I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

"If you need anything, I can tell him when I get back, or you can come to the Upper Town when you have a chance," Griffin said. "I'll invite him along, and we'll have a good get-together with plenty of drinks."

The dwarf grinned, "That kid was always stubborn; once he made up his mind, not even ten ground birds could sway him. He'd be perfect as a paladin."

Griffin nodded in confirmation: "Yes, I saw him once in the Upper City a while ago. He was wearing the Silverflame uniform and looked very energetic."

The Silverflame Church is an organization that actively combats evil and focuses on spreading faith; its ideology aligns well with his.

He also asked me to pass on a message to everyone, saying that if anyone had the chance to go to the Upper Town, he would treat everyone to a good meal.

"The Silver Flame Church?"

Xia Lin was unfamiliar with the name "Silver Flame Church" and was curious about what kind of organization it was.

Griffin patiently explained, "Several major churches on the continent are very active in fighting against evil supernatural beings, especially demons and the undead."

The Silverflame Church, to which Lance belongs, is dedicated to "purifying the world of evil." They are skilled in exorcism and have many paladins and priests. Their symbols are the silver flame emblem and silver arrows.

There is also the Church of Heim, which emphasizes "guarding" order and defense, and the Church of Ilmat, which focuses on "suffering and redemption".

He paused, then continued, "In addition, there are some cross-church specialized organizations, such as the 'Enlightenment Society' and the 'Holy Church Purification Corps,' which are dedicated to eliminating evil and use more radical methods."

In short, each has its own doctrines and style of practice.

Xia Lin was astonished; she hadn't expected there to be so many intricacies involved.

It sounds like the teammate they're referring to has "passed the civil service exam" and secured a stable job.

Griffin seemed to read his mind and smiled, "There are good and bad aspects."

Church benefits are indeed more stable, but correspondingly, individual conduct is restricted by church rules, and the degree of freedom is far less than that of adventurers.

Xia Lin nodded, as if his experience of taking the civil service exam in his previous life was still vivid in his mind.

I wonder if the church Lance joined has a "political review" or written test process, and what the acceptance rate is like there...

After chatting and laughing for a while, the group bid farewell to Griffin, left the tavern, and began to make specific preparations for the mission.

Outside the tavern, after being reminded by Griffin, Targen began to give Charlin a crash course on kobold traps.

"Those burrowing monsters' ability to dig traps and set pits is ingrained in their bones," Targen said as he walked, his expression serious.

"They don't have any good materials, they just like to use natural dangerous things and scraps they find."

A tree branch tied with a rusty nail can serve as a spring-loaded rocker arm; the bottom of the pit is filled with gravel, and a broken wooden plank that collapses with a single step...

He listed several common traps in detail.

After listening to the experienced Targen recount his "complete guide to traps," even the seasoned Leah and Ezio looked grave, and Charlin felt a chill run down his spine.

This isn't a den, it's practically a mobile museum of deadly traps!

Xia Lin gained a profound understanding of what it meant to be a troublesome brat, but fortunately, Captain Targen was experienced with kobolds.

Having an experienced mentor to lead the team is like having a "special attack bonus" against the kobolds, which actually reduces the difficulty of this mission.

The next step is targeted procurement.

The group went to the general store and bought a lot of things.

There are long probe poles that can trigger traps in advance. Thick wooden planks are temporarily laid on pits or fragile ground. Sandbags are used to weigh down mechanisms or to test the waters. There is also a powerful insect repellent powder to deal with the small creatures in the "surprise blind box".

They also prepared extra torches, spare ropes, and grappling hooks.

As she bought more and more things, the large and small bags she carried reminded Xia Lin of everyone preparing for the Lunar New Year.

This time, however, the gifts were not for relatives and leaders; the recipients of the "condolences" were the families of the dog-headed people.

Tagan glanced at the sky and suggested, "This place is remote and we have a lot of stuff, so why don't we rent a few ground birds? It'll save us time and effort."

"A ground-walking bird?" Xia Lin had never heard of this creature before.

Not long after, at a temporary fence near the town entrance, Xia Lin saw the so-called "ground birds" for the first time.

It was a tall and robust bird, about the height of two people when standing, covered with thick brown and gray feathers, with extremely thick legs, three toes on each foot, and sharp claws.

Xia Lin looked at the other party's legs, which were thicker than his own thighs, and its gleaming claws, and subconsciously swallowed.

If it kicks you, you're basically done with your adventurer career.

Targen explained, "Don't worry, this big oaf usually only kicks things it doesn't like. As long as you don't provoke it, you'll be fine."

The groundbird has a long neck and a head that looks a bit like an enlarged version of an ostrich, but with sharp eyes and a short, sturdy beak.

The ground bird was currently tied to a stake, impatiently scratching the ground with one claw, making a rustling sound.

"This is a plains bird," the halfling Ezio explained. "It has good stamina, can carry heavy loads, runs more steadily than a horse, and isn't picky about the terrain. It's just a bit stubborn, so you have to coax it along."

The innkeeper, a tanned merchant, grinned and patted the ground bird: "Old buddy, you're reliable! One silver coin a day, food included. Five coins as deposit, refundable if returned in good condition."

In the end, Captain Targen paid the rent and deposit.

The group tied up the purchased supplies and placed them in the specially made saddle basket on the back of the ground bird.

The ground bird seemed used to this job, simply exhaling a breath from its nostrils and twisting its neck.

With everything ready, Tagan nimbly flipped onto the saddle, and the ground bird stood firmly, swaying only slightly. Lia and Ezio also took their seats.

"Hold on tight, this guy can run as fast as a horse."

Xia Lin followed their example and carefully stepped onto the ground bird.

The seat was more spacious than he had imagined, with a backrest and handrails on both sides.

Beneath me, I felt the warmth of the ground bird's body and its steady, powerful heartbeat.

The ground bird strode forward with its strong legs, its steps steady and swift as it trotted towards the edge of town.

After passing through a sparse woodland and climbing over two slopes where the vegetation was beginning to become barren, the outline of the abandoned cave in the southwest came into view.

The cave entrance was hidden behind a few clumps of rocks and withered vines. If it weren't for Tagen's experience, who had consulted the map beforehand and carefully examined the ground markings, it would have been difficult for an average person to find it.

Mission: Clear out the kobold lair

Type: Eliminate

Requirements: Eliminate the kobold tribe entrenched in the abandoned mine (kobold scales/claws must be submitted as proof).

Reward: 3 silver coins/each

Note: Kobolds frequently attack passing caravans and steal ore. Their lairs may contain simple traps and a small amount of valuables. Reports indicate there are approximately 20 kobolds in this tribe; small groups are advised. Unusual tremors have recently been heard from deep within the mines; adventurers are advised to proceed with caution.