Mercenary Wars

Chapter 103 Specialized Training
The arduous hunter assessment has finally come to an end.

After returning home from the Hunter's Outpost, Gaucano rested for a few days before taking his Level 3 Hunter Badge to the Hunter's Guild to learn the Hunter Spells he had been eyeing for a long time from the Specialized Trainer.

Hunter's Mark, Eagle Eye, Aimed Shot, Animal Talk...

Learning these spells still costs money, but it's much cheaper than on the black market, and you'll have experienced trainers to guide you, making the learning process much more efficient.

Of course, there is one more condition: without the Hunter's Guild's permission, Gaucano cannot teach these specialized spells to others.

All professional guilds have similar rules, which they have established to maintain their monopoly position.

If Gaucano violates the rules and is discovered, he will not only be expelled and blacklisted by the Hunter's Guild, but will also have to pay a hefty penalty, which is extremely troublesome. This is precisely why the black market prices for various specialized skill books remain so high.

Professional guilds like the Hunter's Guild are relatively fortunate, as they have commercial contracts. But for a Priest's Guild—or rather, a church—it's not just a matter of losing money.

Therefore, hunter's specialization skill books can still be bought on the black market, while priests and paladins can almost only obtain skill books through hard work within the church system.

In addition to these spells, Gaucano also learned a skill called "Specialization Training" at the Hunter's Guild.

The Hunter Guild did not recognize this as a skill, but the panel indicated that it was indeed a skill, and one that could be continuously upgraded.

[Learn Level 1 Specialized Training - Shooting]

Agility +2, Strength +1

[Experience +50]

……

[Acquire Level 1 Specialized Training - Survival]

Constitution +2, Strength +1

[Experience +50]

……

Specialized training is quite tedious and time-consuming, but the benefits it provides also surprised Gaugano.

Experience is secondary; at least compared to killing enemies, this experience is not much. However, each level grants three attribute points of growth, which is far more powerful than swordsmanship or archery. It is undoubtedly an excellent way to improve attributes.

Gao Jiano also wanted to learn specialized animal taming training, but he had only just begun when some subtle external changes quietly occurred.

Of course, most people haven't yet felt the so-called subtle changes.

Only a few well-informed people sensed the impending change through various channels.

As a regular on the black market, Gaugano was undoubtedly one of them.

That day, when he handed over the Cisron drug to the potent medicine expert as usual, the expert immediately offered three times the amount due.

"Why so much?" Gao Jiano asked in surprise as he took the heavy bag of gold coins. "Did the price go up again?"

“No, that’s not it,” the strong medicine expert said. “It’s just that I’ve contacted a big client who has ordered more Cislon than everyone else combined. This is an advance payment, and you may need to be busy for a while.”

Gao Jiano really wanted to ask about the identity of this big customer, but that didn't conform to the rules of black market transactions, nor did it fit the tacit understanding between him and the drug expert.

Therefore, he didn't ask any questions and accepted the money: "I will bring enough medicine next month."

Then he changed the subject: "Is there any news you can share recently?"

The expert on potent medicine seemed to consider for a moment before saying, "The new Patriarch of the Duchy of Dibutour has been chosen: Cyril XIV."

Gaucano nodded: "I've heard that too. Cyril XIV seems to be very xenophobic, and many people believe that his ascension to the throne will increase the risk of war." The expert on potent medicine, however, said: "It's not xenophobia."

"Oh?" Gao Jiano was somewhat surprised, and couldn't help but show a hint of curiosity and a desire to learn. Compared to the expert in potent drugs, his experience in the black market was still rather inexperienced.

The expert on potent medicine seemed quite pleased with his reaction and continued, "The more crucial issue is that Cyril XIV is actually a patriarch installed by the current Marquis de Debuto. The Marquis de Debuto is the truly dangerous one, ambitious and powerful."

"...Before Cyril XIV took office, he was still restricted by the Dibto Church, and now even the Patriarchate is his heir. At least within Dibto, no one can restrain this young Marquis," she added.

After a moment's thought, Gaucano said, "So, the risk of war is indeed very high?"

The expert on potent medicine nodded: "I think it's time to acquire some war supplies."

Gaucano: "If war breaks out, what reasons do you think the Marquis de Bhutto would use?"

"I don't think the reason matters," the expert on drastic measures said casually. "Maybe it's the oldest and most outdated campaign against heretics, or maybe it's because a few priests have gone missing. Who knows? Anyway, it would be surprising if someone like him didn't start a war."

"Yes."

The two talked for a while, and then Gao Jiano got up and wandered around the black market, buying some things and trying to subtly gather some information.

A counterfeit money vendor's stall caught his attention.

Before this, the sign at this stall read "High-quality counterfeit currency".

The person is still the same—at least they look the same—but the stall's name has changed to "Buying Gold".

At the same time, there were several large piles of silver coins on the stall, with a piece of paper covering them that read "Genuine Coins".

Gaucano was surprised: "You've switched to selling real currency?"

The counterfeit money dealer didn't answer, but simply said, "I buy gold coins or gold of equivalent value for 102 silver coins."

Knowing he could not possibly get any valuable information out of him, Gao Jiano simply bent down, picked up a few silver coins, and pretended to examine them for a while.

The panel's prompts told him that this was indeed a genuine coin, and of excellent quality.

So this time, the counterfeiters weren't selling counterfeit coins; instead, they were genuinely buying gold coins and their equivalent value in gold at the price of 102 silver coins.

Merchants don't do business at a loss, and cunning black market dealers even less so.

There are only two possibilities for this situation: the price of gold is rising rapidly, or the price of silver is falling rapidly, to the point that it has disrupted the gold-silver coin exchange rate balance that the "Holy Gold Society" has maintained for a long time.

Gaugano didn't know exactly what had happened, but that didn't stop him from taking the correct precautions.

So after leaving the black market, he quickly exchanged most of his silver coins—especially the several thousand silver coins he had obtained from the high trolls—for gold coins or used them to purchase war supplies.

Two days later.

Gaucano finally found out what had happened.

"A silver mine has been discovered?" He looked at Ryan, who had told him the news, with surprise.

"Shh." Ryan gestured for silence, even though no one was around.

Gaucano instinctively lowered his voice: "Where was it found?"

"Siren Canyon".

(End of this chapter)