Chapter 26: The Token

“Wood, we have already delayed too long in River Valley Town.”

Silver-white strands of hair fluttered in the wind as Haian spoke softly to his most loyal guard beside him.

Much like the "long-ears" who resided deep within the cloud-piercing forests, half-elves, despite possessing kind natures nurtured by the teachings of their kin and elders, could occasionally exhibit a stubborn side.

“Mother once said, 'The waters of the Vina River never cease' (an elven proverb). We cannot delay any longer.”

As if hearing a keyword in his words, Wood, who had originally intended to assert his stance more firmly, opened his mouth, only to ultimately swallow his words.

Though he usually appeared somewhat unreliable, Larry's suggestion just now was not a bad choice, Haian calculated mentally.

He himself had not yet officially entered a profession and possessed limited strength; although he had mastered a few combat techniques learned from his mother, they leaned toward long-range combat.

Larry appeared superficial on the outside, but came from a wealthy family and had been specially trained by professional adventurers since childhood; he had some combat power, but not much.

Dolores... let's not mention her for now.

Wood was a genuine professional; there were almost no monsters in the outskirts of the Misty Forest that could threaten him. However, based on his performance during previous outings, no matter how intense the battle, he would only stay by Haian's side.

They still had some distance to cover to reach their destination, and since they were in the Misty Forest, it was impossible to avoid combat entirely.

With that as a premise, their party indeed needed an adventurer with decent combat strength who could fight in close quarters.

Haian raised his head and gazed at the black-haired youth across the clearing, his expression wary.

After a few seconds of organizing his thoughts, he spoke slowly

“As compensation for accidentally involving you, I will leave 30 gold coins.”

Under normal circumstances, no matter how kind one's personality, one wouldn't go to such lengths for a complete stranger.

But to repair the image of his party in the other's mind, and more importantly, to facilitate the subsequent invitation to join, Haian chose this most practical way to demonstrate his sincerity after weighing his options.

“Furthermore, I hope to hire you for 70 gold as a temporary member to assist our party with our current mission.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Nan, who had been hesitating in his mind whether to simply run off with the gold or hand over his spoils to the other party, suddenly froze.

His first reaction was—

30 + 70 = 100 gold.

“No, no, no.” Xia Nan suppressed his thoughts, judging the authenticity of the invitation.

First, he possessed items worth nearly 80 gold coins (Glow-garlic Vine + spoils from the duo).

As long as he could bring them back to River Valley Town, it would be a massive profit; there was no need to take unnecessary risks for these 100 gold coins.

As a low-level adventurer acting alone, he had to consider the possibility that the invitation was a ruse, intended to lure him close for an ambush.

Secondly, Xia Nan felt something was off about these four people.

Even the most bottom-tier adventurer parties, like that group of small fry from before, had a configuration of a front-line warrior (Gagu), a ranged archer (Magi), and an assassin (Elki).

What about these four?

The half-elf and his guard seemed normal enough, but what was the role of that fat man whose equipment didn't even fit him and who looked even more like a novice than Xia Nan himself?

Not to mention the blonde lady at the end of the group, whose face was so pale she looked like she could be blown away by a gust of wind.

Rather than an "adventurer party," they looked more like wealthy children from the city out on a countryside excursion.

At this thought, Xia Nan's train of thought paused.

He then gave them another careful, peculiar look.

“It couldn't be, could it...”

He couldn't help but feel it was both ridiculous and absurd; he had almost been lured onto a thief's ship.

“With people like this, forget 100 gold, I wouldn't dare join for 10,000 gold.”

Though he thought this, his face remained expressionless and taut.

Facing Haian's invitation, he shook his head with resolute certainty.

“100 gold! I'll give you a hundred gold!”

Seeing Xia Nan refuse, Larry, who was standing beside the half-elf, seemed to grow anxious and raised his index finger, shouting loudly.

“I said, not even 10,000 gold!” Xia Nan grumbled inwardly.

At the same time, he shook his head in silence once more.

“You...” Facing his repeated refusals, Larry's face turned red. He waved his arms, his mouth moving silently as if he were brewing a number that the other party would find impossible to refuse.

*Slap—*

A fair, well-defined hand pressed down on his shoulder.

“Let it be, Larry.” In Haian's silver-gray eyes, the figure of Xia Nan was reflected—a figure that looked as if he might vanish into the dense forest at any moment.

“There is no need to force it.”

Even though the youth hadn't spoken, the half-elf could sense the determination in his refusal.

Taking a coin pouch from his backpack, he tossed it across the clearing toward Xia Nan.

“30 gold. Take it.”

Xia Nan was caught off guard, but he did not let down his guard in the slightest.

He used the tip of his sword to pry open the pouch and inspected it carefully to ensure there were no tricks.

Only then did he tuck the pouch into his bosom.

“You're that trustworthy?”

Even after confirming he wouldn't join the party, they still threw the promised thirty gold coins to him.

Was it just his personality, or were all elves in this world like this?

Feeling the heavy weight of the pouch, Xia Nan couldn't help but feel the other party was a bit more likable.

Meanwhile, seeing Xia Nan's refusal, Wood, who had been standing silently by, subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief and said

“Young Master, the Misty Forest is still too dangerous. It is difficult for me alone to guarantee your safety. How about... we return to River Valley Town to rest for a few days before making further plans?”

“Our destination is only in the outskirts. Aren't you a professional? What is there to fear?” Having been rejected twice by Xia Nan, Larry was in a bad mood, his words tinged with a hint of complaint.

To this, Wood merely gave him a cold glance without speaking. Larry instantly shrunk his neck as if falling into an ice cellar and shut his mouth.

He was extremely respectful toward Haian, but Wood felt no need to maintain any particular expression toward the others in the group.

“Besides, that group just now didn't look like adventurers.” Seeing that Haian seemed swayed by his words, Wood struck while the iron was hot. “I suspect it's Neum's side...”

He only spoke halfway, but Haian clearly understood his meaning, and his expression instantly darkened.

“It won't be. Now... it is not yet the time. They shouldn't go that far.”

As if comforting himself, Haian murmured, taking a jet-black token from his bosom.

“Wait!”

Suddenly, Xia Nan's voice rang out through the air.

He, who had already intended to leave this place with a massive sum of over a hundred gold coins, abruptly stopped in his tracks.

The jet-black token in the half-elf's hand—narrow at the top, wide at the bottom, with ancient symbols faintly engraved on its surface—gave him an incredibly strong sense of déjà vu at a single glance.

That highly distinctive classical style was something he had seen countless times in his memory.

But this "memory" did not come from the original owner of this body.

It came from his true—

Past life.

(End of Chapter)