"What is the issue exactly?” Ken asked, trying to bring her back to the present. He had still paid here a decent amount.
“If that thing is awake, that means the other Great Beasts will have awoken too. The danger of this journey has increased by quite a bit.” Asha thought about the Roc and then rubbed her forehead. “Even if we were to take the safest path, it would be fraught with danger.”
“How will we be able to move forward safely, in your expert opinion?” Ken wasn’t liking the sound of what she was saying.
“Tribute to the Clans, or we can kill one of the Great Beasts.” It seemed that the last half of her statement had been said in order to give him a second option, but not one which was feasible.
“How hard is it to kill a Great Beast?”
"The Giant White Serpent is the weakest, but even it could deal with a Low Martial Master.”
"That is difficult,” Ken said. A Low Martial Master was no joke. Even if his escorts combined their strength, they wouldn’t be able to deal with a Low Martial Master. “How about the Chief and the Six Spears?"
"They could drive it off, but that’s it. If they had more help, they could gravely wound it and then plan an attack for later." Asha’s eyes then turned to the escorts at Ken’s side.
Ken looked to the drunkard swordsman, who was emptying his gourd into his mouth, and Lan Fangbone. "What say you? If you can help kill it, then I'll reward you."
"What kind of reward?" Gin asked, having already prepared the words on his lips.
Ken tapped his armrest. "Emerald will refine you a high grade earth pill of your choosing if you have the materials for it."
"Any high grade earth pill?" The pair asked, their ears twitching. Getting the materials would be difficult, but the fact that they could have an Alchemist refine them a pill of their choice was extremely valuable to every escort.
"Any high grade earth pill," Ken repeated, smiling up at them.
Gin and Lan inhaled deeply. Hearing it from Ken’s lips meant that he was serious, and they had already seen the way that he worked, especially Lan. Gin looked to Lan, who nodded his head to Gin.
"Let's go," Gin said.
Lan looked to Ken, and then to the Twin Spears. He sighed, realising that he should probably remain behind. "I think the Twin Spears should go instead of me. We're safe here, and with the three of them, they should be able to help the Chief better."
"If that's your opinion." Ken looked to the twins. "What do you say? A high grade earth pill of your choosing for each person who goes? Lan will get a middle grade earth pill of his choosing for remaining behind."
"If that is what you wish," the twins replied back, nodding their heads. They looked between one another, and they already knew which pills they wanted.
Almost every escort knew which pills they wanted, as they dreamt of many things. Most wouldn’t admit to it, for dreaming was a luxury to escorts.
"Before you go, take these.” Ken handed them over a large number of pills, easily in the dozens. "Don't be stingy with the pills. If the others need them, hand them over. This pill," Ken pointed to a few of the darker coloured pills, "are for the most desperate of wounds."
"Yes, sir!" The Twins bowed respectfully.
“Let’s go!” Gin roared, filling his gourd after drinking it dry a second time, and then dashed away. His face was already a drunken mess, and he was a few drinks away from passing out.
[Finally! I can get that pill!]
"You don't want to see them fight?" Asha asked, wondering why Ken didn’t want to go with them.
"No, it's only a Giant White Serpent." Ken smiled. After all, something like that was nothing compared to the Roc, or the task ahead. His revenge would require him to face a greater enemy than just a simple Giant White Serpent.
Plus, he could feel the glares of his women on him, telling him he couldn’t go.
"Arrayist Ken, how come you're rewarding me even though I'm staying by your side?" Lan asked. He had been willing to give up the pill if it meant getting the job done. He could always find another way to earn it from Ken.
"Staying by my side is still important, isn’t it?” Ken asked, raising his brow up at the man. “Or do you mean my life isn’t worth as much as a high grade earth pill?”
"No, not at all. Your safety is the most important thing in this journey. Still, to be rewarded for doing what’s expected of me.”
