I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

Chapter 95 Dragonborn

A large crowd gathered in front of the bulletin board in the association's lobby, their voices almost lifting the roof from the immense temptation before them.

The shadow of the dragon's calamity had not yet completely dissipated from people's hearts, but another, completely different force, mixed with greed,

A restless atmosphere of desire and desperate gamble has already spread across the ruins, like poisonous miasma, silently eroding reason.

Xia Lin stood at the edge of the crowd, not pushing forward like the others.

Listening to the increasingly heated arguments around me, and looking at the faces that were flushed with excitement, fear, or gamblers, my gaze finally fell on the power of attorney in their hands, which seemed to radiate the light of gold coins and treasures.

The horrific scene beneath the ruins not long ago, the eerie black flames—these images and information weighed heavily on my mind.

Targen joined the organization's search and rescue team almost immediately.

This loyal and righteous captain probably made up his mind immediately.

The fundamental reason was to search for and rescue his old teammate named Lance.

Those dazzlingly generous conditions are probably just extras for Targen. Xia Lin believes that even if the Adventurers' Guild didn't issue this mission or offer any rewards, as long as there's even a sliver of news that Lance might be alive, Targen would be the first to rush into that unknown forest without hesitation.

Xia Lin sighed inwardly, feeling a deep respect for this.

But for him, the situation was much more complicated.

That fortune, which could be described as "extremely rewarding," was indeed tempting.

But to risk one's life in the unknown depths of a terrifying forest, where the situation is currently unclear and inhabited by the "children" of a mad dragon, to gamble on a slim chance of making a fortune?

Xia Lin calmly weighed the pros and cons and felt that the "cost-effectiveness" was really not high.

As for the association's written promise that "all the profits belong to the individual"—Xia Lin showed little interest and was even somewhat wary.

Indeed, any piece of equipment carried by the missing church squad members would likely be priceless. But considering the vast church power and families they represented, entrenched in the Upper City—

Hoarding, reselling, or even just using equipment that clearly bears the mark of identity is tantamount to carving the word "trouble" onto one's forehead; it's practically suicide.

Only those who intend to flee with a single vote, or those who are desperate and disregard the consequences, would dare to touch such a hot potato.

On the contrary, the fact that the association had opened up special exchange privileges on the second floor made him take a second look.

Ordinary apprentice-level adventurers are indeed not qualified to set foot on the second floor of the guild, which is the domain of formal professionals with sufficient points. Now, however, they can be granted an exceptional discount on resources there—whether it be more advanced combat techniques, rare equipment blueprints, or special potion recipes.

It certainly sounds like a rare opportunity.

But Xia Lin thought carefully about his current situation. With the system's help, he didn't seem to be desperately craving new combat skills or equipment, or to feel that he couldn't live without them.

Like a beautiful dancer seducing a weary traveler, if she is not to his liking, or if the traveler has just experienced a life-or-death ordeal, such as witnessing a mad dragon rampage and entering a kind of "wise time," then her appeal will naturally be greatly reduced.

The allure of the second floor of the association wasn't enough.

But it's still an opportunity, so I should go.

But we must never be the first "guinea pigs" to rush into the unknown. Let those gamblers who are blinded by the generous offers go and explore first, and then join in when the information is clearer. This may be a safer and more cost-effective choice.

He nodded to himself, having made up his mind.

Over the next two days, the town's commotion did not subside due to the trauma of the dragon calamity; instead, it became even more agitated by the constant stream of news coming back from the forest.

The first group of audacious adventurer squads returned one after another, bringing back all sorts of chaotic information.

Deep inside, someone discovered the horrific traces of a battle and several mutilated corpses, seemingly corrupted by some kind of force;

Some encountered mutated monsters that were far more ferocious than usual, and only managed to escape after a fierce battle;

One team even claimed to have encountered a werewolf-like monster in a forest area shrouded in a somber mist. The monster was described as "wearing tattered armor, with blood-red eyes, and moving with ghostly speed," exhibiting cunning and ferocity far exceeding that of ordinary monsters.

The mix of true and false information, like drops of boiling oil, instantly ignited the greed and wishful thinking in the hearts of more adventurers.

High risk means potentially high reward, and the "harvest" brought back by the pioneers, even if some of it is just ordinary monster materials, is enough to stimulate the imagination and is more like the best GG (game over) ever.

On the second and third days, more and more adventurers signed up to join the so-called "search and rescue" or gold-digging adventure teams, and long queues formed in front of the association.

Xia Lin collected various rumors, and the scales in her heart gradually tipped.

The time is right; it's time to join a team that looks reliable and get a piece of the pie. He's already started looking for potential teammates.

However, just as he made up his mind and prepared to register at the association the next day, an unexpected incident occurred.

Three well-traveled, well-equipped adventurers, whose demeanor was quite different from that of ordinary small-town adventurers, approached Xia Lin, who was staying at the Jasmine Inn.

Leading the group was an old acquaintance—Garru, a half-orc paladin, tall and strong like a wall, with green skin, slightly protruding fangs, and carrying a heavy double-edged axe on his back.

But what attracted Xia Lin's attention more were the two companions beside Jia Lu.

On the left is a female dragonborn. She is tall and agile, covered with fine, smooth, dark bronze scales that extend from her cheeks and neck to her bare hands and forearms, shimmering with a metallic sheen in the light.

A strong, powerful tail swayed gently behind it, and its face combined the features of a dragon with the refinement of a human, its golden vertical pupils calm and sharp.

He wore a slender and elegant rapier at his waist, with a simple hilt and a scabbard that hugged his waistline. He exuded an agile and slightly dangerous aura, typical of a wandering professional.

On the right is a young female human who looks much more "normal".

She wore a simple yet well-made white priest's robe, with pale gold holy patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar, and held a staff in her hand. Her chestnut hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, and her face was delicate and gentle, but at this moment, an unyielding worry and urgency were etched between her brows, and her blue eyes were filled with unease.

The orc Garu's booming voice broke the brief silence as he introduced Xia Lin to his colleagues: "Let me introduce you. These two adventurers, well, they're my friends. This is Kyle," he said, pointing to the dragon-blooded woman. Kyle nodded slightly, his gaze quickly sweeping over Xia Lin and Woody on his shoulder as a greeting.