Chapter 3: Cleaning Up

"Good, we cleared everything." Liam looked at the bag of goblin ears and several boxes of old weapons and armor. The goblin did have some money from previous victims, but that money was usually deposited to the church so they could take care of the survivors. The only thing adventurers are legally allowed to take are monster parts and dropped items.

"Let's go," He looked at the prisoners, and they started carrying the boxes while he lifted the goblin ears' bag and walked in the front. "Sir Liam, what weapon do you use?" One of the men asked.

"I can use swords, halberds, daggers, bows, shields, and maces." Liam replied, those were the weapons he carried in his six arms in the past.

I only have two arms now. I should choose wisely between them. But quickly, a grin covered his face. I'll carry as much as I can and switch between them. Halberd is a main weapon, the sword for slashing, so I prefer a scimitar, dagger for stabbing and magic, bow for long-range hunting, shield for defense, and a mace to bash some heads in. He giggled… I'll buy everything.

I looked at my stats, and it did indeed show up.

******

Name: Liam Leonard.

Race: Human.

Soul Record: Black.

Level: 1

Strength: 1

Speed: 1

Mana: 1

Special ability:

[Dodge: Level 1]

******

The system doesn't grant people power. It shows their power in numbers. You don't kill monsters to raise your level and grow stronger. You train and gather skills to grow stronger and raise your level so you can kill monsters.

Soon, they reached the city gate, and the guards stopped them, shouting from above the walls. "You're the adventurer that left Earlier, Liam. What did happen? Your quest stated you're going to track goblins."

Liam lifted his head, "I got ambushed as I found their tracks, so I had to fight them. But I did manage to clear the nest, and I've freed some people." He pointed at the prisoners behind him carrying boxes.

"Is that so? We'll send a burning squad to clean the nest immediately." The guard shouted as the gate started opening, and a healer rushed to check the prisoners.

As the healer started looking at them, Liam approached one of the guards.

The guard flinched, stepping away from him due to the horrid stench. "Can I get the reward money for saving them now? I want to hurry and take a bath?"

"Of course, a moment please." He rushed back to grab the money.

"Here you go. Thanks for your efforts." He gave Liam a pouch filled with 70 silver coins.

100 copper coin= 1silver coin=1$

100 silver coin= 1 gold coin

100 gold coin= 1 royal coin

"Please take care of them." Liam took the money, stacked all the boxes above each other, and tried to carry them, but he failed. Damn it, I lack strength.

One of the guards approached, "Let me help you. Where are you carrying them?"

"Dolrig's pawn shop." Liam replied as he carried one box while the guard stacked the other six and carried them with ease.

The moment they walked through the gate, the shop came into view, open right at the corner, it was a quick place for adventurers to sell their loot. The guard laid Liam's boxes at the shop's door and walked away. "Take care, Liam."

"Thank you." Liam waved his hand and quickly walked into the shop.

"I got some old trinkets to sell. Goblins' junk." He said, and the owner, Dolrig, walked from behind the desk. "I haven't seen you here before." He stopped, smelling the stench.

"You didn't wash yet?!"

"I need the money. Can we make this fast, please?" Liam asked, and Dolrig smiled, "It can't be helped."

After a few minutes of inspecting everything, Dolrig looked at Liam, "Were you counting? How much are we now?"

"35 silver coins for everything." Liam looked at the boxes, "Old and rusty. That seems like a fair price."

Dolrig smiled, "I'll give you 40 silver coins because it's your first time working with me. I hope to see you soon with more loot."

Liam looked at the money, "I appreciate it. See you later. I have to go." He started walking toward the door, and Dolrig waved his hand.

I got most of the money now. What remains is the guild's reward, but that can wait. I first need a new batch of clothes and a bath. Everything else can wait.

Right across the street from Dolrig's shop was Helda's used clothes shop, an old lady rumored to have a sewing skill at level 8 and use it to mend used clothes rather than throwing them.

