Chapter 6

Three people stood at three different angles, and behind each of them stood what seemed to be their subordinates.

"Master, Miss, these three are the leaders of the three major forces in Sasa Town: Tom Havian, Latin Hogan, and Jacob Jack. Sasa Town is actually under their control. Havian is a 4th-level 9th-rank Warrior, while Hogan and Jack are 5th-level 1st-rank Warriors."

Moses introduced them dutifully, his face showing no fear or apprehension.

George and his six men still guarded around, merely frowning slightly.

Dressed similarly to Moses, Tom Havian, with a bearded face, laughed heartily and said, "As expected of Moses. Just as you know our names, I know you, Todd Moses, a 2nd-level 8th-rank Warrior. You have a small heart, always eager to gather all sorts of information to avoid danger. Congratulations, Moses, you're still alive."

"Yes, I am still alive," Moses replied, his expression not very pleasant.

"Then let's guess, the cowardly Moses and his team can't possibly beat Kule. What does this mean?" Havian asked, following up.

One of his subordinates quickly chimed in, "It means that you, sir, protected the town, preventing Kule and his men from entering, and they eventually died of thirst in the desert, which was found by Moses and his team."

"And our master as well," someone from Latin Hogan and Jacob Jack's side added.

Moses glanced at his young master, seeing his calm expression, and knew that the young master did not intend to take action at the entrance of the Mercenary Association. He did not doubt that the young master and the young lady could defeat the three men and their subordinates, especially with the young lady holding the young golden tiger cub under the burlap.

So Moses hurriedly said, "Yes, it is thanks to the three lords that we can consider the peaceful Sasa Town as a safe supply base. In the three lords, we see the glory of the War God."

"Then, Moses, shouldn't you have your young master and young lady hand over the bounty to those who truly made a difference?" one of Havian's subordinates asked again.

Many of the onlookers, who had gathered to watch the commotion, showed signs of anger, and some were even eager to act, quietly gripping their weapons.

One adventurer directly asked in a stern voice, "Havian, Hogan, Jack, is the usual income of Sasa Town not enough for you, that you have to rob a little girl?"

Havian and the others showed no concern for the other adventurers, but when they heard this person's voice and looked over, they couldn't help but show a wary expression.

"Kelliselle, what do you mean by that?" Havian asked, somewhat lacking confidence.

"Nothing much," the man called Kelliselle replied, glancing at the two children. "In the fourth level of the ruins, I encountered a series of traps and almost died. I lost everything except my weapon and my life. I was injured and met Sophia Narasha and her brother Gongsun Murong, who gave me enough water and food to survive for half a month. The War God told me that now I should stand by the side of the lovely Miss Narasha, or my soul will be abandoned by the War God, and I will die in shame for my cowardice today."

With that, Kelliselle let out a low roar, his body filled with 5th-level 5th-rank Warrior energy.

"Me too, I also bought water from Miss Narasha and her brother Murong at a low price of five copper coins for ten pounds of water near the ruins."

Another adventurer stood up, his Warrior energy manifesting, though only at 3rd-level 6th-rank.

"Count me in," a third person said.

"Me too."

"Me as well."

"Together."

One by one, the adventurers released their Warrior energy and stood on the side of the 'weaker' party. They were all adventurers who had bought water, and their kindness had already been proven by the fact that they were still alive. Ten pounds of water for five copper coins was cheap for all adventurers, even if they could get free water in the town.

Havian and the others looked embarrassed. They did not dare to fight the group of adventurers, especially with Kelliselle leading them, but they also felt it would be embarrassing to just walk away.

Havian forced a smile and said, "Congratulations, Kelliselle, you've advanced another level. The War God is by your side, but... why don't we hear what Young Master Murong has to say?"

He turned his gaze to Gongsun Murong, his eyes filled with a threatening look.

Gongsun Murong met his gaze, and Havian's facial muscles twitched, his lips curling, making his expression look very fierce.

"Here," Gongsun Murong said after a moment, his eyes calm.

"Brother Murong," Narasha was unhappy. She was confident she could take them all down herself, so why was Brother Murong backing down? Only when her head was pressed down by Brother Murong did she pout and say, "Oh!"

Gongsun Murong took out six 100-gold-coin bills and, under Narasha's reluctant gaze, gave two to each of the leaders.

