Chapter 94: Take It If It’s Free
The killing range of dozens of meters seemed large, but compared to the quantity of merfolk, it was utterly insignificant.
However, with this Lightning Ball Spell, the merfolk’s charge was halted, buying everyone time for a strategic retreat.
Anse turned and walked away, not tangling with them.
Fortunately, the Lightning Ball Spell was astonishingly effective, making those kuo-toa merfolk’s close kin realize that these humans were not soft persimmons; their instinct to bully the weak and fear the strong stopped them from landing to pursue.
Blue Water City’s city design looked from afar like it was imitating Baldur’s Gate, with city walls separating the city districts, but up close it was discovered not to be the case; it had only used city walls to enclose the inner city.
The dock area and outer city were both blocked outside by the city walls, equivalent to being abandoned, and most commoners had also been transferred to the inner city.
Anse did not want to stay here; the original plan was to go around the walls and leave directly.
But as soon as they left the dock area, several wyvern figures appeared in the distant sky, moving very fast, and in no time they flew over the city.
“Enter the city!”
The city gate opened halfway; after the group entered, it was immediately closed again.
Everything that had just happened had long been noticed by Blue Water City’s guards; even if they had no brains, they could not possibly refuse such powerful professionals entry.
The inner city was quite spacious, but refugees crowded the streets; Anse had seen this scene too many times and was even somewhat numb to it.
Apart from sighing that Faerun was truly plagued by disasters, there was nothing he could do.
Logically speaking, this should be those deities’ responsibility; if these were his believers, he would at least come down to handle it.
At this moment, the crowd ahead let out a startled cry as a wyvern flew low over the city, its long tail sweeping the flagpole on top of the bell tower away.
A half-dragon rode on the wyvern’s back, pointing his long blade far at Anse from a distance, opening his big mouth to emit a roar full of provocation.
‘It’s him?’ Anse narrowed his eyes.
He did not recognize the other, but from the attire and behavior, this half-dragon was probably the one from last night’s siege warfare.
‘Reaction is pretty fast.’
After detecting him, the other had actually abandoned the cliff fortress and come specifically to hunt him down, showing great resentment.
“Truly arrogant!” A voice came from ahead, full of anger. “A bunch of beasts from barbaric lands, do you really think Faerun has no one!”
Anse looked toward the voice; a man in full blue armor was coming straight at them, followed by a team of blue-clad warriors, fully armed.
“Sir Casanova, you weren’t injured, were you?” The man came before Tim, raised his hand to remove his helmet, revealing a square face full of short stubble beard.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency Baron.” Tim slightly bowed, his expression very relaxed. “We’re fine.”
After speaking, he pointed at Anse: “Thanks to Mr. Anse; otherwise, last night would have been hard to say.”
The man’s expression did not change; he probably had not heard of Anse’s name. He turned to face Anse, a smile on his face:
“I saw Mr. Anse’s prowess from above just now; it was truly surprising. I’m Baron, commander of Blue Water City’s vanguard.”
“Hello, Mr. Baron.” Anse dismounted, a polite smile on his face.
The dice spun for a while before finally detecting his information.
【Baron, human, 11th-level warrior（Combat Master）】
‘So strong, an advanced professional.’
This was not necessarily the first advanced professional he had seen, but it was the first one the dice had detected.
If elite professionals were the backbone forces of the major powers, then advanced professionals were strategic-level, of pivotal importance, high-ranking officials wherever they went.
For such a figure to stand on the city walls and personally command meant the situation was extremely dire.
Actually, there were more advanced professionals on the Faerun continent than imagined; it was just that many people never saw them, and after the Magic Net incident, most of those reliant on casting ability had gone into hiding.
“Mr. Anse need not hurry to leave; Blue Water City has gathered professionals and soldiers from half of Claw Bay. Those dragonborn and kobolds absolutely cannot breach Blue Water City’s gates.” Baron was full of confidence.
After Dusk City fell, the Claw City-States notified everywhere to strategic retreat, building a defense system centered on Blue Water City and Antak City on the east shore, prepared for long-term hold to the death.