"This is an additional task, meaning there should be an additional reward. You are giving up the chance of gaining such a highly valued item in order to remain at my side and to increase the chance of succeeding in this side task.” Ken smiled. “Something like that should be rewarded, don’t you think?”
“You speak true, Arrayist Ken.” Lan bowed his head. To think that he was so lucky in meeting with such a young man.
“It’s also best to keep my escorts happy. I want you to remember how well I've treated you so you're eager to work for me again." Ken kept his eyes on Lan, but he said it for Asha too.
"You really do go above and beyond," Lan said. “My eyes didn’t betray me back then during the Town Lord’s party.”
“Sometimes good deeds are punished, but there are times when they aren’t punished. If I can help in bringing a little justice into the world, I should do it.”
Lan turned to Asha. “Miss Tigervale, do you believe they can defeat the Giant White Serpent?”
“The Chief, Six Spears, and the three escorts?” Asha rubbed her chin. “I’ve heard of the Twin Spears, but Gin… is he that drunken swordsman? The one who uses the Ten Drunken Swords technique?”
Lan nodded his head. “The very same.”
“I’ve heard rumours about him. Is he as strong as they say?” Asha asked. Being someone who had to bring people through the plains, she needed to keep her information relevant and recent. She knew of the most famous experts nearby, and she had heard of Gin and the rumours behind him.
“He went toe to toe with a man by the name of One Axe,” Ken said. He had given up too much information, but even he wanted to hear more about what Asha had to say about the matter.
“One Axe? Truly?” Asha asked, her eyes flashing with surprise. “I don’t think Escort Lan could go against such a man, is that true?”
“True enough,” Lan said, giving up on his pride. After all, he wanted to hear more about what Asha thought as well.
“The Twin Spears perhaps could face One Axe, but to go toe to toe with him by himself…” Asha went into thought. “When he went against One Axe, was he passed out?”
“No. He had sobered up slightly during the fight.” Lan recalled how the drunken swordsman had vomited a few times during the bout.
“So he wasn’t even passed out and he fought with One Axe…” She was still assessing the situation in her mind. She was familiar with the strength of the Chief of the Boarhill Clan, and the Six Spears who were the strongest warriors within the Clan.
Ken and Lan waited patiently as she thought deeply about the matter. Seconds turned to minutes, but she continued to think deeply.
“I think the chances are…” She then looked to Ken. “Can I see the pills which you handed to them?”
Ken did as she asked, noticing how much of an expert she truly was since she took into consideration the fact that he had prepared them well before they left.
Asha examined the pill, looking at the weaker pills first, which were designed to heal someone quickly, and then the greater pill, which could heal someone on the brink of death in order to stop them dying outright.
“How confident are you in these pills?” Asha eventually asked.
“They were made by someone who I admire,” Ken said. “I have more confidence in these pills than I do with my arrays.”
Emerald blushed as she heard his words, enjoying his praise. She would make sure to cuddle her master passionately tonight.
Asha continued to stare at the pills. “Then the chances of them winning are 53%.”
“53%?” Ken wasn’t confident in those odds.
“That’s a conservative estimate, and only because I don’t know Escort Gin’s true strength. If he was stronger than I estimated, and if he fights whilst unconscious with his Ten Drunken Swords, then that increases to 55%.”
Ken wondered if he’d be able to see Gin and the Twin Spears again. He sighed. “Well, there’s no point in thinking on it. We will pray for their safety and healthy return. They should know to retreat if they cannot defeat it.”
There was a way to increase that chance. He looked up at Emerald, who had a question in her eyes. He could send Emerald to help, but that would reveal her strength to everyone.
Ken shook his head.
More importantly, it would put her in danger. He couldn’t allow her to get hurt just so he could impress the tribesfolk, they weren’t worth it. He’d rather have a single Emerald than every single member of this clan.
Announcement Don't forget to check out Patreon! Chapter 80 should have come up, and that's the final chapter of the first season! Thanks to everyone who has supported me!
