe Tavern," the most boisterous place at the east end of town.

She needed to collect intelligence here, and taverns where mercenaries gathered were often the fastest places to obtain information.

Just as she pushed open the door, the smell of cheap ale mixed with the stench of sweat hit her face. A few drunk mercenaries were jeering around a table in the corner, where a familiar figure was slumped over.

"Drink, you have to admit it when you lose."

"Half-Baked Elf, you still think you're the sharpshooter you used to be? You can't even beat us at dice."

Therese's cheeks were flushed, her eyes unfocused, and her fingers were gripping an empty wine glass tightly.

A few silver coins were scattered on the table, clearly the stakes for the lost bet. From the laughter and snippets of conversation from others, Shang Wan Ning roughly pieced together what had happened.

These mercenaries had exploited Therese's urgent need for money and lured her into the game using rigged dice.

Shang Wan Ning chose an empty table not far from them and sat down, slowly and deliberately taking an apple out of her cloth bag and biting into it.

"Hey, newcomer." A mercenary with a face full of flab noticed the cleric girl, "Can you lend us a few silver coins?"