Liam knocked on the door. "Lady Helda! I needed some new clothes, but I was on a goblin mission. Can you give me something from here?"

The door opened, and she stared at him with a smile and a closed nose. "You have some manners. I don't want my shop to start stinking with goblin waste. I'll give you a discount; just wait there for a moment."

She walked in and returned in a few minutes. "A pair of pants, a short-sleeved shirt and a long-sleeved one, underwear, socks, and a pair of leather shoes. I'm sure they'll fit you, but if they don't, come back to me." She handed them to him wrapped in a hay bag.

"How much?" Liam stared at her eyes.

"45 silver coins." She replied, and Liam handed her the money, "Thank you."

That had left him with 65 silver coins, but at least now he can make his way to the bath.

The wooden pot bath is located beside the city's plaza. It's a place where it can be quickly reached from any part of the city, but that also meant it was in the most populated area, beside the common market.

As Liam walked, everyone avoided him due to the stench, but none dared say a word. They could recognize the goblin's horrid smell. It was a job that had to be done. People had a deep respect for it.

Liam made it to the public bath and walked in, "Can I get a private tub?" He looked at the woman owning the place.

"That would be a bit expensive…" She stopped as the smell reached her nose, "Sorry, it was goblins? You can have a private tub at the regular price, take as much time as you want, and soap is on the house."

Liam smiled, "That's quite generous of you."

She shook her head, "It isn't. Most people had a run-in with goblins at some point. It's either them or their family getting kidnapped and saved by adventurers. For me, it was my father and uncle. They got caught when hunting. We just don't want adventurers to stop taking on such a dirty job. It's necessary. Today, you saved some strangers, but tomorrow, it could be me or my children."

Liam nodded with a smile and walked toward his bath. How stupid, can't you save yourselves? I'm only doing it for the money and favor. He walked into the private path.

****

Back at the guild, an armored knight walked through the front door, "Is Liam Leonard here?" He growled, approaching the guild's desk.

"Why are you looking for him?" Selena asked.

"You're one of the guild staff? The Lord sent him an invite notice to the mansion. He's to come at once." The knight reached toward his sword handle and pushed it to the side so he could properly sit. "I'll wait. Call him."

"He's currently out on a mission. But why did he get called." She looked at the knight with a worried face.

"Even I don't know. I'm just doing my job. But, I was ordered to bring Sir Liam to the mansion. Them using Sir at least means there is some respect. He'll be fine." The knight took his helmet off. "Can I get a drink?"

"I hope it's something good." Selena sighed, looking at the waitress behind the desk, "Bring him something to drink and water."

"Thank you. It's really hot outside, and this armor doesn't help." He smiled.

"Was there anything strange in the lord's mansion that could explain why Liam was called?" Selena was still trying to understand why he was called as if this was a trap. She'd better warn Liam.

"The mansion has been in chaos since two days ago. But I saw the lord rushing on his horse to the church just an hour ago. The order came soon after." The knight scratched his head.

****

Liam walked out of the private bath clad in a fresh set of clothes. "Now you look better." The owner looked at him with a smile. She quickly turned toward the bag where he had his old clothes, "We have a washing service."

"They are too old, damaged, and dirty to be worth it." He replied.

"Well then, the bath is 10 silver coins, but I'll make it 5 coins if I take those clothes from you. I'll wash and turn them into rags." She smiled.

"Rags for cleaning the bath? That would be a great use for them." He handed her the bag. I only care about saving money for now, nothing else. This would leave me with 60 silver coins. I still need to save money to buy weapons, food, and find a place to sleep. It won't be enough. I need to take a second quest.

He walked out of the public bath after paying and headed toward the smithy district. Future quests would be easier with a weapon. That takes priority, but which one should I buy? I can only get a single F-grade weapon with the money I have. G-grade weapons are usually old and rusty, blunt and loose. Like the ones he gathered from the goblin's nest, they are unfit for use. F-grade weapons are those weapons that are refurbished, fixed, and sharpened. The cheapest weapons that could kill that that money can buy.