"What is the issue exactly?” Ken asked, trying to bring her back to the present. He had still paid here a decent amount.
“If that thing is awake, that means the other Great Beasts will have awoken too. The danger of this journey has increased by quite a bit.” Asha thought about the Roc and then rubbed her forehead. “Even if we were to take the safest path, it would be fraught with danger.”
“How will we be able to move forward safely, in your expert opinion?” Ken wasn’t liking the sound of what she was saying.
“Tribute to the Clans, or we can kill one of the Great Beasts.” It seemed that the last half of her statement had been said in order to give him a second option, but not one which was feasible.
“How hard is it to kill a Great Beast?”
"The Giant White Serpent is the weakest, but even it could deal with a Low Martial Master.”
"That is difficult,” Ken said. A Low Martial Master was no joke. Even if his escorts combined their strength, they wouldn’t be able to deal with a Low Martial Master. “How about the Chief and the Six Spears?"
"They could drive it off, but that’s it. If they had more help, they could gravely wound it and then plan an attack for later." Asha’s eyes then turned to the escorts at Ken’s side.
Ken looked to the drunkard swordsman, who was emptying his gourd into his mouth, and Lan Fangbone. "What say you? If you can help kill it, then I'll reward you."
"What kind of reward?" Gin asked, having already prepared the words on his lips.
Ken tapped his armrest. "Emerald will refine you a high grade earth pill of your choosing if you have the materials for it."
"Any high grade earth pill?" The pair asked, their ears twitching. Getting the materials would be difficult, but the fact that they could have an Alchemist refine them a pill of their choice was extremely valuable to every escort.
"Any high grade earth pill," Ken repeated, smiling up at them.
Gin and Lan inhaled deeply. Hearing it from Ken’s lips meant that he was serious, and they had already seen the way that he worked, especially Lan. Gin looked to Lan, who nodded his head to Gin.
"Let's go," Gin said.
Lan looked to Ken, and then to the Twin Spears. He sighed, realising that he should probably remain behind. "I think the Twin Spears should go instead of me. We're safe here, and with the three of them, they should be able to help the Chief better."
"If that's your opinion." Ken looked to the twins. "What do you say? A high grade earth pill of your choosing for each person who goes? Lan will get a middle grade earth pill of his choosing for remaining behind."
"If that is what you wish," the twins replied back, nodding their heads. They looked between one another, and they already knew which pills they wanted.
Almost every escort knew which pills they wanted, as they dreamt of many things. Most wouldn’t admit to it, for dreaming was a luxury to escorts.
"Before you go, take these.” Ken handed them over a large number of pills, easily in the dozens. "Don't be stingy with the pills. If the others need them, hand them over. This pill," Ken pointed to a few of the darker coloured pills, "are for the most desperate of wounds."
"Yes, sir!" The Twins bowed respectfully.
“Let’s go!” Gin roared, filling his gourd after drinking it dry a second time, and then dashed away. His face was already a drunken mess, and he was a few drinks away from passing out.
[Finally! I can get that pill!]
"You don't want to see them fight?" Asha asked, wondering why Ken didn’t want to go with them.
"No, it's only a Giant White Serpent." Ken smiled. After all, something like that was nothing compared to the Roc, or the task ahead. His revenge would require him to face a greater enemy than just a simple Giant White Serpent.
Plus, he could feel the glares of his women on him, telling him he couldn’t go.
"Arrayist Ken, how come you're rewarding me even though I'm staying by your side?" Lan asked. He had been willing to give up the pill if it meant getting the job done. He could always find another way to earn it from Ken.
"Staying by my side is still important, isn’t it?” Ken asked, raising his brow up at the man. “Or do you mean my life isn’t worth as much as a high grade earth pill?”
"No, not at all. Your safety is the most important thing in this journey. Still, to be rewarded for doing what’s expected of me.”
