Overlord: Start from the Goblin Lair.

Chapter 386: Mercenaries in Need of Money
"Don't worry, the cracks show that this table has stood the test of time. I'm helping you add value to it!"

Liya looked at her superior. If her memory served her right, her small movements had exposed her guilty nature. But today, she regained her freedom and met her old friend again. These two happy events added up, so she simply ignored these details.

only……

"Anna, why are you dressed like this?" The longbowman raised an eyebrow. She also noticed the attire of the sergeant. "Is the fabric shortage in the Kingdom of Gem Flower so severe recently?"

"Short fabric...what's that?" Anastasia waved her hand. "Liya, don't you accept mercenaries? Don't you know the current fashion?"

"Nowadays, employers like to pick senior and experienced mercenaries. Do you know what they consider to be experienced? The ones who wear less and have more exaggerated weapons!"

"I can earn a lot more dressed like this than I did in my old outfit!"

Ron tilted his head, his eyes happened to meet Ivy's, and then he felt a sharp pain in his thigh.

"Don't even think about it!" The half-elf warned Ron, biting his ear. "I can't possibly dress like this!"

"Not to mention you never paid me!"

Of course, Ron never paid any of his companions, including Ivy. When they needed money, they would just take it directly and keep a record at most. A careless person like Driver would sometimes forget even such a small thing. However, his spending records could be found in the Kobold Tavern. All the money he took was given there.

"I'm still being modest," Anastasia glanced at the two young men and said, "You haven't seen those guys wearing only loincloths. Most of them are orcs and half-orcs. The income from one job they complete is equivalent to what I can earn from three jobs."

"Most employers are short-sighted guys. I don't know where they heard this way of judging from," Daniel served everyone a large glass of wine, "Try this! This is good stuff, and today is exactly where it comes in handy!"

"By the way, Ivy, you have to remember: as a mercenary or adventurer, giving up something is the norm in life. For mercenaries like Aunt Anna mentioned, the price of high salary is that they will never have the chance to be sung - anyway, I definitely refuse to add an orc wearing only a loincloth as the protagonist of my story!"

"That's true, but you guys should still be willing to publicize someone like me," Anastasia thanked Daniel for the drink, but immediately widened her eyes after taking a sip, "Wait, this isn't it!"

"Where did you, a human, get this?"

"Yes, finally someone who knows what's good is here!" Daniel shouted excitedly, "It's 'Sunset Carnival'! The Amagir family's exclusive wine!"

"Wait, isn't Amagil..." Ron and several friends who could speak Elvish immediately reacted - Amagil means gem flower, and Anastria mentioned just now that she had served in the Gem Flower Kingdom before!
"That's right. This stuff is now exclusively for the royal family!" Anastasia's eyes flashed with surprise. "Even I've only drunk it once. Daniel, where did you get so much from?"

What Daniel brought was not a wooden glass for beer, but a delicate and small glass. But even so, considering the number of people present, it was a considerable amount. Where did he get so much?
"Well," Daniel showed an unfathomable smile, "I'm sorry I can't tell you, after all, their source is not formal."

"But I can reveal a little bit about our experiences these days and the special parts of Rose City: we have all been locked up in a winery recently. Since Rose City produces a lot of spices, many wines will pass through here during the brewing and processing process. Even if they are not processed, their value will be increased."

"And Sunset Carnival is certainly not the latter. Its final process is completed in Rose City." "So, you took the opportunity to steal their wine when you left the winery?" Ivy didn't know what to say. Was she too worried about her parents?

She couldn't help but wonder, even if they hadn't come, would the couple still be able to escape safely?

"I just took some," Daniel smiled. "The owner of the winery is also a supporter of the Iron Wall. I gave him some wine. Can he eat me?"

"Come on, let's not talk about the past anymore, let's eat! I'm just going to tell you a story!"

Perhaps it was an occupational disease of being a bard, or perhaps he was just really excited today, but when everyone took their seats, Daniel took out his pan flute and began to play, singing out his recent experiences in his rich performance.

He was not a very good singer. After being away from the industry for many years and being "exploited" by Leah day and night, the poet had long lost the singing voice he had in his youth. However, he had no intention of stopping. Instead, he performed even more vigorously.

"Anna, what are you going to do in the future? Are you going to be a mercenary forever?" During the dinner, Leah and Anastria clinked their glasses to celebrate and asked, "This line of work may not be safer than the army. My sister..."

"I know," Anastasia nodded, "but there's nothing I can do. The kingdom won't let me go, and I was forced to retire, so I don't get any compensation. I can only make some money first, and then look for other ways out."

She was not in a hurry. As long as she could guarantee her survival, saving money for ten years or a hundred years was the same. Although the former was better, the latter didn't matter much.

"It's a pity that you don't seem to have any missions worth taking on, so after I get this reward, I should go back." The elf skillfully used a knife and fork to cut the steak on the plate. "I heard that there was a goblin disturbance here not long ago? There was also a movement against the slave city-state Carolina. It's a pity that I missed that time, otherwise I might have made a fortune."

"What you're talking about happened half a year ago," Leah laughed and pointed at Ron sitting opposite her. "He was the one who came up with all that. Why don't you ask him?"

"You?" Anastasia's attention immediately shifted to Ron. "This friend..."

"We have reached a settlement with Carolina, and this kind of thing should not happen again in the short term," Ron said quickly, "Of course I believe in your ability, but we really don't have any work that requires hiring people at the moment."

"Is that so?" Anastasia looked a little disappointed. "I'm not just good at martial arts. I've been to many dangerous places, ancient battlefields, haunted monasteries... I've even been to the Chibella ruins."

"But... never mind. It seems I came at the wrong time." Anastasia was about to continue to focus on the delicious tender meat, but she found that Ron seemed to be staring at her. "Why are you staring at me like that? I don't plan to find a human boyfriend. The age gap is too big, and I will be left alone in the end..."

"No, you misunderstood," Ron said hurriedly, "Where did you say you had been?"

"Chilblain relics?"

(End of this chapter)