Mercenary Wars

Chapter 102 Karclo's Gift

[Experience: 2744/3600]

The upgrade is still 800+ short.

While examining the panel, Gao Jiano secretly took blood from the troll's corpse.

Compared to the magic trick of "collecting blood," the Blood-Summoning Sword is obviously much more convenient and discreet. He only needs to pretend to finish off the corpses and stab each one once to collect a considerable amount of blood.

Of course, he couldn't take too much, otherwise he would turn the corpse into jerky, and anyone would notice something fishy.

Gaugano primarily draws blood from several high-level trolls, including a level six and a level seven one. As the Blood-Summoning Sword absorbs their blood, the blade subtly changes accordingly.

As the saying goes, "Good blood should be used on the blade."

High-level blood was preferentially transformed into the sword tip and blade, causing the originally jet-black Blood Summoning Sword to gradually grow a touch of troll green, with the sword tip and most of the blade exhibiting a faint green hue.

The portion of black blood replaced by troll blood turned into blood crystals and fell off one after another, making the evolution process of the Blood Summoning Sword look a bit like shedding scales.

After cleaning up the battlefield, the group returned to the hunter's outpost by the same route.

This devastating blow to the trolls is undoubtedly encouraging news. The Stonetalon Mountains trolls have lost nearly a hundred elites in one fell swoop, and it is estimated that they will be quiet for at least a decade or more.

The Level 3 Hunter Exam, which had been suspended, was thus able to continue.

Of course, in recognition of Gaucano's contribution to the ambush, the mayor of Southshore and the Hunter's Guild unanimously agreed to grant him a direct exemption from the Survival Specialization exam and also awarded him a bounty.

Gao Jiano's teammates who participated in the assessment also received the preferential treatment of being exempted from the test.

Unfortunately, only three people actually received this preferential treatment, since John was dead and Andrew was missing.

Only Colin was lucky enough to return to Hunter's Outpost a few days later, and together with Gaugano and Calcro, he received the Level 3 Hunter Badge.

Normally, a Level 3 Hunter Badge is awarded by the vice president or president of the Hunter Guild.

The badges for the three were awarded by Mayor Wilson.

The full-specialization hunter badge features a Mosaic triangle symbol composed of three arrows, and its workmanship and materials are much better than ordinary badges, giving it a certain commemorative value.

With this badge, they can learn various hunter spells at the Hunter's Guild. If they can't learn them, they can also find a spellcaster at the Hunter's Guild to give them spell runes.

For Calclo, this badge means he is just one step away from his dream job as a "ranger".

Now all he needs to do is find a hunter guild that offers the Ranger specialization, and he can easily obtain the Ranger specialization qualification through a simple process.

After receiving the badge, the three went to John's grave. Gaucano placed the troll's head in front of the tombstone and performed a ritual according to Mosaic rites.

After the memorial service, Calcro remained somber, gazing at the tombstone in silence for a long time.

Gaucano and Colin went aside to talk.

"Colin, what are your plans for the future?" Gao Jiano asked.

“I’ll find an easier job at the Brotherhood first.” Colin looked at his hard-earned Level 3 Hunter Badge and let out a sigh of relief. “Then, when my contract expires, I’ll leave that cesspool for good. And after that…” He paused for a moment. “After that, I might go to the Gavin Merchant Guild to find a job. I heard the guards there pay very well. What about you? I remember you’re a mercenary with the Grey Eagle Mercenary Group?”

“Strictly speaking, I am the apothecary of the Grey Eagle Mercenary Group,” Gao Jiano said. “By the way, most of the guards of the Gavin Chamber of Commerce are actually hired Grey Eagle mercenaries, and their salaries are not high. The high-paid ones are the private guards of their guild leader, Leskova. This position is not easy to get.”

“Okay, I don’t know much about it. Anyway, my contract with the Iron Fist Brotherhood still has two years left, so I can think about it later.” Colin shrugged. “But you’re an apothecary, a hunter, a warrior, and a mage… do you want to be the mayor?”

In most human kingdoms of Farallo, local officials such as mayors are not easy to be due to the widespread influence of professional guilds.

In order to better coordinate the various professional guilds, local officials often have a strange tendency or quirk: to pursue full professional specialization.

For example, Wilson, the mayor of Southshore, was originally a fifth-level paladin of the church. However, he awakened an elemental holy name and unexpectedly "came out of the closet"—that is, his holy name was discovered. Therefore, he had to give up his holy office and become the deputy sheriff of Southshore.

After becoming a sheriff, Wilson delved into a whole host of professions and specializations, gradually gaining recognition and favor from various professional guilds.

Ultimately, with the unanimous consent of the church, lords, various professional guilds, and residents, Wilson was elected mayor of Southshore with overwhelming prestige.

Based on the local officials' preference for pursuing full-fledged expertise in all professions, some enthusiasts have proposed an informal professional concept called "governor," and even formally divided the profession into ranks.

For example, Mayor Wilson has been identified by some as a Level 5 governor.

“No, not at all,” Gaucano said casually. “Being a consul isn’t a profession that just anyone can handle. I just want to acquire more useful skills.”

The two talked for a while longer, then Colin said goodbye to Gaugano and Carclo and left the cemetery, citing other business.

Calcro gradually emerged from his emotional turmoil, stroked the stag goat lying beside him for a while, and then took out a book: "I'm giving you my collection of poems; it's my most precious gift to you."

Gao Jiano took a look and then pointed to the strange hand-drawn pattern on the cover of the poetry collection, asking, "What is this?"

“My autograph,” Calcroo said. “I just learned it recently, isn’t it beautiful?”

Gaucano: "It is very beautiful, but probably no one would recognize that this is your name."

“It’s about not letting anyone recognize me.” Calcro lowered his voice involuntarily. “I like to carve my signature wherever I go, even though you know many places prohibit it.”

“…” Gao Jianuo didn’t know what to say.

Then Calclos changed the subject: "So, if you see this signature somewhere in the future, it means I've been there. And, whatever you do, don't tell anyone else—the fewer people who know, the better."

Gaucano seemed to have thought of something: "Do you think we'll ever see each other again?"

“I think so.” Calcro smiled, and at the same time, he flipped over and mounted the stag goat.

He fed the goat some uniquely shaped grass, stroked its fur, and then rode it slowly into the depths of the dense forest.

As the sun set, the bard's tall figure receded into the distance, a scene brimming with poetic beauty—it would have been perfect if he hadn't fallen off the stag goat's back three times.

……

(End of this chapter)