"This is an additional task, meaning there should be an additional reward. You are giving up the chance of gaining such a highly valued item in order to remain at my side and to increase the chance of succeeding in this side task.” Ken smiled. “Something like that should be rewarded, don’t you think?”
“You speak true, Arrayist Ken.” Lan bowed his head. To think that he was so lucky in meeting with such a young man.
“It’s also best to keep my escorts happy. I want you to remember how well I've treated you so you're eager to work for me again." Ken kept his eyes on Lan, but he said it for Asha too.
"You really do go above and beyond," Lan said. “My eyes didn’t betray me back then during the Town Lord’s party.”
“Sometimes good deeds are punished, but there are times when they aren’t punished. If I can help in bringing a little justice into the world, I should do it.”
Lan turned to Asha. “Miss Tigervale, do you believe they can defeat the Giant White Serpent?”
“The Chief, Six Spears, and the three escorts?” Asha rubbed her chin. “I’ve heard of the Twin Spears, but Gin… is he that drunken swordsman? The one who uses the Ten Drunken Swords technique?”
Lan nodded his head. “The very same.”
“I’ve heard rumours about him. Is he as strong as they say?” Asha asked. Being someone who had to bring people through the plains, she needed to keep her information relevant and recent. She knew of the most famous experts nearby, and she had heard of Gin and the rumours behind him.
“He went toe to toe with a man by the name of One Axe,” Ken said. He had given up too much information, but even he wanted to hear more about what Asha had to say about the matter.
“One Axe? Truly?” Asha asked, her eyes flashing with surprise. “I don’t think Escort Lan could go against such a man, is that true?”
“True enough,” Lan said, giving up on his pride. After all, he wanted to hear more about what Asha thought as well.
“The Twin Spears perhaps could face One Axe, but to go toe to toe with him by himself…” Asha went into thought. “When he went against One Axe, was he passed out?”
“No. He had sobered up slightly during the fight.” Lan recalled how the drunken swordsman had vomited a few times during the bout.
“So he wasn’t even passed out and he fought with One Axe…” She was still assessing the situation in her mind. She was familiar with the strength of the Chief of the Boarhill Clan, and the Six Spears who were the strongest warriors within the Clan.
Ken and Lan waited patiently as she thought deeply about the matter. Seconds turned to minutes, but she continued to think deeply.
“I think the chances are…” She then looked to Ken. “Can I see the pills which you handed to them?”
Ken did as she asked, noticing how much of an expert she truly was since she took into consideration the fact that he had prepared them well before they left.
Asha examined the pill, looking at the weaker pills first, which were designed to heal someone quickly, and then the greater pill, which could heal someone on the brink of death in order to stop them dying outright.
“How confident are you in these pills?” Asha eventually asked.
“They were made by someone who I admire,” Ken said. “I have more confidence in these pills than I do with my arrays.”
Emerald blushed as she heard his words, enjoying his praise. She would make sure to cuddle her master passionately tonight.
Asha continued to stare at the pills. “Then the chances of them winning are 53%.”
“53%?” Ken wasn’t confident in those odds.
“That’s a conservative estimate, and only because I don’t know Escort Gin’s true strength. If he was stronger than I estimated, and if he fights whilst unconscious with his Ten Drunken Swords, then that increases to 55%.”
Ken wondered if he’d be able to see Gin and the Twin Spears again. He sighed. “Well, there’s no point in thinking on it. We will pray for their safety and healthy return. They should know to retreat if they cannot defeat it.”
There was a way to increase that chance. He looked up at Emerald, who had a question in her eyes. He could send Emerald to help, but that would reveal her strength to everyone.
Ken shook his head.
More importantly, it would put her in danger. He couldn’t allow her to get hurt just so he could impress the tribesfolk, they weren’t worth it. He’d rather have a single Emerald than every single member of this clan.
Announcement Don't forget to check out Patreon! Chapter 80 should have come up, and that's the final chapter of the first season! Thanks to everyone who has supported me!