They had no choice but to hold; to the east was vast wilderness, and fleeing would lead to pursuit, with wyverns having unlimited room to play, likely turning into a great rout.
“What if the enemy enters the inland from the Peninsula and circles behind Blue Water City? Once besieged, the situation could be very bad.” Anse pressed.
“Blue Water City has ample supplies and several advanced professionals; no need to worry in the short term. I’ve already sent people to Candlekeep and Beregost for aid; I believe reinforcements will come.” Baron’s tone was firm.
Claw Bay had hundreds of thousands of people; the various city-states had formed Claw City-States imitating the Lord’s Alliance. Though they fought internally fiercely in normal times, at key moments they could concentrate all resources and military force, not to be underestimated.
Bay trade was prosperous, leading to clusters of professionals; mid-to-low-end combat power was not lacking, just high-end combat power. If the green dragon appeared, it would probably be hard to handle.
“Mm.” Anse was noncommittal.
If not targeted by that half-dragon, he would actually prefer to leave.
“Lord of the City Selig of Blue Water City, representing the alliance, has issued a conscription order. As long as you’re willing to help defend the city, from professionals down to commoners, there will be generous remuneration, with extra rewards for killing enemies…”
Baron waved his hand, and a blue-armored warrior handed Anse a paper notice.
Ordinary professionals were of course not worth his personal recruitment, but Anse was different; an elite spellcaster’s value was extremely high, and he even had a small team.
As for Tim, he was already part of the city-state; defending the city was the Casanova family’s duty.
“I’ll explain this matter to Mr. Anse; we’ve been in combat all night and need to eat and rest.” Tim suddenly interrupted.
“Mm, of course.” Baron’s gaze was somewhat unnatural. “Do you need me to prepare lodging for you?”
“No need, thank you.” Tim refused directly.
“Find me anytime if you decide; this time… remuneration can be paid upfront.” Baron did not press further and turned to leave.
“Something’s up here…?” Anse noticed Tim’s abnormality and asked softly.
“Not convenient to talk here; follow me.” Tim beckoned and led the way ahead.
Anse followed on horseback, with Brat and the others flanking him.
After passing two crowded streets, they entered an area guarded by guards, full of garden villas, probably dozens of them, with courtyards enclosed by iron fences.
“Fortunately, I bought a property here a few years ago…”
Tim led them into a small manor consisting of three villas, with over a hundred guards inside, all dressed as his subordinates.
The small manor suddenly became noisy; a crowd surged out from the houses, and among them a mature beauty threw herself into Tim’s arms, crying her heart out, eyes red and swollen with heavy dark circles.
“There, there…” Tim comforted her carefully, showing no avoidance or embarrassment even in front of outsiders and subordinates.
It was clear he valued family ties greatly.
After finally soothing his family, Tim quickly invited Anse and the others inside for tea and pastries, and introduced his family members.
Anse was absent-minded, only remembering that his daughter Tina was very beautiful, with delicate skin and soft features, very much to his taste.
Tim saw through his thoughts and hurriedly waved his family away: “That Baron is somewhat reliable, but he doesn’t have the final say; the one in charge is Blue Water City’s Lord of the City Selig, who is not trustworthy…”
The Selig family started with smuggling and is very wealthy; these years they’ve been arrogant and conceited, fantasizing about rivaling Baldur’s Gate.
He looks down on those adventurers; breaking faith and abandoning righteousness is routine, with no credibility whatsoever.
“No wonder Baron said remuneration could be paid upfront.” Anse chuckled.
Tim stroked his disheveled beard back with his hand, his expression serious:
“Wyverns are patrolling the sky; horses can’t outrun them, so we can’t leave for now. If Mr. Anse wants to go to the city walls, whatever you need, tell me, and I’ll negotiate.”
Anse’s heart stirred: “I want elemental essence, earth, water, or wind attributes are fine.”
Co-defending was not mandatory; even taking remuneration did not mean having to hold to the death. Since that was the case, better to get some benefits first.
Don’t take it if it’s free!