Then he waved one of the bills and said, "My sister and I are going to Qishui City, and we need transport, supplies, and guards. Moses, go inside and post the task. I hope the adventurers who helped us just now will take it. Also, we made some money selling water. I heard that Old Moti's tavern is good, so we'll treat everyone to drinks tonight. Yes, that's it."

As he spoke, he looked at Kelliselle, his eyes clearly inviting him.

"Sure, thank you, Young Master Murong and the beautiful and kind Miss Narasha. Everyone should go together," Kelliselle replied, putting away his Warrior energy and smiling.

The other adventurers who had stepped forward to help cheered. They didn't care who paid, and if the two children couldn't afford it, they didn't mind paying themselves.

Moses quickly posted the task, and the previous adventurers joined one by one. They needed to leave for a while to avoid being remembered by Havian and the others. They also had things to handle in the city, and only newbies and those with few gains would sell directly in the town.

******

That night, Old Moti's tavern was particularly lively.

The adventurers shouted and laughed, drinking cup after cup of wine and tearing into large pieces of roasted meat.

Narasha became everyone's princess, humming songs taught by the butler and smiling brightly at everyone. Her cute appearance made the adventurers' curses against Havian and the others even louder.

But they had no choice. Who could blame the two children for not having the courage to fight? Even Captain Sandy, who usually maintained the town's peace, did not speak up in support.

Old Moti also supported Narasha in action, waiving the few dozen silver coins in change and charging a total of six gold coins. This money was naturally provided by Moses, who posted the task. Inviting so many adventurers to escort them only cost sixty gold coins, and the rest was in his hands, including the money for buying camels the next day.

That night, they found a decent-looking inn. Narasha, exhausted from the festivities, fell asleep without even asking why Brother Murong had given money to Havian and the others.

The next day, everyone was busy, and by evening, the team was ready. Thirty adventurers, ten camels, plus Gongsun Murong and his eight companions, made up the entire group.

Gongsun Murong and Narasha each rode a camel, as Moses had said, "The master must look like a master." The other eight camels carried the adventurers' gains, as well as food and water.

When the twin suns turned into two egg yolks, the team set off. Everyone was quiet, not making small talk.

The two suns set, and two moons rose in the sky.

As long as the team was large enough, no one liked to travel on the sandy ground during the day. A team of thirty-nine people was small for both mercenary groups and merchant caravans, but who could blame them for having a 5th-level 5th-rank Warrior like Kelliselle in their midst?

Although Gongsun Murong and Narasha were the employers, Kelliselle was undoubtedly the core of the team, and the other twenty-nine hired adventurers all thought so.

Except for Moses and his seven companions, who knew very well that Kelliselle could not match the Blazing Wind Golden Tiger, as evidenced by the small tiger, now white and sealed in a special patterned cloth, held in the young lady's arms.

The sun's light was completely gone, and the desert was bathed in a hazy, pale moonlight.

The weather was good today, at least for the town and the team traveling in the desert, because there were clouds, which blocked much of the moonlight, and there might be a bit of rain tonight or tomorrow morning.

Gongsun Murong looked at the sky, squinted, and smiled. He also thought the weather was good tonight.

When the team had moved another ten miles, Gongsun Murong urged his camel closer to Narasha and whispered to her, "I need to go out for a bit."

Narasha, holding the small tiger, was not in a good mood. She was still thinking about the six hundred gold coins given away and had calculated it over and over again. Ten pounds of water for five copper coins, five thousand copper coins for five gold coins, and fifty-two million pounds of water for six hundred gold coins. Oh, how long would it take to collect so much water?

She felt so pitiful, a little girl selling water shouldn't be bullied like this.

Suddenly hearing her brother's voice, Narasha grumbled and nodded, and the crystal-like object on her forehead flickered slightly. Her large eyes, with long lashes, sparkled with surprise, and she nodded vigorously, saying, "Brother Murong, I..."

"You need to stay here."

"Okay! Brother Murong, we need more extra income. We need our own estate, our own home."

"I understand."

"Brother Murong, come back soon." Narasha's eyes curved into a crescent moon, and she pointed at her brother, making the already blurry light change even more. Then everything returned to its original state.

Gongsun Murong had already left the team, and on the camel he had been riding, another Gongsun Murong sat, moving in sync with Narasha's finger movements.

Light magic — Dream Real Mirror Image.

Of course, Narasha didn't know what it was called; it was her instinct.