I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

Xia Lin untied the thin rope and unfolded the letter of authorization.

Mission: Sewer Cleanup

Type: Eliminate

Requirement: Clean up the mutated rat population that has proliferated in the southern third drainage ditch area of ​​the town.

Compensation: A base reward of 1 gold coin per person, plus additional compensation based on the number of rat tails submitted (5 silver coins per tail).

Note: The rat swarms are somewhat aggressive; participation is recommended for those with basic combat experience. The sewers are a complex environment; be aware of the risks of poisonous gas and collapses. —Adventurers' Guild

Sewers, mutated rat swarms.

With other adventurers recruited from outside, it should be a sure thing.

Xia Lin rolled up the letter of authorization and tucked it into the small leather pouch at his waist.

Then, he remembered something else.

"By the way," he looked at Nim, "how's that person you asked me to inquire about? Any news?"

He was referring to the man who sold him the combat manual at the market.

Upon hearing this, Nim shook his head, a look on his face that said, "I told you so."

"The people there are too mixed up, and they move around so fast." He lowered his voice a bit. "Many of them are hit-and-run operations, selling their goods and then disappearing without leaving a trace."

I've asked around for days, but there's still no sign of him. Brother, take my advice, just consider it a loss and let it go.

Xia Lin didn't say anything.

He went to the market several more times to look for that person, but naturally came up empty-handed.

It's not that I necessarily want to cause trouble for the other party, since the aftereffects of the combat skill have already been resolved.

He mainly wanted peace of mind, fearing that there might be some other deadly "surprise" hidden in that haphazardly cobbled-together combat manual.

Once bitten by a snake, one is afraid of a rope for ten years.

"Keep asking around for me," Xia Lin finally said, taking two silver coins from his purse, placing them on the table, and pushing them towards Nim. "Tell me if you have any news."

Nim's gaze lingered on the silver coin for a moment before he deftly put it away and nodded.

"Alright, I'll keep asking around." He picked up his charcoal pencil again, his gaze returning to the parchment, and struck a pose as if to see him off. "Don't be late tomorrow. The third drainage ditch to the south. Remember to bring your tools, and a torch."

Xia Lin stood up, pushed open the door, and went out.

He subconsciously touched the hilt of the sword at his waist. The longsword, reforged by the dwarves and now a deep black, was sitting steadily in its sheath.

Sewers, mutated rats.

They shouldn't be as tough as the goblin from last time.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Creamy mushroom soup is so delicious."

[Affection level increased!]

[Interspecies Reproduction - Experience Points +2]

The next morning, Xia Lin finished her hot cream of mushroom soup, stuffed the last piece of toast into her mouth, and, as usual, clocked out and got up to "go to work".

The town of Erwin was already bustling with life in the morning light.

Following Nim's instructions from the previous day, he first went to the town guard post south of the town.

The guard who greeted him was a familiar face; he was the same one who had let the Targen squad through during the last goblin clearing mission.

The other person clearly remembered Xia Lin; his rugged face remained expressionless as he simply nodded slightly: "You've arrived?"

The guard stepped aside to signal, "Everyone's almost here. Follow me."

He led Xia Lin through a narrow alleyway piled with miscellaneous items next to the camp, to a sewer entrance located in a stone wall.

The air here has become a complex mix of smells, a mixture of dampness, rotting flesh, and other unpleasant odors that whet one's appetite.

Xia Lin tried her best to suppress the urge to vomit.

At the base of the stone wall, an arched opening sealed off by an iron fence came into view, with cleaning tools and several torches scattered around it.

Two people were standing in front of the cave entrance.

Xia Lin's gaze swept over them, and his eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

He recognized one of them; it was Hank, the warrior adventurer who had left the Targen team and "switched sides" to the Black Wolf Adventurer team at the Moonlight Tavern last time.

He was still wearing his fairly well-maintained armor, with a broadsword slung over his shoulder, and his eyes were indifferent when he saw Xia Lin.

Standing next to Hank was a thin man dressed in dark leather armor, with two daggers at his waist. His eyes darted around, exuding a sinister aura.

Judging from his attire, he must be a wanderer.

Hank, seeing Xia Lin arrive, turned directly to the guard who had led the way, his tone clearly impatient, "There are already three of them, are we still waiting?"

The loafer next to him chimed in, "Yeah, the sewers smell awful. Let's finish this quickly and go home. What are we dawdling about?"

The guard said in a flat tone, "Wait a little longer, there's one more. We'll go down when everyone's here, that's the rule." He then crossed his arms and stood aside, ignoring the guard.

Hank muttered something under his breath, but could only patiently continue waiting.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat tense, a series of slightly hurried footsteps approached from afar.

"Sorry I'm late!"

A clear, crisp female voice rang out.

Xia Lin turned her head and saw a familiar figure appear.

Is it her? The young female mage who used to sell pet scrolls at the magic consumables shop.

The female mage also saw Xia Lin, and was visibly taken aback for a moment. She then gave everyone a slightly apologetic smile before turning to the guards: "I took on a sewer cleaning quest, sorry I'm late."

The guard nodded, saying nothing more, only pointing to the cave entrance: "Everyone's here. You all understand the mission, right? Clear out the rats in the two passages inside. Turn in anything you find inside. Be careful. Report out before evening. Go in."

The group took turns lighting torches and entering.

The arched opening was deeper than it appeared, and a strong stench of mold, sewage, and animal excrement wafted out.

The downward-sloping stone steps were slippery and covered with moss.

After walking down about a dozen steps, the space opened up slightly, forming a small platform similar to a lobby.

Ahead, the deep passage splits into two paths, one to the left and one to the right, both pitch black and leading nowhere, with only the faint sound of dripping water and unsettling rustling noises coming from the depths.

"Two paths." Hank raised his torch to shine on the light, then turned his head, his gaze passing directly past Xia Lin standing to the side and landing on the young female mage.

"Miss mage," he offered a reasonably polite smile, gesturing to himself and his wandering companion, "our Black Wolf Adventurer Team is experienced; we'll take the left path. Want to join us? It'll be more efficient and we can look out for each other."

The wanderer beside him didn't speak, but his eyes lingered on Eileen and her expensive-looking staff.

As for Xia Lin, he was completely ignored.

Xia Lin stood there speechless.

Do I look that lowly? They didn't even bother to ask me a question?

Eileen had clearly noticed this as well.

She glanced at Hank and the other man, then at the silent Xia Lin beside her, hesitated for a moment, and then politely shook her head:

"Thank you, but no need. This person and I..." She looked at Xia Lin, her eyes questioning.

"Xia Lin".

"I'll go with Charlene," Eileen said to Hank. "We'll go to the right."

Hank's smile vanished instantly upon being rejected, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.