"Fork over 100 gold coins, and we’ll just forget about this matter. Consider us a bit unlucky and we won’t hassle you anymore."
The words drifted through the air into their ears.
Xia Nan couldn’t help but frown.
Even though there was some distance, he could clearly see that the leather armor claimed to have been damaged during the fight with the goblin was nothing more than a "relic" long overdue for retirement.
No one hoping to return to River Valley Town alive would ever wear such a thing.
Not even the general store would deign to take it.
Moreover, even if the other side’s claim was true, that it was a brand new, good-quality leather armor.
It still couldn’t possibly be worth "100 gold".
Damn it, the chain armor and studded leather armor he wore, both from the renowned Blacksmith Shop "Rock Hammer", together only cost ninety-five gold.
Yet he dared ask for 100 gold for a piece of leather armor nearly falling apart, as if treating that trash like an antique?
Xia Nan even suspected whether the damage on that leather armor had really occurred in battle.
Or had it merely been picked randomly from the blacksmith shop’s scrap pile as an excuse to extort money?
"What’s their point? The task reward was already commissioned to the adventurer association by the villagers. How can they demand the reward a second time from the issuer?"
"Besides, even if there were losses during the task, it had nothing to do with these villagers, right?"
Before Xia Nan could speak, Abi, the novice adventurer in the group, unable to contain his anger, lashed out in accusation.
Putting aside his simple view of good and evil, as a newcomer who might have still been plowing fields last year on this very day.
He almost instantly took the side of the villagers, condemning the extorting adventurers.
In contrast, the seasoned veteran adventurer "Berg," who had been in the field for many years, exhibited a somewhat ambiguous attitude.
With his arms crossed before his chest, he watched the crowd by the roadside as if it were a spectacle, clicking his tongue.
"They think the task reward isn’t enough and want to earn a little more, that’s it."
"This kind of thing, it happens all the time."
"But 100 gold... they couldn’t afford it even if they sold all these villagers, how..."
"Are you stupid?" Berg chided Abi with a laugh, reminding him, "Even a novice like you knows they can’t come up with that much money. Do you think these adventurers don’t know?"
"It’s just to make convenient room for bargaining later on, just watch, it’s coming soon."
"Happens often?" Xia Nan muttered to himself, noting the words Berg used.
Having spent over a hundred days in this world, he had gained some understanding of the "adventurer" profession.
He was well aware that not just Abi, but even the original body, Adeline, Berg, and indeed eighty percent of the low-level adventurers in River Valley Town, were once identical to these present, ordinary villagers who wouldn’t dare raise their heads before a sword or blade.
However, as soon as they donned a piece of ragged leather armor that nobody would retrieve from the roadside, they transformed, acquiring the status of an "adventurer."
Then they could strut around, like bandits forcing those of identical humble origins to surrender their belongings.
Just as Berg had predicted.
Knowing perfectly well that the villagers couldn’t satisfy their demand for that "100 gold" fortune.
With a couple more pressing words, they made the already hunched-over village leader sink even lower.
The adventurer led by Scar then revealed their true intent.
"Not enough gold coins? That’s fine."
"Use something else as a substitute!"
"Wine, livestock, cloth... bring out anything that can be sold, I’ll take a loss here."
Grinning grotesquely, he fixed greedy eyes on the elderly man before him.
The village leader was no fool and naturally knew their aim could not be the impossible 100 gold.
Seeing their demand, he meant to step forward and negotiate further.
Yet, following Scar’s voice, the previously silent group of people behind him suddenly burst into chaos.
"Village chief, Bonnie was just born, I really can’t..."
"Jack was snatched away by the giant eagle last year, we only have one ox left for spring plowing..."
"Village chief, aren’t you acquainted with Mr. Fran from River Valley Town? Can you talk to him, I..."
Seeing the elder instantly surrounded by the village people behind him, those adventurers didn’t show any hurry, leisurely standing their ground waiting.
And it was then that the gaunt adventurer in the worn leather armor seemed to have discovered something all of a sudden.
His eyes became suddenly bright.
He pointed towards the crowd next to him, exchanged a glance with his companion, and an eerie smile appeared on their faces.
Amidst the people was a blonde girl with simple braids and freckles on her cheeks.