Chapter 23: Pennies From Heaven

It didn't take me long to find Captain Ling Ye.

He and his group of soldiers were currently going around the half-demolished city of Tianyin, searching for people who wore similar clothes to Qin Yao, just as this so-called 'hero' had instructed.

If I approached Ling Ye proactively right now, they would know I had been eavesdropping on their conversation earlier this morning. So, instead, I went to a nearby shop and pretended to be browsing their selection. Ling Ye and his group of guards were on a direct path to where I was - there was no way they could miss me somehow.

"Good mornin', fella," the shopkeeper said in a cheerful voice, despite the tragedy this city just went through.

"You're... awfully calm," I noted, raising an eyebrow.

"Well... I've been livin' here for all my life, ya see. Ever since the Plague ten years ago, Magic Beasts have raided our city every single year, exactly once," the shopkeeper explained. "I'm used to it by now, is my point."

Hm... I don't think that's the kind of thing you can ever get 'used' to, but I chose not to argue. Besides, there was something else he said that interested me...

"Plague, you say?" I asked, curious to know more about the history of this city.

He nodded. "No one knows where it came from or how it started. But one thing's for certain - it's been getting worse. Before, these yearly invasions were the only danger 'round these parts. But now, the moment ya step outta that door, yer in dangerous territory. It's like all the Magic Beasts in this area have been struck with some sort of plague... well, that's where the name comes from."

"And it's been worsening every year, you say?"

"Yep. At this rate...it's only a matter of time before this place gets run over by these hostile Magic Beasts," the shopkeeper said, sighing deeply. For the first time, worry lined his aged face. "But hey. At least this plague doesn't directly affect us, right? Haha!"

I shrugged. "You're certainly optimistic, I'll give you that."

"Thank you! Plenty o' people tellin' me that," he replied with a chuckle.

It was then that someone else interrupted our conversation - the person I had been waiting for.

"Excuse me," the newcomer interrupted, walking up beside me. His squad of soldiers remained where they were as to not disturb our talk.

"Oh, Cap'n Lin Ye!" the shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise. "What brings ya here today? New weapons? Armor, perhaps? Sorry, and I hate to say it, but the blacksmith next door is probably better for that."

"Ah, actually, I'm here for this young man here," Ling Ye replied, looking at me. He was taller than me by quite a bit, but despite that, his gaze was warm and not intimidating at all.

"Hm? He commit a crime or somethin'?"

"Nah, nothing of the sort. I'm just here to recruit him, by the orders of Hero Qin, the boy who saved our city with his brilliance," the captain replied, patting my shoulder. It made me quite uncomfortable.

"Er... sorry, could you stop doing that?" I asked carefully, glancing at his hand on my right shoulder. "I don't really like other people touching me without permission."

"Ah - sorry." He quickly moved his hand away and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "My bad, kid."

"It's fine..." I muttered, looking away. "So? What's your business with me?"

"Right. About that... are you willing you join a hunting party led by Hero Qin?"

I decided to feign ignorance in order to further deny any suspicion he had of me eavesdropping on his conversation with Qin Yao earlier this morning. "A hunting party? For what? And who's Hero Qin?"

"He is Tianyin City's savior. Surely you were watching the fight last night? Those sabertooths... had it not been for Hero Qin discovering the method to kill them, we would have been wiped out," Ling Ye explained. "Not only that, but he proposed to lead a hunting party in order to exterminate these Magic Beasts once and for all, forever saving Tianyin. He is truly a gift sent to us by god, if there is one."

It took everything I had not to cringe at this man's words. The praise he was showering Qin Yao with, despite the person in question not even being here, was far too cheesy for me to handle - especially because it was actually ME who discovered the strategy. Too bad I died after, so this copycatting wuss took all the credit by just watching me. I didn't care all that much, since I've never really liked attention, but it was still pretty annoying.

"I see," I replied, gulping. "I'm down to go... as long as there are rewards."

"Of course. Does 10,000 gold sound good?"

I blinked. "You're kidding, right?"

"... Ah, as I thought, it's too little... then, how about 50,000?"

"H-Huh?! No, that's too mu- I mean, yeah, that sounds about fine. In fact, perhaps a little more would be nice. I am risking my life here, after all," I said, quickly masking my shock with a calm facade. He had offered me WAY too much. I know I said I was in need of money, but... I did not expect such a great opportunity to just present itself like this.

"Okay... 75,000 gold, then. I cannot go any higher, since I have to pay all the other participants as well," Ling Ye replied apologetically.

"N-Nah, it's fine. We have a deal," I quickly said, clearing my throat. "Now then... when do we go?"

"For now, I think it'd be best for you to meet Hero Qin. He should be eating at the moment, but you can wait for him at the western gates... not that there is much of a gate left."

"Got it," I replied briskly, before walking off in the direction of the western gates.

... Mainly because I couldn't couldn't contain my laughter anymore.

Still... what an unexpected stroke of luck. I wonder if A.R.X.A. played a part in it.

... Yeah, no. Probably not. She's not the type to help me unconditionally like that.

Whenever she gives me help, I had to pay a price for it - just like the fight with that sabertooth.